Chapter 647: 295: Da Changhe Descends_2
But now, with one of the Inborn Grandmasters removed, the organization has quickly changed from a two-person partnership to a single individual, and the difference is enormous.
It was precisely because of this huge difference that Lu Yuan had been cautious when dealing with the Southwest Barbarian States, not daring to force them too hard.
It was not until he had cultivated the Yellow Turban Warrior Avatar and broken through the realm of condensing Qi that he gained the confidence to capture and kill a single Inborn Grandmaster.
It was then that he decided to act against the Da Changhe Country.
Seeing the current situation, his decision seemed to be the right one.
The Great Witch Sacrifice from the Chilih tribe, facing the cooperation of Lu Yuan and Huang Xuan, did not have the slightest chance to resist and was simply killed.
The combined power of the two was simply too strong.
“From now on, with the cooperation of Huang Xuan and me, we are equivalent to the existence of the First Innate Realm. Martial artists and cultivators alike won’t be able to escape alive.
Even against those in the Second Innate Realm, we would have a 70% chance of success in killing them.
With our Hidden Cards on hand, those forces or countries with only one Inborn Grandmaster can no longer pose a threat to our Great Chu and can only obediently become meat on the chopping board.”
At this thought, Lu Yuan was elated.
In today’s world, there are not too many forces with more than two Inborn martial artists. Most of them belong to powerful countries, like the three large Yi countries in the Southwest occupying more than two provinces each, or hegemonic countries like the Zhou, Liang, and Ning.
Only these countries, which have a significant impact on a region, have the strength to nurture more than two Inborn Grandmasters.
Others, such as small countries like Su, Song, and Hanzhong, or Jianghu forces like the Liuyang Sect, can at most cultivate one Inborn Grandmaster. Some, like Nanhai Country, can’t even cultivate one.
These small countries and sects with only one Inborn Grandmaster, when facing the cooperation of Lu Yuan and Huang Xuan, would see their Grandmaster killed upon contact.
With their top-tier power dismantled, it would be easy for the Chu State to destroy these countries or forces in collaboration with their Inborn Grandmasters and lower-level soldiers.
“However, Chu’s current strength, with only five Innate Warriors, has almost reached its limit in protecting its four provinces.
It will be difficult to expand further before cultivating new Innate warriors.
That’s fine, Chu State needs about ten years to digest the newly-acquired Qianzhong County and half of the Xichuan region anyway.
In ten years, Brother Sun should have broken through Innate and have his realm consolidated.
By then, we can start a new round of expansion.”
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, then put aside the tempting idea of directly annexing Da Changhe Country and expanding further.
Although Chu’s current strength is sufficient to destroy Da Changhe Country and annex another province or half-province,
The remaining seven million people can hardly be enough for the newly-acquired Qianzhong County and Xichuan region.
There won’t be enough core people left to fill any new territories acquired.
Lands that can’t be digested and achieve continuous output would only be a burden.
Not only would they require Chu forces and resources to control and occupy, but they would also have to face endless troubles, including the backlash and unrest of the occupied lands.
Lu Yuan won’t make such a losing deal.
After all, his motive for external expansion is to strengthen Chu’s national power, and through that, to gain Qi Luck for himself.
Such negative growth obviously can’t bring Chu more luck, but rather can weaken it.
He would only do such foolish things if his brain is damaged.
Maintain the current situation, follow the plan and occupy Huichuan Country. Later, bring the army to threaten Da Changhe Country, forcing it into submission, and adding another dog to Chu’s power in the southwest region.
After stabilizing the situation in the southwest, the army can move westward, recapture Xichuan, and cut off the claws of Nanzhao Country extending eastward.
These three steps are Lu Yuan’s strategic goals for this campaign.
The first step of occupying Huichuan Country is already half completed.
With the defeat of the Da Changhe army’s northern forces, it will be easy to capture the remaining part of Huichuan Country.
After taking this territory, it will naturally follow to use force to intimidate the Da Changhe Country.
“So, everything is perfect. With the Great Witch Sacrifice killed, the biggest obstacle has been removed. What’s left is to claim the fruits of my victory.”
After reviewing everything and confirming there were no issues with the plan and that it was being executed as scheduled, Lu Yuan showed a smile on his face.
Feeling relieved, he was filled with energy and enthusiastically continued managing his affairs.
…
As Lu Yuan predicted, after breaking through the Da Changhe army blocking their way, capturing the remaining thousand miles of the Huichuan Country’s western region took only five days under his and Huang Xuan’s leadership.
Facing the two Inborn Grandmasters, the remaining military forces of Huichuan Country could not resist at all.
With just a slight display of their power, the enemy was defeated, the towering city walls could not pose any obstacle, and the city gates were easily opened, allowing the incoming soldiers to occupy the city.
So, on April 7th, the Chu army began crossing the river, and by April 13th, the entire Huichuan Country had fallen.