Chapter 225 - Zhou Yu Defeated (2) (1/2)

Chapter 225 Zhou Yu Defeated (2)

Zhou Yu coldly looked at his soldiers that fell into the water. The corpses of the soldiers and remains of the s.h.i.+ps were all from his hard work. Now, the casualties were no less than 3,000. Is this the power of the ballista?

Zhou Yu looked at the banner of the 2 dozen wars.h.i.+ps and saw the Kuai character. In Jingzhou, the Kuai family belongs to a large and prominent family. The Kuai family, Cai family along with the Liu family and Huang family, and were the rulers of Jingzhou. The representative for each respective family was Huang Zu, Liu Biao and Cai Mao. However, the Kuai family had two representatives which was Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang. In the end, which Kuai brother is the one leading the s.h.i.+ps right now?

Zhou Yu was lost in thoughts. For the whole of Jiangdong, the only people Zhou Yu acknowledged as an opponent was the Kuai family brothers. There was Master Shui Jing and also Pang Degong. However, this was not people that Liu Biao could use. They were like observers and do not serve Liu Biao. Otherwise, Jingzhou would be the most horrifying group in all the lands. Those guys were comparable to the people like the Dragon and Phoenix, Xu Shu, or even Jia Xu. Although they were Jingzhou people, they wanted to avoid war. If Liu Biao could use them as well, he would have been truly frightening.

The remaining good advisors were at Hebei. Although Hebei has many prominent characters like Tian Feng and had strong discipline, it should be remembered that they were scattered. Although Tian Feng was loyal to Yuan Shao, he was unable to speak. For example, the soldiers were disciplined because of Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were strict. However, they were not smart. Their soldiers were constantly at each other’s throats.

“Perhaps it is Master Zi Rou.” Zhou Yu was a man known as the Handsome Zhou. It was not just because he was handsome but also because he was talented and behaved himself in a refined manner. He was polite to everyone including his opponents like Kuai Liang. This is also because he was admired by Zhou Yu.

“Is this the power of the ballistae!?” Another person who was shocked at the power of the ballistae was Kuai Liang. He did not expect the ballistae to play such a big role. Han Dang who did not even manage to touch his hair has already lost more than a dozen s.h.i.+ps. Kuai Liang also did not believe the power of the ballistae because the Lu Bu Army sold it at such a price. As a result, he decided to shoot at 200 paces away from the enemy s.h.i.+ps to learn that what he had learned was true.

“Rush forward!” Kuai Liang quickly calmed down. With this weapon, the Jiangdong navy must be anxious. If they could hit the flags.h.i.+p, they could take it down. Without Zhou Yu, the Jiangdong Navy would be without a leader and could only act individually. Kuai Liang believes that this battle would set springboard for the Jingzhou navy.

At that time, it would be Zhou Yu’s Navy’s Judgement Day.

“Yes!” Deng Long was also very excited! The moment they met, they already got rid of 3,000 enemies! Deng Long was initially uncertain. The Jiangdong s.h.i.+ps and soldiers were superior to the Jingzhou s.h.i.+ps and navy. To defeat the Jiangdong Navy, the Jingzhou Navy would need at least twice the numbers. This would mean that to defeat the 3,000 navy, the JIngzhou Navy would need to sacrifice 6,000 soldiers. This was also the number of soldiers their entire fleet has right now. However, Deng Long’s soldiers now were pretty much unharmed except for a few unlucky soldiers that staggered from the momentum of the ballistae and injured themselves.

Deng Long could already see the rewards Huang Zu has to give him for destroying 6,000 soldiers worth of enemy. He should at least have 3 grades of promotion. Perhaps he would be promoted from a naval general into a deputy general. There was also still Zhou Yu. If he could defeat Zhou Yu, he would really become famous.

Zhou Yu was Jiangdong’s number 2 figure. Once he is captured, Sun Ce would no longer dare to move. Deng Long would become famous. His Lord’s lord, Liu Biao might even make him a governer in excitement.

Without any command from Kuai Liang, Deng Long roared to his men. “You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Look opposite you and see Zhou Yu’s flags.h.i.+p! I do not need to say much about Zhou Yu! After all, he is the person that caused so many of our brothers to die! Now they are still occupying half of Jiangxia and your wife and children may be suffering! Now there is an opportunity for you to climb up there and capture Zhou Yu! An opportunity to earn promotions and wealth! What are you waiting for!?” Deng Long inspired his troops. There are two things a person of ancient times would risk their lives for. The first was a government post and the other was wealth. With these two, a lot of people would risk their lives for you.

“Capture Zhou Yu! Capture Zhou Yu!” One by one, the Jiangxia troops roared. Not only because of the promise of fortune stated by Deng Long but also because of their fellow officers. The soldiers were Deng Long’s men, they were recruited by Huang Zu from Jiangxia. Now that half of Jiangxia is captured, they would not stay silent.

Before this, they were too weak and did not dare to fight the Jiangdong Army. Everyone had the conclusion that they could only defend and not attack but now the situation is different! Now they have these weapons. Before either side could make a show of strength, the enemy was already fed to the fishes. Since when did their enemies became so weak? No. It is that they have become strong. Their confidence returned and their morale increased. The soldiers exerted their strength to paddle the s.h.i.+ps against the current. It was moving faster compared to when they went together with the current when their morale is low.

Zhou Yu’s soldiers also noticed Kuai Liang’s plan and moved towards their flags.h.i.+p. If the flags.h.i.+p is lost, the battle would be over.

“We cannot let you pa.s.s!” Han Dang’s flags.h.i.+p has aready sunk but he boarded a different wars.h.i.+p. He knew that if the 2 dozen wars.h.i.+ps rushed past them, they would bring disaster to the JIangdong Army! That weapon’s shooting power was not something a towered s.h.i.+p could withstand. Zhou Yu has a large number of large wars.h.i.+ps. It was an advantage in naval battles as its impact strength was strong. But now this became its biggest weakness as it was a bigger target and easier to sink. This was Han Dang’s mistake. He was the one who believed it was Lu Bu’s Army and did not bother to banish them.

“Pa.s.s my orders, protect the commander!” Under Han Dang’s command, one wars.h.i.+p started to turn at high speed. Their task was to block Kuai Liang’s fleet and completely expose themselves. This was a suicidal act but the Jiangdong Navy had no fear or complaints. They were Zhou Yu’s elites and Zhou Yu could remember all of their given names. All he asked was for them to earnestly serve as a soldier. With the exception of provisions, those under Zhou Yu would not need to worry about anything else, including their family affairs.

Marriages, funerals, and other family affairs would be settled by Zhou Yu. He wanted to make the soldiers fight and risk their lives without worry. It was a simple and straightforward plan but it was successful.

In the beginning, the Jiangdong Navy were inferior to the Jingzhou Navy. When Sun Ce captured Jiangdong, the only king of the Yangtze River was Liu Biao. He only had about a dozen s.h.i.+ps and afew thousand navy soldiers! Their military strength is not much different from Lu Bu’s current navy. It was Zhou Yu that brought Sun Ce out of that.

Soldiers that do not fear death and officials that are not corrupted. If these was not considered a strong force, what would be considered a strong force? However, Zhou Yu could only maintain 30,000 soldiers. This is because Jiangdong was not able to support so many soldiers similar to Zhou Yu. That is why this was only arranged for Zhou Yu’s soldiers. Even in death, they can still obtain rewards.

The lands of Jiangdong was fertile and it 6 or more of the fertrile lands belongs to the n.o.bles. 3 belonged to the Sun Ce’s Army. Any other lands belongs to the Sun Ce Army and the rest were reserved for talented officers.

“Shoot!” Kuai Liang looked at the Jiangdong Navy that did not fear death. He also lamented the fact that these soldiers were aces. On the other hand, the Jingzhou Navy could only be called elites. Probably because they have lived easy lives for so long! In Jingzhou, besides their training, they all tried to make relations.h.i.+ps to become rich. Besides that, Liu Biao was skillful and Jingzhou is wealthy. This wealth is also shared with the soldiers. Although these soldiers could still kill their enemies, but what about their children and wife? Their hard-earned money would also become useless! The Jingzhou soldiers who had so many worries became less willing to risk their lives.

What of it! I, Kuai Liang, win this battle! How long has it been since Milord does not have the will to fight? Since Milord is old and useless, I shall fight and raise his prestige again! To make Jingzhou powerful again! While he was thinking this, another giant arrow flew towards the Jiangdong wars.h.i.+ps. The arrow was not something a s.h.i.+p during that era could withstand. Soon the whole flat s.h.i.+p started to sink.

Just like that, before the s.h.i.+ps could even reach their enemies, the s.h.i.+ps already sank into the bottom of the river. This made Han Dang very vexed. Having never fought this kind of battle before, all of his tactics, stratagem and skills became useless. His soldiers were all struggling at the river. Although the Jiangdong Navy knew how to swim, the sinking s.h.i.+p would form a whirlpool from suction and may pull a person into the bottom of the river for eternal rest.

“Commander! Quickly go!” Han Dang did not have many s.h.i.+ps left. He commanded his wars.h.i.+ps to block the paths and to take the hit from the giant arrows.

“All units, keep on the pressure!” Zhou Yu looked with a cold gaze. It was not that he was ruthless and he even admires Old General Han Dang! He and Sun Ce both call Han Dang uncle in private. However, the battlefield is the battlefield and was not a place for personal feelings. This was Zhou Yu’s system of command. He himself wants to save Han Dang but if he did, they would not just need to sacrifice several wars.h.i.+ps.