First Battle

Imperial Calendar 1157, April 1st, Saturday morning; the weather was clear, with a gentle warm breeze blowing.

The Second Echelon, where Sean was stationed, after several consecutive days of sailing, smoothly turned into the Lingnan River and traveled upstream, arriving at the edge of the Southern Wilderness Great Swamp. From there, they would sail to the predetermined rendezvous point to join forces with the Advance Team of the First Echelon.

The Garrison's predetermined rendezvous point was chosen on a bank in the lower reaches of the Lingnan River. The terrain here was flat, the view open, making it convenient to set up camp while also being close to the Lingnan River for easy transport. Most critically, it was not easily ambushed by river bandits and other robbers.

By this time, a temporary camp had already been established at the predetermined rendezvous point. The soldiers of the Advance Team had used logs as thick as a bowl to form a wooden defensive wall, tightly enclosing an open area roughly the size of a football field. At the four corners of the wall, they had built four simple watchtowers over three meters high. Soldiers were already on watch atop these towers, scanning the surroundings. Outside the camp, the Advance Team had also set up sentry posts and dispatched patrol squads. The defenses were tight, leaving no opportunity for river bandits to exploit.

On the riverbank adjacent to the Lingnan River, a simple temporary dock had also been constructed. Massive logs extended into the water, forming a sturdy jetty for the ships that would arrive later to dock temporarily.

Soon, the fleet carrying Sean arrived at the temporary camp. The ships took turns docking at the simple pier, allowing the soldiers on board to disembark in an orderly fashion and rest on land. Afterward, under the command of the officers, the rested soldiers would march into the temporary camp.

By the time Sean's ship docked, more than half an hour had passed. He led his soldiers onto the stable ground, easing the slight discomfort from days of sailing. He looked at Phil with a hint of envy, noticing that he was still full of energy. Sean had asked him about it before and learned that Phil had once worked as a fisherman in Linshui City.

Shortly after, Sean led his soldiers, driving horse-drawn wagons loaded with various equipment, into the camp. Inside, rows of soldiers' tents were densely and neatly arranged on both sides, leaving only a large open space in the center of the camp. Soon, under the guidance of a commanding officer, Sean arrived at the edge of the central open area. Naturally, there followed a series of chores: setting up tents and arranging accommodations. He handed all these tasks over to Sergeant Donnie, while he himself sat on the wagon to supervise—or rather, to slack off and rest.

After a busy hour or so, everyone finally finished setting up the tents and other chores. Just as Sean was about to order the soldiers to rest, he unexpectedly received a military order from Lieutenant Colonel Merkel.

The one delivering the order was Sean's old acquaintance, Sergeant Jason. He spotted Sean from a distance and waved, then quickly walked up to him and said, "Second Lieutenant Winchester, Lieutenant Colonel Merkel has ordered me to convey his command..."

Sean immediately jumped down from the wagon, straightened his slightly wrinkled uniform, and then waited with a serious expression for the specific order to be given.

"Lieutenant Colonel Merkel orders you to immediately lead your company, together with Second Lieutenant Anderson's company, to sail back and rendezvous with the Third Echelon. Then, protect the fleet carrying logistics supplies and return to the temporary camp." Seeing Sean's attentive expression, Jason promptly relayed the specifics of the order and handed him the written document.

"Yes, sir!" Sean replied loudly with a stern face, taking the document from Jason. Then he said to Jason, "Please convey to Lieutenant Colonel Merkel that I will execute his orders immediately..." With that, he turned and gathered his soldiers, repeating the order to them.

Afterward, Sean found Second Lieutenant Anderson. After a brief exchange, he led his company onto two troop transports and set off first. The other company did the same, but they would serve as the rear guard. In between were over a dozen empty ships, intended for transporting supplies like grain later.

Sean led the transport fleet downstream along the Lingnan River, heading back to the northern bank at the confluence with the Dorosun River. After an hour, the fleet reached its destination and successfully rendezvoused with the soldiers of the Third Echelon. Upon presenting Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's order, large quantities of grain and supplies were quickly loaded onto the transport ships.

Once fully loaded, the fleet set off on its return journey. This time, the troop transports carrying Anderson's company departed first to clear the way, followed by over a dozen transport ships laden with grain and supplies, moving out in a line. Sean's company, with its two troop transports, took up the rear to guard the fleet.

The transport fleet quickly crossed the Dorosun River and entered the Lingnan River upstream. On both banks, large patches of reeds and other aquatic plants grew, stretching into the surrounding vast marshlands.

Sean had just finished the lunch Phil had prepared for him and was standing on the deck, taking in the scenery on both shores. Suddenly, the sound of battle cries erupted from ahead. From the reeds along the riverbank connecting to the swamp, over a dozen fast boats burst out. They were packed with river bandits wielding weapons and wooden shields. Sean could vaguely make out their ferocious expressions.

Big Boss, after the Garrison's large fleet had sailed south along the Lingnan River upstream, had led his river bandits quietly out of the swamp depths where they had hidden for several days. They stopped near the Lingnan River, about 300 meters from the waterway, and concealed themselves behind reeds and other vegetation, waiting for the fleet transporting logistics supplies to pass by.

And indeed, he had waited for the fleet to return. Now, with the ships fully loaded and moving slowly, he launched a sudden attack.

"Brothers, charge!" Big Boss shouted loudly as he directed the bandits to steer their boats toward the transport ships.

The river bandits responded with loud battle cries, driving their fast boats toward the transport fleet ahead. Some of them held wooden shields in front of them, shielding the others who were rowing.

The entire transport fleet immediately reacted. Several of the leading grain ships turned around and retreated. Meanwhile, the two leading guard ships turned and charged straight toward the bandits' fast boats. In no time, the distance between them closed within bow range.

A fairly dense volley of arrows rained down from the two charging guard ships. After a few short, sharp screams, several bandit corpses toppled into the river, staining the nearby water with patches of crimson.

Sean stood on the deck, somewhat surprised by what was unfolding before him, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately turned and shouted to Thor, "Thor, order the soldiers to prepare for battle. Order full speed ahead—we're going to support our allies..." Then he looked up at the signalman on the mast and yelled, "Send flag signals immediately! Order all grain ships to retreat and take cover on their own. Be careful—don't let the bandits get on board!"

Upon hearing Sean's command, the signalman immediately began signaling the grain ships ahead. Thor acknowledged loudly, then turned and sprinted into the cabin, repeating Sean's orders to the soldiers.

Phil had already smartly brought Sean's bow and arrows to his side and handed them over. Then he stood silently behind Sean, holding several quivers full of arrows.

Sean took the bow with one hand and called out to the other guard ship, "Donnie! Get the soldiers ready for battle. Follow me in!" He gestured forward with his hand until Donnie nodded in acknowledgment.

As the soldiers carried out the orders, Sean felt the ship begin to accelerate. He saw that the bandits' fast boats had already circled around the two leading guard ships, moving like sharks stalking prey. Several bandits jumped into the river with chisels and other tools, attempting to sink the troop transports they were harassing.

Meanwhile, under Big Boss's leadership, several other bandit fast boats headed straight for the grain ships. They quickly surrounded a few of the slower-moving vessels. The crew on the grain ships could only use long oars to try to push the approaching bandit boats away. Big Boss immediately ordered several prepared bandits to dive under the grain ships and sink them.

Sean estimated the distance, nocked an arrow to his powerful bow, and aimed at one of the bandits about to enter the water. He loosed the arrow, which tore through the air with a sharp whistle, instantly piercing the neck of a bandit who hadn't yet jumped in. Blood sprayed, and the body sank straight to the riverbed.

"Keep accelerating... Loose arrows!" Sean shouted, firing another arrow without pause.

With a scream, a bandit who couldn't dodge in time fell dead. In moments, Sean's company's two guard ships had closed in at full speed on the surrounded grain ships. Arrows flew thick and fast from the guard ships, suppressing the bandits and forcing them to shield themselves carefully, unable to focus on attacking the grain ships.

The bandits held wooden shields in front of them for protection, occasionally returning a few scattered arrows. On both sides, soldiers and bandits were hit, wounded, or killed, tumbling into the swift river. Sean specifically targeted bandits who surfaced for air after diving. The bodies of the fallen and the bandits he killed gradually stained a large stretch of the river red.

Sean knocked aside an arrow aimed at him with his powerful bow, then shot the bandit who had fired it. By now, he had killed over a dozen bandits, making him a target they couldn't ignore. The bandits had also managed to set one grain ship ablaze, and the fire was spreading rapidly.

Sean frowned, then quickly scanned the entire battlefield. He noticed that the nearest bandit fast boat was only about five meters away, and the others weren't much farther. A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He casually handed his bow to Phil beside him.

With a shield in his left hand and his knight sword drawn in his right, Sean took a few steps back, then suddenly burst forward. With a tearing sound as he cut through the air, he leaped from the bow of the ship. In an instant, he crossed the five-meter gap and landed on the nearest bandit fast boat.

With a heavy thud, the bandit boat shook violently. Sean crouched slightly, balancing himself and channeling the energy of his rapid descent into his feet. The next moment, he charged forward with his shield held in front, ramming through the boat with brute force. The bandits, still recovering from the boat's shaking, were sent flying by his relentless charge. With only a few startled cries, they tumbled into the river.

This raw display of power not only stunned his own soldiers but also filled the bandits on the other boats with terror. Big Boss, who was directing the attack, stared at Sean with a look of sheer horror.

But Sean knew that with his agility nearly three times that of an ordinary person and strength two and a half times greater, he could easily clear a five-meter gap—especially since the troop transport was higher than the bandits' boats.

After clearing the first boat, Sean didn't linger. With another burst of power, the bandits on a nearby boat let out desperate screams. He repeated the same tactic, shouting loudly, "Drop your weapons and surrender, and you won't be killed!"

As Sean's voice rang out, his soldiers joined in, and soon the battlefield echoed with calls for surrender. Sean ignored them, taking the opportunity to leap across two more boats. The remaining bandit boats only then began to turn slowly, trying to escape his reach.

By now, Sean had set his sights on the boat where Big Boss stood. After a full-powered sprint, he launched himself toward it. Big Boss, seeing the undisguised killing intent in Sean's eyes, desperately fired an arrow at him, hoping to stop the figure that seemed like death incarnate. But Sean merely flicked his left hand. With a clang, the arrow was deflected by the iron plate on his shield and fell into the river. Big Boss's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with despair and unwillingness. Then, a tremendous force slammed into him, sending him flying three meters away. He spat blood and plunged straight into the icy river.