Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 828: Chapter 617: Conquest of Baoning Prefecture (Part 2)

If King Da Liang had not occupied Han Zhong Prefecture, Yang Mingzhao’s first target would have been Han Zhong Prefecture. But because King Da Liang occupied Han Zhong Prefecture first, Yang Mingzhao settled for Baoning Prefecture instead.

Once they occupy Baoning Prefecture, they will block most of the roads for King Da Liang to move south into Bashu.

Although both sides are rebels, Yang Mingzhao doesn’t want to mix with the bandits like King Da Liang.

Therefore, he actively moved to occupy Baoning Prefecture, intending to block King Da Liang, preventing him from moving south.

Apart from this, King Da Liang will also serve as a shield for them, helping him resist the northern imperial army.

Everyone discussed the details of the deployment, and then they began their busy preparations.

They called up agricultural soldiers, mobilized food supplies, and allocated armaments. It only took five days to complete the exchange of defenses between the county, strongholds, and checkpoints, with the original camp soldiers replaced by agricultural soldiers.

On September 10, three thousand camp soldiers and eight thousand camp soldiers gathered on the official road southwest of Taiping County.

This official road leads directly into Baoning Prefecture and also has a Nuoshui River connection with Baoning Prefecture’s Tongjiang County and Baoping County. After Nuoshui River reaches Baoping County, it joins Qingshui River and Ba Shui River. Thus, today, one can follow Nuoshui River to reach Qingshui River and Ba Shui River, which have connections with Micang County, Nanjiang County, Ba State, and other places.

Nuoshui River, Qingshui River, and Ba Shui River aren’t suitable for piloting large ships but can manage small boats three zhang long.

Therefore, this expedition of the Taiping Army is divided into three routes. The first utilizes the advantages of three rivers, using boats to transport food directly to Tongjiang County, Baoping County, Ba State, Nanjiang County, and Micang County.

The second route aims directly at Baoning Prefecture City, occupying He Xi Pass and Nanjin Pass south of Baoning Prefecture City. As long as He Xi Pass and Nanjin Pass are occupied, Baoning Prefecture City will be secure.

But this means that the Taiping Army must guard the southern part of Baoning Prefecture in Nanjia County, which is an unavoidable situation. Nanjia County is flat with no natural defenses, so occupying Nanjia County will increase the Taiping Army’s garrison pressure.

Therefore, to reduce future defense pressure on the Taiping Army, Yang Mingzhao can only temporarily give up Nanjia County.

The third route will move westward, attacking Sword State, Ziteng County, Guangyuan County, and Lizhou Guard in the west and north of Baoning Prefecture.

Lizhou Guard is Baoning Prefecture’s garrison, also the only military institution within Baoning Prefecture. However, the combat power of Lizhou Guard is comparable to having none at all.

So this third route, except for the slightly longer marching distance, won’t pose much trouble.

Yang Mingzhao has only three thousand camp soldiers and five thousand agricultural soldiers at his disposal but still divides into three routes—not out of arrogance, but purely because Baoning Prefecture offers no formidable opposition.

The only tricky point is Baoning Prefecture City, because there is a well-known worldly sect within the city.

Compared to the government officials and the garrison soldiers, those worldly sects pose the biggest trouble.

Besides, there is a government office set up by the Martial Arts Department in Baoning Prefecture, which is also a minor inconvenience.

On September 11, the Taiping Army set out, and Yang Mingzhao’s first expansion battle formally commenced.

However, this expansion battle went far more smoothly than Yang Mingzhao anticipated.

On September 12, the army led by Deng Xing captured Tongjiang County, the city acquisition process resembling their past attacks on Taiping County.

After taking Tongjiang County, Deng Xing left five hundred agricultural soldiers and accompanying officials, and the next day proceeded downriver to capture Baoping County.

On September 14, Baoping County was captured.

On September 17, Ba State was conquered.

On September 20, although the officials in Nanjiang County had received news, when the troops arrived at the city gates, the officials within chose immediate surrender.

On September 23, Deng Xing reached their final target for this campaign, Micang County.

Micang County and Lizhou Guard are located in the north of Baoning Prefecture, nearly blocking all roads south from Han Zhong Prefecture, leaving only Ning County in the northeast of Kui Prefecture for King Da Liang to move south.

Standing below Micang County city walls, Deng Xing gazed at the low walls, wrinkles at the corner of his mouth.

This expansion battle came too easily; it took them twelve days from departure to Micang County, without any proper battle fought.

The official establishments they passed had almost no defenses, with city gates wide open when they arrived.

Micang County before them was the same.

”Report, Sir, the County Magistrate, County Secretary, Chief Clerk, and other officials inside have abandoned the city and fled two days ago!” A soldier came to report.

Well, they gained another county for free.

What else could Deng Xing say but to instruct the soldiers to take over the city and calm the residents.

Things were excessively smooth for Deng Xing, and Han Lin’s campaign was similarly effortless. They needed to capture Sword State, Ziteng County, Guangyuan County, and Lizhou Guard in the northwest of Baoning Prefecture.

Han Lin’s first target was Sword State, known as a large city with walls three zhang high. To quickly capture Sword State, Han Lin specially arranged for two squads of soldiers to infiltrate Sword State City in advance.

Sword State City had some resistance, as when Han Lin approached the city, the Prefect had already readied for defense.

Yet what preparations they had were minimal.

At night, the soldiers within created some chaos and then opened the city gates to let Han Lin into the city, after which the Prefect fled.

Ah, this Prefect had made thorough preparations for escape.

After taking Sword State, the remaining targets for the Western Army were nearly identical to Deng Xing’s situation, occupying Baoning Prefecture’s northwest with almost no obstacles.

The only operation not going smoothly was Yang Mingzhao’s Central Army, which he personally commanded.

On September 19, they reached the walls below Baoning Prefecture City. Baoning Prefecture City was a fortress with high walls over three zhang tall, and each side of city walls had a Vessel City.

Outside the city, the moat was two zhang wide, connected with the Ling River.

Yang Mingzhao had only one thousand camp soldiers and two thousand agricultural soldiers. Facing such a sturdy fortress, he could only camp outside the city.

Inside the camp, Yang Mingzhao, Li Dagui, Yang Ze, Qi Zhang, Chen Buyu, Chen Buren, Zhao Kai stared at each other.

”What to do?” Yang Mingzhao asked a bit gloomily.

They had already investigated the situation of Baoning Prefecture City, which had one thousand garrison soldiers and several hundred government officials inside.

The garrison soldiers were the soldiers from Lizhou Guard. As for officials, they were young and strong recruited by the government, including officials from various government offices, attendants, citizens, strong men, and of course, the martial artists in the Martial Arts Department.

Although the military force seemed small, don’t forget there were fifty thousand civilians in the city, among which enough strong men could be recruited.

If the officials inside were capable, they could recruit enough strong men to defend the city.

Then don’t mention their three thousand soldiers; even thirty thousand troops would struggle to conquer this city.

”Zhang Mo and Li Cheng have already infiltrated the city. Should we have them coordinate inside and out?” Yang Ze suggested.

Li Dagui shook his head, ”No, they only have two hundred people. Unless it’s during intense fighting, they will have difficulty capturing the gate!”

Coordination is possible but requires collaboration from both sides.

The current issue was not whether they could coordinate, but rather they couldn’t attack the city.

With just three thousand men, an assault would be like serving themselves as prey.

”Should we wait for Old Deng and Old Han to come?” Yang Ze asked again.

”They need to hold back soldiers to help officials distribute fields. They can’t bring many troops,” Li Dagui responded.

There are many cities, and even if only five hundred men were left in each city to help officials distribute fields, that requires over four thousand troops, meaning Deng Xing and Han Lin could bring at most a thousand camp soldiers.

Yang Ze stared at Li Dagui in dissatisfaction, ”This doesn’t work, that doesn’t work, then you think of something!”

With two suggestions rejected by Li Dagui, Yang Ze was somewhat annoyed.

Li Dagui laughed heartily, ”I do have an idea!”

”Speak up, less suspense!” Yang Ze urged.

Li Dagui ignored the oaf and looked at Yang Mingzhao, saying, ”Master, the Commandant of the Martial Arts Department in Baoning Prefecture is named Li Baoshan!”

Yang Mingzhao was a bit puzzled, ”You know this person?”