Even more dangerously, they would occasionally send out strange signals, some were horn sounds, some were fireworks, and some were even seemingly meaningless flag signals. These signals forced the Qin soldiers to concentrate on guarding against possible sneak attacks.

"Brilliant!" The wicked man nodded inwardly. This Water King was indeed formidable; knowing that a direct confrontation would yield no advantage, he immediately changed tactics. This kind of war of attrition was like getting entangled with a group of cunning fish, the most troublesome of all.

But how could he not have made preparations?

The art of command lies in anticipating the enemy's moves. Even before the campaign began, he had foreseen that the Baiyue navy might employ this tactic. After all, given their strength, a direct confrontation would clearly be unwise.

"Pass down the order," the wicked man said in a deep voice, "Change formation according to plan! Let them see what the Qin Dynasty's battle formations are like!"

Immediately, the Qin fleet began to adjust its formation. The original wedge formation slowly transformed, with fifty warships forming a large circle. While this formation lost its offensive capability, its defensive strength was greatly enhanced.

More importantly, this would allow them to concentrate their firepower to clear out the surrounding Baiyue warships. As long as they held their formation, they wouldn't have to worry about their harassment. The catapults and crossbows were already prepared, just waiting for the enemy to get close.

Seeing this, the Water King couldn't help but show an expression of admiration. The opponent's adaptability was indeed extraordinary; every move was calculated with precision. This was no newly formed navy; it was clearly a seasoned and elite force!

But this was exactly what he wanted!

"Send orders to all units," he suddenly commanded, "Prepare for a breakout!"

Break through? The evil man was taken aback. Was the enemy retreating? No! Given the Water King's personality, he would never give up so easily. Moreover, the current situation wasn't too bad for the Baiyue navy; there was no need for a hasty retreat.

Suddenly, the old fisherman exclaimed, "Oh no! The wind has changed direction!"

The wicked man then noticed that the wind on the sea had indeed become unusual. The previously calm wind had suddenly become turbulent, shifting between the southeast and the northwest. This change in wind direction was a harbinger of an approaching storm!

Sure enough, just as the Qin warships were adjusting their formation, the Water King's flagship suddenly accelerated and rushed in a specific direction. The other Baiyue warships followed suit, forming a cone-shaped formation.

They are going to...

The villain's pupils contracted. The enemy was planning to take advantage of the Qin fleet's change of formation to break through their weak point! Moreover, this direction was precisely the most favorable route with the wind. If successful, they could not only preserve their strength but also steer the battlefield in their favor!

"What a brilliant plan!" the wicked man couldn't help but exclaim. This Water King's grasp of the battle situation was truly masterful. Not only did he accurately calculate the opening when the Qin fleet changed formation, but he even predicted the changes in the celestial phenomena. If it were anyone else, they would probably have fallen into his trap long ago.

But this wicked man is no ordinary person. These days, he has been studying a special tactic to deal with this situation.

"Pass on my order!" He drew his sword sharply, its blade pointing directly at the Water King's flagship. "Prepare for the first strike in the naval battle!"