Chapter 51: Heavenly Weapons Descend

After the sea vessels were completed, Chen Mu made his final preparations and then led the 5,000 men of the Invincible Flying Army, 1,200 from the Wudang Flying Army, and additional crewmen, setting out from the harbor to launch an expedition against Persia.

On the other side, the King of Persia also received news that Chen Mu had returned to court, and could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although it was unlikely Chen Mu would pursue them into the desert, if he did arrive, Persia truly had no means to resist him.

The Persian army certainly outnumbered Chen Mu's forces, but having just suffered a crushing defeat and been driven from the Western Hills region, the soldiers' morale was utterly depleted. Fighting outside the city would be a certain loss, and even defending the city would likely last only a few days.

Persian cities themselves were made of sand and earth, far less sturdy than those of Great Xia, and Chen Mu’s army possessed all manner of wondrous siege engines. The Persian king had little confidence. It would be best to avoid battle altogether; once Persia had recuperated, if there was an opportunity, they could still attack Great Xia.

He had heard from the people of Great Xia that their empire was beset on all sides. Though powerful, it had many enemies; if other nations managed to win victories, Persia could seize the chance to strike. Disaster was imminent for Persia, yet its king remained unaware.

Chen Mu's voyage was exceedingly smooth. The warships were sturdy, provisions and fresh water were ample, and the three great vessels sailed along the coastline, reaching the Persian shores in just over ten days.

Had they traveled by land, unfamiliar with the route, even if the army managed to reach Persia, the supply convoys would have taken several times longer. Without these three ships, Great Xia could scarcely hope to invade Persia.

The three ships temporarily anchored near the coast. Chen Mu summoned his generals to discuss the plan of attack.

Chen Mu spoke, “We do not know where the Persians are concentrated, nor the location of their army. Who among you has experience fighting in unfamiliar territory? Share your thoughts.”

The generals exchanged glances, and finally Zhang Zhong spoke, “I once followed my father in a campaign against a grassland tribe, though we knew roughly where the tribe was located. It took some days to find them.”

Zhang Zhong recounted the process in detail, and Chen Mu understood. “Good. After we land, you will serve as our guide.”

Chen Mu rose and began sketching a rough route on the map. He had been in this world for several months, and through his explorations, had discovered that many things resembled those of his previous life: the geography, the distribution of crops, the species of animals.

Yet, as his past life lacked a history of Great Xia, he could not know whether the current world’s structure matched that of before. Although they had no Persian maps, Chen Mu possessed a world map in his mind from his previous life.

Having finished the route, he ordered the soldiers to prepare provisions and fresh water, then landed upon the Persian shore.

It was the first time the people of Great Xia set foot on this land. Along the way, Zhang Zhong led the army, compass in hand. Chen Mu had crafted the compass before the expedition, having long prepared for the campaign against Persia. It was useful for both sea and land navigation.

Though they did not know the locations of Persian towns, settlements were typically established according to certain patterns: on plains, near rivers. So Chen Mu’s army looked to distant mountains to estimate where the plains might be, then searched for signs of human construction.

Finding a road or a water source would lead them to Persian settlements.

After two hours’ march, Zhang Zhong called out, “Your Highness, look here.”

Chen Mu went to examine it. “These are traces of wheels.”

Zhang Zhong replied, “Indeed. Though there is no road here, the presence of carts means we are not far from where the Persians reside.”

“Excellent! Keep moving forward. The whole army, prepare for battle,” Chen Mu commanded.

Hearing that they were about to engage the Persians, the soldiers' spirits soared. The Persians had allied with rebels, coveting the lands of Great Xia—something every citizen could not tolerate.

The banner of Great Xia fluttered over Persian soil. The army advanced several more miles and finally spotted a roadway.

Chen Mu took out his map and compared it to their current position, deciding to head toward the area closest to the mountains. As the saying goes, those who live by the mountain rely on the mountain, those by the water rely on the water. Since no river was nearby, the locals might be drawing from mountain springs.

Chen Mu’s guess proved correct. Following this direction, the army soon saw a vast array of houses in the distance.

“At last, a Persian town!”

“Brothers, grab your weapons—leave nothing standing!”

Chen Mu was also delighted. “Quick march! The enemy is unprepared; we’ll strike them directly!”

“Spare the civilians; anyone with a weapon, kill without mercy!” Chen Mu ordered, and the entire army charged toward the Persian town.

This time, Chen Mu brought 3,000 Invincible Flying Army troops, 1,200 from the Wudang Flying Army; the remaining 2,000 Invincible Flying Army soldiers stayed behind to guard the ships.

Though Persia was likely unguarded and unlikely to seize the warships, Chen Mu recalled an old saying from his past life: “Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit.” Even when facing such a weak opponent, one must be thorough.

This Persian town had no city walls, only scattered houses. By custom, Persian soldiers should have been patrolling, but at this hour, the patrols lounged idly in the shade, chatting.

Suddenly, a soldier heard noises in the distance. He stood and saw clouds of dust—many people seemed to be running toward them, bearing unfamiliar banners.

Another soldier reacted swiftly, realizing these were enemies. Though their origin was unknown, their fierce bearing made clear their murderous intent.

He hurriedly called his companions to arms, ready to defend. But when Chen Mu’s army reached them, they offered no effective resistance.

“Kill!” Chen Mu’s troops shouted, descending upon the Persian soldiers like tigers among sheep, slaughtering them mercilessly. The Persian civilians panicked and fled in all directions.

In moments, not a single armed Persian remained in the town.

The Persians could not understand the language of Great Xia, but they knew to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Chen Mu ordered his soldiers to disperse, confiscate all weapons, take half the provisions, and gather wood and cloth for building tents.

Once preparations were complete, they left along the main road. Broad roads invariably led to prosperous places; this rule held true for Great Xia, Persia, and all other peoples alike.