Chapter 1285: One Battle Secures the Southwest (Twenty-Two) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Oh dear, although science has turned its coffin lids upside down, some scientific tips are still quite useful."

Using scientific tricks and the aid of incantations, they secretly employed the siphon principle to pump water, causing the water level to drop extremely rapidly. By the time the Southwestern Allied forces realized the water level was problematic, it was virtually impossible for a ship of that size to escape the encirclement by rowers alone.

Small to medium-sized warships?

Shen Tang didn't waste any time on them.

Light warships are small, highly maneuverable, and inexpensive. Using localized water level drops to trap them is too costly. The Southwest Allied forces gritted their teeth and abandoned a few light warships to escape; the damage would be at most superficial, far from crippling. If it were Shen Tang, she might even order her soldiers to disembark and carry the warships out.

A multi-story ship is different.

Mei Meng quickly realized the key point.

"Quickly, order the men to tear down this wall!"

While the water level is still low enough not to submerge the warships too much, dismantling the high walls and fortifications now will minimize damage. The longer the delay, the further the water level drops, and the greater the risk to the warships. Even Mei Meng's quick reflexes couldn't withstand the malicious intent of the Kang Kingdom.

They sent out guards to defend the high walls early on.

When Cui Mi and Liao Qian saw the naval battle unfold with ladders being used to attack the high walls, their expressions became subtle and strange. In this situation, the lord's words reached their peak of meaning—"A large forest has all kinds of birds; a long life allows you to see all sorts of oddities."

"...I've really learned a lot in this lifetime..."

Liao Qian felt that his previous understanding had been completely shattered.

When Liao Jia gave him private lessons, he said that the battlefield is ever-changing and that you can't rely solely on military treatises and spellbooks to fight, but Liao Jia didn't say that actual battlefield combat would be this absurd. Naval warfare, river battles, siege ladders, city sieges... how absurd is it to put these words together?

Seeing that the situation was not good, Cui Mi quickly hid in the cabin.

No sooner had he led his men away than a hail of rockets rained down on the warship from all four sides of its high walls. Most were deflected by the protective barriers, but a few managed to penetrate the defenses and land on the deck. Had it not been for the fire-resistant leather covering the entire ship, it would have been burned down by Kangguo sooner or later. Cui Mi ran so fast that his hair ornament was askew, but his lord strolled leisurely and calmly.

"Kang Guo's scheme is cunning; does my lord have a way to break it?"

Such an outrageous tactic must be related to the lord.

The water level is dropping too quickly. If the Kangguo forces can withstand the most intense firepower, their trapped ships will have one way out: sinking to the bottom. The Kangguo forces are finding the fighting easier, while the Southwestern Allied forces are under the opposite pressure. Once the water reaches the bottom, the Allied forces will have no choice but to abandon ship.

The transformation into nothingness was accompanied by a malicious smile.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what's so difficult about that?"

The method of escape is actually quite simple, but it's hard for ordinary people, especially commanders accustomed to traditional combat styles, to think of it. In their view, escape is about racing against time, breaking through the high walls and fortifications before the water level reaches a dangerous level. With the tonnage of the warship itself, it can withstand any waves except those so high they could submerge the ship.

Therefore, both sides are racing against time.

All attention was focused on offense and defense.

In fact, there is no need for this at all.

Liao Qian felt a slight toothache upon hearing her words.

He didn't understand what Versailles was. If he did, Liao Qian would understand where his urge to hit someone came from. Listen to her, is she even speaking human language? What does "What's so difficult about it?" mean? Cui Mi spoke his mind: "Please enlighten me, my lord."

Looking at the scorching oil and log rockets rolling down the high wall, the avatar calmly and elegantly said, "That's simple. Let me ask you two, if you accidentally fall into a pit, how do you get out?"

Cui Mi said, "It depends on whether the pit is big or small."

If the pit is big or deep, climb out; if it's small or shallow, just walk out.

Liao Qian: "Even if you know there's a pitfall, you won't step into it."

The figure shrugged, his elegant smile turning malicious: "Isn't the answer right here? Either crawl out or walk out. Martial arts masters can even fly out. If the main body is a warship, why can't it? If there's a high-level general in the army who specializes in strength, various amplifications can be applied to one person, making him carry the ship out!"

Theoretically, it's entirely possible to simultaneously apply the Lightness Spell to the warship and the Strength Amplification to the general carrying the ship.

It's not like it's a prolonged period of heavy load, just a brief burst of strength, so achieving this level isn't difficult. If there aren't qualified generals in the army, there are ways to compensate; if quality is lacking, quantity can make up for it. (The phrase "化無有" is followed by a second method.)

She pointed to the sky, then to the ground.

"The first way is to escape from the sky, and the second way is to break through from the ground. If we can rally our morale and the military formation's incantations can conjure catapults and siege crossbows the size of half a warship, why can't we conjure a special jack at the bottom of the river?"

Special jacks lift the ship high into the air.

If the enemy can drain a small section of the river to lower the water level, can they really raise the water level of the entire river in a short time and sink the warships? The essence of Zhang Liang's strategy lies in using a ladder over the wall and responding to each move as it comes.

Both Cui Mi and Liao Qian were speechless with astonishment.

They never imagined that naval warfare could be fought like this.

Although military strategy says that in all battles, one should engage with the enemy through orthodox means and win through unorthodox means, aren't these two ideas of yours a bit too "unorthodox"?

Liao Qian forced a smile and said dryly, "No wonder they say that those who are good at using unconventional methods are as boundless as heaven and earth, and as inexhaustible as rivers and seas..."

"The river is alright, but the sea is not."

The avatar curled its lip.

These outrageous tactics might work in rivers with depths of a few to thirty feet, but they wouldn't work in the sea.

Based on the conversation between the main body and Luo Sha, the living conditions on the island where the Luo Sha people live in seclusion are harsh. Small fish can be seen in the shallow waters, but giant sea beasts appear near the deep sea. These sea beasts have some characteristics of normal fish, but most of them are terrifying deformities, such as centipede octopuses, multi-headed sharks, and even strange fish with limbs similar to humans.

Even Luo Sha dared not approach the deep sea area rashly.

I've heard that there's a continent on the other side of the sea.

When my grandfather first settled on the island, he considered crossing the ocean to seek a living in the legendary New World and re-establish himself. However, the sea was rough, and despite his illness, he led his people out to sea, only to return shortly afterward. His fellow tribesmen fell ill and died one after another, and my grandfather's condition continued to fluctuate. Although the journey was unsuccessful, it made it clear that the deep sea was very dangerous, and the further away from the mainland, the more dangerous it became.

The seawater and even the air there carried a deadly filth, which even a martial artist as skilled as my grandfather couldn't withstand.

The main figure asked in surprise: "I've heard? Where does the root of the problem lie?"

Luo Shadao: [It originated from a porcelain painting. According to the indigenous people near the island, this porcelain painting fell from the sky a hundred years ago with a tsunami. They collected fragments and barely pieced together an image, which depicted land, ocean, mountains, and rivers. However, strangely, when someone made a rubbing of this porcelain painting and compared it to the mainland, it didn't match.]

The continent they knew was different from the land depicted in the painting.

Or, the painting is a forgery.

Or perhaps the artist hadn't discovered their continent.

The main body feigned curiosity and asked Luo Sha if he remembered the distribution of land and sea in the painting. Luo Sha didn't hide anything; the painting was simple, but the shapes were familiar. Luo Sha didn't miss the change in the main body's expression, and he hesitated before asking, "[Do you... know something?]"

I shook my head.

But the answer is obvious.

This special painting is real, but it doesn't match the current mainland because the current mainland was rebuilt after a major disaster.

Naturally, it doesn't match the previous maps.

The Venerable One said: "I don't know, but I hope there's no new continent."

Otherwise, the countdown KPIs set by Deng Xiaoping for Wenda would really fall through; this one continent alone would be enough.

Shen Tang had absolutely no desire to fight a naval battle.

If ordinary naval battles are already chaotic and disorganized, what would happen in sea battles?

Liao Qian and his companion had no idea what their lord was thinking; they were simply anxiously awaiting new instructions. Once the instructions were given, they immediately betrayed him.

The time was neither long nor short.

Kangguo, however, came prepared. The Southwestern Allied forces' warships were forcibly split up, leaving them to fight independently and try to escape. Two-thirds of the warships were successfully ambushed and became stuck in the riverbed silt, forcing them to be scrapped. But they had no choice but to abandon their ships. These unscrupulous Kangguo bastards, not content with simply pumping water from the warships, wanted to "fill in the river and create land," intending to bury them alive there.

Isn't this just a super-large "live pile driving"?

Other ships that managed to escape also suffered losses.

Either the ship's hull had been secretly breached, or the forced escape was too late, and the water level difference was too great. The river waters from all directions surged towards the multi-storied vessel simultaneously, destroying its structures and sweeping many soldiers into the river. These men were then slaughtered by the Kang State navy, who had been lying in ambush. The river turned a different color in an instant, and corpses littered the surface!

Taking advantage of the Allied warships being trapped in the southwest, Kangguo used its own warships to ram other Allied warships. They charged in and attacked, sinking any warships they could, and manually sinking those that couldn't be rammed. They were fully embracing the principle that those with nothing to lose are fearless.

Warships built on morale are expendable resources.

Consumables are meant to be used, why feel bad about wasting them?

This brutal fighting style also enraged the Southwestern Allied forces. When the two sides' warships were almost completely clashed, the bloodthirsty soldiers drew their swords and attacked. There were also driftwood pieces on the river; using them as footholds was a makeshift solution…

Brutal, savage, fierce, and domineering!

For a time, both sides completely abandoned any so-called tactical maneuvers.

Kill anyone you see; killing is profit.

The thick fog over the river not only didn't dissipate, but actually thickened, to the point where it was impossible to distinguish people and animals from three meters away; one could only differentiate friend from foe by sound and accent. Mei Meng hadn't expected the Kang Kingdom's army to be so fierce; despite the unequal numbers of the two sides, they had managed to entangle themselves for so long.

In terms of naval prowess, the Southwestern Allied forces held a clear advantage.

From the moment the bloody battle began, Mei Meng changed her combat strategy.

Rather than fighting for control of the river, it's better to go into the water!

Once in the water, their swimming skills could be maximized, while minimizing the adverse effects of natural factors such as river winds and dense fog. If they could seize control of the underwater terrain, this Kangguo army would have no choice but to retreat. Ji Moqiu attempted several times to disperse the fog…

The fog on the river was so thick that even the bravest martial artists were affected.

The increased time cost required to distinguish friend from foe reduces the efficiency of combat. With little effect from the dispersal method, Ji Moqiu had no choice but to give up, somewhat regretting that his teacher had passed away so early. If his teacher were still alive, his scholarly approach to distinguishing friend from foe would have been far too simple.

However, Ji Moqiu quickly came up with a solution.

With a flick of his staff, he unleashed divine power that swiftly merged into the water. Looking down from underwater onto the river's surface, it resembled a sky full of stars.

"What's this?"

"It's a Gu worm."

A useless, almost worthless Gu worm.

Breeding them doesn't take long; a single breeding can produce tens of thousands of Gu eggs. These Gu eggs are not picky eaters and can hatch anywhere they land. They have no healing abilities, no offensive abilities, and their defensive capabilities are essentially nonexistent.

Even the time from hatching to death is only half an hour.

However, they have one characteristic.

They share the same thought process, the same brain.

"Let them attach to the soldiers, so they can quickly distinguish friend from foe without needing sight or hearing." In some ways, the function is quite similar to the basic abilities of his teacher's literati way.

Shen Tang did not hesitate: "I will do as you say."

She didn't linger, following the connection with the avatar Wu You, and the two sides coordinated to form an encirclement. Mei Meng's change of tactics was indeed a rational move, and it also helped the Southwest Allied Forces to recover from their setbacks to the greatest extent. Whether it was the attack or the underwater withdrawal, they maintained favorable conditions. However, Shen Tang was not satisfied with this small advantage.

Even the ethereal being turned against them at this moment.

Just as the Southwestern Allied forces had stabilized their position, a series of backstabbing attacks followed.

The unfortunate soul who died didn't even know how he died.

I don't understand when the people around me turned into enemies.

In the chaos of the battlefield, intelligence transmission was difficult. By the time news of Zhongli Fu's troops' defection reached Mei Meng's ears, the situation had escalated beyond control. Mei Meng trembled with rage, her voice hoarse, her teeth chattering: "Who did you say defected?"

Zhongli Fu?

How could it be her?

How could it be her!

Mei Meng cried out hoarsely, "Cui Zhi! What a Cui family!"

She didn't even care about the blood welling up in her throat; rage nearly consumed the last vestiges of reason in her mind. She didn't care about Zhong Lifu's betrayal; what mattered was the faction he represented. And considering Cui Zhi's departure at the last minute, her killing intent intensified!

Aside from the impact of the Cui clan's rebellion on Qi's influence within the allied forces, Qi's own territory was thrown into turmoil, leading to a major reshuffling of power dynamics. When did the Cui clan develop rebellious intentions? Was it during Cui Hui's imprisonment?

Has Cui Zhi gone mad?

The Cui clan and their assets are all in Qi State, how dare he rebel?

Or was this betrayal not at Cui Zhi's behest, but Zhong Li Fu's personal choice? A jumble of thoughts filled Mei Meng's mind, exacerbating the dizziness caused by her depleted literary energy. She gripped the sword at her waist, forcing herself to calm down.

She could have fought back against Kangguo, but Zhongli Fu's betrayal shattered the fragile balance. Forced to grit her teeth and give the order for an immediate retreat, she had no choice but to give the order.

"...We have a long future ahead of us!"

Mei Meng spat out blood.

"...coming and leaving as easily as you please?"

In the chaos of the battlefield, where it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe, Allied soldiers took the opportunity to cover Mei Meng's retreat, but little did they know that someone had anticipated her prediction.

Zhongli Fu, who was making Mei Meng grit her teeth tonight, was riding a wooden boat against the river wind. Beside him, Cui Erlangjun, pale-faced, clung to the gunwale, pretending to vomit. Cui Mi had seen Mei Meng's retreat route, but also saw her being rescued.

"It's a wasted trip for our lord."

Vanishing into nothingness: "Who can steal my military merits?"

(=￣ω￣=)

Damn, this battle is finally coming to an end! (Actually, the title should have been changed, but creating a separate title would have taken too much effort, so a numbered title is much easier.)

P.S.: The fate of Mei Meng was predetermined from the very beginning of her character's story. Judging from book reviews, I know she's not very likable, but from our perspectives, her actions are consistent with her character and she has her own motives. This applies not only to Mei Meng but also to the other female supporting characters. In the chaotic world, they consistently follow their own life paths, rather than revolving around the "protagonist."

On the path to supremacy, not everyone has to bow down to Tang Mei. Where there are allies, there will be rivals. Regardless of who the rival is, as long as they are Tang Mei's opponent, we should try our best to give them a dignified ending.

In his early years, Shiitake Mushroom may have written some bad jokes and made some major mistakes due to immaturity or catering to the market. However, he has tried to maintain a principle when arranging the protagonist's antagonists: "A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated." Mental attacks are acceptable, but physical abuse is unnecessary. Male antagonists have a dignified end, while female antagonists inflict sexual humiliation; this would be a breakdown of Tang Mei's character. An antagonist is an antagonist; an antagonist has no gender.