Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

When Zhong Xiangqin arrived,

They then had a pillar of support.

We will definitely take the initiative then.

"Dang-dang-dang!"

"The Ming navy is here!"

Zhong Yi suddenly stood up.

The generals also went out to check the situation.

But then they saw a massive, overwhelming number of warships approaching from the north.

The pseudo-Chu navy also set sail and deployed in the south.

The two sides are not even in the same league.

Especially after last year's naval battle,

The Ming Dynasty's navy was more than twice the size of the pseudo-Chu navy.

Moreover, their ships are strong and their cannons are powerful!

The pseudo-Chu navy dared not engage them directly.

Instead, they guarded the area where the Xiang River flows into Dongting Lake.

They attempted to use the complex terrain of Qingcaohu to launch a defensive counterattack.

Chapter 1897 Firing Cannons

Right now,

The commander of the pseudo-Chu navy was Lei Dejin.

The deputy general is Yang Yao.

On the side of the Ming Dynasty navy,

The commander-in-chief is Pang Dingzi.

The deputy general was Qiu Shanshui.

Ying Xuan voluntarily relinquished command.

(Pang Dingzi and Qiu Shanshui were both salt smugglers who sought refuge with Li Bao in Bazhou.)

"Boom boom boom!"

The two sides were about a mile apart.

The Ming navy opened fire.

Only a dozen or so warships were equipped with cannons.

These warships used cannons to clear the way.

They advanced while firing cannons.

It's completely unreasonable.

The remaining warships,

They all followed behind the gunboats.

Prepare for the upcoming close-quarters combat.

"It's always like this, taking advantage of the fact that we don't have firearms!"

Yang Yao stood at the bow of the boat.

He had a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent it.

The only advantage of the pseudo-Chu navy was...

It means having a favorable geographical location and smooth sailing.

In the era of cold weapons,

These are enough to turn the tide of the battle.

But how can you fight back with one-sided artillery bombardment?

Lei Dejin was the commander-in-chief of the Chu army's navy.

My heart is also heavy:

"Pass down the order to prepare for a fire attack."

The terrain at the mouth of the Xiangjiang River is more complex.

Not only are islands scattered throughout,

Moreover, reeds grow in abundance.

They hid thousands of small boats filled with firewood.

As long as the Ming navy dares to come...

More than a thousand fire ships would then sail down the wind and current.

However, after the Ming Dynasty navy approached Lujiaozhai,

It then began to slowly stop moving forward.

The first dozen or so gunboats,

They all turned around in unison.

They bombarded the Deer Horn Water Fortress relentlessly.

Although Ying Xuan did not participate in command,

But he also helped with the planning.

After all, he was originally a bandit from Dongting Lake.

Regarding this battle, from beginning to end,

Yingxuan only said one sentence:

"Do not drive into the mouth of the Xiangjiang River."

Seeing their own water fortress under continuous artillery fire,

But the enemy didn't fall for the trap, and Yang Yao said anxiously:

"Go tell General Lei that I want to go into battle to lure the enemy!"

A small boat sailed toward Redjin's flagship.

After a brief moment of thought:

“Go back and tell Yang Yao,”

“Tell him to be very careful,”

"Take fifteen boats to lure the enemy."

Soon, Yang Yao personally led fifteen warships,

Leaving the mouth of the Xiangjiang River,

They resolutely charged towards the Ming Dynasty's navy.

Yingxuan put down his telescope and said to Pang Dingzi:

"The enemy has been lured here."

More than ten gunboats turned around.

They fired at Yang Yao's warship.

The two sides are getting closer and closer.

The fifteen warships brought by Yang Yao

One of them was sunk halfway there.

Two other ships have been hit but have not yet sunk.

Seeing the enemy warships closing in,

Yang Yao shouted, "Retreat!"

The flag waved.

The Chu army's warships began to retreat.

Yang Yao withdrew.

The Ming Dynasty navy also ceased operations.

They didn't chase after us at all.

Continue bombarding the Deer Horn Water Fortress.

The Deer Horn Water Fortress was reinforced last year.

The buildings on the water are made of wood.

But a rammed earth castle was built on the shore.

Moreover, on the two "antlers",

The twin castles were built.

They could support each other using small warships.

The Ming Dynasty Navy's battle plan

The first step was to demolish the floating structures.

The second step was to demolish the rammed earth castle.

Zhong Yi lay prone behind the castle's parapet.

Feel the vibrations as cannons bombard the walls.

He knew he should leave a small force to guard the castle.

The main force then marched north to engage Wang Yuan in a decisive battle.

Holding out here will only lead to a major defeat sooner or later.

It would be better for the entire army to retreat and defend Xiangyin.

However, Zhong Yi lacked confidence in his command abilities.

They feared that a decisive battle would result in total annihilation.

Moreover, the strategic location of Lujiaozhai is extremely important.

Once the Great Chu loses this place,

Never again should you set foot in Dongting Lake.

Zhong Yi could not bear the consequences of losing Lujiao Village.

Zhong Yi now only has one thought left.

It's just a matter of dragging things out.

They dragged it out until Prime Minister Zhong himself came here to command the battle.

"Prime Minister, Lord Lei has broken out!"

The shouts of the guards startled Zhong Yi, who immediately stood up.

They looked out despite the risk of being bombarded.

However, Yang Yao's attempt to lure the enemy failed.

Lei Dejin was unwilling to stand idly by.