"The first strike in a naval battle?" Zhang Erhe was taken aback when he heard this unfamiliar term.
He had followed his wicked husband for many years and knew that his superior was always meticulous and that every time he proposed a new tactic, it was after careful consideration.
The wicked man stared intently at the distant Baiyue fleet with a solemn expression.
During his five-month seclusion, aside from discussing warship construction with Mohist craftsmen, he spent most of his time researching this unique combat tactic.
As a northerner, he was initially completely ignorant about naval warfare.
But his years of experience commanding troops told him that the essence of any war is the same—anticipating the enemy's moves and controlling the battlefield.
"Order all ships," he said in a deep voice, "prepare to turn the sails and form ranks according to the predetermined positions! Remember, every angle must be precise; there is no room for carelessness!"
As the order was given, the Qin fleet began an astonishing formation change.
Fifty warships slowly adjusted their course, each one assuming a specific angle based on the wind direction.
The sails specially made by the Mohists gleamed in the sunlight, resembling enormous wings.
The key to this formation lies in the positioning of each warship.
The wicked man spent two whole months repeatedly rehearsing the plan before finally determining the exact location of each ship. Even the slightest deviation would have ruined the entire operation.
Gradually, the entire fleet took on a huge funnel shape.
Viewed from above, it resembles the mouth of a giant beast waiting to devour its prey.
The Water King stood on his ship, his gaze piercing.
For the past twenty years, he has roamed the South China Sea, boasting of his extensive knowledge and experience.
He was intimately familiar with all sorts of naval warfare tactics and unorthodox military strategies. Yet, seeing the Qin fleet's change in formation, he couldn't help but frown.
The seemingly chaotic arrangement of those towering warships actually reveals a hidden order.
This is hardly the behavior of a fledgling navy!
"Interesting," he muttered to himself, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes. "This Grand Commandant of Qin is indeed a man of great hidden talent."
Just then, the wind direction on the sea suddenly changed drastically.
A massive cyclone is forming!
"Oh no!" cried a Baiyue sailor who had traversed the South China Sea for decades. "It's a waterspout!!"
"Oh no!" The Water King's expression suddenly changed.
"Attention all troops!" he immediately ordered. "Fold down the sails and retreat immediately!"
But it was too late.
The cyclone grew larger and larger, and began to affect the course of the Baiyue fleet.
Some of the smaller warships had lost control of their direction and were being swept towards the center by the powerful air currents.
That situation was like a moth drawn to a flame, inevitably being swept into a vortex of death.
"Good, this is truly heaven's help!" the wicked man roared.
"Order the entire army to prepare for the second phase! Let the Baiyue see what the Qin's methods are like!"
On the Qin warships, rows of catapults specially made by the Mohists slowly rotated, aiming at the out-of-control Baiyue warships.
These mechanisms were all designed by Xiang Lihe himself. Each one can launch three giant stones at the same time, and now they are coming in handy!
"put!"
Dense boulders rained down on the Baiyue warships.
Those small boats, already teetering on the brink of collapse in the storm, could hardly withstand such a blow.
Within moments, more than ten warships were sunk. The wrecked planks floated on the sea like fallen leaves in autumn.
"Grand Commandant, what a brilliant plan!" Zhang Erhe couldn't help but applaud. Although it was thanks to the celestial phenomenon, it was clear that the efforts of the past few months had not been in vain.
But the Water King's abilities should not be underestimated.
Twenty years of experience in the South China Sea allowed him to remain calm even in the most critical moments.
"Pass down the order," he said in a deep voice, "Prepare for the 'Wave-Breaking' maneuver! Let the Qin people see what the true essence of naval warfare is!"
Immediately, the remaining Baiyue warships began to perform a strange maneuver.
They actually headed towards the center of the cyclone, but each ship maintained a specific angle.
The experienced sailors maneuvered the boats, using the force of the air currents to make them spin at high speed.
This is his closely guarded secret.
When the Water King was traveling around, he once met an old fisherman on a small island.
The man taught him how to maintain balance in a whirlpool, a skill that had been passed down in the South China Sea for a long time but had never been used in actual combat.
"This is..." A hint of surprise flashed in the wicked man's eyes.
The opponent is trying to use the force of rotation to counteract the effect of the cyclone! He hadn't anticipated this tactic at all when designing his battle plan.
Sure enough, the spinning warships gradually reached a new equilibrium. They were like a flock of petrels dancing in a whirlpool, seemingly dangerous, yet always maintaining stability.
This is the way of water – to go with the flow and use the opponent's strength against them.
"As expected of the Water King," the wicked man exclaimed. "His ability to adapt to changing circumstances is truly terrifying. However..."
A cold smile crept across his lips. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for!
"Pass on my order!" he suddenly raised his voice, "Prepare for the assault! This is the true killing move of the first strike in the naval battle!"
Suddenly, ten pre-prepared main warships in the Qin fleet started moving.
The bows of these warships were fitted with specially made rams, masterpieces painstakingly crafted by the Mohist artisans.
Each ram is forged from the strongest steel, making it most lethal in such situations.
The Water King immediately discerned the enemy's intentions. While the spinning warships had temporarily stabilized, they had lost their agility. This was the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack! The enemy's naval warfare tactics had such a hidden trump card.
"Retreat immediately!" he decided decisively. "Don't fight head-on! They're trying to fight to the death!"
But it was too late!
The ten capital ships charged forward at high speed, like ten sharp arrows, using the force of the cyclone.
Their target was clear—the Water King's flagship! This was the wicked man's carefully planned killing move, designed to cripple the core of the Baiyue navy in one fell swoop!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Amidst the continuous crashing sounds, several Baiyue warships were overturned.
Those specially designed rams are incredibly powerful, and combined with the force of rotation, they are almost always fatal with a single blow.
A towering column of water immediately shot up from the sea, mixed with broken planks and sailors who had fallen into the water.
Although the Water King's flagship swerved in time, it was still grazed by the gunwale. The sturdy planks shattered instantly, revealing a huge gash. While not fatal, the impact severely affected the ship's performance.
"Your Excellency possesses remarkable skill," the Water King said slowly, gazing at the wicked man not far away. His voice remained calm, showing no sign of panic. "To combine the Mohist mechanical arts and naval warfare techniques so perfectly is truly admirable. However..."
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes: "That's not enough! Since you want to play with fire, then let me show you what a real naval battle is like!"
Suddenly, he unfurled a black command flag. Instantly, the surviving Baiyue warships simultaneously dropped a large number of barrels. As soon as the barrels hit the water, a layer of oily substance floated on the surface of the sea.
"Oh no!" the old fisherman exclaimed, "It's kerosene! These Baiyue people have actually prepared such a deadly weapon!"
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