Chapter 761: Only by running over can one survive!

Xiao Yuanhang and Zhao Tieshan stood shoulder to shoulder at the bow, while everyone else stood silently behind them.

The two used the dawn light to look toward the beach through the thousand-mile mirror in their hands.

The sea breeze blew gently, and the beach gave off a cold white light under the gray-blue sky light.

"Prince," Zhao Tieshan pointed to both sides, "Look at the northern and southern sections."

Xiao Yuanhang slightly turned the telescope tube.

Behind the northern beachhead, the morning wind blew, and the banners appeared and disappeared intermittently, seeming quite numerous.

The southern section was the same, with layers of banner shadows and scattered figures, appearing to have heavy troops deployed.

He moved the telescope tube back to the middle section.

The beach was flat and wide, with only over a thousand Goryeo people in ragged clothes, men and women, old and young, huddled in the sea wind.

Beside them, some Eastern Ocean soldiers walked back and forth, occasionally shouting, repeatedly striking those unsteady civilians with the backs of their swords and whips.

From time to time, women's screams and children's cries could be heard from the crowd.

Xiao Yuanhang furrowed his brows.

He moved the thousand-mile mirror, looking past the crowd; the wide tidal flat gradually narrowed, with low sand dunes on both sides, behind which lay a sparse forest.

The forest was not large, but its position was tricky, lying exactly on the necessary route from the beach inland.

Xiao Yuanhang stared at that forest for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed.

He lowered the thousand-mile mirror: "They want us to think that heavy troops are in the north and south sections, while the middle is a soft persimmon."

"Indeed a soft persimmon," Zhao Tieshan lowered the thousand-mile mirror, "the beach is full of civilians; we haven't even seen a shadow of the Eastern Ocean's great army."

"Then take another look at that forest."

Zhao Tieshan raised the thousand-mile mirror again, looked for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Your Highness's meaning, their killing move is in that forest?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded slightly: "This is a lure-the-enemy tactic."

"The north and south have many banners but few troops, luring us to land in the middle."

"In fact it's a pocket formation; once we go up, heavy troops will surely rush out, then both sides will encircle us, leaving us like fish in a barrel."

"Your Highness is right," Zhao Tieshan aimed the thousand-mile mirror at the sea ahead; the water was blue-green, waves sparking white foam, layer after layer licking the beach.

He narrowed his eyes: "But I have a doubt; if it's a lure-the-enemy plot, why don't the Eastern Ocean people wade in to attack, then feign retreat, instead of just placing civilians here?"

He lowered the thousand-mile mirror: "I feel there might be something in the water."

Xiao Yuanhang looked at him for a moment, then nodded: "You are the Navy Commander; decide what to do and give the order."

Zhao Tieshan turned and shouted: "Come, a few brothers good at water, go down and take a look!"

"Yes!"

Several sailors responded, taking off their outer garments, climbing over the ship's side, and silently slipping into the sea.

After a moment, they returned, each with a pale face: "Commander! Below are sharpened bamboo rafts and wooden stakes! Packed tightly, making it impossible to approach the shore!"

"These things are specially used to damage ship hulls!"

Zhao Tieshan's face sank: "How far from the shore are they?"

The sailor replied: "Almost a hundred steps."

"Indeed cunning," Xiao Yuanhang said, "Pass the order: keep the supply ships away from the shore!"

"The remaining warships, drop anchor a hundred steps from the shore."

"Turn all the ships sideways! Aim the cannon muzzles at the beach!"

"Yes!"

The flag bearer quickly sent out signal flags to convey the order.

Soon, the mighty warships drove forward not far, all turned sideways and dropped anchor, stretching for tens of miles; the gun ports opened in unison, and the dark cannon muzzles aimed at the entire beach.

"Let's use their scheme against them," Xiao Yuanhang raised his hand, pointing to both sides, "They aren't trying to trick us? We'll pretend to see through it, and instead strike first from the sides."

"Order the soldiers to each carry four Heavenfire tubes; first use cannon fire to drive them back, then fiercely attack with the Heavenfire tubes—find me those with loud voices, the louder the momentum the better!"

"We must make them think we have seen through their plot and will split forces to land from both sides."

"Good!" Zhao Tieshan grinned, "I'll pick them; they'll all have the loudest voices— a hundred men can shout like thousands!"

Having said that, he turned and left.

Wang Jingzhao silently looked at the civilians under the cannon muzzles, couldn't help stepping forward two steps: "Prince Ning, what should we do with those civilians on the shore?"

"Are we supposed to blast them all with cannon fire?"

Tuan Tuan, who had been quietly staying in Lu Qi's arms, immediately objected upon hearing that: "My dad would never hit them!"

Wang Jingzhao was taken aback.

Xiao Yuanhang gave his daughter a gentle smile, turned his head to look at him: "Of course not."

"When they move troops to reinforce both sides, I will myself have the soldiers shout, telling them to run toward the sea."

"As long as they run over, the cannon fire will land only behind them, not harming a single hair."

Wang Jingzhao suddenly understood: "It's me being impatient; Your Highness, don't blame me."

Just then, "Boom——!"

The north and south sides simultaneously erupted in cannon fire, the sound shaking everyone's ears with a buzzing.

The cannon fire was dense, its momentum astonishing.

Tuan Tuan covered her little ears and burrowed into Lu Qi's embrace.

Lu Qi tightly held her, Xiao Er glanced at Lu Qi with a smile— Brother Lu could seize the chance to properly embrace the young lady.

Chu Yuan reached out and touched his disciple's little head.

After a moment, the cannon fire ceased; the Heavenfire tubes spewed flames, burning the mountainside rocks on both sides into a fiery red.

The firelight illuminated nearly half the coastline, and the battle cries shook the heavens.

The Goryeo civilians on the beach began to make a racket, some shouting in terror, some trying to flee, but all were struck back by the Eastern soldiers.

Xiao Yuanhang stood with his hands clasped, upright at the bow of the ship, quietly gazing at the sea.

After nearly half an hour, two sharp Arrows rang out simultaneously from the north and south.

Xiao Yuanhang looked up, a corner of his mouth curling: "They fell for it; the reinforcements have already passed."

"Shout out, tell the civilians to run toward us."

"Yes!" the water troops on the ship all shouted toward the shore: "The Fiery Nation's Heavenly Soldiers have arrived!"

"Goryeo civilians, listen! Run over! Head for the sea!"

But the civilians were already like birds startled by a drawn bow.

Although they all understood the Zhongyuan language, not a single one dared to run over.

The Eastern soldiers beside them once again pressed them to stand straight with the backs of their swords and whips.

"Prince Ning," Wang Jingzhao drew a deep breath: "I will go shout."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Your Majesty, please."

Wang Cheng'an stepped forward a few paces, stood beside Wang Jingzhao, "The old minister will go with Your Majesty."

Wang Jingzhao nodded.

The two stood together at the ship's rail, side by side.

Wang Cheng'an took a torch from a water troop nearby and held it up to his face.

The bright flame illuminated their faces and bodies, clearly visible.

Wang Jingzhao shouted loudly in the Goryeo tongue: "My father, the king, unfortunately perished at the hands of Eastern bandits; I am the legitimate son of the late king, Wang Jingzhao! I have ascended the throne as Goryeo's new king!"

"The Fiery Nation's Heavenly Soldiers are here to help Goryeo! They are the reinforcements I summoned!"

"I command you all to run over! Quickly! Everyone head for the sea!"

"Goryeo has a new king! I have returned to save you!" Wang Cheng'an also shouted: "Do not be afraid! Run over quickly, only by running can you survive!"

The civilians stood rigidly in place, looking at each other in bewilderment.