21: Chapter 21 Unification!

In the name of the Xingyang God, the Empire's massive war machine began to turn once again!

Inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Tang Fei held a blueprint up to the sunlight, examining it closely. His aged, dim eyes squinted as he peered at it again and again: "What is this? A house?"

General Tang Xing, Commander of The First Army, held back a smile: "Your Majesty, this is a ship. An ironclad ship."

"An ironclad ship?"

The Starfire Empire originated from the snowy forests at the northernmost end of the continent. Even if there were rivers there, they remained frozen year-round. Therefore, let alone these strange-looking ships, even ordinary vessels were something Emperor Tang Fei had rarely seen with his own eyes.

"Yes, Your Majesty." After hesitating for a moment, General Tang Xing continued: "This is a weapon for crossing rivers that my deputy general designed several years ago."

"Deputy General Tang Meng? Since he has the heart to head south, why did he try to stop me in the imperial court?"

"That is because he has always felt that even with ironclad ships, our losses in taking the Southern State would be immense. However, I believe that in order to spread the blessings of the Xingyang God, some sacrifices are worth it, and I have long since disregarded my own life."

Emperor Tang Fei nodded solemnly.

Observing his expression, General Tang Xing explained in detail: "This ship has a bottom made of thick wood, while the other five sides are made of iron plates. It can transport both men and war wolves to the opposite bank, and with the protection of the iron plates, we will no longer fear their arrows and stones."

"Once we cross the river, we can lower one of the iron side panels, and our Cavalry can appear on the opposite bank in groups to launch an assault on their positions!"

The more Emperor Tang Fei heard, the more excited he became, his eyes moistening: "Great Deity Xingyang, success or failure hinges on this one move. Please bless your loyal subjects."

He was already envisioning the scene where the God's grace would spread across the entire continent after taking the Southern State.

Before the army moves, provisions must go first.

Under the guard of the imperial Cavalry, over a million laborers and civilians transported countless supplies and provisions to various supply points where the army was about to head south.

As the supply lines were established, the five major legions, fully prepared, completed their assembly!

"We swear to serve the Xingyang God until death! We shall spread the blessings of the Xingyang God and disregard our own lives!"

Following Emperor Tang Fei's command.

The Starfire Empire's army of five hundred thousand surged southward like an endless flood, vast and mighty.

Moving mountains and filling seas, shattering mountains and splitting the earth.

But even with the full strength of the entire Empire, the pressure of logistics and supplies remained too great. Therefore, each legion retained only thirty thousand Cavalry, while the rest were converted into infantry.

This greatly impacted the army's marching speed. Two months later, the total force of one hundred and fifty thousand Cavalry and three hundred and fifty thousand infantry finally assembled in the two commanderies on the north bank of the An Shen River.

Shenwei Commandery and Shenyang Commandery. These two commanderies were originally the ancestral lands of the Four Kingdoms, but after the Starfire Empire conquered them, they were renamed to their current names.

Although the people of the Four Kingdoms in these two commanderies had long submitted to the Starfire Empire and embraced the faith of the Xingyang God, seeing the menacing imperial army once again still left them chilled to the bone and filled with terror.

Emperor Tang Fei sat in the central command tent, lifting his aged, withered hand to examine it over and over again.

In his heart, he silently prayed: "Great Deity Xingyang, I beseech you to let me witness a scene where your believers cover every corner of the continent."

Knowing he could wait no longer, he issued the order to attack to the army.

After a resonant beat of war drums.

The Starfire Empire's troops began to move. First, nearly a thousand trackers dragged over a hundred heavy "iron houses" toward the riverbank.

As the "rumbling" sounds echoed one after another, the splashing water instantly chilled the hearts of the defending forces of the Four Kingdoms on the opposite bank.