The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 531 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part Twelve)

The dragon banner hung low on the mainmast, its bright yellow satin surface swaying gently in the river breeze.

Xiao Yan sat upright on the throne of the main ship, carefully examining a temporary map of the river in front of him.

Naval Commander Wang Xiancheng and Naval Commander Shi Hongzhao stood side by side, both clad in armor and surrounded by a group of officers. Their faces were dry from the river wind, and they looked at each other with some hesitation.

Wang Xiancheng was, after all, a surrendered general of Shu, while Shi Hongzhao still held onto the sentiment of having assisted Xiao Yan in the Bianjing mutiny years ago. Therefore, after hesitating for a long time, he finally steeled himself and stepped forward, saying:
"Your Majesty, after repeated reconnaissance, the wind direction on the river has shifted to the southeast from afternoon to evening. The Fan Gang River is narrow, and the current is already turbulent and swirling here. If the Southern Army takes advantage of the southeast wind and drives the fire ships down with the wind, directly attacking our position, and if the banks further assist with rockets and cannons, our ships will be concentrated and difficult to maneuver. I fear... I fear there may be oversights."

He paused, gazing at the faintly visible Wuchang city gate and the densely packed masts of the Fangang water fortress to the south, and continued, "Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to temporarily move the imperial carriage to the rear army's warship. Although this place offers a wide view, it is ultimately too far forward. Your Majesty is the pillar of the nation; if anything is lost, we will truly be ashamed before the people of the world..."

Wang Xiancheng and other generals nodded in agreement. Although the Northern Army had the advantage of artillery, it was inevitably limited by its firing range. Although it was a powerful tool that could dominate the course of the battle, no one dared to make a guarantee before the final outcome of the battle, especially since the Southern Army had also taken precautions against artillery.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan simply stood up, covered his brow bone with his hand, and gazed across the river for miles to the opposite bank.

Banners fluttered atop Wuchang city walls, and figures thronged the city towers, among whom several were particularly conspicuous, surrounded by a large group of generals.

One of the men, dressed in armor with a bright yellow military uniform underneath, was undoubtedly the imposter Li. The old man beside him, dressed in purple robes and cursing angrily, was certainly Xu Wen. Further away, Zhang Zifan's striking white hair and the still figures of Shi Yao and the others could be seen.

Their gazes were likely also directed here, toward the fluttering dragon banner behind them.

Meanwhile, in the nearby waters of Fan Port, the Southern Tang navy was constantly shifting its forces. Large warships and fighting vessels were placed deep within the naval camps, while numerous smaller warships such as large warships and small boats were deployed to the front lines. Some of these ships appeared to be hastily piling up something. Along the banks, laborers and soldiers, like ants, were reinforcing existing fortifications. The outlines of newly erected catapults and mountains of firewood and oil jars could be vaguely seen.

Xiao Yan lowered his hand, withdrew his gaze, and swept his eyes over the solemn-faced generals, but finally looked at Sanzenin, who had been standing silently to the side.

Sanzenin was dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, with an embroidered spring knife at his waist. Although he wasn't wearing a uniform, he was already dressed like a member of the Imperial Guard. When he saw Xiao Yan looking at him, he immediately lowered his head, bowed slightly, and nodded.

Xiao Yan smiled and turned his gaze back to Wang Xiancheng and Shi Hongzhao, saying, "Timing...the favorable wind direction has always been something that military strategists have sought to take advantage of. However, the wind on the river is not fixed. Today it is in the southeast, but who knows if it will not turn to the northwest tomorrow? It is true that the Fan Gang River is narrow, but our soldiers and ships are of one mind and have unified commands, which is the advantage of the people; our warships are strong and powerful, and our cannons control the waterway, which is the advantage of the terrain."

He smiled, turned around, brushed off his clothes, and sat down: "Since I took command of the army, I have fought over a hundred battles. What I have relied on is not only the opportune moment, but also human factors. Now, with both the people and the terrain in my hands, I do not believe that the opportune moment will always be on their side."

"By my decree, from this day forward, I will personally oversee this ship and observe you all defeat the enemy. Say no more, return to your posts, deploy according to the established strategy, and be on high alert."

Wang Xiancheng opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him again, but seeing Shi Hongzhao's straight back beside him, and glancing at the Three Thousand Courtyard, he thought that His Majesty seemed to have made arrangements in advance, so he calmed down a bit and swallowed his words. He and the generals bowed together and replied in a deep voice, "Your subjects obey the decree!"

Upon receiving the order, the Northern Army began planning an offensive against Fangang. The fleet changed formation, with the large warships advancing slightly forward to create a more suitable distance between themselves and the warships and large vessels behind them, allowing their artillery to be used more effectively.

The sailors and soldiers on deck did not slacken their efforts because of the emperor's presence; on the contrary, they became even busier. Buckets of river water were brought up and splashed on the ship's sides and deck. Soaked felt cloths were hung on key crossbow windows and crenellations, and long poles with iron hooks were placed in convenient positions.

On the opposite bank, the walls of Wuchang.

Fake Li, leaning against the battlements, looked at the Northern Army in such a state and knew perfectly well that they were about to launch an attack. He became angry and said, "He... he really won't leave."

Xu Wen, standing beside him, finally calmed down and chuckled, saying:

"Xiao Yan is a man who is adept at taking risks and establishing authority. His presence at the front, under the imperial banner, serves two purposes: to boost morale and to intimidate our troops. However, even the most powerful weapons have their limits. We hold the strategic advantage of Fangang, where the waterways are narrow, making it difficult for their massive ships to deploy fully, and also limiting the effectiveness of their artillery. As long as our army holds its camp and locks down this vital passage, the Northern army will find it difficult to advance. When their troops are exhausted or the weather changes, that will be our opportunity to defeat them."

He extended his hand from his sleeve, twitching slightly as if calculating something, then sighed softly:
"Unfortunately, the Northern army's arrival was far faster than expected. Although the firewood and fuel needed for the fire ships have been prepared, they haven't been fully assembled in the rush. Moreover, setting fires in broad daylight makes them highly visible and easily detected by the Northern army. It would be better to wait until nightfall, under the cover of darkness. Besides, although the southeast wind is blowing now, it's not strong enough. Fire needs the wind to spread; if the wind is weak, the fire will struggle to grow and become a prairie fire. We need to... wait and see."

"Wait, wait! How long are we supposed to wait?!" Fake Li suddenly turned his head and said irritably, "Ezhou is in imminent danger, and Changsha is cut off from all communication. Are we just going to sit here and wait for the Northern army's artillery fire?"

Xu Wen also felt somewhat annoyed. He had a feeling that after Xiao Yan showed up, this fake Li seemed to have lost his mind. So he frowned and sneered:
"Is Your Majesty holding a grudge against me? Do you think I am unwilling to fight quickly? It is simply that the time is not yet ripe. If Your Majesty finds my words inappropriate, you may personally lead the army to attack and see whether your Longquan sword is sharper or the Northern army's cannons are more ferocious!"

These words were extremely harsh, and Fake Li's face immediately turned ashen.

Seeing this, Yan Keqiu quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Prime Minister Xu is only acting out of good intentions. The Northern army is powerful, and a direct confrontation would play right into their hands. A small act of impatience could ruin a great plan!"

Zhang Zifan also spoke up at the opportune moment: "Minister Yan is right. At present, our army can only rely on the terrain and wait for the opportune moment to have a chance of victory. To rush into battle now would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. Your Majesty should think it over."

Several generals echoed his sentiments. Fake Li looked at the crowd, his chest heaving violently a few times, but in the end he did not lash out. He simply slammed his fist into the blue brick of the crenellation and said nothing more.

Just then, a deep, thunderous roar came from the direction of the Northern Fleet.

It wasn't a single sound, but a continuous, relentless chorus. Like a summer thunderclap rolling across the sky, it made one's eardrums buzz.

"Fire!" someone on the city wall cried out in alarm.

All that could be seen were plumes of thick white smoke rising from the sides of the warships and battleships at the forefront of the Northern Army. Immediately afterward, countless black dots whistled through the sky, crashing down on the Fan Gang water fortress and its outlet waters with a piercing sound.

Immediately, massive columns of water shot into the sky one after another, the river water carrying shards of wood splashing everywhere. A Southern army warship anchored in the harbor was hit directly, its hull instantly torn apart, flames and smoke rising in an instant, the officers and soldiers on board hurriedly abandoning ship, screaming as they fell into the water.

More shells landed in the water or struck the barracks on the shore, causing chaos.

The Southern Tang navy was forced to remain in the port, hesitant to venture out. The Northern army had clearly changed its tactics, no longer seeking a forced breakthrough, but instead using the range advantage of its artillery to continuously suppress and wear down the enemy.

"Order all ships to take cover in the deeper parts of the harbor and rely on the coastal fortifications to avoid artillery fire. Artillery vehicles and crossbows on shore, return fire! Suppress the Northern army's warships and reinforce Fan Port!"

Although the fake Li looked grim, he immediately gave a stern order, and soldiers on the city wall quickly waved their flags to relay the message.

Subsequently, the warships surrounding Fan Port could only try their best to retreat into Shengang, and those that were too late had to be abandoned.

To cover their own ships, the Southern army set up catapults on both sides of Fan Port and began launching stone projectiles, while the ballistae on the water fortresses fired large crossbow bolts to counterattack the Northern army.

However, compared to artillery, even if the Southern army's long-range weapons occasionally hit their targets, they were unlikely to cause fatal damage to the Northern army's warships, and instead only wasted morale.

The artillery battle lasted for about half an hour. Smoke filled the river, blurring visibility. Seeing that the Southern army was determined to hold their ground, the Northern army extended its artillery fire, bombarding the Southern army's camps and fortifications on both banks.

The emperor and his ministers on the walls of Wuchang did not dare to be careless for a moment. They stayed on the walls for half a day, keeping a close eye on the movements of the Northern army.

Even though they themselves knew that standing here wouldn't have the same impact on the morale of both armies as Xiao Yan's dragon banner, their own morale would definitely be ruined if they weren't here.

Having decided to garrison the city, the fake Li simply stayed atop the city wall, even eating lunch with his soldiers. But just as they were finishing their meal, a general pointed to the river and loudly warned them:
"Your Majesty, Minister Xu, the Northern army seems to be planning a landing!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines and stood up to gaze into the distance against the wall.

From the Northern fleet, dozens of fast boats and sampans, laden with brightly armored infantry, sped like arrows under the cover of fire from several warships towards a relatively flat but actually rugged shoal on the flank of Fan Port. This shoal was riddled with reefs, artificial barriers, and brambles. While not an ideal landing spot, it was a relatively weak link in the shore defenses.

"Stop them!" the fake Li said urgently.

Xu Wen's face darkened, and he immediately said, "Issue the order: Commander Liu Xin of the Wuwei Army must hold the beachhead to the death and not allow the Northern Army to gain a foothold! Artillery and crossbows on both sides of the river should cover the landing area with all their might, and the garrison at Fan'gang should be mobilized to assist the Wuwei Army in preventing the enemy from landing!"

The flag bearer on the side quickly raised his flag, dispatching the garrison at Fangang to intercept them.

Under the cover of artillery fire, the Union army's fast boats recklessly charged toward the mudflats, disregarding the swift current and falling rocks.

But the defenders on the shore relentlessly rained down arrows and stones upon the landing Northern army. Every now and then, Northern sampans were struck by boulders, capsizing and sending their soldiers tumbling into the water like dumplings being dropped into a pot, only to be dragged to the bottom by their armor. Even more striking were the massive arrows from ballistae, piercing shields and pinning soldiers to the decks.

However, in the era of cold weapons, such casualties seemed to go unnoticed by the Northern Army, and the subsequent fast ships continued to charge forward with all their might.

Finally, the first batch of ships crashed into the beach. The gangplank was lowered, and large numbers of lightly armored northerners, disregarding their dizziness, roared and charged towards the waiting Southern Tang army, shields raised and knee-deep in the river.

The Wu Kingdom's elite guards stationed there also quickly advanced, countless spears thrusting out from the shield formation like a forest, attempting to force the landing Northern army off the beachhead. The Northern army's shield bearers fought hard to push forward, using their leather-covered iron shields to deflect the thrusting spears, while the spearmen behind them, in coordination with the crossbowmen, sought opportunities to strike and tear open gaps in the Southern army's defenses.

As more and more Northern Army fast ships arrived at the beachhead, and the actual Bianliang Imperial Guards joined the landing battle, the fighting between the two sides quickly intensified.

The narrow beach resembled a millstone, with soldiers from both sides crammed together. The sounds of clashing swords and spears, cracking bones, and dying screams filled the air. Blood quickly stained the river red, and the layers of corpses hindered the progress of those who followed.

The Northern Army, relying on its individual bravery and superior armor, managed to break through the Southern Tang army's formation at several points. However, the Wuwei Army, as an elite force guarding the riverbank, was not to be underestimated. With officers shouting at the top of their lungs and soldiers taking advantage of the terrain, they continuously organized counterattacks, eventually overwhelming and dividing the Northern Army that had broken through.

On the river, the Northern Army's warships continued to bombard the rear of the Southern Army's coastal defense positions with artillery fire, attempting to cut off reinforcements and suppress long-range firepower.

Meanwhile, the catapults set up by the Southern Army on the high ground on both sides of the river were frantically hurling stones and oil canisters at the Northern Army's landing fleet and the people who had already landed. Although their accuracy was poor, they still created a series of obstruction zones on the river and the beach, delaying the deployment of subsequent Northern Army troops.

The landing operation lasted from noon until the sun began to set. The battle for the beachhead was a back-and-forth struggle, with the beachhead changing hands several times.

However, as the northern barbarians who had landed and charged ahead secured several footholds, the imperial guards were able to land with ease, and the situation instantly turned one-sided. Even with the support of the garrison at Fan Port, the Wu Kingdom's Martial Guards responsible for the defense were quickly breached by the Northern Dynasty's imperial guards' attack, first retreating towards Fan Port, and then the entire army was routed.

The Imperial Guards that landed did not rush into battle for quick success, but instead proceeded steadily and gradually cleared out the Southern Army camps along the coast, seizing the high ground where catapults and ballistae were set up.

Gradually, the sounds of clashing swords, roars, and screams spread across the entire riverbank, and fires began to ignite in several camps.

From the city wall, the fake Li had a clear view of the entire process of Wu Wuwei's army going from initial fierce resistance to gradual exhaustion and finally to defeat. He also witnessed firsthand how the Northern Army used layers of soldiers' corpses to pave a landing route.

"Half a day! Just half a day!"

Seeing his own coastal defenses fall one after another, Fake Li slammed his fist into the battlement. His knuckles instantly broke and bled, but he didn't feel it. He was just trembling with rage and roared, "So-called elite troops of Jiangdong couldn't even hold out for half a day! The Northern army just set foot on the shore like this! Useless! All of you are useless!"

Xu Wen remained silent, his deeply lined face expressionless, but the veins on the back of his hand, pressed against the city wall, were bulging.

Everyone knows that once the shore defenses are lost, the Fan Gang water fortress will lose its shield, and the Northern Army will be able to bombard the ships in the harbor more easily. To regain the shore defenses, the price to pay will be at least several times higher than that of the Northern Army!
After nearly an hour of fierce land battle, the Southern Army's coastal defense forces were ultimately no match for the enemy. The remnants either burned or abandoned all their equipment and retreated in disarray into the Fangang water fortress, where they continued to resist by relying on the fortress's fences and arrow towers.

The Northern army successfully captured the riverbank and established positions, seizing a considerable amount of Southern army coastal defense equipment. They were then able to turn around and bombard Fangang. Unfortunately, after a full day of bombardment, many catapults and other equipment were overwhelmed and needed to be repaired by the Northern army themselves.

As night fell, the artillery fire on the river thinned out, but the campfires burning on both banks turned the river surface a fiery red, like a ghostly realm.

For the next two days, the standoff on the river naturally reached a stalemate.

Instead of launching a direct assault, the Northern navy anchored its main force in an open area upstream of Fan Port, using its superior artillery and captured equipment to bombard the Southern navy, which was holed up in Fan Port, in turn.

The thunderous cannon fire never ceased, and huge columns of water frequently shot into the sky both inside and outside the harbor, churning the river water into turbidity. The Southern Army's scout boats dared not easily show themselves, and the large warships remained hidden deep within the harbor, struggling to hold out with the help of the water fortress and the city of Wuchang behind them.

Inside the Wuchang headquarters, Xu Wen's trusted advisors and generals, as well as Qian Liu's sons Qian Yuanqiu and Qian Yuanxiang, who had been left in the army by King Qian Liu of Wuyue, and several generals from Fujian, along with the civil and military officials brought by the fake Li's personal expedition, all gathered here, their faces filled with worry.

Yan Keqiu discussed the matter with his colleagues for a while, then said, "Prime Minister Xu, Your Majesty, the Northern Army's move is intended to trap our army at Fangang. Their navy is blockading the river, and their infantry is controlling our shore defenses. If this continues, Ezhou will not receive support, and its fall is only a matter of time. Huangzhou will also become an isolated city, and Changsha... if we delay any longer, we will likely soon face the danger of being attacked from both the north and south by Wang Yanzhang and Chi Li. We can no longer sit idly by and wait for our doom."

Qian Yuanqiu echoed, "Minister Yan is absolutely right. We must break the blockade as soon as possible, otherwise the western front of Jiangnan will collapse, and Jiangdong will also be difficult to protect."

Fake Li paced back and forth in frustration, saying, "Break the blockade? How? The Northern army's artillery is so powerful, and their navy is on high alert. Are we supposed to send our troops out to their deaths?"

Xu Wen sat in the first seat on the right, gently rubbing his temples as if resting. After a while, he opened his eyes and slowly said, "Preparations for fire attack will take some time. Although the fire ships are ready, the wind direction has occasionally been southeast recently, but the wind force is insufficient to create a prairie fire. We need to wait for... a strong wind to rise."

"Wait? Still have to wait?" Fake Li suddenly stopped and stared at Xu Wen. "Wait until Ezhou falls? Wait until Changsha is overrun? Wait until the Northern army is at the gates of Nanjing!"

Xu Wen raised his eyelids, too lazy to argue with the fake Li, and simply said, "I want a quick victory more than anyone else. But without absolute certainty, if we rush into a risky attack and the fire attack fails, our elite naval forces will be wiped out, leaving no room for maneuver! At that time, it will be truly annihilation!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety: "Wait three more days. If there is a strong wind within three days, we can proceed. If not... we will discuss other methods."

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder as a scout, covered in dust, stumbled into the carriage. Before he could even salute, he cried out, "Your Majesty! Prime Minister Xu! Huangzhou... Huangzhou has fallen!"

"What?!" The fake Li and Xu Wen both changed color at the same time, and the crowd in the hall was in an uproar. They all stood up and looked at each other in disbelief.

"What happened? Report back in detail!" The fake Li strode forward and demanded sharply. The scout, panting heavily, stammered, "It's...it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard causing trouble in the city. They incited the garrison to rebel, killed Commander Li, and took the deputy general hostage before surrendering! Wang Zongkan...has taken Huangzhou without bloodshed and is now rapidly heading south, intending to attack Lanxi. Qizhou is in dire need of help!"

The news came like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone stunned and bewildered.

Huangzhou was not only a shield to the east of Ezhou, but if Huangzhou fell, the Northern Army could advance south along the east bank, completely exposing the flank of Wuchang. Wang Zongkan could then advance on Qizhou, or even move east along the river to cut off Wuchang's reinforcements, forming a pincer movement with Xiao Yan in the north.

We're all stuck in Wuchang, living in constant fear of artillery fire, unable to advance or retreat, all to stop the Northern Army from advancing down the Yangtze River! Now that Huangzhou is gone, what's the point of holding Wuchang if Qizhou falls too?

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard...it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard again!"

Xu Wen felt dizzy and swayed, but fortunately, his attendants quickly supported him, preventing him from falling backward. He gritted his teeth and said, "Very good! They really are everywhere!"

Fake Li's face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently, but he did not immediately lash out. Instead, he suddenly turned his head, as if searching for something.

Just then, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from outside.

Everyone turned to see Jing Xinmo stride into the hall. His forehead was damp with sweat, and his breathing was unsteady, as if he had rushed from elsewhere. Upon entering, he didn't even bother with formalities before saying in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, we just received an urgent report...in the direction of Huangzhou..."

"You're only finding out now?!"

Fake Li abruptly interrupted him, staring intently at the Mirror Heart Demon, and said:
“Mirror Heart Demon, the garrison commander of Huangzhou is a veteran of many battles, and there are several thousand soldiers in the city… Even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard has some ability, how could they so easily incite a mutiny, kidnap their commander, and surrender the city? Mirror Heart Demon, your Bad People have been operating in Jiangnan for many years, with eyes and ears everywhere. Are you completely unaware of this? Or perhaps…”

Fake Li has always regarded the Bad Guys as his base, but today's sudden public questioning, with its sharp tone, went beyond ordinary accountability. If it wasn't due to anger that he lost his temper, it seemed to have a hidden meaning. As a result, everyone's attention was focused on Mirror Heart Demon.

Xu Wen also temporarily suppressed his shock and anger, and watched coldly from the sidelines.

Faced with the piercing gaze of the fake Li, Jingxinmo was first taken aback, then his face turned ashen, and he prostrated himself on the ground, saying with fear and grievance, "Your Majesty, please understand! This humble servant only just received a secret report from my brothers who were lurking near Huangzhou, which they risked their lives to deliver. Upon learning of this, I rushed here to report immediately, without the slightest delay!"

He looked up, his face drained of color, and hurriedly explained:
"Your Majesty, although the garrison commander of Huangzhou is a veteran and undoubtedly loyal to the country, many of his troops, especially the lower-ranking officers, are former subordinates of the late Minister Zhang Hao. Back in Yangzhou… Your Majesty and Minister Xu rectified the chaos and purged Zhang Hao's traitorous faction, which was gratifying, but these former subordinates inevitably harbored resentment and fear. Now, with the Northern army heavily besieging the city, Wang Zongkan's offensive intensifying, and the Yellow Head Army's defeat at the Hui River, the morale of the troops within the city is already wavering. The Northern Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard must have seized upon these cracks to infiltrate and incite unrest! Although we, the Bad People, have tried our best to maintain our eyes and ears in Jiangnan, the Northern Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard's actions this time are extremely cunning, specifically targeting areas of instability, making them virtually impossible to guard against… This humble servant failed in his duty; the Bad People failed to provide advance warning and deserve death. I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely!"

Upon hearing this, the fake Li instinctively turned his gaze to Xu Wen, who was standing to the side.

Xu Wen's face instantly darkened further. He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying:
"Hmph! Zhang Hao's traitorous clique has wreaked havoc on the court and deserves to die! If his former subordinates can repent and serve the country, how could I treat them harshly? After the incident, I ordered that the generals who surrendered be generously rewarded and treated equally! However, Huangzhou has been besieged for months, completely blocked. Even if there were mountains of gold and silver, how could they be transported in to stabilize the morale of the army? Moreover, it wasn't just the Huangtou Army that suffered a setback. If the Black Cloud Longsword hadn't failed to provide timely support to the Huangtou Army, causing the rescue of Huangzhou to fail and the external support to be cut off, how could the morale of the Huangzhou army have collapsed so quickly!"

Looking at the two men before him, one kneeling to beg for forgiveness and the other trying to distance himself from the situation, and then thinking of the threat posed by the fall of Huangzhou, Fake Li felt a surge of anger rush to his head, and all his remaining composure was burned away.

He suddenly kicked over a nearby table, stared intently at Xu Wen, and roared:
"Enough! What's the point of arguing now! Prime Minister Xu! Huangzhou has fallen, and Qizhou is in imminent danger! Our retreat is about to be cut off! We can't wait any longer! Tonight! We must launch a fire attack tonight! We must repel the enemy at all costs and open up the waterway! Otherwise, you and I will be buried with this Wuchang city!"

Looking at the almost crazed eyes of the fake Li, and then sweeping his gaze over the anxious crowd in the hall, Xu Wen knew that morale was on the verge of collapse. If nothing was done, internal strife might occur.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed deeply: "...As Your Majesty wishes. If the southeast wind rises at midnight tonight, we will launch a fire attack. Issue the order that all fire ships must proceed stealthily, and none shall be set ablaze without prior command; those who disobey will be executed!"

That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were few; the river was shrouded in a thin mist, and the chill seeped into the bones.

As midnight approached, a river breeze began to rise, and as expected, the wind shifted to the southeast. Although the wind was not strong, it was enough to propel the light boat and also fueled the fire.

The gates of the Fangang Water Village quietly opened, and hundreds of small boats, laden with dry firewood and doused with kerosene, were carefully pushed out of the water village by sailors with long poles and oars, disappearing into the river under the cover of night.

Each ship retained only one or two elite assassins to steer the course and execute the final firing order. Using the weak wind and current, the fleet drifted slowly upstream towards the Northern Army's naval stronghold, striving to get as close to its target as possible before being discovered.

The Northern Army's naval base was not entirely undefended; the patrol boats quickly discovered the unusual activity on the river.

"Boats! A large number of small Southern Army boats are approaching! Enemy attack!"

The Northern fleet immediately stirred, alarm bells rang, and sailors rushed to their battle stations. Countless torches were lit in an attempt to illuminate the river and identify the approaching enemy.

Fake Li and Xu Wen stood atop the city wall of Wuchang, and in the distance, they saw the Northern Army's naval camp brightly lit, with alarms sounding everywhere. They knew the fire fleet had been discovered. Their hearts leaped into their throats.

According to the plan, the fire should be ignited immediately to create as much chaos as possible.

However, the Southern general in charge of the fire attack also knew that the distance was still far, and although setting fires could boost morale, it was difficult to guarantee that the fire ships could effectively collide with the Northern army's main warships.

Furthermore, with the current fog obscuring the view, one could still travel a distance without lighting the fire, but if the fire were lit, it would surely be the end. Therefore, he suppressed the urge to order the fire to be lit, stared intently ahead, and commanded his left and right to row forward with all their might.

Despite the direct barrage of arrows and cannon fire from the Northern Army, the fire ships advanced nearly a hundred paces, braving the risk of being intercepted and sunk. They were now close to the outer defenses of the Northern Army's water fortress, and the faces of the soldiers holding torches on the Northern Army's warships were even faintly visible!

This is the moment!

"Ignite! All troops, charge!"

With a loud roar, the fire ship at the forefront was instantly set ablaze.

The dry firewood ignited instantly upon contact with oil, and flames shot high into the air, quickly spreading throughout the entire small boat. Then, a second, a third… more and more fireboats were set ablaze, like roaring fire dragons, propelled by the wind, rushing towards the Northern Army's naval camp.

The river surface was glowing red from the firelight, and waves of scorching heat rushed towards us.

Fake Li and Xu Wen stood on the city wall of Wuchang, both gripping the crenellations, staring intently at this scene.

Success or failure depends on this.

Zhang Zifan, standing to the side, also felt his heart leap into his throat. East wind, thin mist, stealth—this so-called fire attack might actually succeed…

But he couldn't help but look back, only to see that Jingxin Demon, who was waiting to the side, seemed to have smiled faintly, or perhaps it was just his imagination, while Rentian Zuixing was clearly staring intently at the opposite bank with a serious expression.

Immediately afterwards, a loud roar was heard from the Northern Army.

"Fire ships! Southern army's fire attack!"

Upon hearing the somewhat panicked warning from the Northern Army, the Southern Tang civil and military officials gathered on the city wall were immediately excited, and some even began to celebrate their victory.

However, the anticipated scene of fire ships swarming in and ramming the ship did not occur, or rather, it did not fully occur.

Many of the fire ships that were charging ahead suddenly began to take strange turns. Some spun around in place, some slowed down, and some even veered off course and drifted toward the open middle of the river.

Only a few dozen fire ships, engulfed in flames, managed to ram into the few warships and flagships that the Northern army had already positioned at the forefront.

The sounds of impact, the crackling of burning wood, and the shouts of soldiers filled the air. On the ablaze Union warships, the sailors, who seemed to have been prepared, rushed forward to fight the fire, either burying the burning ships with sand or using long poles to push them away.

Before the Southern Tang rulers and ministers could react, an even more shocking scene unfolded.

The Southern army fire ships, which had been stationary or veered off course, were swaying when suddenly many Northern army small boats appeared out of nowhere and approached them. They then used grappling hooks to attach themselves to the fire ships or jumped directly onto the burning vessels, and then struggled to adjust their direction... pushing them toward Fangang Water Village!
Meanwhile, in the Northern Fleet, command flags on the various command ships waved in unison.

The Northern army's gunboats, which were already prepared, along with catapults and other equipment on the shore, took advantage of the moment when the Southern army's attention was drawn to the fire ships and their formation was slightly disrupted, and roared once again.

Even worse, the fire ships that were pushed back by the Northern Army, with the help of the wind and the current, crashed into their own water fortress!

"How could this be!" Fake Li looked up from the city wall, his eyes wide with rage, and he almost collapsed.

Xu Wen gripped the edge of the barricade tightly, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

It's understandable that the Northern Army would defend against the Southern Army's fire attack, but how could they have prepared so thoroughly, and even timed it so precisely?
Are they the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Or the Bad People?

But no one gave him time to think.

On the surface of the river.

Attacked from both inside and outside, the inferno surges back.

With cannons and fire ships combined, chaos instantly descended upon the Fan Gang water fortress.

Ships collided and jostled each other, dodging cannon fire while also battling the spreading flames. Countless soldiers cried out in agony amidst the flames, and many jumped into the river. The main force of the Southern Tang navy, assembled here, was instantly annihilated by its own fire attack and the Northern army's cannon fire.

“It’s over… the navy is finished…” Xu Wen muttered to himself, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"Prime Minister Xu! We cannot linger here! The Northern Army infantry have begun landing and are advancing towards Wuchang City!" Zhong Taizhang, fully armored, rushed onto the city wall, his voice urgent.

Xu Wen snapped out of his daze, forced himself to stay alert, and said to the distraught fake Li, "Your Majesty, Fan'gang has fallen, and Wuchang is an isolated city that cannot be defended. Retreat quickly! We can still maneuver around Poyang Lake!"

Fake Li nodded blankly, letting Jing Xinmo and Zhong Taizhang support him on either side, and under the desperate protection of a group of personal guards, he hurriedly retreated towards the city.

Just then, one of Xu Wen's lieutenants rushed up from below the city wall, carrying a carrier pigeon, and shouted urgently, "Prime Minister Xu! Prime Minister Xu! Urgent report from Jinling!!"

Xu Wen looked bewildered, subconsciously reached out and grabbed the carrier pigeon, then removed the thin bamboo tube tied to its leg.

Under the gaze of the crowd, a sense of foreboding flashed through his mind. He trembled as he poured out the note inside, and by the light of the burning house not far away, he only glanced at it once.

In an instant, all the color drained from his face, and his body swayed violently. If Yan Keqiu hadn't caught him, he would have almost collapsed on the spot.

"Prime Minister Xu? What is it?" the fake Li asked urgently.

Xu Wen raised his head, his eyes vacant, as if all his energy had been drained away by that note. He simply murmured:

"Qian Liu... that old traitor Qian Liu... the whole country has submitted to the Northern Dynasty... Li Maozhen... led his army south by sea, attacked and captured Changzhou, and is now at the gates of Nanjing..."

Leaving aside the others, the faces of the Qian brothers, Qian Yuanqiu and Qian Yuanxiang, turned deathly pale in an instant.

Qian Yuanqiu lunged forward, his voice shrill: "Impossible! Minister Xu! This must be a counter-espionage plot by the Northern Army! My father would never..."

But then, he abruptly stopped speaking.

Because the fake Li standing in front of him, in extreme shock and anger, had already drawn his sword, the gleaming light flashing in the firelight.

"You traitors, how dare you deceive me!"

puff-

Two heads rolled to the ground, their faces still frozen in shock and disbelief, blood splattering all over the fake Li and those around him.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene.

The fake Li's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, blood dripping from the tip. His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, like a trapped wild beast.

"Your Majesty! Run!" Jing Xinmo was the first to react, shouting fiercely. Zhong Taizhang and the others around him did not hesitate any longer, and almost forcibly dragged the seemingly insane fake Li and the distraught Xu Wen towards the city walls.

……

That night, Wuchang fell.

(End of this chapter)