95: Chapter 5 Landing Operation (Happy Dragon Boat Festival)

When the fleet arrived at Jinhai, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Thin mist still drifted over the sea, but the visibility was much better than yesterday. On the distant coastline, the outline of the city could be vaguely seen—gray city walls, low-rise houses, and several towering chimneys emitting billowing black smoke.

Jinhai, the largest port city in the north, had now fallen under the control of the rebels. Several merchant ships and fishing boats were docked at the pier, and the shore was covered in rebel flags; a large "Qin" character was embroidered on the white flag surface, fluttering in the morning breeze.

Li Ling raised his binoculars to carefully observe the situation on the shore. No regular rebel troops were seen on the pier, only some militia wearing motley clothes, holding old-fashioned rifles, and patrolling lazily. In the distance, in the direction of the city, several smoking spots could be seen, which were likely the camps where the rebels were stationed.

"Is that it?" Li Ling put down the binoculars, somewhat surprised. "This is too lax, isn't it?"

"Sir, the rebels probably didn't expect us to arrive so quickly." The Chief of Staff laughed. "They thought we were in Jiangning, over a thousand miles away, and it would take at least half a month to get here. They didn't expect us to arrive in two days."

"Then don't be polite." Li Ling ordered. "Landing troops prepare, naval artillery provide fire cover. Occupy the pier first, then advance into the city."

"Yes!"

The landing operation began.

The naval artillery fired first, with dozens of large-caliber shells smashing into the rebel positions on the shore. The explosions were deafening, flames shot into the sky, and smoke filled the air. How had those militia soldiers ever seen such a formation? Some fled with their heads in their hands, some knelt and begged for mercy, and others simply jumped into the sea to escape.

Meanwhile, landing craft were lowered from the transport ships, fully loaded with heavily armed Marine Corps, rushing toward the shore. The landing craft were specially made by the system's Production Base, with extremely high speed, leaving white wakes on the sea surface.

The rebels on the shore tried to organize a counterattack, but their rifle range was only a few hundred meters, while the naval artillery had a range of over ten kilometers, making it impossible to hit. Moreover, the Heavy Machine Gun on the landing craft kept strafing, and the dense bullets riddled the rebel positions with holes.

The first wave of landing troops rushed onto the pier in just twenty minutes.

The Marine Corps members jumped off the landing craft and quickly established a defensive line on the pier. They wore camouflage combat uniforms, steel helmets, held automatic rifles, and had Hand grenade tucked into their waists, exuding a murderous aura all over. Although the rebels were numerous, their equipment and training were poor, making them no match at all.

"Qingxia Kingdom Army, drop your weapons and you won't be killed!" the Marine Corps members shouted through loudspeakers.

The rebel soldiers looked at each other, threw away their rifles one after another, and raised their hands to surrender. In less than an hour, the pier had completely fallen under the control of Li Ling.

Li Ling took a small transport boat and boarded the pier.

He stepped on the solid ground and took a deep breath of the air smelling of gunpowder. Although he had been away for less than a day, he still felt that the land under his feet was more reassuring.

"Sir, the pier is completely controlled, over three hundred rebels captured, over two hundred rifles seized, along with some ammunition." The commander of the landing force ran over to report.

"Where are the main rebel forces?" Li Ling asked.

"Intelligence shows that the main rebel forces are stationed in several large camps outside the city, about fifteen kilometers from the pier. They probably don't know we have landed yet."

"Then let's strike quickly while they don't know." Li Ling ordered. "Advance the vanguard into the city immediately, seize the train station and the telegraph office. The main force will follow, and you must control the entire Jinhai before dark today."

"Yes!"

The troops began to advance into the city.

The streets of Jinhai were not wide, lined with low-rise shops and residences, and the bluestone roads were full of potholes, accumulating rainwater from last night. The Marine Corps members advanced rapidly along the streets, their footsteps echoing in the narrow alleys. Occasionally, a few early-rising commoners opened their windows, saw the fully armed soldiers, and hurriedly closed them in fear.

"Don't be afraid, we are the imperial Army, here to fight the rebels." The Marine Corps members shouted as they ran. "Close your doors and windows, and don't come out!"

The commoners were skeptical but still obediently closed their doors and windows.

When the vanguard reached the city center, they finally encountered the main rebel force.

It was a force of about three thousand men, wearing motley military uniforms, holding various rifles—some Hanyang 88s, some old-fashioned tube rifles, and even a few muskets. They were obviously just woken from their sleep; some were shirtless, some didn't even have shoes on, messily piled in the street, trying to organize a defensive line.

"Fire!" the Marine Corps commander ordered.

The Heavy Machine Gun fired first, and dense bullets swept toward the rebels like raindrops. How had those rebel soldiers ever seen such firepower? Some were killed on the spot, some fled with their heads in their hands, and others knelt on the ground with their hands raised in surrender.

The Mortar was also bombarding continuously, with shells accurately landing on the rebel positions, throwing them into chaos. Although the rebels had the numerical advantage, their equipment and training were too far behind, and they couldn't stop the Marine Corps' attack at all.

In less than half an hour, the three-thousand-man rebel force was routed. Over five hundred were killed or wounded, over one thousand were captured, and the rest fled in all directions.

But Li Ling's troops also paid a price.

A veteran who had followed Li Ling for many years was hit in the chest by a stray bullet during the attack on a rebel stronghold. The veteran was named Wang Desheng, who had followed Li Ling since the bandit suppression in Nanshan, had fought hundreds of battles, and was always at the forefront.

When Li Ling arrived at the field hospital, Wang Desheng was already dying. He lay on the bed, the bandage on his chest soaked with blood, his face pale as paper, his lips dry and cracked, his eyes half-open and half-closed.

"Old squad leader!" Li Ling crouched by the bed and held his hand.

Wang Desheng opened his eyes, saw Li Ling, and pulled a smile at the corner of his mouth: "Sir, you are here."

"Don't talk, the doctor will be here soon." Li Ling's voice was somewhat choked.

"Sir, there's no need." Wang Desheng shook his head. "I know myself, there's no saving me. That bullet pierced my lung, I can't catch my breath."

"You..."

"Sir, I have no regrets." Wang Desheng wheezed, speaking intermittently. "Following you to fight is the most glorious thing in my life. You must... you must defeat the rebels... save the royal family... unify the whole country..."

"I promise you." Li Ling squeezed his hand. "I promise you."

Wang Desheng smiled and closed his eyes.

Li Ling stood up, looked at that face which had lost its color, and was silent for a long time.

"System." He recited silently in his heart.

No response.

"System, are you there?"

Still no response.

Li Ling took a deep breath and turned to walk out of the field hospital.

"Pass the order." His voice was as cold as ice shards. "All troops, full-scale attack. Do not accept surrender, leave no survivors."

The Chief of Staff was stunned: "Sir, this..."

"The rebels killed our brothers." Li Ling said coldly. "Blood debts must be paid in blood."

The Chief of Staff opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the cold light in Li Ling's eyes, he swallowed his words and turned to convey the order.

The attack began.

This time, the Marine Corps showed no mercy. They strafed with the Heavy Machine Gun, bombarded with the Mortar, and charged with bayonets, razing every rebel stronghold they encountered along the way to the ground. The rebel soldiers were terrified; some tried to surrender, but the Marine Corps members gave them no chance at all.

"Kill! Leave none alive!"

Gunshots, artillery fire, and battle cries echoed through the streets and alleys of Jinhai.

By evening, the entire city of Jinhai was captured.

The rebels suffered heavy losses; over three thousand were killed, over two thousand were captured, and fewer than one thousand escaped the city. Li Ling's troops' losses: twenty-three killed, fifty-six wounded.

Li Ling stood on the clock tower in the city center, overlooking the city. The streets were full of craters and ruins, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood. On the distant sea, his fleet was anchored quietly, turrets pointing to the sky, like a group of silent monsters.

"Sir, the body of old squad leader Wang Desheng has been prepared." The adjutant walked over and said softly.

"Send it back to Jiangning Prefecture and bury him in the Martyrs' Cemetery." Li Ling said. "Double the pension, and as for his family... send someone to offer condolences."

"Yes!"

Li Ling turned around and walked down the clock tower.

Night fell, and the city of Jinhai fell into darkness. Only a few places still had lights on—the field hospital, the command post, and the barracks.

Li Ling sat in the command post with a cup of tea that had already gone cold in front of him. He looked at the map hanging on the wall, but Wang Desheng's face appeared in his mind.

That veteran who had followed him since the bandit suppression period, that honest man who always smilingly called him "Sir," had just left like this.

"System." He recited silently in his heart.

This time, the system responded.

[Host, the system is here.]

"Wang Desheng is dead."

[The system knows.] The system's voice was rarely gentle. [Host, war always results in death. You have done very well.]

"Not enough." Li Ling shook his head. "Not good enough. If my tactics were more thorough, if he wasn't at the forefront..."

[Host, there are no ifs.] The system interrupted him. [Wang Desheng died to protect you, to protect this land. His death has meaning.]

Li Ling was silent for a long time, then nodded.

"You are right." He stood up. "I will not let him sacrifice in vain. The rebels, I will not let a single one go."

He walked to the window and pushed it open. The night wind blew in, carrying the smell of gunpowder and blood.

In the distance, in the darkness, the rebel camps could be vaguely seen—those remnants who fled from Jinhai, were fleeing westward in a panic.

"Pass the order." Li Ling turned around. "Tomorrow morning, the whole Army attacks. Target: the Capital."

"Yes!"

Outside the window, the night was deep.

A new day was about to begin. And a bigger storm was brewing.