To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

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Upon giving the matter some thought, Lu Yuan understood the intentions of the Wei Country court.

However, he wasn’t too worried about this situation.

To withstand Chu State, Liang not only had to rely on its own considerable foundation but also the support from Xu State behind the scenes.

But the confidence of Xu State in supporting Liang was based on a precondition.

That was because Xu State was located in the rear and did not share a direct border with Chu; thus, its homeland had not experienced any significant wars.

Benefiting from the national stability, Xu State could concentrate without distractions from other affairs and give enough resources to support Liang.

This was the core essence of the matter.

Xu State could have this condition because Liang stood in front, ensuring its safety.

But can you, Zhao Country, have such a condition?

Don’t forget, Zhao Country’s Dongjun is currently facing the invasion of Chu State’s western military expedition.

Two million Chu troops are amassing in Dongjun, constantly threatening the security of Zhao Country.

To resist Chu’s forces, Zhao Country also had to station over a million troops in Dongjun, resulting in a stalemate between the two countries.

In such a situation, Zhao Country had its hands full, so how could they have the capacity and intent to help Wei Country?

And even if they wanted to help, they simply didn’t have the capability to do so.

The development cores of Wei, Zhao, and Xu countries in recent years were actually along the same path.

That is to gradually abandon the old territories outside Central State and focus on developing the lands they had seized in Central State.

Namely, Wei Country’s Henan and Nanyang prefectures, Zhao Country’s Dongjun and Xu Country’s Le’an Prefecture.

To develop Henan and Nanyang prefectures, Wei Country relocated over three-quarters of its population there and established an Eastern Capital in Henan called Heyin.

This treatment was essentially that of the future Imperial Capital.

Zhao and Xu countries were similarly not far behind.

In Dongjun, two-thirds of Zhao’s population, over sixteen million people, settled there, making it the wealthiest region in the country.

At the same time, they also established a South Capital in Dongjun, called Diqiu.

Now, Zhao Country’s main force in Dongjun was principally concentrated near Diqiu City, contending with Chu’s forces.

As for Xu State, because it was far from the combined forces of Zhao and Wei, making it difficult to cooperate, it was not as aggressive.

It only moved half of its population, around twelve million people, to Le’an Prefecture and also established a South Capital called Leling.

Does this explanation make things clearer?

Zhao Country moved a large number of people and focused on developing Dongjun, of which Chu State occupied half, causing Zhao to lose nearly a third of its population almost instantly.

Meanwhile, another third of the population also faced a severe threat from Chu, perpetually covered by the shadow of war, with a vast number of able-bodied men being conscripted and unable to settle down for production.

In this scenario, it was tough for Zhao Country to continue fighting on its own, let alone spare any effort to assist Wei.

For Wei Country to get sufficient funds and grain from Zhao to support their wars in Heyang and Guannei was purely wishful thinking.

Sending messengers to ask Zhao for help might end up not getting any funds or grain, and even worse, Wei might lose a significant amount of their own resources.

Therefore, in the long run it is uncertain, but in the short term, Zhao cannot provide any help to Wei.

But considering Wei’s current situation, let alone the long term, it’s doubtful they could even hold out in the short term.

So, after confirming the annihilation of the opponent’s army on the plains and the secured situation on the battlefields of Henan and Nanyang, Lu Yuan didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of the Wei court anymore.

This little court, now relocated to Shuofang in the North, might still be able to maintain its dynasty and possibly keep Shuofang within its grasp.

Because Lu Yuan had very little interest in this northern border prefecture, which could only exist for twenty or thirty years at most.

However, there was no issue for Chu to take over the remaining Guannei, Henan, and Nanyang prefectures.

In at most a year and a half, the above-mentioned prefectures will all belong to Chu.

The most splendid territories of Wei will be controlled by Chu.

And what storms could Wei, having lost these territories, possibly stir up with only a population of a little more than three million in Shuofang Prefecture?

This third strongest nation in the world, although appearing to be still formidable with some qualities of a hegemon at this moment, is essentially destined to weaken once one peels back the surface.

A small court tucked away in safety is hardly worth much attention.

Lu Yuan simply reminded Huang Xin to ensure the defense arrangements for Hanzhong and the Guannei prefectures and to be wary of invasions from the Yong West and the southern steppe Barbarians.

He told Qingyunzi to quickly wrap up the Heyang battlefield and then to divide his forces to support the Guannei battlefield, but afterwards, he didn’t invest much more effort.

Compared to the decided state of Wei’s battlefront in Yong State, the much grander and turbulent Qingzhou battlefield involving multiple countries was more worthy of his attention.

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Spring snow bloomed, and the bitter winter began to recede.

In the blink of an eye, a new year arrived, and time moved forward to spring in the forty-second month of Shenwu.

The cold winter of the previous year, like a detailed narrative, vividly conveyed the hardships of the nations.

Chu faced hardships, with eighteen million troops and eighteen million immigrants, as well as millions of domestic disaster victims, rapidly depleting thirty years of accumulation.

Liang faced hardships, having lost half of its territory all at once; the Imperial Capital within range of enemy strikes, surrendered its status as the world’s foremost hegemon in one battle, becoming a complete joke.

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