Chapter 1463 – Attack on Nie Liang and Yang Tao, Sword Pointing to the World (Part 3)
“The naval force isn’t something you can train in just a year or two. The northern waters are sparse, and the difference between a shallow stream and a mighty river is not trivial,” Qian Su said, somewhat optimistically. “A bunch of soldiers training in a small river can at most learn how to paddle; how can they fight like a proper navy?”
The differences between naval and land warfare are not to be underestimated; training grounds and results vary significantly.
Most of Jiang Pengji’s domain is in the north, where, although there are grand rivers, the currents are often swift and the width unsuitable for naval training. Even if Qi Kuang is incredibly skilled, can he still breed a competent navy without the right infrastructure?
Yan Lin interjected, “I used to think like that too, but… after thoroughly researching Liu Xi’s various battles over the years, I suspect everyone may be underestimating her. The most typical example is the battle on the Chui River in the North Plains. Originally, the North Plains was an expansive grassland with deserts, glaciers, swamps, and even more… Normally, this would be the ideal battleground for cavalry, where they could really show their strength. Yet, when facing Liu Xi, the first battle was unexpectedly a naval battle around the Chui River…”
Although the reasons behind this naval battle were complex, the absurdity of the situation was undeniable.
In a place expected to be a cavalry clash, a jaw-dropping naval battle broke out instead.
“The Chui River spans five li; if we train our navy there, it won’t be as good as training on a wide river, but it won’t be too far off either.”
The Chui River is the largest river in the North Plains, starting from the extreme north and crisscrossing the area with numerous tributaries, nurturing countless people. Yan Lin may not have seen the whole river, but he could still imagine its grandeur. Training the navy there should be excellent.
Upon hearing this, Qian Su frowned once more.
“If Liu Xi can even overcome this shortcoming, then the navy under her command…” Qian Su struggled to come to a conclusion, but he could guess that Jiang Pengji’s navy wasn’t the paper tiger they had imagined. Not only did they have numerical superiority, but they were also formidable in combat. “Where does that leave our chances of victory?”
He remembered correctly that Yan Lin had just stated that Yang Tao was not without his chances.
“Naval combat differs from that of regular soldiers; it requires extensive training and a certain level of practical experience. Liu Xi has only fought a handful of naval battles in the north, and her navy still lacks practical fighting experience. The waters of Zhangzhou are complex; they are mere newcomers here, utterly ignorant of the waterways, weather changes, and river conditions,” Yan Lin observed with lowered eyes. “With a bit of luck, they might not have a slim chance.”
Qian Su trusted Yan Lin and felt a little more confident after hearing this.
However—
“What if Zhangzhou inadvertently falls?” Qian Su asked, broaching a rather unpleasant topic.
Yan Lin replied, “If Zhangzhou falls, then Liu Xi can lead her troops downstream and attack Nan Sheng… I think we all know how that story goes.”
If they lost the naval battle at Zhangzhou, Yang Tao would find it very hard to turn the tables.
After all, their enemies weren’t just Jiang Pengji but also the cunning An Huan lurking in the shadows.
With Jiang Pengji, the fierce tiger, in the front and An Huan, the hungry wolf, behind, Yang Tao was just a poor little sandwich caught in between.
While everyone else below him was feeling confused and anxious about their future, Yang Tao was enjoying his meals, sleeping well, and carrying on his daily routine of getting up, dressing, washing up, eating, and watching the naval training while handling paperwork, only returning home to have fun with his son and wife when the moon was high in the sky.
Yan Shuyao had been brooding with worries for a while, but when she saw her husband doing what he needed to do, she felt a sudden ineffable frustration, like punching cotton.
“What’s there to worry about? My husband won’t even be unable to protect you two,” Yang Tao turned to face her, with their baby babbling away between them.
The child was growing fast, chubby and bright, always smiling at everyone. It was Yang Tao’s first time as a father, and of course, everything felt fresh.
Yan Shuyao remarked, “That’s not what I’m worried about… As long as I’m with my husband, it won’t matter if we are in the human realm or the underworld.”
“Don’t speak ominous words. The child is still weak, be careful not to attract dirty things.” Yang Tao childishly spat a couple of times, adding, “But I’m overflowing with yang energy; you can lean closer. No ghostly specters or ill winds can get near you both.”
Yan Shuyao: “…”
Yang Tao played with their baby for a bit before sighing, “Even if you and Shaoyang say nothing, I know very well. If we hadn’t joined the allied forces against the Southern Barbarians, we wouldn’t have needed to be afraid of Liu Xi. Our strength, however, has been greatly diminished, making our chances of winning uncertain…”
He understood the gravity of the situation, yet as the leader, he couldn’t show fear in front of everyone.
In this world, it’s not just about retreating if one doesn’t want to fight. Yang Tao needed to take responsibility for himself, for the common people he governed, and for all those who loyally followed him. If they weren’t thinking of surrendering, he couldn’t entertain such thoughts either.
Yan Shuyao was taken aback, her expression complicated.
“What does my husband think?”
Yang Tao stated, “What else would I think? Let’s fight. Win or lose, I’ll accept it. Regardless of the outcome, we will give it our all.”
He was free-spirited by nature, with little obsession over winning or losing. Without Yan Lin’s support, he wouldn’t have reached where he was today.
“My previous dream was to be a chivalrous hero who punishes evil and aids the weak,” Yang Tao said calmly. “After my father passed away, without anyone to shield me, I realized how naive my thoughts were. Thankfully, I’m not alone; there’s still Shaoyang standing beside me. After dealing with the false emperor and avenging my father, I thought—no matter who else I disappoint, I can’t let Shaoyang down.”
As long as Yan Lin was still willing to fight, Yang Tao wouldn’t take a step back, even if it cost him his life.
Yan Shuyao remarked, “The friendship between you and your elder brother is truly enviable.”
“After all, we grew up together in diapers. He’d sacrifice his life for me; how could I let him down?”
Yang Tao chuckled, “Now that I have you two, I will do everything in my power to ensure a secure future for you.”
Yan Shuyao let out a soft sigh without saying anything, just tightening her hold on their child and leaning against his chest.
She wanted to be more optimistic, but given the current circumstances, she couldn’t help but overthink.
Even if Yang Tao said he would protect her and the child, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that without him, life would lack much joy.
For deeply affectionate couples, losing one’s other half requires immense courage to continue living.
The next day, as dawn broke outside, Yang Tao woke up promptly.
He cautiously got up and checked the diaper of the baby sleeping on the small bed, only to find the little one had wet himself. He hurriedly called for a maidservant to bring clean warm water and cloths. This child had a fierce temperament; he would cry and wail whenever he was uncomfortable, and no one could soothe him as well as his mother could. To let his wife sleep a little longer, Yang Tao had to endure shallow sleep, waking several times during the night to tend to the baby.
“Being a father is probably like this for most,” he thought.
He hoped to carve out a stable environment for his child to grow up in.
After giving his son a gentle kiss on the cheek, Yang Tao donned his armor and went on his way.
