Yuzhou, at the border of the Tang, Xu, Zheng, and Jin Four Kingdoms, is Beigucheng.
After the alliance eting concluded, the four emperors gathered in a large living room within the city, sitting opposite each other, each with a solemn expression.
"The Chu people have finally co."
The Emperor of Zheng Kingdom had a worried look, his eyes showing thick fear that couldn’t be concealed.
Among the four nations, Zheng Kingdom was the weakest in strength and also bordered the largest area with Chu State.
If one were to discuss whom the Northern Expedition of Chu State would threaten most, it would undoubtedly be Zheng Kingdom.
With such a dire situation at hand, how could the Emperor of Zheng Kingdom not worry?
"The Chu scoundrels have already occupied the entire Qingzhou, and the southern part of Yuzhou is also under their control. In the whole Central State, two-thirds already belong to them.
Their next target must be to capture Yuzhou and take full control of Central State.
Them sending troops now had been anticipated.
Aren’t our four countries allied to deal with this very situation?"
The newly crowned Emperor of Tang Kingdom spoke indifferently, glancing at the three others who, not long ago, were adversaries.
Although Tang Kingdom had made peace with the three nations, they had fought for the past two years, causing the deaths of millions. To say there were no hard feelings would be an outright lie.
Now, facing such a formidable enemy as Chu State, Tang Kingdom had no choice but to seek reconciliation in order to survive.
But reconciliation and cooperation do not an love and affection.
Towards the three allies, Tang Kingdom still harbored doubts and suspicions.
A sense of alertness had already surfaced in the hearts of all Tang people at the start of the alliance.
Can these allies be trusted?
Will they betray ?
If they do betray , how should I respond?
How much effort should I put into resisting Chu State this ti?
These questions had been debated countless tis within the Tang Kingdom’s court.
Regarding these issues, countless counterasures had been studied.
Now was the ti to apply them.
"The focus isn’t on whether Chu State will co or not, they have already arrived, and that can’t be changed. What we need to discuss now is how to counter Chu State?"
Emperor Jin smacked the table in annoyance, looking tense: "The Chu army claims to have ten million soldiers, with three hundred Inborn warriors. Such a number is nearly equivalent to the entire population of Jin Country.
Now, to confront an army of this scale with only the force of Jin Country is impossible.
Even for our four nations cooperating, it is an extre challenge.
If we do not co up with a suitable plan now, by the ti the Chu army cos and breaks through our cities, our land will be lost, and obliteration of our nations will not be far off."
Jin Country, like Zheng Kingdom, was one of the weakest among the four nations.
Zheng Kingdom currently had a population of just over six million and a combined force of seven hundred thousand soldiers, with only eleven Inborn Grandmasters.
Jin Country, although slightly better off, had a population of just over nine million after years of depletion, with one million soldiers and twelve Inborn Grandmasters.
If this were before the chaos in the Nine Provinces, such strength would have sufficed to preserve oneself.
But in today’s world, after decades of turmoil in the Nine Provinces where countries have risen from chaos and annexations, a comprehensive military mobilization system and a logistics support system have been established, and the scale of warfare has gradually inflated.
The strength of these two countries is rely equivalent to that of a smaller division of Chu State’s military expedition.
If faced with a larger theater-level campaign of two to three million soldiers from Chu arriving, it would certainly be enough to annihilate both nations.
In such circumstances, how could Jin Country not panic?
"Emperor Jin is right. The urgent task at hand is to quickly discuss how to resist and how to cooperate," said the Emperor of Zheng Kingdom, nodding in agreent, then looking expectantly at the Emperors of Tang and Xu.
With the combined strength of Zheng and Jin, they matched that of one Chu military expedition.
This strength, even if pushed to the limit, couldn’t withstand Chu State.
Thus, to counter Chu State and preserve the dynasties of both nations, the only hope lay with Tang and Xu.
These two ’big brothers’ behind the scenes were their real reliance.
The Emperors of Zheng and Jin Countries were well aware of this, so they did not skimp on their flattery in normal tis, hoping that their ’big brothers’ would lend them a hand in tis of crisis.
Now the crisis had arrived, wasn’t it ti for the ’big brothers’ to step up?
"The Chu rogues are cruel and willful, prone to annihilate nations, destroy the Ancestral Temple, and sever lineages.
Heaven does not pity us and allows such scoundrels to prevail, causing innocents to suffer and the ’Heavenly soldiers and weapons’ to never cease.
But for every foot the demon grows, the path of virtue grows a yard.
In the world, there are always warriors of justice who cannot tolerate the brutish acts of Chu. We have risen and ford an alliance to counter Chu State, preserving a last refuge for the people of the world."
The Emperor of Xu Country, who had been silent until now and exuding an air of an Alliance Leader, spoke righteously: "Chu State mobilizing troops is within expectations, and we need not panic.
As previously discussed, we should hold our positions at the strategic passes and fortress gates that have been constructed.
Tang Country will maintain a million-strong army to defend its own land in Yuzhou and will also allocate eight hundred thousand soldiers to assist Zheng Country in defending the western part of Yuzhou within its boundaries.
The entire western region of Yuzhou will be Tang Country’s responsibility.
Zheng and Jin Countries’ forces will primarily defend the southern part of Yuzhou, with both nations responsible for the southern warzone.
I will lead an army of one and a half million from Xu Country myself, stationed here at Beigucheng as the reserve for the three armies, ready to assist the battles on either side at any ti.
If there’s an ergency, we will imdiately dispatch reinforcents to help.
With the combined efforts of our four countries and the carefully constructed strategic passes and fortifications, what is there to fear from Chu State’s ten million soldiers?
We are well able to repel the enemy outside our nation’s gates.
Not to ntion, they claim to have ten million, but how many there truly are remains to be seen."
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