The World Online

Chapter 1023 – Xiang Yan Knowing His Place

During this period of time, China experienced many changes.

First, China surprisingly took down Annan, while it made the China region people excited, it made ASEAN uneasy. Especially since Annan was connected to Nanzhang and Zhenla. They were really terrified and were afraid that Great Xia would swing their knives at them.

Following which, there was the Yanhuang Alliance’s attack on West Chu and the subsequent fall of Xiang Yu that caused the countrymen to debate. Next, it would be the sudden rise of Di Chen to duke, placing him in the spotlight.

At this very moment, the forums suddenly revealed that Xiang Yan, Yuji, and the others had appeared in Shanhai City. These successive matters dazzled everyone and made it hard for one to breathe.

…

Shanhai City, Xia Palace.

“Greetings, king!”

After settling down Yuji who had fainted, Xiang Yan and the others were led to meet Ouyang Shuo.

Whilst bowing, Xiang Yan, Xiang Liang, and Xiang Bo all looked normal. At least, one could not see that something was up. However, the younger generation’s Xiang Zhuang was unnatural. When he bowed, he was really stiff.

This was no wonder. After all, a few days ago, they were still the royal family of West Chu. In the blink of an eye, they had lost their country and became a bunch of homeless people.

The huge gap was one that was difficult for one to adapt to.

When Ouyang Shuo saw that, he did not mind it and said, “West Chu is allies with Great Xia, and Xiang Yu is someone I worship. I am really sad about what happened to West Chu. My condolences.”

When Xiang Yan and the others heard that, they were expressionless, “Thank you, king, for your concern. The Xiang Family was able to survive because of you. The Xiang Family will be loyal to Great Xia.”

The matter had already developed to this point, so Xiang Yan and the others could only recognize this truth and did not dare have any other thoughts. Not to mention that the soul of the family was dead. Even if Xiang Yu did not die, the entire wilderness did not have a place for the Xiang Family.

To rise up again was just a wish.

The current wilderness was not the same one as a few years ago. The battle between Lords were nearing its end, and the splitting up of the cake was all done.

Listening to Xiang Yan pledge his loyalty, Ouyang Shuo nodded his head in satisfaction. If the Xiang Family did not know their place and acted arrogant, although Ouyang Shuo would not banish them, he would at most ensure their wealth but would not give them high positions.

Settling their positions, Ouyang Shuo was not stingy and gave one huge mansion in the city to Xiang Yan as their home in Shanhai City.

Long ago, during the planning stages of Shanhai City, the construction department had followed Ouyang Shuo’s requirements and built official residential areas near the imperial city to reward ministers.

Every time a historical person moved over, regardless of whether it was a civil servant or a general, Ouyang Shuo would gift them a residence.

“Thank you my king!”

Xiang Yan bowed in thanks. His heart finally calmed down.

The current Shanhai City was no different from the imperial city, and in some areas, it exceeded an imperial city. Apart from space for defenses, there was no empty land.

Naturally, the Xiang Family did not lack money. However, to buy a mansion in Shanhai City was really difficult.

A residence in the golden area was something even money could not buy.

Great Xia was prosperous, and the civil servants and generals were all really hardworking. It was rare for people to be punished and demoted. Naturally, it would not be like capital cities of history where there were mansions emptied by sinners.

The only way would be to get one from Ouyang Shuo.

After thanking him, Xiang Yan knew his place and handed two treasures to Ouyang Shuo. Although they had fled Peng City in a hurry, the Xiang Family had brought all their treasures away.

Ouyang Shuo did not reject it and nodded.

At that point, the meeting came to an end. As for the appointments of Xiang Yan and the others, it would wait till the new round of military organization.

While they were talking, Xiang Yan and Xiang Zhuang expressed their desire to work in the military. Xiang Liang and Xiang Bo were not that passionate and wanted to focus on their family matters.

Ouyang Shuo did not mind, as Xiang Yan alone was enough.

Especially Xiang Bo, even if he wanted to work, Ouyang Shuo would not want him. This ‘legendary figure’ who saved Liu Bang during the Hongmen Feast after the Han Dynasty was established. He was granted the Liu surname and title.

Ouyang Shuo did not care about such a person.

As for the other people, they would either join the military or become civil servants. They would follow the usual procedures, and Ouyang Shuo would not need to personally make arrangements for them.

…

After sending away Xiang Yan and his group, Ouyang Shuo was filled with thoughts. Xiang Yu was still Xiang Yu. Even with a child about to be born, he was still unwilling to yield to others.

The two items on his table were the meeting gifts from Xiang Yan.

If the Xiang Family wanted to gain a footing in Great Xia, it would depend a lot on Ouyang Shuo’s attitude. Although Xiang Yan was a general, he had lived for so long and understood this theory after all.

The two items he gave Ouyang Shuo could be considered the two most precious items of the Xiang Family.

Golden armor talisman (platinum rank): after use, forms a golden protective aura around the body. All physical attacks are absolved, lasting for half an hour, can be used for a range of five thousand people.

Jiangdong Warrior summoning card (platinum rank): One time use item, after use, can summon 10 thousand Jiangdong Warriors, lasting for 12 hours.

If these two items were used well, they could have a miraculous effect. Ouyang Shuo kept both of them in his storage bag.

************

In the next few days, as the Annan situation stabilized, apart from the Dragon Legion Corps that was stationed there, the others returned to their own camps.

The Bear Legion Corps was the most special. It returned to Yunnan through the tunnel and went up north to Qiang Prefecture. Bear Legion Corps marshal Li Jing was already waiting for them there.

Workers would continue to excavate the tunnel, and it would become an important path connecting Annan Province to the mainland.

During the Battle of Annan, they had captured 480 thousand guards and 150 thousand territory troops. Deducting the injured and those that were not up to standard, there were 570 thousand soldiers awaiting organization.

Although the battle results were great, the Great Xia Army had suffered huge casualties. Including the navy, Great Xia’s army lost 150 thousand men, which was their largest lost in history.

Considering everything, after making up for the casualties, there were around 420 thousand available war prisoners.

How to organize this huge count of war prisoners became the main issue of the Privy Court that needed Ouyang Shuo to personally decide.

The rule of the organization was to look at what was lacking, and then see the strategic position.

Out of all the legion corps, the Guards Legion Corps had one legion lacking, while the Bear Legion Corps lacked three. Apart from that, the other legions were fully filled.

As for strategic position, it was whether Annan would have an Annan formation or not.

Ouyang Shuo decided that for this round of military organization, apart from filling up the three missing legions of the Bear Legion Corps, he would not fill the missing one on the Guards Legion Corps.

All the legion corps suffered casualties during this war, and the newly added members would weaken them to a certain extent. Hence, it would not be good if Ouyang Shuo made any big movements to form up the Guards Legion.

As for the remaining three legions, Ouyang Shuo placed them under the Annan formation.

Ouyang Shuo had his own reason for doing that. To control ASEAN, just taking down Annan was not enough. The next step would be to continue west to take down Nanzhang and Zhenla.

This was also the reason why Ouyang Shuo shifted the headquarters of the Dragon Legion Corps to the Annan Province.

Compared to the eight million players of Annan, Zhenla had 1.2 million, while Nanzhang had 600 thousand. Adding the two, they were not even a quarter of the number Annan had.

Hence, with Baiqi there, just the Dragon Legion Corps and Annan formation would be enough to sweep these two countries. They would not need the main camp to transport more soldiers over.

Transporting troops by the sea had a really high cost.

At this point, the benefit of taking down Annan was revealed. With this point, be it moving troops or logistical supplies, they could be solved by Annan.

With that alone, they would save millions of gold in military expenditure.

Apart from the reorganization, Ouyang Shuo ordered the establishment of the Xinan warzone. The commander would be Baiqi, and under it would be the Dragon Legion Corps and the Annan formation.

Like that, they had completed the adjustment of the structure. Ouyang Shuo gave Baiqi more power as a reward for his achievements in this battle.

After settling the organization plan, all appointments were released.

Xiang Yan would become the Legion General of the 3rd legion of the Bear Legion Corps. As a famous general of the Chu country, for him to become a Legion General right away was something no one had issues with.

Song Wu, who was the 1st division Major General of the Tiger Legion Corps 3rd legion, would be promoted to 4th legion Legion General of the Bear Legion Corps. He had spent a few years at the Major General position, and after careful consideration, Ouyang Shuo promoted him.

This was good news to the Song Family.

Lei Jingtian, who was the 1st division Major General of the Guards 1st legion, would be promoted to the 5th Legion General of the Bear Legion Corps. He had already became a King Rank general and became another Great General after Shihu

This promotion was because he truly had the ability, and it was also Ouyang Shuo taking care of the mountain barbarian tribe.

Xue Rengui, who was the deputy Legion General of the Guards Legion Corps 3rd legion, would be promoted to Annan Lieutenant General, a huge jump.

Pei Xingjian, who was also taking a temporary position in the Guards Legion Corps, was promoted to 1st Legion General of the Annan formation.

Annan surrendered General Le Loi was appointed as the 2nd Legion General.

Such an arrangement, apart from Le Loi himself being skilled, was made to calm down the civilians and war prisoners of Annan to show that Great Xia treated everyone equally.

Xiang Yu’s cousin Xiang Zhuang became the 3rd legion Legion General.

In historical records, Xiang Zhuang was not famous. Apart from appearing once in the Hongmen Feast, he was pretty much an invisible person, and his leadership ability was not that outstanding.

For him to become a Legion General was Ouyang Shuo taking care of the Xiang Family.