Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 929: Post-War Arrangements, the Situation of the Chu Army

But the Battle of Broken Souls Valley nearly destroyed this "foundation." The loss of 60,000 cavalrymen represented the core strength of the Chu army, accumulated over many years. This loss wasn't simply a reduction in numbers; it shattered the backbone of the entire army. New recruits could be recruited, but the kind of experienced, battle-hardened junior officers and veterans that could not be trained in a short period of time. After this battle, the quality of the Chu army's personnel would decline sharply, significantly compromising its combat effectiveness.

The more profound impact lay at the level of confidence. Xiang Yu's reputation as the "God of War" was shattered, and the arrogance that permeated the Chu army was replaced by fear and suspicion. Generals and soldiers alike developed a deep fear of Gao Yao and his Southern Border Army. This psychological blow was more devastating than mere troop losses, directly impacting the morale and fighting spirit of the troops.

This battle not only cost the Chu army its hard power to compete for supremacy, but also undermined its soft power to dominate the world. From once the most promising vassal state, they fell to an embarrassing position, even inferior to the isolated Wei Bao. To recover and regain their glory would require astronomical time, economic, and military investment, and their future was uncertain.

Despite their unprecedented victory, Gao Yao and the Southern Border Army he led were not completely complacent, ready to immediately sweep across the world. War was a massive drain on resources, and the continuous campaigns over the past year or so had exacted a heavy toll on the Southern Border Army.

From the initial county garrisons to the 300,000-man conventional field army maintained during its heyday, the accumulated losses of over 100,000 troops have been sustained through dozens of battles, both large and small. This toll reflects the shattered lives of countless families, the enormous military expenditures, and the heavy burden on the livelihoods and economies of the people within the territories under its rule. The Third Army, the primary battlefield, has been particularly devastated, having initially shrunk from over 60,000 men to fewer than 20,000 of its original strength, effectively crippling the army and requiring complete reconstruction. Such losses are devastating for a corps.

Therefore, Gaoyao faced a reality: sufficient defense, but insufficient offensive capabilities. The vast expanses of newly seized territory would require time to digest and assimilate, establish effective administration, restore order, and develop production before the occupied areas could truly be transformed into a stable rear base capable of supporting war effort. This process was by no means a one-time undertaking; it would require at least two to three years of stabilization.

Against this backdrop, Gao Yao made a very sober and wise strategic deployment, demonstrating his foresight as the supreme commander:

To deter the east, using static to counter dynamic, Han Xin's First Legion of 60,000 elite troops remained stationed in Dongjiao County, motionless. This force had suffered minimal losses in the previous campaign against Wei, and after six months of rest, it was well-equipped, well-fed, and in high spirits. More importantly, it formed a powerful synergy with the naval power controlled by Gao Yao. Their strategic objective was clear: to deter the "mysterious Yi Xiaochuan" forces to the northeast.

Regardless of any cooperative agreement reached between "Mysterious Yi Xiaochuan" and the northern tribes, as long as the sword of Han Xin's army hung over his head, and with the navy's potential for a cross-sea raid at any moment, he would never dare to act rashly and attack the core area of ​​Gaoyao in the west. This was a highly effective strategy of "subduing the enemy without fighting," ensuring stability on the eastern border.

Secondly, ensure the central region is firmly defended and as stable as a rock: Cao Shen's Second Army continued to hold the southern front, facing Wei Bao, who, despite possessing a force of 100,000, had been severely weakened. Gao Yao judged that even if Wei Bao attempted to exploit the immediate aftermath of the Qin-Chu conflict, Cao Shen's ability and the strength of the Second Army would be sufficient to stabilize the defense in the short term, preventing any major failures. This bought Gao Yao valuable time to address the core issues.

At the same time, rebuilding the core and restoring vitality was paramount: Gao Yao's strategic focus was entirely on the Guanzhong region, centered around Xianyang. He deployed the restoratively replenished Fourth Corps to garrison around Xianyang, achieving two goals at once: externally deterring the recently defeated Chu army from turning south, and internally rapidly restoring normal order in Xianyang and the surrounding counties. "Restoring people's livelihoods and restoring production" was elevated to the highest strategic priority.

This meant a series of tedious but crucial domestic tasks, including tax reduction and exemption, appeasement of exiles, water conservancy construction, agricultural encouragement, and market stabilization. Only by revitalizing the war-torn Guanzhong region could a solid material foundation and popular support be laid for future hegemony.

After the Battle of Broken Soul Valley, the world temporarily fell into a fragile strategic balance: the Chu army was seriously injured and retreated to the north, losing its offensive capability in the short term and switching to strategic defense, with survival becoming the top priority.

The Southern Border Army gained the strategic initiative, but it suffered heavy losses and urgently needed to rest and restructure its internal affairs, making it unable to immediately launch a large-scale war of annihilation. The Wei Army, while still strong, had lost its fighting spirit and remained on the sidelines, unable to pose a fatal threat to Gaoyao alone.

The mysterious Yi Xiaochuan was effectively intimidated by Han Xin's army and navy, and dared not advance westward, so the situation remained relatively stable. Some smaller princes, too weak to be taken seriously by Gao Yao, mostly waited and watched, even considering which faction to join.

This balance is dynamic and unstable. Can Gaoyao successfully digest the gains of the war and restore national strength within two or three years? Can the Chu army miraculously regroup in the barren northern lands? Will Wei Bao take a desperate gamble?

What changes will the collaboration between "Mysterious Yi Xiaochuan" and the alien race bring? These are all unknowns that will determine the future of the world. But what is certain is that after this battle, Gao Yao has successfully pulled himself back from the most dangerous precipice and won a crucial breathing space for the next stage of the game.

The coming struggle would not only involve the flashing of swords and the clash of swords on the battlefield, but would also involve a comprehensive competition of internal affairs, diplomacy, economy, and time. Gao Yao had clearly already made the initial layout for this longer and more complex war.

When Gao Yao regained consciousness, a full seven days had passed since the decisive battle that decided the fate of Guanzhong. During those seven days, Xianyang City had quietly completed the transfer of power and the restoration of order, all thanks to Li Zhao's timely return.

Upon returning to Xianyang, Li Zhao displayed remarkable political skill. He first convened an emergency court meeting with officials who remained behind. After confirming that Gao Yao was merely unconscious from exhaustion and not in danger of death, he immediately issued three decrees as regent: first, he opened granaries to release grain to appease the people of Xianyang, who were already in a state of panic due to the war; second, he dispatched capable officials to the surrounding counties to ensure the decree's implementation; and third, he deployed the Fourth Corps, which had already arrived near Xianyang, to various strategic locations.