Chapter 516: Even a Hard Fight Must Be Fought

Zhu QiongJiong was the first to jump off the ship, his two feet landing on the wet, soft sand.

The air smelled of sea brine, of fresh grass, and carried an indescribable humid heat, like a steamer.

This is the West African coast, the sphere of influence of the Mali Empire.

"Form ranks, head inland."

Five thousand Longxiang Army troops lined up on the beach, their iron armor glinting coldly in the sun, Flintlock Guns pointing inland in unison.

The tropical rainforest had no paths, everywhere was shrub and vines, a thick layer of leaf litter underfoot, soft and spongy to step on.

The engineers' camp cleared the way ahead, hacking vines with machetes and leveling the ground with iron spades.

After about an hour's march, a river appeared ahead.

The river was narrow, but the current rushed fast, its roar echoing through the dense forest.

"General, this is the Komoe River; marching north along it will reach the Mali Empire's border city," the Vice General spread out the map.

Zhu QiongJiong halted his horse and glanced at the map.

"Send word: advance north along the western bank of the river."

The main force pushed north along the western bank of the Komoe River.

The road was still hard to traverse, full of shrubs and vines, but far better than the deep forest.

After two days' march, a small town emerged ahead.

The town was small; its walls were made of earthen bricks, gray‑yellow, stark against the surrounding woods.

At the gate stood dozens of black soldiers in padded armor, brandishing spears, while archers perched on the wall had their bows drawn.

A Mali Empire banner fluttered atop the town, green field with a golden lion at its center.

"Mali Empire outpost..." the Vice General rode forward.

Zhu QiongJiong halted his horse, squinting as he watched for a moment.

The garrison numbered three to five hundred, poorly equipped and low in morale.

"Form ranks, prepare for siege."

Five thousand Longxiang Army troops formed ranks outside the town.

One hundred rear‑loaded line‑bored cannons were arrayed in a line, their muzzles aimed at the wall.

On the wall, the Mali defenders' faces changed.

They had never seen an army like this, encased from head to toe in iron armor, their weapons capable of killing from several hundred steps away.

"Fire the cannons."

All one hundred cannons fired simultaneously. Shrapnel shells ripped the air and struck the earthen wall.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

Explosions rose and fell, the earthen bricks shattered, smoke and dust billowing skyward.

The wall was too thin to withstand the barrage; a single volley collapsed a large section.

"Longxiang Army, charge with me."

Zhu QiongJiong gave his warhorse a sharp tug, and it surged forward.

Five thousand troops followed close behind, their hooves thundering.

He led the charge, rushing through the breach into the town, swinging his Wolf Fang Club side to side.

A few Mali soldiers lunged with spears; his club swept them aside, sending five or six flying into the wall, their brains splattering.

Behind him, the five thousand troops followed his path into the town, firing Flintlock Guns in unison, hacking with sabers.

The garrison, under five hundred, broke apart in less than half an hour.

The defending commander fled quickly, taking dozens of Imperial Troops northward.

Zhu QiongJiong did not pursue, halted his horse, and stood on the central square of the town.

"Send word: round up the captives, take over the town's defenses, dispatch messengers to the seaside, inform the Grand Prince that the outpost has been seized."

By the sea, the fleet pulled ashore.

Zhu Xiongying stepped down from the Longxing, his two feet landing on the wet, soft sand.

The air over Guinea Bay was humid and hot like a steamer; the iron armor clung to his body, and soon he was drenched in sweat.

Zhu Gaochi came up from behind, holding a sea chart, and surveyed the surrounding terrain.

"Brother, we can build a temporary pier at the mouth of the Komoe River; cargo can be off‑loaded here and shipped north along the river, far easier than cutting a road through the rainforest."

"You arrange…" Zhu Xiongying strode inland.

Zhu Gaochi replied, then turned to direct the unloading.

Zhu Shangbing stepped down from another ship, clad in iron armor, sweating profusely.

"Why is it so hot here, hotter than Australia."

"Tropical rainforest, that's all." Zhu Jixi came up from behind; he seemed unfazed, having lived in Australia and visited places even hotter.

Zhu Gaoxu was the last to disembark, wearing a half‑worn battle outfit, a short sword at his waist.

He stood on the beach, gazing at the dense rainforest, his eyes sparkling.

"This is Africa, completely different from the north."

"Stop looking, let's go." Zhu Shangbing gave him a pat.

Zhu Gaoxu followed, walking while looking around, finding everything fresh.

The main force advanced north along the western bank of the Komoe River.

After two days' march, they reached the small town Zhu QiongJiong had captured.

The town was small but strategically placed, a gateway on the Mali Empire's northeastern frontier.

Securing this point would allow a direct thrust north into the heart of the Mali Empire.

"Big brother, we captured a few merchants from the Mali Empire in the city, and they say they're willing to guide us," Zhu Qiong Jiong stepped forward.

"Bring them up..."

After a short while, several black merchants dressed in white robes were brought over, knelt on the ground, trembling all over, muttering something.

The interpreter stepped forward, listened for a moment, then turned and said, "Prince, they say the Mali Empire's Manssa Musa is gathering forces in the Northern Region, preparing to march south to meet us.

They also reported on the Mali Empire's troop deployments."

Zhu Xiongying listened, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Give them a reward, and send them away."

The merchants were escorted away, thanking profusely.

Zhu Xiongying entered the city, sat in the temporary command post, with a map of the Mali Empire spread before him.

According to the merchants' testimony, the Mali Empire can muster about one hundred thousand troops, mainly cavalry and infantry; the cavalry is well equipped, the infantry average.

Their advantage is familiarity with the terrain; roads in the tropical rainforest are hard to traverse, and supply lines are difficult to maintain.

"Big brother, the Mali Empire is hard to defeat; their territory is vast and deep. Even if we win on the front, the remnants can slip into the rainforest, and it would take us more than half a year to chase them," Zhu Gaochi said from beside.

"Therefore we can't just fight; we must subjugate. Those who are willing to submit will be dealt with according to Great Ming's rules; those who aren't will be fought until they are willing."

Zhu Xiongying stood up and walked to the window.

The tropical rainforest outside the window looked especially mysterious in the twilight.

The canopy merged into a single sheet, like a huge green blanket covering the earth.

"Send the order: the whole army rests for three days, then advances north after three days."

Three days later, the army continued its northward march.

Marching north along the Kemoai River Valley, the road grew increasingly difficult, filled with scrub, vines, swamps, and streams.

The engineering battalion led the way, cutting trees, filling pits, building bridges; the army followed behind, not moving quickly, but each step was steady.

After five days of travel, a great city appeared ahead.

The city walls were tall, gray‑yellow, shimmering with a dull light under the sun.

The walls were packed with soldiers, the artillery already emplaced, the muzzles black‑eyed and pointing south.

At the city gate stood several ranks of heavy infantry, brandishing spears and shields, in strict formation.

The city's ramparts bore the Mali Empire's banner, a green field with a golden lion.

"Prince, ahead lies the Mali Empire's border stronghold, Kongaba," Zhu Gaochi urged his horse forward.

Zhu Xiongying halted his horse, squinting as he watched for a while.

The defending force numbered over ten thousand, better equipped than the forward outpost and high in morale. Dozens of cannons lined the walls; though they couldn't match Great Ming's breech‑loading line guns, they were respectable for the Mediterranean region.

"Form the battle array."

Eighty thousand troops began to form the array.

The Longxiang Army took the front, artillery at the rear, cavalry on both flanks.

Five hundred breech‑loading line guns were aligned in a single line, their muzzles aimed at Kongaba's walls.

On the walls, the Mali defenders' faces changed.

They had never seen so many iron‑clad soldiers, nor so many cannons.

Several commanders ran along the walls, brandishing swords and shouting something, their voices trembling.

"Fire the cannons."

Five hundred breech‑loading line guns fired simultaneously.

Burst shells ripped through the air, striking Kongaba's walls.

"Boom— Boom— Boom—…"

"Longxiang Army, charge with me."

Zhu Qiong Jiong squeezed the horse's belly, and the warhorse surged forward.

Eighty thousand troops followed closely, their hooves thundering.

Kongaba's defenders fought to the death, but could not stop the Longxiang Army's onslaught; in less than two hours, the city fell.

The defending commander was dragged down from the city tower by several Longxiang soldiers, bound tightly, and forced to kneel.

He lifted his head, looking at Zhu Xiongying, his eyes filled with fear and resentment.

"Send the order: gather the captives, take over the city defenses, dispatch messengers to the coast, Kongaba has been captured."

At dusk, Zhu Xiongying stood on Kongaba's wall, gazing toward the northern horizon.

That direction pointed toward the Mali Empire's capital, the Niger River, and a new battlefield.

Zhu Qiong Jiong stepped forward, leaned his Wolf Fang Club against the parapet, and bit into a piece of Dry Rations from his pouch.

"Big brother, the Mali Empire is harder to defeat than the Marlin Dynasty."

"Hard to beat, but we must beat it."

Zhu Xiongying turned and continued, "At first light tomorrow, we press northward."