Chapter 677: Chapter 305: Adding Another Vassal State_2

‘I heard that in the southwestern Yi lands, the Chu State directly invaded and annihilated the local sovereign Da Changhe Country, capturing a huge amount of territory and even setting up Qianzhong County. If they want to exchange territory with me, this must be the place in question without a doubt.’

Qiao Kangquan mused in his heart, with little disappointment.

After all, although the southwest was said to be extremely barren with mountains everywhere and few plains, it was considered a poor and tough land.

But the Jiange and Tongchuan counties in his hands were also mostly mountainous, with few fertile lands, poor output, and not much population either.

Compared with the southwest, it’s hard to say which place was better or worse.

Moreover, the southwest had one advantage compared with his current territory.

That is, after moving over there, he would no longer have to face the despairing strong enemy, Zhou Country.

Qiao Kangquan, who had just suffered a bitter defeat at the hands of Zhou Country, couldn’t help but gasp when he thought about the seemingly inexhaustible army of two to three hundred thousand that Zhou Country could casually dispatch, with its overwhelming momentum.

Compared with Zhou Country, the southwestern Yi tribes, who had been retreating step by step under the control of the Chu State, seemed so amiable and harmless.

After pondering all these thoughts, Qiao Kangquan had no more objections. He composed himself, then respectfully replied: “The Great King is concerned about Zhou’s complete rule, and has saved my Hanzhong, there’s a nation-saving grace. I’m willing to follow the Great King’s arrangement.”

Lu Yuan, who had been waiting for his reply, couldn’t help but laugh heartily, saying merrily: “If the King of Hanzhong can think this way, I am greatly relieved. Don’t worry, since you trust me so much, I won’t let you suffer.

This time, the place I intend for you to relocate to is the Jianchuan Kingdom under the control of the Nanzhao Country in the southwest.

This kingdom has five counties with a million households. It’s a genuinely rich and fertile place.

This kingdom has now been conquered by the True Person Huang Xuan, who leads the army of my Great Chu. The Southern Border is remote, and I am worried about how to deal with it.

Now that the King of Hanzhong has pledged allegiance, it would be perfect to move your fiefdom to this place, you can help me stabilize the Southern Border and contain the Nanzhao Country.

How about that?

Exchanging two counties for five, are you willing, Lord Qiao?”

Toward the end, Lu Yuan said with a hint of smile.

Since Huang Xuan conquered Jianchuan Country, how to manage this territory has always been a dilemma in his heart.

If he directly incorporated it, the Chu State didn’t have enough population to fill it, nor did it have enough Inborn Grandmasters to secure it.

If the army retreated, it would be a real pity to give up the hard-won territory so casually.

Moreover, letting Nanzhao Country reclaim this land would once again pose a threat to the Xichuan County that Lu Yuan had recaptured.

Therefore, after considering various factors, he had not found a good solution for a long time.

Just at this moment.

Hanzhong Country was broken by the Zhou people, most of the country was lost, and it was almost on the brink of destruction.

And the Chu State just happens to need to reclaim the entire Xichuan County, therefore in the past few days, Lu Yuan thought of the relocation method.

To relocate the Hanzhong Country who had just pledged allegiance to him to Jianchuan Country. This arrangement can smoothly reclaim Jiange and Tongchuan counties and set an additional barrier in the south of Xichuan County against Nanzhao Country.

By that time, with Jianchuan, Chilih, and Kunhai three countries watching, no matter how capable the Nanzhao army was, they won’t be able to create any major waves.

With one more affiliated country in the southwestern region, the power of Chu Country will become even stronger, and its influence in that area can also be enhanced.

At the same time, several affiliated countries can create more checks and balances, making them think twice when they have treacherous thoughts of rebellion, fostering more caution and fear, stabilizing the local situation.

Although he gave up such a big territory as Jianchuan Country, nearly one third of the population inside Jianchuan Country has been relocated by Lu Yuan, and many of them are females and children of suitable age, who are the cream of the crop.

The million households he had promised in Jianchuan Country had now been reduced to six to seven hundred thousand, and there were hundreds of thousands of single men among them, which were unstable factors that Lu Yuan did not want to handle.

He considered it an expendable resource.

Getting rid of Jianchuan Country, this burden, was not a losing deal for him.

Of course, it was not a losing deal for Qiao Kangquan either.

Even if all the people under his rule were single men, this relocation was a great bargain for him.

Not only could his territory expand by more than double, but his population would also double.

One can say that as long as the other party agreed, his strength would instantly surge, doubling or even more without any restrictions.

With such generous terms, there would be no worry that the other party would not agree.

And indeed that was the case.

Upon hearing Lu Yuan’s conditions, Qiao Kangquan’s face immediately beamed with joy. He disregarded any dignity of being a sovereign or the inherent majesty of the Inborn, he immediately knelt and said: “I am deeply grateful for the Great King’s great kindness. I am willing to guard the Southern Border for Great Chu for generations, block the Yi people, preventing them from becoming a threat to Xichuan.”

At this moment, he was truly grateful to Lu Yuan.

Qiao Kangquan initially thought that being relocated to the southwest, at most, would mean changing to a territory of similar size, or even a potentially smaller one, which would mean a loss.

But if he could escape the present perilous situation, he was already prepared to bear this loss.

Who would have thought?

With this relocation, he not only didn’t suffer a loss, but he also gained a lot.

Facing such great fortune and Lu Yuan’s magnanimity, how could he not be grateful?

At this moment, when he knelt down and bowed, it was completely sincere.

“As long as you are pleased, Lord Qiao.”

Lu Yuan glanced at the excited Qiao Kangquan, then his expression became solemn: “Listen to my command, Qiao Kangquan.”

Qiao Kangquan, who was kneeling below and realized that something was about to happen, immediately composed himself and respectfully said: “Your servant is here.”

With great dignity, Lu Yuan said: “I formally confer you as the Duke of Jianchuan and your fiefdom as the western south five counties of Jianchuan. You are an associated country of my Great Chu, safeguarding the Yunnan tribes. I hope you will do your best, serve the court faithfully, and not let me down.”