To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 800: Chapter 346 International Turmoil_2

Therefore, in order to maintain military strength, Su Xuange scaled down the originally superfluous forces to a total of fifty thousand, and abolished the organization of county soldiers.

Among these fifty thousand, except for the twenty-eight thousand who served as Prefectures and Counties’ soldiers, the remaining twenty-two thousand were reorganized into the Forbidden Army, bestowed the title Divine Sword, and acted as troops directly under central command.

The Divine Sword Army comprised elite soldiers selected by Su Xuange following successive campaigns, who were taught some basic sword techniques from the Nine River Sword Sect, and restructured into elite forces.

Having learned sword techniques from the Nine River Sword Sect, all officers and soldiers of the Divine Sword Army possessed at least one or two decent sword techniques.

Although over ninety-nine percent of them were not considered top-notch, even in Jianghu they could be regarded as skilled, thus qualifying as elites.

This group of Divine Sword Army soldiers, trained in the sword arts of Jianghu, now served as Nanhai Country’s means to impress the entire nation and compete with foreign adversaries.

With the support of the entire nation for these twenty thousand men, the many officers and soldiers of the Divine Sword Army naturally led a good life.

Their generous monthly allowances and year-end bonuses not only allowed them to easily support their families but also enabled them to occasionally indulge in restaurants and teahouses, where they could feast joyously and make merry.

Therefore, every day on this food and drink street in the city, one could see many robust men dressed as Martial Artists coming and going, constituting the main spending force here.

Today, at noon, the shops on both sides quickly filled up with a bustling crowd.

Innumerable Divine Sword Army soldiers crowded inside the restaurants, laughing heartily and bragging to one another.

The busboys, drenched in sweat from hurrying back and forth, served these masters in the establishment, occasionally scolded by the Martial Artists, then fearfully offering apologetic smiles.

In the present world, martial prowess was revered.

Commoners dared not offend these weapon-wielding Martial Artists, fearing that the slightest displeasure could lead to an abrupt and violent response.

Those who used to doubt this truth now lie in graves overgrown with three-foot-tall weeds.

Past events were a clear lesson, compelling the people of today to be cautious.

While the atmosphere was rich with activity, a surge of hoofbeats suddenly sounded from the street outside; a Knight clad in black armor with Qing Yu feathers on his head and a red banner on his back was seen driving pedestrians aside while galloping toward the depths of the city.

This sudden scene in the bustling street caused a commotion and a chorus of gasps arose.

This commotion immediately drew the attention of people inside the nearby teahouses and taverns, prompting many to look toward the source of the disturbance.

After the mounted messenger had passed, someone inside the Inn retracted their gaze and clicked their tongue, saying, “With Qing Yu delivering a message and the blood-flag leading the way, could it be that some major incident has occurred?”

Someone beside replied, “The last few times we’ve seen such a spectacle, it was either a local rebellion, an army mustering for an expedition, or an enemy on the offensive. These days, with King Song lightening Corvee Labor and reducing tribute, the domestic situation is stable, no one thinks of rebelling.

And with us soldiers rotating leave every month as usual, having heard no rumors nor calls to assemble, it’s likely not a call to arms.

So, it’s probably an enemy attack.”

Someone exclaimed in surprise, “An enemy attack? Who has the gall to attack our Su Country?”

“Exactly, among all the states in Lingnan, our Su Country’s martial arts prowess is the greatest. Who would be tired of living and dare to trouble me?”

“It could be Dali Country. Ever since we took over their Tonghai County, those Yi People from Dali have been constantly plotting to take it back. I’ve heard that they’ve been gathering arms and men, training soldiers all these years. If anyone were to attack, they’re the most likely candidates.”

“It might also be Song Country. King Song has always supported the Heavenly Son from Jinling, uses Jianwu as their reign title to this day, and is not of one heart with our King who declared our own era. For such a scoundrel to attack wouldn’t be surprising.”

“I’d rather it be Nanhai Country. Nanhai is wealthy, and those cunning merchants over there have bilked us of so much silver in the past two years.

We struggled so fiercely in Dali Country only to see all the silver we managed to seize go into their pockets.

I’ve found them repulsive for some time now and have always wanted to raid them.”

The people inside the shop engaged in various discussions until one person mentioned Nanhai Country, immediately prompting a chorus of loud laughter.

Every nation around Nanhai Country knew that it was a weak link, neither impressive nor useful, a true pushover.

Moreover, with their vast wealth, Nanhai had long been an object of envy.

Now that someone had brought it up, the others cared less about guessing the actual big event and instead joined freely in belittling Nanhai Country.@@novelbin@@

Many even fantasized about the prospect of looting vast wealth when they engaged Nanhai and agreed that, when the time came, they would pillage some money and snatch a few women to take home to make the trip worthwhile.

However, among the many voices mocking Nanhai Country, a discordant note was soon introduced.

“Could it be Chu State?”

As soon as this was said, the surrounding laughter abruptly paused.

Many voices hushed, and expressions soured as people turned to look at the speaker, with the air seemingly growing tense.

The topic that had been deliberately avoided by everyone was now exposed, shattering the illusion and no longer sustainable.

The aspiration of Chu State to move southward had been no secret over the years.

Even under Su Xuange’s deliberate guidance, the notion that Su and Chu would one day inevitably clash had become a common understanding among all citizens of Su Country.

But as Chu grew stronger each year, many people began to consciously avoid this fact, unwilling to contemplate this source of despair and reluctant to face this suffocating enemy.