Chapter 112: Great Xia’s Expeditionary Army

To prepare for the unknown, Chen Mu brought along three hundred supply vehicles. A total of seven hundred steam-powered crawler vehicles set off toward the west.

Having crossed the battlefield of the previous days, the main army pushed forward and soon discovered an iron mine. Chen Mu gave it a cursory inspection before moving on. Further ahead, they stumbled upon an arsenal filled with equipment for manufacturing cannons. After a brief examination, Chen Mu realized these were merely crude smelting, casting, and gunpowder processing devices, clearly set up in haste by the Cheng family. Although these items were not worth salvaging, the discovery confirmed that this was a frontline outpost for the Chengs; the local Esi people had not originally inhabited this region.

Chen Mu continued to lead his troops forward. Along the way, he passed several abandoned villages, all stripped bare. It appeared the Esi people had been forced from their tribal dwellings into centralized settlements by the Cheng family. This suggested the existence of a second iron mine and factory. Chen Mu, however, remained unconcerned. He understood the vastness of the desert; based on the population density observed, the camel cavalry annihilated days prior likely constituted the bulk of the Cheng family's available forces. Even if the Chengs could manufacture more guns and cannons, they were useless without soldiers to operate them.

The primary danger now was landmines. Though he was unsure if the Cheng family possessed such technology, caution was prudent. Lacking metal detectors, Chen Mu ordered his troops to disperse their formation to avoid catastrophic losses.

Traveling westward, Chen Mu followed his mental map and reached the coast, where he indeed discovered a city. It, too, appeared to have been built by the Cheng family, bearing a distinct Great Xia architectural style. Having learned from past encounters, the Chengs had constructed high walls equipped with cannons, positioned to maximize their firing range. Chen Mu observed from a distance, took notes, and then led his army back to base. Such a fortress could not be taken lightly; thorough preparation was required.

Upon returning to the intermediate fortress, a soldier reported, "Your Highness, General Li Feng has sent a letter."

"Oh? A letter from Li Feng? Bring it here at once!"

Chen Mu read the letter, flicked the paper with his fingers, and smiled. "Excellent! Li Feng has performed a great service."

The letter detailed how Li Feng had crossed the desert by having a small force transport large quantities of grain and had subsequently established a fortress on the plains. Li Feng’s scouts had discovered a vast expanse of black soil, already cultivated by local inhabitants. Through the interpreter, Ulila, who found that the local language shared roots with the Xiongnu, Li Feng had gathered significant intelligence. Given their tribal state of development, these people could be integrated as a vassal state of Great Xia.

This was monumental news. Chen Mu knew from his previous life that black soil meant a granary, and in this era, food was of paramount importance. He had already experienced the benefits of securing the northeastern regions; making this western black soil a vassal state would ensure an endless supply of grain for Great Xia.

Chen Mu immediately drafted a response, outlining precautions and future objectives for Li Feng, and instructed him to increase patrols to prevent the Cheng family from fleeing in that direction. He then issued a formal directive to have resources and reinforcements dispatched from the capital, preparing for a long-range expedition. Although he was thousands of miles from the Great Xia border, the steam-powered crawler vehicles made the round trip possible in just one month. Such was the advantage of technology.

While drilling troops at the intermediate fortress and maintaining correspondence with Li Feng, the supplies from the capital arrived after a month. Chen Mu led his main force back to the coastal city. This time, he brought three thousand musketeers, eight hundred artillerymen, and two hundred light cannons—his entire available arsenal. Additionally, he brought five thousand Wudang Flying Troops and three hundred supply vehicles, totaling thirteen hundred steam-powered crawlers. This was the most formidable expeditionary force Great Xia could muster, but to eliminate this peculiar enemy, it was worth the cost.

The Cheng family watched Chen Mu’s army approach, but they were utterly unprepared for battle; the explosive shells from their previous encounter had shattered their morale. They relied solely on their newly built, towering walls and cannons, which had been modified to achieve a range of over a mile, matching Chen Mu’s own. They believed they were ready for battle, and given the length of Chen Mu’s supply line, the Chengs were confident of victory.

Chen Mu, however, cared little for their state of mind. With his cannons in hand, he felt invincible. After adjusting his formation, he ordered the artillery to aim at the top of the city walls and fire. To the astonishment of the Cheng family, the shells soared in beautiful arcs, raining down upon the ramparts and exploding with devastating force.

Metal shrapnel filled the air, leaving the defenders dead and wounded across the walls. Cheng Tang nearly collapsed. "How is this possible? Why can their cannons fire so far?"

Cheng Wu shouted, "It’s the trajectory of archery! Elevate our barrels! Quickly!"

He was right. Chen Mu had used a simple trick: changing from direct fire to indirect fire to extend the range, allowing him to bombard the city walls from over two miles away. But it was too late for Cheng Wu to adjust his own guns. The two hundred cannons of the Great Xia army bombarded the walls relentlessly, keeping the ramparts under a constant hail of shrapnel. Any soldier who approached a cannon to adjust it was killed instantly.

Seeing this, Cheng Tang gave up entirely. "Run! We cannot win this battle!"

Cheng Wu looked dazed. "Run? To where? We’ve already fled thousands of miles. Is there any point in running further?"

Cheng Tang said anxiously, "Someone will come to capture us, as long as we stay alive."

Cheng Wu’s eyes suddenly brightened. "That’s right! Run!"

With the Cheng family in flight, the Esi soldiers lost their will to fight, and the Great Xia army quickly breached the gates. Chen Mu ordered his musketeers to guard the perimeter to prevent the Cheng family’s escape, then entered the city with his Wudang Flying Troops. Soon, he located the palace built by the Chengs. Upon entering, he found the three Cheng men waiting in the hall.

Cheng Tang sat on the throne, still clinging to a shred of the family patriarch's dignity, while Cheng Wu and Cheng Lü stood to the side, crestfallen and consumed by fear for their fate.

Chen Mu smiled faintly. "You were living comfortable lives in the snowy mountains. Why plot against Great Xia? Your petty tricks are truly nothing to boast of."