Chapter 243
Liu Mang then donned his armor and weapon and quickly goes out of tent, when he goes past Liu Ye, he said "Ziyang, I am going to Shouchun Naval HQ outpost now. You stay here, tidy up the blueprint and go rest!!!" Liu Ye nodded and said "Be careful, Milord!!! There might be a surprise attack!" Liu Mang nodded.
If only the one who defend this Shouchun Naval HQ is Gan Ning, Liu Mang can just give order from the sidelines, however the defender now is a non-swimmer, heavy-armored Black Flag along with a non-swimmer commander Xu Sheng, so if Liu Mang did not command or organize his troops, they will die almost immediately.
In Pang Tong's fleet Guan Yu and Pang Tong is drinking with each other, Guan Yu then asked "Military adviser, is this really effective?!" Guan Yu is of course, asking about his schemes and because of each s.h.i.+ps commandeered by only 2-3 people. If they were to be a.s.saulted or pursued, they will all floating on the river. Guan Yu started to feel scammed.
Pang Tong just stayed calm and toasted Guan Yu "Second General, drink with me. Tong toast you a cup!!!" Pang Tong indeed a.s.signed only 2-3 people as s.h.i.+p rower, so their speed right now is not too quick. Pang Tong then said to Guan Yu "Second General, your worry is actually warranted as Liu Mang army's reputation in naval battle is skyrocket now and also his reputation for winning an almost hopeless battle in Wancheng. However, since you reported that Gan Ning and his 12,000 naval troops retreated to Lujiang, then right now, there is no naval units in Shouchun Naval HQ. Also we are hiding between marshes and tonight there is a dense fog. No problem at all. Come, receive my toast" Pang Tong is raising his cup again. What worry you have, Second General? Sneered Pang Tong in his heart.
With Pang Tong is showing calm demeanor, Guan Yu also calmed down. (TN: the raw paragraph is contained only this one, the rest of them are gibberish written by author, but I decided to translate it out of respect for author who can think of gibberish like this) Pang Tong's age cannot be compared with Guan Yu, as they are at least 20 years apart, however a positive mood emitted by one person can affect other people with negative mood.
Guan Yu then raised his cup "Very well then, Yu toast you one cup!!! Yu also want to say a late thanks to military adviser for helping my big bro!" His worry has been solved by Pang Tong. Pang Tong then smiled and said "Haha, many thanks for the late thanks, Second General!!!" Pang Tong then nodded silently in his heart, he is really impressed by this Guan Yu and in his eyes, he is worthy as one of s.h.i.+ning star in this era. He is able to quickly calm down after he heard a flawless scheme.
While they are toasting, suddenly Pang Tong's naval soldier reported "Military adviser, the weather has become windy!" Hmm, windy? Thought Pang Tong while putting down his wine cup, and he immediately ordered "Observe the weather again" Pang Tong then thought back when he read Kongming's meteorological observation note. It is noted there, when it got windy, fog will follow. Oh Kongming, don't you fool me this time!!! Thought Pang Tong. "Yes sir!!!" The messenger cupped his fist then quickly goes out to observe some more. Less than 10 minutes, the messenger reported back
Fog! The chance has come Thought Pang Tong while he stood up with his eyes glittering to no end. Pang Tong then asked "How is the fog and how is the wind direction?!"
"Big, very big!!!" Said the messenger while doing gesture "BIG". This messenger is illiterate and can only understand a few simple words therefore he cannot describe it in detail.
Pang Tong then smiling widely. He is very happy as fog has fallen and ordered "To all fleet, we approached Shouchun Naval HQ now!!!" With that order, all s.h.i.+p raised their sails and began their approach toward Shouchun Naval HQ, also with this dense fog, no one will be able to see clearly what their enemy is up to. And before long, they reached in front of Shouchun Naval HQ, with the messenger reported "Military adviser, we have reached our destination!!! Currently we are around 100 steps from the edge." Pang Tong then waved his feather fan and said in clear voice "Good!!! Transmit my command, all s.h.i.+ps are to sound battle drum!!! Make sure all sound at the same time, so it will amplify the sound!!!" All of soldiers said "Yes sir!!!" And the first drum on Pang Tong's s.h.i.+p reverberated in the air followed by the other.
"The h.e.l.l!!! What sound is that?!" Exclaimed Xu Sheng. He just prepared to sleep, suddenly there is this unG.o.dly noise. Xu Sheng quickly donned his armor and goes outside the tent. Really, this Shouchun Naval HQ just captured and it started to be not peaceful.
"Hey you, what is going on?!" Asked Xu Sheng to one of the patrol unit. He then replied "General, we are being attacked by the enemy!" And continued his trip to pull out ordnances and prepare for battle. Ambushed? At this unG.o.dly hour? Thought Xu Sheng while his brow is knitted. Then he hear again, it is indeed war drum being beaten and its tune signifying attack along with war cry. However, he is really confused, as to what purpose those naval units doing ambush in a foggy where no one can see each other, also this is a midsummer, the weather should be really hot, how can there is a fog now? Xu Sheng then observed the torch on each s.h.i.+ps and estimated, the enemy numbered around 100 s.h.i.+ps. Since 1 cla.s.sic s.h.i.+ps can carry 300 people, then the enemy strength is 30,000 people. This Liu Bei really is not playing around.
"General, what now?!" Asked the nearby combat general. This man is w.a.n.g Wei who was appointed as Black Flag's deputy commander. Regarding his positioning and Wei Yan's positioning, I will be brief about it. Originally w.a.n.g Wei was to be appointed as Gan Ning's vice commander, as he got water experience. However, he got a better candidate for it. Therefore Gan Ning's vice commander is Wei Yan who had been a regular soldier in Urban Army. That man had been polished heavily by Liu Mang, until there is very little left of his original arrogance. Liu Mang knew that he cannot eradicate it completely, otherwise Wei Yan will be an empty sh.e.l.l, however due to his "training", Wei Yan had become quite obedient and know his place and he is already reached to the level that he will not betray Liu Mang due to his fear of him and will not dare to use Liu Mang army as a stepping stone. Gan Ning and Wei Yan are both arrogant people and the one who had bloated sense of pride of themselves but the difference is, Gan Ning is already loyal for his wish is a field to show his talents, but Wei Yan is a restless guy, much like Lu Bu himself. Therefore, Liu Mang put Wei Yan under him in order to tame him more.
So for w.a.n.g Wei, for lack of better options, he appointed him as deputy general under Xu Sheng of Black Flag's command.
Xu Sheng then asked w.a.n.g Wei "Deputy general w.a.n.g, what is your opinion?!" Xu Sheng asking him not because he is his deputy but because when Liu Mang introduced him to be his subordinate, he praised that w.a.n.g Wei is very talented and can provide good advice. w.a.n.g Wei then replied "General, from Wei's standpoint, it is prudent that we watch the enemy first as the enemy did not make any movement. Furthermore, it is dark and foggy, for any action. Wei believed that with 5,000 troops, we can easily halt their advance whilst one of us request for reinforcements." Xu Sheng then nodded and said "Un, Deputy General w.a.n.g's opinion is acceptable!" However, Xu Sheng want to know the actual situation.
Meanwhile in Pang Tong's side, Guan Yu is restless and said "Military adviser, where is their retaliation?!" Guan Yu is very impatient, as right now it is already 2 hours pa.s.sed and yet no movement from Liu Mang Army. Pang Tong then replied "General Guan, we need to be more patient" Although he looked calm on the surface, but his heart is really anxious as he is really afraid that his scheme will fall apart before the show even started. Pang Tong then changed the subject "General Guan, see the water, it is really beautiful. If after chaos quelled, we do vacation here, it is really comfortable!!!" It is in order for Guan Yu not to be stressful.
In Liu Mang's side, Xu Sheng also started to become anxious as the battle drum continued reverberating. Xu Sheng then said to w.a.n.g Wei "Deputy General w.a.n.g, we can hold the troops from moving, but we at least can shoot arrows in order for them to disperse. If not, Sheng afraid that they will converge with the main army and do all-out a.s.sault!! What is Deputy General w.a.n.g's opinion?"
Seeing Xu Sheng's resolve, w.a.n.g Wei just cupped his fist and said "w.a.n.g Wei had no objection, as long as general takes full responsibility!" Xu Sheng then nodded "Very well, I take full responsibility for this tactics!!!" Xu Sheng then bellowed his order "ARCHER!!!! PREPARE!!!!" 3,000 out of 5,000 troops raised their bows and Xu Sheng bellowed his next order "FULL SALVO!!!" Then all arrows were launched as if rainstorm was unleashed on Pang Tong's s.h.i.+ps.