Xiang Qing had a different line of thought. Though he too worried about battle losses, as long as there was war, people would die. It was better to gain experience sooner than to encounter a powerful army in the future and collapse at the first blow.
Training troops—the emphasis lay in training.
So this was not his main reason for opposing it.
What concerned him was the bigger picture. If the Divine Might Army moved too frequently, would it be discovered by the powerful clans and aristocratic families native to Liang Prefecture? Would it draw the attention of Fire Dragon Cave, or even the notice of the Imperial Court?
Those were the true matters of life and death. One wrong step could mean facing the danger of annihilation.
Especially the last point. Since Meng Zhao had never stated his intention to incorporate the Divine Might Army into the Yangwu Army, their existence still could not see the light of day. They were as incompatible with the Imperial Court's official troops as fire and water.
For the past few years, they had remained hidden in Hu Mountain. Thanks to the Heavenly King Gang and Lifeng Trading Company, they had concealed themselves well, and the outside world had rarely learned of this army's existence.
What if—what if their raids exposed the existence of the Divine Might Army? That might not be a good thing.
This was also why Meng Zhao had initially rejected the path of raiding. After all, with more than thirty thousand people, their daily provisions and expenditures were astronomical. Either they would have to pull off many jobs against ordinary small factions, or risk one huge job against a major power with deep foundations.
And no matter which it was, it would draw outside attention.
Si Peng and Xiang