Hu Xiaotian wholeheartedly agreed with Yu Tianxing. Faced with reality, a man would surely choose to bow his head. Ma Xingkong might be a river pirate, but he was no fool. If he insisted on fighting without any hope of victory, he would only doom all the brothers of Blackwater Stronghold and their families. Surrender was the most practical choice before them. Hu Xiaotian had no intention of wiping out these pirates, either. His goal was to seize Jadeheart Mountain.
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Very well. We'll wait a few more hours."
Yu Tianxing said confidently, "A few more hours will give the trees time to dry in the sun, which will help our fire-arrow attack. If they stubbornly refuse to see reason, we can launch our assault then. The western and northern slopes of Jadeheart Mountain are thick with pines and cypresses, which burn readily. We can concentrate our fire there. It just so happens that today's wind is from the northwest. Once the damp pines and cypresses catch fire, they'll produce enormous amounts of smoke. Even if we don't storm the mountain, they won't be able to endure the smoke and flames. Jadeheart Mountain will fall without an assault."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Our military strategist truly commands the battle from within his tent. You have every detail in hand."
Hearing Hu Xiaotian praise him so highly before everyone, Yu Tianxing could not keep a look of satisfaction from his face, though his words remained modest. "You are the one who commands the battle from within his tent, my lord. I would never presume to claim such praise."
At dusk that day, the southern water gate of Blackwater Stronghold on Jadeheart Mountain opened. This was the main entrance, and a large ship slowly sailed out through it. It was one