"All troops, attack!"
At the wicked man's command, fifty Qin warships broke through the waves and moved forward.
The sounds of gongs and war drums echoed across the sea, startling seabirds into scattering and taking flight.
He stood atop the flagship, his expression solemn. At this moment, he not only represented the military might of the Qin Dynasty, but also shouldered the heavy responsibility of establishing maritime hegemony.
"Wedge formation, advance!"
At the command, the warship formation slowly took shape. Ten capital ships lined up in a wedge formation at the front, their rams like sharp swords, pointing directly at the Baiyue navy. The warships on both flanks spread out in a fan shape, about to form a huge encirclement.
The Water King stood on his flagship, watching this scene unfold. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes: This fleet was indeed extraordinary; every move it made demonstrated exceptional strength.
But he was equally confident.
"Pass down the order," the Water King said in a deep voice, "Proceed according to plan. Let them see what the art of naval warfare is!"
The Baiyue navy immediately sprang into action. Their agile warships, like swimming fish, darted swiftly across the sea. Their original arc-shaped formation suddenly dispersed, transforming into countless smaller groups that approached the Qin fleet from all directions.
"Grand Commandant!" Zhang Erhe exclaimed nervously, "They're trying to spread out and encircle us..."
"No need to panic." The wicked man had anticipated this. "Let them taste the power of the Mohist mechanisms! Order the vanguard to prepare the catapults!"
As the order was given, rows of specially designed catapults from the Mohist school slowly began to rotate on the vanguard warships. These were weapons personally designed by Zizhen, possessing not only long range but also immense power.
"Prepare..." The wicked man stared intently at the oncoming Baiyue warships, "Fire!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
With a dull thud, countless boulders soared into the air, crashing down on the enemy ship with a whistling sound. This was the first wave of attack from the Qin warships!
However, the Water King seemed to have been prepared. Suddenly, the Baiyue warships accelerated and scattered like a school of startled fish. Most of the boulders fell into the sea, creating towering splashes.
"Excellent response!" the wicked man couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. This was the skill of the Baiyue navy; they were able to react in such a short time.
But his killer moves don't stop there.
"Press forward on both flanks! Prepare the crossbows!"
The Qin warships continued their advance, the ships on both flanks gradually closing in, forming a huge pocket. Any Baiyue warships that dared to approach would be trapped in a tight encirclement.
The Water King, however, seemed to have seen through the plan. He raised his command flag and sent out a series of complex signals.
Suddenly, the Baiyue navy changed tactics. The previously scattered small fleets regrouped, but instead of restoring their original formation, they split into three echelons.
"Interesting." The wicked man narrowed his eyes. Was the other side planning a feint?
As expected, the three fleets of Baiyue launched attacks from different directions. They employed guerrilla tactics, moving erratically from east to west, giving the Qin warships no chance to concentrate their firepower.
Even more deadly was the seamless coordination between these fleets. When one fleet was attacked, the other two would immediately launch a feint attack, forcing the Qin fleet to divert its attention.
"This water king is truly remarkable!" the wicked man secretly praised. No wonder even the Baiyue navy held him in such high esteem. His command skills were indeed extraordinary.
But he was also prepared.
"Pass on my orders!" the wicked man commanded in a deep voice, "The vanguard will break up into smaller units and fight independently. The flank warships will maintain their formation!"
This was his strategy. Since the enemy wanted to wage guerrilla warfare, he would fight fire with fire!
The ten capital ships at the front immediately dispersed and began pursuing the Baiyue warships individually. Although these large ships were not as agile as their opponents, they had the advantage of superior firepower. As long as they seized an opportunity, they could inflict heavy damage on the enemy.
Seeing this, the Water King smirked coldly: "They've been tricked."
He gave another signal, and the three fleets suddenly changed direction and charged toward the center of the Qin fleet!
He had deliberately lured the Qin warships into dispersal to create an opportunity for a breakthrough. Once they penetrated the center of the enemy formation, they could dismantle the fleet from within!
"Oh no!" Zhang Erhe exclaimed, "We've fallen for their trap!"
"Not necessarily." The wicked man laughed, "We've been waiting for this move! Xiangli He, how are the preparations going?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, everything is ready!"
"Good!" The wicked man suddenly raised his sword. "Order the entire army: Unleash that secret weapon!"
As the order was given, specially made sails suddenly rose from the Qin warships. These were devices designed by the Mohists based on wind direction, capable of changing the ship's course in a very short time.
Suddenly, the ten scattered capital ships turned around in perfect unison. Instead of retreating, they advanced, actively meeting the charging Baiyue warships!
The Water King's expression changed. Was this a fight to the death?
But what shocked him even more was yet to come. Just as the two armies were about to clash, rows of specially made iron hooks suddenly extended from the Qin warships. These were interlocking hooks specially crafted by the Mohists, designed to restrict the movement of enemy ships!
"Not good!" The Water King finally realized what was happening. "Retreat!"
But it was too late. The Baiyue warships, charging too fast, couldn't turn around in time and were instantly hooked firmly by the iron hooks. Their momentum immediately turned into a disadvantage, and they were relentlessly pursued by the Qin warships.
"Now!" the wicked man roared. "Crossbowmen, prepare!"
"Whoosh whoosh!"
Countless crossbow bolts pierced the air, raining down on the hooked Baiyue warship. These repeating crossbows were also masterpieces of the Mohist school, capable of firing ten arrows at a time!
Even with the Water King's abilities, his expression changed at this moment. He never expected that the Qin warships would have such a deadly move hidden!
"Order the rear guard to retreat!" he decided decisively. If they didn't retreat now, this vanguard would be completely annihilated!
The Baiyue navy then realized they had fallen into a trap. The Qin dynasty had deliberately feigned weakness to lure them into a rash attack. Now, not only was the vanguard locked in a fierce battle, but the rest of the fleet had also been surrounded!
The wicked man stood on high ground, watching the battle below, and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. This first battle had finally set the tone!
But he knew that was far from enough. Since the Water King was treated as an honored guest by the Baiyue people, how could he be defeated so easily?
Sure enough, at that moment, the Water King suddenly raised a black signal flag.
Suddenly, the trapped Baiyue warships took an astonishing action. They actually rammed into the Qin warships, seemingly determined to take them down with them!
"Watch out!" The wicked man's pupils contracted. These Baiyue sailors were so fearless!
With a deafening roar, several Qin warships were rammed and nearly capsized. Although the Mohist technology made the ships sturdy enough, this suicidal ramming still caused considerable damage.
"This battle..." The wicked man gazed at the Water King not far away, "This is getting interesting!"
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