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Chapter 248 - 248: 160: Each with Different Intentions_3

An endless army stretched out in sight, like a long dragon, unstoppable as it rushed towards Changsha Prefecture.

Chu Wei rode a red horse and quickly met the army’s commander, Shangguan Ming, after announcing his identity.

“I greet my uncle.”

After the meeting, Chu Wei, the envoy of Chu, respectfully saluted Shangguan Ming as his nephew.

Six biggest families of Linhai County had been intermarrying for generations, sharing kinship among them all.

For example, Chu Wei’s great-aunt married into the Shen Clan of Changzhou, and her daughter then married into Shangguan Clan of Jintan, with Shangguan Ming being her husband’s sibling.

Such relationships could be found in numerous aristocratic families.

Even in his Chu family, many daughters of the Shangguan family or other females with blood ties to the Shangguan family married in.

Generations of intermarriage resulted in all six families being related by blood.

Therefore, it was not inappropriate for Chu Wei and Shangguan Ming to address each other as uncle and nephew, as they were indeed relatives.

“My nephew, you need not be overly courteous.”

Shangguan Ming looked refined and elegant, embodying the persona of aristocratic family descendants. He then chuckled: “The last time I met you was ten years ago.

Back then, you were still an energetic youth. In the blink of an eye, however, you have become a steadier and reliable young man; the Chu family has gained another promising junior.”

“Uncle, you flatter me.” Chu Wei was overwhelmed by the compliment and responded with modesty: “Compared to the younger generation of other families, I am just an ordinary person, far from being outstanding.”

“Hahaha! ”

Shaking his head, Shangguan Ming laughed but did not comment further on his nephew’s modesty; he then asked, “During your visit to Luyang Prefecture this time, what do you think of the newly appointed Pingxi General?”

As Lu Yuan had feared, Chu Wei’s visit was indeed both a representation of the imperial court’s pacification and an investigation of his strength and weaknesses.

And now, it was time for Chu Wei, the envoy of Chu, to report back to Shangguan Ming, the commander against the Miao People.

Upon hearing official business, Chu Wei’s countenance turned solemn. After pondering a while, he reported: “Uncle, I learned a lot during my visit to Pingxi General. Firstly, the troops under his command, as I saw, are all elite, hardened veterans, not untamed militia.

As I heard, this Pingxi General was able to repeatedly defeat the Miao thieves even at Dongting Prefecture amid a series of lost battles. Recently, he also personally suppressed the rebellion of the Seven Star Sect in Luyang

Prefecture.

While I was in Luyang Prefecture, I managed to gather some information too.

At its peak, it was rumored that the Seven Star Sect had about 50,000 troops.

Shangguan Ming was astonished to hear his worldly nephew appraise Lu Yuan in such a manner.

He frowned slightly and asked, “So you are saying that General Lu Pingxi’s command possesses an experienced army, and he himself is a capable commander, correct?”

Chu Wei nodded, “Indeed. According to Lu Pingxi, he has 20,000 battle-hardened elite troops under his command. Moreover, he controls the local forces in Dongting Prefecture, including Shaoyang and Luyang’s two prefectures.

These two prefectures alone account for more than 50,000 combined county soldiers and militia.

In other words, if Lu Pingxi were to mobilize his full strength, he could dispatch an army of 70,000, with 20,000 of them being elite.

Before I left, I observed new recruits coming into the barracks from time to time. Upon inquiry, I learned that Lu Pingxi was planning to expand his military forces in response to the growing threat from the Miao People. In a short time, his troops may very likely grow even stronger.”

“Twenty thousand combat troops, fifty thousand militia!”

Upon hearing these numbers, Shangguan Ming couldn’t help but be shocked. “I can accept Luyang Prefecture since Lu Yuan obtained it based on the imperial edict. But how did he manage to control Shaoyang Prefecture as well?

As far as I remember, the local Prefect there is Cui Changqing, right?”

He is also an official dispatched from the imperial court. How could he obey a mere local officer?”

Chu Wei responded helplessly, “I heard that Shaoyang Prefecture was placed under the control of Lu Pingxi by the former Prefect, Mr. Lu Fangai. At the time, before conquering Luyang Prefecture, Lu Pingxi stationed more than 10,000 troops in Shaoyang Prefecture, tasked with the responsibility of repelling over 100,000 Miao soldiers from the north and the south.

For the sake of coordination, the Prefecture’s jurisdiction was handed over to Lu Pingxi, putting local finance and military resources under his control. After several years, I’m afraid it’s now impossible to reclaim control over the area.”

“Lu Fangai…” Upon hearing this name, Shangguan Ming’s anger subsided, unable to say the words he’d wished to say.

Lu Family of Jinling was one of the six families and ranked among the top five.

His Shangguan Clan was far lesser in comparison to the Lu Clan.

It was only because he had broken through the Innate Realm that he could barely compete with them.

Unable to utter what he wanted to say, Shangguan Ming felt frustrated. He then changed the topic and asked, “What about Lu Yuan’s martial arts? I’ve heard that he is a first-rate master, do you think he is extremely formidable within that realm?”

When speaking of Lu Yuan’s martial arts, Chu Wei could still recall the imposing external display of inner strength that Lu Yuan had “unintentionally” showcased in front of him a few days prior.

He couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, glancing at his uncle before bitterly smiling, “Uncle, Lu Pingxi’s martial arts are extraordinary, having reached the pinnacle of the first-rate realm. A few days ago, he demonstrated to me the unique manifestation of profound energy radiating outside his body that only first-rate pinnacle masters possess.

This energy covered a range of about ten feet, much more impressive than the mere six or seven feet that ordinary first-rate pinnacle masters can achieve.

Moreover, there was an additional trait of profound spirituality to Lu Pingxi’s energy.

In my opinion, he might not be far from the Innate Realm.”

Remembering what he had seen, Chu Wei still felt a sense of astonishment, offering this evaluation of Lu Yuan with due sincerity.

The Innate Realm was not far away indeed..