The terror gripping the Manchu Qing masters was still fermenting. Even their benevolent fathers, the foreign powers, could only watch helplessly, without any effective means of stopping it.
Wang Yan's northern and southern fronts advanced slowly, neither hurried nor delayed. The southern force leisurely pushed toward Guangzhou, while the northern force naturally advanced on Jingcheng.
The pressure was enormous. Lord Jiang, Lord Di, Sengge Rinchen, and the rest were all famed for their prowess in battle, the very pillars holding back the Heavenly Kingdom. Yet what the world saw was that, in the face of Wang Yan's offensive, they could only resist with difficulty and retreat again and again.
True, their guns were not much different from Wang Yan's. But one must not forget that Wang Yan also had artillery. Howitzers and mortars were no joke.
Even if they acquired the same artillery, they still would not be Wang Yan's match. Wang Yan had some understanding of the philosophy of modern warfare as well.
And now, with the advantage of artillery and ample fire support, warfare became very simple. Every battle began with an artillery bombardment, followed by a slow infantry advance, until the enemy could no longer bear the losses and fled for their lives. Then the main battle was over.
The second-line troops would immediately follow, clearing out the remaining enemy within however many li of the area and restoring order. Then people would be relocated there, houses and land distributed, factories built, and police units formed from veterans to maintain public order, continue rooting out the remnants, and safeguard production.
After such a full sequence of moves, the place would be completely occupied. Once order had more or less stabilized, the main forces would move forward again, and the artillery would resume its bombardment.
No schemes or