Chapter 222: Assault on Champa

October 12, Java Port.

Dawn was just breaking, and twenty steamships had already lit their boilers, black plumes of smoke rising in the morning light.

On the dock, five thousand Longxiang Army troops were boarding.

Flintlock guns, ammo crates, light artillery—each was neatly loaded into the cargo hold.

The soldiers lined up to board, their movements swift and orderly.

Zhu Yong stood on the pier, watching the army.

Chang Yuchun stood to his left, Wang Baobao to his right.

In the distance, Xu Da was briefing a few generals about something.

"Prince, where shall we strike first this time?" Chang Yuchun asked.

Zhu Yong took a nautical chart from his chest and spread it on the pier.

The chart was drawn by the Ministry of Works based on merchants' accounts of voyages to the West over recent years; though not as precise as later maps, it marked the general locations of the South Sea nations.

His finger pointed to the north of Java Island and said, "Champa is the closest to Java, a two‑day sail away."

Wang Baobao looked at the chart, pondering, "What is Champa's troop strength?"

"Zhou Dahai said Champa has twenty‑to‑thirty thousand soldiers, but most are farmers conscripted temporarily; only a few thousand Imperial Troops can actually fight, similar to Java. When the flintlock gun fires, they have to run."

Zhu Yong folded the chart and said.

Chang Yuchun grinned, "Then we attack, Prince, let me lead the Vanguard!"

Zhu Yong gave him a glance, nodded and said, "Fine, Chang Shu leads the Vanguard, Elder Brother follows me."

Chang Yuchun rubbed his hands excitedly.

Since fighting alongside Zhu Yong, he has come to love this style. Flintlock guns open the way, cannons pound the city, the enemy can't even get close—far more exhilarating than chasing the Yuan army on the Grassland back then.

Xu Da walked over at that moment.

"Prince, the first batch of twenty thousand has assembled, departing in three days; the subsequent thirty thousand will set out in stages, expected to reach Java by the end of the month," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Xu Shu, you've worked hard; after we secure this side, you'll need to bring men to take over."

"It's within my duties, Prince, but the South Sea nations are many; taking them one by one will take considerable time. How do you intend to proceed?"

Xu Da smiled, then spoke seriously.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "First we strike Champa, then Siam, Zhenla, Bagan. For the quick victories we'll establish prefectures directly; for the slower ones we'll install a puppet first, let them settle, then tidy up."

Xu Da nodded, "That plan is sound, but Prince, you have only five thousand men. Though the flintlock gun is powerful, what if they unite and use a swarm‑troop tactic…"

"No, these small South Sea states are already hostile to each other; Champa and Siam have fought for centuries, Zhenla and Bagan have long contested territory.

If we take one down, the others might even be pleased!" Zhu Yong shook his head.

Wang Baobao laughed, "Prince is right; back on the Grassland, Mongol infighting was fiercer than fighting outsiders."

As they spoke, a Horn Sound echoed from afar.

Boarding complete, they could set out.

Zhu Yong turned, clasped his fists to Xu Da and said, "Tiande, this side is yours."

Xu Da returned the salute, "Prince, rest assured, smooth sailing ahead."

Zhu Yong led Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao onto the flagship.

It was a large steamship, twenty zhang long and four zhang wide, with a cannon at each end.

The hold contained dedicated ammo stores and food supplies, enough rations for five thousand men for half a month.

The boiler was scorching hot, and the steam engine emitted a low, rumbling roar.

"Weigh anchor!"

At the command, twenty steamships slowly left the dock, heading out to sea.

The sea wind fluttered their battle robes; Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching Java recede into the distance.

Chang Yuchun came over, handed him a Water Bag and said, "Prince, have some water."

Zhu Yong took it and took a sip.

Chang Yuchun stood beside him, also gazing into the distance, and said, "Prince, at first I led you into battle, watching you rise; now I've fought alongside you for several years, from Kaiping to Helin, from the Grassland to the South Sea.

These eight years have shown me that you never engage in a battle without confidence."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Chang Shu, you're flattering me..."

"It's not flattery, it's the truth. Back then under Kaiping City, you alone hefted a great hammer against the gate; I thought you were a simpleton, just charging forward.

Later I realized that each time you charged, you knew exactly what you were doing," Chang Yuchun said earnestly.

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said, "Chang Shu, you're right; I know what's in my mind, but sometimes playing the simpleton works better than playing clever."

Chang Yuchun was startled, then burst into laughter, "Exactly! Your simpleton act has bewildered those civil officials, and even now some still call King Wu a simpleton!"

Wang Baobao also stepped out of the hold, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth upon hearing this.

He recalled how, back at the Lanzhou Outskirts, this 'simpleton' had persuaded him to surrender.

The fleet sailed on the sea for two days and one night.

At noon on October 15, land appeared ahead.

Champa was reached.

Zhu Yong raised his spyglass and examined carefully.

Along the coastline stood a city, its walls low, made of packed earth, about two zhang high.

Figures could be seen moving on the walls, likely the garrison.

Outside the city lay a beach, beyond which a dense coconut grove stretched.

"Chang Shu, land two thousand men from the beach, form a line and advance; Elder Brother, take two thousand men around the side to block their westward retreat.

I will lead a thousand in a frontal feint," Zhu Yong ordered.

"Yes!"

Twenty steamships were divided into three squadrons and set sail in different directions.

Zhu Yong's flagship, with five ships, headed straight toward the city.

When they were still a mile from the shore, a Horn Sound rang from the city walls.

The defending troops spotted them.

Zhu Yong ordered the ships to stop and observed with a telescope.

More and more people gathered on the walls, at least two or three thousand.

Some people also ran out of the city and assembled toward the beach.

"Fire two cannons, scare them," Zhu Yong said.

"Boom boom boom..."

The two cannons on the flagship fired simultaneously, and the shells landed dozens of zhang in front of the wall, blasting two huge craters.

Chaos instantly broke out on the walls.

Those people, who had never seen cannons, were terrified by the massive noise and fled, clutching their heads.

Zhu Yong laughed, "Keep firing, but don't hit the wall—aim ahead of them."