Chapter 1566 – Defeating Nie Liang, Attacking Yang Tao, Aiming for the Heavens (104)
“Watch out, Military Adviser!”
The enemy’s assault was ferocious, and as time passed, the thick fog over the river only worsened, making things even more dire for Yan Lin.
An arrow flew from somewhere, and just as a guard was about to shout a warning, Yan Lin swung his sword, not even looking back, and knocked it down.
“Military Adviser, the enemy’s fighting strength is overwhelming. We can’t pinpoint their position, I’m afraid we won’t hold them off!”
Yan Lin said, “If we can’t hold them off, order a retreat. Have the severely damaged ships hold the rear and delay them as much as possible.”
“But, but if we retreat, our army will suffer a massive defeat! How will we explain it to the Lord?”
“I will take full responsibility, you needn’t worry,” Yan Lin coldly replied to the general. “The enemy obviously came prepared. If we can’t withstand them and don’t retreat, are we just going to throw our soldiers’ lives away and regret it later? Order a retreat, return to camp immediately for salvage.”
Even though Yan Lin had advised Lord Yang Tao to beware of enemy sneak attacks, what Yan Lin considered a sneak attack was on a completely different level from the actual situation. According to Yan Lin’s earlier estimates, the enemy attacking the camp was not numerous and consisted mainly of remnants, which posed little threat. However, it turned out they had been outmaneuvered; the enemies sent for a sneak attack were mostly elite troops with ample provisions, and it seemed the Lord’s side would struggle to hold.
Yan Lin understood Yang Tao’s disposition all too well; Yang Tao bore a resemblance to Yang Jian—appearing warm and easygoing, yet he was stubbornly obstinate.
If they didn’t send troops back to support, Yan Lin genuinely worried Yang Tao would fight to the death, squandering lives for nothing.
“What? The Lord has enemies as well?”
Yan Lin responded coldly, “What else? Feng Zhen used the Qiu Clan to mislead us and laid plans for so long, this was the opportunity!”
Knowing that the Qiu Clan harbored malice, Feng Zhen and his group had managed to keep their temper in check, waiting until today to take action; it was truly impressive.
However, Feng Zhen and his comrades’ efforts did yield results.
Nearly half of the ships Yan Lin brought were destroyed, countless casualties among the navy, and there were so many corpses floating on the river that they could almost form a small island.
“Return quickly, don’t delay!”
After saying this, Yan Lin closed his eyes, showing a calm exterior that concealed his anxiety and worry, fearing he wouldn’t make it back in time for reinforcements.
He decisively abandoned the damaged ships to block the enemies’ advances, buying precious time for retreat.
Due to the thick fog, visibility was low; Yang Si’s side only realized the enemy’s firepower was off when they noticed the enemy’s withdrawal. Yang Si exclaimed, “Who’s leading the troops? Just up and leaves without a word?”
The deputy general bitterly smiled as he pressed a hand against his wounded arm.
During the chaos, he had been struck in the arm by an enemy arrow. Though he lost quite a bit of blood, his life was not in danger.
“They’re retreating to save themselves! Why would they bother sending someone to inform the Military Adviser?”
“Why shouldn’t they inform me?” Yang Si argued passionately. “Do you know the kind of people who run away?”
The deputy general was taken aback, following his line of questioning, “What kind?”
Yang Si wore a ‘you-can’t-teach-this-kid’ expression and said, “They’re all military merits! They belong to me, and they ran without telling me?”
Deputy General: “…”
Not sure whether to feel pity for the enemies turned into mere military achievements, or to marvel at his own Military Adviser’s thick skin and unbeatable logic.
He trembled and asked, “Military Adviser, what should we do now?”
Yang Si replied, “What to do? Chase after them! You think I can just let a cooked duck fly away in front of me?”
The deputy general shook his head, “Can’t let that happen.”
Saying to chase meant nothing; unfortunately, the reality was separated by a chasm named “dimension.” Idealistic hopes clashed with stark reality.
“Military Adviser, the river is filled with the wreckage of both our and the enemy’s ships, severely obstructing our advance.”
Yang Si commanded, “Clear that wreckage! Quick!”
The deputy general added, “Should we cut the ropes connecting the two ships too?”
If they didn’t cut them, even if they cleared the wreckage, the connected ships in a “person” shape would not pass through together.
Yang Si said, “Untie them, and we’ll chase first.”
Despite Yang Si and his men moving quickly, they still couldn’t catch up to Yan Lin’s forces.
When it came to familiarity with the waters, they knew they couldn’t compare to Yan Lin’s naval troops. With the fog still present, it impeded the helmsmen’s ability to distinguish directions. Furthermore, Yan Lin’s troops were retreating downstream, spreading their sails while maintaining a reasonable ship speed.
It would be strange if Yang Si and his group managed to catch up.
Watching the cooked duck fly away and the military achievements slip through his fingers, Yang Si slapped his thigh and sighed in disappointment.
He had hoped to use this large military achievement to ask Lord Yang Tao for a handsome reward, but unexpectedly, it fell short.
Could he really just sit back and let Jiang Pengji raise the family and take care of the kids?
Yang Si’s regrets were not over yet; when he heard that the enemy’s commander was Yan Lin, his eyes nearly popped out.
Did he really manage to reel in the big fish Yan Lin with just a small chunk of meat?
What a pity!
The big fish showed up, yet he couldn’t pull them on board.
“What a loss!”
Yang Si’s resentment nearly materialized as Yan Lin rushed back, and the closer he got, the clearer the flames ahead became.
Instead of clashing head-on with Fu Wang’s army, he chose to land at another riverbank.
At this moment, Yang Tao’s forces were visibly exhausted.
The riverbank was strewn with countless corpses, and a glance revealed that most were from Yang Tao’s side, with only a part belonging to the enemy. Yan Lin held a torch near the water’s surface, observing the river had turned crimson with blood, his heart sinking further.
“Send people to look for the Lord. If you encounter the enemy, remember to sound the alarm. Always prioritize your life; don’t be reckless.”
Yan Lin’s luck was somewhat good; he encountered several of their own fleeing soldiers along the way. After several inquiries, he learned about Yang Tao’s whereabouts. Without hesitation, Yan Lin took most of his troops to support, while a portion remained to move the ships to designated locations. After today, they couldn’t defend Zhangzhou any longer. Yan Lin needed to plan a safe route for Yang Tao, ensuring they weren’t handed over to the enemy as the sun set.
If they could escort Yang Tao onto a ship and escape to the interior of Nan Sheng, there would be opportunities for a resurgence in the future.
Yan Lin’s plan, of course, was sound, but it depended on whether the enemy would allow it.
This enemy was not only Jiang Pengji but also the noble An Huan, who occupied most of Nan Sheng’s territory.
After driving off several waves of scattered enemies, Yan Lin worked hard and finally located Yang Tao just before dawn.
“Your humble servant, Yan Lin, greets the Lord.”
When Yan Lin found Yang Tao, his sword was already drenched in blood, his armor no longer shining clean, his body soaked in blood.
“Shaoyang!” Upon seeing Yan Lin, Yang Tao’s haggard expression eased a bit as he moved forward to help him up. “As long as you’re alright, we won’t discuss anything else.”
Yan Lin stated, “Your humble servant failed to unveil the enemy’s plot, causing the Lord to fall into a crisis and the soldiers to suffer…”
Yang Tao quickly interrupted him, “This is not your fault at all. Just blame me for trusting a villain.”
Yan Lin had been training troops outside; all decisions regarding the Qiu Clan had been made by Yang Tao, so he couldn’t be blamed.
Yan Lin said, “Your humble servant left ships at Huan Kou, where three thousand elite troops are stationed. I implore the Lord to set off immediately and retreat from here!”
