On the shore of the South China Sea, waves crash against the shore.
An old fisherman stood beside the wicked man, pointing to the distant sea: "Grand Commandant, please look. This area is extremely dangerous. Every summer, the winds are unpredictable; one wrong step and you could run aground."
The wicked man squinted as he surveyed the distant rocky outcrops.
This sea area is indeed complex, with reefs everywhere, and a slight mistake could lead to shipwreck and loss of life.
In an era without navigation, satellites, and radar, a wooden boat would almost certainly face certain death if it encountered reefs.
With current technology, short-distance coastal voyages are not difficult, but crossing oceans is really wishful thinking.
"How did the Baiyue ships manage to pass through?"
"They always use this route," the old fisherman said in a low voice. "They always travel in groups of three to five. The lead boat hoists a white sail, and the others follow closely in its wake. Only after consulting astrological divination do they dare to venture forth."
The wicked man seemed to be deep in thought. This was the extraordinary skill of the Baiyue navy; having sailed in this sea area for many years, they had long since figured out every hidden reef.
"And their ship..."
"Their boats are all specially made," the old fisherman gestured. "The bottoms are shallow and wide, allowing them to turn quickly when encountering reefs. And they're all made of cork, so even if they hit a reef, they won't sink immediately."
The wicked man nodded.
The Baiyue people lived by the sea and were indeed adept at swimming, which explains why they were able to dominate this sea area for many years.
"Grand Commandant!" Zhang Erhe rushed over, "Our scouts have made a new discovery."
"speak!"
"That water king of Baiyue seems to be no ordinary man. Since his arrival, all of Baiyue's warships have been modified. Not only have the hulls been raised, but rams have also been added to the bows. And..."
"And what?"
"Moreover, they seem to have mastered some kind of method for predicting the winds and waves. Even in stormy weather, their fleet remains safe and sound."
"I see." The wicked man's eyes gleamed. "No wonder the Baiyue people valued him so much. Such skill is indeed extraordinary."
He turned to the old fisherman: "Can the wind direction at sea really be predicted?"
"Not entirely," the old fisherman hesitated. "Usually, it's about observing the clouds and the sky, plus experience. But that Water King is truly skilled; I've heard he can determine the wind direction just by the movement of the waves. That kind of ability is beyond our reach."
The wicked man pondered for a moment. Although this Water King was powerful, he was not without flaws.
"Pass down the order," he said to Zhang Erhe, "have Xianglihe and Zizhen build more wind-measuring mechanisms. Since we can't compete on experience, let's use technology to overwhelm them!"
"And another thing," he added, "carefully investigate the every move of the Baiyue navy. Since this water king is so powerful, he must have some new ideas for them."
Just then, another scout came to report: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the Baiyue people are recruiting fishermen. They are specifically selecting those familiar with the waterways."
A cold glint flashed in the wicked man's eyes. This Water King was indeed quite capable; he knew how to leverage the power of the locals.
"How are things going with Wang Pen and the others?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, they have infiltrated several ports in Baiyue. However..." the scout lowered his voice, "Baiyue is very vigilant; they even check fishing boats before they set sail."
"It's alright," the wicked man said nonchalantly. "Let them keep an eye on things. Also..."
He took out a secret letter from his pocket: "Give this to Chu Ping. Tell him the time is right, and we can proceed according to plan!"
The scout obeyed and left. Zhang Erhe asked, puzzled, "Grand Commandant, what are you doing...?"
"Isn't the Water King there?" the wicked man sneered. "Then let them taste what it's like to be attacked from both sides!"
As night fell, the wicked man summoned several generals for a meeting.
"Although the Baiyue navy is formidable, it is not without weaknesses," he said, pointing to the map. "You see, their strongholds are all located along the coast. If their hinterland is lost, they will inevitably be caught in a predicament."
"So..." A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, "In this battle, we must attack from both sides!"
"Please give your instructions, Grand Commandant!" the generals said in unison.
"First, order the Nanyang army to launch a land attack, heading straight for the heart of the Baiyue region. To defend their waterways, they will inevitably divert troops. At this point..."
The wicked man traced a line on the map with his finger: "It's time for our warships to show themselves! Then we'll be attacked from both sides, and we'll see how they handle that!"
"Wonderful!" the generals exclaimed in unison.
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the faint sound of war drums coming from afar.
Everyone was startled.
"No need to panic," the wicked man said confidently. "This is the Baiyue practicing. It seems that the Water King is indeed quite capable; they've already devised a new formation in such a short time."
"Then let's..."
"Continue with the plan," the wicked man sneered. "Let them be arrogant for a few days. Once the army arrives, they'll be sorry!"
The generals obeyed and left. The wicked man stood alone outside the tent, listening to the faint sound of war drums in the distance, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
Baiyue, Baiyue, do you really think that hiring a water king will protect that shipping route?
Let you be smug for a few more days!
Meanwhile, Chu Ping had already led his men to infiltrate an important port in Baiyue. They disguised themselves as merchants and were specifically there to gather intelligence.
"This 'Water King' is a real character," a merchant said. "Since he arrived, we sailors have had it much easier. Before, we were always on edge when faced with storms. Now, with his guidance, we're not afraid of even the biggest waves."
"Yes, yes," another merchant said. "I heard he also helped the Baiyue people modify their warships. Now these ships are fast and stable, gliding across the sea as if it were flat ground."
Chu Ping and the others listened attentively and kept it in mind. This Water King's abilities were indeed not to be underestimated.
"Oh, by the way," Old Dong suddenly interjected, "I heard that the Baiyue region is recently conscripting fishermen?"
"That's right," the merchant lowered his voice, "They're all picking old hands who know the waterways well. I think they're thinking..."
Before they could finish speaking, several Baiyue soldiers suddenly appeared on patrol. The crowd quickly dispersed.
"Interesting," Chu Ping whispered to Wang Pen. "It seems they're planning to form a guide team."
"That's not all," Wang said, "Have you noticed? Their warships have been practicing these past few days. And each time it's in groups of three to five, as if they're practicing some new formation."
"Hmph!" Old Dong sneered, "The more they act like this, the more it proves they have something to hide. Let's go to the port later and see what they're really up to."
The Baiyue navy was indeed training intensively.
The Water King personally oversaw the operation, providing guidance on naval warfare tactics.
But what they didn't know was that, in the shadows, Chu Ping and his men had already figured everything out.
Upon receiving the secret report, the wicked man couldn't help but sneer. No matter how the Baiyue people tried to manage things, they couldn't escape the control of the Great Qin.
The position of maritime hegemon will change hands sooner or later!
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