Iron Dynasty Chapter 1030

September 3rd.

Six days following the issuance of the command, a contingent of one thousand troops set out from Wales, accompanying the mineral exploration squad from the Ministry of Minerals toward New Guinea.

Meanwhile, Lei Ming led his eight thousand soldiers aboard ten warships, steering toward Indonesia. Within Indonesia stood a city under British control, known as Newland.

This settlement had once been under Dutch possession. Since the British takeover, the territory extending about a hundred li (roughly 50 km) around Newland became their domain of dominance.

His objective in this location was to seize control of Newland. Intelligence from the court explained the British willingness to ignite conflict with the Dutch just to claim Newland.

The cause lay in the abundant gold deposits within the Newland vicinity. Furthermore, reports from the Ministry of Minerals highlighted Indonesia's wealth in various minerals, particularly coal, tin, aluminum, nickel, copper, gold, and silver. He remained unaware of how the Ministry had acquired this knowledge and refrained from inquiring.

For individuals of his standing, the Ministry of Minerals carried an aura of enigma comparable to that of the secret guards. All members admitted into the Ministry possessed impeccable histories, rendering its inner workings exceedingly hard to penetrate.

Moreover, those who recklessly attempted to probe the Ministry's secrets invariably met tragic fates.

“Once we secure this area, the Empire’s steamships navigating these waters will face no more supply concerns.”

Yet, to his mind, the British fortifications posed no real threat, given that their firearms lagged a full generation behind the Empire's advanced weaponry.

Chang Yuzhu showed greater fascination with the gold deposits. He remarked, “Commander, seizing this gold mine will earn us substantial merit this round. Upon my return, I could purchase a fine estate.”

The troops brimmed with enthusiasm as well. Their relentless drive to battle abroad drew from dual roots: unwavering devotion to the Empire, coupled with the military's steadfast reward mechanism.

A grin tugged at Lei Ming’s mouth. He declared, “Very well, then let us wage this fight with excellence. We must strive to keep our losses to a minimum.”

Chang Yuzhu agreed with a nod. He gestured toward the machine gun and added, “This weapon alone will strike terror into the British hearts. Commander, just await the outcome.”

Upon saying this, Chang Yuzhu approached the artillery unit and conferred with them briefly. Next, he coordinated the assault plan alongside the machine gunners and the foot soldiers.

Moments later, thirty-six cannons bellowed as one. The devastating barrage swiftly enveloped Newland's main gate.

In the blink of an eye, Newland's gate shattered with a resounding crash.

The British defenders inside the walls descended into chaos. From the moment their joint fleet fell and Singapore was claimed, a pall of impending conflict had hung over them.

And now, their worst fears had materialized.

“What in the world is that?”

The staggering force from the detonating metal shells plunged the British troops in the city into sheer dread right away. Such formidable artillery was utterly alien to their experience.

This stemmed from the fact that the gate stood virtually pulverized—a destruction beyond the reach of even their finest guns.

Still, reflection was impossible. Even after the gate's demolition, the bombardment persisted. Projectiles shrieked through the air, slamming into the city streets. Each detonation gouged a vast pit into the earth.

The zones encircling these pits turned into realms of certain death. Not a single soldier could persist in those vicinities.

Merely 5,000 British forces guarded Newland. Following this salvo of unchecked shelling, the city’s garrison endured devastating losses.

Yet this marked merely the initial instrument of their horror. When the cannons fell silent, the foe's advance trumpet echoed forth.

At that juncture, the remaining British on the ramparts hastily geared up for retaliation. However, the instant they lifted their gazes, the unending “dah dah dah…” bursts of shots rang out.

They crumpled into bloody heaps without a chance to respond. The gunners atop the walls suffered worse; they drew the focused wrath of the machine guns.

Whenever a trooper sought to man the cannons for a riposte, enemy fire from the relentless weapons cut them down. The whole British force found itself pinned, unable even to peek above cover.

The clamor of the advancing charge drew ever nearer. The city’s British troops had no choice but to forsake the battlements and retreat inward, steeling for a desperate clash with the invaders.

But their calculations erred yet again. Once the rifle-bearing imperial infantry breached the city, units wheeling bizarre rapid-fire weapons trailed close behind.

Thick enemy ranks surging toward the imperial lines toppled ceaselessly beneath the machine guns' scything volleys. Harnessing this lethal edge, groups of twelve imperial warriors plunged into the lanes and byways, purging the remaining British fighters.

Explosions from hurled grenades punctuated the din sporadically.

Beneath this unrelenting assault, the British resistance crumbled swiftly. Even the staunchest of armies falter in utterly lopsided engagements. Within one hour, the city's British commanders, alongside their surviving thousand troops, yielded to Lei Ming.

“General, a gold mine must exist nearby. Behold.” As Lei Ming strode into the captured city, Chang Yuzhu hurried up in high spirits. Trailing him, soldiers bore three sturdy crates.

Lei Ming cast an eye over the wooden containers, already forming notions. He commanded the men to unseal them, revealing at once a chest brimming with radiant gold ingots before his eyes.

“The Newland Governor states they intended to ship these three chests of gold ingots to India, and onward from there to Britain.”

After a brief hesitation, he withdrew a map. “Our search also uncovered this item. The British have surveyed vast territories, and it details the mineral sites they’ve identified.”

Lei Ming accepted it and examined the document, his grin broadening further. “This holds greater value than the gold mine itself. It pinpoints thirteen mineral deposits.”

So speaking, he shot a look at the Newland Governor, who huddled on the ground with hands clasped over his head, and continued, “I’ll be holding onto this map on your behalf. If more valuables remain, surrender them promptly to ease your ordeal. Refuse, and brace for harsher measures.”

The Newland Governor, utterly cowed by the Empire’s thunderous cannons and chattering machine guns, had forfeited all resolve. He pleaded, “I possess crucial intelligence to share, in exchange for freeing our families immediately.”

Lei Ming's forehead creased. “Bargaining power eludes you. Were I not bound by honor, I could free your kin only to seize them anew.”

“Agreed,” the Newland Governor conceded glumly. In that moment, he proffered a missive originating from Britain to Lei Ming.

Extracting the document from its casing, the translator announced, “Commander, the dispatch reveals shifts in Dutch politics under French duress. The prior prime minister faced ousting, with a successor now installed. The Dutch have yielded to Britain and France. They plan a united front against the Empire across Asia.”

Lei Ming's eyebrows knit in profound concern. He ordered, “This intelligence carries immense weight. Dispatch it urgently to Qingzhou, while instructing the Southeast Asian naval vessels and forces to heighten caution regarding the Dutch.”