Chapter 305: Chapter 180: Advancing and Retreating in a Dilemma 2

Translator: 549690339

After annihilating them, why not cross the Hebei River and confront the main force of the Zhou people head -on?

So instinctively, upon hearing this number, many people present subconsciously felt something was wrong.

‘Could that 200,000-strong army be just a bluff?

And could the composition of the expeditionary force be made up of nothing but random conscripts?

Just like the Miao people.’

Many people had this thought in their hearts.

They had been in Dongting for some time now and had encountered the Miao people on several occasions.

Through these long-lasting confrontations, they naturally understood the true strength of the Miao people’s 100,000-strong army.

It was nothing more than temporarily conscripted strong farmers.

Although the Miao people’s momentary bravery could not be said to be without any fighting strength, they were still essentially just a ragtag army.

So last time they lined up and openly confronted the Zhou-Miao alliance in a real battle.

As a result, those Zhou people were able to fight back, while the Miao people collapsed in just one hour.

The defeated troops swept the Zhou people, shaking their morale and directly leading to the total defeat of the entire battle.

Otherwise, if only the Zhou people had fought, even if there were only 50,000 of them, and this side was twice the number of the enemy, they would not have been able to defeat the enemy in such a short time.

Even after the entire battle, it was not certain whether the Zhou people would be defeated.

There is a huge gap in strength between professional soldiers, semi-professional soldiers, and ordinary civilians.

Zhou people and the imperial army are both professional soldiers. However, those Miao people may not even be considered semi-professional soldiers.

If General Pingxi’s troops are all civilians, then even if there are 200,000 of them, they will not be of much use. On the contrary, the more people there are, the more likely things might go wrong.

Upon thinking of the consequences, many people worried about the nation’s politics could not help but step forward and say, “General, is it true that there are 200,000 people on Lu Pingxi’s side? If so, how many of them are soldiers, and how many are civilians?

With its strength, can it really sweep the Miao people away?”

As soon as this question came out, many people present looked at Shangguan Ming.

The fame of Lu Yuan’s 200,000 -strong army had already been spread. If a major defeat were to take place, even if it did not harm their strength, the news of the court’s 200,000-strong army being defeated would probably shake the hearts and minds of the people in Dongting and even the whole country, causing local unrest and giving ambitious people a chance to rise.

This would be a terrible thing for everyone.

If this were the case, they would rather not have support from Lu Yuan.

Shangguan Ming glanced at his subordinates and knew what they were worried about. He also understood that if he did not give a clear explanation, it might shake the morale of the South An army.

So he thought about it and decided to reveal some details, saying, “Don’t worry about this matter, everyone. In recent years, Lu Pingxi has recruited and trained 60,000 soldiers. Although this expedition is said to be 200,000 strong, there are actually only 150,000 people.

Among these 150,000 people, there are those 60,000 soldiers, and the rest are mostly county soldiers and militias.

With this strength, even if the main force of the Miao people returns to Wuling Prefecture, they will be no match for Lu Pingxi.

Remember, those barbarian Miao soldiers are just ordinary mountain people. In terms of fighting strength, they are not much stronger than the civilians and militias under the court’s rule.

And the Miao people in Wuling Prefecture are no more than 100,000 in number.

With the presence of those 60,000 soldiers, supplemented by 90,000 civilian forces, they already outnumber the enemy. Even if they are unable to conquer Wuling Prefecture, they will certainly not suffer defeat.

Moreover, to ensure victory, I have ordered Innate Grandmaster Yan Wangqiu from the Nanhai Sect to assist Lu Pingxi.

With his presence, even if the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect herself takes action, she will not be able to cause any waves.

With this, there is no need to worry, right?”

Shangguan Ming shared the information he knew and made some reasonable embellishments with a smile on his face.

Upon hearing what he said, the worry on his subordinates’ faces indeed diminished by more than half.

Indeed.

If what Shangguan Ming said was true, then Lu Pingxi’s actions this time would be enough to give those Miao people a powerful blow.

This time, even if these Miao people were not completely wiped out,

they would be unable to make a move and interfere with their ongoing war against the Zhou people before dealing with Lu Pingxi’s offensive.

Without the Miao people’s help, this would indeed be an excellent opportunity for them to drive the Zhou people back to the north of the river.

So someone excitedly said, “If this is true, then I would like to be the vanguard and fight the north people for the general.”

“Haha, General Lu, don’t be impatient. Those Miao people haven’t left yet.” Shangguan Ming laughed loudly, then turned his head to look at the Saint

Monk Jihui beside him and said, “National Master, once the Miao people of the Five Poisons Sect retreat, I will lead the army to attack. But Li Yanjing is too powerful for me to handle.

At that time, I would like to ask the National Master to come forward with me and destroy this evil together.”

Saint Monk Jihui solemnly nodded: “Amitabha, Zhou people are good at using weapons and harming the innocent. Li Yanjing is their leader of sin. Even if the poor monk becomes Wrathful Vajrapani, we will help the general remove this demon.”

Shangguan Ming laughed and said, “With the words of the Saint Monk, there is no worry about this battle.”

Afterward, Shangguan Ming immediately distributed tasks on the spot, letting many subordinate generals prepare for the expedition.

Speed is essential in expeditions.

Although it is impossible to hide the news of Lu Yuan’s deployment, the scale and direction of his deployment have indeed been strictly concealed..