Chapter Sixty-eight 

Over the history of Tai Ping, although the three cities of Yingan did bring in considerable revenue to the state. But the cost of defeating the three cities is much more considerable as to the revenue it could generate. When the Ying family is still around, Tai Ping is still able to withstand the pressure of defeating Yingan against the Qitan. But after the Shuang Guan family have unofficially taken over control of Tai Ping, the pressure of defeating Yingan against the Qitan is higher than what the Shuang Guan family could tolerate.

So, after five years, the only people in Yingan are merchants who depended on trading with Debu for a living and people who refused to move due to their home being in Yingan ever since the founding of Tai Ping. The rest of the people in Yingan have moved to Changping. Thus, five years after the Shuang Guan family have taken control, the state of Changping is the main line of defense against the Qitan.

So, the thirty thousand men that is sent to guard this particular border is divided into ten thousand men for each of the two cities of Changping. Five thousand men were sent to guard Yingan and five thousand men were left to guard the last city of Changping. Ying Zetian sigh at the death of the five thousand men in Yingan, it is really a pity. If not for the fact that Ying Zetian has information that even the soldiers and the civil officials that is sent to look over Yingan did participate in the secret society, she will try to think up of ways to save the soldiers as she really need men for her empire.

It was only when Ying Zetian was faced with the money and the manpower her empire needed that she wishes she were still a loser that could relax at home, it was just so hard to ensure that she have enough of manpower and money for her empire. But normally when in the morning, Ying Zetian wish she is a loser that could relax at home, she will normally dream of the death of the Ying family at night so gradually, she is cured of this bad habit.

Even if Ouyang Xiu successfully reach Changping and still have the strength to fight. Ying Zetian grinned, she has a surprise for them. During the times when the Ying family is the overall controller of Tai Ping, they have issued orders to build irrigation systems all over Tai Ping. And the Ying family placed importance over drier landscape of Tai Ping like Changping and Yingan.

So, depending on the status of the Qitan army when they reach Changping, Ying Zetian will then considered to bomb the local irrigation system. Ying Zetian already has her men in place to carry out her orders. One another factor, Ying Zetian needs to considered is her overall plan to conquer the three other countries, so she is still considering between totally decimating the Qitan army or just beating them into submission.