To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

However, even so, the Yi people were still numerous and powerful.

Tens of thousands, or even as many as 200,000 Yi people, were still firmly distributed in the north, west, and south of the city, surrounding an area of dozens of miles around Stone City.

It was unrealistic to expect Lu Yuan’s remaining 50,000 troops, after constant battles, to completely defeat and drive away the enemy in these three directions.

A gap of three or four times in numbers could not be easily closed by quality alone.

Even more so, once the Yi people discovered the arrival of the Chu people and realized they were no match for them in open battle, they no longer actively engaged in face-to-face battles.

Instead, they remained ensconced in their camps, engaging in defensive tactics.

With two Inborn grandmasters and a large number of first and second-tier martial artists in their army supplemented by countless troops, Lu Yuan personally tried several times but failed to achieve much breakthrough on these three battle lines.

The enemy couldn’t defeat him, but he couldn’t easily defeat them either.

Both sides’ armies were thus mired in a cruel and dull stalemate of attrition.

Just as predicted, the war against Da Changhe Country turned into a deadlock, turning into a protracted war.

Fortunately, Lu Yuan had anticipated this situation.

Not only did he accumulate over ten million silver tales of military expenditures, but he also invited Su, Song, and Xichuan nations to join the war effort together.

With these reserves and the combined efforts of the four nations, they had enough resources to fight these southwestern Yi people in a war that could last over a decade.

However, prepared as they were for a protracted war, they could not afford to waste their elite Forbidden Army troops in fruitless front-line battles.

Lu Yuan, who had already lost four or five thousand troops in just a few days, soon began to feel the pain of these losses.

Watching his hard-trained elite soldiers be wasted in such a purely attritional battle, Lu Yuan naturally couldn’t bear it.

But casualties were inevitable on the battlefield.

If they didn’t send troops to take out the Yi people’s camps one by one and wear down their forces, how would they achieve victory in this war?

So casualties were necessary.

However, the question of whose troops should die and whose should be sacrificed was a matter of some debate.

As a result, we have today Lu Yuan urgently summoning Li Xiong to his camp for questioning.

Hearing his question, Li Xiong’s heart tightened – as a warlord, he naturally understood Lu Yuan’s intentions, to use his troops as cannon fodder and send them to be consumed on the battlefield.

Such a strategy could both save his own troops and eliminate potential threats while strengthening his rule – a win-win situation.

But while Lu Yuan would benefit, Li Xiong would suffer.

Without troops, his only bargaining chip would be his own strength as an Inborn Grandmaster.

No one would willingly weaken themselves like that.

He wanted to shirk the responsibility, but upon meeting Lu Yuan’s calm gaze and remembering his opponent’s inborn Second Order strength and the massive Great Chu behind him, Li Xiong couldn’t help but shudder and knew he couldn’t fool him.

In the end, he could only sigh silently and reply with a slightly bitter voice, “Your Majesty, there are currently over 23,000 troops in the city, including more than 2,000 wounded. Excluding those guarding the city, I can send 15,000 troops to assist you.”

“15,000 troops?”

Upon hearing this number, Lu Yuan frowned slightly.

Although this number of troops was not small, they would not last even a month in the difficult battles of camp sieges and defenses before being completely consumed.

However, he also understood Li Xiong’s situation somewhat, knowing that this should be all the forces he had at his disposal.

Even if he forced him further, he wouldn’t get much more out of him.

So in the end, he could only nod and say, “Alright, have these troops join my command tomorrow.”

Hearing this order, Li Xiong showed a bitter smile in his heart; in the end, he couldn’t escape this fate.

But with no room for resistance left, all he could do was accept his orders reluctantly: “This servant obeys.”

Seeing that Li Xiong did not resist but obediently obeyed, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but show a smile on his face. He reassured, “Li Qing, don’t worry. Today I take your soldiers to break the Yi people.

If we can defeat the Yi people and take their land, the Great Chu can obtain thousands of miles of territory.

In this vast land, it’s not practical for me to set up prefectures and counties all by myself.

In the end, it will be necessary to divide it among those who helped us defend our lands for the Great Chu.

As long as you can achieve enough merit in this battle, just like the story of the lonely king and Su king and others helping pre-Yue in the Northern Expedition, helping me to annihilate Da Changhe Country.

Such a great achievement is not limited to the four nations of Nong Dong.

Even if it is half of a province, or even an entire province, what would I have to lose?”

Ever fond of using a carrot and stick, Lu Yuan, after taking away Li Xiong’s military power, immediately tempted him with a giant bait.

A very attractive bait.

Sure enough.

Hearing Lu Yuan’s promise and using his own experiences as an example, Li Xiong, who had gone through the same thing, was immediately attracted.

Half a province, or even a full province?