To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 898: Chapter 379 Using Spies Against Ning Country_2 Chapter 898: Chapter 379 Using Spies Against Ning Country_2 “Even if we triumphed over Ning Country on the eastern front now, we wouldn’t be able to govern the newly acquired territories effectively.

It would merely make our maps look bigger, an empty and useless expansion, nothing but hollow swelling.”
“Lu Yuan never eyed those empty honors; he only cared about tangible interests.”
“Moreover, with Great Chu’s size now doubled, the gathered Qi Luck was sufficient for his cultivation needs, which diminished his motivation for expansion even further.”
“Let’s wait for two or three years.”
“By then, my cultivation will have advanced further, in both the Immortal Method and Martial Arts, and Great Chu will also have digested its conquests and accumulated enough foundational strength.”
“That’s when expansion will be most opportune and free from hidden troubles.”
“‘Your Majesty is prudent and far-sighted, unburdened by empty fame and undistracted by interests.

I am in admiration,’ the Poor Daoist said.”
Seeing that Lu Yuan didn’t adopt his suggestion, Xuan Chengzi couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed, but he said, “In that case, I shall heed Your Majesty’s decision.”
Lu Yuan, considering that the other party had just arrived and not wanting to diminish his confidence too much, smiled again and said, “Although we are not mobilizing troops at this time, after you return, you can ask those four Protectors who have defected to Ning Country to further infiltrate the Ning Army, gaining more military authority.”
“That way, several years from now when Great Chu launches its assault, their return to our side will deal an even greater blow to the Ning People.”
Upon saying this, Lu Yuan pondered for a moment before adding, “To make the Ning People trust you more, Fellow Daoist might consider following the example of Feishuang Tao, temporarily leading your followers to defect to Ning Country.”
“The two elders from your sect who promised to serve under Great Chu can also, under the pretense of assistance, take office in Ning Country first to seize control of its power.”
“In doing so, your sect will deepen its control over Ning Country.

When you eventually return to our side, it will benefit Great Chu even more.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονǥο.ᴄο

Following the ceasefire, the various forces of Ning Country gradually retreated back to their homeland.

After several months of reorganizing and with the help of some traitors from the Imperial City and the Coastal Aristocratic Family, details regarding Ning Country’s current strengths and local defenses were largely unveiled to Great Chu.

The military force of Ning Country was primarily composed of four parts at the moment,
First, the remnants of the troops who had fled from the Western Expedition.

Among them, on the Jiangbei Battlefield, Yang Jing and Xuan Yu brought back approximately twenty thousand cavalry and soldiers, and a navy of over sixty thousand.

On the Lingnan Battlefield, Shangguan Ming returned with more than twenty thousand remnants of the Ning Army, a navy of over ten thousand, and nearly ten thousand infantry and five to six thousand naval forces from Nanhai Country.”
“In total, these are about fifty thousand infantry and cavalry, and eighty thousand naval forces.”
Second, the original garrisons of Linhai and Guangling counties.

“In Linhai County, there were fifty thousand infantry and cavalry, Guangling County had fifty thousand, and at Wuhu Water Fortress upstream of Jinling City, there were forty thousand naval forces stationed.”
“In total, that’s one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry, and forty thousand naval forces.”
Third, the new soldiers recently recruited by Ning Country in Linhai and Guangling counties, totalling approximately two hundred thousand.”
Fourth, the palace guards stationed in the capital Jinling, amounting to about thirty thousand.”
“Adding all these troops, Ning Country has roughly four hundred thousand infantry and cavalry as well as a hundred and twenty thousand naval forces, totalling five hundred and twenty thousand soldiers.

Their strength remains formidable.”
Of course, these are just figures on paper.”
In reality, if we discount the two hundred thousand new recruits who’ve only been enlisted for two months and are virtually civilian workers with no fighting capabilities,
“The Ning Army is left with just three hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, roughly on par with the military power of Xi Liang State of Yong State, dropping to the rank of a major nation.”
Within these three hundred and twenty thousand veteran soldiers, the four Divine Generals from Purple Cloud Dao control one hundred and thirty thousand, over forty percent of the forces.”
“Following this trend, if Purple Cloud Dao sends two more Inborn elders to take office in Ning Country, given Ning’s current desperate situation, it will undoubtedly rely heavily on the help extended by Purple Cloud Dao.”
“By then, the forces controlled by Purple Cloud Dao in Ning Country will inevitably be even greater.”
Lu Yuan didn’t need Purple Cloud Dao to completely hollow out Ning Country, as long as they could control two hundred thousand soldiers, it would be an immense help.”
“Think about it; the current total strength of the Ning Army is only five hundred and twenty thousand.

Yet, Purple Cloud Dao controls two hundred thousand of that.

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That’s the significance.”
“It means that as long as Great Chu embarks on an eastern expedition against Ning Country in the future, with just a single command from Purple Cloud Dao, forty percent of Ning’s forces would turn their coats and surrender to Great Chu.”
“In such a scenario, what could Ning Country use to fight against Great Chu?”
“It’s likely that the nation would be extinguished without even two months passing.”
“However, all these deductions are just the ideal state, the best-case scenario.”
“Whether Ning Country will actually put such trust in Purple Cloud Dao remains to be seen.”
Nevertheless, Lu Yuan believed that with Great Chu’s current overt strength, comprising sixteen Inborn belonging to the state directly and three from the affiliated countries, a total of nineteen Inborn were at their disposal.”
“Among these Inborn, four possessed a strength above the Second Realm of Inborn.”
“On the other hand, after successive defeats, Ning Country had lost three of its original fourteen Inborn, leaving only eleven.”
“And within those, only Shen Qiu belonged to the Second Realm of Inborn.”
“With such a power comparison, Great Chu’s strength at the Inborn level, when accounting for the gap between Second Realm and First Realm Grandmasters, was almost a ratio of three to one.”
“With such a disparity, how could Ning not feel apprehensive?”
“If Purple Cloud Dao offers its services now, its uptake by Ning Country is almost certain.”
“Otherwise, the four Inborn Divine Generals of Purple Cloud Dao would not have been able to control one hundred and thirty thousand soldiers and been put in charge of a front.”
“This situation, however, is only temporary.”
“With Tianluo Mountain now part of Great Chu’s territory, and Purple Cloud Dao under Lu Yuan’s governance and their sect threatened,”
“It is difficult not to question whether Purple Cloud Dao’s stance and loyalty have been shaken.”
“The example of Xuan Chengzi, who has come to pledge allegiance so eagerly, is a stark illustration of this.”
“Purple Cloud Dao has already sided with Great Chu in reality.”
“It is only that the news has been well concealed, and Ning Country has yet to realize this fact.”