Iron Dynasty Chapter 942

On the south bank of the Amur River.

After three days of waiting, the northward-bound soldiers successively gathered here. At the same time, the gradually colder weather caused a thick layer of ice to form on the river surface.

“General, I’ve tried it. The ice is walkable now. We can launch an attack on Albazin immediately!”

Gao Yingfeng ran over, panting, covered in a layer of snow. For these three days, the heavy snow had not stopped.

Zhu Sansi was warming himself by a fire. Hearing this, he stood up. As the weather grew colder, more and more soldiers suffered from frostbite. They now had to capture Albazin as quickly as possible.

His expression turned serious. He said, “Assemble all soldiers. Launch an attack on Albazin precisely at eight o’clock.”

“Yes, Division Commander.” Gao Yingfeng almost jumped with joy. He was truly fed up with the weather here and just wanted to enter the city early to warm up.

Albazin City.

Barov and Vasily had been watching the movements of the Great Yu Empire army. Seeing the soldiers opposite begin to assemble, their hearts sank to the bottom.

And this provided the Great Yu Empire with the conditions for attack.

“Vasily, you and your men leave now. Albazin cannot be held.” Barov said desperately. In three days, the Great Yu Empire’s soldiers had increased from two thousand to ten thousand, while Albazin City now had only just over fourteen hundred men.

Such a small force could not withstand the Great Yu Empire army, which possessed advanced firearms.

“Father, let’s go together. Albazin is just a small city; it’s not worth our lives,” Vasily advised.

“No! This is my promise to Her Majesty the Empress. For a noble, a promise is far more important than life,” Barov said stubbornly.

He knew his country was a monarchy. The Empress was the highest symbol of power in Tsarist Russia. Precisely because of this, a promise to the Empress was of such great importance.

If he and Vasily fled together, they would not only lose their noble status upon returning but would also be imprisoned and become criminals.

And this was something their family could not bear.

“I cannot watch you die before me.” Vasily picked up his flintlock gun, preparing to ascend the city wall.

Barov, seeing this, angrily said, “What are you few waiting for? Take him away!”

As his words fell, three burly Tsarist Russian soldiers swarmed forward, snatched Vasily’s gun, and dragged him towards the North City gate.

And just then, the roar of Great Yu Empire artillery shook the sky.

With the arrival of personnel, the number of Great Yu Empire’s artillery increased. The artillery of Albazin City was basically rendered useless and had no way to counter the Great Yu Empire’s bombardment.

“Hold your guns tight. It’s your turn to fight desperately.” Barov also picked up a flintlock gun. He admitted that he had underestimated the Great Yu Empire.

He also realized that his occupation of Albazin was an act of aggression against the Great Yu Empire, but if given another chance, he would still choose to invade.

Because they were servants of the monarch, and the monarch’s orders were inviolable. As part of Tsarist Russia, they had to fight for their country, regardless of right or wrong. After all, for them, this world was about the survival of the fittest.

Outside the city, artillery continuously bombarded Albazin City. At the same time, under the command of officers, the soldiers crossed the Amur River and launched an attack on Albazin.

Among them, some soldiers carried ladders that had been manufactured over the past three days. Some soldiers continuously fired at the city wall, covering the soldiers carrying ladders. Under the suppression of overwhelming firepower, no significant counterattack appeared from the city wall of Albazin.

Ten thousand men quickly surrounded Albazin from four directions, like an iron barrel.

“This Albazin City is quite sturdy,” Gao Yingfeng scratched his head. Under continuous artillery fire, Albazin City had not suffered much damage.

Guda said, “Ever since these Tsarist Russians occupied this place, they have fortified this city considerably. The Albazin of the past was not like this.”

Zhu Sansi nodded. The current appearance of Albazin City was clearly somewhat different; it resembled a redoubt. He said, “No matter what it is, Albazin must be taken now.”

Gao Yingfeng responded and blew the charge bugle even louder. After the Great Yu Empire soldiers completed their encirclement, they immediately scaled the city wall via ladders.

The soldiers responsible for demolition, meanwhile, carried gunpowder barrels directly to the city gate.

Igniting the fuses, they immediately ran away. With a huge explosion, the entire interior of Albazin City was blown open.

“Kill!”

Seeing the city gate wide open, the soldiers roared and rushed into the city.

When the explosion sounded, Barov went mad. He shouted, ordering the soldiers hiding on the city wall steps to stop the Great Yu Empire soldiers from attacking the city. He himself led a portion of his soldiers to prevent the Great Yu Empire soldiers from entering through the main gate.

However, the Great Yu Empire soldiers were too numerous. Some charged directly through the city gate, while others continued to climb ladders onto the city wall. The scattered Tsarist Russian soldiers were completely unable to stop them.

After ascending the city wall, the Great Yu Empire soldiers, utilizing the range and accuracy advantage of their breech-loading rifles, decisively shot down Tsarist Russian soldiers attempting to charge up the city wall.

Many Tsarist Russian soldiers often fell into pools of blood before even reaching their firing range.

The battle inside the city gate also became one-sided. Tsarist Russia’s old flintlock guns were no match for the breech-loading guns. They were continuously shot down by the Great Yu Empire’s firearms from outside their firing range.

In the one-sided battle, Barov’s soldiers dwindled. When the gunfire around him grew sparse, Barov found himself surrounded by Great Yu Empire soldiers with bayonets pointed at him.

“Seize this man and escort him to Qingzhou Province to await His Majesty’s disposition.” Zhu Sansi was the first to enter the city. In the confrontation three days prior, he had discerned that this man was the highest-ranking general in Albazin City. Escorting such a criminal who invaded the Great Yu Empire to Qingzhou Province for punishment was most appropriate.

As his words fell, the soldiers immediately stepped forward to attempt to capture Barov alive.

Understanding the Great Yu Empire soldiers’ intentions, Barov roared and continuously forced back the approaching soldiers with his bayonet.

Zhu Sansi frowned. He then drew his breech-loading short-barreled gun from his waist and fired a shot at Barov’s leg.

Barov cried out in pain and fell to the ground. The soldiers seized the opportunity to disarm him of his flintlock gun and firmly secured him.

The battle ended. Zhu Sansi and Gao Yingfeng both breathed a sigh of relief. This Albazin City was crucial for the Great Yu Empire. In retreat, it could defend the Guandong territory. In advance, it could secure Siberia to the north. To the west, it could reach Lake Baikal, and Nerchinsk was not far from Lake Baikal.

“Nerchinsk is next,” Zhu Sansi said, looking westward, full of ambition.