Chapter 4, Howling Winds and Raging Waves

However, due to the fact that Yang Jiang was using the combined strength of the double bow, he lost his accuracy; otherwise, that person would likely have fallen dead on the spot.

Provoked by Yang Jiang's words, Zhang Gui hurriedly said: "I was just speaking casually, who would genuinely want to die! However—"

What Yang Jiang did not expect was that as many as 90% of the people were willing to face death in battle. However, this was not what Yang Jiang had in mind. He said loudly: "Good! Brothers are all brave men! Those who are the only sons in their families, have elderly parents to care for, or have not yet married and had children, hurry back home. You can take revenge for your brothers in the future; do not die here in vain! Everyone disperse and escape, the more scattered the better!"

Taking advantage of the chaos among the imperial navy, the enemy ships unfurled their sails and swooped in, finally penetrating the already disorganized fleet of the imperial navy like a lion entering a herd.

Zhang Guisong let out a sigh of relief, yet still felt a lingering fear. Suddenly, he grasped the mast and began to paddle vigorously, shouting: "Brother Yang, hurry and paddle! We just need to reach the shore!"

Yang Jiang took a deep breath and emerged from beneath the water. Had they not hidden beneath the burning ship, using the firelight to conceal their movements, and had the barbarian fleet not conducted a thorough search, the two of them would have finally found a moment of respite

Has the barbarian already left

If I were to die here, where would that leave her?

With a few swift sounds, the enemy's powerful arrows had already been shot. Yang Jiang's figure moved rapidly, shifting to the stern of the ship. His spear struck out like lightning, dancing with precision, forming a solid black shield that deflected all of the more than ten powerful arrows into the water.

The barbarian fleet has entered within a thousand paces of the Central Plains navy. Their specially crafted longbows and large arrows are launched from the sky, not only surpassing the range of the Central Plains crossbows but also possessing the power to penetrate armor, making them difficult to withstand

"Shut up! The Yang family will fight to the death against the enemy, absolutely not—"

Zhang Gui remained unresponsive, and Yang Jiang was startled, realizing that Zhang Gui must have panicked and swallowed water. He quickly dragged him out of the water. Fortunately, the mast that Yang Jiang had just broken with his gun had not caught fire. With one hand, Yang Jiang supported Zhang Gui and placed him on the mast, beginning to press on Zhang Gui's abdomen.

Zhang Gui woke up and sighed: "It can be considered that the heavens have shown us extra mercy, allowing the two of us to escape. However, if it weren't for Brother Yang shielding me from the arrows, I, Zhang Gui, would have likely perished under the rain of arrows long ago. Alas, I fear that I will have no opportunity to repay Brother Yang's kindness; with such a vast sea, there is no way I can swim back!"

The imperial fleet, lacking the protection of the great ships, was unable to withstand even a moment against the barbarian fleet. At this point, the defeat was overwhelming; even if Kongming were alive and Sun Wu were to be reborn, it would be impossible to reverse the tide of defeat

The forces are divided, thus although these Central Plains naval troops are fearful, they still maintain their formation. Otherwise, they would be defeated even more swiftly, and their demise would come even faster

Zhang Gui had not eaten for an entire day and was already feeling extremely hungry. Without caring about the foul smell of the fish, he opened his mouth and took a bite

Zhang Gui woke up in a daze, weakly asking, filled with hope that the waves would carry him back to shore

Yang Gang, Brother Yang! I do not want to die!

The speed of the barbarian fleet has already approached within twenty li of the Central Plains navy. Although the soldiers of the Central Plains navy are somewhat flustered, they have not yet turned to flee. Clearly, the storm from last night has enlightened them to many truths.

Pulling at Zhang Gui, who was desperately burying his head in the water, thought that the latter was merely frightened and sighed, "They have already passed!"

Although it is raw fish, given the current situation, we can only make do with it! At least, if we were to die, we wouldn't become hungry ghosts!" Yang Gang said with a smile, handing the fish to Zhang Gui.

Zhang Gui smiled and said, recalling Yang Gang's movements while spearing fish just now and his earlier skill in shooting arrows, he asked, "Brother Yang, have you practiced martial arts, and your skills are quite impressive, aren't they?"

A strong smell of blood permeated the surface of the sea, and the surrounding waters had been stained a dark red by the blood, creating an exceptionally eerie atmosphere

Yang Jiang pushed Zhang Gui, whose face was bruised and swollen, and truly could not understand how this fellow had managed to fall asleep.

Yang Jiang, being a martial artist, despite the turmoil of last night, although his complexion was pale and unappealing, his internal vital energy had not diminished; rather, in this adversity, it showed a tendency to strengthen.

Brother Zhang, wake up quickly

Wood chips soared, the sound of collisions rose sharply, enemy ships crashed in as if cutting through tofu, like a finger crushing ants

Did you not say that you would return to support your elderly mother? I never expected you to be so unfilial

Brother Yang! What should we do? Please tell us!

Yang Jiang said coldly, "Zhang Gui, you are so spineless that it is no wonder you have achieved nothing, not even able to marry a wife! If that is truly the case, I think you might as well die cleanly; had I known, I wouldn't have saved you!"

However, Yang Qiang's actions also angered those barbarians. Although they had no intention of letting these Central Plains soldiers go, Yang Qiang's arrow completely infuriated them. The strong bows and powerful crossbows in their hands were immediately aimed at the Central Plains soldiers

Yang Jiang said in a low voice, "As long as we can hold on for a few more days, we might encounter a ship!" As he spoke, Yang Jiang thought of Li Zhen and made a silent resolution to persevere no matter what.

However, the barbarian fleet was clearly well-trained. Although Yang Gang managed to outmaneuver them momentarily, they maintained their composure, gradually spreading out their sixty to seventy warships to form a encirclement on the sea. Once they tightened the encirclement, the operational range of these Central Plains naval vessels would gradually diminish, ultimately becoming targets for their collisions and pressure.

At this moment, Yang Qiang completely forgot the fear of death. If he could ensure that most of his brothers returned safely to the shore, even if he were to die in battle here, buried in the belly of a fish, it would still be a worthy death, one that would not bring shame to the ancestors of the Yang family

At this moment, on the flagship of the barbarian tribe, someone unexpectedly shouted in a half-familiar Central Plains accent: "You Central Plains commoners, quickly surrender! Otherwise, we will shoot you all down with a rain of arrows!"

Yang Jiang said: "Did I not tell you people with elderly at home to escape earlier? Why are you not leaving?"

Yang Jiang finally experienced the brutality of war firsthand, while also deeply feeling his anger towards the commander. Because of one man's mistake, so many brothers lost their lives for no reason. Even if he were to be torn to pieces, it would not alleviate his hatred

Yang Jiang focused his gaze, and to his surprise, the speaker was a peculiar individual with golden hair and emerald green eyes. The other barbarians surrounding him bore a similar appearance, all sporting bushy beards, exuding an air of arrogance and ferocity

She is the person to whom Yang Jiang owes the most in his life

Yang Jiang glanced at the anxious soldiers and comrades, truly reluctant to bring despair upon them. Sensing the expectations these brothers had for him, Yang Jiang's mind raced, hoping to devise a way to minimize casualties.

The arrow was released from the bowstring, faster than lightning, producing a sound that pierced the air.

The advantage of small ships lies in their flexibility rather than speed. To collide head-on with enemy vessels would undoubtedly be tantamount to suicide. Therefore, Yang Jiang chose to change direction at a distance of 5 li, allowing his ships to maneuver to the sides of the enemy. This strategy was intended to delay the enemy ships and provide other vessels from the Central Plains with the opportunity to escape

The barbarian fleet quickly swept away the remaining vessels from the Central Plains on the sea, frantically searching towards the east.

Everyone knows that this battle is bound to end in defeat, so we can only preserve our strength in order to seek revenge in the future

A general's success is built upon the bones of countless dead. Yet, when will the souls of these wrongfully perished find peace? How are the parents, wives, and children of these individuals to survive? Is it merely through the meager compensation of a few dozen taels?

I am willing! '' I! '' ... ... ''

Moreover, the imperial navy is without armor and lacks protective walls. When a rain of arrows descends from the clouds, they are left with no strength even to evade, let alone to counterattack

Yang Jiang struggled to wield his bow and arrows, increasingly feeling the strain of his strength. Several people around him had already fallen one after another. Not to mention the intensifying rain of arrows from above, if he were to be struck by the oncoming enemy's giant ship, it would surely result in the destruction of the vessel and the loss of lives.

However, the good times were merely fleeting; the remaining soldiers from the Central Plains on the ship no longer had such capable hands to shield them from arrows. The sounds of screams echoed continuously, and the once clear and serene sea now resembled a hellish scene.

Buzz ! ... ... ''

Yang Jiang stood at the bow of the ship with his spear in hand. Just a moment ago, an arrow he shot from a thousand paces away had astonished both friend and foe alike. The people on his ship regarded Yang Jiang as a divine figure.

However, the situation of our side is even more tragic. Out of the twelve warships, four have already been sunk by enemy ships, three are engulfed in flames, and among the remaining five, apart from the ship where Yang Jiang is located, there are no survivors.

Yang Jiang suddenly employed such a tactic, which indeed caught the barbarian forces off guard. The sound of the horn rose again, forcing the barbarian ships to change course and disperse to deal with the more than ten small vessels of the Central Plains navy that were oblivious to their peril

Yang Jiang angrily said that he intended to mention the family motto which states, "Swear to fight the enemy to the death, and never betray or flee," but suddenly the fragile figure of Li Zhen flashed through his mind

Zhang Gui suddenly froze, collapsing despondently on the mast, tears streaming down his face as he shouted in anger: "It’s all those damned corrupt officials, damn them! If it weren’t for their reckless commands, we wouldn’t have ended up in this situation!"

Yang Jiang's mind returned to focus, and upon seeing Zhang Gui still weeping there, he could not help but scold, "Brother Zhang, a man sheds blood but does not shed tears. How can you be so weak and still hope to return to the shore?"

Zhang Gui and others resolutely stated that they had clearly regarded Yang Jiang as their leader. A few others nearby also voiced their agreement; in their view, if Yang Jiang could lead them through the storm, he could also break through the blockade of enemy ships

The clear sky is like a wash, with no clouds in sight. The sea, after the storm, appears exceptionally calm, making it hard to imagine that a massacre just took place.

Amidst the respectful and sorrowful gazes of the crowd, the ship on which Yang Gang was aboard, along with about ten surrounding warships, sailed bravely against the wind, heading directly towards the barbarian fleet

This statement carries weight; what does it matter if a man seeks death or life

The two parties are already within a thousand steps of each other

Yang Jiang, despite having the strength of a thousand pounds, found himself without a rocket to launch, left only to lament across the sea. Otherwise, with his arm strength combined with internal energy, he could have taken the initiative and diminished the enemy's morale. Although the others also picked up their bows and arrows, Yang Jiang knew they were merely posturing and posed no real threat to the enemy.

The sound of crying arose behind him, and it turned out to be Zhang Gui. At this moment, he was on the brink of madness; had he not been hiding behind Yang Jiang, he would have already been shot dead by the fierce arrows. Seeing Yang Jiang's extraordinary bravery, he realized that only by following Yang Jiang did he have a slim chance of survival

Yang Jiang recalled the mission of loyalty to the country and the restoration of his family's honor, and could not help but let out a long sigh. The imperial court's mighty army had decayed to such an extent, with neither proper military discipline nor capable generals. Could it be that he was destined to lose his life here today, leading to the extinction of the Yang family line?

Yang Jiangxin thought to himself, as a dignified subject of the Central Plains, how could I submit to you barbaric people? Anger surged within me, and without responding, I directly took up two bows, combined them, nocked an arrow, and drew a full bow.

They are completely unaware of the situation on the battlefield

After a pause, Zhang Gui helplessly said: "I can endure, but my stomach really cannot take it. If I were to starve to death like this, I fear I would become a hungry ghost in the future, unable to even reincarnate!"

"Brother Yang, let us hurry and escape. I have an elderly mother at home who is eighty years old, and I am her only son. If I die, there will be no one to take care of her... I beg you, please take me with you!" Zhang Gui cried out.

Yang Jiang coldly shouted: "With your kind of paddling, you won't reach the shore even if you exhaust yourself! Do you know how vast this sea is? Do you know where the shore is?"

Brother Yang, I do not want to die. My elderly mother has no one to care for her, and I still wish to marry and have children! Oh heavens, what sins did I commit in my past life that I must die in the sea, to become food for the fish... Zhang Gui cried and cursed incessantly.

It is done

Zhang Gui was scolded by Yang Jiang in such a manner that he stopped crying and stared blankly at Yang Jiang

Last night, the wind was strong and the waves were fierce, with heavy rain mixed with hail, striking the body painfully. Even Yang Gang, who had trained in martial arts for many years, could not withstand it. After the recent battle, Yang Gang felt utterly exhausted and weak. However, he was surprised to find that Zhang Gui had actually fallen asleep. Fortunately, Zhang Gui's hands were still tightly gripping the mast.

Having spoken, Yang Jiang brandished his long spear horizontally, his spirit soaring as he declared loudly: "Lower the sails, turn around to face the enemy! Brothers, we shall meet again in the next life!"

Rockets and long arrows shot down from the sky like raindrops

Yang Jiang continued, "Look at the sea; now there are only the two of us left. This can be considered as the heavens taking good care of us. Brother Zhang, if you still wish to return home and see your mother, you must hold on!"

The speaker let out a scream akin to that of a pig being slaughtered, as Yang Jiang's powerful arrow unexpectedly pierced through his arm

The encirclement of the barbarian fleet is becoming increasingly smaller, akin to a hunt, gradually trapping the vessels of the Central Plains within it

Had it not been for the ignition materials on the ship being soaked by last night's heavy rain, Yang Gang would have ensured that the enemy ship received a few of his rockets

I see that Brother Yang possesses remarkable skills, and I think that being by your side would increase my chances of survival! Fortunately, Brother Yang, you truly are a master, able to block arrows with a gun...

Two ships were sailing towards each other, quickly closing the distance of five li. Yang Qiang shook his long spear and shouted, "Turn to the sides, unfurl the sails!"

Yang Jiang let out a long sigh, turned his head, and saw that only he and Zhang Gui remained on the boat. Without any hesitation, he threw Zhang Gui horizontally into the sea. At the same time, he swept his iron spear, breaking the ship's main mast in half. Then, with a powerful kick, he sent the mast towards the spot where Zhang Gui had fallen into the water. He himself did not linger any longer and leaped into the water.

A sturdy log floats on the clear sea, occasionally surrounded by seagulls flying above, yet not a single waterbird perches upon it, for two living people are hanging from either side of the log

After handing the fish to Zhang Gui, Yang Jiang stabbed another one for himself

The eastern red sun gradually turns white

Cheers erupted on the ship as soon as he made his move. Yang Gang immediately captivated everyone on board, causing them to regard him with newfound respect, and they instinctively positioned themselves behind him, gripping their bows, arrows, knives, and guns tightly.

At this moment, only the delicate figure of Li Zhen remained in Yang Jiang's heart

If you want to escape, now is the time. A fire has broken out on the ship, which can serve as a cover for fleeing into the water. The enemy ship will surely be eager to search for the whereabouts of other vessels and will not linger here for long

Soon, over a hundred warships of the Central Plains Navy scattered like birds and beasts, heading in all directions

Damn! The fish from the sea is simply excellent, even the salt is unnecessary

Yang Jiang said, leisurely lifting the battle spear with a flick into the water, and by the time the spear tip left the water's surface, it had already caught a sea fish over a foot long.

At this moment, the deck was engulfed in flames, and chaos reigned on the sea. Naturally, the enemy did not notice that Yang Qiang and Zhang Gui had already submerged into the water, waiting for the right moment to escape

How is it? Has it arrived at the shore?

Zhang Gui appears to be two years older than Yang Jiang, yet at this moment, he finds himself in a perilous situation, crying out as if he were a woman. Yang Jiang turns his head away, looking back at the battlefield from earlier.

Ah ! ... ...

Puh! ... ... Zhang Gui spat out a mouthful of water and regained consciousness. He was originally someone familiar with water, but just now, due to his panic, he was choked by the water

After pondering for a moment, Yang Gang said loudly: "Brothers, you have all seen the formidable array of the barbarians. It is already impossible for everyone to retreat unscathed today. The only plan now is to scatter and flee, leaving a group behind to hold them off. I, Yang Gang, am unworthy, with no elders or young ones at home, and I am willing to stay behind for everyone. I do not know which brothers are willing to fight alongside me against the enemy!"

A sea of flames engulfed the ship, and Yang Qiang was filled with rage, disregarding the fire's intensity. He seized a rocket ignited by enemy fire and shot it towards the enemy ship's fully unfurled sails. After a few shots, three or four of the enemy ships' sails had been struck by Yang Qiang's rockets, igniting fiercely in the wind and causing a commotion among the enemy.

Looking at the situation before him, Zhang Gui sighed, "Brother Yang, I can't go on like this! If this continues, it would be better to die cleanly!"

That's all!

"Swimming back is naturally impossible, but we can make it and wait for others to come to our rescue"

In the vast ocean, only fragments of wood, flags, and debris float upon the surging waves, following the brothers who have fallen behind, all of whom meet their end in the belly of the fish