Jiang Li brought over Yang Xian's more than ten thousand Vine Armor Army.

Vine Armor, in terms of defense, is certainly not as strong as Iron Armor.

But this doesn't mean its defense is weak; it is stronger than plate armor because the cane is soaked in oil, making its surface very smooth. Swords and spears skid off it, making it difficult to cut through Vine Armor, and arrows work the same way, skidding off and failing to penetrate.

Moreover, it has several outstanding advantages: it is lightweight, water-resistant, and highly breathable.

The drawback is its vulnerability to fire attacks, but it's not flammable at the slightest touch.

However, its manufacturing steps and armor formation cycle are much longer than ordinary Iron Armor, making it suitable for use in the humid southern regions.

Next is the Yanzhou Army of King Anping, Chu Ji.

Yanzhou's troops are not many, just over ten thousand.

Add to this that Yanzhou is not a barren place, it's more than enough to maintain this force. With sufficient military expenses, the armor rate of the Yanzhou Army exceeds seventy percent, higher than the Fish Scale Guard and Xianzhen Guard.

It is noteworthy that among Chen Mo's Five Combat Guards—Divine Brave Guard, Divine Martial Guard, Xianzhen Guard, Brave Cavalry Guard, and Fish Scale Guard—only Divine Brave Guard and Brave Cavalry Guard have full armor coverage.

The Divine Martial Guard's armor rate is seventy percent.

While the Xianzhen Guard is less than fifty percent.

And this fifty percent was improved by the captured armor from prisoners.

The Fish Scale Guard's armor rate is sixty percent.

The main reason for this result is still the lack of increased production, followed by the excessive cost.

Of course, Chen Mo is to blame for this.

He comes up with one idea after another.

First, it was expanding the weapon workshops, manufacturing Bright Armor and long spears, swords, and crossbows.

After taking over Yu State, acquiring the blueprints for the Divine Arm Crossbow and the craftsmen who make it, he started manufacturing the Divine Arm Crossbow.

Next, the Red Coat Cannon, and the Composite Crossbow which is currently in mass production but hasn't been deployed to the military yet.

Just look, which of these projects isn't hugely expensive?

This doesn't even include the expenditure for military pay.

Plus, every time Chen Mo occupies a new prefecture, he exempts local citizens from taxes and compensates for damaged civilian homes easily.

Although as a leader Chen Mo only needs to manage the overall situation, the lower-level officials are worried sick.

Lucky for him, the Wu and Xiao families, along with the Fu Ze Restaurant, refined salt, and perfume industries have backed Chen Mo, plugging this enormous financial hole.

Otherwise, Chen Mo's regime would have collapsed long ago.

As for the various captures before, compared to this massive outlay, it was purely a drop in the bucket. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Therefore, just from this, there's no way Chen Mo would withdraw his troops after pacifying the Huai State conflict.

At the very least, he needs to take Chongzhou and the entire Western River Land to make it worthwhile.

Calculating the losses from the Yanzhou Army and Vine Armor Army, along with the Huaizhou and Fengzhou conflicts.

Chen Mo currently has nearly sixty thousand troops at his disposal.

But he does not intend to lead all these troops to the south; the defense of Shuofei County in Yu State is still somewhat weak. Chen Mo plans for Li Yunzhang to return with the original troops, while he takes fifty thousand troops southward, which is sufficient.

The Grand General under King Chong, Gongsun Yan, is dead, and his capable assistant, Liang Mu, has also been captured and had his cultivation abolished, becoming a cripple. There is no longer anyone useful under his command.

In Chen Mo's view, taking Chongzhou is not a problem.

...

After the welcoming banquet ended, Jiang Li privately sought out Chen Mo, saying there was a serious matter to discuss.

In the private room.

Jiang Li, whether drunk or pretending to be drunk, straightforwardly said, "This time, the lord specifically entrusted me with something.

The lord said that in the past, the Shu Residence rarely communicated with Duke An, and although allies, cooperation was not deep. So, the lord's intention is to deepen the cooperation with Duke An, solidifying our alliance."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo roughly guessed what Jiang Li was about to say. However, he didn't point it out and planned to let Jiang Li speak first, saying, "Then how does Lord Yang plan to solidify it?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "The lord has a young daughter named Qingqing, younger than Duke An, still unmarried, of extraordinary beauty and talent, already a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist, suitable to accompany Duke An."

Indeed.

But once you have a lot of lice, it doesn't itch.

Anyway, the family already has several political marriages; one more wouldn't matter.

What made Chen Mo sigh was that when he sent Geng Songfu to the Shu Residence to discuss an alliance with Yang Xian, they looked down on him.

Moreover, at that time, Geng Songfu suggested to Yang Xian that he intended to ask for Yang Xian's youngest daughter to marry Chen Mo as the main wife, but was declined.

How many years have passed since then?

Now Yang Xian is proactively seeking this.

The wife has become a concubine.

Truly, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never underestimate the youth...

Oops, where did that thought come from?

"Does Duke An have any concerns? Feel free to speak frankly." Seeing Chen Mo silent for a long time, Jiang Li's heart slightly sank, thinking he was about to refuse.

After all, before this, neither he nor the lord, nor anyone aware of this matter, thought there would be any problem.

Chen Mo's reputation as a womanizer is well-known.

Now offering a beauty to him, he would be delighted.

"General Jiang misunderstood, it's just that it's not known when the Southern expedition to support the king will end. If it drags on for a few years, won't it make Miss Yang wait in vain?" It's quite normal for such expeditions to last several years.

"Duke An is overthinking; in these troublesome times, simplicity in ceremony is ideal, just a formality. Since Duke An has no objections, I'll write a letter to the lord to send the young lady to Duke An's mansion," Jiang Li said.

"..."

Good gracious, sending the 'goods' straight to the doorstep.