The northwesterly wind grew fiercer, fanning the flames higher, but it also dispersed the smoke more quickly. Seven warships had already forced their way to Duck's Mouth, and nearly five thousand Great Yong soldiers had successfully landed. Concealed pits, bamboo spikes, and other traps on shore injured many of them the moment they landed, while arrows fired from hiding killed nearly a thousand more.
Mobile Warfare General Tang Fang rode a Black Charger. Sweeping his Sky-Piercing Halberd through the air, he roared, "Don't panic, brothers! Archers, ready!" The chaos gradually subsided. They were well-trained soldiers, after all, and under Tang Fang's command, they re-formed their ranks. Five hundred archers began attacking the enemy's concealed positions.
Xiong Tianba and the others lay in ambush on the high ground. After setting fire to Reed Marsh, Liang Yinghao arrived with five hundred men to join him. Xiong Tianba chuckled. "Big Brother Liang is here!"
Liang Yinghao rolled his eyes at him. "Call me uncle!"
"Beat me in a fight and I'll call you uncle," Xiong Tianba said. "You hold this position. I'll go kill the general leading them."
Liang Yinghao caught hold of him and said in a low voice, "The Military Strategist told us to wait and hold our position."
"I can't wait," Xiong Tianba said. "To catch the bandits, first catch their king. If we don't kill that bastard, more and more of them will land." He had already shaken off Liang Yinghao's grip and vaulted onto his horse. Raising his great hammers in both hands, he roared, "Hah! Lads, cover your general! I'm off to take that scoundrel's head!" As he spoke, he pressed his legs against the stirrups. The great black horse beneath him gave a long, ringing neigh and carried him toward the enemy like a black whirlwind.