Hot flashes

The firelight on the Canglan River illuminated half the night sky, making Zheng You's painstakingly constructed defense line on the south bank appear like a tattered spiderweb in broad daylight.

The water fortress transformed into towering torches, and burning warships, carrying desperate soldiers, swirled and sank in the middle of the river, the air filled with the horrible smell of burnt flesh, grease, and charred skin.

Chaos, like a plague, spread wildly from the water fortress to the entire southern bank defense line.

The defending troops, who were confronting the feinting attack force on the north bank, heard the deafening explosions and screams behind them and saw the flames that lit up the sky. Their morale collapsed instantly.

Many soldiers dropped their weapons and turned to flee to the rear or sides. The supervising officers cut down a few, but could not stop the ever-growing tide.

Just as this chaos reached its peak, the main force crossing the river on the north bank, like a group of sharks smelling blood, set sail in a race and crashed into the mudflats on the south bank almost without any hindrance at several pre-planned landing points!

There was no fierce battle on the beachhead as expected. In many areas, the defending troops on the south bank had already scattered, leaving only a few archers who fired a few arrows in a panic before being overwhelmed by the surging Jingbei army vanguard.

Where there was fierce resistance, it was quickly crushed by the subsequent landing of the fierce and ruthless elite troops from the north.

Zhao Ting and Wang Ben each led a unit, and after landing, they immediately spread out to both flanks to expand the landing area, and went straight into the depths of the southern bank defense line to divide and encircle the enemy strongholds that were still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Xiao Jue did not remain on the high ground on the north bank. After the order for the general offensive was given, he boarded a sturdy fast ship and, surrounded by his personal naval guards, sailed straight towards the most important landing point in the middle section of the river.

His black armor robes fluttered in the river wind, and his long sword reflected the firelight on the opposite bank. He was like a war god in person. Wherever he passed, the roars of the soldiers on the north bank became even more deafening, while the remaining resistance on the south bank grew weaker and weaker.

When Xiao Jue's feet touched the still-wet mud on the south bank, it was nearly dawn.

As the eastern sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn, it intertwined with the lingering red glow of the embers from the river fortress to the west, creating a strange, gunpowder-scented dawn.

The battlefield has been largely pacified. Sporadic fighting is still taking place in the distance, but the overall situation is settled.

On the wide river, pontoon bridges are being rapidly erected, and more and more troops and supplies are crossing the river.

On the south bank beach, the flags of the Jingbei Army were already flying high, and the soldiers were clearing the battlefield, gathering prisoners, and extinguishing the remaining fires under the command of their officers.

The air was filled with the fishy smell of the river, the stench of blood, the burnt smell, and a unique scent of victory, a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.

Xiao Jue reined in his horse on a slightly higher earthen slope, looking down at the land that had just been conquered.

As the morning light gradually dispelled the night, what unfolded before our eyes were the fertile and flat fields of the three prefectures of Jiangzuo, the faint outlines of villages in the distance, and further south—the magnificent rivers and mountains that represented endless wealth and population.

The natural barrier of Canglan has been breached, and the gateway to the Southern Capital is wide open.

"Your Highness!" Zhao Ting, covered in blood, rode up, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Our army has completely controlled the twenty-mile stretch of coastline! Over thirty thousand have been killed or captured! Zheng You is leading his remaining troops in a rout towards Linchuan City, and Wang Ben is already leading his cavalry in pursuit!"

"Linchuan..." Xiao Jue looked south. It was a fortified city, the northern barrier of the three prefectures of Jiangzuo. "Order Wang Ben to pursue but not annihilate them, drive them into the city. The army will rest briefly and set off in the afternoon to besiege Linchuan."

"Yes!" Zhao Ting accepted the order, but then said, "Your Highness, our army suffered casualties in this battle..." He paused, "especially the brothers who carried out the fire attack... less than 30% survived."

The river wind seemed to turn cold at that moment. Those nameless martyrs who disappeared into the rapids of "Old Dragon's Mouth" and the sea of ​​fire on the south bank paved this road to the south bank with their lives.

Xiao Jue remained silent for a moment, his face expressionless, only a fleeting, almost icy melancholy passing through the depths of his eyes.

"His family will be generously compensated, and his children will be supported by the Prince's Palace until they reach adulthood." His voice was calm and unwavering. "The names of the fallen will be recorded separately. Once the world is at peace, a monument will be erected on the banks of the Cangjiang River."

"On behalf of my brothers, I thank Your Highness for your grace!" Zhao Ting's voice choked slightly. He clasped his hands in a deep bow, then turned and rushed off to make arrangements.

Xiao Jue remained stationed on the slope, gazing at the busy boats on the river and the pontoon bridge under construction.

The rising sun cast golden rays upon the river and onto his black armor, stained with gunpowder and morning dew, reflecting a cold, hard light. The dark gold cloud and thunder patterns on his royal robe swirled in the light, exuding an awe-inspiring majesty.

Shen Yu had crossed the river at some point and reached the bottom of the slope. Looking up at Xiao Jue on horseback, he bowed deeply and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness! With the Canglan River breached, Jiangzuo is within reach, the Southern Capital is shaken, and the balance of power in the world is now set!"

Xiao Jue nodded slightly, but his gaze passed over him, heading towards the central army camp further away. Across the wide river, the camp on the opposite bank was only a blurry outline in the morning light.

"Mr. Zhou...are you alright?" he suddenly asked, his voice low.

Shen Yu hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, Mr. Zhou has remained safely inside the fortified central command tent, protected by elite guards. Shall we... bring Mr. Zhou across the river now?"

"No." Xiao Jue withdrew his gaze. "The pontoon bridge is not yet secure, and there are still remnants of the enemy adrift on the river. It's not safe. We can pick him up after the afternoon when the situation in Linchuan becomes clearer." He paused, then added, "Pass down the order: protect him well, and there must be no mistakes."

"Yes." Shen Yu replied, inwardly sighing that the prince was truly protective of this person.