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With the defeat of the Three Feudatories and the complete pacification of Jiangnan, the vast lands south of the Great Wall had all fallen under the red flag.

However, Su Ning and his Red Flag Army did not simply lay down their weapons and let their horses graze peacefully.

In Suning's blueprint, the territory of China should not be limited to the former Ming Dynasty. Those border regions that were once regarded as the backyard by the Manchus but are now occupied by remnants of their forces must also be brought under control and cannot be lost!
"How can we allow others to snore beside our bed?" In his command headquarters in Nanjing, Su Ning stared at the massive map of the territory with eyes as sharp as an eagle. "The Northwest, the Southwest, the northern deserts, and even the land beyond the Great Wall—wherever the sun and moon shine and wherever rivers flow—all belong to our Chinese homeland! How can we allow these remnants of the enemy to seize it?"

One military order after another, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, was issued from Nanjing, pointing in all directions.

In the northwest, the main force consisted of a part of the First Field Army, supplemented by surrendered Mongol cavalry, and the troops were divided into two routes.

The route followed the Hexi Corridor, heading straight for Jiayuguan Pass, to wipe out the remaining forces of the Western Mongolian (Oirat) forces who had fled there, and to deter Xinjiang and other places.
The other route went into Qinghai to quell local unrest and ensure the smooth passage to Tibet.

As the army marched forward, yellow sand swirled, determined to bring the vast Gobi Desert under its effective control.

In the southwest, having pacified Yunnan and Guizhou, elite mountain troops began advancing towards Tibet.

Instead of rushing to conquer by force, the Red Flag Army used its strong military strength as a backing to send envoys to contact local religious and secular leaders, promote the Red Flag Army's policy of "expelling the Tartars and embracing all sides," and demand that they recognize the central government of China and gradually implement the "reform of native chieftains and the return of officials to central government," so as to truly incorporate the Tibetan Plateau into the dynasty's territory.

In response to the vast northern grasslands (Outer Mongolia), Su Ning adopted a strategy that combined military pressure with political appeasement.

On the one hand, he ordered his troops to leave key fortresses such as Zhangjiakou and Dushikou to demonstrate their military might;

On the other hand, a large number of envoys were sent, carrying lavish gifts and strict orders, to various Khalkha Mongol tribes (the Tushetu Khanate, the Chechen Khanate, and the Zasagtu Khanate), demanding that their leaders come to Nanjing to pay homage and submit to the Khalkha Mongols.

With a combination of carrot and stick tactics, some of the weaker tribes have begun to waver.

……

The most important military force was aimed directly at the area beyond the Great Wall—the "land of origin" of the Manchu Qing dynasty!
This time, it was no longer a single land-based attack.

Suning commanded: "Advance by land and water, sweep away all obstacles!"

The land route, with the Second Field Army as the main force, assembled elite troops, went out of Shanhaiguan, and advanced towards Shengjing along the Liaoxi Corridor.

Meanwhile, troops were divided and moved north from places like Xifengkou and Gubeikou to contain and eliminate enemy forces in the direction of Rehe.

The main force of the integrated Red Flag Army navy, carrying tens of thousands of elite army troops and a large amount of artillery supplies, set sail from ports such as Tianjin and Dengzhou, heading north towards the Liaodong Peninsula, with its target being Liaoyang, Lushun and other places. The intention was to land in the heart of the Qing Dynasty, cut off its retreat, and form a pincer movement with the land army!
Beyond the Great Wall, Shengjing.

The former capital city of Shengjing, now in complete chaos, is now in turmoil.

The Manchu princes with iron caps, the Eight Banners nobles, and the generals who remained in Shengjing who had escaped from the interior of China were like ants on a hot pan.

They originally hoped to rely on the harsh lands beyond the Great Wall and the last stronghold of the Eight Banners to put up a stubborn resistance, and even fantasized about uniting with the Southern Mongols to gradually restore their power.

However, reality dealt them a heavy blow.

Under the military might and pacification efforts of the Red Flag Army, Southern Mongolia was on the verge of disintegration and could no longer be relied upon.

Now, the Red Flag Army has not only broken through the pass by land, but has also mobilized an unprecedentedly large navy to cross the sea and launch an attack!
"It's over...it's all over! Shanhaiguan has fallen, and the Liaoxi Corridor is in imminent danger!"

"Scouts report that the Ming army... no, the Red Flag Army's naval warships have appeared on the Liaodong coast!"

"What should we do? What should we do?!"

Panic spread among the Manchu nobles.

Their advantage in mounted archery, upon which they depended for survival, proved utterly ineffective against the Red Flag Army's artillery and rifles; the passes and seas they regarded as natural fortresses could no longer stop the enemy's advance.

……

Meanwhile, the headquarters of the Divine Dragon Sect was entrenched on the coastal islands and parts of the Liaodong Bay.

The cult leader, Hong Antong, also received an urgent report that sent chills down his spine.

He originally took advantage of the collapse of the Qing Dynasty to expand his power outside the Great Wall, gather the defeated soldiers, and become a local emperor.

But now, facing the Red Flag Army, which is advancing by land and water and bringing with it the momentum of unifying China, his meager resources and the unorthodox martial arts he relies on seem so pale and powerless.

"The Red-Clad Navy...has landed?" Hong Antong's face darkened; his naval advantage, on which he depended for survival, was being lost.

"Order all islands to be on high alert! Without my command, no one is to engage the Red Flag Navy in direct combat!"

Whether it was the Iron-Capped Prince in Shengjing City or Hong Antong on the island, they all clearly felt that an irresistible destructive force was sweeping in from the south.

This last refuge outside the Great Wall is no longer a safe haven.

The Red Flag Army's battle flag will soon flutter loudly in this land of white mountains and black waters!
A decisive battle that will determine the landscape of Northeast China and even the entire region is about to begin.

……

The sky beyond the pass seemed to be tinged with a grim, leaden gray by the flames of war.

The Red Flag Army advanced by land and water, like two giant iron pincers, smashing down on the last stronghold of the Manchu Qing Dynasty outside the Great Wall.

The Liaoxi Corridor was shrouded in the smoke of war.

The vanguard of the Second Field Army, under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles, advanced rapidly along the official road.

The Eight Banners army attempted to use the familiar terrain to launch an ambush, lying in wait in the mountains and forests, hoping to cause trouble for the Red Banner army with bows and arrows and outdated muskets.

However, the gap between the times is now insurmountable.

"Watch out for the forests on both sides, provide fire support!" the frontline commander calmly ordered over the radio.

Instantly, mortar and machine gun bullets rained down on the suspected ambush site, and violent explosions and dense barrages tore the Eight Banners soldiers hiding there to shreds along with the trees.

The Eight Banner soldiers who were lucky enough to survive were horrified to discover that their arrows could not even effectively penetrate the steel helmets and makeshift fortifications of the Red Banner soldiers.

"Monsters! They are monsters!" The surviving Manchu soldiers were terrified and abandoned their weapons, scattering in all directions.

The so-called Liaoxi defense line collapsed at the first touch.

The main force of the Red Flag Army encountered almost no obstacles and marched straight towards Jinzhou.

The final battle in the field took place beneath the walls of Jinzhou.

The Shengjing General assembled the last tens of thousands of elite Eight Banner troops that could be cobbled together from outside the Great Wall, including a large number of cavalry, in an attempt to engage the Red Banner Army in a fair and square field battle outside Jinzhou City and defend the last glory of the Eight Banners.

The two armies faced off, their formations clearly defined.

On one side was the Eight Banners army, its armor gleaming and banners fluttering like a forest, with cavalry maneuvering on both flanks, attempting to recreate the glory of the Battle of Sarhu; on the other side was the Red Banner army, its military bearing solemn, its infantry and artillery forming the core, exuding a cold, metallic killing intent.

The commander-in-chief of the Eight Banners Army, an elderly prince, brandished his sword and roared with a desolate yet resolute fury: "Warriors of the Great Qing! For the glory of our ancestors, crush these southern barbarians!"

"Hurrah!" Tens of thousands of Manchu soldiers shouted.

In particular, the cavalry on both flanks began to urge their horses on, launching a tragic charge towards the Red Flag Army's position like a flood breaking through a dam!

The stampede of horses caused the earth to tremble, creating a scene of immense pressure.

However, within the Red Flag Army ranks, the commander simply watched calmly as the charging cavalry entered optimal firing range.

"Artillery, shrapnel shells, saturation fire!"

"Machine gun positions, fire freely!"

"Infantry, hold the line, fire freely in short bursts!"

The commands are concise and efficient.

The next moment, death began its symphony.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The shrapnel shells fired by the cannons exploded above the cavalry formation, and thousands of steel balls rained down like deadly rain, instantly throwing men and horses to the ground and halting the momentum of the charge.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of light and heavy machine guns positioned at the front of the position unleashed a continuous and deadly roar.

"Da da da……"

It created an insurmountable metal storm.

The charging cavalrymen fell in droves as if they had crashed into an invisible wall, their mournful cries echoing across the plains.

The Eight Banners infantrymen who followed witnessed the cavalry in front of them fall like harvested wheat, and their courage to charge vanished instantly, their formation began to waver and collapse.

"Retreat! Retreat now!" The old prince's eyes were bloodshot, and he closed them in anguish.

Suddenly, they realized that the era of the Eight Banners, along with their proud equestrian archery, had come to a complete end at this moment. Seeing their main force suffer a crushing defeat in open battle, the morale of the Jinzhou garrison collapsed, and they surrendered with little resistance.

The Red Flag Army successfully occupied Jinzhou, opening the last gateway to Shengjing (Mukden).

……

Meanwhile, on the Liaodong Peninsula.

Under the intense cover of naval gunfire, the Red Flag Army Navy successfully carried out large-scale landings in Yingkou, Lushun and other places.

The landing force quickly established beachhead positions and advanced into the surrounding area.

The Eight Banners troops left behind were few in number and poorly equipped, making them utterly unable to withstand the ferocious elite Red Banner Army.

With the successive liberation of important towns such as Liaoyang and Haicheng, Shengjing was now in a desperate situation, besieged on both sides.

Within the city of Shengjing, a mournful lament for the end of the world was heard.

Inside the palace, the hereditary princes and nobles gathered there looked ashen-faced.

Reports of defeats from the front lines came like snowflakes, and the sound of cannons outside the city could already be faintly heard.

"Our ancestral legacy... has been completely destroyed by our hands!" An old prince beat his chest and stamped his feet, tears streaming down his face.

"The only option now is... the only option is to flee north! Retreat to Hetu Ala, retreat to Changbai Mountain!" Someone suggested escaping.

"Hunting in the north? Hunting where? The Red Flag Army is advancing by land and water. Southern Mongolia is barely able to protect itself. Retreating back into the mountains is just delaying our death!" More people fell into a desperate silence.

Ultimately, a group of royal nobles, along with a small number of trusted guards, fled the city in panic and headed north, attempting to disappear into the vast forest.

Many others, including the general of Shengjing, knew they had nowhere to escape, so they chose to close the city gates and fight a last stand.

However, this last resistance proved futile in the face of the Red Flag Army's overwhelming power.

After only three days of siege, under the continuous bombardment of the Red Flag Army's heavy artillery and psychological offensive, the gates of Shengjing were opened from the inside by the desperate defenders.

The crimson dragon flag finally flew over the land where the Manchu Qing dynasty originated!
This secondary capital, which the Manchus considered their foundation, was declared to have changed hands.

With the fall of Shengjing, the organized Eight Banners armed forces were completely annihilated, and the Manchu Qing dynasty's rule outside the Great Wall was uprooted.

Those remaining soldiers and members of the royal family who fled into the mountains and forests could no longer stir up any trouble. What awaited them was endless suppression and eventual annihilation.

The victory in the Battle of Manchuria not only completely wiped out the remnants of the Manchu Qing dynasty, but also laid a solid foundation for the Red Flag Army's next steps in conquering Mongolia, deterring Korea, and even potentially eliminating the Russian forces in the Far East in the future.

……

The Eight Banners forces on the mainland outside the Great Wall were basically eliminated, and Shengjing changed hands.

However, the Shenlong Sect, which entrenched itself on the islands of Liaodong Bay, especially its stronghold on Shenlong Island, continues to resist stubbornly, relying on the vast sea.

The cult leader, Hong Antong, was cunning and suspicious. He managed his headquarters like an ironclad fortress, with secret passages and mechanisms scattered throughout the island. In addition, his followers were fanatical and fierce, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Within the Red Flag Army headquarters, there were differing opinions on how to deal with the Divine Dragon Cult.

Some advocated a prolonged siege, while others suggested sending elite small groups to infiltrate and assassinate the enemy.

But Su Ning's decision was simple and direct: "Shenlong Island? It's nothing but a sea fortress. Are my navy's giant cannons just for show? Order the navy to assemble the main force and bombard the island with our cannons! Let's see if their flesh and blood are tougher, or our cannonballs are tougher!"

Upon receiving the order, the main fleet of the Red Flag Army Navy, including several capital ships equipped with heavy guns and numerous escort gunboats, sailed in a grand procession toward the waters of Shenlong Island.

On Shenlong Island, the alarm bells continue to ring!
The pilgrims, who had been exploring the sea, scrambled into the main hall of the headquarters, shouting, "Master! Something terrible has happened! The Red Flag Fleet... so many large ships! They're coming towards us!"

Hong Antong's expression changed. Although he knew a battle was inevitable, he did not expect the other side to go to such lengths.

"Activate all coastal defenses! Cult members, take your positions and prepare to meet the enemy! Let them taste the power of my Divine Dragon Cult's 'Dragon Saliva' and the reefs!"

He was confident that the reefs surrounding the island, the obstacles he had set up, and the ferocity of his followers would be enough to make any invading enemy pay a heavy price.

However, he underestimated the Red Flag Navy's determination and methods.

The fleet did not approach the island rashly, but instead slowly deployed its formation in waters far from the range of coastal defense weapons.

On the flagship, naval commander Shi Lang lowered his binoculars and sneered, "Indeed, this is a dangerous position. A direct assault would result in heavy losses. Order all ships to bombard the island's visible buildings and beach fortifications with overwhelming force! Don't hold back on ammunition, flatten it!"

"Order!"

With flag signals, the gun positions on each ship quickly adjusted their firing range.

"Prepare—release!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The deafening roar of cannons instantly shattered the tranquility of the sea and sky!

Dozens, even hundreds, of naval cannons roared in succession, and huge shells, trailing a mournful whistle, crashed down on Shenlong Island like a meteor shower!
In an instant, the earth on Shenlong Island shook violently!

Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed!
The carefully arranged wooden fences and watchtowers on the beach were reduced to fragments in the explosion, and the reefs along the coast were blasted to pieces.

The cultists who tried to resist on the shore were torn apart by the violent shockwave and shrapnel before they could even see what the enemy looked like.

The shells seemed to have eyes, flying with pinpoint accuracy into the depths of the island.

The main hall, granaries, barracks, alchemy rooms... one building after another collapsed and burned amidst towering flames and smoke.

Chaos reigned on the island. The believers cried out for their parents and fled in all directions. Their so-called bravery vanished in the face of overwhelming firepower.

Under the protection of his trusted men, Hong Antong hid in a sturdy cellar that had been dug in advance. Listening to the continuous explosions and the sounds of buildings collapsing overhead, his face turned ashen and his heart bled.

This is the culmination of his life's work!

The shelling lasted for the entire morning, leaving Shenlong Island almost completely ravaged, a scene of devastation, like a ghost town.

In the afternoon, the shelling gradually ceased.

Several Red Flag Marines, aboard small boats, began a cautious landing under the cover of remaining artillery fire.

The resistance they encountered was minimal, and most of the surviving believers suffered mental breakdowns, either hiding or kneeling and begging for mercy.

The search and cleanup operation was launched swiftly.

Outside a relatively secluded, elegantly decorated, and well-preserved courtyard, the Marines encountered fierce resistance from several highly skilled and fearless female cult members.

After a brief but intense battle, all the female cult members were killed.

The soldiers rushed into the courtyard and saw a beautiful woman in the hall, dressed in simple white clothes, still charming, with a pretty face but also looking frightened and a little stubborn, holding a short sword in front of her.

She was accompanied by several trembling maids.

"You...you stay away!" The beautiful woman's voice trembled, but she forced herself to remain calm.

The officer in charge had a sharp eye and could tell that this woman was no ordinary person; she was very likely Su Quan, the wife of Hong Antong mentioned in the intelligence report.

He waved his hand to stop the soldiers and said in a deep voice, "Put down your weapons and your life will be safe!"

Looking at the well-equipped soldiers lurking outside the door, and thinking of the tragic situation on the island and the missing Hong Antong, Su Quan felt a chill in her heart.

She knew that resistance was futile, hesitated for a moment, and then, with a clang, the short sword fell to the ground.

The officer waved his hand: "Take her away! Keep a close watch on her, do not neglect her. This female criminal is a wanted criminal and must be escorted to Nanjing for Marshal Su's personal judgment!"

Thus, the wife of the leader of the Divine Dragon Sect became a prisoner of the Red Flag Army amidst the smoke and fire of the destruction of Divine Dragon Island.

She was taken aboard a warship. Looking back at the island that had become ruins, her eyes held a complex and unreadable expression, a mixture of the disorientation of surviving a catastrophe and the uncertainty and fear of the future.

When the news reached Nanjing, Suning, which was setting up industrial operations there, simply smiled faintly.

Whether Hong Antong is dead or has escaped is no longer important. The foundation of the Divine Dragon Sect has been destroyed, and it can no longer stir up any trouble.

However, it seems that the captured cult leader's wife is also one of the connections of that "Lord Wei"?

"Take them back to the capital and keep them under safekeeping," he ordered, before turning his gaze to the broader map.

...(End of chapter)