knife

Chapter 568 Prestige
On the battlefield, when one side gains an extra advantage, it is usually a disaster for the other side.

Wang Dao and Yi Hong are both outstanding figures among the second generation of naval officers.
Once all the older generation has passed away, these rivers and lakes will become their domain.

The two players are actually quite similar in skill level, basically neck and neck.

Therefore, this fierce battle on the river,
With both sides roughly equal in strength, the battle was extremely fierce.

Basically, neither of them benefited from the other.

However, Yi Hong was in a hurry to leave.

Because this is Yong'an County, Wang Dao can receive support from the county governor He Jiong at any time.

His primary goal was to get rid of Director Wang and return to Danyang.

The instructions given to him by Xiang Ying were to bring back as many warships and naval forces as possible.

Originally, Wang Dao was fighting against the Shu navy in the Yiling area, and he had the opportunity to leave on his own with the navy stationed on the Han River.

Unfortunately, his actions were not discreet, and the secrets were discovered by members of the Tianluo organization who were lurking in his troops. Wang Dao led his troops back overnight and intercepted him on the river.

The battle was raging when a master descended from the sky. Yi Hong was shocked when he heard the Empress Dowager's thunderous shouts from the opposing warship. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.

Looking back at his subordinates on the warship, they were all filled with fear.

Who is the Empress Dowager?

She was the one who led everyone to fight against the Qin state in Xiangcheng five years ago, saving the Great Chu from disaster. The navy was also an important participant in that battle, and the Empress Dowager's prestige was extremely high in the navy as well.

"It's fake, it's fake! The Empress Dowager is in Danyang City, how could she possibly be here?" Yi Hong shouted.

When he led the team back this time, he concealed the truth and dared not say that he had betrayed the Empress Dowager. He only thought that after bringing the team back, everything would naturally fall into place.

He told his soldiers that the attack on Wang Dao was because Wang Dao had surrendered to the enemy.

The soldiers under his command didn't really have much of a choice; they could only trust their commander.

However, if Jiang Qian were to arrive in person, they would likely be defeated without a fight.

Yi Hong's roar did have some effect.

The soldiers found it hard to believe that one of the two people who had just fallen from the sky was the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager is a very important person, so why would she appear here alone?

Jiang Qian strode to the bow of the boat, her clothes fluttering in the river breeze.

"Move closer!" she snapped.

Wang Dao hesitated for a moment, then gave the order, and his flagship slowly emerged from the escort of numerous warships.

On the river, many ships were engaged in battle, their ships intertwined. The only ship that was well protected was the officer's flagship. At this moment, Wang Dao's main ship sailed out and slowly glided through the many warships that were fighting.

Both sides saw the woman standing on the bow of the ship.

There are too many veterans in the navy.

They all participated in the Battle of Xiangcheng and had an indelible impression of the woman dressed in plain clothes who beat the drum to cheer on the battle.

Jiang Qian, still dressed in plain clothes, stood at the bow of the ship and was immediately recognized by countless veterans. "It really is the Empress Dowager!"

"May the Empress Dowager be well!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

On the river, the initial scattered shouts gradually grew stronger, and as Jiang Qian traversed the battlefield and arrived at the very center of the battlefield, the shouts became extremely orderly.

Except for a very small number of people, all the people from both sides who had just been fighting knelt down on one knee on the warship.

Yi Hong looked left and right, and apart from his trusted confidants, the rest of the soldiers were looking at him with very strange eyes.

On the river, hundreds of warships, whether they followed her or Wang Dao, no longer belonged to them after Jiang Qian stepped forward.

With a long sigh, he held a sword to his neck, unwilling to become a prisoner and be humiliated.

Just as he was about to draw his sword and end it all, the man in blue robes beside Jiang Qian suddenly appeared beside him like a ghost. With just a wave of his hand, he felt weak and numb all over, and was pulled back to Jiang Qian's side in an instant.

Li Dachui casually tossed Yi Hong to Jiang Qian's feet and laughed, "I think this guy is still useful."

Jiang Qian nodded.

After the coup in Danyang, many of her confidants inevitably fell into Xiang Ying's hands. Yi Hong was also an important figure for him. However, in order to win over the old naval commanders, mainly the Yi family, Xiang Ying would definitely agree to exchange him for Yi Hong.

With Yi Hong captured, the battle naturally came to an end.

Jiang Qian's words carried weight. All the soldiers who followed Yi Hong today were deceived by him. Yi Hong has been captured, and the rest of us are innocent. Reorganize your ranks and return to Yong'an.

Wang Dao began to reorganize the fleet and appease the enemy. Of course, the captains of the warships that had defected with Yi Hong were all gathered on Wang Dao's flagship to prevent further chaos.

Only after all this was done and the fleet began its return voyage did Director Wang arrive at the main cabin.

Jiang Qian stood by the porthole, looking at the fleet of warships sailing outside, and said, "While I was away from Danyang, Xiang Ying and Xiong Yi launched a coup, and Danyang has fallen into their hands. To put it simply, I have failed. I imagine that soon, all sorts of slanderous accusations against me will be hurled from Danyang!"

"As long as the Empress Dowager is safe, how many more days can Xiang Ying and his ilk cause trouble? Now Yong'an has tens of thousands of Tiger Warriors, plus the county troops from Yong'an, Ruyin and other places, as well as the naval forces. The Empress Dowager will lead us back to Danyang to kill these clowns!" Wang Dao shouted.

Jiang Qian shook her head: "This time it will probably be very difficult. Director Wang, your father is in the Cloud Mist Mountain area, and I'm afraid he has already died in battle."

Director Wang's face turned deathly pale instantly. He looked at Jiang Qian, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"Chen Yan led his warships to surround Yunwu Mountain, and Xiang Ying and his men were also in the fleet. Yunwu Mountain has been captured!" Jiang Qian sighed, "This time, I lost completely. I can only rush to Yong'an and hope to stabilize the situation here."

Taking a deep breath, Wang Dao tried to appear more composed, swallowed hard, and said, "This subordinate understands! The news will likely reach Yong'an soon. Feng Kuan's troops are attacking very aggressively there. Once the frontline troops learn of this news, they may collapse. Your Majesty, we need to go there immediately to discuss countermeasures. Once the battle line collapses, it will be a complete rout."

"That's why I rushed over here," Jiang Qian said. "Immediately send a fast boat to He Jiong and tell him this news. But don't mention that I'm on your boat!"

"Understood!" Director Wang turned and walked outside.

"Director Wang!" Jiang Qian called out.

Wang Dao turned around: "Does the Empress Dowager have any further instructions?"

“I will get your father’s body back!” Jiang Qian said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Director Wang could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down his face.

(End of this chapter)