Chapter 163 – Intercepting Supplies

“The opposing fleet fled at the sight of us; we mustn’t advance recklessly. Send out the reconnaissance centipede boats to trail from a distance, being wary of potential ambushes. The sky is darkening; don’t linger too long.”

“First, have someone observe the draft conditions and assess the equipment.”

Nong Siji gave the orders and dispatched two centipede boats to conduct reconnaissance.

Half a day later, the responsible centipede boats returned. Shi Xiaosi came aboard to report; Xu Chun recalled that Fang Zijing had mentioned he was a fisherman by origin, with accurate marksmanship. Upon closer inspection, his skin was sunburned and tanned, his body lean and sturdy, yet his eyes were bright and lively, and his arms unusually long.

He reported, “Sir, I’ve confirmed it. They’re definitely supply ships, all seven-masted horse boats with deep drafts and large cargo holds. Both front and rear are protected by troop transports, and their flagship is equipped with cannons and heavy crossbows. The entire fleet consists of fifty ships, thirty of which are supply and water ships, one is a horse boat, sixteen are troop transports, two are escort flagships, and one is a treasure ship. Judging by the gunports, each ship likely carries six cannons.”

Nong Siji spread out the sea chart on the wide desk, allowing Shi Xiaosi to point out the positions and ships. He pondered, “The intelligence provided by our captives matches this information. They’ve spotted us and will probably send ships back to request reinforcements. If we wish to cut off their supply lines, we must act swiftly and decisively.”

He glanced at the wind direction. “The enemy should already be on guard, and they have the advantage of the upwind position. We’re downwind, so attacking them will require going against the current. Ahead lies the strait and islands; while we can engage in battle, it will take more effort—careless actions might let the enemy gain the upper hand.”

In recent days, Xu Chun had accompanied Fang Zijing and Nong Siji, gradually becoming familiar with the naval tactics employed by the military. He started to integrate the strategies he learned from Sheng Changtian and Qin Yi. It couldn’t be denied that Nong Siji’s tactical manual was indeed useful. Every formation was meticulously drilled by the navy, with daily exercises to ensure proficiency. The goal was to achieve synchronization between flag movements and ship maneuvers, to ensure strict discipline and swift response, which enabled coordinated advance and retreat among the fleet at sea.

Nong Siji rearranged the flagship while saying, “I’ll lead the charge on the Chengfeng. Lu Xiao will serve as the vice commander, commanding a hundred warships in a fish-scale formation to attack the supply ships. Xu Chun will board the Wansui and command a hundred ships, including logistics and water ships, to hold the rear in a stag-horn formation. Sheng Changtian will lead the Qiansui, commanding fifty warships to support the main fleet from the flank in a wild goose formation.”

Xu Chun replied, “Understood.”

Lu Xiao and Sheng Changtian had just received the orders and arrived on the flagship with their subordinates. They echoed, “Yes!”

Lu Xiao asked, “Fifty supply ships? Are we launching an all-out attack? I observed earlier through the telescope; some of their warships even have outdated equipment like the ramming mallets, quite obsolete, and seem to lack strong combat capabilities.”

Nong Siji cautioned, “Don’t underestimate the enemy. Even when a lion hunts a rabbit, it uses its full strength. Naval battles are especially unpredictable, influenced by weather, currents, wind direction… Moreover, we’re too close to the Japanese mainland. If they call for reinforcements, we may find ourselves in a difficult situation. We need to finish this quickly and minimize losses. Besides…”

He glanced at Xu Chun. “Our court doesn’t easily allocate funds to build the navy, so we must cherish every opportunity. Our objective here is merely to cut off Japan’s supplies and aid to Silla. Therefore, in case of unexpected developments, priority must be given to preserving our strength. Protect our ships and lives, avoid boarding actions, and try to stay out of the range of enemy cannon fire. Under no circumstances should we engage in direct confrontation. Do you understand?”

Everyone responded solemnly, “Your subordinate obeys!”

Nong Siji ordered sternly, “Each flagship will oversee its own fleet. In case of sudden changes, adapt and issue orders for your fleet to either attack or retreat accordingly.”

The three commanders acknowledged the orders and then returned to their respective flagships, organizing their fleets according to the predetermined formations. Xu Chun stood atop the high lookout tower, holding the telescope to watch as the Chengfeng soared forward like a giant bird. Its hull was made of ironwood, clad in armor, its sails resembling bird wings, carrying twenty heavy cannons.

The sunlight shone on the warship, flags fluttering high. One side bore the Empress Flag, the other the Dragon Flag. Amidst the raging winds and surging seas, several cannon shots rang out. In the distance, waves splashed up like snow, akin to a dragon traversing the ocean surface. The ships cast uneven shadows, and the war drums thundered.

On each ship, the war drums boomed like thunder, and the cannons roared. The cannonballs struck the enemy flagship’s gunports precisely, effectively weakening the enemy fleet’s fighting power. The opposing fleet, caught between the longitudinal and flanking attacks from the ships bearing the Dragon Flag, panicked and hoisted their sails, fleeing desperately to escape the range of the cannon fire, retreating toward the strait behind them.

Although Xu Chun had participated in several naval battles, he still could barely contain his excitement. However, after standing outside in the wind for too long, he couldn’t help coughing a few times. Dinghai suggested, “It’s getting dark, and the sea fog is thick, making visibility poor. Besides, we can’t see the Chengfeng anymore. Sir, why don’t you go inside to shelter from the wind?”

Xu Chun shook his head, watching the battle in a trance, his hand subconsciously reaching for the silver flask at his waist, engraved with the words “Cherish Life.”

Dinghai knew that he was itching for action but was also concerned about the Emperor. Thus, he silently took on the role of logistical support in the rear fleet. However, he was aware that if anything happened to his master, all the guards protecting him would likely face dire consequences. Therefore, he didn’t push further, allowing Xu Chun to indulge in watching the battle, and remained silent.

Donghai entered quietly and brought out a bowl of soup for Xu Chun to drink. Xu Chun gulped it down and raised his eyebrows slightly. “This soup tastes surprisingly good? Does it not seem like your usual cooking, Donghai?”

Donghai admitted honestly, “Doctor Guan prepared it, adding medicine for cough suppression. Doctor Guan said that your illness is almost cured, so there’s no need for such bitter medicine. Adding some cough-suppressing herbs while stewing the soup is enough.”

During this expedition, their mission was to patrol and intercept the supply ships traveling from Japan to the Silla Peninsula. Guan Wanwan, who graduated from the Maritime Academy’s medical school, led a team of female doctors stationed on the Wansui to handle the medical care for the entire fleet. Each day, doctors were dispatched to visit the various ships for consultations, which was highly popular.

No one dared to claim they didn’t need a doctor’s care, so no one dared to say that women shouldn’t be on board. Instead, they all spread the tale that Doctor Guan was a reincarnation of a maid sent by the Empress Goddess, who possessed a compassionate heart and descended to earth to alleviate suffering and provide relief.

Ever since Guan Wanwan witnessed the silent and reserved Donghai’s incredible skills, using acupuncture to instantly restore a commander’s facial paralysis caused by the wind, she exclaimed her desire to learn from him. Donghai didn’t refuse, and every day he set aside time to teach these female doctors acupuncture techniques, which gained popularity among the female doctors.

Xu Chun smiled. “With Doctor Guan’s assistance during this period, you must be much less busy? I didn’t expect Doctor Guan to have such excellent culinary skills. Have everyone share a portion first to warm up against the sea breeze. I suspect Big Brother Nong will take quite a while.”

The pale and indistinct winter sun sank into the sea, heavy sea fog and nightfall enveloped everything. In the dim darkness, the winter sea grew deeper, with only a few stars faintly flickering amidst the thick, chaotic clouds.

Through the telescope, Xu Chun saw a large ship ablaze, like a colossal candle on the sea surface, its fierce flames illuminating the waters. He observed the turbulent waves rolling over corpses and wreckage. The Empress Flag and Dragon Flag burned and curled in the firelight, yet the people on the ship continued to resist with extraordinary tenacity.

Xu Chun’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. “What’s happening? Is one of our ships on fire?”

However, the lookout on the mast was already frantically waving the flag, and the messenger hurriedly shouted the order loudly, “Flagship’s order! The entire rear fleet must retreat! The rear becomes the vanguard, retreat!”

Xu Chun’s expression changed, but he maintained his composure. “Pass the order to the left, center, and right wings of the rear fleet to change formations into the swallow scissor formation, retreating thirty miles!”

At the same time, he instructed Dinghai, “Send a centipede boat to scout the frontline situation!”

Dinghai declared solemnly, “I’ll personally lead a centipede boat with a squad of soldiers to investigate. Chunxi and Huo Dongyan will protect you.”

Xu Chun knew that Dinghai alone could withstand a hundred men. He hastily agreed, “Alright, make sure to prioritize your safety.”

Qi Luan, who was behind Huo Dongyan, quickly offered, “I’ll coordinate with you!”

Xu Chun acknowledged it. Watching Huo Dongyan leave, he focused on directing the fleet’s retreat as per their usual drills. Their rear fleet consisted of a hundred ships, but twenty of them were actually logistical supply ships, carrying food, fresh water, coal and charcoal for the steam engines, and various types of cannonballs for the fleet.

The swallow scissor formation was commonly used for retreats. The original stag-horn formation was a defensive formation. Now, the last cruiser became the leading vanguard, turning around to retreat. The Wansui flagship, along with the escort ships and logistical supply vessels, also retreated. The escort ships on both sides were the last to withdraw, resembling a pair of scissors. If any ship pursued the central flagship, the flanking escort fleets would close in like scissors to provide protection.

As Xu Chun watched the entire fleet retreat thirty miles, he held the telescope again, his mind filled with doubts. This swallow scissor formation, after their rear fleet retreated to create space, should have been followed by the charge fleet and wing fleets withdrawing according to their usual drills. Why, after their retreat, did they find themselves farther away from the battlefield, only faintly hearing the booming cannon fire and seeing the distant flashes of artillery fire in the night sky?

His heart suddenly jolted. Cannon fire!

He carefully observed the meteor-like streaks slicing through the black sky, the splattering embers falling like fireworks, lighting up the sea surface. These were explosive shells! Firing from rifled guns capable of hitting ships and causing them to burn and explode! Since the enemy was primarily a supply fleet, they generally wouldn’t carry such cannons. Nong Siji’s initial plan was to intercept the supply ships, focusing on capturing spoils. Regardless of which side used these explosive shells, it indicated an all-out effort, aiming to eliminate the enemy’s combat forces, fighting until the bitter end!

They had encountered a formidable opponent!

His heart pounded fiercely as he sternly commanded, “Pass the order to all ships to prepare for battle! Change formations into the horn formation!”

The messenger rushed out. Huo Dongyan’s expression slightly changed as he asked Xu Chun, “Sir, the horn formation suggests engagement. We still have many logistical ships here.”

The horn formation was somewhat similar to the stag-horn formation, but the stag-horn formation was more scattered, mainly focused on defense. Three ships formed a group, providing mutual defense. The horn formation, however, gathered all capable warships on both sides of the horns, deploying all elite forces. This indicated an offensive posture.

Xu Chun’s heart raced violently as he said coldly, “Follow my orders!”

Huo Dongyan hastily bowed. “Your subordinate obeys.”

Xu Chun stared at the rolling sea, fixing his gaze on the crimson lightning and golden snakes dancing wildly, piercing through the dense fog and dark sea surface. His fingers involuntarily touched the silver flask at his waist. His mind was fixated on one thought. Big Brother Nong was still hoping to accumulate military achievements and return home gloriously to succeed to the throne. Brother Changtian’s beloved Helan Miss had gone to the West, unsure when she would come back.

Another spring has arrived, with full blooms in the Qionglin. We await your return, my dear.

Brother Nine… Brother Nine is also waiting for me to return and see the flowers.