Iron Dynasty Chapter 966

A violent inferno blazed across the ocean surface, appearing like a blossoming flower of fire.

From the harbor, Liu Chen and his troops watched the three warships plunge into the depths, feeling a massive burden lift from their shoulders. This victory signaled the total annihilation of British forces on the island and the successful seizure of Malacca. From this moment forward, the Great Yu Empire’s consent would be mandatory for any vessel navigating these waters. Following a brief celebration, Liu Chen stationed a detachment to defend the battery while leading the rest back to Singapore City. By then, Yue Yun had already secured the entire urban area. The British colors were stripped from the Governor-General’s Office, replaced by the Dragon Flag of the Great Yu Empire, which now snapped proudly in the breeze at the peak of the mast.

“General, every British soldier has been dealt with!” Liu Chen declared, offering a crisp military salute to Yue Yun.

“Excellent work!” Yue Yun acknowledged the salute before adding, “Dispatch a messenger immediately to inform the Emperor of our success and await further instructions.”

“Understood, General,” Liu Chen answered. That very day, a vessel weighed anchor from Singapore Harbor, bound for Dengzhou.

By December 20th, the ship reached its destination, delivering the official reports regarding the Battle of Bohol Island and the Battle of Singapore directly to Xiao Ming.

“My congratulations, Your Majesty. The borders of the Great Yu Empire are expanding once more,” Qian Dafu remarked with a wide grin. The ruler and his attendant were huddled over a map of Southeast Asia; Xiao Ming studied the combat reports while Qian Dafu held the map open.

“It is not quite that simple. Our control is currently limited to Singapore City and the Spanish Royal City on Bohol. Whether the local natives will submit to our rule remains a question.” Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes, marking the coordinates of both cities. Because this world diverged from the historical timeline of his original era, the maps from the technology crystal served only as references; the precise locations of these settlements required manual verification and exploration.

“The natives?” Qian Dafu’s expression shifted to one of rare mockery. The current might of the Great Yu Empire had filled everyone with immense pride. “Your Majesty, if those natives were no match for the Spanish or the British, how could they possibly stand against us?”

“That logic holds, but the Spanish and British had established treaties with these indigenous populations. Having ousted the Europeans, we must now forge our own agreements. My concern is that after a century of colonial rule, these native dynasties have grown accustomed to the British and Spanish. They may be provoked by this change, making conflict unavoidable,” Xiao Ming explained calmly.

In the colonial history of the modern world, minor Southeast Asian nations were often ignored in favor of the Great Powers. In reality, these dynasties were the lifeblood of the colonies, providing the bulk of the resources. Data from the technology crystal suggested that the populations of these Southeast Asian realms were actually quite significant.

For instance, the Philippines held roughly three million people in the late 18th century, while Indonesia had eight million, Malaysia numbered three hundred and fifty thousand, and Burma housed five million. The Kingdom of Siam—modern-day Thailand—had three million residents. French Indochina’s total population neared ten million, with the Kingdom of Annam alone accounting for seven million.

With these statistics in mind, Xiao Ming could not dismiss these nations. During their tenure, the colonizers primarily acted as overlords rather than genocidal conquerors. Even so, he did not fear the locals. If the situation demanded it, he would crush them just as the Europeans had, for in this age, power was the only true law.

Understanding dawned on Qian Dafu. He remarked, “Your Majesty is wise; this old servant was being shortsighted. Long ago, the Great Yu Empire was the rightful suzerain of these Southeast Asian lands. They used to send envoys every New Year to present rare tributes in exchange for our protection. Those treacherous Europeans merely stole our authority and forced themselves upon these nations as masters.”

“Precisely. You are learning,” Xiao Ming said with a chuckle. “What I am fighting for is that very suzerainty—to reinstate the Great Yu Empire’s tribute system and sweep the Europeans out of our own backyard. Let them have Africa and the Americas; thinking they can maintain a foothold in Asia is nothing but a pipe dream.”

Qian Dafu nodded with shared indignation. “They have swallowed nearly the entire world. Their greed knows no bounds. This victory is truly gratifying.”

Xiao Ming, accustomed to Qian Dafu’s praise, simply smiled and noted a figure next to Singapore: 20,000. This was the current population of the settlement. He wasn't shocked by the low number; before British intervention, Singapore had been largely undeveloped.

Furthermore, Yue Yun’s data indicated that three thousand residents were of Chinese descent. Upon the city’s fall, these local Chinese had greeted the Naval Marines with open arms, serving as guides and helping the military seize British assets. Xiao Ming viewed this favorably. In this era, skin color was the primary divider. These Chinese people shared the ancestral blood of the Great Yu Empire. Relying on them to help govern Singapore was far more reliable than trusting the local natives.

Alongside the situational report, Yue Yun had requested new orders.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Ming drafted an imperial decree. He had no intention of pushing further west for now. By seizing the Strait of Malacca, he effectively held French Indochina and portions of British Indonesia and Australia in a chokehold. The Great Yu Empire needed time to integrate these territories, solidify its authority, and develop trade networks. The West had spent centuries building their influence; he could not replicate that overnight.

Regarding the British, Spanish, and French, he suspected this naval defeat would force them to recognize the futility of a prolonged war. Opposing an industrial power in a distant colony was a recipe for disaster.

This situation presented both a windfall and a threat to the Great Yu Empire. The advantage lay in using these new markets and resources to fuel their Industrial Revolution. The danger was that such a stinging loss would drive Europe to accelerate their own scientific and military advancements. Xiao Ming knew they would not swallow this defeat quietly; they would surely seek revenge the moment they found a weakness.

Finishing the decree, he ordered its delivery. To ensure absolute control over Malacca, he authorized a permanent garrison of ten thousand troops in Singapore, designating it as the Empire's primary overseas naval base. Additionally, thirty warships were stationed there to patrol the South China Sea and protect the vital trade routes.