Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 264 Blitzkrieg (Part 1)
"What is that...?"

Beside Pan Jun, Sun Jun was utterly astonished.

Because Pan Jun had previously lost Yanyu Pass, and now the Han army was attacking from both the north and south, advancing on two fronts, Sun Shao dared not let Pan Jun defend the Iron Chain Pass south of the Yangtze River alone, nor did he dare let Pan Jun defend Wu County north of the Yangtze River alone.

Therefore, Sun Jun, who was also a member of the imperial clan, was ordered by Sun Shao, the governor of Wu, to monitor Pan Jun in Wu County.

The purpose, of course, was to prevent Poon Chun from doing anything outrageous or foolish again.

In short, even though he knew that he was partly responsible for the loss of Yanyu Pass, Sun Shao could no longer trust Pan Jun, the general who had abandoned the pass.

"How...did they get here?" Pan Jun didn't care what they were; he only wanted to know one thing: how did these behemoths get through the layers of iron spikes to get here?
His thoughts were in turmoil. He gazed into the distance, his eyes passing over the junks and giant rafts, all the way to the upper reaches of the great river.

Mengchong and Zouge continued to emerge from the river bend, advancing slowly side by side, while the Shu people's tower ships and large fighting ships did not appear in sight.

"Could it be... Oh no, we must be careful that the Shu people use that black oil to melt the iron chains!"

Pan Jun felt a chill run down his spine and instantly realized the key point.

In fact, the Wu Kingdom's upper echelons, such as Sun Quan, Lu Xun, and Pan Jun, all knew about this when they decided to use the iron chains across the river to block the flow of the Yangtze River.

Although the iron chains across the river cannot be broken by weapons, they are not without flaws.

Simply ignite the kerosene and burn it with a strong flame for one or two hours until it is red-hot and softened. Then you can easily cut it off with iron pliers, giant shears, or similar tools.

Sun Jun also snapped out of his daze:
"Melting the iron chains?"
"Pan Taichang means that the reason why the Shu people are moving in the north and south at the same time and attacking on two fronts is to disperse the forces of our Great Wu and attract our attention."

"The real offensive isn't on the shore, but on that strange... raft? Are they trying to melt down the iron chains and break through the river pass?"

At this point, the shape of that boat-like but not-quite-a-boat object became increasingly clear.

Sun Jun, Pan Jun, and the others could already tell that they were just a few huge rafts made of logs tied together.

The wooden raft floated on the river, and could be vaguely seen with a raised platform on it, rising and falling with the waves.

Sun Jun paused for a moment, then suddenly realized:

"It seems that what Pan Taichang said was true; the people of Shu really want to burn my iron chains across the river."

The heaviest part of the iron chain across the river was submerged below the water surface, but most of it was suspended within a few feet to a couple of feet above the river surface, used to block large warships of the Han army from going down the river.

Those rafts lacked complex structures such as cabins and decks. Due to their weight, almost only the surface of the rafts floated on the water. Sometimes, when they encountered undercurrents, even the surface of the rafts would be submerged.

The reason for building several high platforms on the raft was undoubtedly to store kerosene and to use this height to burn the iron chains hanging in the air.

However... just when Sun Jun thought he had understood the Shu people's strategy, Pan Jun, who was standing beside him, suddenly became suspicious.

“No…” Pan Jun said.

Sun Jun immediately frowned: "What's wrong?"

After much deliberation, Poon Chun finally spoke:

"Logically speaking, if the people of Shu really wanted to melt down the iron chains across the river, they could have used those small and medium-sized warships that had a shallower draft and wouldn't have run aground."

Why use these rafts?
"Could it be... that these rafts have some other effect?"

Sun Jun, whose heart had been pounding in his chest, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Pan Jun's words, and then scoffed with a hint of disdain:
"I've always heard that Grand Master Pan is very wise, but how come he's not as good as a brute like me today?"

"A large amount of kerosene is needed to melt the iron chains."

"If they were to be carried down in small or medium-sized ships, how could the people of Shu be sure that these small or medium-sized warships would not sink to the bottom of the river?"
"If the oil tanker strikes a cone and sinks in the river, what will the people of Sichuan use to melt the iron chains?"

How much kerosene do they have?
"Are all the ships loaded with oil?"
"These rafts were built so wide and had such a shallow draft that the people of Shu could carry oil on them without hitting a cone."

Upon hearing this, Pan Jun felt that there seemed to be some truth to it, and his brows, which had been furrowed for a long time, finally relaxed a little.

Sun Jun stared intently at the giant raft of the Han army, examined it carefully for a moment, and then spoke again:

"Pan Taichang, can you see clearly the number of Shu people on that raft?"

Pan Jun, of course, saw it too, and nodded with an "Mm": "Each raft... probably carries more than five or six hundred people from Shu."

Sun Jun nodded: "That's it. If the Shu people only had mongooses and small to medium-sized fighting ships, they wouldn't dare to come even if they had ten lives."

Naval warfare requires the coordinated efforts of boats of all sizes. Small boats, medium and small warships can only carry a limited number of troops and are no match for large and medium-sized warships with superior numbers when boarding.

The Han army had six or seven hundred men on their rafts. Apart from the boatmen and sailors who rowed and paddled, there were at least three or four hundred men who could fight.

This compensates for the disadvantage in troop strength when boarding enemy ships or engaging in close combat.

Sun Jun stared at the Han army's wooden rafts for a moment, then finally let out a cold snort:
"No matter how many or thousands of people a raft can carry, it is not a boat. If you think that you can defeat the Great Wu Navy with these broken wooden rafts, you are being far too delusional!"

The appearance of the raft initially startled Sun Jun, but after sorting out his thoughts and figuring out all the key points, Sun Jun's heartbeat and breathing gradually calmed down.

Regardless, the Han army had been launching a general offensive against the Wu army's two docks north and south of the Yangtze River and the Iron Chain Pass for more than two hours. Sun Juncai finally realized that although the Han army seemed to be attacking the strongholds at all costs, they were not actually that stubborn.

Sun Jun is like that.

Not to mention the vast majority of officers and soldiers.

North Bank Wharf.

The Han and Wu sides fought for a long time.

The river breeze carried a mist of blood, and the stench of blood filled the air.

The Wu soldiers guarding the dock mechanically wielded their weapons.

Parry, slash.

The armor was already soaked with sweat and blood.

After more than two hours of fierce fighting, the more than 3,000 Wu soldiers responsible for guarding the dock had all taken turns fighting several times. At this moment, they were all exhausted and struggling to move.

However, the offensive of the Han army under Fu Qian continued like a tidal wave, one wave after another, without end.

Although Wu's army managed to hold the dock position by relying on fortifications, terrain, and some reinforcements from Wuxian and Tiesuo Pass.

But it was only barely acceptable.

The Han army, riding high on its victory and well-prepared, possessed superior armor and a more ferocious and courageous morale than the Wu people. They launched this fierce attack with an almost reckless disregard for cost. How could the defeated soldiers possibly withstand them?

"Hold on! Hold on for me!" A Wu army strategist trembled as he watched the retreating enemy lines.

Just as he roared the order, a Han soldier in front of him was stabbed down by a spear, and almost without a moment's delay, Han soldiers from the rear stepped over their comrades to fill the gap.

The same thing has happened more than once or twice in front of the Jiangbei Wharf front.

The fallen Han soldiers showed no fear in their eyes, while the soldiers who came to their place displayed an almost insane resolve.

No matter when, where, for what reason, or what kind of war it is, such a costless offensive is enough to terrify the enemy.

"Boom-"

Far upstream, a war drum sounded from the river, piercing through the fighting and clamor of the battlefield, and faintly reached the ears of the Han and Wu armies who were fighting fiercely at the dock and the fortified pass.

Initially, no one noticed.

But soon, the color of the river began to change. The originally green river water was mixed with a large amount of turbid mud, as if the yellow dragon, symbolizing the destiny of the Great Wu, was rolling and churning at the bottom of the river.

"Look at the river!" Finally, a sharp-eyed Wu man pointed upstream, his voice shrill with shock. As soon as he finished speaking, countless eyes from the Wu people instinctively turned to the river.

Everyone froze for a moment.

On the upper reaches of the great river, the red flags of the Han army blotted out the sky!

Hundreds and thousands of warships, densely packed together, were sailing downstream, truly like a swarm of carp crossing the river, filling the sky and the river!

Behind this group of mongoose warships were seven or eight enormous behemoths beyond imagination. They were not multi-story ships, but their bodies were filled with shadowy figures of Han soldiers in full armor, exuding a chilling aura!

"No...something's wrong!"

"The Shu people... the Shu navy! The Shu navy is coming!"

At the dock front, a Wu soldier who had just been driven back by Han soldiers collapsed first. Then, his halberd fell to the ground with a clatter, and his hands and feet went weak. It was unclear whether he was frightened or too tired.

"Didn't they say...didn't they say there were iron spikes sunk in the river?! Where are the iron spikes in the river?!" Another Wu soldier's voice trembled, almost crying.

"It's over...we've fallen into their trap again! That's how Yanyu Pass was lost!"

Panic spread like a plague quickly through Wu's army lines.

They fought a bitter battle with the Han army for more than two hours, suffering heavy casualties, all sustained by the belief of "relying on the river defenses and holding out for reinforcements".

At this moment, seeing the Han navy miraculously break through the iron cone of the river upstream, the taut string snapped instantly.

The scene of the Han army's surprise victory over Pan Jun at Yanyu Pass seems like only yesterday.

Upon discovering the Han army's navy and the giant rafts floating down the river, the Wu soldiers and officers were filled with fear and confusion.

"No retreat! Anyone who retreats without permission will be executed!" The Wu general in charge of the battle shouted sternly, slashing down a soldier who turned to flee.

But in fact, before the Wu soldiers roared out their first cry, many Wu soldiers had already noticed the commotion on the river. Panic had already spread throughout the Wu ranks, and by now it was almost impossible to contain.

The resistance on the Wu people's front line visibly weakened.

The soldiers kept looking back at the upper reaches of the river, their hands and feet weak. Their morale hadn't quite plummeted, but if no one stepped forward to stabilize the troops' morale at this moment, they probably wouldn't be able to hold out for long. The Han army would find an opening and break into their formation, and then the army would collapse like a house of cards.

Fu Qian, the commander of the Hanqian Army who had been overseeing the battle on the Jiangbei front, keenly seized the opportunity.

He drew his sword sharply, pointing it at the Wu army's lines, which were beginning to waver in panic. His voice boomed across the battlefield like thunder: "The royal army has arrived! The heavenly troops have breached the river barrier! The Wu dogs' death is nigh! Great Han soldiers, follow me to kill the traitors!"

"Kill the thief!"

"Kill the thief!"

A deafening roar erupted from the Han army formation, echoing across the sky and piercing through the clouds and splitting rocks.

No further encouragement is needed.

Almost all the Han soldiers saw the scene on the river, and their ecstasy and belief in victory overwhelmed them instantly.

The fatigue from the long battle and the heavy casualties were all forgotten in that instant, replaced by a surge of power and an overwhelming fighting spirit.

The previously deadlocked battle line suddenly surged forward.

The Han soldiers, as if injected with chicken blood, charged forward recklessly.

The swordsmen, braving a much sparser barrage of arrows, frantically hacked at the Wu army's shields and deer antlers.

The spearman thrust forward with all his might, piercing through the Wu soldier whose movements were distorted by panic.

The archers in the rear were unleashing a barrage of arrows at top speed, suppressing any attempt by the Wu army to counterattack.

In just over ten breaths, the Han army managed to advance the battle line by more than ten steps, whereas the previous advance of more than ten steps took half an hour.

The blood mist grew thicker, and the corpses of the Wu people covered this short distance.

The Han soldiers trampled over the blood-soaked corpses and severed limbs of the Wu people, surging forward like a flood bursting its banks, and tenaciously held onto the Wu army's crumbling formation.

A huge breach was instantly torn open at the front line of the North Shore Wharf.

Seeing this, Fu Qian no longer hesitated and led his personal troops into the formation, widening the breach to both sides with an almost unbelievable speed.

"Hold on! Anyone who retreats will be killed!" Wu general Li Su, who was in charge of guarding the dock, was both angry and shocked, and shouted the order with all his might.

While giving the order, he personally led his personal guards forward to fill the gap. The blades of the Wu soldiers were already stained with the blood of the Wu people.

But defeat was inevitable, morale was low, and individual bravery and the executioner's sword proved utterly ineffective at this moment.

Pan Jun and Sun Jun had no time to make any effective response before the outer defense line of the North Bank Wharf was completely lost.

Fu Qian took the lead and rushed into the dock.

The banner embroidered with the lion-like creature and the character "Fu" was placed on the Wu people's dock, while the banner originally bearing the character "Li" was being led by the fleeing Wu soldiers towards the Iron Chain Pass behind the dock.

...

Generals Zhang Gu, Lei Bu, Zheng Pu, Wang Chong, and Cen Shu, who were directing the attack from the south bank, finally noticed the sudden change on the river.

They were first stunned, then overwhelmed with immense joy and shock.

"That's... the navy of my great Han Dynasty?!"

At the foot of the Iron Chain Pass, Zhang Gu, who had temporarily halted his offensive due to the exhaustion of his soldiers and the fierce resistance of the Wu people, stared wide-eyed.

I could hardly believe the sight of the river filled with red flags, the fleet of boats, and those enormous rafts.

At another moment, Reibu slapped his thigh, his voice trembling: "This must be His Majesty's plan!"

Zheng Pu also took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, but suddenly pointed his sword at the sky:
"With the arrival of the Han navy, the Wu people's river defenses have been breached! Victory is assured in this battle!"

"All the sacrifices are worthwhile!" At the foot of the Iron Chain Pass, Zhang Gu suddenly swung his sword forward.

"Kill! We will break through this pass today! We are willing to die for His Majesty!"

"We dare to die for Your Majesty!" A thunderous response erupted from the Han army ranks.

...

On the largest raft in the middle of the river.

General Chen Hu, the commander of the warship, stood with his hand on his sword.

His gaze swept calmly over the densely arrayed "armored soldiers" on the raft.

These soldiers were clad in tattered leather armor and wore tattered helmets.

A wave crashed in, causing the giant raft to sway slightly. A soldier on the edge leaned to one side, his helmet nearly falling into the river.

Chen Hu strode forward, reached out and straightened the armored soldier, carefully put on the rusty helmet, and then patted off non-existent dust from "his" shoulders.

His movements were meticulous, as if the armored soldiers before him were his actual subordinates.

After doing all this, he raised his head and looked at the approaching Hengjiang Iron Chain, as well as the chaotic Wu army's naval camp and shore defenses behind it.

My writing environment was a bit rough today. I should get back to Kunming around 2 or 3 a.m. I should be able to get back to normal tomorrow. Writing while traveling for work is really exhausting. I'm feeling a bit drained, otherwise the plot could have progressed much faster.
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(End of this chapter)