The tide rises and falls, the waves surge and roll.

The two fleets faced off on the vast South China Sea, the sea breeze carrying a salty, fishy smell as it whistled among the battle flags.

On one side were fifty new warships of the Qin Dynasty, arranged in a wedge formation, with their huge dragon heads pointing straight south.

Each warship was like a sea fortress, its imposing walls exuding a terrifying aura of menace.

These warships were crafted by Mohist artisans over five months, combining the might of the Qin Dynasty with the ingenuity of the Mohist school.

The ship was tall, with layers of decks covered with catapults and repeating crossbows, resembling a series of mobile fortresses.

On the other side were more than a hundred warships of the Baiyue, circling back and forth like a flock of agile seagulls.

Although it is not as large as the Qin warships, it is more flexible and adaptable.

The cork boats bobbed freely in the waves, as if they were one with the sea.

Each warship can change formation at any time, coordinating with each other, like a giant net in the sea, ready to surround the enemy at any moment.

The wicked man stood atop the flagship, holding a telescope specially made by the Mohists, quietly observing the enemy's movements.

This new glassmaking technique developed by the Mohists allowed him to see things clearly in the distance, but it was far from reaching the level of later generations.

"What a fine navy," he murmured to himself.

Through the telescope, he saw a large, oddly shaped ship in the center of the Baiyue fleet.

The ship was entirely black, with a ferocious dragon carved on its prow, gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the sunlight.

Although the ship was not as tall as the Qin ship, its slender lines exuded a sharp and piercing aura.

Presumably, it carried the so-called Water King; the wicked man secretly memorized the ship's characteristics.

Fang Ke is a figure even the King of Baiyue admires and acknowledges; we must pay close attention to him when the battle begins.

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant!" A scout rushed over, "The Baiyue navy seems to be changing formation. They've adopted a peculiar formation, it seems to be..."

Sure enough, the warships opposite began to move, gradually forming a graceful arc.

Each ship maintains a perfect distance from the others, allowing them to support each other without hindering maneuverability.

The entire fleet was like a giant bowstring, ready to be drawn back at any moment.

"Water King..." The wicked man's eyes gleamed, "He really does have some skills."

This formation perfectly counters their arrowhead attack. Once the Qin warships charge, they will be surrounded by the Baiyue navy. The enemy has clearly studied Qin's tactics and knows how to counter them.

"Interesting." A cold smile crept across the wicked man's lips. "It seems this Water King is more than just someone who can observe tides and predict winds."

Xiangli He walked to his side: "Grand Commandant, from my observation, the Baiyue warships are all moving in small, seemingly disorganized movements, but in reality, they are employing a strategy. They are likely searching for the best attack position."

"Indeed," the wicked man nodded. "This water king is indeed formidable. He knows our ships are massive and difficult to maneuver. So he deliberately adopted this formation to force us to move first."

"Then we..."

"Pass down the order," the wicked man said in a deep voice, "The entire army will line up in formation as planned, ready to engage in battle! Let them see what the Qin's battle tactics are like!"

The bugle sounded, and the war drums thundered.

Fifty warships began to move slowly, each movement perfectly synchronized. This was the result of five months of repeated drills, enabling them to maintain a disciplined formation even at sea. Signal flags designed by the Mohists fluttered atop the masts, directing the position of each warship.

Zizhen also closely monitored the operation of the mechanism. These specially made weapons of the Mohist school were crucial to victory, and no mistakes could be tolerated. The catapult, the repeating crossbow, the water pumping device—every single one had to be ensured to be in perfect working order.

Just then, a scout rushed over: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the Baiyue have sent an envoy requesting an audience!"

The wicked man narrowed his eyes. This was interesting. They were already at war, yet he still sent an envoy.

It seems that this Water King is also a master strategist.

"Let him come over."

Soon, a lavishly decorated small boat approached the flagship. A middle-aged scholar in a brocade robe stepped onto the deck and bowed deeply to the wicked man: "I am here on the orders of the Water King to deliver a message."

"Speak," the wicked man said calmly.

"The Water King says, 'Before the two armies meet, why not first test our naval skills?'" the envoy said calmly. "Since Great Qin has built new warships, they must have unique features. Why not let each side send one warship to fight it out on the sea? This will prevent any damage to our peace and diplomatic relations."

"Oh?" The wicked man looked at the other man with amusement. "A contest?"

"Indeed. The Water King said that if Great Qin is superior, Baiyue will naturally submit and cede half of its sea territory to Great Qin. Otherwise..."

"What if we don't?"

"Otherwise, we request that the Qin army withdraw to Nanhai Commandery. Let this matter be considered closed, and the two countries return to their previous amicable relationship."

The wicked man suddenly burst into laughter. This Water King was indeed a master of political maneuvering. He appeared to be showing goodwill, but in reality, he wanted to test the strength of the Qin warships. Once the contest began, regardless of victory or defeat, he would gain the upper hand.

Winning would be fine, and losing would only mean losing a warship. But it's a different story for the Qin Dynasty. Once they reveal their hand, the rest of the battle will be much more difficult.

"What a clever water king!" the wicked man said coldly. "He's played his cards right. He can test our army's strength while saving face. It's just a pity..."

His gaze sharpened like lightning: "This Grand Commandant will not do as he wishes!"

"This..." The scholar's expression changed.

"Go back and tell the Water King," the wicked man said, enunciating each word clearly, "Our Great Qin army is at our gates; we're not here for a contest. If they know what's good for them, they'll make the Baiyue surrender obediently. If they don't..."

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