Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 241 Burning the Camp

The 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, at night.

The clouds thickened over Poyang Lake, obscuring the stars and moon, turning the night as black as ink, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The north wind had almost stopped, and the lake was calm, with only the soft lapping of water against the reeds and boats on the shore. The air was damp and heavy, like a huge, water-soaked velvet cloth hanging over both sides of a battle. It was a suffocating calm before a storm.

Inside the Xingqi Army's Hukou camp, on the top floor of the flagship "Zhenhai," the command cabin was brightly lit yet utterly silent. Shen Qing, fully armored, stood before the massive porthole, his hand on his sword hilt, gazing into the impenetrable darkness outside. Behind him, several trusted generals and the navigation officer, equally fully armed, stood tense, their eyes frequently glancing at the compass and wind-measuring tassels fixed to the bulkhead.

The water clock dripped slowly, and time flowed by in silence, making each moment seem exceptionally long.

"What time is it?" Shen Qing asked in a low voice, his voice particularly clear in the quiet room.

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, it is three-quarters past midnight," the navigator replied immediately.

Shen Qing nodded and said nothing more. The king had predicted the wind direction would change between "dawn and noon," but on the battlefield, opportunities could change in an instant, and one had to be prepared at all times. All the fire ships and their crews had secretly moved to a pre-arranged position deep in the reeds south of the lake mouth during the first half of the night, taking advantage of the darkness and specially created fog. The main naval fleet had also quietly weighed anchor and formed an assault formation on the river outside the lake mouth, awaiting only the signal.

From the land direction, the faint sounds of war drums and battle cries could be heard. It was the Xingqi army, commanded by Dian Xiong and Chen Wei, launching a full-scale feint attack on the Southern Dynasty army's land defenses, as planned. Firelight illuminated the northwestern sky, and the sounds of battle could be faintly heard even in the heart of the lake. This massive commotion perfectly masked all the subtle sounds on the water and firmly drew the attention of Xiao Jingyan and Zhou Jun.

Time passed second by second. The hour of Chou (1-3 AM)... the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)...

The eastern horizon remained pitch black, showing no sign of dawn. The wind on the lake was intermittent, its direction erratic; one moment it seemed to be a weak easterly wind, the next it turned to a northerly wind, its unpredictable nature causing anxiety.

Inside the flagship's cabin, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. A young general couldn't help but whisper, "Grand Commander, the weather... the wind direction doesn't seem to be..."

Shen Qing raised his hand, stopping him from speaking further. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the humid air, and felt the subtle sensation of the airflow on his skin. As a veteran naval commander, he had his own experience. Although he believed in the king's prediction based on the profound method of "observation and deduction," he couldn't help but feel uneasy when the moment came. He could only choose to believe and pass that trust on to his subordinates.

"Silence, sense it carefully." Shen Qing opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. "The wind... is changing."

Almost simultaneously, the tip of the wind-measuring fin, fixed to the bulkhead, turned very slightly, but undeniably. From pointing northwest, it slowly shifted...to the southeast!

Although it was only the slightest tremor, almost imperceptible, the navigator, who had been staring intently, suddenly widened his eyes, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "It...it moved! Yu Mao moved! The wind direction...southeast! It's southeast!"

As if to confirm his words, a gentle breeze, different from the previous north wind and carrying a more humid and warm feel, swept across the lake, softly caressing the flagship's sails and producing a faint "whooshing" sound. Though weak, the sound of the wind was like heavenly music!

Shen Qing jolted, abruptly pushing open the porthole and leaning half his body out. Yes! It was a southeast wind! Although the wind was still weak, its direction had firmly shifted to the southeast! The time predicted by the king was absolutely accurate! Suppressing his shock and elation, he turned back and shouted sharply:

"Send the signal! Fireship fleet, attack!"

"Here you go!"

A rocket trailing a dazzling red flame shot shrieked from the top of the mast of the "Zhenhai" warship into the dark night sky, exploding with a "pop" high above, creating a brilliant burst of red light that was clearly visible even under the thick clouds!

The fire ships, lurking deep in the reeds, spotted the long-awaited signal. Dozens of modified boats, their cabins piled high with flammable materials, their prows gleaming with cold iron spikes, spun silently out of the reeds like arrows under the control of the daredevil sailors. Taking advantage of the gentle breeze that had shifted to the southeast, they sped towards the vast anchorage between Xieshan and Xingzi, southeast of Poyang Lake, where the main force of the Southern Dynasty's navy was anchored!

The wind, as if sensing this desperate charge, gradually picked up. A southeasterly wind swept across the lake, pushing the waves and accelerating the fireboats.

Outside the lake mouth, the main fleet of the Xingqi Navy raised all its sails at once, and led by Shen Qing's flagship, they formed an attack formation, closely following the fire ship fleet, pressing towards the lake mouth. The ballistae and flanks on the ships were all in position, the soldiers had their swords drawn and arrows nocked, their eyes fixed on the area in the darkness ahead that was about to be ignited by flames.

The Southern Dynasties navy anchored at Xieshan.

Zhou Jun was old, and the fierce fighting on land last night had left him uneasy, so he hadn't slept well. As dawn approached, he got up, put on his clothes, and went out of the cabin, intending to get some fresh air on the deck. As soon as he stepped out, he sensed a change in the wind direction.

"This wind..." He frowned, reaching out to feel it. It was no longer the familiar north wind, but... a southeast wind? A chill suddenly shot from his tailbone to the top of his head! A southeast wind! A southeast wind in this season, in this place?!

"Oh no!" he exclaimed in alarm. "Quickly! Order all ships to increase vigilance and guard against fire attacks! All ships, prepare to weigh anchor and move! Sentinel ships to increase patrols in the direction of the lake mouth..."

However, it was all too late.

Before his order could be fully relayed, the sentry on the watchtower cried out in a shrill, distorted voice, "Fire...fire ships! So many fire ships! They're coming from the northwest!"

Zhou Jun staggered to the side of the ship and looked out. To the northwest, on the lake, dozens of dazzling fires were rapidly growing larger and more numerous, merging into one, like a group of fire dragons bursting out of hell, riding the increasingly fierce southeast wind, heading straight for his anchorage, which was crowded with ships of all sizes, almost end to end! When they were close enough, the daredevils on the fire ship lit the pre-set fuses, then jumped onto the small boats following closely behind and rowed away with all their might.

"Fire arrows! Fire rockets to intercept! Small boats, move forward to block! Quick! Weigh anchor! Scatter! Scatter!" Zhou Jun roared hoarsely, his voice filled with despair.

Scattered fire arrows were fired at the fire ships, but propelled by the southeast wind, the fire ships were too fast, and their targets were too scattered, resulting in minimal effect. A few small Southern Dynasty ships that attempted to ram and block the fire ships were either pierced by the iron spikes on their bows or instantly engulfed by the spreading flames. Many more Southern Dynasty ships, because they were so densely packed, had no time to weigh anchor and change course, and could only watch helplessly as those fiery death ships crashed into the formation!

"Boom!" "Bang!" "Crack!"

Violent crashes echoed one after another. The fire ship rammed its target, its iron spikes embedded deeply into the enemy vessel's hull. The ship's cargo of firewood, oil, sulfur, and saltpeter ignited, instantly erupting into towering flames! The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fanned the flames! The southeast wind relentlessly swept the destructive flames from the first ship to the adjacent vessels!

The dry hulls, sails, ropes, and even the soldiers' clothing became the best fuel. In an instant, the vast waters between Xieshan and Xingzi were engulfed in a boundless sea of ​​fire! The raging flames illuminated the darkest sky before dawn and made the lake as bright as day. Hundreds of Southern Dynasty warships, transport ships, and civilian boats struggled, broke apart, and capsized in the inferno. The terrified cries, screams, the explosions of burning ships, and the howling of wind and fire intertwined to form a hellish lament.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the acrid smell of burning flesh permeated the air for miles around. Burning debris from ships, carrying flames, drifted with the current, further expanding the fire. Many Southern Dynasty sailors were forced to jump into the icy lake to escape, but amidst the chaotic inferno and the crowded masses, very few survived.

Zhou Jun's flagship was a large multi-storied ship. Because it was positioned towards the rear, it hadn't been directly hit by the fire ships yet, but the surrounding area was already engulfed in flames. The heat was scorching, and the thick smoke made it hard to breathe. He slumped onto the deck, his face ashen, gazing at the scene of his life's work destroyed in an instant. Tears streamed down his face as he murmured, "Heaven has forsaken my Southern Dynasty... Heaven has forsaken my Southern Dynasty..."

From the direction of Hukou, the main fleet of the Xingqi Navy had broken through the weak blockade and entered the lake. Shen Qing stood at the bow of the "Zhenhai" warship, gazing at the magnificent yet brutal scene of destruction before him. Even with his long experience in battle, he was deeply shaken. He drew his sword, pointing it at the sea of ​​fire and chaos, and roared throughout the ship: "All troops, listen to my command! Charge! Annihilate the remaining enemy! Do not allow a single ship to escape!"

"kill!"

With disciplined formation, the Xingqi navy cleaved through the water, littered with wreckage and corpses, and launched a final, fatal blow against the utterly collapsed remnants of the Southern Dynasty navy. Arrows and boulders fired from ballistae rained down on the enemy ships that had managed to avoid catching fire or attempting to escape.

On Poyang Lake, the camps were engulfed in flames, and the main force of the Southern Dynasty's navy was wiped out in a single battle. The last water barrier leading to Jinling was completely reduced to nothingness amidst the towering flames and thick smoke.