To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 865: Chapter 368: Besieged on All Sides by the Songs of Chu

Outside the city of Changsha, the Ning Army Camp.

Dense smoke billowed as broken swords and spilt blood created a scene of desolation.

Lu Yuan stood astride his horse, gazing at the now-broken Ning camp with an unfathomable look in his eyes.

At his side, Sun Siwen rode alongside, equally observing the scene and spoke leisurely, “The Ning bandits are defeated, and the battle is a complete victory. Is True Person planning to go to Yuzhang next?”

Lu Yuan nodded, “That’s right, following the king’s decree, after reorganizing the troops and horses, I shall continue boarding the naval vessels and then head directly east to Fengling. After landing there, I will lead the army into Yuzhang.”

Sun Siwen said, “If so, then I offer my early congratulations on True Person’s forthcoming victory.”

Lu Yuan smiled, “The same to the Prime Minister, who will lead troops north tomorrow, joining the king’s plan to corner Emperor Shenqiu of Ning. By that time, with our four fronts surrounding them, Prime Minister, since your route is nearer, you might even outdo me in rendering service and capture a few Ning Martial Marquises.”

According to Lu Yuan’s plan, after defeating the Ning Army in Changsha, Lu Yuan would continue leading his army of fifty thousand to move east into Yuzhang Prefecture, capturing its capital, Nanchang, to cut off Emperor Shenqiu’s eastern land retreat.

After Sun Siwen had cleared out the remnants of the Ning Army in Changsha and arranged the city’s defenses, he would lead twenty thousand Forbidden Army troops and thirty thousand select and brave militia from the south to the north, from Changsha, encircling the south of Shen Qiu and blocking his escape route to the south.

Thus, with fifty thousand Forbidden Army troops and twenty thousand naval forces from Lu Yuan himself to the west; forty thousand Forbidden Army troops and twenty thousand naval forces at Luo Kou Du waterway to the north.

With Chu forces encircling from all four sides, Emperor Shenqiu’s escape routes were completely cut off.

“As the Prime Minister, I am not skilled in war and do not expect to render any great service on this expedition; I only hope not to overlook anything that might allow Ning forces to escape, thereby jeopardizing the king’s plans,” Sun Siwen shook his head, not setting his heart on earning military achievements.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan merely smiled.

Yet, he knew well that his true self’s good friend still had the heart of a public servant, caring only about the state of Chu and all living beings, truly devoid of much selfishness.

“General, Xiang Duan’s head has been processed and prepared.”

It was at this moment a minor officer approached, holding a box in his hand. He approached the two commanders in the army and presented it with both hands.

On hearing this, Lu Yuan glanced into the box and saw that Xiang Duan’s head, which he had personally slain, was now cleaned of blood and specially treated with saltpetre to prevent decay for several months.

He wasn’t interested in the corpse, so after one glance, he looked away and casually said, “Send the head back to Jiangxia to report our victory to the king.”

Indeed, while he himself had no use for Xiang Duan’s head, over there, it was likely necessary.

For instance, effects such as boosting one’s own morale, attacking the Ning Army, and shaking the opponent’s military heart.

Having casually dealt with Xiang Duan’s head, Lu Yuan looked over at the Ning Army’s camp, which was nearly cleaned up by now; the captured Ning soldiers were being taken away, and the militia was gathering and burning the corpses. There wasn’t much left to do here.

His forces had already assembled and were waiting to board ships at a small ferry not far from the camp, where the naval forces were stationed.

Therefore, he said, “Now that affairs here are concluded and my troops are ready to depart, I’ll be leaving first. Prime Minister, let’s meet again in Yuzhang Prefecture.”

Sun Siwen said, “Have a safe journey, General. May we meet again after another great victory.”

“Hahaha!”

Lu Yuan laughed heartily, saluted Sun Siwen, then raised his whip, and with a neigh, his steed charged away like a dust cloud, quickly shrinking to a mere speck in the distance.

—————–

In the city of Jiangxia.

With Lu Yuan’s avatar stationed there, he became aware of the detailed situation of the Changsha battle as soon as it occurred.

“Haha, Lu Yuan indeed did not disappoint me. He transferred troops for thousands of miles from Hanzhong, took a surprise water route to attack Changsha, and in one fell swoop defeated seventy thousand Ning soldiers, beheaded an Inborn Martial Marquis, truly gratifying, truly gratifying!”

Receiving the news, Lu Yuan laughed heartily, then summoned his generals and informed them of the situation, which immediately soared their morale and confidence.

The defeat of the Ning Army in Changsha not only greatly diminished Ning’s strength, losing seventy thousand troops and an Inborn.

On Chu’s side, the southern threat was eliminated, liberating the one hundred thousand Defenders of Changsha city and Sun Siwen, an Inborn.

Moreover, aside from Changsha’s Defenders, Chu now had one extra True Person Protector of the State, Lu Yuan, and fifty thousand of his Forbidden Army troops.

In this gain and loss, the difference was three Inborns and two hundred and twenty thousand troops.

With such a shift in forces, Chu’s advantage over Ning had suddenly leaped forward.

“Alright, everyone, with the Prime Minister and the Protector of the State obtaining a great victory in Changsha and Ning’s defeat imminent, we must not fall behind during such an auspicious time. We have the responsibility to keep Emperor Ning Shen Qiu and his one hundred thousand troops here in Jiangxia,” Lu Yuan addressed his people, emphasizing the importance of their duties, then continued, “To better encircle Ning’s forces, I have already summoned the Protector Custodian of the State, Han Hua, from the north of the river to rush to Luo Kou Du and take command of this port.

In this way, to the east, south, west, and north, Great Chu will have Inborn Grandmasters stationed, ensuring that even with wings, Ning’s people will find escape impossible.”

Han Hua was originally in the north of Jiangxia assisting Zhou Qing, tasked with a significant responsibility of containing Yang Jing’s Ning forces and could not be spared.

However, as Chu’s victories continued on the Lingnan and Dongting battlegrounds, the situation slowly shifted from mere defense to a major counter-attack.

As it stands now, Qingyunzi is attacking Jianan, Li Xiong is attacking Luyang in Yuzhang, and they are assisting the Chu forces of Hengyang and Luyang from behind, collectively striking at Ning’s armies in the two prefectures.