Chapter 1653: Launching a Pursuit

"However, we must not lower our guard." Lu Kang reminded, his eyes still solemn, "This 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 upcoming battle."

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

"At the same time," Liu Bei continued, "we must strengthen the defensive fortifications 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 responded 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 reinforced the defense line day and night, repaired warships, and prepared sufficient grain, fodder, and weapons. And Liu Bei and the heads of the Jiangdong aristocratic families discussed battle strategies in the council hall every day to ensure that every link was foolproof.

Finally, when the Bashu naval troops set off again after several days of rest, Jiangdong's defense line was already fully prepared. On the river, warships were dense, arrow towers were towering, and soldiers were waiting in full battle array, ready to meet the upcoming 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 hint of solemnity flashed in her eyes. But she soon regained her composure and shouted loudly, "Pass the order down, prepare for battle!"

The warships of the Bashu naval troops quickly deployed their formation, forming a confrontation with Jiangdong's defense line. On the river, war drums thundered, 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 deeply that this battle concerned the survival of Jiangdong and also concerned his own destiny. He must go all out and must 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 completely defeat Gu Yi's army!"

Following Liu Bei's order, the soldiers of Jiangdong cheered up; they picked up their weapons and prepared to meet the upcoming battle. On the river, arrows fell like rain, war drums thundered, 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. And Jiangdong's defense line had been carefully prepared and reinforced, 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.

Looking at the tragic situation before her, Gan Ning's heart was filled with unwillingness and anger. She knew deeply that if this continued, the Bashu naval troops would be completely wiped out. However, she did not have the slightest intention to retreat and still firmly commanded 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 fighting spirit of the soldiers. 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 at this moment, a sound of war drums that shook the sky suddenly came from the river. Gan Ning and the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops looked over one after another, only to see a huge fleet sailing towards them. On the flagship, a huge banner was fluttering in the wind, with the word "Liu" written on it.

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

Looking at the approaching fleet, Gan Ning's heart was 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 like a shadow, pursuing relentlessly. On the river, arrows intertwined, cannons thundered, and the battle became more and more intense.

"Lord, there is a Jiangdong fleet pursuing from the rear; 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, and first defeat a part of the pursuers to buy time for our retreat."

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

Liu Bei commanded the battle on the flagship; he knew deeply that he could not give the Bashu naval troops any chance to catch their breath at this moment. He shouted loudly, "Pass the order down, full speed ahead, must intercept them!"

Under Liu Bei's command, the Jiangdong 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 displayed tenacious combat effectiveness.

"Lord, if this continues, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us 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, and 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, the Jiangdong fleet's offensive became more and more fierce. Arrows fell on the warships of the Bashu naval troops like raindrops, and small boats also flexibly shuttled between the warships, constantly harassing the soldiers of the Bashu naval troops.

Looking at the situation before her, Gan Ning's heart was filled with helplessness. She knew that if this continued, the Bashu naval troops would be completely 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 soldiers of Jiangdong did not mean 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 it will be difficult to escape Jiangdong's pursuit." A deputy general looked at the Jiangdong soldiers pursuing closely behind and said anxiously. ===== CHAPTER 1654 =====