The Rise of History’s Most Powerful Empire

Chapter 71: Attack and Defense

The fall of Wudu Regional city marked the end of the entire region as well.

He had gathered all his soldiers and recruits to region city, leaving but a few dozen men behind for the county city's law and order. He had no doubt about it, there would be no army attack on it. 

Zhong Yu divided his 2,000 system soldiers in attacking four county cities, while doing some spring cleaning on the way by removing any clansmen.

While he stayed behind to reorganize the ten waves of his new army.

Through the flames of their first war, all those unfit for drawing blood were eliminated, leaving only the battle hardened climbing on other's corpses and out of the seas of blood. 

His 23,000 recruits dropped down to 15,000 while also around 4,000 wounded. It was simply horrifying.

To recruits, the death of 10% spelled collapse of morale. The only reason they fought still was because his soldiers pushed them from behind, out of fear of dying at their own comrades.

While now they were most unstable, needing weeks to recover. He turned a blind eye to the horrors and cruelty these recruits inflicted upon the regional city so they would free themselves of everything this battle filled them with, of the fear and rage.

Without hatred addling their minds, they would become cold soldiers, ready to follow his bidding.

Zhong Yu knew all too well how much they loathed him. And what of it? He had their kin under his thumb, their fates sealed. 

Half a month later, the sent system soldier groups returned. The recruits recovered as well, ready for more conquest.

He left 200 men in each county city, and 800 in regional cities. Adding to that the passes, the Wudu Region had 3,000 of his men stationed in defense.

Drawing 8,000 people from the Wudu Region, he now had enough cannon fodder. 

His 22,000 men should keep the campaign going for a good while.

Behind him, Wudu Region had suffered from his war and scourge, their population cut down from 80,000 to 50,000, with less than 5,000 able-bodied men.

Wudu Region crippled uplifted his worries, making his attack on Yi State the top priority.

Zitong Region came first, with nine counties and 200,000 people. 

The land was shaped as a long strip, from north to south. It held many passes, a necessary root from Hanzhong to Yi State's hinterlands.

Notable passes were Jiange Pass and Mianzhu Pass with many other small ones, making it a very dangerous region.

The army took two days to arrive at the first county of Zitong Region, Baishui County.

This county had no significant pass, making it easy to take, just a day as they continued further south.

In Hande County, Jiange Pass held strong. Though hardly dangerous when they had yet to hear of the fall of Baishui County.

He faked Baishui County magistrate's seal allowing it to open the gates for him to march right in.

Then was the same routine, of purging the men, since they haven't seen war for a hundred years.

They had no vigilance. Only next year when Yi State's Yellow Turban Rebellion erupted that put them on edge.

All the land had were minor skirmishes with barbarians.

He left 1,000 men stationed at Jiange Pass, going to take Hande county city before making east for Hanshou County.

It was the easternmost county city of Zitong Region, next to Langzhong County of Baxi. It would hold a pivotal role in his future conquest of Baxi.

Three days later, Zitong Region's northern counties, Hande County, Baishui County and Hanshou County were under his occupation.

Zitong Region's gate was wide open to take Yi State. 

Leaving behind 2,000 for defense, his 20,000 marched through Zitong Region and getting it under his control in ten days.

After taking 30,000 new recruits from it for his cannon fodder, Zhong Yu took Mianzhu Pass. He attacked Guanghan Region, going after its seat of power, which was Luo County.

Guanghan shook, Yi State shook. All of Yi State soon found the rim of Guanghan had an army passing through this region, spreading all over it.

The Shu Region, holding the power of the entire Yi State, was overwhelmed, ordering the surrounding regions to gather the men to help Shu Region.

Alas, Zhong Yu wasn't going to give him the time. He used his 50,000 men to encircle Shu Regional city. It only had 5,000 soldiers. These however had tasted battle by fighting off barbarians.

Though with how few they were and no barbarian raid in the last few years, it made them slack.

With his numerical superiority, there was no need for devious ploys. A direct attack would finish them off in ten days tops.

He made his cannon fodder into ten divisions of 3,000 each supervised by the surviving recruits from the last siege instead of system soldiers. While the cannon fodder itself was the 30,000 recruits from Zitong Region.

The horrified recruits were pushed into attacking the city, filling the moat with sandbags. With it being ten meter wide it needed 6,000 men working on it.

It took a whole day to do it, but not without casualties, 5,000 dead. The battlefield was littered with howling men and corpses. The too far gone left in agony for the sweet release of death.

The night was eerily quiet, with no attacks going and letting the men rest for once.

The next day was marked by the resumed siege; the men organized in five divisions of 5,000. They would face the cruelty of war, having done with the moat.