Chapter 2, The Fury of the Angry Sea
Dong! ... ... Dong! ... ...
Yang Jiang exclaimed that it was not good; such an omen clearly indicated that a storm was about to strike.
However, on Yang Qiang's face, there was a thick cloud of worry; even with the black iron spear in hand, he had not the slightest confidence in achieving victory
These eight large boats are all classified as grand fortune vessels, featuring three tiers of cabins, a pointed bottom that widens at the top, and elevated bow and stern, capable of accommodating over two hundred people
What is most outrageous is that on those main ships, there were actually courtesans and dancers entertaining, while the soldiers on board indulged in drinking and merriment without restraint
Such a situation indeed allowed the imperial court's naval forces to seize the initiative
Yang Jiang shouted loudly, hoping to awaken the vigilance of these individuals
In the crowd, someone muttered a phrase and then shouted: "Open up, hurry up! It's big, it's really big!"
After pursuing for a while, Yang Jiang and the others lost sight of the large ship, leaving only two or three slower "battle ships" ahead, bobbing on the crest of the waves.
In naval warfare, the primary tactics are plowing, ramming, and fire attacks, with fire attacks being particularly to be avoided. During the Battle of Red Cliffs in the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang took advantage of the easterly wind to employ fire attack strategies, sinking over a hundred thousand enemy troops, which perfectly illustrates the principle that "nothing is more effective against the enemy than fire"
Dozens of "Mengchong" and "Doujian" ships on both wings saw the main ship advancing at full speed, and quickly unfurled their sails to follow closely behind. However, these medium-sized vessels were still inferior in power compared to the large ships, and could only barely keep up behind them
However, how can the speed of the ship surpass that of the wind and waves? The shadow of death quickly enveloped the entire Central Plains navy.
"Save your breath, Yang Jiang. You are merely a foot soldier, and who would heed your commands here?"
Eight large ships are arranged in a formation resembling the character "一", with over eighty medium-sized "Mengchong and Tushu", and "Douchuan" on both wings. One serves as the escort flagship, while the other is used for charging and breaking through the enemy.
The general on the flagship was already inebriated, yet he continued to urge the soldiers forward with all his might, solely focused on capturing a few scapegoats to take credit for, completely disregarding the might of the storm. However, the courtesans aboard his ship lacked even a fraction of his courage, all of them, like startled birds, took refuge in the cabin.
Although the wind howled and the waves roared on the surface of the sea, it still could not drown out the shouts emanating from Yang Qiang's internal energy. Most of the people in the naval fleet heard it clearly, and as they turned their heads, they immediately saw the surging giant waves that resembled a stampede of ten thousand horses
Is it really him, and can he definitely return alive?
Yang Jiang angrily said, I did not expect these people to so openly disregard military discipline
Yang Jia, would you like to play a hand?
A commotion immediately arose among the Central Plains naval fleet
Yang Jiang felt a deep sense of gloom and could not help but sigh to himself: "Indeed, I, Yang Jiang, am merely a foot soldier, not a great general who is conferred titles and lands. It seems that this battle is destined for defeat; not to mention achieving military merit, it is still uncertain whether I can preserve my life."
However, these were not the decisive factors leading to defeat. What Yang Jiang could not tolerate even more was that the eight giant battleships had not been coated with fireproof agents before setting sail
The wind grew fiercer, the clouds descended lower, and even the golden edges of the clouds vanished from sight, plunging the entire sea surface into a dark and tumultuous chaos.
The might of the ocean, how can human strength withstand it
Damn it, there isn't even a ghostly shadow; where could any enemies possibly come from
The commander was missing, and suddenly faced with a storm. Not to mention fighting the enemy, even survival seemed exceedingly difficult. The sailors, upon seeing the roaring wall of waves approaching, were already filled with fear and trepidation, their fighting spirit completely lost. They could only row desperately and urge the sails, hoping to escape the onslaught of the towering waves
Damn it! Hurry up, we need to capture a few barbarians to take credit!
On the flagship, the sound of war drums suddenly echoed, and the general unexpectedly issued the command to advance at full speed
The waves are towering, measuring over two zhang in height
It is small, haha
Yang Jiang retracted his thoughts and looked at the soldier who was still wearing coarse cloth clothing. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that this person was still a commoner, not at all resembling a soldier.
What to play
In the distance behind, where the sea meets the sky, a colossal wave roars towards us
A sense of foreboding arose spontaneously
The situation is similar on the surrounding ships. The saying goes, "Train soldiers for a thousand days, use them in a moment." It is perplexing to Yang Jiang that the elite naval forces of the court are not being utilized, while these newly enlisted soldiers are being sent into action. Furthermore, these medium and small-sized warships lack protective walls; once they enter the enemy's range, the soldiers on board will inevitably become live targets for archery practice.
The other soldiers on the ship finally realized that the situation was amiss, stopped gambling, and began to observe the changes in the sky
Since ancient times, warships have predominantly been made of wood. Therefore, to prevent insect damage and decay, they must be soaked in tung oil. However, this makes the wood durable yet also prone to catching fire.
After more than ten years of anticipation, he finally stepped onto the battlefield as he had wished. However, at this moment, there was not a trace of excitement in his heart, nor the slightest hint of joy; all that remained was an endless sense of desolation
Zhang Gui, gambling is absolutely prohibited in the military, especially on the battlefield. Are you not afraid of being punished by military law
The soldiers on the ship no longer laughed; they were completely subdued by the might of the sea
Above the vast ocean, the azure sky stretches endlessly, with white clouds resembling cotton, and birds gathering in the clouds, creating a scene of tranquility
On the battlefield, Yang Gang first felt the many helplessnesses of war.
The originally clear sky suddenly became engulfed by thick black clouds, obscuring the sun and quickly swallowing the blazing sunlight, leaving only a strange golden edge embedded along the edge of the clouds
One person beside lazily said: "I was originally a farmer, and I had only heard others mention the sea. As for how perilous it is on the sea, I had no idea at all. Alas, fortunately, I did not encounter any savages; I can't even draw a bow and arrow."
However, this situation has caused great distress to the more than one hundred small vessels, such as the "yacht" and "sea eel". Even at full speed, they are unable to keep up with the main ship's pace. Consequently, the originally orderly formation has descended into utter chaos, resulting in a farcical scene of small boats chasing after a large ship on the open sea
Yang Jiang was taken aback and exclaimed in alarm. The sudden onset of the great waves must be due to a storm at sea, a force of nature that cannot be resisted by human strength. Without hesitation, he shouted loudly: "Not good! Beware of the storm, do not let the ship be overturned by the wind and waves!"
Apart from the roaring waves, no one answered Yang Jiang
The person who just pulled Yang Gang suddenly felt disinterested and said sulkily: "Yang Gang, stop pretending to be upright. Just look at these boats; who isn't playing around here?"
A general's success is built upon the bones of countless soldiers, yet how many return after ten years of warfare
The weather at sea is indeed extremely unpredictable. The flying fish and bookfish, which were originally following the fleet, seem to sense the impending danger, and they all cry out mournfully as they scatter in search of shelter from the wind and rain. Meanwhile, the fish that were thrashing on the surface of the water have also vanished without a trace, diving into the depths of the ocean
If the enemy launches a surprise attack, how will you defend yourselves
Is this truly an expedition to combat pirates, or merely a leisurely cruise
At this moment, Yang Gang was standing on a vessel known as "Sea Loach"
Yang Jiang let out a long sigh and turned his gaze towards the surrounding ships. Indeed, on the other vessels, there were those who were gambling, those who were making a commotion, and even some who had stripped off their shirts to engage in brawls. Among them, those in charge were precisely the individuals holding official titles.
The wind howls and the waves surge, breaking through the waves as if flying
Yang Jiang looked sadly at his comrades beside him. Although their faces were filled with excitement and agitation, how many of them would survive to return after this battle?
The vessel fell from the crest of the waves, shaking violently, as if this long-neglected ship could fall apart at any moment.
However, during this maritime battle, Yang Jiang discovered that all eight giant warships had not made any fire prevention preparations. He intended to report this matter to the military advisors, but instead, he was punished with thirty lashes by the general for the offense of "disobeying orders from a superior." To this day, the scars from the lashes remain on his body and have not yet completely faded.
That said, regardless of Yang Jiang's feelings, he plunged into the crowd, tossed a copper coin, and shouted loudly: "I bet on big!"
The imperial navy, led by eight giant ships, entered the sea from the Yangtze River, advancing directly towards the maritime territories of the barbarians
Clang ... ... Ding !
It turned out that the more than ten people on the deck were gathered in a circle playing dice. The rusty knives and guns were haphazardly tossed aside by them
Yang Jiang could not help but smile wryly. Once faced with a formidable enemy, such as the naval forces of https://mhetushu.com, defeat was inevitable, and there was even a possibility of total annihilation.
The wind and waves roared even more fiercely
At the command of the general, eight large ships unfurled their sails vigorously, their paddles whirring, and the speed of the vessels surged as they headed straight into the depths of the sea
Yang Jiang was devoid of confidence. The more than twenty individuals around him were all new recruits who had only joined the army a few days prior. They had not undergone any training, were not equipped with armor, and had no thick shields to withstand powerful arrows. The only things they could rely on were the rusted knives and guns in their hands, as well as the bows and crossbows they hardly knew how to use
Therefore, before going into battle, it is often necessary to apply substances such as mud, beeswax, and medicinal items to prevent fire
What the hell is this all about!
The sky is growing darker, and the clouds are accumulating thicker, resembling an inextricable layer of dense ink
Yang Jiang could not help but exclaim coldly: "A storm is approaching; we should return immediately! To proceed recklessly is undoubtedly to seek one's own demise!"
A soldier beside him tugged at Yang Jiang.
Trailing behind the large ship were over a hundred small vessels, referred to as "yachts" and "sea eels".
As the ship rocked, the dice had already changed their numbers
Since ancient times, naval battles have emphasized the contest of ships rather than human strength. This giant large-sized treasure ship is powerful and has a deep draft. When combined with strong sails and paddle wheels, it can sail at great speed, charging at enemy vessels as if breaking through rotten bamboo.
Is this the mighty army that the court claims to be invincible on water
Seeing that the flagship of the commander had already vanished without a trace, Yang Gang couldn't help but mutter a curse. Just as he was about to look around in search of the main ship's whereabouts, a strange rumbling sound came from behind him in the distance.
Yang Jiang quickly turned around, and the scene before him left him utterly astonished