Wu Sanjia knew very well that the 250,000 elite Tiger Warriors stationed on the north bank of the Yangtze River were his entire fortune and the capital for seizing power, and he could not afford to make the slightest mistake.
During his absence from the camp, he naturally could not hand over the Tiger Warriors to either of his deputy generals, Zhao Kui or Tang Ziyi, to prevent either of them from harboring disloyalty.
If, while he was away from the camp, he turned around and led his 250,000 elite troops to surrender to Emperor Hongxi, then all of Wu Sanjia's hard work would have been for nothing.
Therefore, Wu Sanjia separately approached his two deputy generals, Zhao Kui and Tang Ziyi, to give them instructions and promised them the position of Minister of War during the reign of Emperor Lingwu of the Great Xin Dynasty.
Anyway, these are all just empty words, and it's hard to say whether they will be honored in the future!
Inside the central command tent, watching the departing figure of Vice General Tang Ziyi, Wu Sanjia couldn't help but recall how he, as a son of a concubine, had painstakingly worked his way up to become the top martial arts champion of Daxin, and now a mighty general who could influence the political situation of Daxin.
He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This general has lived a life of constant walking on thin ice, and I don't know when I'll be able to reach the other side!"
The hour of Hai (9-11 PM).
Night had completely enveloped both banks of the Yangtze River, with only a bright moon, obscured by dark clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
At the Tiger Warriors' new naval camp, over ten thousand elite naval soldiers, clad in armor and armed with swords, were ready to depart.
General Wu Sanjia of the Great Xin Dynasty, clad in gleaming armor and with a ring-pommel sword at his waist, strode confidently to the reviewing stand at the naval camp's drill ground.
Just then, dark clouds passed by, and the moonlight suddenly appeared.
The cold moonlight shone on Wu Sanjia's bright armor, reflecting a chilling aura and adding to the air of menace.
On the training ground, more than 10,000 elite naval soldiers lined up and assembled, awaiting General Wu Sanjia's instructions before the expedition.
Cough cough!
Wu Sanjia, standing on the reviewing stand in the drill ground, cleared his throat and shouted sharply: "Soldiers of the Great Xin Dynasty's Tiger-like Navy—"
"Your subordinate is here!"
On the drill ground, more than 10,000 elite naval soldiers responded in unison.
Wu Sanjia said, "From the Tiger-Ben New Army to the Tiger-Ben Navy, from elite infantry and cavalry to valiant naval warriors, I know all of you, like me, have sacrificed your lives for the crumbling Xin Dynasty."
"Now, the treacherous minister Qin Ruhui has established a separate court in Jinling City, and has installed the son of the Prince of Fu on the throne, completely overthrowing the legitimate emperor of our great new dynasty, Emperor Lingwu."
"Fang Tianyao, the Admiral of the Great Xin Navy, has kidnapped the Emperor of Lingwu to command the world. His intentions are despicable!"
"Tonight——"
At this point, Wu Sanjia suddenly raised his voice and continued, "I, General Wu Sanjia, am the martial arts champion personally appointed by Emperor Jian'an, the second emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty; and the mighty general personally appointed by Emperor Lingwu, the third emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty, the commander-in-chief who commands all the troops of the Great Xin Dynasty."
"He will personally lead the elite naval warriors present, sailing down the river overnight, directly to Jiangyin, the stronghold of Fang Tianyao, the treacherous minister and naval commander of the Great Xin Dynasty;"
"I am going there on imperial orders to welcome the emperor and execute the treacherous officials!"
Clang!
At this point, Wu Sanjia suddenly drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist, raised it high with one arm, and shouted, "This is my final command!"
"If any of the Tiger-like naval warriors see me fall beneath the swords of the rebel army on my way to Jiangyin to fight the naval traitor Fang Tianyao, you must not stop your charge for my sake;"
"This general demands that you spare no effort to bring back the Lingwu Emperor and Empress Dowager from the hands of the traitor Fang Tianyao, and under the Emperor's command, cross the Yangtze River, execute the national traitor Qin Ruhui, and restore the glory of our great Xin Dynasty!"
"The mighty Tiger Navy is truly awe-inspiring!"
"General, you are mighty!"
"The mighty Tiger Navy is truly awe-inspiring!"
"General, you are mighty!"
......
After a passionate mobilization speech, General Wu Sanjia was the first to step onto the ship. Standing on the bow deck of his treasure ship, he watched as his more than 10,000 elite naval troops boarded the warship.
After all the naval officers and soldiers boarded the ship, what followed was a long wait.
Thick, dark clouds passing by once again obscured the bright moon in the sky, plunging both banks of the Yangtze River into a deathly silence of night, with only the river wind howling and whistling.
Just as midnight arrived, there was a sudden movement on the dark river surface.
As expected, Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, who was stationed on the south bank, used the pretext of troop rotation to transfer the Liangjiang New Army that was anchored at the Stone City Wharf to guard the Tiger Army's crossing of the river.
This provided convenience and cover for Wu Sanjia on the north bank to lead his elite naval forces southward along the Yangtze River.
At this moment, Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the Capital of the Great Xin Dynasty, wearing bright armor and a cloak, stood on the edge of the Stone City Wharf, surrounded by several trusted generals, gazing intently at the north bank of the Yangtze River under the night sky.
"My lord, as you instructed, all the warships on the river defense have been redeployed. The replacement warships will arrive at their designated positions in about an incense stick's time!"
The generals under his command immediately reported the latest situation to Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang.
Um!
Su Chen nodded and waved his hand, instructing, "Send a signal to Wu Sanjia on the north bank!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Soon, Su Chen's personal guards lit three torches and waved them vigorously on the Stone City dock.
On the river surface shrouded in darkness, torches that were suddenly lit stood out starkly against the night.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the General, the garrison on the south bank has given the signal; the Tiger Fleet's warships may cross the river!"
On the deck of the warship, He Kang, the deputy commander of the Tiger Army's new navy who had been eagerly waiting, immediately reported the military situation to General Wu Sanjia.
Without hesitation, Wu Sanjia ordered, "Pass down the order: the Tiger Fleet warships, set sail!"
"Set sail!"
Orders were relayed through the Tiger Warriors' new naval fleet under the cover of night.
In fact, the sails of the warships were already raised. All the soldiers on deck needed to do was to lift the anchor, and the warships could set sail with the help of the wind.
One after another, the warships of the Tiger Fleet set sail from the docks on the north bank of the Yangtze River.
Sailing against the wind and waves under the cover of night, the warships cleaved the river with their bows, making a series of hissing sounds as they broke through the water.
Standing on the bow deck, Wu Sanjia couldn't help but grip the hilt of the ring-pommel sword tied to his waist, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the Stone City dock on the south bank.
at the same time.
At the Stone City Wharf, Su Chen, the Viceroy of Liangjiang, also turned his gaze to the Tiger Fleet of the navy that was sailing south along the Yangtze River.
Despite the darkness of night, as the treasure ship carrying Wu Sanjia sailed past the river outside the Stone City dock, both Wu Sanjia, standing on the deck, and Su Chen, standing on the dock, grinned in unison.
It was as if their gazes had already met through the darkness.
Downstream, aided by the river breeze, the Daxin Navy fleet moved at an extremely fast speed.
As dawn broke in the east, the mighty naval fleet, sailing south along the Yangtze River, appeared in the waters near Jiangyin.
Further ahead lies the main base of the Daxin Navy, the lair of Admiral Fang Tianyao.
The Tiger Fleet sailed forward at full speed. The Tiger Fleet officers and soldiers on the deck and in the crew cabins were all in high spirits, gripping their swords tightly.
In contrast, the soldiers on duty outside the Daxin Navy camp were yawning repeatedly, overcome with sleepiness after staying up all night.
A soldier on the watchtower was dozing off, leaning against a pillar.
Suddenly, his head slumped down hard, and he nearly fell over.
This sudden movement woke him from his drowsiness, and when he subconsciously glanced at the river, he almost wet himself in fright.
The river was teeming with boats!
"Enemy attack—"
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