Chapter 634 Ping An Jing
Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.
For Li Shiyue and his men, who were based in western Honshu, Japan, these five years were a period of rapid expansion for the Zhenhai Navy.
The Iwami Silver Mine and the Ikuno Silver Mine were like two never-ending minting machines, continuously spitting out silver to support the expansion of the Zhenhai Navy, the upgrading of its equipment, and the expansion of its trade network.
The area controlled by Li Shiyue already includes a vast region encompassing Shimane Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Hyogo Prefecture, making it virtually a country within a country.
From Jian'an to Dongmu, and from Jiangnan to the Seto Inland Sea, her "Li" command flag became the most authoritative pass on the East China Sea.
The nobles of Heian-kyo went from initial panic and attempts to unite against her, to later compromises and making secret deals with her, to their current numbness and despair.
They had hoped that the prestige of the new emperor or the rise of a powerful clan could restrain this evil woman from Da Long.
However, all efforts were in vain due to the Zhenhai Navy's powerful ships and cannons and its strict trade blockade.
Li Shiyue not only used force to seize their territory, but also corrupted their foundation with silver and commodity trade.
Many minor nobles, in order to survive, had already secretly "joined" her, becoming part of Li Shiyue's intelligence network.
Heian-kyo, this ancient capital with a history of over a thousand years, awaits its final judgment amidst an increasingly heavy atmosphere of decline.
In early spring, the chill of winter has not yet completely faded, but the soil already exudes a restless energy.
Inside the council chamber located in Ikuno Ginzan, Hyogo Prefecture, a decisive military meeting is being held.
"...Heian-kyo is now outwardly strong but inwardly weak. The so-called Imperial Guards of the Emperor number only a little over a thousand, and their equipment is outdated and their morale is low."
The private armies of the various noble families operated independently, distrusting each other and making it difficult to form an effective resistance.
Sun Xiaoliu pointed to the huge map spread out on the long table and said this in a calm voice;
He had been by Li Shiyue's side for many years and had long since become one of Li Shiyue's most trusted generals.
"After five years of rest and training, we now have more than 20,000 combat-ready soldiers, 200 'Thunder God Cannons,' and more than 250 warships of various sizes, including 52 'Breaking Wave' class warships."
Logistics are readily available with ample provisions, and morale is high!
After Sun Xiaoliu finished speaking to Li Shiyue, Bi Wenjun, the former leader of Xuanjia Dark Blade, codenamed Ye Yi, who has now resumed her original name, is now the head of Li Shiyue's intelligence system.
She then continued, "According to the latest news from our spies in Heian-kyo, the Imperial Family and powerful noble families such as the Fujiwara and Takeda clans are still arguing over their respective power."
Their vast treasures were stored in their respective treasuries and temples, a fact that the spies, following the general's orders, had thoroughly investigated.
Li Shiyue was dressed in a black martial arts uniform and did not wear many ornaments, except for a white jade hairpin on her head.
She stood by the window, gazing intently at the large "Li" banner fluttering in the air outside the drill ground.
Five years had not left many marks on her face, except that her eyes had become even sharper. However, the scar on the corner of her eye, left from her early years in the Turkic Khaganate, added a touch of ruthlessness to her face.
"The time has come."
Li Shiyue turned around, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable determination, "Five years!"
Five years of savings are not meant to be used to confront them forever.
It's time for the heart of Japan to beat in a different way.
"Send the order: three days from now, march on Heian-kyo!"
As soon as Li Shiyue gave the order, the Zhenhai Army, this huge war machine, began to operate efficiently.
They split into two groups. On the sea, a huge fleet carrying soldiers, artillery, and supplies headed east along the coastline from Hyogo Prefecture.
On land, well-equipped infantry and cavalry of the Zhenhai Army stood in orderly ranks, treading on the slightly muddy roads of early spring, like a black iron torrent surging toward the capital city that symbolized the highest power of Japan—Heian-kyo!
The Zhenhai Army's attack encountered almost no decent resistance.
The powerful clans along the way either surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy, offering grain and gold and silver as a sign of submission;
They would either keep the city gates tightly shut, but often after a few booms of the "Thunder God Cannon," the gates would open wide, and the defending troops would scatter and disappear.
Li Shiyue issued a strict order forbidding the indiscriminate killing of surrendered soldiers and civilians, but ordered that any place that dared to resist be destroyed with swift and decisive action.
Her goal was clear: Heian-kyo (Kyoto). Everything along the way was merely an obstacle that had to be cleared away.
On the day the enemy approached the city, Heian-kyo was plunged into apocalyptic chaos.
On the low city wall, a sparse group of Japanese soldiers stood with bewildered expressions.
Inside the city, the nobles were in a panic. Some tried to organize their private armies and servants to put up a last stand, while others were busy loading their gold, silver and valuables onto oxcarts, preparing to flee to the mountains further east.
Inside the palace, the young emperor was deathly pale. Hearing the faint sounds of cannons and battle cries coming from outside, his body trembled uncontrollably.
Among the court officials around him, some advocated that the emperor should voluntarily die for his country, while others were still debating whether to send envoys to beg for peace with Li Shiyue.
However, Li Shiyue did not give them any chance to catch their breath.
The siege began on a foggy morning.
Two hundred "Thunder God Cannons" were pushed to the front of the battle line, their dark muzzles aimed at the not-so-tall walls and gates of Heian-kyo.
At Li Shiyue's command, the cannons roared!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The deafening explosion shattered the morning tranquility, and orange flames flickered in the mist, like the wrath of Thor.
Solid iron balls hurtled towards the city wall, the wooden city gate shattered into pieces amidst the violent explosions, and the brick and stone walls trembled violently under the continuous bombardment, developing huge cracks before finally collapsing with a deafening roar!
Smoke filled the air, and rubble flew everywhere.
The Japanese soldiers defending the city had never seen such a terrifying attack.
They were immediately terrified by the devastating "Thunder God Cannon," and many people dropped their weapons and fled into the city screaming.
"attack!"
At Li Shiyue's command, the soldiers of Zhenhai Army charged forward, brandishing their swords.
Elite heavy infantry surged into the city like a tidal wave through the breach that had been blasted open.
Their ranks were orderly, their swords gleaming, and they could often crush any sporadic, disorganized resistance with a single charge.
The Xuanjia Dark Blade soldiers, like ghosts, had already infiltrated the city and were now leading the main infantry force to attack the imperial palace and the residences of various nobles, while spreading panic and undermining the remaining will to resist of the Japanese.
This siege was more like a one-sided cleanup.
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