Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

To him, combat on the water is more advantageous than on land; they were, after all, born and raised along the Hei River.

In addition, he sent people to notify Ma Yuanyi in Huamu City to guard against a retreat onto land should the Song Army lose the battle on the water.

However, when their navy was reorganized and the ships set sail towards the Hei River, everyone was dumbfounded upon seeing the warships of the Song Army.

The small boats of the Song Army were larger than their large ships.

The large ships of the Song Army were several times bigger than their own large ships, and they were crowded with people.

”This... how is this possible? How can such large ships possibly float?” The man, who previously served in the local naval forces and now joined the Yellow Turban Army, was stunned as he looked at the Song Army’s towering warships.

”What are those things?” a Yellow Turban soldier pointed towards the black tubes on the ships, looking puzzled, but fell into a daze when the black tube shot out a long flame.

The next second, their ship was pierced as if made of paper, leaving a gaping hole.

The river’s current was swift, and water quickly poured into the ship through the hole, submerging the entire vessel in less than a quarter of an hour, drowning the Yellow Turban Army on board.

This was because some of the Song Army’s warships were Red Dragon Boats, with hulls shaped like dragons.

When some shells were launched from the Red Dragon Boats, the thunderous explosions quickly made the Yellow Turban Army, witnessing such a scene for the first time, believe it was the wrath of the Dragon King. They knelt down and begged for mercy.

...

Zhao Qianyi, seeing the Hongyi Cannon for the first time, was also frightened by the sheer power of the shells it fired.

Although Chen Mo had briefly described the prowess of the Hongyi Cannon to her before, hearing about it was nothing compared to witnessing it firsthand.

Soon, Zhao Qianyi’s entire face turned slightly red with excitement.

One shot could sink the rebels’ warships.

Every warship of the Imperial Guard was equipped with at least one Hongyi Cannon.

In other words, they could easily cross the Hei River.

Zhao Qianyi lifted her hand and suddenly swung it down.

The moment she swung down, the cannonball blasted towards the rebel ships.

In less than three rounds, the rebel forces retreated in defeat.

...

With the success on the river, Huangfu Hao led the Vanguard Army to launch another siege.

As the cannon fire on the Hei River resonated, the Yellow Turban Army in Huamu City ran up the city walls, gazing at the fiery light on the river with growing anxiety.

At this point, Ma Yuanyi, who was defending Huamu City, received a report from the sentries indicating activity from the Song Army outside the city.

”The Song Army is coming to siege again?” Ma Yuanyi thought, but he wasn’t worried at all, for there were over 200,000 troops stationed in Huamu City, not even counting those defending the Three Mountains.

As long as the Song Army dared to come, he would give them a tough fight this time.

But his face quickly turned pale.

Huangfu Hao led two thousand personal soldiers to a mile outside Huamu City, instructing everyone to find temporary cover first, avoiding being hit by arrows from the Divine Archers on the walls.

Huangfu Hao had the deputy general bring over ten Hongyi Cannons borrowed from the eldest princess and set them up on the gun carriages ahead.

A 1,500 pounds large cannon, with an upgraded shell, could blast a depression on the city wall with one shot, and although it couldn’t penetrate the wall, shattering the gate was no challenge.

Ten Hongyi Cannons were lined up, and the well-trained soldiers of the Imperial Guard quickly loaded and aimed them.

Huangfu Hao placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and said in a deep voice, ”Cannonballs are limited, so don’t you dare miss.”

”Rest assured, General, we won’t miss.”

Huangfu Hao nodded and then turned to his personal soldiers, saying, ”Tell General Jiang to be ready. Once the gate is breached, have the heavy cavalry attack immediately.”

”Yes.” The personal soldier retreated.

Huangfu Hao then ordered the gunners, ”Fire!”

BOOM! BOOM!

Ten loud explosions erupted outside Huamu City.

The sound was like thunder, echoing for miles, making the whole city hear it, and over 200,000 Yellow Turban Army members turned towards the direction of the sound.

Soon, shouts of the breached gate were heard from the front.

Upon hearing the news, Ma Yuanyi’s face turned ashen.

The gate was breached in such a short time, and the reinforcements from the Three Mountains couldn’t even arrive in time.

But before they could react, more explosions came from the gate.

In the amazed eyes of many defending Yellow Turban soldiers, several shells blasted through, creating large holes on the gate tower, breaking a gap in the parapets. Dust billowed, rubble flew, and several people, unable to dodge, were rendered unrecognizable by the explosion.

Not far off, Ma Yuanyi shrank back, ears ringing.

Even the sound of thunder couldn’t be this loud.

BOOM... BOOM...

Only hesitating for a brief moment, the ground started to shake, and in the glows of the fire, Ma Yuanyi could see rising dust from outside the city.

That is... the heavy cavalry...

”Oh no, quickly defend the gate, don’t let the Imperial Court’s hounds in!”

Ma Yuanyi was keenly aware of his army’s capabilities; although they were many, their combat power was limited, and morale was not unified. Those recent explosions likely shattered their nerves.

Sure enough, after his words fell, not many went to defend.

On the city walls, many Yellow Turban soldiers stood dazed, and their personal soldiers scurried, shouting ”sorcery,” ”Duke of Thunder”... things like divine beings manifesting, then fled beneath the walls.

Ma Yuanyi kicked a nearby personal soldier: ”What Duke of Thunder, the great teacher was the Duke of Thunder, how would he aid the Imperial Court’s hounds, go fight the enemy.”

But it was already too late.

Although it seemed like the Song Army was still some distance from the walls, for the cavalry, this mere mile was nothing in a few seconds.

Soon, Jiang Ruoqing, leading the heavy cavalry, charged into Huamu City, followed by many Song infantry pouring in.

Ma Yuanyi quickly ran to the turn of the rampart, realizing large numbers of the Imperial Court’s hounds had entered the city, his face turned ashen.

Inside, the Yellow Turban Army descended into chaos, with screams and battle cries filling the air.

Jiang Ruoqing, covered in blood, was unstoppable as a First Grade Martial Artist, and once Huangfu Hao led the rest of the Song Army into the city, she leaped onto the tower and angrily shouted with her sword in hand:

”Jiang Ruoqing of the Song Army is here, where is Ma Yuanyi? Surrender now to avoid execution, or your entire clan will be slaughtered!”

Before the siege, Jiang Ruoqing had heard from Huangfu Hao about who the Defender General of Huamu City was.

However, knowing the situation was beyond hope, Ma Yuanyi had already blended into the retreating rebel army, escaping through another city gate.

But Zhao Qianyi had defeated the rebel Yellow Turban Army’s navy and landed ashore.

At daybreak, when Ma Yuanyi led the retreating rebel forces towards Jizhou, they were surrounded by the landing party of Zhao Qianyi’s group.

...

Half a month later.

The Capital.

The Emperor’s Qi within the Heirloom Seal of the Realm had been completely absorbed by Chen Mo, yet he was still far from reaching Late Stage Foundation Establishment.

Realizing a breakthrough to Late Stage Foundation Establishment wouldn’t happen anytime soon, Chen Mo wasn’t in a hurry.

Since his cultivation couldn’t break through, he decided to focus on training the Profound Celestial Dragon Control Second Technique.

Returning from the Imperial Palace, Chen Mo had just arrived at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion when Gao Zheng came to report: ”Congratulations, Prince, good news from the front lines. This is the battle report sent back by the eldest princess.”

Gao Zheng presented the battle report to Chen Mo.

The report stated that our army had achieved initial victory, destroying hundreds of ant bandits’ warships, killing 70,000 ant bandits, and capturing over 100,000. More than 200,000 weapons of various kinds and over 30,000 sets of armor were seized, along with countless other supplies, currently being transported to the Capital by water.

It also mentioned capturing two chief bandits of the ant bandit forces, leaders of two of the 36 groups, who were being sent to the Capital for judgment.

Indeed, great news.

Chen Mo heartily laughed aloud. As long as the army had entered Jizhou, things would go smoothly.

He took the victory report back to the Imperial Palace, wanting to credit the eldest princess and others.

Soon, the Imperial Court announced the news.

The news of the royal army’s great victory spread throughout Bianliang.

From the notice, the people learned that, although the Yellow Turban Army was numerous, they were merely a rabble, no match for the Imperial Guard in any battle.

This caused some to abandon their treacherous thoughts, believing that the rebellion in Jizhou would eventually be suppressed by the Imperial Court.

The Mandate of Heaven remains with the Song.

PS: Thanks to everyone for the rewards and monthly tickets! The upcoming battles will be briefly described.