Chapter 121: The Counterattack of Great Xia

"Who is that distinguished guest? She looks so fair and delicate!"
"Is she a fairy descended from the heavens?"
"Walking alongside His Highness the Crown Prince, they truly are a match made in heaven!"

Long Xueyao felt deeply embarrassed as she listened to the whispers of the townspeople. Chen Mu noticed her discomfort and asked, "Miss Xueyao, have you ever had barbecue?"

Long Xueyao replied, "Yes, I have eaten roasted eagle and roasted ermine. They were quite delicious."

Chen Mu smiled. "Today, I will treat you to roasted mutton skewers. I am certain they will be even better than anything you have tasted before."

Long Xueyao was intrigued. "Really?"

"Yes, you will know once you taste them," Chen Mu said, leading her into a roadside barbecue restaurant.

Recognizing the Crown Prince, the proprietor hurried over to welcome them, ushering them into a large private room. It was the height of summer, but a large ice chest sat in the center of the room, emitting waves of chill that kept the entire space refreshingly cool.

Long Xueyao looked at the ice chest in surprise. "Brother Chen, what is this? Why does it carry the scent of the snowy mountains?"

Chen Mu walked over and lifted the lid. "This is an ice chest. It is filled with blocks of ice, which provide cool air during the summer and can also be used to store ingredients."

As he spoke, he handed her a stick of candied haws. "This is a candied hawthorn. Try it."

Long Xueyao’s eyes widened as she took it and bit into the treat. "This is delicious!" She then asked, "But it is so hot outside; where did you get the ice? If it were transported from the snowy mountains, it would have melted long ago."

Chen Mu smiled faintly. "This is the ice-making technology of the Great Xia." He explained the principles to her, leaving Long Xueyao utterly amazed. "Brother Chen, you are truly brilliant! Because of this, we can enjoy the delicacies of the snowy mountains even here."

As they chatted, Chen Mu's maid had already gone to the kitchen to oversee the preparations, and the dishes were soon served. First came a plate of smashed cucumbers. The seeds had been brought from a foreign land and cultivated in the Great Xia, and they were freshly picked. It also contained garlic, another import from abroad.

Next, the proprietor brought out roasted steamed bun slices, roasted chicken wings, and roasted mutton skewers. Cumin and chili powder were provided on the side, allowing them to season the food to their own tastes. There were also freshly squeezed fruit juices, chilled in the ice chest before being served.

The Great Xia’s vassal states now spanned the entire continent, and Chen Mu had managed to collect almost all the ingredients he loved in his previous life. Long Xueyao started with one skewer and could not stop; she was too busy eating to speak, devouring skewer after skewer until she finally could not eat another bite.

"Brother Chen, the food of the Great Xia is truly wonderful! *Hiccup—*" Long Xueyao let out a soft burp, then turned crimson and shyly covered her small mouth.

Chen Mu smiled and said, "This convenience comes from our mutual exchange of specialties with neighboring countries. You have no idea how terrible the food in the Great Xia used to be." He then regaled her with the story of how he had been forced to swallow plain boiled greens when he first arrived in the Great Xia, which made Long Xueyao giggle uncontrollably.

After the meal, the two spent the rest of the day wandering through Tongtian County. Chen Mu bought her a carriage-load of gifts before finally escorting her back to the new territory of the Hua Kingdom. He remained in Tongtian County for the time being, accompanying Long Xueyao while awaiting reinforcements from the capital.

Ten days later, the expeditionary force arrived from the capital. Chen Xingtian had sent two thousand invincible musketeers who had previously been resting in the capital, along with six hundred artillerymen, fifty heavy cannons, and one hundred light cannons. Additionally, a newly formed battalion of one thousand musketeers and two hundred supply wagons accompanied them. These were fresh troops, fully rested and ready for battle.

Chen Mu held a grand oath-taking ceremony. Amidst the cheers and farewells of the people from both the Great Xia and the Hua Kingdom, the army set off toward the intermediate fortress. After resupplying there, they marched along a side path toward the Black Earth Fortress.

When they were finally close to their destination, Chen Mu ordered a halt and summoned all the officers to the central command tent.

"Everyone, we are nearing the Black Earth Fortress. Have you given any thought to our offensive tactics?"

Zhang Zhong replied, "Your Highness, I believe our current advantage lies in our heavy artillery. Based on previous intelligence, while the enemy’s cannons outrange our light artillery, they should be inferior to our heavy cannons. The Black Earth Fortress fell last time because we lacked heavy artillery. By positioning our heavy cannons outside the fortress this time, we can conduct a one-sided bombardment."

At this, Officer Liu interjected, "General Zhang, I believe that is dangerous. The enemy possesses thousands of musketeers and could easily sortie from the city. In that scenario, we would be bogged down by our own heavy artillery. If we retreat, the heavy guns would fall into enemy hands, which must not happen. If we stand our ground to fight, it will only lead to mutual destruction, and our reduced forces would be unable to recapture the fortress."

Zhang Zhong shook his head. "I do not believe it will lead to mutual destruction. The enemy lacks the technology to mount cannons on mobile carriages; at most, they can only send out musketeers. However, we have one hundred light cannons that can inflict massive area damage upon them. We will not suffer heavy casualties."

Chen Mu waved a hand. "I think it is worth a try. We shall begin with a heavy bombardment. If the enemy sorties, we will stow the heavy guns. If that fails, it is not too late to retreat. Although the enemy has improved their metallurgy, their steam-powered vehicles have not increased in speed; they cannot catch us if we are determined to flee."

The officers thought it over and, finding no flaws in Chen Mu's plan, gave their approval.

The Great Xia army had made technical improvements to their weaponry. The steam-powered crawler vehicles carrying the heavy cannons had been modified; they no longer required hinged cranes with ratchets, but instead utilized two guide rails on the vehicle for loading and unloading. The steam crawlers would pull the heavy cannons into range, unload them onto the ground via the rails, and then the supports would be driven into the earth, readying them for fire. Because the heavy cannons were not significantly heavier than the light ones, the weight did not exceed the capacity of the steam crawlers, and their transport remained unaffected. Furthermore, the muzzles faced the rear of the vehicles, allowing for a rapid retreat once the guns were stowed.

Following the agreement, Chen Mu ordered the army to rest for one day to prepare according to the battle plan. The next day, the Great Xia army arrived outside the Black Earth Fortress, ready to strike.

The enemy troops within the Black Earth Fortress did not sortie, watching helplessly as the Great Xia army set up their heavy artillery. Chen Mu arranged his formation, and once the cannons were adjusted to the proper angle, he gave the order to fire. Fifty heavy cannons roared in unison, and fifty heavy explosive shells soared toward the fortress walls.