Ji Han Grand Commander

Chapter 59. Night Battle
"Don't worry about Yifeng. Victory and defeat are common in the military. The Shu army knows that our Wuzhong warriors are good at naval warfare, so they must be prepared."

In the Wu army's central camp, Han Dang also comforted Zhu Ran with a few words. Just as Zhu Ran said, although the Wu army's navy suffered more than 2,000 casualties in the Broadday naval battle, the Han army also suffered more than a thousand losses. Moreover, the Wu army was not seriously injured and even found out a tactic of the Han army. Therefore, the Wu army could not be considered to have suffered a major defeat in this encounter.

"When have we, the sons of Jiangdong, ever been so humiliated? Wait a few days, and I will personally lead the large and small ships to go upstream and westward to destroy the Shu army's water fort!"

Zhu Ran also swore a solemn oath, vowing to avenge this vengeance with blood.

But Zhu Ran had no chance to make up for the lost ground this time.

At dusk that day, when it was already dark, Zhang Nan stood on his command ship and saw that the sailors had assembled. With a command and waving flags, the Han navy set out in a mighty force towards the Wu army's water stronghold.

Zhang Nan fought this battle for no other reason than to completely eliminate the Wu navy, or at least to make it unable to advance westwards, so as to prevent the Han army's food supply routes from being disturbed.

And Zhang Nan would naturally not be so foolish as to force his way in. After all, the water fort was well defended. Even if he could defeat the Eastern Wu navy by chance, the losses on his side would certainly be enormous.

At this time, there were many bottles and jars on the Han army's boats, and many of the Han soldiers also had some projectiles like slingshots.

"Report! Commander-in-Chief, the Shu navy has mobilized and is heading towards our navy's water fort!"

Naturally, the Wu army scouts discovered the Han army's large-scale movement early on and immediately reported it to Zhu Ran.

"How dare you! I didn't go looking for trouble with you, but you still dared to come and trouble me! The whole army defends the water fort and asks for reinforcements from the surrounding camps of our army. Today I must keep all the Shu army's navy!"

Zhu Ran was also furious that the Han army dared to offend him. Although there was a bit of northwest evening wind at this time, there were chevaux de frise structures on the walls of Zhu Ran's water stronghold, and the earth walls could not be directly ignited, so Zhu Ran was not afraid that the Han army could go down the river and attack the Wu army with fire.

"Haha, the Shu army has so many small boats, they must have really thought of a fire attack. What a pity, what a pity, when Governor Zhou burned down Chibi, how could our Dongwu navy not be prepared for fire prevention?"

Zhu Ran couldn't help but feel proud when he saw the formation of the Han army. Ever since the Battle of Red Cliff, the Eastern Wu has boasted that they are the masters of fire. How can a master of fire not be on guard against fire?

"Shoot! Stop the Han army's boats!"

But we still have to stop it. It's better to be safe than sorry.

"whoosh whoosh"

"Boom bang bang..."

The Han navy was slightly different from the Wu navy. The Han army was always fully armed with leather armor, no matter when and where they were, while the Wu army would only have some soldiers change their uniforms in some large-scale battles. On weekdays, small-scale naval battles were usually resolved with just a loincloth and a short knife.

Thanks to this, most of the Wu army's arrows were blocked by the Han army's shields on the small boats, and there were not many casualties.

Contrary to what Zhu Ran had guessed, the Han army did not directly ignite the boats to attack the gate of the water fort. Instead, they stopped less than tens of meters away from the water fort, as if they were planning something.

“Swoosh—Pah”

Suddenly, a strange sound was heard in the air, and then the wooden tower of the water fort began to burn inexplicably.

Although Zhu Ran considered the risk of fire attack, he only covered the outer layer with mud, and the inner structure was still made of wood.

In addition, the fire was so strange that it quickly became a fierce fire with the help of the wind.

The scary thing is that this is just the beginning.

Countless mysterious black objects in the night sky fell on Wu Jun’s water camp like rain. When they landed, they turned into burning flames, catching Wu Jun off guard.

"The Shu army has summoned the heavens to rain fire! Run away!"

Some superstitious soldiers had already started talking nonsense, but the Wu army soldiers had never seen such a scene before.

How could their camp suddenly catch fire out of nowhere? The Han army on the other side seemed to have done nothing, but their camp started to catch fire. How could the Wu army not be terrified?
"If anyone shakes the morale of the army, he will be killed without mercy!"

When Zhu Ran heard the shouts of the Wu soldiers, he was so angry that he issued a kill order. The sergeant and the squad leader killed several Wu soldiers who spread superstitious beliefs and managed to stabilize the morale. However, the morale was stabilized, and the water fort had been burned down.

From the outer wall of the water fort to the inner bay, even many ships parked in the bay, have begun to burn. Now even if Zhu Ran wanted to get his soldiers on board to fight the Han army, it would be difficult to do so.

"Boom!"

The gate of the water fort collapsed directly because the towers on both sides were burned down, and it sank into the endless river water and disappeared.

"Charge into the Wu army's water camp. Don't be stingy with the Molotov cocktails. Throw them at their boats and camps! Once you've used up all the Molotov cocktails, retreat directly to the main camp!"

Zhang Nan saw that the gate was gone, so he ordered the Han army's boats to rush into the water fort. The archers who were shooting arrows on the towers on both sides had long been burned to death or driven down by the fire. At this time, the Han army's boats rushed directly into the Wu army's water fort as if they were in an empty space.

"boom!"

Countless flames suddenly ignited on the decks of Wu’s warships. Even many tents on land were ignited by the flames, which began to spread in all directions with the help of the wind.

"Reporting to the governor, most of the ships have cleared out the Molotov cocktails."

On the Han army's ship, a messenger reported to Zhang Nan.

"Well done! Have the flag bearer issue an order for all ships to return to our water fort."

Zhang Nan looked at the fire in the Wu army's water fort, which was out of control and completely impossible to put out, and ordered the entire army to retreat to the water fort. His goal tonight had been achieved.

Even though the Wu army's sailors suffered few casualties, almost all of their warships were lost. Even if the Wu army rescued a few, they would pose no threat at all.

"Ahem... Oops, we're late."

Jiang Qin is the commander closest to Zhu Ran's water stronghold. Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai were both pirates, and they had participated in numerous large and small water battles in the Wu army over the past few decades. Therefore, Jiang Qin's emphasis on the navy was naturally different from that of others.

Unfortunately, Jiang Qin seemed to be old and had been ill recently, and even now he was on the battlefield with illness. As luck would have it, Zhou Tai was shot and injured by Feng Xi's Shenji Camp in broad daylight today, and was still recovering in the camp, so he could not come.

Upon learning that Zhu Ran's water fort was attacked by the Han army, Jiang Qin, as a fierce general in the water, knew the stakes and did not have time to care about his own health. Instead, he immediately ordered 3,000 people to follow him to rescue. Now it seems that there is no rescue, and he can only help to clean up the wreckage of the water fort.

"I didn't expect General Wu to come to rescue you. You are just unlucky."

Jiang Qin and his party were on their way when they suddenly found a group of people blocking the road ahead. The Han general leading them was dressed in white clothes and armor and had no name.

Jiang Qin didn't care about his illness, he flew into a rage and pointed the knife at the person who came.

"Where did this Shu general come from! If you want to die today, your grandfather Jiang Qin will grant your wish!"

It was pitch dark, and Jiang Qin couldn't see who was on the other side, but he sounded young. Jiang Qin decided to kill him first, disperse the Han army, and then rescue Zhu Ran.

The Han general on the opposite side seemed to be frightened and did not dodge or evade when he saw Jiang Qin rushing towards him.

"Shu will die!"

Jiang Qin swung the sword in his hand, ready to kill the Han general.

"Whoosh! Puff!"

Jiang Qin suddenly felt his eyes blurred and he felt weak all over. He looked carefully and found that his throat had been pierced by a bright silver spear.

"Danglang"

Jiang Qin's sword fell to the ground, his eyes were full of disbelief, he raised his head and fell backwards, dead under his horse.

(End of this chapter)