CH 69

Anyang County had just over 10,000 people. What made it crucial was the two passes within its borders. 

The ones connecting Guanzhong and Yi State, at Ji Valley and Xie Valley. Hanzhong Region established the Jigu Pass and Xiegu Pass in just two months.  

With these two checkpoints in his control, he could rest easy knowing Guanzhong Region from the north and Wudu Region from the east would pose no threat to him.

Using the same tried method, he cheated his way in ,getting them to open up for him and take them for himself.

He left 500 men at each gate, taking 200 he had left and the 100 he got from killing the guards to Anyang County. 

This tiny county city was easily conquered. Hardly any resistance opposed him. Anyang County was quite small, surroudned by valleys and had few clans.

He cut his slaughter short at just 1,000 people, gainign 50 fortune. Leaving 200 men in Anyang County city, Zhong Yu took 200 he had left to the newly built Ziwu Valley in Shiquan County.

It was the road connecting Hanzhong to Guanzhong. A famous place where the renowned Wei Yan set an ambush. 

The regional token opened this pass’ gates as well, enacting a massacred that earned him 50 people.

He left only 150 men behind to guard the pass, later supplying 350 men. All he had were the cavalry, rushing to Nanzheng Regional city to wait for the month to turn and get those fortune points.

The days passed slow. Hanzhong Region’s 270,000 people was reduced to 230,000. His ruthless and savage nature took the lives of 40,000 people.

The new month brought him 920 fortune, turning them in for 1,800 soldiers. And he couldn’t leave his three regions with no administration either. 

The past two month,he needed soldiers so he had to implement martial law. Now though, having Hanzhong Region under him, he needed to resume the economy.

Hanzhong Region’s Chenggu County was too large, divided into eastern one, bearing the same name, and the southern one, Xixiang County. And south of Nanzheng was too sparse of defenses, making it vulnerable.

He planned on taking some of Baxi Region to the south, occupying Hanchang County’s north area to form the new Nanjiang County. 

Thus, Hanzhong Region would have Anyang County, Baozhong County, Xingyang County, Nanzheng County, Xixiang County, Nanjiang County and Chenggu County. Making it the largest region yet only 90,000 people.

He was now sitting on 19 counties. The number of officials he’d need was alarming.

A county needed 23 novice talents and two competent ones. That meant 330 fortune per county.

Since this world was mundane, he’d have no need of talents possessing elegance. And the system cut the price of these talents without such ability to a third.

Two months, that was how long he needed to outfit his administration for counties, to say nothing of regional administration.

However, with Hanzhong being a mountainous area, the news of his actions could be delayed by a further two months.

This period would be well used by pacifying the people and getting ready.

The court at long last noticed his presence in Hanzhong Region two months later. Guanzhong and Jingzhou’s counties informed it of suspicious activity and sent scouting teams.

These months allowed Zhong Yu to fill Hanzhong’s posts as well as the regional city’s.

The people were quiet, having gotten over their fright. And thanks to the corrupt officials replaced by fair ones, they were happier.

His status as rebel was slowly turned to being a just ruler.

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But why though? Because he announced that any man who passed his military selection, his family would gain ten mu.

It was a great reward. Hanzhong Region’s lands were 90% in the clans’ control. 

After taking Hanzhong Region’s lands from the clans, he owned them.

He was now their lord and could’ve forced him into anything. But all he did was ask them to join his army and he gave land instead. If this wasn’t kindness what was?

All from his three regions scrambled in glee for Hanzhong. They made dozens of miles just to be a part of his 50,000 recruit army. 

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He didn’t need so many though and expelled those under 18 and over 40.

What was leftnow was 30,000 people that had to go through a physical and medical test as well.

Through the following month of training and constant elimination, he had on hand 25,000 soldiers. 

First things first, Zhong Yu recalled half of the stationed soldiers previously, back. These were veterans of war and letting them waste away defending was inconceivable.

Through adjustments and dispatches, he recalled a total of 2,000 soldiers joining his 23,000 recruit army.

While Yi State an Guanzhong noticed something was brewing, they didn’t know what with the roads leadign to them blocked.

He would capitalize on this by attacking Yi State in force, taking many dangerous passes with ease. 

He’d save many of his men and time by taking them out now.

His first target was Wudu Region, facing Liangzhou and backed Guanzhong. It was surrounded by mountains and control of it would connect him to Hanzhong, completely blocking Yi State from northern Guanzhong.

It would leave Yi State cut off from the court and at his complete mercy.