The greatest fear in sailing is collision. The leader and helmsman on the official ship were wide-eyed and stunned, having never seen anyone sail a ship like this!
The other party might not value their lives, but they did!
If the ship capsized, they would all end up as fish food! Driven by the fear of death, they quickly began to evade, which was why Xiao Changyan waited so long without reinforcements arriving!
He actually had a suspicion in his mind. After all, he had instructed Yu Xiang to reveal most of his deployment plans to Shen Yungan, with the aim of making Shen Yungan fully trust Yu Xiang in preparation for the final battle!
"Your Highness, why not send up a Signal Flare to summon General Yu and the others for reinforcements?" The advisor and Xiao Changyan had been forced into a corner, and the advisor made the suggestion.
Xiao Changyan shook his head and only said, "Shen Yungan did not come."
Shen Yungan's absence served two purposes: first, to prevent Xiao Changyan from making a desperate all-or-nothing move, and second, to remain hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. If he released the Signal Flare now, the Jiannan Governor would not arrive in time. Once Yu Xiang made a move, Shen Yungan might personally lead his men to raid Yu Xiang's base.
"But... didn't the Shen heir form an alliance with General Yu?" The advisor felt that Shen Yungan should not attack Yu Xiang. Wouldn't that break the alliance? Unless the Shen heir had never truly regarded General Yu as an ally from the start!
"Those being killed are the court's men. If General Yu suffers losses in troops, it is due to my faulty command and my responsibility for calling reinforcements." Even if Shen Yungan raided Yu Xiang's base, Yu Xiang would bear no blame, as he was merely following Xiao Changyan's orders.
"Your Highness, the ship is about to collapse!" The advisor, watching the fire grow larger and the ship begin to sink, urgently reminded him.
Xiao Changyan glanced around, shielded his advisor, and moved toward the dock. "You disembark first!"
After saying this, he turned and leaped into the water toward Shen Ershi's location.
Shen Ershi had been struggling in the water for a long time and was no longer near the ship, having swum a considerable distance. Due to the heavy encirclement, he was exhausted. Although he had undergone special training and was physically strong, he could not withstand such relentless exertion.
Just as he surfaced for air, he happened to see Xiao Changyan jump into the water amid the flames and swim toward him, causing him some inner anxiety.
At that moment, a small covered boat, as if oblivious to the fierce fighting and danger nearby, leisurely rowed its way over, oars swaying.
Faintly, it seemed one could hear the boatman singing a folk song about fishing, creating a stark contrast to the brutal slaughter on the river and adding a touch of eerie dissonance to the otherwise calm night.
When Xiao Changyan saw the small covered boat, he knew immediately that it had to be sent by Shen Yungan. He quickened his pace, intending to intercept Shen Ershi, but he had not anticipated that the Shen family's men had already begun clearing a path, cutting down opponents on both sides to forcibly open a route for Shen Ershi.
These men were not specially trained by Xiao Changyan. In water combat with the Shen family's forces, they were at a disadvantage in terms of experience. Despite their greater numbers, they were disorganized and utterly unable to stop the well-trained, cooperative, and mutually supportive Shen family army.
By the time Xiao Changyan caught up, Shen Ershi had already been pulled onto the small covered boat. The boatman was Shen Shiwu. Recognizing him, Shen Ershi quickly called out, "Brother Shiwu!"
"Don't just stand there. Inside the boat is a grand gift prepared by the heir for Prince Jing." Shen Shiwu glanced at the exhausted Shen Ershi and tossed him an oar. "Steer the boat well!"With that, he dashed into the cabin and soon emerged carrying a man-eating crocodile. The crocodile's snout was tightly bound with ropes. Shen Shiwu then hurled the crocodile overboard, deliberately aiming at Xiao Changyan's men. With a sharp tug, he swiftly retrieved the rope. Freed and enraged, the crocodile snapped at anyone within reach.
The agonizing screams were so harrowing that even Shen Ershi felt a pang of sympathy.
There were not just one but five crocodiles in total. Shen Shiwu threw each one at the approaching enemies, not only frightening them into retreat but also aiding his own side in making a swift escape. Even Xiao Changyan, seeing the situation, had no choice but to turn back hastily.
Mere flesh and blood stood no chance against such ferocious creatures in the water.
With the help of the five crocodiles, Shen Shiwu leisurely rowed the boat in the opposite direction, gradually drifting farther away.
In this skirmish, Shen Yungan suffered minimal casualties, while Xiao Changyan incurred heavy losses—though not enough to cripple him entirely.
They safely retreated to Shen Yungan's hideout, which was nestled deep in the mountains, easily defensible and difficult to attack. Even if Xiao Changyan learned of their hiding place from Mo Yao, he wouldn't dare lead a large force to besiege them without first scouting the mountain paths.
If it were only Bu Shulin, he might have taken the risk. But Shen Yunnan was an undefeated general who had dominated battlefields and mastered the art of warfare. Xiao Changyan had to proceed with caution. This was precisely why Shen Yunnan, aware that Mo Yao's bewitched state would expose his whereabouts, remained unmoved and unshaken—confident in his position.
"Worldly Son Shen," Shen Ershi greeted Shen Yunnan. With Mo Yao present and aware of his condition, Shen Ershi played his part flawlessly.
"Worldly Son Bu, you must have been frightened. Go bathe and change, rest well tonight. We'll discuss important matters tomorrow," Shen Yunnan replied, patting his shoulder in a show of camaraderie. He instructed Qu Hongying to settle them in and then retired to his own room for a peaceful night's sleep.
On Xiao Changyan's side, they were left to deal with the chaotic aftermath. Fortunately, there were enough men on the river that the five crocodiles failed to catch up with him.
Still, his losses exceeded expectations. When his advisor presented the casualty report, Xiao Changyan's expression turned cold and stern, barely containing his fury.
These men weren't Xiao Changyan's personal forces—his Shadow Guards were harder to handle. The men Shen Yunnan had sent focused on delaying tactics; both sides suffered injuries, but no fatalities.
However, these were imperial troops. Losing so many at once meant he had to document the losses, report to Your Majesty, explain the reasons—and admit his own failure!
Seeing Xiao Changyan remain silent, the advisor mustered his courage and said, "Your Highness, this was always bait set for Worldly Son Shen. Once he takes it, Your Majesty will be overjoyed. No matter the sacrifice, it will be worth it."
Xiao Changyan, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality and waved a hand. "I'm not worried about the casualties. I'm pondering how Shen Yunnan learned about my Shadow Guards."
Whether it was the official ships coming to aid or the number of men he deployed at the dock, Shen Yunnan had concealed nothing from Yu Xiang—all to gain his trust.
But the Shadow Guards had never been mentioned, and Yu Xiang couldn't possibly have known about them. Shen Yunnan was based in the northwest, and even if he investigated, Xiao Changyan wasn't underestimating his capabilities—he was certain Shen Yunnan couldn't have uncovered this.
Otherwise, how could he have so boldly strengthened his forces to this day?The advisor was startled, only then recalling the matter: "Your Highness, it might be the voice from the Eastern Palace."
How many years had Shen Xihe been in the capital? It definitely wasn't her, so that left only...
Dear reader, this chapter is complete. Wishing you a pleasant reading experience! ^0^
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