Half an hour later, all the Xiliang bandits who had swept across half of Liangzhou were executed, and the southern part of Xiliang was cleared after this battle.
Shu Commandery Prefectural Office.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for expanding territory and successfully occupying Anding and Beidi Commanderies. The system has begun to process the host's gains!"
"Ding! Received 100,000 faith points, 30,000 slaughter points!"
Looking at the two commanderies, Yang Hao, who had only gained 100,000 faith points, couldn't help but ponder. The world was in chaos, and it was always the common people who suffered!
The entire southern part of Liangzhou was overrun with bandits, desolate and ruined. The common people were less than one in ten. Alas, although the southern part of Liangzhou had been occupied, the task left by the bandits was still arduous.
It would take a long time to restore the population and livelihood in southern Liangzhou.
"System! Use all slaughter points to summon the elite soldiers of Eastern Wu!"
With the unification of the south, the next step was to sweep through Xiliang. The Tianhuo Army was not like these bandits. It was time to invest heavily to reap rich rewards!
Shan Xiongxin was deep in the Wuling Mountains pursuing Ji Shu, the Inspector of Yizhou, while Wan Mizhai had to guard the Shu Commandery Prefectural Office for his safety. The heavy responsibility of unifying Xiliang fell upon Gao Shun and Lu Kang.
Gao Shun's elite camp had all emerged, but Lu Kang only had four thousand elite soldiers from Eastern Wu, which might not be enough to support a major battle.
"Ding! Four thousand elite soldiers from Eastern Wu have been successfully summoned at the cost of 40,000 slaughter points!"
Now Lu Kang's eight thousand elite soldiers from Eastern Wu were like a mighty army, capable of testing their mettle!
...
Main Hall of the Prefectural Office.
"Now that all the southern Liangzhou bandits have been eliminated, what do you think is the next step, Zhu Sheng?"
Yang Hao, holding his forehead, looked at Zhu Sheng.
"My Lord, in Anding and Beidi Commanderies, the common people are less than one in ten, and the infrastructure is completely destroyed. Sheng believes that General Liao Hua and General Zhou Yuji should first focus on building infrastructure.
"Repair the city walls, dredge the rivers, and build infrastructure, then transfer 100,000 people from Shu Commandery, Guanghan, and Hanzhong to settle in the two commanderies respectively."
"At that time, the army will implement the屯田制 (tuntian system), and the army and civilians will unite. In a few years, the two commanderies will surely recover."
"However!"
"However, what?"
Yang Hao asked when he saw Zhu Sheng hesitate.
"However, southern Liangzhou can no longer withstand the ravages of war!"
Zhu Sheng bowed slightly.
"Yes, this barren land is plagued by disasters and is already dilapidated. The people of Liangzhou have suffered greatly."
Yang Hao looked at the map in his hand: "Issue an order, appointing Lu Kang as the commander to lead all the Xiliang war efforts. Tell him, I have only one request."
Zhu Sheng stepped forward slightly: "My Lord, what is the request?"
"The Tianhuo Army must not cross the large river north of Tianshui Commandery. Order Lu Kang to unify Xiliang as soon as possible!" Yang Hao said, slamming his right hand on the side of the map.
...
...
Tianshui Commandery Prefectural Office.
Lu Kang sat at the head of the table, his saber placed beside him, with Gao Shun, Liao Hua, and Zhou Yuji seated below.
Liao Hua and Zhou Yuji had left the military and political affairs of Anding and Beidi to their deputies and came to Tianshui alone to assist Lu Kang.
"Everyone, according to the scouts' reports, the Tianhuo Army entered the Liangzhou provincial capital last night. All the court officials were executed, and their bodies were left to rot in the wilderness."
"It is expected that the Tianhuo Army will attack south soon. What strategies do you generals have?"
Lu Kang looked at the map spread out in the hall, carefully examining the route from the provincial capital to Tianshui, and said in a low voice.
Between the Liangzhou provincial capital and Tianshui, a mighty river wound its way, its current swift and its descent rapid.
Beyond the river, fifty li from the provincial capital, there was a plain that stretched all the way to the provincial capital, with open scenery and no obstacles.
"General Lu, my lord has an order!"
At this moment, a soldier strode into the hall. After looking around, he appeared somewhat excited, as the people present were all renowned generals.
"Reporting to the general, my lord's order is that the Tianhuo Army must not cross the great river north of Tianshui. General Lu Kang is ordered to unify Xiliang as soon as possible!"
The soldier's tone was serious and sonorous.
Upon hearing the soldier's report, Lu Kang and the others quickly gathered around the map and examined it carefully.
After an unknown amount of time.
"The Tianhuo Path is not composed of bandits with uneven strength. As the foremost sect that shakes the regions of Yong and Liang, their strength should not be underestimated!"
Liao Hua suddenly spoke.
"General Lu, the Tianhuo Path is advancing aggressively and carrying the momentum of victory, with high morale. To fight the Tianhuo Path, we can only outsmart them, not attack them head-on."
Gao Shun added immediately.
Lu Kang carefully observed the map and asked, "General Zhou, what do you think?"
"General Lu, I believe the Tianhuo Army has only three routes to advance south, and perhaps they will advance on all three routes simultaneously!"
Zhou Yuji swept his gaze across the map and replied slowly.
"Hmm!"
Hearing Zhou Yuji's words, a spark of light flashed in Lu Kang's eyes. Zhou Yuji's idea coincided with his own.
"Explain it in detail!"
Lu Kang looked at the map.
"Generals."
Zhou Yuji bowed slightly.
"I believe the Tianhuo Army will advance south in three routes. The first route will cross the great river and head straight for Longxi, controlling the strategic passage to Tianshui."
"The second route will take a risky path, crossing the Wuling Mountains and the great river, directly striking Beidi and Anding. As for the third route, it will undoubtedly be the main force of Tianhuo, crossing the great river and attacking Tianshui with force!"
"At that time, the three armies will launch a pincer attack on Tianshui, and Tianshui will fall without a fight!"
Zhou Yuji's tone was serious as he gestured at the map, speaking in one go.
"Excellent!"
Lu Kang's eyes lit up upon hearing Zhou Yuji's analysis. There were only these three routes for the Tianhuo Path to lead its army south, and three armies would be the most prudent approach. Sudan Novel Network
Lu Kang stood up and moved to the main seat: "Presumably, everyone understands that southern Liangzhou has been severely weakened after the bandit uprising. My lord has also transferred people from the three commanderies of Yizhou to restore southern development. The south can no longer withstand any turmoil."
As soon as Lu Kang finished speaking, Gao Shun and the others' eyes flashed with ferocity, and their fists clenched. Those damned bandits had massacred the people, burned, looted, and committed all sorts of evil deeds.
"Generals, by the order of my lord, this battle is to annihilate the Tianhuo Army entirely north of the great river. This battle should achieve complete victory and pacify Xiliang in one fell swoop!"
Lu Kang suddenly stood up, his voice sonorous and his killing intent soaring!
"Liao Hua, receive the order!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Liao Hua stepped out with a thunderous roar.
"You are ordered to lead an army of 10,000, cross the Wuling Mountains, cross the great river, and ambush the invading enemy!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Liao Hua took the command flag.
"Zhou Yuji, receive the order!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Zhou Yuji prostrated himself with a thunderous roar.
"You are ordered to lead an army of 10,000 to ambush the enemy in Longxi!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Zhou Yuji took the command flag.
"Gao Shun, receive the order!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Shun stepped out with a thunderous roar.
"You are ordered to be the deputy general of the main army and accompany me to lead the army directly to the Liangzhou provincial capital!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Gao Shun prostrated himself with a thunderous roar.
"Generals, this battle will surely sweep through Xiliang!"