Chapter 358: Chapter 198: The Tripartite Alliance

Translator: 549690339

Lu Yuan and Yan Wangqiu had discussed their interests many times before.

Lu Yuan wanted Dongting Prefecture, while Yan Wangqiu wanted South Sea Prefecture. Of course, if it really couldn’t be done, taking over Yulin County would also be acceptable.

So there was no need to say more about this between the two.

The key was Su Xuange’s side.

The Nine River Sword Sect dominated Jianan Prefecture, making it a hegemon in the southeastern martial arts world of Da Yue.

Although when it came to real strength, Su Xuange was inferior to both Lu Yuan and Yan Wangqiu.

After all, both of them could deploy 300,000 soldiers, while Su Xuange could only deploy 150,000, which was where the gap lay.

“I need a prefecture’s territory, no matter which one.”

Su Xuange clearly expressed his interest demands: that is, the three of them should be treated the same, and each should be able to start a country with his own prefecture.

“Nowadays, Xichuan Prefecture is occupied by Liang people, and only eight prefectures remain in the hands of the court.

Linhai Prefecture, Yuzhang Prefecture, and Guangling Prefecture are the core hinterlands of the court, which absolutely cannot be ceded.

The remaining Dongting Prefecture and South Sea Prefecture are divided between me and Sect Master Yan.

On the side of Jiuzhen Prefecture, the court has already promised it to White Phoenix Temple. If we fight against them, we will definitely offend the temple and add an enemy.

In this case, Sect Master Su, if you want a prefecture’s territory, you can only choose between Yulin and Jianan.”

Lu Yuan analyzed.

“Jianan Prefecture is not possible.”

After hearing Lu Yuan’s words, Su Xuange said directly: “Jianan Prefecture is bordered by Linhai to the north and Yuzhang to the west, both adjacent to the court’s hinterland.

If I establish a country here, it would be like a sharp sword stabbing the court’s heart.

The court will never allow it.

Even if they allow it, the court is facing danger at the moment, and perhaps forced by the crisis of life and death, they will agree.

But once they get through today’s crisis, they will send troops from the north and west, with hundreds of thousands of troops facing the border. How can Jianan Prefecture’s poverty resist?”

Jianan Prefecture has only eight prefectures, and within them, there are eight mountains, one river, and one field, which cannot support many people. So far, there are only 300,000 households in the whole prefecture, reaching 1.5 million people.

With such a small population, such a narrow border, and such harsh conditions, even if Su Xuange tried his best, he could only raise at most 50,000 to 60,000 full-time soldiers.

If the militia is included, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands of people can be pulled out.

However, this strength is still not enough to see, and it is impossible to withstand the court’s attack.

Therefore, staying in this place to establish a country, although it can retain the greatest strength of the Nine River Sword Sect, it also means falling into an awkward deadlock, facing the risk of being attacked by the court at any time.

Who can sleep soundly by the side of the couch?

For the court, Jianan Prefecture is that side of the couch.

Next to it, Yan Wangqiu stroked his beard and said, “In this case, Sect Master Su can only choose Yulin Prefecture.”

Su Xuange nodded slightly when he heard Yan Wangqiu’s words: “If it is Yulin Prefecture, it is indeed possible.”

Yulin County actually has many mountains, and there are quite a few barbarian tribes, but the geographical conditions are much better than those in Jianan Prefecture.

The most direct point.

At its peak, Yulin County had 500,000 households, with more than 2.7 million people. In terms of population alone, it is almost twice that of Jianan Prefecture.

Nowadays, Yulin County, though it has suffered from Jinghai Country’s atrocities in recent years, the remaining population should still be about 2 million, which is still stronger than Jianan Prefecture.

The most important thing is that Yulin County borders Dongting and South Sea Prefecture, and establishing a country here can join forces with Lu Yuan and Yan Wangqiu to provide mutual assistance.

At that time, the three families could jointly cope with external pressures, which would be enough to survive in troubled times.

Lu Yuan personally agreed with Su Xuange’s choice to establish a country in Yulin County because it would maximize the strength of the three territories.

The Trio can form a small circle, advance and retreat together, and cope with emergencies.

But in this way, he becomes the one with the greatest disadvantage.

The two have both moved to the south of the mountain, and now it’s Lu Yuan who is blocking the front. He is responsible forblocking the pressure from Zhou Country to the north and the court to the east.

Neither of these enemies is easy to deal with.

If it relies solely on the strength of Lu Yuan’s Dongting Prefecture, it simply cannot withstand it.

So, seeing that Su Xuange chose the land to establish his country, Lu Yuan looked at the two and said: “Both of you choose to establish your countries in the south of the mountain, which is indeed appropriate. But by that time, I will be alone in the north of the mountain, facing Zhou people and the court alone.

After several years of war and destruction, Dongting Prefecture is already in ruins, and I’m afraid that there are only more than 1 million people in the whole prefecture.

It’s difficult to maintain it in such a desperate condition.

By that time, even the soldiers and horses in my hands won’t be able to support them.

As both of you are in the rear, the south of the mountain is rich and has no worries of foreign enemies, so you need to help me resist the enemy when the time comes.

After all, I, in Dongting Prefecture, help you block the enemy coming from the north.”

Lu Yuan has six prefectures now, with a total of only 1.2 million people. The remaining Yueyang, Hengyang, and Changsha prefectures under the court’s control are estimated to have 6 or 700,000 people.

As for Tianmen Prefecture in the north of the river, several hundred thousand soldiers are waiting there. After repelling Zhou people, it is uncertain whether there will be any people left.

So, with such a small population, it is simply unrealistic to support Lu Yuan’s more than 100,000 soldiers and horses.

At present, with various support and extra income, it can be temporarily maintained.

But after two or three years, when the money is used up, Lu Yuan’s finances will collapse.

However, the situation in Dongting Prefecture requires him to maintain this massive army.

Because to the north of Dongting Prefecture is Zhou Country’s Xiangyang Prefecture, to the east is the court’s Yuzhang Prefecture, and to the west is the Xichuan Prefecture.