Chapter 1226: The Runaway's Fury (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Fishermen are a fascinating bunch.
"It is said that the older you get, the more you will love this project."
Standing amidst the tall grass along the riverbank, Shen Tang held a fishing rod in her left hand, yawned with her right, and spread her legs, leaning all her weight on the back of a bamboo stool in a posture remarkably similar to Ge You's slouch. Her usually bright almond-shaped eyes were now half-open with drowsiness, and she looked utterly listless.
She turned her head to look at Cui Mi on her left.
Then turn your head to look at Qi Cang on the right.
Shen Tang does enjoy fishing, but that doesn't mean she can stay up three nights in a row squatting by the river, feeding on mosquitoes. Besides relatively friendly creatures like mosquitoes, there are also water snakes, toads, and ticks lurking along the riverbank. Current medical technology can't cure tick infections, and even a snake bite is bad enough. She yawned again as she spoke.
Qi Cang focused intently, staring intently at the dark water.
He didn't forget to refute her words, saying, "That's nonsense!"
"That makes some sense. When anglers get hooked on fishing, they stay up all night. They go out before dark and don't come home before dawn, and they're still happy even if they don't catch any fish. Besides those who are truly passionate about it, there are also older people who are finding it increasingly difficult to be with their partners, or older single people. If they didn't have something else to do, why would they sit here for three nights and not catch a single fish?"
She almost mentioned Qi Cang's name.
It's unclear what's wrong with Qi Cang, but these past few days he's been hanging around Shen Tang every now and then, giving the vague impression that he's worried about missing out on something good. Shen Tang remained calm and dealt with his moves accordingly. Unexpectedly, Qi Cang openly slacked off, going fishing late at night.
The equipment was quite complete, but unfortunately, I didn't catch any fish.
Each time he returned empty-handed, Old Deng would fly into a rage, unleashing a burst of martial energy that sent dozens of unlucky fish flying. He would then pick and choose, taking only the largest ones and carrying his fish basket back to the camp. This perfectly matched Shen Tang's stereotype of certain anglers.
Qi Cang scoffed, Shen Tang's sarcasm was utterly harmless: "I'm an old widower, and you're a single man in your twenties, still unmarried. You can't even find anyone to share a bed with at night, so what are you doing not night fishing?"
Shen Tang: "..."
She rolled her eyes so hard they almost hit the top of her head, and had to remind Qi Cang again: "It's been three days, have you caught it yet?"
Why do I always have to ask her to go night fishing with me?
Are they very familiar with each other?
That old bastard Qi Cang is spying on me, isn't he?
“I have an old friend who loves to fish with straight bait and always manages to catch a basketful of fish. I refuse to believe that even if I prepare my own fishing spot and use the best bait, I can’t catch any fish.” A competitive spirit is ingrained in the bones of martial artists, and this is especially true for an old fellow like Qi Cang, who always has to compete with others to prove himself.
Shen Tang sighed: "Do you believe that your old friend Jiang Taigong is reincarnated, or do you believe that I am the resurrected Qin Shi Huang? There are different levels of fishermen. If your old friend can catch fish with a straight bait, either he cheated, or the fish he caught were too stupid."
Qi Cangcai ignored Shen Tang's nagging and complaining.
To truly enjoy the show, one needs the best vantage point. He deliberately invited Shen Tang to night fishing for three consecutive days, wanting to see how long the Prefect of Zhongli could remain calm. Let's see who can truly hold their ground!
He took out a fist-sized amount of bait and continued to bait the area.
Shen Tang first watched him do useless work quietly, then poured cold water on him with sarcasm: "There is something I don't know if I should say, but I will say it anyway - the fish, shrimp and crabs in this river probably don't lack food, they haven't finished digesting the last wave of nature's bounty."
The incident of the upstream warlord smuggling contraband into the river for their midstream enemies had only been going on for a few days; the river's shrimp and crabs were still plentiful, so the fisherman's relief supplies weren't that appealing. As always, Qi Cang's reaction to her mental attacks was: "I won't listen!"
Shen Tang and Qi Cang both possessed martial energy protecting them, so they were naturally fearless. Cui Mi, though not an ordinary person, didn't have such refined control, and he was also prone to attracting mosquitoes, so he had suffered greatly these past few days. As the night drew to a close, a deep drowsiness made his eyelids heavy, his consciousness hazy, and his head nodding off.
"Ah—" Cui Mi's head bobbed heavily. The intense feeling of weightlessness dispelled his sleepiness for a moment. He rubbed his eyes, feeling extremely tired. "Why is there so much fog on the river today?"
He remembered that it had only been a short time since night fell, and there was still a bright moon reflected on the river. But now it was all white, and he couldn't see anything more than three or four zhang away. Cui Mi looked up at the sky, which was covered by thick clouds and mist, and suddenly felt a chill between his brows.
Cui Mi raised his hand to touch it.
My fingertip touched a little bit of cold liquid.
Is it going to rain?
At first, it was just a few scattered raindrops, but in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it turned into a drizzle. The mist on the river not only didn't dissipate, but became even thicker. The visibility decreased from three or four zhang to just over two zhang, which was clearly abnormal.
Qi Cang sat with an imposing air, his posture domineering over the world, as if he held not a fishing rod, but a deadly blade. His gaze was fixed on the river, as if he could see through the thick fog to the ripples spreading across its surface. He said casually, "This weather... it's a real shame we didn't come for a night raid."
Shen Tang didn't respond.
Qi Cang persisted: "Doesn't Prefect Zhongli think so?"
Shen Tang finally gave a response: "General Qi seems to really want the enemy troops to attack? If they attack now, won't everyone know that the general has skipped work and neglected his duties again?"
Qi Cang smiled but remained silent.
His bottom didn't budge an inch from the small stool.
Their fishing spot was slightly upstream from the Allied camp on the opposite bank, offering a wide view and allowing them to easily survey the camp. At the same time, this was also a key area for Allied scouts to guard against Kangzan spies crossing the border. Any activity at the camp could be reported back immediately…
None of the above are the reasons why Qi Cang chose to fish here.
The real reason is that this body of water is not very polluted.
I didn't have much of a psychological trauma from eating the fish that was caught.
Cui Mi said, "That's strange, why is there no movement from the camp?"
The thick fog obstructed visibility but not hearing. Cui Mi listened intently but heard no unusual sounds from the opposite bank. Surely the Allied forces weren't incompetent; they couldn't possibly lack such basic awareness, could they?
Qi Cang said meaningfully, "It's the problem with this fog."
It is indeed related to the fog.
The fog in Chentang is extremely thick, with very low visibility. The situation is slightly different in the camp area; the fog doesn't increase suddenly but gradually. Right now, people are most tired and have the least concentration, making them less perceptive of their surroundings.
The Allied forces, as usual, sent men to disperse the fog.
The dispersal operation went very smoothly.
It was another peaceful night.
Some civil officials even complained: "It's just a little bit of ordinary fog, why do we have to make such a fuss about it?"
Fog is common at this time of year.
While others can go to bed normally, they have to work on high alert every day. Even the strongest person can't withstand this kind of torment.
"Isn't this because we're worried about a surprise attack from the enemy?"
His colleague's eyes also showed signs of swelling, but he was cautious and timid, and wouldn't voice any dissatisfaction, fearing that someone would have leverage over him. Clearly, the other colleague didn't see it that way, and even scoffed, "A sneak attack? How could they possibly launch a sneak attack?"
They didn't even consider the terrain where the army was stationed.
A sneak attack is virtually impossible; the moment you show your face, you're dead.
Indeed, the Dragon Slayer Bureau Plus's encampment this time was extremely well-planned, with strong defenses on all sides and natural barriers, making any enemy attack easily detectable. The two, each with their own thoughts, returned to camp, their journey passing through an area piled with rocks.
Beyond this area lies the outpost.
"Huh, why is the fog getting thicker again?"
It is indeed thicker than before.
Having not slept well for so long, the clerk was on the verge of losing control of his temper: "Day after day, this is never going to end..."
Tighten the reins, preparing to turn back.
Through the hazy mist, he saw the shadow of the boulder suddenly "melt," extending into a strange object that shot towards the blind spot in his colleague's line of sight. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately wanted to warn them while simultaneously casting a spell to protect himself.
What awaited him was a slight chill on his neck.
puff--
Fresh blood gushed out from the gap.
His colleague, who was behind the thin mist, also fell off his horse.
The dozen or so soldiers who accompanied them also fell headfirst, not even having time to resist, one after another. Their bodies were quickly concealed by the thick fog, along with the lurking killing intent hidden among the rocks!
Allied outposts immediately reported the unusual fog conditions.
The rain was so heavy that we needed to wear straw hats and raincoats.
The heavy rain pattered against the tent, waking the Queen of Qi, who had just fallen asleep. She listened intently to the sounds outside, put on her clothes, and stepped out of the tent. Seeing that the fog outside was so thick that one could not see their own hand in front of their face, her expression suddenly turned serious: "Pass on my order: the entire army is on high alert."
All allied forces were alarmed.
result--
Qi Cang waited on the opposite bank for half an hour but didn't see any excitement. He mocked, "Speed is of the essence in war. Tsk tsk, I don't know what the enemy was doing. They made such a big commotion but moved so slowly. The Allied forces were on guard at this time. How could they have succeeded in their sneak attack?"
Anyone who dares to launch a sneak attack will pay the price.
He caught a glimpse of Shen Tang yawning again, which annoyed him.
Qi Cang raised his voice: "Prefect Zhongli!"
Shen Tang said helplessly, "I'm not a mind reader for those people in Kangguo. How would I know what they're planning? Besides, this might not be a sign of an enemy night attack. It could just be an ordinary fog, with no enemies at all."
Qi Cang appeared expressionless, but inwardly he was constantly chuckling.
It seems to be saying—
Keep pretending!
Shen Tang's response was still to roll her eyes.
Qi Cang finally put down his fishing rod, crossed his arms, and stood on the riverbank gazing at the opposite bank: "The center of this fog is on the river surface... The Allied forces aren't all good-for-nothings; they should be able to figure that out."
The enemy is very likely to launch a surprise attack by water.
Shen Tang feigned ignorance: "I didn't see any ships either."
Qi Cang said, "Who would launch a surprise attack and wage a naval battle using warships?"
In a world devoid of both literary and martial prowess, warships would be indispensable necessities in naval warfare, even more so than land-based chariots, as armies couldn't simply fight each other while submerged in water. But here, even martial artists who can't swim can hold their breath for extended periods, moving freely in the water, their maneuverability far exceeding that of piloting warships.
Warships are large targets and far less easy to hide than individuals.
"So, you suspect the enemy is hiding in the water?"
Qi Cang nodded: "Very likely."
The river could not only conceal one's presence and aura, but also prevent martial artists and scholars from detecting them. If Qi Cang were a general of Kang State, upon seeing the intelligence on the allied forces' encampment location, he would definitely launch a surprise attack by water, catching the enemy off guard. Shen Tang had to remind him of this.
"That sounds reasonable, but—have you forgotten something? This body of water isn't very clean..." Don't forget, just a few days ago, twenty or thirty thousand people deliberately defecated and urinated in the river. Even if the river water flows, it's still quite disgusting.
Qi Cang: "...Is this important?"
"This isn't important?"
Qi Cang: "..."
He had reason to suspect that the person in front of him was playing a trick on him.
Ignoring the anger surging beneath Qi Cang's face, Shen Tang avoided his gaze and whistled, his attitude one of "believe it or not." Cui Mi then spoke up, interrupting Qi Cang's rage: "Since its rise to power, the Northwest Kang Kingdom has almost never lost a land battle, but that doesn't prove they are also skilled in naval warfare. If I remember correctly, there are only three most important rivers in the Northwest Continent, with the Miao River being the largest."
"Miaojiang is just so-so."
It cannot compare to the well-developed water system of the southwestern mainland.
It's not even as wide as the river in front of us.
Qi Cang was from the southwest, so he was naturally familiar with naval warfare. The people of Kangguo were different. They were not well-positioned to launch a surprise attack from the water. At most, they could use the fog on the river to create a diversion. Their main force would mostly take the land route.
Qi Cang: "..."
Shen Tang: "..."
Suddenly, Qi Cang smiled slyly: "Oh, so you mean if there's a sneak attack tonight, and the main force of the attack isn't in the water, then it proves that Kangguo's naval warfare is just child's play?"
Shen Tang: "..."
She quietly dissuaded Qi Cang from his wicked idea.
"We shouldn't be too optimistic. If we can freeze the river, naval warfare can turn into land warfare, and the disadvantage will naturally disappear."
No one should be more familiar with the Frozen Miaojiang River than Qi Cang.
"It's hard to say about others, but Shen Youli..." Freezing the river is also a tactic, and people like Zheng Qiao and Huang Lie wouldn't hesitate, but Shen Youli is different. Back then, freezing the Miao River caused ice jams and floods, harming nearby counties. Has she forgotten all that?
Qi Cang said, "She won't."
Shen Tang: "..."
A strange feeling flashed through my mind.
It's quite satisfying to hear the enemy praise you to your face.
As time ticked by, experienced generals in the Allied forces made the same judgment as Qi Cang, concluding that the ambush most likely came from the water. They sent men into the water to investigate, while simultaneously mobilizing troops to lie in ambush on the riverbank, ready to strike the attackers the moment they appeared.
The rain intensified, and the fog thickened instead of dissipating.
The Allied scribes' attempts to contain the situation were only temporary.
Allied troops waited anxiously on the riverbank, archers lying in ambush, ready for action. The underwater light was dim, making reconnaissance difficult even for the most skilled swimmers. Without warning, screams erupted from the river's surface, followed by a series of rapid explosions. The explosions sent up waves tens of meters high, and streaks of dark light shot out from the water, the commotion so great it covered the entire river surface.
"Hmph, you're courting death!"
A barrage of rockets pierced through the thick fog like meteors.
Puff puff puff—
One by one, the dark figures pierced by arrows fell from the sky.
Archers fired eight or nine rounds in succession, the dense firepower preventing the enemy from landing. Meanwhile, units skilled in swimming went into the water to flank and encircle them. A net was also cast upstream and downstream, ensuring that escape was impossible. Finally, the screams gradually subsided.
|ω`)
(End of this chapter)
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