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Chapter 1010: Chapter 416 Tang Zheng Backstab_3 Chapter 1010: Chapter 416 Tang Zheng Backstab_3 The supply lines were severed, enemies surrounded us on all sides.

Without a doubt, Zheng Kingdom’s backstabbing hit the Yangxia Expeditionary Army’s vital point.

With Zheng’s containment, Chu forces had to dedicate most of their strength to deal with the threat from the direction of Zheng.

The more Zheng took on over there, the less pressure Liang forces naturally had to bear.

Therefore, Yan Yunqing, seeing that Chu forces truly could not spare any troops, made a decisive call, leaving only three hundred thousand troops to defend the two major cities in Jiaodong Prefecture.

He then led the main force of seven hundred thousand troops back to attack Donglai and Jiaoxi Prefectures, teaching a lesson to those arrogant Tang forces.

At the same time, the Liang messenger went to Xu State, requesting troop support to alleviate the pressure from Tang.

After a series of persuasive arguments and thoughtful consideration, Xu Country finally decided that Liang truly could not fall at this time.

They deemed Tang’s opportunistic behavior excessive, posing a serious threat to the interests of all states, and that it must be contained and taught a lesson.

Thus, Xu State deployed three hundred thousand troops from Le’an Prefecture to march into Qingping County, controlled by Tang, cutting off the rear lines of the Tang forces advancing into Liang’s hinterland.

With their retreat cut off and being deep within enemy territory, the unguarded Tang forces naturally stood no chance against the joint strike of Liang and Xu.

In just a month or two, under the fierce attack of the two nations’ forces, they collapsed, and eight hundred thousand troops were annihilated within Liang territory.

Liang forces successfully reclaimed lost territory and stabilized the rear again.

Afterward, Yan Yunqing allocated two hundred thousand troops back to Jiaodong, bringing the military strength of the prefecture to five hundred thousand.

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He also dispatched two hundred thousand troops to Qingping County, joining with the three hundred thousand troops of Xu, similarly bringing the military strength there to five hundred thousand.

In total, one million troops were amassed, forming Liang’s defensive line in the east.

As for Yan Yunqing himself, he led the remaining force of over two hundred thousand toward Rencheng Prefecture to contain the increasingly aggressive Chu forces, safeguarding the security of the hinterland.

During this period, another event occurred.

Tang suffered a crushing defeat and complete annihilation of eighty thousand troops, which can be described as a severe loss of vitality for the nation.

This amount of damage, undoubtedly leaving the entire Tang nation outraged, was an insult they could not swallow.

Therefore, upon receiving the news of the disastrous defeat, Tang immediately began recruiting and mobilizing new troops within the country, preparing to launch another expedition against Liang to regain their honor.

But just as Tang was ready to send out troops, Xu demonstrated its military might at their shared border, posing a threatening and cautionary stance.

However, these warnings proved to be ineffective.

Because, in Tang’s view, half of the reason for the previous disaster was Liang’s backstabbing surprise attack.

So whether it was fighting Liang or Xu, it was all about revenge, and there was no need for hesitation.

But after Xu’s stance was clear, Xu State astonishingly began to assemble a large force at Tang’s border.

Even Zheng, who they had always attacked, sent messengers to strongly advise and condemn them, urging them not to deploy troops against Liang.

This left Tang feeling quite uncomfortable.

On the west side of Tang was Xu, on the east was Xu State, and to the south was Zheng.

These three states were undoubtedly the hegemonies of their respective provinces and powerhouses among the Nine Provinces.

Yet, because of Liang, they all stood in opposition to Tang and portrayed readiness for war.

This sudden deterioration of international relations forced the Tang monarch and ministers to reflect on whether their international stance might indeed have some issues.

So, under the military pressure at the Xu and Xu borders, Tang, on the brink of recklessness, had to pull the reins hard, putting a stop to its plans to send troops.

Although no more troops were dispatched, being threatened by the Three Nations still left Tang filled with anger.

After abandoning the idea of deploying troops, they did not disband the army but continued to recruit new soldiers, expanding their military capabilities.

And they increased the number of Tang troops from the initial one and a half million to two million.

Clearly, having lost eighty thousand main troops, Tang was unable to withstand the pressure from neighboring states, and thus they had to choose to give in this time.

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But giving in did not mean giving up, nor did it imply submission.

This time, not only did Tang not gain any advantage, but they also suffered considerable losses, undoubtedly nurturing hatred for Liang and Xu who caused their defeat.

Perhaps Zheng and Xu ended up on Tang’s list as well.

This greedy Jingzhou Great Country was still accumulating strength, preparing for the moment to reveal its Sharp Teeth again.

And in its periphery, its neighbors felt the pressure.

Or rather, they foresaw the momentum of Chu’s rise, that surging trend that would sweep the world, that torrent of the era.

They did not want to become pebbles crushed under the wheels of the times, so they could only rise up in resistance now.

Thus, following Tang, whether passively or proactively, the states began a new round of extreme military competition, initiating expansion of their forces.

As for Chu, the leader of this era’s momentum—having been backstabbed by Zheng, losing the chance to annihilate the eastern Liang forces—began making their countermove.

Two hundred thousand Chu navy troops took to the sea, carrying the five hundred thousand troops separated from the central expeditionary army to form a new waterborne expeditionary army; they sailed along the East Sea coastline toward Yuzhou.

Under Huang Xuan’s command, the Yangxia Expeditionary Army, upon confirming they could no longer threaten Liang in Qingzhou, finally followed Lu Yuan’s orders.

They abandoned the original plan to encircle Liang with the Western Expedition and turned to execute a new strategy.

That is, the conquest of Yuzhou, or rather, of Zheng Kingdom.

Yes, since they could not attack Qingzhou, then fine, they could always attack Yuzhou, right?

You, Zheng Kingdom, wanted to clash with Great Chu?

I will grant you this wish.

The Yangxia Expeditionary Army of one million troops will no longer fight Liang; I will come for you instead.

In the past, Lu Yuan’s vengeance took ten years to serve.

But now, he is the Chu Emperor, how could he stew over such an affront?

Now he sought revenge from dawn till dusk.

The traitorous Zheng Kingdom, he was determined to discipline.

However, after getting angry with Zheng, a mere scoundrel, for a while and carrying out the retaliatory actions, Lu Yuan did not pay them much mind anymore.

The Yuzhou campaign was important, but it was merely a skirmish in the greater Northern Expedition, unable to affect the main battle scenario.

What was truly important was the main battlefield in Qingzhou.

Therefore, his attention quickly shifted to another key player on the main battlefield, Wei Country.

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