Iron Dynasty Chapter 964

Yue Yun scrutinized the map intensely under the dancing glow of torchlight.

The territory they aimed to seize was known as "Lion City" in the local Malay tongue, a former possession of the Sultanate of Malacca. Three decades prior, the British had seized this location, establishing dominance over the vital bottleneck of Asian trade routes and rechristening it Singapore.

“General, the Johor Strait is now under blockade, effectively isolating this land. We are prepared to strike at any moment,” Liu Chen informed him.

A narrow waterway to the north of Singapore acted as a natural barrier, separating the island from the Kingdom of Johor. Geographically, Singapore functioned as a solitary island within the sea. Before initiating the assault, the military had meticulously studied the local landscape and gathered intelligence from the resident Chinese population. Evaluating every variable, they chose to initiate a landing on the southern shores of the Johor Strait, intending to push northward toward the Singapore Strait to secure complete dominance. This strategy was chosen because the British, perhaps overconfident in their alliance with the Kingdom of Johor, had neglected to fortify that flank with sufficient coastal cannons.

“Commence the attack. This position must be ours before the sun rises,” Yue Yun ordered, his voice cold and resolute. To seize this crucial maritime artery, they had navigated nearly two thousand kilometers, braving the relentless hardships of the open ocean.

“Understood, General,” Liu Chen replied.

At his signal, the soldiers of the Naval Marines surged forward toward Singapore City, which sat at the island's heart.

Much like the Great Yu Empire, the regional powers of Southeast Asia were built around fortified urban centers. The surrounding wilderness was primitive and treacherous, filled with miasmas, toxic insects, and savage beasts, making scattered settlements dangerous. It was precisely this concentrated layout that allowed colonial forces to easily subjugate and exploit the territory.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

The thunderous roar of the Marine Corps' field cannons shattered the silence of the night with a terrifying resonance. Brilliant flashes of fire erupted against the stone walls of Singapore City. Under this relentless shelling, the city gates were the first to crumble, allowing the Great Yu soldiers to seize the opening and charge inside. They were met with surprisingly lax defenses, as if the garrison had never considered the possibility of an incursion.

Inside the Governor-General’s Office of Singapore.

Felion was jolted awake, the flickering firelight visible through his window sending a wave of dread through him. ‘What is happening? Is this a French assault?’ Felion questioned himself, before dismissing the thought with a shake of his head. A joint fleet had only recently been established; the French would not risk a betrayal when their interests in Asia aligned so closely with Britain's. As he dressed and hurried out of his office, his mind raced to identify the mysterious aggressor.

The massive disturbance had plunged the city into chaos, with soldiers scrambling from their barracks to form ranks.

“Governor Felion, an enemy force is pushing in from the north. I have already sent troops to intercept them,” a British officer reported with a salute. “Who is attacking us?” Felion demanded. “I suspect they are the forces of the Great Yu Empire, given their black hair and yellow skin. In this part of the world, only they possess such military might,” the officer replied somberly. “Curse them! We were preparing to wipe them out, yet they moved against us first!” Felion shouted in a rage. Singapore’s defenses were never meant to be this vulnerable, as they had previously been on high alert against the French. However, the new alliance had caused them to lower their guard—a fatal lapse in judgment that was being exploited tonight.

“What are their numbers?” Felion inquired. “It is unclear, but they certainly outnumber us. We have only four thousand men stationed here,” the officer noted with visible worry. Felion’s eyes narrowed. “That may be, but two thousand of our men are armed with Thornton firearms. Deploy them immediately!” “Yes, Governor,” the officer said, turning to depart.

The Thornton firearm mentioned by Felion was a cutting-edge weapon recently shipped from Britain. During production, steam-powered machinery was utilized to carve rifling into the barrels, designed specifically for use with conical bullets. These two innovations significantly boosted the rifle's range, lethality, and precision. Felion had been highly impressed by their performance during previous testing.

“Thump, thump, thump…”

Shortly after the officer’s departure, the rhythmic sound of boots echoed as Redcoats, clutching their Thornton firearms, double-timed it toward the city gates. Moments later, the air was filled with the crackle of heavy gunfire and the answering roar of British artillery. Felion felt a brief sense of relief. In his eyes, the Redcoats were elite warriors, and with the Thornton rifles, they were invincible. He remained confident that this Great Yu army, appearing as if from thin air, would be crushed just like Britain's rivals in Europe.

The Northern District.

The Naval Marines' rapid advance hit a wall as they reached the center of the northern district. Caught off guard by the Redcoats wielding Thornton rifles, the lead elements of the Marine assault suffered significant losses.

“These are conical bullets!”

Liu Chen’s face darkened as he examined a spent round that had ricocheted off a wall. The projectile was nearly identical to the warheads used in their own paper cartridges. “It looks like the British have started equipping themselves with rifled muskets similar to our Conqueror models,” Yu Yongliang remarked while shielding Liu Chen.

Liu Chen gave a grim nod. They understood the capabilities of such weapons intimately. While these rifles were slower to reload and restricted the shooter's posture, their power, range, and accuracy were nearly on par with the current Falcon rifle. In a firefight within three hundred meters, the Marines would hold an edge, but it would not be a landslide victory.

“Command the troops to cease the frontal charge. Utilize cover and obstacles while returning fire. Have the skirmishers move forward, emphasizing tactical positioning to minimize exposure,” Liu Chen commanded sharply. Since receiving the Falcon rifles, their training had focused on the tactical advantages of breech-loading weapons. Stances such as firing from a prone or kneeling position were specifically designed for these rifles, and utilizing these techniques would give them the upper hand in this engagement.

Yu Yongliang acknowledged the order and immediately led his units through the urban maze, spreading Liu Chen’s instructions as they moved. They began to trade shots with the Redcoats while staying mobile.

Due to the cramped city streets, the Redcoats were unable to maintain their traditional large columns, instead breaking into groups of fifty. When the Marines spotted an approaching squad of Redcoats, they immediately dove for cover or dropped to the ground to open fire. This unconventional approach completely bewildered the Redcoats, who were trained exclusively for standing volley fire.

Slowly but surely, the momentum of the battle swung back toward the Great Yu forces.