The State of Chu was different from the other states in the Central Plains.

Rather than calling it the State of Chu, it would be better to call it the "Great Chu Southern China United Kingdom of Many Small States".

His ancestors were originally just viscounts, which can be said to be of very low status.

However, through continuous annexation of other small states, it gradually expanded and eventually became the largest vassal state in the Daqian Dynasty.

However, the Chu state's annexation of other small states and the Baiyue tribes in the south was not a military conquest.

Some united with nobles within small states to overthrow their monarchs, while others formed alliances to create independent confederations: as long as you relinquished the title of monarch and were willing to formally obey the King of Chu, the territory and the people would still be yours.

In other words... the State of Chu was a super-sized "tribal alliance".

This is fundamentally different from states like Qin, Jin, Yan, and Qi.

Just like in the State of Yan, if any prefect dared to say 'no' to the king, they would be skinned alive and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.

The mere blink of the king's eyelids could scare the prefect so much that he couldn't sleep for three days and three nights.

But in the state of Chu, it was different; some nobles even dared to challenge the King of Chu to his face in court...

It's like a son talking back to his father in a large family.

The King of Chu was merely the patriarch; the other nobles each had their own power base and their own agendas!

This also meant that the King of Chu would not be able to assemble his troops so quickly.

The noble families from different households each contributed a little, and together they pieced together an army of 500,000...

In fact, it was the same as when Qi allied with nineteen other states to attack Yan.

However, the strength of the Chu state should not be underestimated, let alone its 500,000 troops!

It can indeed deploy 800,000 troops; its only drawback is its slow reaction speed, much like a giant elephant.

Therefore, Jiang Ming did not choose the border between the Chu Kingdom and the Daqian Dynasty's controlled area as the battlefield.

Instead, under the guise of a 'regional governor' inspecting the State of Chu, he led 70,000 troops directly into Chu territory and set up camp on the banks of the Han River...

At this time, the Chu army had not yet fully assembled; the troops that had just arrived at the secondary capital, Yan, numbered only about 300,000...

Reinforcements from other 'tribes' are still gathering.

Hearing that Jiang Ming had already made his move, arriving in his own country for an inspection tour with only 70,000 troops, King Xiong Bi of Chu was utterly amused...

What can 70,000 troops do?

There's no need to wait for me to gather the rest of my army; the garrison in Yan City alone is enough to wipe them out.

Jiang Ming's total military strength is only 150,000. Even if the Zhao, Wei, and Han families come to his aid, they still can't muster an army of 500,000. Moreover... the Qin state is making moves, so the three families have to stick together and guard against Qin.

Jiang Ming coming here now is simply suicide!

Furthermore, the King of Chu also heard that... the troops Jiang Ming brought were not even regular troops.

The workers were mostly artisans and laborers from Luoyi City. It was said that... the scenery along the Han River was beautiful and the flora and fauna were abundant. They wanted to build a palace for the emperor to facilitate his hunting in the future.

The King of Chu was completely bewildered and couldn't figure out what Jiang Ming was up to.

Not only that, Jiang Ming also sent envoys to the State of Chu in the name of "overthrowing the emperor".

One of the Nine Tripods, the "Jingzhou Tripod," was moved to the King of Chu.

Jiang Ming's series of actions left King Xiong Bi of Chu even more bewildered...

Historically, the phrase "aspiring to the Central Plains" referred to the ambitions of the Chu kings: to seize the tripod from the emperor.

Now, all is well done! I don't have to go get it myself; Jiang Ming has brought the cauldron over directly!

The King of Chu then consulted with his ministers and asked what to do next.

The ministers of Chu were also divided into two factions, arguing endlessly!

One side believes that Jiang Ming chickened out...

Although he suffered a series of defeats, both the Yan state and the Hu people were already at their limit and had no ability to support a large-scale war.

Tactics and skills are nothing compared to true strength!

With 500,000 troops pressing in, no force in the world could withstand them. Jiang Ming wasn't stupid; he knew what he was doing!

The so-called arrival of only 70,000 laborers to inspect the terrain along the Han River in preparation for building a palace was actually a sign of weakness: it showed that he did not want to fight anymore, and asked the King of Chu to give him some face, saying that everyone was struggling... Look, I have even sent you the Jingzhou Ding, which was a gesture of submission.

Faced with this situation, the ministers believed that they should not give Jiang Ming any face and should directly send troops to deal with him!

The Chu state originally intended to control the Central Plains, and this was a rare opportunity. In this world, strength speaks volumes. Who will reciprocate with courtesy? Who do you think you are?

Another group of cautious ministers believed that they should not fall for Jiang Ming's tricks!

This kid is extremely cunning. He likes to dig traps and feign weakness to lure you in, then launch an ambush.

The terrain along the Han River is complex and the jungle is dense. Who knows what kind of evil scheme this bastard is plotting?

Despite having only 70,000 troops, he had previously annihilated enemies several times, even ten times, their number... He had achieved such feats.

If Your Majesty rashly sends troops, you may very well fall into his ambush.

Why not adopt a defensive stance, hold your ground, and see what he plans to do next?

Isn't the Qin state also preparing to send troops?

Let Qin fight Zhao, Wei, and Han on the western front first, and then we'll make further plans once the situation changes!

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