The Rise of History’s Most Powerful Empire

Chapter 68: Beneath Yangping Pass

The cavalry ran through the people on the street and straight for the offices.In hope of taking the head of any resistance this city might have.

The government building hardly had any defenses, being in the center of the city, just a couple dozen guards.

They were nothing compared to the imperial guards, killed in moments..

Zhong Yu told them before the attack began, the officials were all useless and had to be put down or they'd affect his stationed soldiers.

Rather than let them remain a danger, killing them outright was best.

The cavalry followed Zhong Yu's orders to the letter, sending them to hereafter without even a chance to plead.

They then went to the city's barracks. After half an hour it should know by now of the invasion so it must be gathering men.

The city gate had a few dozen, the officials had a few dozen, and there were plenty of patrols as well as retired guards.

It made so the barracks had around 600 people. Most untrained and in poor fighting condition. Their morale was lower than any average army.

With just a couple of cavalry charges, they'd soon disperse.

The cavalry reached the barracks to find a motley bunch with hardly any formation in place.

At the sight of their enemies, these people panicked.

There were even some who fled outright, crying for their mothers when the riders charged.

Few escaped from the attack, though too scared to ever think about mounting any resistance.

Zhong Yu occupied most of the county city, leaving the north side where the clans resided alone for now, since they had around 600 men there.

They even fought Zhong Yu's soldiers and made him rethink about charging in. He'd have to gather up his men from all over the city before he tried again.

He admired the servants. Being with these clans for generations, their loyalties unmatched.

It didn't take long for his men to gather around, even the cavalry. The servants stood no chance.

This was the might of a cavalry unit. It was invincible against infantry, especially a poorly-armed one.

Zhong Yu was excited seeing his riders back, giving them orders. He just had to wipe these clans out and he'd rule Nanzheng regional city.

And with its fall, the entire Hanzhong Region was ripe for the taking.

The servants didn't last long, dealt with with ease thanks to the added cavalry. Then killed by the soldiers rooting them out.

Zhong Yu then declared a purge on all of them, to leave no stone unturned.

The loyal servants woke Zhong Yu up to the dangers of letting just one escape. He needed them out of the way for his conquests and for fortune.

The cleanup of the city lasted the whole morning, blood flowing in the streets through the countless corpses no one bothered to collect. 

The 8,000 people living in this regional city had found its numbers cut in half.

A city's occupants were mostly made of wealthy clans and their servants. The fact half still remained was already a good sign.

He got 160 from the killings and Zhong Yu exchanged for 320 soldiers. But the fighting wasn't that clean, leaving him with 100 dead. Though he did get his army back to 1,400 men.

Leaving 400 behind to guard the regional city, he took the rest to Baozhong County city 10 km away then to Xingyang County city 10 km from Baozhong County city.

With the capture of the regional city being so swift, the two county cities were in the dark of the danger and fell like a house of cards.

That left Anyang County the only area free in the whole of Hanzhong Region. Though there was no rush to take it, being in the northern most area of Hanzhong Region.

It would take five days to get any news of his attacks. Enough time for him to clean up the cities of clans and assert his rule.

The four counties found themselves culled of clans, 18,000 people in all. The 750 fortune resulted in 1,500 more soldiers added to his army.

Leaving 500 to defend Hanzhong Regional city, the other three counties had only 200 men each. Zhong Yu took the 1,700 left southwest, to the gateway to Yi State, Yangping Pass.

With the Yangping Pass pass occupied, the pressure on Hanzhong Region from Yi State would drop.

He did not hide his army as he rode to Yangping Pass, showing his forged Hanzhong Region governor's token. 

Yangping Pass belonged to Hanzhong Region at first. He had used the token to make it open its gates then take control of it in a swift manner.

The guards were killed to the last, per usual, giving him 20 fortune from the 500 dead. Enough to recover the losses this action took.

Zhong Yu left 500 men as well to defend it and keep it closed so no one came or left.

He took the remaining 1,200 soldiers to Baozhong County to rest for the night before going for Anyang County and making Hanzhong Region his at last.