Chapter Thirty-Two: The True Battle

At Sun Li's residence in the Governor's Palace of Mexico, the atmosphere was one of calculated preparation. Following the annihilation of the British Imperial colonial fleet, the Song Empire’s rule over the Mexican region had been firmly consolidated. The immense wealth seized from the gold mines had allowed Sun Li to recoup his losses and organize a standing army of 70,000.

To rapidly expand his military presence and secure his growing territories, Sun Li recruited exclusively line infantry. Armed with bayonet-equipped flintlocks, these soldiers were virtually invincible in the Gold Province, proving more than sufficient for the current situation. After securing control of the seas, Sun Li transported 3,000 spearmen cavalry from the Orc Continent to Mexico. Only 10,000 troops remained on the Orc Continent as a deterrent, while the rest were mobilized for the next phase of the Song Empire’s expansionist strategy.

Having acquired territory larger than the empire itself, Sun Li felt the strain of limited manpower. After consulting with Zhuge Liang and other senior officials, the Song Empire implemented a comprehensive militia system—a form of mandatory conscription. Naturally, only system-born citizens were permitted to serve; Sun Li dared not place weapons into the hands of second-class subjects. As for the orcs, they would hardly know how to use a musket.

This conscription system expanded the scale of the military indefinitely. Every system-born citizen was issued a flintlock, and simple police institutions were established in every settlement. These militiamen served as law enforcement. Any adult system-born citizen, regardless of gender, could bear arms to maintain order. Furthermore, if a militiaman deemed a lower-class subject a threat, they were authorized to shoot them on sight. Afterward, all that was required was a report with sufficient evidence; even without evidence, the penalty was merely a fine. First-class citizens were never subject to criminal law for maintaining order.

Criminal penalties were reserved for system-born citizens only when they harmed another first-class citizen. This system solidified the hierarchy, effectively segregating the first-class citizens from the lower classes into two distinct groups, maintaining rule through the raw application of force. In return, Sun Li gained over 100,000 adult militiamen in addition to his 70,000 regular troops. While these civilians might not match the regular armies of their enemies, they were more than capable of suppressing poorly armed mobs.

"Yunyun, have you confirmed the contact time with the Wood Elves? Next Monday, 50,000 troops of the Song Empire will launch a full-scale invasion of the British Empire's colonies in the Gold Province. They must stage a massive riot—or rather, an uprising—before then to coordinate with our offensive," Sun Li said. "I have received intelligence that after realizing the nature of our rule, most of the armed civilian groups in the remaining British and Franconian colonies have answered the government’s call to resist us. The Jinyiwei estimate that at least 300,000 armed civilians have responded. That is ten times the size of the enemy's regular army, so the cooperation of the Wood Elf Alliance is crucial."

"Rest assured, my dear," Su Yunyun replied, her eyes filled with affection and confidence. "Our Wood Elf warriors are all brave souls eager to rebuild their homeland. For every 300,000 colonists they have, we will have 500,000 Wood Elf warriors to assist you."

Since their marriage, the once-repressed Queen had shed her burdens and become remarkably open, much to Sun Li’s delight. Su Lulu, on the other hand, remained shy, often requiring Sun Li’s insistence during their more intimate moments.

For this campaign to unify the Gold Province, Sun Li did not intend to lead the troops personally. The Song Empire was vastly superior in military strength, tactics, and morale. With the British Empire’s homeland embroiled in a fierce political power struggle, they had no resources to provide tactical guidance or reinforcements to their colonies. Sun Li remained in Mexico with 10,000 troops, while Generals Ryan and Robin led the 50,000-strong force to occupy the Gold Province.

At a defensive fort on the Mexican border, a dozen soldiers patrolled cautiously. Since the Song Empire had established its foothold, this once-quiet post had become a front line. They had heard terrifying tales from fleeing merchants about the "Redcoats."

Indeed, those terror-stricken by the Song army called them the Redcoats. That sea of red, which frequently appeared on the horizon and pressed forward in perfect formation, had become an inescapable nightmare for the defeated. The fearsome reputation of the Redcoats spread through the fleeing crowds. Tales of 10,000 defeating 60,000, of bloody massacres, and of iron-willed discipline became legend. Consequently, the colonial government had easily recruited a massive number of armed civilians—so many that the authorities didn't even bother to count them. Roughly five out of every ten people on the street had joined the colonial militia. They provided their own flintlocks, cold weapons, clothing, and supplies.

Today, the patrolling soldiers were unlucky. As the sun rose, a thin red line appeared on the horizon, swelling into a vast ocean of crimson. "The Redcoats are here! Sound the alarm!" The soldiers rushed to their small fort, and soon, the alarm bells rang out. Similar alerts echoed across the entire Mexican border.

The Song army, possessing ample manpower, advanced in three columns. Within a short time, the 20,000 to 30,000 British Imperial troops stationed at the border were crushed, despite their reliance on fortifications, by the Song army’s dozens of cannons. The three columns swept forward. Unlike Europe, the Gold Province had few defensive structures; most cities had only a single wall. Under the bombardment of artillery and the fearless, close-range volleys of the Song troops, the defenders collapsed.

"We must concentrate our main force to halt the Song army," the British colonial governor decided, seeing the futility of local defense. "If we keep losing cities like this, we will meet the same fate as Mexico." Facing extinction, the colonial government acted with unprecedented efficiency, assembling a force of 100,000, including 50,000 regulars—the absolute limit of the British and Franconian empires' resources. The remaining 50,000 were armed civilians, serving as cannon fodder.

The 100,000-strong colonial force used the terrain to intercept the main body of the Song army—General Robin’s 20,000 Redcoats. They formed a defensive line, placing the 50,000 armed civilians in the front and the 50,000 regulars in the second line. "Shoulder arms, march!" The Redcoats, accompanied by their military band, advanced in their usual rhythmic style.

When the Redcoats came into range, the armed civilians unleashed volleys of fire, using standard three-rank tactics. To their horror, they watched as the Redcoats, true to the rumors, ignored the casualties and continued their advance. As the red wall drew closer, the pressure on the civilians mounted until, after a single volley from the Redcoats, they broke and fled.

"These British never learn," Robin laughed, watching the enemy crumble. "If they had held their cities, they might have inflicted more casualties, but fighting us in the open field is suicide."

Just as the Redcoats pursued the fleeing civilians toward the second line, the civilians suddenly threw themselves to the ground, revealing rows of ready-to-fire soldiers behind them. The colonial officers shouted orders, and a devastating volley erupted. The Song vanguard, caught in the open, suffered over 50 percent casualties in moments. For the first time, the Redcoats were forced to retreat. The colonial officers, sensing victory, drew their swords and led the charge, chasing the retreating Song forces. In the stunned eyes of General Robin, the real battle had begun.