Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

The night was as dark as ink.

Five fast ships, named "Flying Fish Ships" by Li Chengqian, silently cut through the turbid waves of the Han River, like water ghosts gliding in the undercurrent.

The boat was low and narrow, painted in a dark bluish-black color similar to the night river. Its specially made soft sail billowed in the night wind, but strangely only made a faint hissing sound, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Several pairs of extended oars extend from both sides of the ship, which are rowed by strong sailors inside the cabin. This provides additional power and allows the ship to maneuver almost silently without relying on the sails when needed.

Li Chengqian stood alone at the bow of the leading flying fish ship, his black outfit almost blending into the night, with only his eyes gleaming with a cold, star-like light under the dim starlight.

The river breeze, carrying dampness and the scent of distant earth, rushed towards him, but he seemed oblivious, his mind completely absorbed in the perilous journey ahead.

I heard light footsteps behind me; it was Yang Nannan.

"Your Highness, it is past midnight. The first concealed anchorage is just ahead. It is still fifteen miles away from the patrol boats of the Xiangyang Navy. It is safe enough."

Her voice was low, yet clear and steady.

"Send word to anchor and rest for two hours, so that the men can take the time to eat and rest."

Li Chengqian gave the order without turning his head:

“Send out scouts to patrol three miles along both sides of the riverbank. If there is any disturbance, immediately raise the alarm.”

"Yes."

Yang Nannan accepted the order and left, moving as swiftly as a cat.

Soon, the five flying fish ships, like giant water striders, silently glided into the depths of a river bend and reed marsh, blending perfectly into the surrounding environment.

The ship was completely dark, with only the most essential sentries vigilantly watching their surroundings in the darkness.

Inside the cabin, by the dim light of a small oil lamp, Li Chengqian examined once again the sheepskin map, which had been worn smooth from being handled so much.

His fingers moved slowly along the winding route of the Han River, Yu River, and Huai River, his mind contemplating countless possibilities.

"Your Highness, are you still calculating the route?"

Pei Xingjian carried in a steaming bowl of meat porridge. The cabin was cramped, so he had to bend down slightly.

"sit."

Li Chengqian gestured for him to sit down: "Xingjian, where do you think our biggest risk lies?"

Pei Xingjian put down his bowl of porridge, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice, "The waterway is long and there are many checkpoints."

"Although we chose a relatively remote tributary and avoided the main roads and bustling towns, there are still many patrol stations, water stations, and possibly even local militia checkpoints along the way."

"Although we are few in number, our five uniquely designed fast boats could easily arouse suspicion if spotted by someone with ulterior motives. That is one reason."

"Second!"

He continued:

"Supplies. We have limited rations and water, so we must replenish them secretly along the way. Purchasing large quantities of supplies would attract attention, and looting is even more unacceptable. How to obtain supplies without being noticed is a major challenge."

Thirdly.

Pei Xingjian frowned:
"It is also the most unpredictable factor, the timing of events and the hearts of the people. Summer is rainy, and if rivers rise or flash floods occur, our journey will be greatly hindered, and we may even be trapped."

"As for the people's hearts... are the old subordinates that Commander Yang has contacted absolutely reliable? Will the local officials along the way take the initiative to strengthen their checks or even report on the matter in order to win the reward or out of loyalty to the emperor? These are all variables."

Li Chengqian listened quietly, his face showing no worry, but rather a hint of approval: "Well analyzed. Therefore, our key to this trip is speed, cunning, and change."

"The faster the exposure time, the less exposure time."

"Deception is used to confuse the enemy and prevent them from figuring out our true intentions and plans."

"If things change, we should adjust our plans accordingly and not be bound by a predetermined route."

He pointed to a spot on the map: "Look here, Anfeng Pond, where the Yu River and the Huai River meet."

"This place is crisscrossed by waterways and overgrown with reeds. It was once a place where troops were stationed and grain was stored in the previous dynasty. Although it is now mostly abandoned, the complex terrain makes it easy to hide."

"We need to make a crucial turn and resupply here, and at the same time, leave some 'clues' for our pursuers."

Pei Xingjian's eyes lit up: "Your Highness means..."

"Two boats were dispatched to create the illusion that they were going to continue eastward along the main channel of the Huai River, and to make it seem as if they wanted to detour around Hongze Lake and then head north again."

"The ship should be made to look like a real ship, and you can even deliberately discard some insignificant items bearing the insignia of the Crown Prince or the Navy."

A calculating glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes:
"Our main force, on the other hand, shifted from Anfengtang to the tributary Yingshui, and truly began its westward advance. This is a 'golden cicada shedding its shell' maneuver."

"Great idea!"

Pei Xingjian clapped his hands:
"In this way, even if the imperial court discovers that we did not go to Dengzhou, they will be led towards Huaidong!"

"Not only that!"

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a slight smile as he said:
"With Hilde's large-scale eastward advance, Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang defying orders in Liaodong and the Japanese islands, coupled with the 'clues' from Anfengtang, the court's judgment is completely confused."

"They will be busy running around, setting up defenses everywhere, unaware that the real blade is already quietly pointing at their innermost confidants."

He picked up the slightly cooled meat porridge, finished it in a few gulps, stood up, and stretched his somewhat stiff neck.

"Pass down the order: depart precisely in two hours. Tell the men that the road ahead is fraught with peril, but upon success, I will not hesitate to bestow upon them a title of nobility!"

"promise!"

Pei Xingjian solemnly accepted the order, his eyes burning with fervent passion.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, at the Liangyi Hall.

Despite the bright candlelight, Li Shimin was wide awake.

He was surrounded by reports from all over the country, and his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Dengzhou, Laizhou, Mizhou... coastal prefectures reported that they had strengthened their defenses as ordered, with frequent troop movements and strict inspections at ports, but no trace of the Crown Prince or the main fleet of the Jiangling Navy had been found.

Su Dingfang's navy still firmly controlled all the ports in Japan and avoided meeting with the imperial envoys.

Xue Rengui's Liaodong army remained steadfast, blocking the main roads leading to Hebei and adopting a defensive posture, but without taking any further action.

What bothered him most was the movement of the Jiangling navy.

Hilde's fifty warships and eight thousand naval troops vanished into the vast Yangtze River three days ago after passing Jiujiang, with no further confirmed news. Only scattered, contradictory rumors remain:

[Some say they've seen a similar fleet near Hongze Lake, others say it appeared off the coast of Yangzhou, and there are even absurd rumors that the fleet was seen heading towards Dongting Lake.]

"A bunch of trash!"

Li Shimin cursed under his breath, it was unclear whether he was cursing the incompetent ministers or his unpredictable son.

The cloud appeared silently, like a shadow:

"Your Majesty, the latest intelligence report from the Hundred Cavalry Division's Huainan Circuit indicates that traces of what appear to be high-speed vessels passing through at night have been discovered in the Huai River section near Shouzhou, but the number and type could not be confirmed. The local patrol office stated that no large official or merchant fleets have been reported recently."

"Shouzhou? The Huai River?"

Li Shimin strode to the huge map and traced it with his finger: "If Hilde wanted to go to Dengzhou, she should have gone down the river to the sea. Why is she on the Huai River?"

"Could it be... that they intend to go north along the Huai River, enter the Yellow River via the Bian Canal, and then turn onto the Ji River to harass the inland areas of Shandong?"

This thought made his heart tighten.

If this is the case, this navy will bypass the heavily fortified coastal areas and penetrate the empire's weak point.

"Is there anything else?" he pressed.

"There is no more definite information at the moment. We have been ordered to intensify the investigation of all hidden stakes along the route."

Li Shimin stared at the map, his eyes shifting uncertainly.

What exactly is Li Chengqian trying to do?

[To maintain control of Shandong, he needed a navy and ports. What was his intention in sending Hilde into the inland waterways? Was it a feint? Or was there another scheme at play?]

A growing sense that things were spiraling out of control gripped him more and more intensely.

"deliver an imperial order!"

He turned around abruptly and spoke rapidly: "Order all prefectures and counties along the Huai and Yellow Rivers in Huainan and Henan Circuits to immediately strengthen patrols of all waterways within their jurisdictions!"

"Especially at night, any suspicious vessels will be thoroughly inspected, and may be detained if necessary!"

"Order the troops stationed in Bianzhou and Songzhou to be on high alert!"

"Furthermore, I hereby order the commanders of Tongguan and Wuguan to refrain from moving a single soldier without my written decree! We must be vigilant to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation!"

Orders were issued from the Liangyi Hall, and the empire's war machine, driven by the emperor's anxiety, began to shift its power towards the Huai and Yellow River basins.

However, this passive, all-encompassing response played right into Li Chengqian's hands.

The dispersion of already limited military forces exacerbated tensions and chaos among local governments.

……

Two days later, at Anfengtang.

Five flying fish ships were quietly hidden among a dense thicket of wild water chestnuts and reeds.

A light mist rose from the water, blurring the scenery near and far.

Li Chengqian stood on the slippery gunwale, watching the two selected fast boats undergoing their final camouflage.

The excess supplies on the ship were unloaded, some old fishing nets and empty buckets were deliberately placed out, and several tattered flags with faint Jiangling Navy markings that had not been thoroughly cleaned were 'inadvertently' stuffed into a corner.

The dozens of sailors on the ship will also change into more casual clothes that resemble those of ordinary boatmen or fishermen.

"remember!"

Li Chengqian gave instructions to the two brigade commanders who had been appointed as leaders of the fake fleet:

"After leaving Anfengtang, we headed east along the main channel of the Huai River, hiding during the day and traveling at night, trying to appear as if we were in a hurry and had unclear intentions."

"If you are stopped for inspection, you can claim that you are a merchant ship fleeing from river pirates or searching for deserters from a lost fleet."

"If they could not deceive the enemy, they abandoned ship and each took a land route to the designated backup rendezvous point."

"Your task is to attract attention and buy time."

"Understood! I will not fail in my mission!"

The two brigade commanders knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in a fist and accepted the order, their faces showing determination.

Li Chengqian patted them on the shoulders: "Take care. Once the great cause is accomplished, I will credit you with the greatest merit!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Soon, two camouflaged speedboats were the first to sail out of the reeds, taking advantage of the morning mist to slowly head east and gradually disappear into the hazy horizon.

"It's time for us to make a move."

Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze, turned around, and ordered: "Turn around and enter the tributary of the Ying River!"

The remaining three flying fish ships, like light water birds, nimbly turned their bows, parted the dense aquatic plants, and sailed into a narrower river channel with a rather rapid current.

This is a tributary of the upper reaches of the Ying River. It is poorly marked on the map, and it would have been extremely difficult to find this hidden waterway if Yang Nannan had not sent people to scout it out in advance.

The riverbanks are surrounded by rolling hills and dense forests, and are sparsely populated.

The boat travels upstream, using both oars and paddles. Although it is not as fast as when it is downstream, it is safer.

Li Chengqian knew that from here on, they would truly delve into the heart of the empire, and every step would be like walking on thin ice.

But from here on, he will silently stab the Tang Dynasty in its most fatal weakness.

The morning light gradually dispelled the fog, illuminating the winding river and the silent forest.

Three black fast ships, like ghosts of history, sail upstream, quietly bringing a storm powerful enough to overturn the world to the heart of the empire.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace in Chang'an, the next urgent report Li Shimin would receive was about the discovery of a suspicious eastward-bound fleet on the Huai River.

This might reassure him a little and allow him to focus more on the East.

But he could never have imagined that the real threat was creeping in from his blind spot, from the towering mountains and dense network of waterways in the southwest. (End of Chapter)