To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 891: Chapter 377 Defense Adjustment

“Now that Yin Qing has assumed his role, there’s no need to rush into action. You should return and settle your sect disciples first. Once everything is properly arranged, you may come to receive orders; there’s no harm in that.”

After the decree, Lu Yuan looked at Yin Huixuan with a meaningful expression and spoke.

Yin Huixuan’s entire clan pledging allegiance did not equate to unanimous approval. There would always be those who failed to see the grand trend of destiny or harbored allegiances to Ning Country, unwilling to submit to Chu State.

For these obstinate individuals, Chu State would definitely employ thunderous methods to resolutely suppress and eliminate them.

However, rather than Chu State taking action later, expanding the scope of the purge and affecting the innocent, it would be better to let Yin Huixuan, the sect leader, cleanse his own ranks first to prevent future trouble and keep himself from being implicated.

This was essentially using sects to govern sects and Jianghu to govern Jianghu.

“Yes, I am thankful for King Xie’s leniency,”

Yin Huixuan understood Lu Yuan’s intentions and immediately responded, “Your servant will return to the sect to organize our affairs. Once stability is achieved, I will bring the sect disciples to serve under King Xie.”

Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction, then raised his cup to see off his guest, “You are considerate.”

Yin Huixuan took the hint and respectfully said, “King Xie is busy with public affairs; I dare not be a disturbance and will take my leave now.”

“You may go,” said Lu Yuan indifferently.

…

After sending off Yin Huixuan, Lu Yuan pondered for a while to make sure he hadn’t overlooked anything. Then, feeling at ease, he decided not to summon Xuan Chengzi right away and chose to let the Purple Cloud Taoist Master stew a bit longer.

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Over the years, Purple Cloud Dao had caused no small amount of trouble for Lu Yuan.

It could even be said that Chu State’s struggle for domination was nearly ruined by their actions.

The sect directly sent forth four Divine Guards, providing Ning Country with a hefty supply of Divine Blood Elixirs, which allowed them to cultivate four Innate Martial Marquises. It was as if they had single-handedly propped up half of Ning Country’s top-tier fighting force.

Beyond that, Purple Cloud Dao also transferred vast amounts of gold and valuables to Ning Country. According to the Imperial City Division’s investigation, the cumulative sum was as high as several hundred million.

They also incited their followers to join the military enthusiastically, to assist Ning Country in its campaigns against Chu State.

When Lu Yuan said that gaining Yin Huixuan was like gaining a hundred thousand soldiers, it might have been somewhat exaggerated.

But Ning Country’s acquisition of Purple Cloud Dao was truly equivalent to gaining two hundred thousand elite troops, without any hint of exaggeration; if anything, it was an understatement!

I ask you, could Lu Yuan not hate such a Purple Cloud Dao, such a Xuan Chengzi?

If not for the fact that within Ning Country there were still four Martial Marquises and an unknown number of Inborn experts remaining within the sect, proving their strength to still be formidable,

Lu Yuan would have already led his troops to crush this heretical sect.

“For now, let’s hang this treacherous Daoist out to dry, grinding down his spirit. Let’s see how he reacts first,” thought Lu Yuan.

He was well aware of Xuan Chengzi’s intentions for coming. Just like Yin Huixuan, he saw Ning Country’s defeat and Great Chu’s looming unification over Jiangnan. Thus, he hastened to pledge allegiance.

No, Purple Cloud Dao’s visit likely also included a hint of seeking forgiveness.

After all, Liuyang Sect had always maintained neutrality and never interfered in matters between Chu and Ning. Their situation, albeit somewhat chaotic, wasn’t too panicked.

But for Purple Cloud Dao, they were the true traitors who sided with the enemy and needed to be utterly eradicated to ensure Chu’s future safety.

They aided Ning Country in resisting Great Chu, causing untold losses to Chu State, and it wasn’t something that could be lightly overlooked.

Without enough sincerity and a sufficient price paid, Lu Yuan would not let them off the hook.

Otherwise, he’d rather suffer significant casualties to completely obliterate Purple Cloud Dao’s lineage in order to vent the hatred in his heart.

…

While leaving Purple Cloud Dao on the back burner, Lu Yuan simply had someone monitor Xuan Chengzi, paying attention to his words and behavior and reporting promptly. He didn’t bother to give much attention himself.

His focus returned to military affairs.

In the recent period, following Lu Yuan’s restructuring, the captive soldiers from various nations, numbering five hundred thousand, had been initially integrated and reorganized.

With the reduction of the weak and elderly, the prefectural and county military dual-system in the newly occupied territories of Lingnan and Jiangdong was swiftly established.

These newly formed prefectural and county forces, working in conjunction with urgently dispatched officials from central authorities, had begun to stabilize local order through suppressing banditry and encouraging agricultural work, allowing the regions to start resuming normal life and production.

However, a minor flaw was that these new prefectural and county forces had relatively low-skilled leaders, with county captains being third-rate martial artists and commandants being second-rate.

Compared to the standard configuration of second-rate county captains and first-rate commandants, it was indeed much less impressive.

The root of this phenomenon was the drastic expansion of forbidden armies and county soldiers by Lu Yuan, which added over two hundred thousand troops and resulted in numerous vacancies among military officers and command staff.

The governing system of Ning Country differed from Chu State. They were run by aristocratic families where official positions were determined by lineage. Even with an imperial examination system in place, those without background or connections would struggle to climb high in the ranks even if they passed.

Across Ning Country, the high offices in the court and the local bureaucrats were entirely monopolized by class distinctions.

In contrast, Chu State selected officials based on merit through the imperial examination.

As long as one had sufficient capability and talent, becoming a prime minister or general was possible.

The best examples were Sun Siwen and several of Lu Yuan’s disciples.

Setting aside their personal relationships with Lu Yuan, it was undeniable that these high-level officials of Chu State all hailed from humble backgrounds.

They were able to ascend step by step through their own efforts and Lu Yuan’s recognition to reach their current positions.

Even the countries of the Southsea and Su also essentially operated on a system of nepotism.

The officials and military officers within their lands all originated from the original Nanhai Sect or Nine River Sword Sect, deeply intertwined with the Su and Yan families, inseparable from each other.