All the warships had already turned their bows, aiming their guns at Cloud Mountain Pass.
Lin Junyu stood on the flagship's bridge, gazing at the towering pass on the southwestern shore, his eyes gradually turning cold.
Behind him, Lin Fengxi was wrapped in a snow-white fox-fur cloak, curled up in a cushioned deck chair with a cup of hot tea in her hands.
"Brother Yu, ever since Xiao Long got beaten badly by us, he's been hiding inside the pass. It's been two days, and he hasn't even dared send out a scouting boat. He's probably planning to turtle up in there and drag this out with us!"
Lin Junyu did not turn around. He merely spoke indifferently.
"He wants to drag it out, but I have no interest in wasting time with him."
He turned to look at Candle Dragon.
"Candle Dragon, pass down the order. The fleet is to weigh anchor and close in on Cloud Mountain Pass."
A cruel curve rose at the corner of Lin Junyu's lips.
"I need him to understand that hiding is useless before ironclad warships and giant guns."
"Pass down the order: the First and Second Battleship Formations are to close in on the northern shore of Cloud Mountain Pass and fire covering volleys. Sink every last ship remaining in their harbor."
"The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Battleship Formations are to bombard Cloud Mountain Pass with saturation fire. Blast apart those supposedly hard, sturdy, impregnable gates of theirs!"
"Yes!"
Candle Dragon accepted the order and left.
Moments later, the Steel Fleet, silent for two days, suddenly awakened.
Dozens of iron warships belched black smoke as they slowly approached the northern shore of Cloud Mountain Pass.
Their dark gun barrels all aimed at the pass's naval stockade and harbor.
"Ready!"
"Load one round!"