In Nanhai County, the military tents were brightly lit.
The sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, caused the candlelight inside the tent to flicker incessantly.
The wicked man stood in front of a huge topographical map, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the South China Sea.
This vast sea area is covered with dense markings, each representing a stronghold of the Baiyue people, and each marking embodies his hard work.
Since unifying the six kingdoms, this is the first time that the Qin Dynasty will be engaging in a maritime contest.
Although the Qin Dynasty was virtually invincible on land, even the wicked man had to admit that he felt somewhat uneasy facing the vast ocean.
"Grand Commandant." Zhang Erhe strode in, carrying a stack of bamboo slips, his body still damp with the chill of the night dew. "These are military reports from various parts of Nanhai Commandery."
"Tell me about it." The wicked man didn't even turn his head, lightly pointing his finger at a port. This was the most important military port of Baiyue, and the key to victory.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the Baiyue seem to have realized our intentions." Zhang Erhe unfolded the military report. "They have recently deployed a large naval force along the coast, stockpiling no fewer than a hundred warships at Liming Port alone. Moreover..."
"And what?"
"Moreover, their warships have undergone special modifications. According to scouts, these ships are not only enormous but also equipped with a number of new weapons. It seems they haven't been idle at sea all these years."
The wicked man nodded slightly.
The Baiyue people, living by the sea, naturally possessed unique strengths.
But this just proves the necessity of this war. Now that the Qin Dynasty has unified the world, how can it allow them to rule the seas?
"Go on."
"Furthermore, they seem to have brought in a master naval expert from the south called the 'Water King.' This man hails from the southern barbarians and is said to be an expert in naval warfare. He can determine wind direction by observing the tides and measure sea depth by the waves. Even the Baiyue navy holds him in high esteem."
"The Water King?" The wicked man finally turned around, his brow furrowed slightly. "Can you find out anything about this person's background?"
"Well..." Zhang Erhe flipped through the military reports, "I did find some information. This man traveled among the islands of the South China Sea in his youth and knows many nautical secrets. The Baiyue people invited him to advise them on tactics. But most importantly..."
"explain!"
"Most importantly, he seems to know the secret of that mysterious sea route."
A glint of cunning flashed in the wicked man's eyes. This was the key! That sea route to Xianglin was the lifeline of the Baiyue people. If they could grasp its secrets...
He strode to the desk, picked up his brush, and wrote a military order: "Pass on my order: Xiangli He and Zizhen are to come before me immediately!"
"The Grand Commandant intends to..."
"Don't we have the mechanical arts of the Mohists?" The wicked man smirked. "Since Baiyue has hired experts, then we should also show some of our true skills."
Zizhen and Xianglihe arrived quickly.
The wicked man unfolded the deployment map of the Baiyue navy and carefully explained the current situation.
Both Mohist masters were exceptional individuals who immediately grasped the key point.
"What do you all think?" the wicked man asked.
Zizhen examined the map, pointing to several key locations with his finger: "In my opinion, although the Baiyue navy is large, it is not something to be afraid of."
What do you mean?
"Grand Commandant, please look," Zizhen said, pointing to the port distribution on the map. "Their warships are all made from locally sourced softwood from the south. While this type of wood is easy to process, it also has a fatal weakness."
What weaknesses?
"Boats made of cork are fine on calm waters, but they're very easy to break in big waves. More importantly..." he lowered his voice, "this kind of wood is extremely vulnerable to fire."
"I understand!" A glint of cunning flashed in the villain's eyes. "So our warships actually had the advantage?"
"Exactly," Xiangli He continued, "The Baiyue ships are light and easily capsize in storms. Ours, on the other hand, uses hardwood from the north and is reinforced with iron armor, making them much more stable. Moreover, we have mechanical aids. Grand Commandant, do you know what's most important in naval warfare?"
What is it?
"It's height!" Xianglihe said confidently. "In naval battles, whoever occupies the high ground gains the upper hand. Our warships are not only tall, but also equipped with specially designed catapults. As long as we gain the upper hand, we can suppress the enemy."
The wicked man nodded repeatedly. It was indeed an advantage, but not enough. "But that Water King..."
"Grand Commandant, you're overthinking it," Zizhen said with a smile. "No matter how skilled he is, can he be more skilled than mechanical arts?"
"The catapults and crossbows on our ships are all unique techniques. Even if he can observe the tides and predict the waves, what can he do against a barrage of crossbow bolts once war breaks out?"
Just then, another scout rushed in: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, there's unusual activity over in the Baiyue region!"
"explain!"
"They seem to have discovered something. They've been continuously moving troops south these past few days and have increased patrols along the coast. It looks like they're on guard."
The wicked man pondered for a moment. The Baiyue were clearly making preparations ahead of time. But this was not unexpected. "Order all tribes to proceed according to plan. Furthermore..."
He walked to the map and marked several key locations with a vermilion pen: "Keep a close watch on these ports. Also, send men to secretly contact the local fishermen to learn about the hydrology and wind direction. These are crucial to victory!"
As night deepened, the lights in the military tent grew ever brighter. The wicked man and several generals, huddled around a map, continued their secret tactical discussions. Every detail was crucial, every step meticulously planned. This was likely the most complex battle since the founding of the Qin Dynasty, allowing no room for carelessness.
"Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe suddenly said, "why do you think the Baiyue people are so determined to defend that sea route? Even if it's profitable, it shouldn't be like this..."
The wicked man's gaze was deep: "Don't you understand? That sea route isn't just a source of wealth for them. It's more like... a hope."
"hope?"
"Indeed," the wicked man sighed. "The six kingdoms have been destroyed, and the world is unified. If the Baiyue lose even this last path, then they will truly have nothing left. That's why they are fighting so desperately."
Zhang Erhe pondered for a moment: "Then we..."
"Therefore, we must not lose this battle!" The evil man's voice became firm. "Now that Qin has unified the world, we cannot allow anyone to harbor any disloyal thoughts."
"This is not only about seizing sea routes and wealth, but also about making it clear to everyone in the world—the Great Qin will one day sweep across the land!"
"Baiyue was the beginning of my Great Qin's conquest of the world, and the beginning of honing our navy."
"It can also be considered as accumulating experience for future overseas expeditions, after all... many places are far away across the ocean and cannot be reached by horseback."
Outside the tent, the sea wind howled and the waves crashed against the shore.
The wicked man stood in front of the tent entrance, gazing at the distant, faintly visible horizon.
He knew that in that vast ocean, there were still many lands waiting for the Qin Dynasty to conquer.
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