Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lei Bo's grain-carrying fleet slowly entered Panlong Gorge. The canyon's cliffs were sheer, and the river surged through the narrow channel, splashing against the sides as the ships moved. Standing at the bow, Lei Bo's uneasiness grew stronger. He stared intently at both banks, trying to discern any sign of something unusual among the seemingly tranquil cliffs and lush vegetation.

Gan Ning and his Jinfan Army had long been in hiding. These Jinfan soldiers, bare-chested, revealing their muscular bodies, their bodies painted with strange totems, had been navigating the rivers for years, their familiarity with the water like a fish's dependence on water, each a master of naval warfare. Their warships, cleverly camouflaged with reeds and vines, blended seamlessly into their surroundings, waiting for the fatal blow.

As Lei Bo's fleet entered the depths of the canyon, Gan Ning decisively gave the attack signal. Instantly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air, and the Jinfan Army swarmed out from behind the reeds and reefs on both sides. Crossbowmen, stationed on high ground, unleashed wave after wave of precise arrows at the grain transport fleet. The rain of arrows was as dense as a swarm of locusts, and Lei Bo's soldiers were hit one after another, screaming in pain.

At the same time, the Jinfan Army's warships, like arrows from a bow, rushed towards Lei Bo's fleet. Their skillful navigation nimbly navigated the turbulent currents, rapidly closing in on their target. The rams of their ships slammed into Lei Bo's ships with a resounding, dull thud, and the vessels shook violently, sending many soldiers careening into the water.

Like nimble fish, the brocade-sailed warships weaved in and outflanked the grain transport fleet. Armed with grappling hooks, the brocade-sailed soldiers leaped aboard Lei Bo's ships, engaging the enemy in close combat. With their agility and extensive combat experience, they crushed the enemy on deck.

Seeing the situation was not good, Lei Bo quickly organized a counterattack, waving his spear in an attempt to stabilize the position. However, the Jinfan Army's offensive was like a surging tide, wave after wave, leaving them no chance to breathe.

Gan Ning personally led a team of elite soldiers, advancing directly on Lei Bo's main ship. Leading the charge, longsword in hand, each strike was fierce and powerful, and in a flash of blade, the enemies fell one after another. Lei Bo fought back fiercely, wielding his spear with great force, but he was still unable to withstand Gan Ning's fierce attacks.

As the fierce battle raged, a warship laden with boulders quietly approached the side of Lei Bo's main ship. The soldiers on board worked together to hurl the boulders at the main ship's side. With a resounding "boom," a massive gash was ripped open in the main ship's side, allowing the river water to surge in.

Lei Bo watched the gradually tilting main ship, his heart filled with despair. His soldiers were now in disarray, surrendering or jumping overboard. Seeing the situation hopeless, Lei Bo, with a few close associates, jumped onto a small boat and fled in the chaos.

Gan Ning stood at the bow, watching Lei Bo's humiliating escape, and burst into laughter. With a wave of his hand, he commanded the Jinfan Army to swiftly clear the battlefield and secure the grain ships one by one. This thrilling naval battle ended with a glorious victory for the Jinfan Army, and these grain supplies became the key to turning the tide of the war.

The river surged, its current surging like a wild horse, making it difficult for Gan Ning and Lei Bo's troops to swim upstream. They were forced to drift downstream. Gan Ning's soldiers were busy counting and protecting the captured food and fodder, and were unable to spare any manpower to pursue Lei Bo. This gave Lei Bo the perfect opportunity to escape.

Panicked and disoriented, Lei Bo rowed his boat desperately, the river surging behind him and the unknown road ahead, his heart filled with fear and despair. Finally, he managed to escape, escaping Gan Ning's pursuit. But when he calmed down, looking at the empty fleet and recalling the disastrous defeat, he was filled with regret and self-blame.

He slumped in the bow, his head in his hands, his mind replaying Yuan Shu's furious expression upon learning the food supply had been robbed. The more he thought about it, the more hopeless he became. Suddenly, he abruptly stood up, unsheathed the longsword from his waist, and cried out in a trembling, tearful voice, "Now that all the food supply is gone, how can I face my lord? Even if I return, I'll die!" At this moment, he was like a trapped beast, filled with despair at the end of his rope.

The deputy general stood nearby, his face also filled with grief and helplessness. Just as everyone was lost in despair, the deputy general suddenly looked up and saw a pile of warships downstream, sailing upstream, heading towards them. He was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened in disbelief. After confirming that he had seen correctly, he excitedly shouted, "General, look! We're saved! Help is coming!"

At that moment, Lei Bo was completely enveloped by despair, his thoughts becoming a blur. His eyes were glassy as he stared blankly in the direction the deputy general had pointed. His cracked lips trembled slightly, and his voice, filled with suspicion and confusion, asked with a hint of hoarseness, "How can you be sure they're one of ours? How could they be reinforcements?" He rubbed his eyes vigorously, as if to clear his vision, to confirm that what he saw wasn't an illusion.

The deputy general was extremely anxious, with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He quickly raised his hand, pointed at the fleet in the distance, and explained in rapid succession: "General, look! Our lord's flag is clearly flying high in the most conspicuous position of the fleet! Besides, looking at this vast river, who else has the strength to mobilize such a large-scale navy except our Yuan family's navy?" His eyes were full of anxiety and expectation, for fear that Lei Bo still didn't believe it.

Upon hearing this, Lei Bo's previously dull eyes lit up instantly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, as if he had grasped a lifeline in the darkness. He nodded frantically, his movements so dramatic that he nearly lost his balance. He muttered, "Right, right, you're absolutely right! Why didn't I think of that?" Then, he turned and eagerly shouted to his men, "Quick, move over there!"

As they approached, the opposing warship signaled them to stop with flag signals. Lei Bo's heart suddenly sank, and a look of nervousness crossed his face. He unconsciously clenched his hands around the side of the ship, his eyes fixed on the enemy's every move. After some tense communication and confirmation, he was finally allowed to approach.

Li Feng stood at the bow, looking down at the disheveled Lei Bo. Lei Bo's hair was disheveled, his clothes torn, and his face was still wet with fatigue. A subtle quirk of sarcasm crossed Li Feng's lips, but he quickly adjusted his expression to one of concern. Frowning slightly, he asked, "General Lei Bo, what on earth is going on? How did it end up like this?" He shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.

Lei Bo's face was filled with shame, his head lowered, almost buried in his chest, and he stammered, "I was robbed by a group of river bandits." His voice was as small as a mosquito's hum, filled with endless regret and self-blame.

Li Feng was shocked, his eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, and he couldn't help but raise his voice and said: "What? The river bandits are so powerful that they can easily rob the food and grass escorted by 5,000 navy? How is this possible!" His voice echoed on the surface of the river, attracting the attention of the surrounding soldiers.

Lei Bo sighed helplessly, his voice tinged with bitterness, and explained in detail: "They succeeded because we were ambushed by them in Panlong Gorge. The terrain there is dangerous, and we couldn't defend ourselves at all." As he spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the water off his face, and he couldn't tell whether it was river water or sweat.

Li Feng's face was full of confusion, his brows twisted into the shape of a "川" character, and he asked, "Where have those Jiang bandits gone now? We can't just let them get away like this!" He clasped his hands in front of his chest, staring at Lei Bo, as if trying to find the answer from his face.

Lei Bo quickly replied, "It's only half a day's journey. The terrain in Panlong Gorge is steep and the water is turbulent, making it impossible to go upstream. I think they can only go downstream, and they are probably transporting food and grass nearby. If we rush over now, we can definitely take the food and grass back while they are still unstable!" He became more and more excited as he spoke, a glimmer of hope lit in his eyes, and his hands gestured unconsciously.

Li Feng pondered for a moment, stroking his chin, his eyes flickering. After a moment, he nodded firmly and said in a deep voice, "Okay, if that's the case, then let's do as you say! Retrieve the food and fodder, and atone for our sins!" The two men immediately agreed and decided to lead the fleet upstream immediately to recapture the vital food and fodder and save this precarious situation.

Li Feng stood at the bow, his posture erect, his expression stern, his gaze fixed squarely ahead. He raised his arms and shouted, his voice piercing and powerful, echoing far and wide across the river: "Brothers, press on! Swing upstream and reclaim our provisions! This is a matter of life and death for our army. We must not retreat!" Encouraged by his words, the sailors shouted in unison, their morale high. They rowed with all their might. Each stroke of the oars sent a cascade of water, and the boats cut through the waves, trudging upriver with difficulty but determination.

Along the way, shipwrecks drifted down the turbulent current, leaving traces of the attack on Lei Bo's fleet. This further fueled the fighting spirit of Li Feng and the others. When they finally spotted the enemy fleet docked in the distance at a river bend, Li Feng and Lei Bo's eyes flashed with surprise and fierceness.

"That's them!" Lei Bo's voice trembled with excitement. He brandished his long sword, as if he had already seen the scene of retaking the food supplies. "Charge! Kill all these river thieves!"

Li Feng waved his hand without hesitation and ordered: "Go at full speed and ram the enemy ships! Don't let any one go!" The warship rushed towards the enemy fleet like an arrow, and the waves stirred up by the bow splashed high.

As they drew closer, the two sides engaged in close combat. Li Feng was the first to leap from his warship onto the enemy ship, brandishing his spear, its tip flashing with a cold gleam. He instantly forced back several enemies. His movements were fluid and deadly, and wherever he struck, the enemies fell one after another.

Not to be outdone, Lei Bo followed closely behind. He swung his long sword, slashing left and right with a desperate determination, channeling his anger and humiliation into the force of his attack. His swordplay was fierce and powerful, each strike leaving a whirring sound that struck fear into the enemy.

Led by the two, the soldiers' morale was greatly boosted. They charged towards the enemy with shouts and launched into fierce close combat. For a moment, the cries of killing and the clashing of weapons intertwined, echoing throughout the river bend. A thrilling battle broke out.