Chapter 1002

"However, we must not lower our guard." Lu Kang reminded, his eyes still grave: "Gu Yi is cunning and resourceful, and Gan Ning is also a brave general; they will never give up easily. We must make full preparations to meet the coming battle."

Liu Bei nodded, his expression firm: "Old Lu is right. We must not only use the opportunity of this storm but also rely on our wisdom and courage to thoroughly defeat Gu Yi’s army. Pass the order down, strengthen the patrols on the river, and report immediately once the trace of the Bashu naval troops is found."

"At the same time," Liu Bei continued, "we must strengthen the defensive works along the river to ensure that every fortress is as solid as a rock. In addition, send envoys to other warlords to strive for more support. In this battle, we must not only win but win beautifully, so that everyone in the world knows that Jiangdong is not so easy to bully!"

"Obey!" The scholars replied in unison again and left to carry out their orders.

In the following days, Jiangdong was busy from top to bottom. Under the command of the generals, the soldiers worked day and night to reinforce the defense line, repair warships, and prepare sufficient grain, supplies, and weapons. Liu Bei and the heads of the Jiangdong noble families discussed war strategies in the council hall every day, ensuring that every link was foolproof.

Finally, when the Bashu naval troops had repaired for several days and set off again, Jiangdong’s defense line had made full preparations. On the river, warships were dense, arrow towers were towering, and soldiers were waiting in full battle array, ready to meet the coming battle.

Gan Ning led the Bashu naval troops and galloped all the way, soon arriving at Jiangdong’s defense line. Looking at the dense warships and towering arrow towers ahead, a trace of gravity flashed in her eyes. But she soon recovered her composure and shouted loudly: "Pass the order down, prepare for battle!"

The warships of the Bashu naval troops quickly set up their formation, forming a confrontation with Jiangdong’s defense line. On the river, war drums beat, arrows fell like rain, and a fierce battle was about to break out.

Liu Bei stood on the arrow tower, his eyes like torches, staring closely at the battle situation ahead. He knew that this battle concerned the survival of Jiangdong and also concerned his own destiny. He had to go all out and could not have the slightest retreat.

"Pass the order down, let the soldiers prepare for battle!" Liu Bei shouted loudly, "We must use our courage and wisdom to thoroughly defeat Gu Yi’s army!"

Following Liu Bei’s order, the Jiangdong soldiers cheered up one after another. They picked up their weapons and prepared to meet the coming battle. On the river, arrows fell like rain, war drums beat, and soldiers on both sides were fighting with all their might.

However, the Bashu naval troops had suffered heavy losses in the storm after all, the soldiers’ morale was low, and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced. Jiangdong’s defense line, on the other hand, had been carefully prepared and reinforced, and the soldiers’ morale was high, and their combat effectiveness was extremely strong. Soon, the Bashu naval troops began to be at a disadvantage, warships were sunk, and soldiers fell into the water and died.

Gan Ning looked at the tragic situation before her, her heart filled with unwillingness and anger. She knew that if this continued, the Bashu naval troops would be wiped out. However, she did not have the slightest intention to retreat and was still firmly commanding the soldiers to fight.

"Lord, we have suffered heavy losses; if this continues, I’m afraid..." A deputy general walked to Gan Ning’s side and said in a low voice.

"There is no 'I'm afraid'!" Gan Ning interrupted the deputy general, "Our Bashu naval troops have never been afraid of sacrifice! As long as there is still a breath left, we must fight to the end!"

Gan Ning’s words stirred up the soldiers’ fighting spirit. They cheered up one after another and launched a fierce attack on Jiangdong’s defense line again. However, no matter how hard they tried, they could not break through Jiangdong’s defense line.

Just then, a sound of war drums shaking the sky suddenly came from the river. Gan Ning and the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops looked over, only to see a huge fleet sailing toward them. On the flagship, a huge flag fluttered in the wind, with the word "Liu" clearly written on it.

"It’s Jiangdong’s reinforcements!" The soldiers of the Bashu naval troops exclaimed, their faces filled with despair.

Gan Ning looked at the approaching fleet, her heart filled with helplessness and unwillingness. She knew that in this battle, the Bashu naval troops had completely failed. She sighed deeply and shouted loudly: "Pass the order down, retreat!"

Following Gan Ning’s order, the Bashu naval troops began to retreat in an orderly manner, but Jiangdong’s fleet followed closely. On the river, arrows intertwined, cannons roared, and the battle became more intense.

"Lord, there is Jiangdong’s fleet chasing from behind; what should we do?" A deputy general asked Gan Ning anxiously.

Gan Ning frowned, looking into the distance with firm eyes: "Pass the order down, concentrate firepower, first defeat a part of the pursuers, and buy time for our retreat."

The warships of the Bashu naval troops quickly adjusted their formation and concentrated their firepower to launch a counterattack against Jiangdong’s fleet. For a time, fire splashed on the river, smoke filled the air, and the battle entered a white-hot stage.

Liu Bei was commanding the battle on the flagship; he knew that he could not give the Bashu naval troops any breathing room at this moment. He shouted loudly: "Pass the order down, full speed ahead, must intercept them!"

Under Liu Bei’s command, Jiangdong’s fleet moved forward bravely and engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the Bashu naval troops. However, although the Bashu naval troops were severely damaged, under Gan Ning’s command, they still showed tenacious combat effectiveness.

"Lord, if this continues, I’m afraid we won't be able to intercept them." A general walked to Liu Bei’s side and said with worry.

Liu Bei took a deep breath, his eyes firm: "Pass the order down, let the soldiers not be stingy with arrows, hit them hard! At the same time, send small boats to harass them from the side and disrupt their formation."

Under Liu Bei’s command, Jiangdong’s fleet’s offensive became more intense. Arrows fell like raindrops on the warships of the Bashu naval troops, and small boats also flexibly shuttled between the warships, constantly harassing the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops.

Gan Ning looked at the situation before her, her heart filled with helplessness. She knew that if this continued, the Bashu naval troops would be wiped out. She took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Pass the order down, prepare to abandon the ships and land! We will retreat along the riverbank; perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope!"

Hearing Gan Ning’s order, the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops abandoned their ships and landed one after another, retreating along the riverbank. However, the Jiangdong soldiers did not intend to let them go and followed closely, launching a pursuit.

A battle on land broke out again. Although the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops were exhausted, under Gan Ning’s encouragement, they still resisted the attack of the Jiangdong soldiers with all their might.

"Lord, if we continue like this, I’m afraid we won't be able to escape Jiangdong’s pursuit." A deputy general looked at the Jiangdong soldiers chasing closely behind and said anxiously.