Iron Dynasty Chapter 976

Previously on Iron Dynasty...

Zhu Sansi bluffed Tsarist Russia and the Golden Tent Khanate with targeted artillery fire, creating the illusion of ample ammunition and sowing distrust between the foes to delay their assault on Yakutsk. For a month, sporadic shots kept the enemies at bay, allowing the defenders to hold out amid dwindling supplies and the harsh isolation of Siberia. On March 17th, reinforcements led by Zhang Qinian arrived from the south, prompting cheers from the city walls as sleds laden with Han-style rifles and bullets entered the gates. Shocked and arguing bitterly, Gubat and Karlov faced the sudden threat, with Gubat ordering a desperate cavalry charge while the refreshed defenders formed up to counterattack.

“Soldiers of the First Regiment, come with me. Today, I’ll make sure to wipe out these Tsarist Russian scum.”

In the smoke-shrouded battlefield, Gao Yingfeng locked his gaze on the thousand Tsarist Russian troops under Karlov’s command. These aggressors had inflicted their current hardships, and he aimed to settle the score for the comrades who had perished.

For four months, the Yakutsk garrison had bottled up their fury, and now it erupted fully. Roaring with battle cries, the First Regiment’s men trailed Gao Yingfeng straight into the Tsarist Russian square formation.

Meanwhile, Karlov scanned the clash, hunting for the right moment to strike.

As Gubat unleashed his cavalry in a charge, the Great Yu Empire’s riders found themselves outmatched. Exhausted from their grueling trek, they couldn’t compete with the fresh, horse-hardened barbarian horsemen.

This outcome validated Karlov’s push for Gubat to press the assault, convinced that blending Gubat’s cavalry with Tsarist Russian guns would crush the foes.

Yet the battle’s momentum shifted dramatically when Great Yu Empire troops burst from the city gates. The barbarian cavalry entangled with the Great Yu riders tumbled from their mounts one after another. At that point, the Great Yu cavalry lost their stomach for the fight and pulled back.

“Curse them, they’ve restocked ammo and gear,” Karlov spat to Gubat, eyeing the oncoming Great Yu soldiers. “These troops have split from their core unit. It’s prime time to unleash the cavalry and butcher them!”

While saying this, Karlov jabbed a finger toward Gao Yingfeng’s advancing men.

Gubat’s focus stayed glued to his cavalry battling the Great Yu forces. Early on, his warriors had sliced through many of the enemy riders, boosting his smug assurance. But with the tables turning, his ease soured into strain, since all those horsemen were his own.

The crushing loss shattered his battle spirit. He shot Karlov a icy glare and declared, “This clash is between Tsarist Russia and the Great Yu Empire. I’ve aided you plenty already.”

Then he commanded his elite guards to sound the withdrawal horn. Hearing the call, the barbarian cavalry disengaged swiftly from the fray and bolted westward alongside Gubat.

“No, Gubat, you can’t abandon us like this. You’re Tsarist Russians now. You mustn’t leave us in the lurch,” Karlov pleaded in panic.

Ever since the Golden Tent Khanate allied with Tsarist Russia, the latter’s hunger for the Far East had intensified. That drive explained their fixation on Yakutsk, figuring the khanate’s backing would ease grabbing more territory.

Now, though, Karlov witnessed the Golden Tent Khanate’s untrustworthy nature firsthand. As a nomadic group untouched by civilized ways, they operated without any code of conduct.

Karlov’s desperate shouts echoed across the frozen tundra, yet Gubat never glanced back. A total rout would strip him of his sole influence on the steppes.

In moments, the slave troops and barbarian riders vanished into the distance, as Gao Yingfeng’s forces drew nearer. Simultaneously, the dispersed Great Yu cavalry rallied and surged toward the enemy.

Despair washed over Karlov, forcing his eyes shut. Against just infantry from the Great Yu Empire, escape might’ve been possible, but these charging cavalry sealed their doom.

“Bang bang bang…”

From two hundred meters out, Gao Yingfeng signaled his men to open fire on the Tsarist Russian lines. Advancing while shooting, the troops gained the upper hand thanks to the bullets’ deadly precision.

The relentless volley dropped Tsarist Russian soldiers amid agonized cries. Karlov could only watch helplessly as his men got mowed down without recourse.

Their own forces couldn’t strike back from that range, putting them immediately on the back foot.

Furthermore, the Great Yu Empire’s weapons boasted not just superior reach but devastating impact. Those struck by their shots seldom rose again.

“Kill!”

Gao Yingfeng ignored the fleeing Golden Tent Khanate forces. His sole focus remained the Tsarist Russian troops, since Tsarist Russia bore full blame for the Yakutsk crisis.

Battered by the assault, the Tsarist Russian ranks crumbled fast. Abandoning hundreds of bodies, the survivors bolted northward. This onslaught had demolished their morale.

Though the Tsarist Russian fighters showed plenty of grit in battle, the chasm in their firepower compared to the Great Yu Empire’s was glaring.

“Charge!”

Spotting the chaos in the Tsarist Russian lines, Zhang Qinian grabbed the chance and barked the order for his cavalry to rush in.

On the icy plains, the retreating Tsarist Russians soon fell prey to the pursuing riders. Flashing silver blades cut them down relentlessly, one after another.

“Hahaha… What a thrill!”

Halting the chase midway, Gao Yingfeng observed as the cavalry finished off the straggling Tsarist Russians. From dawn to midday, they had smashed the alliance of Golden Tent Khanate and Tsarist Russia.

With victory secured, Gao Yingfeng guided his troops back to Yakutsk, while the cavalry hunting the foes ensured none lived. Once the last invaders perished, the riders too returned to the city.

Within the walls, Zhu Sansi and Zhang Qinian shared a warm exchange. With a deep breath, Zhu Sansi remarked, “My thanks, Brother Zhang. Without your timely arrival, I, Zhu Sansi, and my whole division would’ve met our end in this frozen wasteland.”

“You flatter me, Division Commander Zhu. It’s simply my responsibility. We hurried from the Grand Council’s directive straight to Jianzhou without pause. Having brought the provisions as His Majesty commanded, our mission is fulfilled,” Zhang Qinian replied, grinning.

During the trip, his respect for Zhu Sansi and his soldiers had deepened, given the harsh path they’d taken—he could only imagine the trials of capturing Yakutsk.

“Long live His Majesty!” Zhu Sansi thumped his chest in salute, overflowing with thanks. From Zhang Qinian, he’d heard how the Emperor had overseen sled production and dispatched vital Han-style rifles along with metal bullets.

“Long live His Majesty!” Zhang Qinian echoed the gesture, fist to chest, symbolizing their unwavering devotion to the throne.

After the courtesies, Zhang Qinian surveyed Yakutsk and noted, “Getting supplies here is a nightmare. Keeping a big force stationed long-term isn’t wise. Following this win over Tsarist Russia, we ought to urge the court to send settlers for farming and hunting, plus enforce a military reclamation policy. Without that, the logistics burden alone would drain us dry.”

Zhu Sansi nodded vigorously in agreement. The Great Yu Empire held little edge on Siberia’s snowy expanses for now. Tsarist Russia had long shifted populations there to build settlements, using them as bases to probe southward and trouble them.

True mastery of Siberia demanded more than beating the Tsarist Russian forces. The vast emptiness required human hands to claim and hold it.

“That matches my thinking exactly. I’ll include this proposal in tonight’s battle report to the court,” Zhu Sansi affirmed, his face grave.