Chapter 202 Thunder and Fire

Xie Sangning stood on the newly reinforced and heightened Xihan City Wall, his gaze fixed on the southeast—the direction of Jinling.

Three months.

In just three months, under Xie Sangning's iron-fisted governance and resource allocation, Xihan has once again undergone tremendous changes.

The outer layer of the city wall was covered with hard frozen soil and stones, doubling its height. The key city gate towers and corner towers were further reinforced, making the entire city resemble a giant beast lying in wait, inspiring awe and fear.

Within the city, many houses were repaired or rebuilt, and clear streets and functional areas were planned.

The scale of the reclamation camp has long exceeded the initial plan, and it has become several camps with clear division of labor: the agricultural reclamation camp is responsible for reclaiming wasteland and planting cold-resistant crops; the industrial and manufacturing camp is responsible for making weapons, agricultural tools, and building houses and city walls; and the training camp is the cradle of the army.

A steady stream of refugees, like ants that have caught a whiff of life, surged toward Xihan from all directions.

Xie Sangning's promise of "life and food" became the strongest recruitment order.

Magistrate Qu and his staff were extremely busy, registering people, allocating land and tasks, and quickly transforming this surging tide of people into the cornerstone of Xihan's rise.

The most important thing is the training camp.

The first batch of able-bodied men to be sent to settle the land underwent a hellish selection process, including physical training, drills, and weapons exercises…

Then, Xie Sangning's hundred personal guards and the elite core members of Xie's army who were later withdrawn from Nanjing served as instructors.

The training is extremely rigorous, with an astonishing dropout rate.

Those who fail to meet the requirements will be ruthlessly removed from the military and transferred to agricultural reclamation or industrial camps, but their treatment will still be far better than that of displaced people.

Those who remained were all strong and resilient men.

The backbone of the army consisted of the elite troops who had sneaked back to Jinling in batches and then quietly returned to Xihan, as well as the core members of the Xie family army.

They served as platoon leaders, captains, battalion commanders, and other junior officers, passing on the Xie family army's strict discipline and combat experience to this new army.

Three months, day and night.

When Magistrate Qu presented the latest military roster to Xie Sangning, it clearly stated:

West Cold Guard: 153,672 people!

This is more than just a number.

It represents 150,000 young men who have undergone basic training and are equipped with uniform leather armor, spears, waist knives or powerful crossbows!

They are an absolutely formidable, well-organized, and fearless force!

"Father's side..." Xie Sangning put down the roster and looked at Ruchun, who was standing to the side.

"Miss, this is a secret letter from Strategist Zhuge."

Ru Chun immediately handed over a sealed letter with sealing wax, "Zhuge Wudao, the Xie family army of 450,000 men are ready for battle, awaiting only your command! The generals scattered in various places have all received secret orders and can assemble at the designated locations at any time! The provisions and supplies are also being secretly allocated."

That's enough.

Xie Sangning's fingertips traced across the tabletop.

Her father Xie Zhenting's Xie Family Army is the sharpest knife in her hand, the capital to sweep across the world!

The Western Cold Guards, which she forged herself, are the most faithful extension of her will!

The combination of the two is enough to overthrow this rotten dragon throne!

However, she also knew that while the advantage of military strength was important, in order to open up the gateway to Jinling—Yuanyang City—at the lowest cost and fastest speed, she needed a weapon that broke with convention!

City walls are always the biggest nightmare for the attacking side.

Three months ago, in a secluded valley workshop deep within Xihan City, Xie Sangning gathered a group of carefully selected craftsmen.

Relying on her memories from her previous life and her chemical knowledge far beyond that of this era, she personally drew up sketches and verbally explained the principles.

"This item shall be named 'Thunderfire'."

"Its core ingredients are saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. The ratio is crucial! The grinding must be as fine as powder! The mixing must be absolutely uniform! Any mistake will not kill the enemy, but yourselves!"

The craftsmen were terrified, but looking at Xie Sangning's resolute and authoritative gaze, none of them dared to question him.

The experiment was fraught with danger and failure.

For each failure, Xie Sangning would personally go to the site, calmly analyze the reasons, and adjust the formula ratio, grinding process, packaging materials, and fuse length.

She seemed tireless, and her obsession with details bordered on the abnormal.

The artisans' initial fear gradually turned into awe, and then into a fervent desire to participate in creating history!

Finally, after expending countless resources, the first Thunderfire that met Xie Sangning's requirements was born.

It is encapsulated in a specially made cylindrical cast iron tube filled with highly purified powder mixed in the optimal ratio, and the fuse is an oil-impregnated wick with its length and burning speed precisely calculated.

The test site was chosen in the even more desolate, uninhabited Gobi Desert west of Xihan.

Boom! ...

A deep, thunderous roar suddenly exploded!

It was far more terrifying than any previous experiment!

The earth shook violently!

Blazing flames, accompanied by thick black smoke, shot into the sky!

At the epicenter of the explosion, a crater nearly two zhang in diameter suddenly appeared!

On the Gobi Desert dozens of meters away, the earthen target used to test the power was torn to shreds by the shock wave as if it were made of paper!

Everyone involved in the experiment was stunned by the earth-shattering power, their faces turned pale, their ears rang, and they couldn't recover for a long time.

Xie Sangning stood at a safe distance, and finally a smile appeared on her face.

It's done!

Taking Yuanyang City is imperative!

Yuanyang, located on the only route connecting Xihan and Jinling, is a vital choke point that prevents Xihan from spreading eastward!

The city is well-fortified and nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

More importantly, once Yuanyang is captured, it will open up a channel for the main force of Xihanwei and Xie Family Army to reunite.

The 700,000-strong army will be linked together and head straight for Nanjing.

"Zhang Kui, the garrison commander of Yuanyang," Zhuge Wu's secret report had already been presented, "is greedy, incompetent, and fond of extravagance. Embezzling military pay is a common occurrence for him, and there is considerable resentment among the troops. His only merit is that he is obedient enough to carry out Pei Yan's orders without any compromise. It is precisely because of this that he has been placed in this position."

Xie Sangning looked at the location of Yuanyang City on the sand table: "Send the order!"

"First, second, and third elite battalions of the Western Cold Guard, assemble immediately!"

"Order the craftsmen to build camps, secretly transport the Thunderfire equipment, and set off with the army! Yin Bai will personally escort it and be responsible for its use and guidance!"

Yin Bai had a more precise grasp of fuse control, and after studying Lei Huo, he shamelessly stayed in the manufacturing camp.

"Order Magistrate Qu to mobilize all transportation resources and prepare to receive supplies from Yuanyang City! The Western Cold Guard's crossbow battalion and light cavalry scout battalion will accompany my central army!"

"Send a message to Mr. Zhuge: Part of Xie Family Army is secretly assembling at Langqiu Mountain, fifty miles east of Yuanyang, according to the pre-arranged plan! Cut off all escape routes for Yuanyang to seek reinforcements!"

A series of commands began to operate silently yet efficiently at high speed! The target was Yuan Yang!

——

The north wind howled.

The tall city walls of Yuanyang City gleamed golden in the sunlight.

On the city wall, the guards, wearing cotton armor, hunched their necks and listlessly patrolled the city.

With the year-end approaching, General Zhang Kui's mind was already on the banquets and courtesans in Jinling City.

On the official road outside the city, a huge "caravan" was approaching Yuanyang City in a grand procession.

Dozens of large trucks, fully loaded with bulging goods, covered with thick tarpaulins.

Beside the carriage shaft followed many simply dressed, travel-worn men and guards.

This is the core part of the plan.

Taking advantage of the Yuanyang garrison's familiarity with and greed towards caravans, the most elite elite troops and key operators were secretly sent into Yuanyang City!

"Stop! What are you doing?"

The guards at the city gate lazily stopped the convoy.

The caravan manager immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face, trotted forward, and expertly stuffed several heavy silver coins into his hand: "Sir, you've worked hard! We're a caravan from the north, delivering some mountain goods and furs, as well as New Year's gifts, to the wealthy gentlemen in the city..."

As she spoke, she quietly handed over a small brocade pouch containing several pearls of excellent quality.

The garrison commander weighed the silver coins and pearls in his hand, a greedy smile spreading across his face: "Hmm, you're sensible! You're from the north... Alright, check them over, and if there are no problems, you can go in!"

The so-called inspection was nothing more than a perfunctory lifting of a corner of the tarpaulin on a few vehicles, seeing that they were indeed furs and mountain goods, and then waving them off.

No one noticed the soldier huddled under the tarpaulin, gripping his sword tightly.

Late that night.

Inside Yuanyang City, the lights were sparse.

Inside the general's mansion, the sounds of music still lingered. Zhang Kui, embracing his newly acquired concubine, was drunk.

Sudden!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Five deafening, earth-shattering explosions, seemingly caused by the collapse of the heavens and the splitting of the earth, rang out simultaneously from the four gates of Yuanyang City without warning!

The sound was so loud and so violent that it instantly tore apart the silent night sky of Yuanyang City!

The entire city shook violently, as if it had been stomped on by a giant!

The wine cups and bowls in the general's mansion shattered and crashed to the ground! Everyone was stunned by this unprecedented and terrifying noise!

"What's going on?! Thunder?! Has the earth dragon stirred up?!"

Zhang Kui sobered up considerably from the shock, shoved his concubine away, and cried out in terror.