Iron Dynasty Chapter 1032
Previously on Iron Dynasty...
Liu Xinhong appeared to casually look toward the window of the Governor’s Office, where Eric was staring directly at him right then.
Inside the room, another figure was faintly visible, undoubtedly Stephen, who had only recently shown up.
He raised his hand in a greeting, finished his routine inspection as normal, and then stepped into Zeelandia’s command center.
“Lao Fang, this whole mess feels so frustrating. We should just charge in and take them all down. Sigh, I’ve always said those Westerners can’t be trusted. Now it’s all coming true—what’s your view?” Liu Xinhong remarked offhandedly as he took a seat across from Fang Hongming.
Ever since Ryukyu’s development, the Empire had officially stationed forces there, including in Zeelandia. Following the army reforms, a division from the Southeast Military Region had taken over the defenses.
Yet Zeelandia itself was tiny. The bulk of the division’s personnel were based on Ryukyu Island, leaving just two regiments in Zeelandia proper.
Liu Xinhong commanded one regiment, while Fang Hongming led the other.
“I’d love to, but without orders from above, who’d risk moving first? If they slap us with charges, we’re done for. Remember, the Empire’s got tons of trade with the Dutch these days,” Fang Hongming replied steadily.
Liu Xinhong snapped in irritation, “That pisses me off even more. These Dutch guys are total wimps—profiting off us while plotting against us.”
Just as the words left his mouth, a soldier entered, saluted them both, and reported, “Sir, Governor Eric has dispatched an invitation for Regimental Commander Liu and Regimental Commander Fang to join him for a meal at the Governor’s Office.”“A meal?” Liu Xinhong and Fang Hongming exchanged glances. Liu Xinhong added, “Lao Fang, you up for it? Sounds like a trap straight out of Hongmen.”
Fang Hongming gave a slight nod. In the past, they’d have gone without a second thought—island life got dull, and a bit of booze was nothing special.
But after reading that letter’s contents, suspicion hung heavy in the air.
“Refusing might tip Eric off that we know about their political shift,” Fang Hongming pointed out. “That could force both sides into open conflict.”
Liu Xinhong shivered and burst out, “Lao Fang, you still planning to head over? If they grab us, the troops will fall apart.”
“Ridiculous! I’m staying put. Let him suspect what he wants—we’ll ready ourselves for anything,” Fang Hongming declared.
Liu Xinhong chuckled. “I’ll go brief the men to stay on full alert. We’ve been watching those Dutch closely all these years on the island, haven’t we?”
With those words, he exited the command center.
Word of Liu Xinhong and Fang Hongming’s courteous decline quickly made its way to Eric and Stephen. Stephen commented at that moment, “There you have it—they’re already on guard against us. That letter’s info must be spot on.”
Eric’s hesitation stemmed from a lingering shred of optimism, but now it lay in ruins. “Looks like we’re out of options and must strike tonight. Given the Chinese Empire’s telegraph speed, they’ll get official instructions by morning. After that, we’re on the defensive.”
With that in mind, he went on, “Before we launch, let’s get on those ships for a getaway. Our troops can’t possibly stand against theirs.”
Stephen prioritized his survival above all. He suggested, “As night falls, we’ll slip onto the warships using rowboats. Eric, great prospects lie ahead for you.”
Eric managed a bitter smile. What alternatives remained for him?
The final glimmers of sunset faded away, enveloping Zeelandia in night’s embrace. Only sporadic window glows hinted at human presence on this tiny isle.
At the stroke of midnight, silence reigned until a thunderous “boom” from cannon fire shattered the peace across Zeelandia.
“Blast them relentlessly!”
Liu Xinhong brushed the dirt from his clothes. Those cursed Dutch had fired an explosive round first—the very kind the Empire had sold them—which fueled his rage.
Fang Hongming arrived shortly after and swiftly directed the artillery response. Their prior preparations proved a boon this time.
The instant the Dutch fired, the counterbarrage began. Bullets zipped toward the enemy’s lines.
In the blackness, fighters from both armies spotted only the muzzle flashes from rifles and cannons, exchanging shots blindly.
“Flares!”
As the clash intensified, Fang Hongming called out abruptly.
A soldier obeyed, pulling out what resembled fireworks—a new gadget from the military factories, recently issued to the troops.
It worked much like fireworks, but the factories had swapped the bursts for illumination tech.
This setup featured magnesium and aluminum powders mixed with rosin and oil to control the burn rate. When fired, it blazed like a mini sun, lighting up a wide zone for roughly twenty seconds.
Darkness hampered visibility, so Fang Hongming needed to scout the foes’ positions. He yelled, “Launch it!”
Soldiers ignited the compact, rod-shaped flares. With a “poof,” brilliant white light soared upward, descending to bathe the Dutch area in daylight clarity.
That’s when Fang Hongming and Liu Xinhong saw only a fraction of the Dutch engaged directly. Several squads of Dutch troops were stealthily approaching with rifles bayonets ready.
The sight jolted Liu Xinhong. He saw they targeted the machine gun nests and grasped the Dutch scheme instantly.
“Take them down, every one,” Liu Xinhong commanded, gesturing at the creeping Dutch forces.
While the flare’s glow held, imperial machine gunners zeroed in on the shifting Dutch lines.
“Dah dah dah…”
Six machine guns roared to life with intense fire. The exposed Dutch soldiers toppled in droves. As the initial flare dimmed, Fang Hongming signaled for another.
Aided by the illumination, the Dutch stealth attack crumbled. Imperial forces seized the upper hand through superior firepower—the Dutch still relied on outdated Conqueror rifles.
Aboard the vessels near the shore, Eric squeezed his eyes shut in agony. The sporadic sky lights signaled his impending loss. Under such revealing glare, his men stood no chance of nearing the gunners.
“Weigh anchor, Eric. There’s still hope. We’ve at least glimpsed the Han-style rifle and machine gun. With Europe’s ingenuity, we’ll surely copy them,” Stephen urged.
Eric agreed with a nod. The imperial ships in the harbor would likely pursue—their anchoring spots were merely ten li apart.