"Where?"
Lu Yuanzhen gave a cold laugh and sketched a map on the ground. "Right here!"
"Ah, south of the Suxu River..." Tang Changsheng's heart sank the moment he saw it.
The Suxu River ran across Wu Hou State, dividing its seven commanderies into four to the south and three to the north. The three northern commanderies were the richest. Chengsu Commandery, where Su Xu lay, along with Wuxing Commandery and Suyang Commandery, formed a vast grain-producing plain.
Of the four southern commanderies, only Suyin Commandery, which bordered the Yue Marquisate, was reasonably prosperous. The other three were poor, even desolate.
Lu Yuanzhen had pointed to the remote reaches around Canglin Commandery and Tonghu Commandery. They were not even far from the Southern Barbarians...
And the Southern Barbarians were not the only danger, with their many tribes and Evil Gods. The four commanderies themselves teemed with monsters and wild beasts. They were dangerous in the extreme...
Was this a reward for his service, or were they tearing down the bridge after crossing the river?
Tang Changsheng was disappointed at first. But Lu Yuanzhen showed no disappointment; if anything, he looked faintly pleased. A thought stirred in Tang Changsheng's mind. "What territory was given to Whitehead Island?"
"Suyang Commandery!" Lu Yuanzhen smiled calmly.
His manner made Tang Changsheng all the more certain of his guess. "Martial Uncle, stop keeping me in suspense. Just tell me what you have in mind."
Before he could finish, Xin Chengying cut in excitedly. "Junior Brother, you don't understand. Anyone else sent to the four southern commanderies would never gain a foothold. They'd be driven out sooner or later. But don't forget, Martial Uncle knows Madam Hu, and she's a Great Demon from that very region."
"And I'm on fairly good terms with the Green Wolf