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Actually, it’s not just a strong order, as the current harsh situation around the Chu State is visible to anyone with discerning eyes.

The nearby Zhou, Liang, and Ning countries are all supreme dominators or state dominators. The southern Su and southwestern barbarian countries are also capable of fielding tens of thousands of strong soldiers, and their strength is not weak either.

Having such strong enemies as neighbors, without sufficient strength to defend themselves, nobody would feel at ease.

Therefore, since Lu Yuan’s expedition to the southwest, with the increasing use of troops in the frontline, the consumption of military resources has grown more substantial. As a result, discussions about whether to recruit more soldiers in the rear court have become more frequent.

However, because maintaining the original 240,000-strong army of Chu was already very difficult.

Since now the army at both war fronts has exceeded 100,000, the expenses are even more significant than during peacetime.

So although there were many proposals, they were hindered by financial issues and couldn’t be implemented effectively.

Now is the right time.

With Lu Yuan’s strong backing, the original resistance disappeared instantly. Under the authority of the founding monarch, the entire court began working together to handle this matter diligently.

This time, 138,000 soldiers were to be recruited, which was already more than half the total number of soldiers in the country.

Such a large-scale expansion of the army cannot be said to be frugal.

However, for the current Chu State, which has a population of over 7 million, recruiting this number of soldiers isn’t as difficult as one might think.

Moreover, this 138,000-strong force won’t be gathered within a few short months, but over several years.

Recruiting 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers each year, the recruitment would be completed within two to three years.

With such a long buffer period, not only can more high-quality soldiers be selected, but the pressure on the court’s finances can also be reduced, allowing for a gradual adaptation process.

However, despite that, due to wartime considerations, this recruitment is still prioritized to satisfy the frontline soldiers in Xichuan and Qianzhong regions to ensure their stability.

For instance, in Qianzhong County.

Since not many people from the mainland are willing to serve as county soldiers, Lu Yuan has already issued an order to recruit soldiers from among the exiled criminals and immigrants.

These criminals and immigrants have already settled down here.

Regardless of their willingness, with their families in tow, fleeing is already impossible, and they have no choice but to accept the reality.

After a year and a half of continuous exile and immigration, the Chu population in Qianzhong County has exceeded 120,000 households, totaling over 600,000 people.

With so many registered Chu citizens, excluding the barbarian women and children, there are already over 150,000 adult men.

Selecting soldiers from such a large base doesn’t require much effort, and it is a breeze to recruit the remaining 6,000 county soldier vacancies.

Not only are they fulfilling the current vacancies of the eight prefectures’ county soldiers, but they are also preemptively recruiting and training 4,000 county soldiers for the Hui Chuan region’s two prefectures, which exist only on paper and haven’t been occupied yet.

This war with the southwestern Yi People has lasted too long.

From Shenwu Year 4, Month 7, up to the present day of Shenwu Year 6, Month 2, the war has continued for a year and a half.

During this year and a half, Chu lost nearly 50,000 soldiers and spent millions of silver taels on military expenses, not to mention the countless manpower and food supply consumed.

It can be said that once this war ends, Chu’s reserves of three years will be almost depleted.

Even if they can continue fighting, with the wealth harvested from Qianzhong County, 50 million silver taels can last quite a while.

However, even if they can hold on, it will be impossible for the Chu State to develop further under the burden of the war.

While other countries around them are reforming and strengthening, striving to enhance their national and military strength, and growing stronger year by year, Chu’s stagnation is already a form of regression in itself.

Ning Country has spent six years recovering its 500,000-strong army. In another six years, the size of the army might reach 800,000.

As for Zhou Country, in the Northern Expedition battle seven years ago, though they lost nearly 300,000 soldiers and a county’s territory,

seven years have passed, and relying on the remaining seven counties’ land, their military strength has already been restored.

Even more so, as they have been fighting Wei Country in the north continuously, Zhou has been expanding and preparing for war each year, with their military strength now reaching 800,000, making them a legitimate military power.

However, the same continuous battles with Wei Country causes;

Zhou Country has to maintain a 300,000-strong army in the Northern Border each year. In recent years, the Grand General He Basheng has often been active in the northern warfront, achieving many accomplishments that made him famous even in the distant Yangzhou, where Lu Yuan often heard about him from the court’s weekly reports.

It made Lu Yuan more familiar with this valiant general.

As for Liang Country, there’s even more to say.

This colossal entity, occupying ten counties in Qingzhou, has always maintained a-standing army of one million and has over ten Inborn Grandmasters, making them the most ambitious among the neighboring countries.

Pre-Yue’s rapid collapse couldn’t be disconnected from Liang Country’s Southern Expedition of 500,000 soldiers in Longqing Year 28.

If it hadn’t been for Liang Country tying up their hands and feet, Yue Country’s tens of thousands of elite northern soldiers, as well as the few Inborn Grandmasters within the country, could have been mobilized to participate in quelling the rebellion, leaving no opportunities for Lu Yuan and his associates.