With a single command from Great Sage Gong, the long-prepared Tawantin army launched a direct assault on Laredo.

At the beginning of the war, someone had complained to Huangfu Ji that a single artillery division of the Holy Court was equipped with an excessive 300 heavy cannons, leaving them overwhelmed and unable to breathe under the barrage.

At the time, Huangfu Ji replied, “The artillery issue will soon be resolved. Great Sage Gong is already gathering scattered cannons from various locations to form a large-scale artillery division, unified in command and coordination. We expect more than a thousand cannons.”

This was not an empty reassurance.

However, Gong Fu assembled over a thousand cannons not for defense but for offense. Now, after long preparation, these cannons were finally put to use.

Transported by rail, these cannons appeared outside Laredo, their deployment density exceeding all standard military tactics.

Over a thousand cannons aimed at a single target and firing simultaneously were unheard of even in the Central Plains.

It was not that the Daoist Order lacked such capability, but rather, no opponent had ever warranted such seriousness.

Only the Holy Court was worthy of such treatment.

However, the Holy Court and the Daoist Order were too far apart and did not share borders. Their only recorded clash was in West Shakya, which ended in a crushing defeat for the Holy Court. Yet that battle was unique. It was led personally by the fifth-generation Grand Master, who made a surprise landing behind enemy lines, making it impossible to deploy large-scale heavy artillery, so nothing like this occurred.

Since then, there had been no large-scale engagements between the Daoist Order and the Holy Court.

The fundamental reason was still distance. Whoever launched an expedition would face an opponent waiting at home with full advantage. Moreover, the two sides maintained extensive trade and economic ties, with deep mutual interests. Thus, there would be significant internal resistance on both sides if they went to war.

Under such circumstances, direct confrontation between the Daoist Order and the Holy Court was rare.

The only exception was the New Continent. Strictly speaking, it was not Jade Capital against the Holy Seat, but their respective branches—the Steam Evangelical Sect and the Western Daoist Order. Backed by their parent institutions, they were evenly matched, far surpassing ordinary kingdoms. Thus, they displayed the highest level of artillery warfare of this era.

At Del Rio, the Steam Evangelical Sect had launched its offensive with artillery superiority. Now, the roles were reversed. The Western Daoist Order was attacking Laredo with superior firepower.

An artillery line stretching beyond the horizon roared to life at a single command. Thousands of cannons firing in unison shook the earth, summoning a rain of iron and a sea of fire, unstoppable in its fury.

Compared to the Western Daoist Order’s thousand-plus cannons, Laredo’s defenders had barely over a hundred. With a ten-to-one disparity, there was no suspense in the outcome. After just one volley, most of the defending artillery was silenced.

An entire hour of bombardment turned North Laredo across the Rio Grande into a blazing inferno. Under this cover of fire, the Tawantin army began to cross the river for close combat.

The Holy Court defenders were unprepared for the arrival of Tawantin’s main force and fell into panic, unable to mount an effective counterattack. After 24 hours, Tawantin’s forces successfully seized Laredo. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Although the Holy Court had stationed a steam legion between Del Rio and Laredo, it was far too late for them to provide support.

As a result, the southern gate of San Antonio lay wide open because from Laredo to San Antonio stretched a flat plain with no natural defenses.

Gong Fu’s strategic objective was already halfway achieved.

Gong Fu issued the order to advance straight toward San Antonio.

Faced with the overwhelming advance of Tawantin’s main force, the lone steam legion that dared not aid Laredo at this time retreated to San Antonio, merging with the local garrison.

At the Evangelical Ministry’s temporary headquarters in San Antonio, a furious Milton once again reduced his newly replaced desk to ashes with a single strike.

“Cuckoo has betrayed us! Every piece of intelligence she sent was false. The entire Miss Monroe operation bears undeniable responsibility!” Milton roared. “Attack on Del Rio? Troop movements in Monterrey and Brownsville as cover? Nonsense! It was all for the assault on Laredo. Del Rio was the real diversion!”

Alex remained calm. “Mr. Milton, I warned you long ago. You refused to listen and insisted on your course. It’s too late for regrets now.”

Milton glared at Alex, as if ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

Alex said evenly, “Mr. Milton, the Cardinal Bishop requests your presence.”

Milton’s face turned pale instantly, his lips trembling.

Just as Robert had anticipated, Tawantin’s main force quickly reached the outskirts of San Antonio. However, Robert himself was not there. As the deputy commander, Robert was outside Monclova, directing the main forces of the Steam Evangelical Sect.

Upon learning that Tawantin’s forces had crossed the Rio Grande and were advancing on San Antonio, Robert was not shocked. Instead, he felt a weight finally lifted. He made an unexpected decision. Rather than turn back to reinforce San Antonio, which would be too late due to distance, he chose to launch a full-scale assault on Monclova, wagering everything on a decisive strike.

The situation was now clear. If Monclova fell, Monterrey would be defenseless. As long as Monclova was taken, even the loss of San Antonio would be acceptable.

At worst, it would simply be a trade of strongholds.

Meanwhile, Gong Fu’s command post was less than 100 kilometers from San Antonio’s urban center.

This meant that the old rivals, Gong Fu and Joseph, would clash once more.

Huangfu Ji was not idle either. Before departing, Gong Fu entrusted him with defending Monclova, ensuring it would not fall, at least until Tawantin’s main force captured San Antonio.

When Huangfu Ji first heard the news, he could hardly believe it. Once he confirmed it was a decision from the Silver Council, he was overjoyed.

At last, he could personally take to the battlefield. He threw his head back in laughter as he strode out.

This had little to do with Qi Xuansu, who remained responsible for intelligence. Yet at this stage, intelligence had lost much of its value. Both sides had revealed their hands, fully aware of each other’s strategies. Deception was no longer possible. What remained was execution.

Robert had gone all in, concentrating three artillery divisions and expending all available ammunition regardless of cost.

Just as Tawantin’s forces had once silenced Laredo’s artillery, the same now happened in reverse. Monclova’s defenses were battered into silence. With their desperate assault, the Holy Court’s forces breached the outer defenses and walls, entering the city itself.

Under the cover of advancing artillery fire, Robert deployed the highly valuable puppet legion. Its defining feature was that it contained no living soldiers and consisted entirely of mechanical puppets.

At the dawn of the steam revolution, someone wrote a fairy tale about Pinocchio, a puppet that came to life and embarked on an adventure, needing to pass tests of courage, loyalty, and honesty to become a real human.

Unlike the wooden puppet of the tale, the puppets of the legion were mechanically built and endowed with a Steam Power Core.

Of course, the Steam Power Core of ordinary puppets could never compare to Audrey’s, just as an ordinary Longevity Stone could not compare to the Longevity Stone Heart.

Their advantage was mass production, so they could be deployed in large numbers across the army.

This legion, composed entirely of mechanical puppets, wore the uniforms of the Holy Court’s army. Though their movements were stiff, they felt no fear of death. They advanced across the land toward Monclova and fought against the city’s defenders fiercely.

Robert stood on elevated ground, observing the battlefield from afar.

“Laredo has fallen, San Antonio is on the brink, and we are stalled at Monclova. If we cannot take it quickly, the consequences will be unimaginable,” Robert sighed.

The general of the puppet legion was confident. “Rest assured, Commander. My legion has never been defeated. The Nahuatl warriors were no match for us. Now, these same warriors serve Tawantin, but their nature has not changed, and their fate is already sealed. We are an entire era ahead of them.”

Robert was not reassured. As a competent commander, he maintained a clear and calm mind, but some within the Holy Court had failed to do so, leading to the current situation.

Even now, some remained overly confident, believing victory was certain. While confidence could be beneficial, it also carries its risks.

Well-versed in Eastern military texts, Robert sighed. “The Eastern Six Secret Teachings state, ‘Do not belittle the enemy just because you have a large force. Do not court death merely because you bear a command. Do not despise others because of your status. Do not oppose the collective for personal judgment. Do not assume an argument guarantees truth.’ These principles warn against underestimating the enemy due to one’s own strength. Yet in my view, we have committed every one of these mistakes. We have underestimated Tawantin from the very beginning.”

The puppet legion’s general remained unconvinced. “Commander, I’ll respond with an Eastern saying as well. ‘Do not bolster the enemy’s morale at the expense of your own.’ From the day I took command, I have been one with my legion. No matter what, I am confident that the advantage lies with us!”