Chapter 144: When the Star Loses Its Light (5)
Baek Yak, who had been playing xiangqi with So-so, was startled.
His only hand froze, clenching a game piece.
‘That farmer was Military Governor Jang-yang…?’
Before he knew it, the farmer had seated himself at his desk, waiting for the messenger.
The piles of documents on the desk and the antique seal in the corner left no room for doubt.
And he was currently playing xiangqi with a little girl in the Military Governor’s office.
“It’s your turn, uncle. Where did the player go? Heehee.”
Whether a messenger came or not was of no interest to So-so. And the same went for Baek Yak’s inner thoughts.
“Y-You… are the General…?”
How could he have expected the Military Governor to look like a farmer? Knowing his true identity, he could no longer play xiangqi calmly.
With a trembling hand, he placed the piece down at random. So-so grinned and quickly snatched his chariot.
“Were you surprised to find out my grandfather is a general? Then I’ll surprise you again. Check!”
In xiangqi, when you corner the opponent’s king, you call out “Check!”
Jang-yang glanced at the board and said, “There’s still an escape route, so it’s too early to give up. Keep playing.”
So-so turned her head and shouted at Jang-yang, “Grandfather, don’t help him!”
She meant he shouldn’t give advice. Jang-yang found her cute and laughed heartily.
“Hahaha. Alright, alright.”
Left with no choice, a sheepish Baek Yak had to continue playing with So-so. Behind them, the messenger entered.
It was Song Hwa, a member of the Wolf Fang Squad. He gave So-so a quick nod before standing at attention in front of Jang-yang’s desk.
“Reporting, General!”
As Jang-yang listened to the report on the battle, his expression brightened further.
Once the report was finished, his laughter filled the office.
“Hahaha! Did General Yue Fei really slay Yu Gwang-se and take command?”
The original plan was for So-mu and Il-gwang to assassinate the General-in-Chief and place Yue Fei in his position. But it seemed they had modified the plan along the way.
“Yes. I witnessed it myself. After the General-in-Chief died, the army’s morale actually soared.”
“Indeed. How could someone like Yu Gwang-se compare to him?”
Yue Fei was a great general who enjoyed the absolute respect of his soldiers. His only flaw was that his upright nature made him somewhat inflexible. That was why it had taken a long time to persuade him to join this plan.
“Then I will take my leave, as the battle might have already begun.”
Jang-yang nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Seeing how eager you are to return to the battlefield, you must be worried about your comrades. I am honored to have soldiers like you under my command.”
“Y-You flatter me, General.”
Flustered by the high praise, Song Hwa bowed and left the office.
Jang-yang’s gaze returned to the board.
Contrary to expectations, So-so was winning. It was only possible because Baek Yak’s mind was elsewhere.
“Heeheehee. I won, Grandfather!”
“Our So-so’s skills are improving by the day.”
So-so skipped toward the door and smiled brightly.
“Heehee. I’ll be going now! Master is waiting.”
“Yes. Come back to play later.”
Once So-so left, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
Baek Yak stood up with a puzzled look.
“I am an enemy commander. Is it alright for you to receive reports on the war in front of me?”
“An enemy commander…? You aren’t one anymore, are you?”
“How can you trust me…?”
“I saw the way you looked at your children. It was clear you fought for them. So I am no longer worried.”
Baek Yak’s eyes wavered. After a moment, his gaze turned to the tactical map.
“I know the current state of the war from what was reported just now. But as long as the Hui Dynasty’s Grand General, Wanyan Hui, is commanding, it will not be easy. The Five Dragon Generals under his command are also all in the Flower Realm. Furthermore, other armies have also joined the campaign…”
The names of the Five Dragon Generals were new information.
Given that it was an allied coalition, it was impossible to estimate how many masters they had. Moreover, the overwhelming difference in numbers was something they could not easily overcome.
The enemy’s strength was far greater than expected. However, Jang-yang trusted his commanders.
“We also have many outstanding commanders participating.”
“Is Captain So-mu among them?”
“Of course. But as you said, it will be a difficult battle.”
Baek Yak knew well the martial power of the man who had severed his arm.
“Since he is participating, there is a glimmer of hope. But the battle will not end quickly. If they cannot supply the isolated fortress, it will eventually fall from within.”
“You are correct. And I have prepared for that as well. If you are curious, why don’t you sit down?”
Baek Yak sat down opposite Jang-yang without hesitation.
His heart hammered, but his mind was made up. He would join them.
***
Fifty ships were cutting through the water from the upper reaches of the Han River.
These were junk ships, the most common type of warship, with battering rams attached to their modified bows. With three main sails and two auxiliary sails, they were the ships of the Yonggang Water Fort, specialized in pursuit and retreat.
At the stern of the flagship, a middle-aged man in white robes stood with his hands behind his back.
A bearded subordinate approached him from behind.
“Fort Leader, we received a signal from the scout ship. The enemy fleet is deployed five hundred zhang ahead.”
“I already know. Keep advancing.”
The Fort Leader’s sharp eyes were already piercing through the distance.
After a moment, the Hui fleet came into view. It was a massive force of over three hundred ships. Yet, the Fort Leader’s face remained calm.
When the distance between the two fleets closed to about two hundred zhang, the Fort Leader raised his right hand and waved it a few times. At the signal, a subordinate waiting on the mast waved a command flag.
“Form a horizontal line!”
The fifty ships slowed down and began to spread out in a single line.
Once the formation was complete, the ships dropped anchor.
Just then, an officer who appeared to be the leader of the government forces approached the Fort Leader. It was Yang Yeon-jeong, Jang-yang’s adjutant who had set out from Hanzhong Fortress.
“Since we have the wind at our backs, wouldn’t it be more advantageous to speed up and launch a surprise attack? Why drop anchor…?”
“The enemy fleet is too numerous. We cannot win without strategy.”
Yang Yeon-jeong looked around.
On every ship, government soldiers and pirates were preparing for battle together. It was a rare sight, the first of its kind in history.
“I have no experience in naval warfare, so please take full command, Fort Leader.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
The standoff between the two sides continued.
Normal naval battles began with archery exchanges and ended with boarding actions.
Seeing the allied fleet stop, the enemy ships turned their bows and raised their sails, seemingly intending to push forward with their overwhelming numbers.
Seeing the sheer number of enemy ships, Yang Yeon-jeong’s palms sweated.
The distance between the two sides continued to close. When it narrowed to about a hundred zhang, the Fort Leader spoke quietly.
“Turn.”
The sailor sending the signal waved the flag and shouted:
“Raise anchor! Bring the stern forward!”
The fifty ships began to spin in place.
The stern of a ship has weaker armor and is vulnerable to impact. Thus, this was an order usually given when retreating, but today was different.
The moment the bow and stern swapped places, their secret weapon was revealed.
It was the Whirlwind Catapult, a mini-catapult from the Hanzhong military camp.
The enemy had no way of knowing. Who could have anticipated that the Yonggang Water Fort’s warships would be equipped with the government’s new weapon?
Moving to the stern, the Fort Leader and Yang Yeon-jeong waited for the right moment.
“I do not doubt our technology, but is it possible to destroy warships with this?”
“It is insufficient to break the walls of Chang’an Fortress, but it will easily smash wooden warships to pieces.”
Moreover, its power had been further enhanced. Since the projectiles were made using gunpowder, Yang Yeon-jeong was curious about the results.
“Then let us watch.”
The Fort Leader’s raised right hand pointed toward the enemy ships. Seeing this, a sailor shouted:
“Prepare to fire!”
At the signal, a soldier holding a torch lit the projectile. At that moment, the command to fire was given.
“Fire!!!”
The levers of the Whirlwind Catapults on all ships flew up.
Crash! Thud! Bam!
The fifty ships let out a thunderous roar. The fiery projectiles soared into the air, flying toward the approaching enemy ships.
Boom! Boom!
Along with a thunderous roar, fragments of destroyed ships flew into the air.
A ship struck by a projectile exploded and sank instantly. A single hit meant immediate sinking.
Although less than thirty percent of the shots connected, it was enough. The first volley was merely a test to measure the distance.
The startled enemy fleet began to increase their speed.
Just then, the allied flagship issued another command.
“Raise sails!”
The fifty ships began to move slowly against the wind as if fleeing. Or so it seemed, until the catapults fired again.
“Fire!!!”
Boom! Boom!
The projectiles soared again, sinking another twenty enemy ships.
The frustrated enemy ships fired arrows from behind, but to no avail. How could the range of bows match that of catapults? The arrows fell harmlessly into the water.
Seeing this, the pirates mocked the enemy from the decks.
“Hahaha!”
“Pfft! How does that taste?!”
“Keep shooting, you rats!”
The pursuit continued for nearly an hour, but the distance did not close. Meanwhile, the catapults had fired over a dozen times each.
The enemy could do nothing. Only after losing half their ships did they begin to turn around, seemingly giving up the chase.
At that moment, the command flag was raised on the Yonggang Water Fort’s flagship.
“Bring the bow forward!”
This time, the allied ships turned around to pursue them.
Because the catapults fired in an arc, they could also be fired from the front of the ships.
“Fire!!!”
Crash! Boom!
The catapults continued to rain projectiles down, ruthlessly destroying the enemy ships.
The Hui sailors were driven to madness.
The only thing they could do was spread their ships as far apart as possible.
Once the enemy ships dispersed, the catapults’ accuracy dropped sharply.
Yang Yeon-jeong, clutching her long spear, said, “It seems the enemy flagship is isolated.”
“Yes. We have been waiting for this moment.”
Although the enemy still had twice as many ships as they did, they were at no disadvantage. The enemy ships that had dispersed to avoid the catapults had already lost their formation.
The Fort Leader shouted at the top of his lungs, “Charge at full speed! Smash them all!”
His voice, echoing across the water, was infused with immense internal energy.
A moment later, the two auxiliary sails on each ship rose.
The Yonggang Water Fort’s warships accelerated in pursuit. The startled Hui ships did not know what to do. Archers rushed to the decks, firing arrows.
Swish! Swish!
The arrows flew to stop the charge, but it was futile. Government soldiers holding shields lined up on the decks, waiting.
Clang! Clang!
Most of the arrows were deflected by the shield wall.
Furthermore, less than ten percent of the enemy ships were firing. Almost all of them had broken formation and were in disarray.
Seeing this, the Fort Leader shouted:
“Prepare to ram!”
Ramming was a tactic of driving the bow’s battering ram into the enemy ships.
The soldiers and pirates held onto the decks.
The flagship of the Yonggang Water Fort was aiming directly at the enemy flagship. When the distance between the two ships closed to less than twenty zhang…
The Fort Leader glanced at Yang Yeon-jeong.
“Then I will go ahead. See you after the battle.”
With that, the Fort Leader leaped into the air.
Flying fifty feet, he landed on the water and ran across the surface like a skipping stone. Yang Yeon-jeong could not help but admire his water-treading technique.
‘I suspected as much, but he is indeed a Flower Realm master.’
Although the government had paid them little mind due to the war, the pirates’ strength was too formidable.
If they could not be incorporated into the navy, they would eventually have to be suppressed. She could not help but worry about the future.
Meanwhile, the Fort Leader leaped from the water and boarded the Hui flagship alone.
At that moment, the ships of the Yonggang Water Fort began to ram the enemy ships.
Crash! Boom!
The impact sent the enemy crew flying into the air.
“Urgh!”
“Ah!”
The enemy could not recover. The ships struck on their sides by the battering rams split in two and sank instantly.
Only after destroying dozens of ships did the ramming stop.
Yang Yeon-jeong, standing at the bow, prepared to leap as she shouted:
“Soldiers of Hanzhong, prepare for boarding! Show them the might of the Yeon Guards!”
The Yeon Guards was an honorable title given to the first generation of recruits drafted by the legion. As So-mu’s comrades, they were all elite soldiers. Thirty of them were stationed on each ship.
They leaped toward the enemy ships with agile movements, leaving a deep impression on the pirates who followed.