TO ACHIEVE IMMORTALITY, I CULTIVATE USING QI LUCK

Chapter 917: Chapter 385: The Southwest Subdued_3 Chapter 917: Chapter 385: The Southwest Subdued_3 Below, a minister responsible for these matters, swift with news, reported back.

“Nanzhao Country has already agreed.

Can they accept the division of their entire nation into three parts, with a section handed over to direct governance by Chu State?”

Xie Ning was astonished upon hearing this.

This time, Chu State’s restructuring of the three southwestern countries offered terms to Dali, Nanzhao, and Song Country that were neither overly harsh nor particularly lenient.

The demand from Chu State was for the three southwestern countries to be split up, based on the innate quantity of Inborn Grandmasters, with one Inborn being able to confer half a county as a country, into several smaller nations led by an Inborn Grandmaster each.

If this demand were met, then Nanzhao Country, which originally spanned two counties, would be split into three small countries of only half a county each.

Another half county would be reclaimed by Chu State to become directly governed territory.

Dali Country, on the other hand, would not need any land reclaimed, as it had four Inborn Grandmasters within its borders.

With half a county per person, they would be able to neatly divide the land of the two counties within the country.

The real loser was Song Country.

Because there was only one Inborn, Xie Ning, according to this policy, he would directly lose a county’s worth of land and could only retain half a county of soil.

Even worse was whether Chu State knew Song Country was easy to bully, so the half county it left them was not the cultivated and matured land of Jiuzhen County.

Instead, it was Yinsheng County, a place only recently developed by Song Country, rampant with barbarian natives.

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How could Xie Ning accept this?

You should know that Yinsheng County, when it was previously under Dali Country, was considered barren land.

Afterward, as Xie Ning conquered the region, many of the barbarian natives were killed off or scattered, resulting in a significant loss of population.

Therefore, now in the entire Yinsheng County, the registered households numbered barely more than eighty thousand, with a population of just over three hundred thousand.

What enjoyment would there be in being king of such an impoverished land?

Tax revenues would be minimal, and the army sustainment negligible.

To say a king but in reality, not as influential as an internal land’s Prefect, was simply about having a more prestigious title.

Yet, the part to be ceded, Jiuzhen County, was indeed a land of wealth, with three hundred sixty thousand households and over one million seven hundred thousand people, equating to five or six Yinsheng Counties.

Of course, given Chu’s absolute advantage, that Song Country could preserve its dynasty and Xie Ning retain his kingship, with the many ministers maintaining their positions, was already an uncommonly good fortune by historical standards.

After all, when enemy dynasties fell in the past, it meant storming the enemy’s royal family and ensuring all the ministers would fall to the status of a conquered nation’s slaves.

That Chu State was this generous with Song Country was indeed rare.

But everything suffers in comparison.

Seeing Nanzhao and Dali benefit more than oneself, even knowing one’s treatment was relatively good, Xie Ning would still feel shortchanged.

In his heart, naturally hesitant and reluctant, he couldn’t make the decision to surrender.

“Your Majesty, Nanzhao Country previously suffered heavy losses from Chu State and was subsequently harassed for several years by Chilih, Kunhai, Jianchuan, and other countries, enduring constant warfare and national fatigue,” one minister began explaining the situation to Xie Ning.

“Although they possess lands across two counties, the people there have been plundered by nearly half, so to have any remaining population of one million five or six hundred thousand would be fortunate.

Therefore, while they have three Inborn Grandmasters, the total military force they can muster barely reaches a hundred thousand.

But the Chu people, with two Inborn Grandmasters leading a force of a hundred thousand soldiers each, are stationed in both Hegu and Xichuan counties, pressing against the northern borders of Nanzhao.

Chilih, Kunhai, and Jianchuan countries are also assembling troops within their borders, responding to Chu State’s call in Qianzhong.

This convergence of forces from various routes could amount to no less than three hundred thousand troops, with six Inborn Grandmasters among them.

With Nanzhao Country’s strength, how could it possibly resist?

If they stubbornly try to endure, they might truly face the peril of national extinction.

Rather than that, it is better to surrender outright.

Given that the Nanzhao Royal Family has two Inborns, even if the country is divided into quarters, they could still retain half of it for themselves.

And the Great Witch Sacrifice of the nation could also receive a country’s worth of land to govern, which can be considered a benefit for everyone.

Moreover, after submitting to Chu State, under the same dynasty, Chilih, Kunhai, and Jianchuan could no longer attack the Nanzhao trio due to Chu’s constraints.

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They too could escape the long-term war and enjoy a peaceful existence.

With these benefits in mind, even if they have to give up half a county of land, it’s actually acceptable for Nanzhao Country.”

A minister well-acquainted with Nanzhao Country’s situation analyzed it for Xie Ning.

However, his words clearly also aimed to persuade his own king to submit, using Nanzhao as an example.

“Your Majesty, Nanzhao has now submitted, and with their assistance, in the lands of the southwest, Chu State will have an additional three Inborns and a hundred thousand soldiers at their disposal,” Royal Minister Xie Yong solemnly advised.

“Their influence is undoubtedly increased by a notch.

Even if our country unites with Dali, we can muster at most three to four hundred thousand troops, with five Inborns.

Yet the Chu people can gather an army of five hundred thousand elite soldiers, with twelve Inborns.

Such strength is beyond what our two countries can withstand.

Now, if Dali gets wind of Nanzhao’s submission, they might already be wavering, not knowing when they will surrender to Chu State.

If our country stubbornly resists to the end, whether Chu people would still wish to accept us will become an issue.”

“Remember, ‘Kill the chicken to warn the monkey.’”

Xie Ning shuddered inwardly upon hearing this.

Without deploying a single soldier, without a single casualty, Chu people would subdue three countries.

Indeed, this avoidance of broad and costly casualties was a benefit, but it inevitably left behind a restlessness and lack of submission in many hearts.

Therefore, for Chu State, finding a suitable target to punish harshly to serve as a deterrent to other southwestern nations would undoubtedly be an excellent strategy.

And looking across the three southwestern nations, only Song Country best fit these criteria.

The reason was plain.

Song Country had the weakest military, the smallest territory, and the fewest Grandmasters, undoubtedly seen by all as a soft persimmon.

Would they not take this opportunity to exert authority over such an easy target rather than targeting Dali Country, which boasts four Inborns and a military force of three hundred thousand?

“Royal Minister Xie Yong is right.

We in Song Country cannot delay any further,” Xie Ning suddenly realized, no longer daring to hesitate or cling to his losses.

He hurriedly addressed the assembly of ministers below, “Send someone quickly to invite the Chu State messenger.

Tell them that I am willing to submit and pay tribute to Chu State, and request the messenger to discuss the details.”

“Yes.”

A minister responsible for foreign affairs, upon hearing this, immediately left in a hurry.

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