Iron Dynasty Chapter 1030

September 3rd.

Six days after getting the orders, a contingent of one thousand troops left Wales, accompanying the mineral exploration squad from the Ministry of Minerals toward New Guinea.

Meanwhile, Lei Ming led eight thousand soldiers onto ten warships, setting course for Indonesia. In that region stood a British-held city called Newland.

The city had once been Dutch territory. Since the British takeover, the hundred li (roughly 50 km) around Newland fell under their control.

His task was to seize Newland. Intelligence from the court explained why the British had clashed with the Dutch in war to claim it.

A vast gold deposit existed in the Newland vicinity. Data from the Ministry of Minerals showed Indonesia teeming with resources like coal, tin, aluminum, nickel, copper, gold, and silver. He had no clue how they learned this and wouldn't risk asking.

To those of his level, the Ministry of Minerals seemed as enigmatic as the secret guards. All who joined had spotless histories, making its inner workings nearly impossible to probe.

Foolish spies targeting the Ministry's secrets always met grim ends.

“Securing this spot means the Empire’s steamships cruising these seas won’t fret over fuel anymore.”

Still, he dismissed their defenses as trivial, since British guns trailed theirs by over a generation.

Chang Yuzhu fixated on the gold mine. He remarked, “Commander, grabbing this mine will rack up tons of merit for us. Once I'm back, I can snag myself an estate.”

The men brimmed with eagerness. Their zeal for nonstop foreign campaigns drew from two wells: devotion to the Empire, and the military's steadfast reward scheme.

Lei Ming's mouth curved into a grin. He declared, “Then let's wage this fight with flair. Aim to keep our losses low.”

Chang Yuzhu dipped his head. Jabbing at the machine gun, he boasted, “This monster will petrify the British. Commander, just sit back and witness the victory.”

With those words, Chang Yuzhu strode to the artillery positions and chatted with the gunners briefly. Then he huddled with the machine gunners and foot soldiers to plan the assault.

Soon enough, thirty-six cannons bellowed as one. The savage barrage swallowed Newland's gates in a flash.

In a heartbeat, Newland's gate shattered with a thunderous boom.

The British defenders inside plunged into chaos. From the fleet's rout and Singapore's capture, they'd dwelled under war's dark cloud.

Now, their dread had arrived.

“What the hell is that?”

The metal shells' colossal blasts filled the city's British troops with sheer dread right away. Never had they witnessed guns packing such raw force.

The whole gate lay nearly pulverized, a destruction their top artillery couldn't match.

But reflection came too late. Even after the gate's ruin, the pounding continued. Projectiles screamed down into the streets. Each burst gouged a massive pit in the earth.

Around those pits, nothing lived. No trooper could last in such devastation.

Only 5,000 British guarded Newland. One brutal salvo left the city's forces reeling with massive deaths.

This was merely their first horror. When the cannons hushed, the attackers' charge horn pierced the air.

At that moment, the wall's surviving Brits scrambled for a fightback. Yet lifting their eyes, they caught the unending “dah dah dah…” of shots.

They crumpled into blood before moving a muscle. The wall's cannoneers suffered worse, singled out by the machine guns.

Whenever a man aimed an artillery piece back, enemy fire cut him down in sprays. The British ranks huddled low, totally pinned.

The charging clamor drew nearer. The city's Brits ditched the walls, retreating inside to clash in brutal close quarters.

But they erred again. Rifle-bearing troops stormed in, backed by men rolling bizarre guns.

Thick enemy lines hurtling toward the imperial forces kept dropping to the machine guns' relentless sweeps. Harnessing that gunpower, groups of twelve imperials plunged into lanes and byways, wiping out the British holdouts.

Grenade detonations cracked sporadically amid the fray.

Against this onslaught, the British crumbled fast. Even iron discipline crumbles in lopsided slaughters. One hour on, the city's British leaders and their leftover thousand troops yielded to Lei Ming.

“General, gold mine's real. Check it out.” As Lei Ming stepped inside, Chang Yuzhu rushed up thrilled. Soldiers trailed him with three crates.

Lei Ming shot a look at the crates, ideas forming. He ordered them pried open, revealing a chest brimming with shining gold bars.

“The Newland Governor claims they meant to haul these three chests of gold to India, then onward to Britain.

After a beat, he drew forth a map. “Our search unearthed this too. The British scouted wide, plotting all the mineral sites they found.”

Lei Ming snatched it and scanned the details, his smirk widening. “This beats the gold mine in value. Thirteen mineral spots marked here.”

Saying so, he shot a look at the Newland Governor, huddled on the dirt with hands over his head, and warned, “I'll hold onto your map. Any other treasures? Fork them over quick for some mercy. Or brace for what's coming.”

The Newland Governor quivered from the Empire's cannons and machine guns, courage shattered. He pleaded, “I've got key intel for you, but only if you free our families first.”

Lei Ming's face darkened. “No negotiations. Were I dishonest, I'd free them then snatch them back anyway.”

“Alright,” the Newland Governor muttered, spirit broken. Then he passed Lei Ming a missive from Britain.

Withdrawing the note from its case, the translator announced, “Commander, it reports the Dutch politics shifting under French duress. The old prime minister got booted, replaced by a new one. The Dutch bent to Britain and France now. They're gearing up to challenge the Empire together in Asia.”

Lei Ming's forehead creased tight. He ordered, “This intel's vital. Rush word to Qingzhou now, and warn all Southeast Asia ships and units to stay sharp on the Dutch.”