Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The next day, the scorching August sun scorched every inch of land on the north bank.

The hot steam rising from the surface of the river distorted the distant scenery, as if even the air was trembling.

The flags of the Han army's water fort fluttered in the hot wind, and a large banner with the word "Han" in gold on a black background hung high above the main ship, like a bird of prey overlooking all living things.

"General, all camps are ready!" Deputy General Cheng Dang knelt on one knee, his armor shining coldly in the sunlight.

Zhou Yu stood on the deck of the flagship "Breaking Waves" and squinted at the south bank.

The general, who was nearly forty years old, had a resolute face, but at this moment, a hint of amusement appeared on his face.

"Pass the order down and attack according to the original plan." Zhou Yu's voice was not loud, but it cheered up the soldiers around him.

He turned and looked at the towering watchtower on the shore, and could vaguely see Emperor Liu Che's golden armor shining in the sun.

Today's battle concerns the safety of the Han army's rear, and even more so the direction of the entire war.

On the river, the Han army's warships sailed out like arrows.

In the front row were thirty Mengchong fast boats, with long and narrow hulls and iron-clad bows, specially designed for attacking enemy formations.

Behind them were fifty tower ships, each of which could carry two hundred soldiers. The ship's tower was three stories high and was densely populated with archers.

"Report - the gate of the Chu army's water stronghold on the south bank is closed, and there is no sign of fighting!" The scout came quickly to report.

Zhou Yu sneered, "Is Ran Ming going to be a coward? Send a message to the vanguard camp to launch a tentative attack!"

As the horn sounded, thirty Mengchong speedboats rushed towards the Chu army's water camp like arrows.

The soldiers on the ship shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sky.

There were ten crossbowmen standing on each boat, shooting arrows like raindrops at the defenders on the shore.

On the south bank observation deck, Ran Ming's bald head shone oily in the scorching sun.

This Chu general was a burly man, at least nine feet tall, with hideous tattoos covering his bare arms.

Zhou Tai reported to Ran Ming anxiously, "General, the Han army is coming in force. The entire 100-mile waterway is filled with their ships. They're planning an all-out war!"

"If there is a breakthrough, they can take advantage of the situation and charge into our camp."

Ran Ming grinned, a ferocious look appeared on his face, and his huge bald head gleamed in the scorching sun, like a god or demon about to be born.

"Zhou Yu is trying to use this method to throw our army into defensive chaos, and then take advantage of the opportunity to attack us!"

Ran Ming grinned coldly and said, "Since that's the case, then pass the order down. Except for my personal guards, the three huge Fu ships, and the twenty turtle ships, all others must go into defense!"

Zhou Tai was a little surprised when he heard this: "General, what are your plans for the Fu Ship and the Turtle Ship?"

Ran Ming waved his hand impatiently and said, "Just go down and pass on the order, and don't worry about the rest!"

"This..." Zhou Tai was helpless: "Okay, I'll go down and arrange it right away!"

A quarter of an hour later.

"General, the vanguard of the Han army has entered the range of the catapults!" Zhou Tai came to report again, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

Ran Ming was surprisingly calm. He stroked the short beard on his chin, with a cunning glint in his eyes:

"Let them come closer... closer..."

When the Han army's vanguard was less than a hundred steps away from the water fort, Ran Ming suddenly shouted, "Shoot!"

In an instant, thirty catapults on the shore fired at the same time, and stones as big as millstones whizzed towards the surface of the river.

A Mengchong speedboat was hit directly, and the hull was instantly torn into pieces, with wood chips and flesh flying everywhere.

The other ships hurriedly turned around, but it was too late, and the second wave of stone rain had already hit.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" the Han army's vanguard captain shouted at the top of his lungs.

The remaining Mengchong fast boats retreated in a hurry, and broken planks and struggling soldiers floated on the river.

On the north bank observation tower, Liu Che clenched his fists, his face extremely gloomy, but a hint of anxiety flashed in his eyes.

"What is Zhou Yu waiting for? Why not attack with all his might?"

Tian Feng, the counselor beside him, whispered, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. General Zhou is testing the Chu army's strength."

Three quarters of an hour later, the main force of the Han army finally moved.

Eighty warships were divided into three columns and rushed towards the south bank in a pincer shape.

In the middle were twenty arrow ships, and on the left and right wings there were thirty tower ships each for protection.

"Archers, get ready!" Zhou Yu stood on the flagship, waving the command flag in his hand.

The archers quickly drew their arrows and adjusted their bows to shoot.

"put!"

Dense swarms of sharp arrows whizzed towards the Chu army camp.

But the Chu army archers were no less powerful, shooting arrows at the Han army like locusts.

"The ships move forward! Use archers to suppress!" Zhou Yu commanded calmly.

The archers on the Han army's warships immediately fought back, and arrows from both sides crossed in the air. From time to time, soldiers were shot and fell into the water.

At this moment, the gate of the Chu army's water fort suddenly opened, and three huge Fu ships slowly sailed out.

These warships are five stories high, with their hulls covered in iron armor, like moving fortresses.

Even more shocking was the presence of twenty strangely shaped turtle ships following closely behind—low-slung warships covered in iron armor, with only holes for oars and firing ports.

"As expected!" Zhou Yu's eyes flashed: "Order the two wings to encircle and concentrate firepower to attack the Fuzhou ship!"

The Han army archers immediately adjusted their direction and aimed all their arrows at the leading Fu ship.

Sharp arrows continued to shoot up, but the iron armor of the Fu ship was surprisingly strong, leaving only a few dents on the surface.

"Hahahaha!"

Ran Ming stood on the middle boat and laughed wildly: "Zhou Yu, little bastard, is this all you can do?"

He waved his hand violently: "Turtle ship attack!"

Twenty turtle ships rushed towards the Han army formation like arrows.

These ships were so fast that the Han army's arrows could not penetrate their iron armor.

In a blink of an eye, the turtle ship had broken into the Han army's fleet. The Chu army on the ship continued to shoot arrows through the shooting holes, causing the Han army's casualties to increase sharply.

Zhou Yu's face was solemn, and he immediately changed his tactics: "Order all ships to disperse and attack with fire!"

Dozens of Han army speedboats carrying kerosene tanks rushed towards the turtle ship.

After paying a heavy price, seven turtle ships were finally set on fire.

But the remaining turtle ships continued to rampage through the Han army, causing great chaos.

At this moment, the heavy crossbows on the Chu army's Fu ships began to show their power.

A crossbow arrow as thick as an arm whizzed out, piercing through a Han army warship directly, and the hull began to tilt.

On the north bank observation tower, Liu Che's face became increasingly ugly.

"Send a message to Zhou Yu: If we can't win quickly, retreat immediately!"

By dusk, the Han army was unable to break through the Chu army's defense line and instead lost more than 20 warships.

Zhou Yu had to order a retreat.

When the remaining Han warships slowly sailed back to the north bank, countless debris and corpses were floating on the river, and the blood dyed the river red.

On the south bank observation tower, Ran Ming watched the retreating Han army, stroking his bald head with pride. "Tell His Majesty that the waterway is under my control, Ran Ming. The Han army cannot advance a single step!"

Zhou Tai hesitated to speak, and finally just sighed deeply.

He looked at the gradually darkening river surface, feeling vaguely uneasy - this naval battle might have just begun.