I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1167 The Net of the Sea God
With Su Yao's strategy finalized, his massive war machine quickly began operating efficiently.

For the next month, the armies of the Han Dynasty and Rome clashed on multiple fronts.

On the northern route, Ma Chao and Yan Xing, upon receiving orders, led their elite cavalry force, sweeping across the southern coast of the Black Sea like a whirlwind. They no longer focused on capturing fortified castles, but instead used the mobility of their cavalry to launch widespread raids on Roman supply depots, towns, and undefended areas, planting panic and destruction deep within the rear of the Roman left flank legion. Quintus Flaccus was forced to devote considerable energy to protecting his supply lines and flanks, significantly slowing his eastward advance.

On the southern route, after receiving Su Yao's orders, Guan Yu immediately split his forces with Zhang Fei into two routes. Guan Yu personally led the main force, aboard ships captured and newly built in Alexandria, advancing westward along the coastline, heading straight for Apollonia, the most important port in Cyrenaica. Zhang Fei, meanwhile, led the land forces, with the surrendered Numidian cavalry as the vanguard, rapidly advancing along the coastal road. The Han army's "whirlwind cannons" and tiger-squatting mortars once again unleashed their power, reducing Roman border fortresses to ruins amidst the roar. Governor Flavius's hastily organized defenses in Cyrenaica teetered on the brink of collapse under the combined attack of the Han army by land and sea.

In the central route, Cao Cao strictly followed Su Yao's instructions, using Gao Shun's heavy infantry as the core, with generals such as Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren leading their respective troops, steadily advancing towards the Cappadocian highlands. They were not in a hurry to engage in battle, bombarding fortified strongholds with artillery from a distance, either surrounding them without attacking or detouring around them, always maintaining a distance from General Letus's garrison, thus rendering Severus's main force, which attempted to lure the enemy deeper into their territory, powerless.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun's cavalry was on high alert, firmly safeguarding the supply lines of the central army and thwarting several raids by Roman light cavalry.

As for Su Yao himself, he was leisurely in Antioch, waiting for the various troops to take their positions.

When the time was right, he once again piloted the Griffin, flew across the Mediterranean Sea, and returned to Cyprus, which had become the forward base of the Han Navy.

At this time, Salamis Port had become the center of the Western Protectorate of the Han Dynasty. After Zhou Yu's all-out efforts to reorganize and expand it, it had taken on a completely new look.

The harbor was filled with masts. In addition to the captured Roman warships and the existing wheeled ships, two newly built "Dingyuan-class" sailing warships had been launched from Antioch and were undergoing final outfitting and crew training. More ships were under construction in the dock, with the clanging of hammers and shouts of workers echoing day and night.

"Gongjin, well done!" Su Yao inspected the newly renovated port and the fleet that was beginning to take shape, and patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder with satisfaction.

Zhou Yu smiled modestly: "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's divine might and the artisans in the workshops working day and night. Now my navy has three Dingyuan-class ships, more than thirty-two modified warships of various types, and twenty-six wheeled boats, which can carry nearly ten thousand elite soldiers. Although it is not enough to fight the main force of the Roman navy head-on, it is sufficient to carry out Your Majesty's 'blossoming from the center' strategy."

"Excellent!" Su Yao laughed heartily. "Severus has transferred all his main forces to Asia Minor, leaving the Greek mainland and the Aegean islands vulnerable. I will personally lead this fleet to strike at the heart of the enemy, with our forces aimed directly at Greece, and wipe out their Byzantine homeland!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu was filled with excitement, but he remained calm: "Your Majesty, the Greek coastline is long and dotted with islands, and the Romans still have a considerable naval force scattered throughout the country. If our army marches straight in, we risk having our retreat cut off. In my opinion, we should first remove Rhodes as a thorn in our side, control the gateway to the Aegean Sea, and then plan our westward advance."

Rhodes, located at the southeastern end of the Aegean Sea, was one of the most important naval bases of the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean. It had strong city defenses and a formidable permanent fleet, making it a key to the Greek mainland.

After a moment's thought, Su Yao agreed to Zhou Yu's suggestion: "Alright! Let's take Rhodes Island first and let the Romans taste the might of our Han Dynasty's gunboats!"

Rhodes Island, naval base.

"Report! Urgent report!!!"

The messenger, scrambling and stumbling, reported anxiously: "General! The Han Chinese ships are assembling in large numbers; they're probably about to make a move!"

"So they've come after all." Rhodes Island Governor and Fleet Commander Emilius raised his head and said calmly, "Don't panic. Have you found out how many ships they have and what their situation is?"

The governor's composure eased the soldier's tension somewhat: "Reporting to the governor, the Han fleet is not large, consisting of only about fifty warships of various sizes. But... their three main warships are simply too enormous, far surpassing any of our warships..."

"There are already three."

Emilius walked to the window, looked towards the eastern sea, and muttered to himself.

The military reports of Antioch's crushing defeat and the fall of Cyprus had already reached every general. Emilius, as the supreme commander of the Roman Empire stationed in Rhodes, was naturally well aware of the threat posed by that giant ship.

The overwhelming firepower, the extremely long range, and the massive hull of the ships all overturned the naval warfare experience accumulated by the Roman navy over hundreds of years.

But the Romans would not admit defeat, and they quickly devised many countermeasures.

First and foremost, we must never repeat the mistakes of the ports of Cyprus—stationing warships in port and stubbornly defending the docks would undoubtedly be suicidal in the face of such overwhelming firepower.

Secondly, the fact that Han ships were enormous and therefore slow to turn, and that their reliance on sails greatly limited their movement in the absence of wind or against the wind, gave them a great deal of inspiration.

Finally, and most importantly, no matter how powerful the Han Chinese ships were, they were still at a significant disadvantage in number compared to the Imperial Navy.

If the Han people were to remain holed up in the port and utilize the terrain to their advantage, their formidable coastal defense firepower would be completely ineffective.

However, if the Han people take the initiative and come to the open sea, that will be the perfect opportunity for them to deliver a fatal blow!

Therefore, the Imperial Navy chose to consolidate its defenses and station the previously mobilized Mediterranean warships in multiple ports around the Aegean Sea, in order to wait for the right opportunity to encircle the Han Chinese fleet from all sides!
"Hmph, these despicable Easterners would never imagine that there are nearly four hundred warships standing by around Rhodes Island."

"If they don't come, fine. But if they dare to come, we'll make sure they don't leave alive!"

Emilius whirled around, drew his sword, and shouted, "Send the order! All warships, weigh anchor immediately and disperse to the waters surrounding Rhodes Island according to the pre-arranged plan, remaining concealed! Without my command, they are absolutely forbidden from engaging the Han army's giant ships head-on!"

"Send another fast ship immediately to Crete, Kos, and Athens to inform them that the main force of the Han army has left Cyprus and is heading west! Operation 'Net of the Sea'—start immediately!"

(End of this chapter)