Taking Over Yingchuan, Qin's Elite Warriors!
"Very well!"
"Since the matter here is settled, this eunuch should return to the palace to report..."
"The Beichuan Qin Family, a good name!"
"Fellow Daoist Qin, this eunuch's surname is Bai, given name: Zhilang. We shall meet again if we are fated!"
"This eunuch is leaving..."
The words stopped there-
Qin Lu bowed from afar: "Until we meet again, Fellow Daoist Bai!"
There was no lavish ceremony, nor any grandiose display; the sovereign bestowed and the subject received. From this moment on, the Beichuan Qin Family would be engraved upon the territory of the state.
As the flying boat sped away, in the blink of an eye, that figure vanished into the edge of the firmament...
What remained-
was to wait for the imperial court to formally confer the lineage title, and during this period, it was the time to encircle land and stake claims, negotiated by oneself and all parties...
How much land one could claim and how large a territory one could swallow depended entirely on one's own ability.
The local magnates were also to be settled by oneself.
"Let me think..."
"The territory within the prefecture... is not easy to seize. Good mountains and waters have basically been carved up by various households, wanting to snatch meat from their hands..."
"Headache..."
"War may also break out at any time hereafter; investing manpower and material resources now makes it difficult to gain a foothold in the prefecture in the short term..."
"Forget it..."
"Yingchuan is, after all, the foundation of the lineage. Only after completely taking this place should I make a choice later."
"If the Awakening Soul Tea Tree can be nurtured to the second tier, and I then plot a Spirit Gathering Formation, it should be enough to support my cultivation..."
At the thought of this-
Qin Lu summoned Qin Xiao, having him personally make a trip to the Hundred Arts Office.
To see if he could invite that formation master to set up a Spirit Gathering Great Formation for the lineage, and if possible, perhaps arrange some defensive formations as well, which would be even better!
After all-
he now had money in hand, and what should be spent on the sharp edge of the blade still had to be spent!
Moreover, Yingchuan County, enveloped within the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, was naturally a place of perilous terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Even if Yingchuan County were lost-
Bayi had an even better geographical position, unless one climbed over ranges of mountains and wilderness.
Apart from that, wanting to reach the Bayi Region directly could only be done through the Ba River waters, going upstream to form a natural strategic pass!
Such a natural chasm was countless times better compared to the flat-as-a-board land of Longchuan Prefecture...
Should the Great Zhou State be defeated in battle-
the ones to suffer disaster first would surely be the vast plains of Longchuan Prefecture, and heavy troops would not be sent first to chew on the hard bone that was Yingchuan County.
Although Yingchuan County was the northernmost, bordering the Daliang frontier...
yet by virtue of its geographic advantage, it was actually much safer than the prefecture, acting like a towering mountain wedged between the two states.
If a war started, they would definitely bypass it first rather than launching a frontal assault...
"The rest..."
"is to send people to negotiate with the Xuan River Zhang Clan. A county of territory should not be a problem..."
"After this, it will be to insert personnel from all sides, integrate the various forces of Yingchuan County, and incidentally subdue the Wang Family and Chen Family of the county seat."
"Yingchuan is suited to be a natural granary, while the mountainous territory of Bayi is suited to be a core hub and a sacred cultivation ground..."
"Right... I also have to face future warfare, and the low-level soldiers must be whipped into shape a bit more..."
"Manpower is not enough..."
"It seems I must arrange marriage alliances for the little ones as soon as possible, to pass on the incense fire of my Qin Clan and magnify the great momentum of my Qin Clan!"
In the blink of an eye-several more months passed.
The Xuan River Zhang Clan completely withdrew from Yingchuan County as expected. From then on, the shape of this place would change from the Zhang Clan to his Qin Clan!
Just like a lump of mud, the Qin Clan could play with it however they wanted!
Subsequently-
the imperial court also formally conferred the title: Beichuan Qin Family!
Qin Lu entered the prefecture, serving as the main Sima, and Yan Quan was promoted accordingly, serving as the "deputy Sima" to become Qin Lu's spokesman...
Qin Wen also headed to the prefecture along with him, continuing his studies in literature and governance.
As for the official posts within Yingchuan County...
Zhao Gou, the direct grandson of Zhao Zhen of the Zhao Family, served as the county magistrate. With outstanding natural talent and a heart turned toward the Qin, he could shoulder heavy responsibilities!
Afterwards-
through Qin Lu's matchmaking, Wang Jian married into the Wang Family, thereby becoming one household. The new Wang Family chose to completely integrate into the Qin Clan, becoming its servant lineage...
As for the new generation of the Wang Family, it was headed by the three individuals Wang Jian, Wang Ben, and Wang Li.
Wang Ben served as the county captain, commanding the County Legion. Following subsequent troop replenishment and a series of reforms, he commanded a total of five thousand men...
They were basic troops belonging to the maintenance of local order, all composed of mortals.
As for Wang Jian-
he served as the commander of the Township Army. However, after a new round of reforms...
the Township Army was rebuilt and renamed: Qin Elite Soldiers!
Within it totaled two hundred men, all scattered martial artists who had defected to the Qin Clan, or those originating from subordinate forces who enlisted to earn resources...
And Qin Wu served as a squad leader within it, officially beginning his military career.
As for the last one: Wang Li.
He formed the subordinate legion of the Qin Elite Soldiers: the Black Dragon Legion, and served as its commander, totaling one thousand men, continuing the configuration of the Township Army...
The main duty of the Black Dragon Legion was to garrison the Bayi Region.
The Qin Elite Soldiers were the elite trump card, acting as picked troops to move at an opportune moment.
The County Legion served as the first line of defense for Yingchuan County, safeguarding the basic sphere of influence of Yingchuan County.
As for-
the post of county cheng, Qin Lu had Han Fei serve in this capacity. Although this person was a mortal, he handled matters thoroughly and deeply won Qin Lu's favor...
Qin Lu's original intention was also to prop up the Han Family to spar with the Yan Family, thereby creating a balance of power.
As for the final post of the chief secretary, it was still managed by the Chen Family. Compared to the complete integration of the Wang Family, the Chen Family claimed vassalage but was not truly loyal...
Naturally, there wasn't much change, and they were soon squeezed out to the margins...
The road was chosen by oneself-
it was not as if the Qin Clan had not given them an opportunity.
If the Chen Family held any dissatisfaction, you might as well try if your Chen Family could have a single person walk out of this territory of Yingchuan, and then you would be this: L!
If my Qin Clan let even one person slip away, then I would be this: T!
When-gazing afar at Muxuan Mountain once more.
Ever since its veins were dredged, it now stood a hundred zhang tall. Although still not entering the ranks of famous mountains, in the Bayi Region, it could be considered to have entered the fame of towering peaks...
Bayi Town perhaps had already become a thing of the past.
Now, it should be called: Ba City!
Soaring city walls, built along the mountain, completely sealed off the land route.
At the city gate was the Ba River; one could only enter the city by boat. The massive city walls looked like a giant beast blocking the mountain ranges...
forming a huge strategic pass!
above the firmament-
a middle-aged man in yellow robes continuously surveyed the ley lines and feng shui, at times nodding in praise, at times remaining silent, walking and stopping for who knows how long...
Only then did he select various positions and make marks for them.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, the positions for the grand formation have been decided by this humble self..."
"The Spirit Gathering Formation is a second-tier grand formation, requiring three hundred spirit stones as a base. Fellow Daoist Qin, have you thought it through? Once work begins, there is no room for turning back..."
Hearing this-
Qin Lu nodded, appearing full of assurance, and said:
"Fellow Daoist Huang, just go ahead and execute it!"
"If this formation takes shape, I would also like to ask you, Fellow Daoist, to supplement another Mountain Guarding Formation for my lineage. Qin here does not have the habit of joking!"