Iron Dynasty Chapter 1036

Standing upon the deck of the King-Class ironclad, Yue Yun surveyed the landscape of Zeelandia through his binoculars.

Reports of Dutch military forces launching an aggressive strike against the local garrison had flooded the national newspapers. In response, he had been tasked with a clear directive: neutralize all Dutch naval assets across Southeast Asia and coordinate with the Southeast Military Region to seize control of the Dutch-held territories of Manila and Jakarta.

Liu Chen also peered toward the island. Lowering his lenses, he commented, “Aside from some structures marred by artillery fire and explosions, the island remains largely unchanged.”

“The Dutch and the Japanese alike are fundamentally untrustworthy,” Yue Yun muttered coldly. “It is fortunate that they have revealed their true colors now; it preserves the Empire from further depletion of our wealth. If the Dutch had successfully siphoned off more of our technology, the cost to the Empire would have been unforgivable.” Having long harbored a deep skepticism toward foreign powers, he remained acutely aware of the historical humiliations the Empire had endured.

Liu Chen glanced back at the twenty-three ironclad warships trailing behind them, their funnels belching thick black smoke with imposing force. He felt a swell of pride. During the Battle of Dengzhou, these ironclads had demonstrated overwhelming dominance, essentially steamrolling through the enemy’s defensive volleys and rendering the coalition fleet utterly helpless.

Such a spectacular display had provided clear technical guidance for future naval architecture. Consequently, over the past eighteen months, the Empire's shipyards operated at maximum capacity to produce twenty-four upgraded ironclads across three distinct tonnage classes, all building upon the foundations of their predecessor.

The King-Class ship they occupied served as a prime example of top-tier naval engineering, boasting 1,461 tons of specialized plating. The central citadel stretched 45.5 meters, shielded by 355 mm and 304 mm armor above and below the waterline, respectively. The open main turrets carried 304 mm plating, complemented by 15 mm gun shields and a 203 mm armored conning tower. Spanning a length of 95 meters and a beam of 19.4 meters with a draft of 6.53 meters, this vessel was propelled by a horizontal triple-expansion steam engine exerting 6,000 horsepower. It reached speeds of 14.5 knots, possessed an operating range of 3,500 nautical miles, and utilized 8 boilers to maintain a displacement of 7,411 tons, rising to 7,935 tons at full load.

The engineers also counted themselves lucky that the rapid advancement of the Empire's electrical grid had reached a point where it could be integrated directly into the ship's design.

Integrated into the King-Class were high-intensity searchlights sourced from the Empire’s own lighting workshops, capable of projecting a brilliance equivalent to eight thousand candles.

Its armament utilized the peak of breech-loading rifled artillery. The primary battery consisted of four 305mm breech-loading Imperial Guard cannons housed in two twin-gun rotating turrets, augmented by eight 150mm secondary batteries and sixteen 75mm rapid-fire launch guns. The sheer volume of ballistic fire was immense.

Most significantly, the turret configuration fundamentally revolutionized the limitations of older sailing warships; these rotatable platforms allowed for unrestricted fire in any direction, even while underway.

Recalling the impressive specifications, Liu Chen felt a surge of excitement. Yet, he understood that the King-Class remained a gargantuan outlier among the fleet.

Currently, the Imperial Navy relied primarily on ironclad cruisers, ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 tons. While lacking the sheer crushing power of the King-Class, they proved more than sufficient to dismantle the traditional Western sailing vessels.

However, such military might came at an exorbitant price. While a single King-Class warship carried a cost of two million gold dragons, the entire fleet investment exceeded thirty million—an astronomical financial commitment.

At the Zeelandia docks, Liu Xinhong and Fang Hongming watched in awe as the massive collection of hulls slowly glided into the harbor.

Though the reputation of the ironclad fleet had reached every corner of the Empire, witnessing the sheer scale of the armada in person was an experience bordering on religious.

The ship bearing the “King-Class” mark held a particular gravity; the sight of the steel behemoth left no doubt of its destructive potential.

“Lao Fang, these machines are truly majestic. I find myself tempted to join the navy,” Liu Xinhong said, eyeing the vessel in open wonder.

Fang Hongming merely nodded, struck speechless. The previous introduction of the Changping-style machine gun had already convinced him of the Era's technological superiority, but this display proved that the Empire was witnessing a new age of miracles.

The pair stood on the pier as the vessels anchored, waiting for Yue Yun, Liu Chen, and their senior officers to disembark.

“General Yue Yun,” Liu Xinhong and Fang Hongming greeted in unison, having been briefed on the fleet’s itinerary in advance.

As a vital logistics node on the southern corridor, Zeelandia acted as a standard refit and supply waypoint for all vessels moving south.

Returning their salute, Yue Yun replied, “I must call upon your assistance once more. We require only fresh water, vegetables, and fruit this time—no coal is necessary.”

“Right away, General,” Liu Xinhong answered, immediately ordering his men to retrieve provisions from the depots.

Yue Yun cast a satisfied look at the fortifications, noting the scars of combat. “It seems the defense here was rather intense.”

Fang Hongming provided a grim nod. “The Dutch came prepared. While their Conqueror rifles lack the simplified loading mechanism of our Han-style rifles, their raw power remains formidable, and they gave our garrison quite a fight.”

“Precisely. The sheer pressure seal of a front-loader retains its own distinct advantages. Liu Chen, we must not underestimate our foes when we move on Manila and Jakarta,” Yue Yun cautioned.

Liu Chen’s expression hardened. European nations had not been idle while the Empire advanced. Unlike less civilized tribes, these powers prioritized research and were swift to adopt innovative military doctrines.

Briefings from their Prussian contacts confirmed that once Europeans grasped the properties of conical bullets, they had aggressively phased out lead spherical shot in favor of the newer, more efficient projectiles.

“Rest assured. My time in Singapore dealing with the British taught me much. Their soldiers are in a different league compared to our encounters with the Japanese or Goryeo. I will remain vigilant.”

Yue Yun nodded in approval. “Excellent. Once the Southeast Asian theater is secured, our next priority is Japan.”

“Japan?” Liu Xinhong asked, clearly confused. “I thought the formal instrument of surrender was already signed.”

“As His Majesty correctly notes, a document is merely ink on page. Success is measured by implementation. The current unrest in Japan has displeased the Emperor. We have allowed them the rope to hang themselves with, just to see what variety of treachery they might attempt.”

Sensing he had said enough, Yue Yun cut the conversation short. “Enough of that. We take our rest tonight and depart at dawn.”