Iron Dynasty Chapter 1010

Resistance in Wales City was swiftly overcome.

The city's fortifications were designed for containment, not conflict—adequate for imprisoning inhabitants but ill-suited against a military invasion. After the imperial artillery positioned on the adjacent ridge fired two reconnaissance shots towards the city's northern approach, a white flag was hoisted at the primary gate within an hour.

Alden was present at the gateway as the imperial soldiers entered.

He had contemplated resistance. He had surveyed the defensive walls, tallied his remaining men, observed the militia composed of farmers and laborers—individuals who sought only a peaceful existence on this remote continent—and ultimately made the only feasible choice available.

Without ceremony, he yielded his sword to Chang Yuzhu.

Chang Yuzhu accepted the weapon without any grand display, passed it to an attendant, and proceeded onward.

The occupation proceeded with the practiced efficiency characteristic of a seasoned military force. Units advanced to their designated posts. The Governor's Office was secured first, its documents and records seized completely. The armory was sealed, and the small harbor came under guard.

As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, the imperial banner was raised on the Governor's Office tower, and imperial patrols commenced in the streets of Wales.

The city's inhabitants observed from their windows and doorways.

Some displayed apprehension, others a weary acceptance. A select few—those with hardened expressions, the long-term residents—regarded the scene with a calculating gaze, already contemplating the necessities of survival under a new regime.

In the early evening, Lei Ming ambled through Wales' main thoroughfare, hands clasped behind his back, assessing his surroundings.

He recognized it as a substantial city. While not opulent by imperial standards, it was well-constructed, featuring stone edifices, orderly streets, functional port facilities, and warehouses indicating consistent commercial activity. The British had established a significant presence here.

"The Governor's records?" he inquired of Shi Yanjun, who fell into step beside him.

"They are currently under review. Initial readings indicate agricultural output significantly exceeds our estimations," Shi Yanjun replied in a hushed tone, though the observing residents could not comprehend their conversation. "The farms to the south and west have been operational for decades. Some of the rangelands are among the largest I've encountered anywhere."

Lei Ming permitted himself a fleeting moment of satisfaction.

This was a valuable acquisition. His Majesty would undoubtedly be pleased.

"And the British naval vessels that were docked here?"

"They departed before our landing. Three ships—they slipped away with the morning tide after the lookouts reported our fleet on the horizon." Shi Yanjun's voice conveyed a hint of annoyance. "We will not intercept them now."

"It is inconsequential," Lei Ming stated. "They will carry the news back to Britain. That serves a purpose in its own right."

He paused at a street corner, gazing upward at the imperial flag fluttering gently in the evening sea breeze atop the Governor's Office.

Britain would eventually retaliate; that was a certainty. The crucial questions were the timing, the scale of the response, and whether the Great Yu Empire would have sufficiently consolidated its position in Australia by then to render such a response futile.

His directives provided a defined timeframe. He was determined to utilize every moment within it.

"Tonight, let the soldiers dine and recuperate," Lei Ming commanded. "Tomorrow, we commence the administrative tasks. I require a complete population census within three days, and the farms and pastures south of the city must be surveyed and cataloged within a week."

"Understood, Commander."

Lei Ming surveyed the surrounding street once more—the stone buildings, the subdued populace, the harbor visible beyond the rooftops—before turning and heading back towards the Governor's Office.

Wales had been captured.

Now, the more challenging endeavor of retaining it would begin.