binnovel Chapter 536 Attacking Vietnam
Chapter 536 Attacking Vietnam
A muffled sob came from the corner of the hall. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the elderly Imperial Clan Minister, tears streaming down his wrinkled face like a broken string of pearls. This old minister, who had witnessed the heyday of the Chu Kingdom, could no longer conceal his grief and despair. He recalled the glory days when Chu dominated the other states, and now it had fallen to such a state—how could he not feel heartbroken?
General Xiang Yan stood at the forefront of the military ranks, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood, yet he remained oblivious. As the pillar of the Chu state, he understood better than anyone what a food shortage meant—no autumn harvest meant no military rations, and even the most elite army would crumble without a fight due to hunger. At this very moment, the Qin state in the north was watching with predatory eyes; once Chu lost its ability to resist, the Qin army would seize the opportunity to march south and utterly destroy Chu.
In the suffocating silence, a loud voice broke the stillness. General Zheng Ji stepped forward. He was about forty years old, with a robust build and a resolute face. His armor gleamed coldly in the dim hall.
"Your Majesty!" General Zheng Ji strode forward, his voice booming like a bell, breaking the suffocating silence. "The situation is perilous, all because of the Qin people's cunning, especially that vixen Ying Wuyou! However, sitting idly by and waiting for death is not a wise strategy! I have heard that the Baiyue region in the south has a hot and humid climate, where rice can be harvested three times a year. It is vast and sparsely populated, with ignorant tribes that are not under one rule. This is a granary bestowed upon our Great Chu by Heaven! I am willing to lead 50,000 elite troops south to the Baiyue to seize their provisions to alleviate our immediate crisis; and to occupy their land to plan for future advancement! I am willing to make a military pledge—within two months, I will definitely obtain the first batch of provisions and transport them back to Shouchun!"
Upon hearing this, a buzz of discussion immediately filled the hall.
"Conquering the Baiyue? How easy is that! The area is rife with miasma and plague, with high mountains and dense forests..."
"I have heard that the Baiyue tribes are brave and warlike, and the terrain is complex, so I am afraid it will be difficult to win quickly."
"With such a large army on a long expedition, how will we ensure the supply of provisions and logistics? If this continues for too long, unforeseen circumstances may arise!"
Doubts arose. Zheng Ji, however, remained unfazed and declared loudly, “Your Majesty! The various tribes of Baiyue, such as Ouyue, Minyue, Nanyue, and Xiyue, have been engaged in endless internal strife and mutual attacks in recent years, and their strength has greatly diminished. This is a golden opportunity! I have thoroughly investigated and found that their tribal granaries are well-stocked. Two months, just two months! We will surely be able to break through their core tribes, seize sufficient provisions, and the first batch of grain ships can then sail up the river back to Shouchun to relieve the famine in our Great Chu!”
"Two months?" A glint of light flashed in the King of Chu's eyes; he was clearly tempted by this deadline. If the food problem could be solved in two months, the State of Chu could catch its breath and face the ever-watchful State of Qin.
"General Zheng's courage is commendable..." A deep, steady voice rang out, silencing the noise in the hall. Everyone turned to look, and there stood Xiang Yan, the pillar of the Chu Kingdom and the Supreme General. He stood tall and straight, his eyes deep as an ancient well, revealing a wisdom that had endured many hardships.
Xiang Yan slowly stepped forward and bowed to the King of Chu: "Your Majesty, General Zheng is loyal and brave for the country, and his heart is evident. However, conquering Baiyue is by no means an easy task, and a two-month deadline seems like a castle in the air."
He turned to Zheng Ji, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "General Zheng, do you know that the land of Baiyue is not a plain or wilderness, but a place of thousands of mountains and valleys, deep forests and slippery moss, and pervasive miasma? Our soldiers from the north are not accustomed to the climate and water, and I fear that two or three out of ten of them have fallen ill before the battle even begins. This is one of them."
"Although the Baiyue people are divided into numerous tribes and constantly fighting among themselves, they may temporarily set aside their differences and unite against a common enemy. Their people are fierce and skilled in mountain warfare, while our army is slow to move and easy to ambush. This is the second reason."
“Thirdly, and most importantly,” Xiang Yan’s gaze sharpened, “how could the Qin people sit idly by? Princess Jiayang has a far-reaching plan; the lands of Baiyue are probably no longer unclaimed. If our army becomes bogged down in them, and the Qin army takes advantage of the situation, then our nation will be in grave danger!”
Xiang Yan's words were like a bucket of cold water, poured over the heads of many generals whose blood had been stirred by Zheng Ji's bold words. Silence fell once more in the hall.
Zheng Ji retorted, “General, you are overthinking it! The main force of the Qin army needs to pacify the newly acquired territories of Han and Zhao, and also needs to clean up the mess in Yan and Dai. Where will they find the strength to march south? Ying Wuyou is just a young boy. Even if he has some brilliant schemes, what can he do? Within the Baiyue region, the Ouyue, Minyue, Nanyue, Xiyue, Luoyue, Yangyue, Yuyue, and Shanyue tribes have been fighting each other in recent years, and their strength has been greatly weakened. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of them! Only by fighting quickly and seizing supplies can we stabilize the foundation of our nation!”
The King of Chu looked at his two trusted ministers: one ambitious and advocating for a swift victory, the other mature and prudent, considering the overall situation. He was torn between his own mind and his own desires. However, since Xiang Yan had been captured by Qin, the King of Chu had paid less attention to him. In addition, there was a severe food shortage, and the promise of "two months" from Zheng Ji was too tempting.
After a long silence, the King of Chu took a deep breath and resolutely declared, "Grain is the lifeblood of the nation; it cannot be depleted for long! General Zheng!"
"Your subject is here!" Zheng Ji's spirits lifted.
"I hereby grant you 50,000 elite troops and 200 warships. Prepare them immediately and march south in ten days! I expect you to live up to my expectations and bring back news of victory and supplies within two months!"
"Your subject obeys! I will repay Your Majesty's kindness with my life!" Zheng Ji knelt on one knee, his voice echoing across the roof tiles.
Xiang Yan's lips moved, but it ultimately turned into a barely audible sigh as he retreated to his place in the ranks. He gazed at the bright sun outside the hall, a heavy shadow falling over his heart. He seemed to see the fate of the Chu Kingdom being pushed into an unknown and dangerous torrent.
While the Chu court was arguing endlessly about sending troops to Baiyue, a completely different scene was unfolding in the Ouyue region, far to the southeast.
Ouyue, located on the eastern coast of the Baiyue region, is characterized by a dense network of waterways and rolling hills. On a hilltop that was originally nameless but is now known locally as "Qinying Mountain," a fortified camp stands majestically, with banners fluttering in the wind. Beneath the distinctive "Su" character emblem lies a scene of orderly activity and vibrant life.
Unlike typical Yue villages, this place not only features a solemn military camp, but also vast terraced fields carved into the mountainside, irrigated by mountain springs, where the rice seedlings are lush and thriving. Further away, one can see sugarcane fields rustling in the wind.
The young master Fusu, using the alias "Qin Su," was inspecting the fields with Lu Chuan, a warrior who had submitted to the local forces. Four years had honed this once gentle and refined young master into a more composed and resolute man. The inherent kindness in his eyes had not diminished despite being in a remote and uncivilized place; on the contrary, it had gained a deeper compassion for the suffering of the people.
"Young master, look at this season's rice. The ears are large and the grains are full; it's another good harvest." Lu Chuan pointed to the rice paddies, his tone full of admiration. "Since you brought the superior seeds and planting methods from Qin, our Ouyue's grain production has more than doubled!"
Fusu smiled slightly, bent down and picked up a handful of soil, examining it carefully: "It is all thanks to the nourishment of heaven and earth and the hard work of everyone. Lu Chuan, remember, after the harvest, you must keep the best grains separately as I previously instructed. One part should be transported to Xianyang to supply the army and the people, and the other part must be carefully stored. That part is the 'superior seed' that Wuyou specifically instructed us to keep for promotion."
"Understood!" Lu Chuan replied solemnly.
At this moment, General Tu Sui and his strategist Ye Ziheng walked over together.