The Rise of History’s Most Powerful Empire

Chapter 52: County

The fall of the three tribes signified Zhong Yu's dominance over the southeastern Lost Plains, his reach extending to 50 km and over ten thousand people. 

Having achieved his population target, what remained was getting in his study and letting the system upgrade his domain. He would thus establish his nation, perfect his regime and embark on the road of cultivation.

The culled three tribes' survivors were relocated after the ratio of men and women was adequate to form a new borough.

Zhong Yu was now in complete control of this area, achieving his aim of connecting his lands.

It allowed his rear to be in constant development, place strategic deployments and improve his offense so that when the enemy came unannounced, he could put up resistance at a moment's notice. 

His domain was no longer a winding strip vulnerable to being cut in the middle and crushed. 

Leaving 50 service savages and some recruits for defense, Zhong Yu and his imperial guard returned to Luoyang.

After twenty days he was starting to miss his home. While no kin awaited him, it was his base, his only place of safety. As time passed this feeling only grew.

He passed the eager citizens welcoming them without so much as an explanation, going straight for his study while leaving an imperial guard to do the talking instead. Of where their kin were and what they were doing, to placate the masses.

Last time he was weak and forced to depend on these people, thus he addressed them personally like a comely grandma. But now he had a nation under him and had to act like a true ruler by ignoring the lowly peasants.

Escaping the clamor of the people, Zhong Yu and his guards arrived at the seat of power.

In his study, his heart regained its usual cool, a habit he formed since coming into this world. He felt the study, filled with books, housing wonderous knowledge about cultivation and abilities, held the secret to wielding power.

That was the source of all his worries, whether he'd achieve his long dreams of establishing his power, for no one to encroach upon his domain, even in terms of self-defense.

The sandalwood incense filled the study with a soothing aroma, a perfect place to meditate.

Zhong Yu was summarizing the outcome of his campaign, the gains and the development of his domain. He wrote down all the problems and addressed them with seriousness to avoid any weaknesses.

Only after becoming a lord did he fully understand his weakness, needing to plan every step of the way, to compensate or rectify any holes in his strategies.

The last campaign netted him 7,000 people, forming three townships and eight boroughs. His domain now stretched 50 km, the size of a county, fully showcasing the structure and development he had in store for it.

This expansion was unlike any before, where those battles were so small-scaled that compared to the dynasties of ancient China, they looked like fights between villages; of no import. No matter how many died, the higher ups would never care. At most they'd only chastise the county official he was slacking on the job. 

While the scale of a county was a whole nother ball game, with ten thousand people living in a city. It wasn't a stretch to say that a leader of a county had a thousand soldiers in just a few years, turning his domain into a fortress. 

He could seal off his turf and focus on developing his nation while hailing himself king. Against ambitious neighbors he'd focus on his foundation and use guerilla tactics on the borders for when the neighbor nations fell, he'd strike hard and fast when they recouped. That way he'd expand for miles and miles to form an undying empire.

He might even get the chance to compete with the world's heroes for the strongest in the lands. Or, if his luck was poor, he could hole himself in his lands and rule them as king.

This county would be the cornerstone of his dynasty, of unprecedented importance. It was given such a valued area and had to have a screened county magistrate, who worked hard in developing it.

The choice of county magistrate dictated the future of the nation, its development and fate. A poor choice would lead to a corrupt government, inciting public disapproval and leading to civil war. And once that happened there would be no stopping it.

As a county magistrate, he had military, executive, finances, administrative and judicial power. All must be correlating to provide a stable environment for growth and order.

Thus a good county magistrate strengthened a nation, avoiding things like secret deals and insubordination, offering instead public security and satisfaction so that no civilian would ever think about lashing out at him. They were happy, you were happy, everyone was happy. 

Long story short, the county represented the spring of a nation, its name would solidify in this period to all vassals.

So no matter who took over later, it would be independent no matter how crippled or flourishing it would become. Its lord would be the ruler, the emperor.

A county was the smallest nation in times of ancient China. The kingdom, regional and county were the most used terms until the 6th century. Yet all that changed after was just on the outside.

Thus, in the eyes of the ancient people, a county was a nation and its leader an independent monarch.