Chen Ping's Sword

"It’s impossible."

As soon as Zhang Yuanhe proposed the plan, several leaders nearby looked hesitant.

Xie Daocheng, the main general of the Dragon Soaring Army, instantly became flush red, glared at Zhang Yuanhe, and angrily said, "This plan is a major blunder. Connecting ships into one entity and securing them with iron chains may serve as a fortification, but on the wide waters of the Wenjiang River, the vessels move slowly...

If they reach the middle of the river and the enemy employs a fire attack, then the two hundred thousand troops could very well be reduced to ashes."

"Oh..."

Chen Ping’s gaze flickered slightly as he looked at the resolute and rugged navy general with a thick beard.

He thought to himself that True Martial King Ji Changfeng truly had a keen eye for selecting people.

His chosen advisor was a top-tier strategist known throughout the world.

The generals he employed, like General Huwei Xu Yanzong and Dragon Soaring General Xie Daocheng, were rare talents of great prowess.

Xu Yanzong had met him several times in Xingqing Prefecture, understanding the nuances of advancement and retreat, life and death...

Although his martial arts skills weren’t exceedingly high, only peak of innate level, in ordinary battle formations he might be formidable, but in a war spanning the entire Southern Region, that level of combat power seemed less impressive.

However, his military strategies were extraordinarily impressive.

His battlefield intuition was exceptionally acute.

On the day Chen Ping led three thousand cavalry in a night raid against the sixty thousand troops of True Martial King, General Huwei was the first to detect and block Chen Ping’s assault on the formation.

Struck by the aftermath of Chen Ping’s sweeping sword, he was heavily wounded and near death.

Even now, he remains in Liijiao City recuperating.

This is because Chen Ping valued his talent, thus personally dispatched medical officers to take good care of him, also using Cyan Wood Longevity Skill to transfer vitality.

Otherwise, attacked by Chen Ping’s Black Dragon Sword with the Sword Essence invading the body, Xu Yanzong wouldn’t last long before dying.

And as for the Dragon Soaring General Xie Daocheng standing before him...

Like Xu Yanzong, he was also selected by True Martial King from the grassroots.

In recent years, he has led the army to many battles against the East Wood Army and Seven Fiends Army, earning formidable fame.

He has even suppressed King Jinghai Ji Changlie to the extent that he dared not make any move on Liidu, focusing instead on secretly building his strength.

When Xie Daocheng first saw Chen Ping, after just half a maneuver, finding himself at a disadvantage, he immediately bowed and surrendered.

Chen Ping somewhat underestimated him.

Thinking he was too fearful and cowardly.

Today, upon seeing him again, Chen Ping felt he had underestimated him in terms of his character and noted that personal qualities have little bearing on talent.

This man proves to be one of the rare generals skillful in both literature and martial arts, discerning the tremendous hidden danger in Zhang Yuanhe’s strategy with just one glimpse.

Of course, Xie Daocheng might also naturally disdain the inflexible strategy of locking ships with chains, due to his expertise in navy command and fondness for flexible ship combat.

Moreover, he pays particular attention to fire attacks.

Hence, he made such remarks.

"General Xie’s words are incorrect. It’s currently September, so the weather remains hot, and the wind direction is consistently southeast at night.

If the enemy employs a fire attack, no matter whether the fire can burn or not, once the wind blows, the flames will drift towards the enemy’s ships... worrying about fire attacks is simply ridiculous."

Zhang Ce, eloquent and sarcastic, wouldn’t be refuted by a mere military general.

At this moment, he spoke eloquently.

His words stirred the hearts of all the generals inside the tent.

"Indeed, if it’s from the southeast, the fire absolutely won’t ignite. Even if fire arrows are used to burn a few ships, it won’t affect the fleet."

"Connecting all ships and arranging them into a large formation, like a moving fortress, once reaching the shore, Yan Beifei would be no match for us."

"Absolutely, Yan Beifei relies on merely getting a head start, gathering the elite navies of various noble families, but speaking of seasoned elites, dying for a cause, what have we to fear against others?"

These people indeed spoke with some rationale.

Back then, Yan Beifei united the noble families, gathered forces in one place, and crossed the river to attack the East Wood Army, thereby deploying most of the Jiangdong Navy.

When Chen Ping marched east with a force swallowing the world, swiftly capturing cities and lands.

Noble families dissatisfied with Chen Ping’s governance would flee with their personal guards and household troops.

Those who remained were either defiant, ruthless individuals, dealt with one by one by Chen Ping’s army.

Of course, most cities were sensible enough to surrender promptly when the situation proved overwhelming.

This was also why Chen Ping captured fifty-two cities in just a month.

In this context, Chen Ping’s navy was indeed pitifully small.

These so-called battleships were practically gathered from several large cities along the river, collecting all cargo ships and fishing boats, totaling over eight hundred vessels of various sizes.

Engaging in a real naval battle, they naturally would be like lambs to the slaughter, with strong land combat making little difference.

If Chen Ping’s troops could stand firm, cross the Wenjiang River, it would yet be a different situation.

Except for Yan Beifei’s forty thousand plus Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry, which was superior in combat power to many of Chen Ping’s troops, the rest of those scattered forces surrendered to the Grand Governor, were far inferior to Chen Ping’s army.

The military strength between both sides was similar, each excelling in its domain.

Thus, the natural barrier of Wenjiang River was the crucial determinant of this battle’s outcome.

"Mr. Yuantu, what is your perspective?"

Chen Ping had a faint plan in mind but withheld from speaking out.

Throughout the journey of capturing cities breezily, Feng Yuantu’s remarkable strategies hadn’t come into play.

They casually defeated the opposition without any intense battles, requiring no intricate scheming from him.

"There’s definitely something fishy about it."

Feng Yuantu still frowned.

He unfolded his folding fan, adopting a solemn demeanor and said, "Have you ever wondered why the enemy set up a ten-mile military array early on, strictly defending against us?"