Chapter 151: Subjugation of the Roman Empire

Zhang Zhong said, "Although our weapons have a significant advantage, if we are trapped inside the capital without ammunition and supplies, it will be very difficult to manage."

"Wouldn’t it be pointless to abandon the capital and rush back to the port after all that fighting?" he added.

Chen Mu nodded. Having followed him for so long, Zhang Zhong had developed a decent strategic perspective, though he still lacked much in political acumen.

"You're right; what you say makes sense. But those city-states won’t come to our aid," Chen Mu continued.

"Firstly, our electric tracked vehicles move very fast. It only takes an hour to travel from the shore to the Roman capital. Coupled with our superior weapons, we can capture the city within the time it takes to have a meal."

"As for the other Roman city-states, even the fastest reinforcements would take half a day to arrive, and the slowest would take several days—simply not in time."

"Most importantly, the Roman Empire is just a loose city-state alliance in name; their governance is extremely lax. Once we kill the Roman emperor, who will still fight desperately for him?"

"If the great Xia army, which even the royal forces can’t defeat, is in front of them, would they willingly sacrifice themselves for a dead emperor?"

Chen Mu’s words were like a sudden awakening, instantly dispelling the doubts among the officers.

They immediately rolled up their sleeves, ready for battle.

“If His Highness the Crown Prince says so, we are willing to live and die with you. We are ready to fight to the death,” they declared.

Chen Mu nodded and picked up his treasured sword.

"The Roman Empire tries to mock us Xia people as fools, but we must show them what happens when you offend us and toy with us."

"You will join us in battle tomorrow."

"As for that fortress in the Western Kingdom, we will send half our fleet to surround it. The Westerners won’t be able to cut off our retreat."

"We can charge confidently into the Roman capital and take their wealth as compensation for what they owe us."

“Kill the dog emperor of Rome!”

Chen Mu shouted, and the atmosphere surged to a fever pitch. Each man roared with overwhelming excitement.

The next day, Chen Mu executed the plan: half the forces held the Western Kingdom’s port in check, while he led the elite fleet straight toward the Roman capital.

Just as Chen Mu expected, the Roman fleet was unprepared and was completely annihilated by his navy.

Then Chen Mu led the army, riding in electric tracked vehicles, charging toward the Roman imperial capital.

They wielded the most advanced firearms and artillery, while the Romans relied entirely on cold weapons.

Moreover, the Roman soldiers were utterly unprepared. They couldn’t imagine that the Xia would dare to attack.

The Roman emperor was shocked and hurriedly dispatched one of his generals to lead the city’s imperial guards in a desperate battle against Chen Mu.

However, this general was clever; he quickly realized his troops were no match for Chen Mu’s forces.

“Why fight Chen Mu? I might have a better future if I surrender to Xia,” he thought.

After a token resistance, he led the imperial guards to surrender and knelt before Chen Mu.

Chen Mu was pleased to reduce casualties; he immediately granted the general the title of count and tasked him with commanding the city’s troops.

The Roman Empire’s forces outside the capital had no time to come to their aid.

The emperor, helpless, gathered his remaining palace guards and tried to fight his way to Chen Mu, but facing firearms, his men were decimated in waves.

Ultimately, the emperor had no choice but to raise the white flag.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, please spare me! I was wrong before, foolish!”

“I’ll give you my entire kingdom, all our lands, and even all my women if you let me live,” the emperor begged, repeatedly kowtowing, terrified of Chen Mu’s punishment.

But Chen Mu sneered coldly and kicked him, knocking out all his front teeth.

“Fool! You think saying those useless words will make me spare you?”

“When I’m done with you, all these things will naturally belong to us. I’m not as soft-hearted as you imagine.”

Chen Mu waved his hand, ordering the Roman emperor dragged away and executed on the spot.

This shocked everyone. The other civil and military officials in the capital quickly surrendered to Chen Mu, unwilling to resist.

Chen Mu took over the city’s defense and summoned the wise man and the city lord.

He said directly to the city lord, “I don’t know the others here well, but you seem sensible. You shall be the new emperor of Rome.”

The city lord was startled and hesitant. So much had happened because of him, and now he was being asked to become the new emperor. He truly didn’t have the courage.

He pointed instead to the wise man beside him. “Mr. Su Shide is very wise and is your friend. I think he should be the new emperor of Rome.”

Chen Mu nodded and then looked at the wise man.

But the wise man shook his head and said, “If you want me to be the leader, I’m willing to help, but I think the system must be changed.”

“Change the system? Interesting. Please explain,” Chen Mu said, intrigued to hear the wise man’s suggestions.

Su Shide cleared his throat and said, “I want to restore the system from the old days of the Roman Empire, transforming it into a city-state republic with a parliament.”

“That’s a good reform,” Chen Mu smiled, thinking a parliamentary system would create more division in Rome, giving local powers greater authority, which would be beneficial for Xia’s control.

Then Su Shide added, “Also, our Roman Republic cannot withstand the advanced weapons of the Western Kingdom. I suggest the Xia garrison troops in our eastern territories so we can better resist the West.”

Chen Mu smiled and nodded. Su Shide was indeed insightful.

Chen Mu had planned to station troops in Rome anyway, and having Su Shide propose it made things easier.

“Excellent, very smart. You should be the chief elder of the parliament.”

“Stationing troops is no problem. We intend to eliminate the Western Kingdom anyway.”

After settling these major issues, Chen Mu left internal Roman affairs to Su Shide and the city lord, while he arranged for troops to establish a fortress in the east.

The new fortress was located in the valley east of the Roman Republic’s capital, a vital transit route. Holding this point would prevent the Westerners from entering Rome from the east.

Moreover, with Xia’s artillery power, any Western assault would be suicidal.