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Hua Jinxing took a deep breath, composed himself, and gestured for the generals behind him to stand in order of rank. Then, he straightened his helmet and stepped into the main hall with steady steps.

The generals behind him filed in, all holding their breath and keeping their eyes straight ahead.

The interior furnishings were simple yet solemn, with only a large rosewood table in the center, behind which sat a person.

It was none other than Crown Prince Yi Junze.

He was still dressed in plain white robes, without a crown, his long hair partially tied back with a simple jade hairpin, the rest cascading over his shoulders. His posture was casual yet exuded natural nobility, as he held a book in his hand. Sunlight streamed in from the high window on the side, casting a soft halo around him, making his face appear even more handsome and refined. The calm and profound look in his eyes commanded respect, making one hesitant to show any disrespect.

Hua Jinxing dared not look closely, his gaze fixed on the ground three feet away. He rushed forward a few steps, entered the hall, and knelt on one knee with a standard military salute. The generals behind him also knelt down with a thud.

"Your subject, Hua Jinxing, Grand General of the Western Expeditionary Army, Right General of the Imperial Guard, and Duke of Shi, along with his generals, pays homage to Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, we humble servants pay our respects! Long live Your Highness!"

The generals echoed in unison.

Yi Junze put down his book, his gaze calmly sweeping over the kneeling generals below, lingering briefly on Hua Jinxing before he smiled slightly:
"Hua Qing, please rise. All generals, please rise."

Yi Junze's voice, clear and gentle, reached everyone's ears, carrying a strange soothing power that eased the tension of the generals who had been on a long march and were slightly tense due to the audience.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Hua Jinxing bowed again before rising and standing respectfully with his hands at his sides. The generals also rose in turn, lining up behind Hua Jinxing on the left and right, still standing respectfully with their heads bowed.

"Hua Qing, you must have had a long journey."

Yi Junze spoke, his tone calm: "Fifty thousand soldiers, having trekked thousands of miles, arrived in ten days. Their military bearing is impeccable, and their morale is high. This shows that Hua Qing is skilled in military management, and the soldiers are willing to fight to the death."

Hua Jinxing hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness is too kind to praise me. Your Majesty's might is boundless, and the soldiers are grateful for the Emperor's grace. They all know that it is the highest honor to defend the country's borders and expand its territory. Therefore, they are not afraid of hardships and are brave enough to be the first. I am just following Your Majesty's orders and doing my duty."

Yi Junze nodded slightly, abandoning the formalities, and got to the point: "I presume Minister Xue has already briefly explained the situation in Mulu to Minister Hua. The execution of Ziad has thrown the enemy camp into chaos, a blessing from heaven for our dynasty, and also a testament to the valiant efforts of Commander Bai and all the soldiers. However, the barbarian forces have not been completely dismantled, and the situation in Khorasan and even the former Persian territories remains chaotic. Now that Minister Hua has arrived, I wonder what strategies you have in mind?"

Hua Jinxing already had a plan in mind, and upon hearing this, he solemnly replied, "Your Highness, I have just arrived and do not yet fully understand the enemy's situation and the terrain, so I dare not presume to speak of a complete strategy. However, based on the current situation, I believe we should proceed in three steps."

"Our army has just arrived, and although morale is high, the soldiers are exhausted and need time to rest, familiarize themselves with the local conditions, replenish supplies, and integrate with Commander Xue's forces. The defenses of Mulu City also need to be reinforced. Therefore, we should first stabilize our position and maintain a high-pressure deterrent against the enemy outside the city, forcing them not to act rashly, or intensifying their internal strife and causing them to wear themselves down. Our army can take this opportunity to reorganize and prepare for war."

"Once our army has recovered its fighting strength and our intelligence is complete, we should seize the opportunity to sweep away the remaining Arab troops outside the city with overwhelming force. They are leaderless and fighting amongst themselves, so we can defeat them in one battle or force most of them to surrender. The goal of this battle is not to annihilate them, but to completely crush their courage to covet the western border of our empire and drive them out of the key areas around Merv, thus consolidating our foothold."

"Thirdly, the Persian prince Peroz is in my hands, which is a matter of great righteousness. Once the situation in Merv is stable, we should use this as a pretext to either help him restore his kingdom or establish a Persian force that is close to our dynasty, gradually pushing the empire's influence westward. The specific course of action will depend on the reaction of the Arabs in Khorasan and even Ctesiphon, the sentiments of the Persian people, and... Your Majesty's profound intentions."

Hua Jinxing spoke eloquently and clearly, taking into account both military realities and political diplomacy, and never forgetting to ultimately consult the emperor's will, demonstrating his composure and thoroughness.

Yi Junze listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the scroll. After Hua Jinxing finished speaking, he remained silent for a moment before saying, "Minister Hua is thoughtful, mature, and prudent; what you say is very good. A steady and methodical approach is exactly what is needed here. My presence in Mulu is not to hinder Minister Hua's military operations, but merely to observe the situation and calm my mind. Military command will be led by Minister Hua, with Minister Xue as his assistant. If there are any major decisions, you may inform me."

"Your Highness, I will obey your decree!"

Hua Jinxing felt a weight lifted from his heart. The Crown Prince's words were tantamount to granting him full authority over the frontline military affairs while retaining the right to be informed and supervised at the highest level. He had struck a perfect balance.

"As for Prince Peroz..."

Yi Junze shifted his gaze slightly, glancing at a shadowy spot to his side and behind him. "This person is a key piece; whether he is used well or poorly will affect the entire game. His character and abilities still need to be observed. Hua Qing should communicate more with Xue Qing and Commander Bai, and handle the situation prudently. Make sure he understands that only by relying on the Celestial Dynasty can he have a glimmer of hope."

"Your subject understands." Hua Jinxing nodded solemnly.

Yi Junze then inquired about specific matters such as the army's food and fodder supply, the care of the wounded, and communication with the rear, to which Hua Jinxing answered in detail.

After the question and answer session, Yi Junze softened his tone: "Minister Hua and the generals have come a long way and are tired. Let's go and settle the camp affairs first, so that the soldiers can rest well. Minister Xue, you accompany Minister Hua for a walk around the city, hand over the defenses, and exchange information."

"Yes!" Xue Rengui and Hua Jinxing replied in unison.

"Go."

Yi Junze picked up the book again, his gaze returning to the lines of text.

"We take our leave!"

Hua Jinxing bowed again and led his men out of the main hall. Only when they stepped out of the gate and were bathed in the autumn sunlight did they seem to be slightly relieved from the invisible yet omnipresent majesty and pressure, and they gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

"General Hua, please." Xue Rengui led the way.

Hua Jinxing nodded and said in a low voice as he walked, "General Xue, Your Highness... is truly a genius, unfathomable."

Recalling the Crown Prince's calm yet all-knowing gaze, and his prematurely youthful yet profoundly dignified demeanor, I was filled with emotion.

Xue Rengui nodded in deep agreement and lowered his voice: "I felt the same way when I first met Your Highness. Moreover, although Your Highness is young, you are very methodical in handling affairs, clear in your rewards and punishments, and moreover... decisive in your methods."

A glint flashed in Hua Jinxing's eyes, and he said no more. He only felt a deeper sense of awe for the emperor who was high in Luoyang and the future monarch in front of him.

With such a crown prince, the empire's westward ambitions may truly extend beyond Persia. Looking up at the vast, azure sky and then towards the unknown, boundless lands to the west, a surge of pride welled up within me.

...............

Three days.

Hua Jinxing gave his 50,000 elite troops on the western expedition three full days to rest and reorganize, and completed the handover of defenses and initial integration with Xue Rengui's forces. During these three days, the massive military camp was like a prehistoric beast slowly awakening, methodically consuming supplies and sharpening its claws.

Scouts were dispatched in all directions like a flowing river, constantly sending back intelligence about the surrounding areas of the Abbasid army camp. The "rumor-mongers" accompanying the army cooperated with some of the Xuanwu Guards left behind by Bai Qing'er, not only finding out the locations, troop strength, and conflicts of the generals of several major factions within the Abbasid army, but also even turning a few wavering Persian generals who had surrendered.

Inside Mulu City, the wounded received better medical care, the damaged sections of the city wall were urgently reinforced, and defensive supplies such as arrows, rolling logs, stones, and oil were replenished. The approximately two thousand men under Xue Rengui who were still capable of fighting were incorporated into Hua Jinxing's army, primarily responsible for defending the city walls and maintaining order within the city, freeing up the main force for field battles.

The Arab army, which had lost its commander and was embroiled in internal strife, failed to quickly elect a new leader or restore order and withdraw in the three days that Hua Jinxing had initially feared.

On the contrary, internal friction intensified.

Several capable generals attacked each other, and even small-scale brawls broke out. The lower-ranking soldiers were at a loss, desertions increased daily, the camp became increasingly dilapidated and chaotic, and morale plummeted.

Day four, dawn. The autumn sky over the plateau was a clear, deep blue, and a long wind swept across the wilderness, stirring up dry dust. West of Mulu City, the imperial army's western expeditionary force was already in formation.

Hua Jinxing left 10,000 elite troops as reserves and to guard the main camp, and reinforced the defenses of Mulu City with another 5,000 men. The force that went into battle was 35,000 well-rested and eager-to-fight imperial warriors.

The military formation was imposing, and the killing intent soared to the sky. At the forefront were three massive infantry squares arranged in a triangular pattern.

Each square formation consisted of approximately five thousand men, with spearmen at the core, swordsmen and shieldmen guarding the flanks, and archers and crossbowmen at the rear. The soldiers were clad in heavy armor (a design choice to counter the relatively weak armor-piercing capabilities of the Arab scimitars), and wielded specially made armor-piercing spears, each twelve feet long, their tips forming a forest that gleamed coldly in the morning light.

The infantry squares were flanked by mobile cavalry. The left wing consisted of three thousand light cavalry, all clad in light armor, carrying powerful bows and scimitars at their waists. The right wing comprised two thousand heavily armored cavalry, both riders and horses covered in thick lamellar armor, the knights wielding long spears and halberds.

About two hundred paces behind the infantry formation, on a slightly elevated earthen slope, lies the true protagonist of the day—the artillery position.

Fifty brand-new muzzle-loading smoothbore cannons were pushed to the front lines, their dark muzzles raised, pointing towards the chaotic Arab camp several miles away. The cannons were jet black, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and their carriages were sturdy. Beside each cannon, five well-trained gunners busied themselves, cleaning the breech, loading propellant charges, compacting the shells, and placing the fuses—their movements practiced and efficient. Special ammunition carts and a guard unit stood by at the rear.

In front of the artillery positions, approximately five hundred musketeers armed with flintlock muskets were deployed. They were arranged in three rows of one hundred men each, undergoing final checks. Although loading was cumbersome and their range and accuracy were limited, at certain distances, their volleys were powerful enough to inflict devastating damage on unarmored or lightly armored targets. Beside them were a small number of grenadiers specializing in throwing "sky-high grenades."

Beneath the central banner, Hua Jinxing, fully armored, sat atop his magnificent steed. His expression was calm, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over his own disciplined army formation before turning his attention to the distant Abbasid camp, which was beginning to stir like disturbed ants.

Xue Rengui, fully armed and holding the "Zhenyue Halberd," stood to the side and behind Hua Jinxing.

"Report—!"

A scout galloped up and reported: "Commander! The enemy camp has detected our movements and is hastily assembling! However, their formation is chaotic, with different units advancing and retreating at different paces, and there are still signs of conflict in many parts of the camp!"

Hua Jinxing's lips curled into a cold smile: "As expected, they're a disorganized mob. Order the entire army to advance steadily according to plan to a mile in front of the enemy camp and form ranks! Artillery, calibrate your targets and bombard areas where the enemy is concentrated, the general's flags, the camp gates, and the palisades! Musketeers and grenadiers, follow closely behind the infantry formations and act on orders!"

"Order!"

The deep horn sound and the distinct rhythm of the war drums rang out simultaneously, like the heartbeat of a giant beast, striking heavily and powerfully in the hearts of every soldier, and also shaking the eardrums of the Arabs on the other side.

The massive army began to move. Infantry squares marched with perfectly synchronized steps, like moving steel walls slowly rolling forward. Spears, like a forest, rose and fell with each step, the clatter of their armor plates creating a low, chilling prelude to a metallic storm. The thunderous footsteps shook the earth.

The cavalry followed slowly on both flanks, like birds of prey poised to pounce.

The advance was slow, but the unparalleled sense of oppression instilled a suffocating fear in the hastily assembled Arab army several miles away. Many soldiers looked bewildered, and even the officers' shouts trembled almost imperceptibly. They managed to form ranks in front of the camp, but the lines were crooked, with gaps between the units, and the soldiers' palms, gripping their weapons, were drenched in cold sweat.

When the vanguard infantry of the Chinese army advanced to within about one mile of the front line of the Arab army, Hua Jinxing waved his command flag.

"Halt! Form ranks!"

The military formation abruptly halted, as if it had struck an invisible wall, instantly shifting from extreme motion to utter stillness, displaying an exceptionally high level of discipline. The infantry phalanx swiftly adjusted its formation, spears pointing forward, swords and shields protecting the sides, bows and crossbows nocked, completing preparations for engaging the enemy.

Meanwhile, the artillery positions on the earthen slope behind were already ready.

The artillery commander, a middle-aged captain with a stern face and a background from the affiliated school of the Gewu Tiangong Academy, suddenly waved his red command flag downwards!
"Target: densely packed enemy lines in the forward positions and the camp gate fence! One volley! Fire!"

"put!"

"put!"

The orders were relayed one after another.

next moment--

"boom!!!!!!"

Fifty cannons roared almost simultaneously!

The cannon spewed out a blazing tongue of fire and billowing smoke several feet long! The enormous recoil caused the heavy cannon to bounce backward violently, and the gun carriage sank deep into the ground!

Dozens of heavy, solid iron bullets, accompanied by a piercing whistle, tore through the morning air and slammed into the chaotic Arab army formation a mile away at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow!
"What is that?!"

"Divine punishment! Is it divine punishment sent down by Allah?!"

A chorus of terrified screams erupted from the Arab army! Many soldiers had never seen, or even imagined, such a terrifying long-range weapon!

"Bang! Crack! Splat—!"

Iron bullets mercilessly pounded into the crowd! Wherever they passed, blood and flesh flew, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere! One iron bullet even hit a simple wooden camp gate directly, blasting it and several soldiers behind it to pieces! Wood chips and blood and flesh mingled and flew everywhere!

While the direct lethality of solid shot may be limited, its psychological impact and disruption of formation are devastating. The already fragile Arab army lines were instantly torn open with several bloody gaps. The soldiers were terrified and scattered to both sides, trampling each other. The officers' shouts were completely drowned out by screams and roars.

Before the smoke from the first round of shelling had even cleared, the gunners, relying on rigorous training and simple reference calipers, had already begun cleaning the breech and reloading the cannons in a tense but orderly manner. And the artillery commander's flag was raised once again.

"Change to shotgun shells! Target: the enemy's scattered frontline troops and those attempting to regroup! Two rapid fire rounds!"

"Boom boom boom—!"

The cannon fire intensified once more! This time, what flew from the muzzles were countless tiny iron balls and fragments of metal! Like a storm of deathly metal, it swept across an area of ​​several hundred paces in front of the Arab army!
The screams reached their peak! Under the hail of shrapnel, unarmored or lightly armored Arab soldiers fell in droves, like wheat stalks felled by a sickle. Officers trying to regroup, messengers waving flags, and even some brave (or foolish) soldiers charging forward were riddled with bullets in the storm of metal.

The fighting spirit of the Arab army completely collapsed under these two unprecedented and terrifying artillery bombardments!

"Escape!"

"Devil! They are the devil's army!"

Someone shouted first, and the entire Arab army formation began to crumble like an avalanche! The soldiers dropped their weapons, turned and ran, wanting nothing more than to escape this land ruled by death. The supervising officer cut down a few deserters, but was instantly overwhelmed and trampled by even more fleeing soldiers.

"The time has come!" Hua Jinxing's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he pointed his command flag forward: "Beat the drums! All troops, attack!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The war drums, even more stirring and inspiring, resounded through the heavens! (End of Chapter)