Chương 718: Battlefield, Your Grandpa's Here Again.

"Um."

Liu Ce nodded and glanced westward again... The procession had already gone far away, and all he could see was a dark mass of people and a fluttering black dragon flag, stretching southward along the main road like a black dragon.

He thought to himself: The battlefield, your grandfather is back again.

Having not personally led troops into battle for over a decade, his bones were practically melting from boredom.

Those three countries to the west are a good opportunity for the Han Dynasty's new army and cannons to practice and test their effectiveness.

"Let's go, we should be going too." Liu Ce withdrew his gaze and waved to the generals behind him.

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

The group of military officers were all in high spirits, as if they were receiving red envelopes during the Chinese New Year.

Zhang Fei rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement, and he couldn't help but shuffle his feet along the ground...

Cheng Yaojin hummed a little tune, feeling quite pleased with himself, already imagining what Roman wine tasted like...

Guan Yu stroked his long beard, his eyes sharp as a drawn sword...

Zhao Yun stood ramrod straight, his face calm, yet he was already poised to strike...

The group descended from the command platform, mounted their horses, and, accompanied by their personal guards, headed towards the train station.

The clatter of hooves and the billowing dust carried the group further and further away, heading towards the distant battlefield.

The train station in the south of the city was unusually lively today, like a bustling market.

A row of steam trains stood by the platform, their dark locomotives and huge chimneys billowing white smoke, whistling "whoosh" as they lay on the tracks like giant steel dragons.

This is the main line from Luoyang to Liangzhou, which has only recently opened to traffic and is perfect for transporting troops.

In the past, when the army marched westward, it relied on people and horses to carry the loads. It would take several months to walk from Luoyang to Liangzhou. They would be exhausted and worn out before they even started fighting.

Things are different now. By train, it only takes three or four days to reach Liangzhou, saving time and effort. The soldiers can rest and recuperate, and they can fight as soon as they arrive.

The soldiers boarded the train in batches, filling each carriage to capacity. Despite the close proximity of the soldiers, the train was orderly and everyone sat according to their assigned positions.

A new recruit, riding a train for the first time, peered out the window, his face full of wonder, like a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, constantly muttering to himself:

"My goodness, this iron lump runs faster than a horse! It can run without eating grass? That's unbelievable!"

The veteran slapped him on the back of the head: "You've never seen anything like it! This is a steam train, invented by His Majesty! There will be even more amazing ones in the future! Fight well, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to ride them later."

The recruit chuckled and continued peering out the window, his eyes darting everywhere.

When Liu Ce arrived, Xu Da had already made almost everything in a very orderly manner.

"Your Majesty, the vanguard has already set off. The infantry will advance in three columns, followed by the cavalry and artillery, and will arrive in Liangzhou in batches as planned. At most, our entire army will be assembled in Liangzhou within a month."

Xu Da bowed and reported in a clear and logical manner.

"Hmm, well arranged." Liu Ce nodded, quite satisfied.

"Tell the troops ahead not to rush when they reach Liangzhou. Let them rest and recover first. Then they can continue westward once the follow-up troops have arrived."

The roads over the Pamir Mountains are difficult to traverse; don't rush in, proceed cautiously and steadily.

"Understood, Your subordinate." Xu Da clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

Liu Ce boarded his private train carriage... This carriage was specially modified, with a place for work, a place to rest, and a small table where maps could be spread out. It was much more comfortable than riding a horse and convenient for working at any time.

The military officers also boarded their respective carriages. As soon as Cheng Yaojin got on, he started shouting and threw his bundle onto the berth:

"This train is so much better! No more bumpy rides that leave your butt sore, and you can even lie down and drink! This westward expedition feels like a vacation!"

"You talk too much." Qin Qiong kicked him, both amused and exasperated.

"When His Majesty arrives, let's see if you still dare to spout nonsense. Can war be called tourism?"

"That's right." Cheng Yaojin chuckled, pulling a packet of braised beef from his bundle.

"My wife packed this for me. Here, brothers, share it and have some on the road."

A few people gathered together, munching on beef and chatting, their conversation revolving entirely around things in the west, and they talked animatedly.

Just then, the train let out a long whistle, making the windows rattle, and slowly started moving.

The wheels rattled and clanged as the speed gradually increased. The fields, forests, and villages outside the window rushed past like paintings, one after another flashing by.

Liu Ce stood by the car window, watching the rapidly receding city of Luojing outside, the crowds gradually fading into the distance, and the continuous mountains to the west. His eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if they were on fire.

From raising an army in Zhuo County to unifying the country, and then to starting industrial development and expanding overseas, he gradually pulled the Han Dynasty out of chaos and into the steam age.

Now, he will lead this revitalized iron army westward, out of the Pamir Mountains, into Central Asia, and into the Mediterranean, to create an unprecedented era and to plant the banner of the Han Dynasty across the world.

On the table in the carriage, there was a huge world map spread out.

Liu Ce's fingertips traced the Kushan Mountains, Parthia, and Rome before finally stopping at the Mediterranean coast, where he lightly tapped the map.

A smile played on his lips, exuding confidence and domineering presence.

Are you ready, you barbarians from the West?

Your Han emperor has arrived with cannons and soldiers.

The train headed west, rattling and clattering across the spring fields.

Outside the car window, the rising sun shone brightly, its golden rays illuminating the earth and lighting up the road ahead, as well as the unstoppable journey of the Han army.

Inside the vehicle were hundreds of thousands of passionate young men, seasoned generals, and the ambition and aspirations of an empire to expand its territory.

The road ahead is long, but no one is backing down.

Because they know that behind them lies their home and country, in front of them lies their achievements, and beneath their feet lies the road to the world.

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

One month later, in Liangzhou Prefecture.

The spring breeze blows across the Gobi Desert, carrying some sand, but it's no longer so cold.

Four hundred thousand troops gathered here in a mighty procession, their camps stretching for dozens of miles, their tents as dense as stars in the sky, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Among them were 200, 000 cavalry, all on well-fed and strong warhorses, which kicked up dust as they ran, like a surging tide...

There were 100, 000 firearms soldiers (musketeers and artillerymen), armed with flintlock muskets and pushing cannons; their equipment was the most sophisticated...

The remaining troops are heavy infantry and support personnel, responsible for assaults, logistics, and setting up camp...

The imperial camp was set up on a high slope outside Liangzhou City. Standing at the entrance of the tent, one could see the entire army camp, offering an excellent view.

Inside the main tent, Liu Ce sat in the main seat, with Xu Da, Li Jing, Xue Rengui, Su Lie, Yue Fei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Cao Cao, and others standing below him. The tent was filled with an overwhelming murderous aura, like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

A huge map hung on the wall, clearly marking the Pamir Mountains, the Kushan Mountains, Parthia, and Rome, with even rivers, mountains, and fortresses included—all the details the Embroidered Uniform Guard had gathered over the years.

Liu Ce took a thin wooden stick, tapped it on the table, and got straight to the point:

"Starting from here and heading west, we'll first take down the Kushans, then the Parthians, and finally Rome. We'll take them down one by one; none of them will escape. We won't split our forces and advance recklessly; we'll proceed step by step, defeating one and then digesting it, steadily and surely."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and no one had any objections... It's best to pick the weakest one first, like the Kushan Empire, to practice and establish authority.