Wang Lang returned to the Flower Country's capital in disgrace to report back, carrying Peach Blossom Spring's peace terms, which amounted to near-independent regional rule. As expected, those terms caused an uproar at court.
The Chancellor of the Pro-Cleansing Faction flew into a rage, denouncing Peach Blossom Spring as "arrogant, rebellious, and wolfishly ambitious." He urged the immediate mobilization of a large army to join the Bloodsail Fleet in an attack from north and south and wipe them out in one stroke. The Foreign Affairs Minister of the Pro-Pacification Faction argued his case on reason, stressing that Peach Blossom Spring was powerful, that a direct assault would incur enormous losses, and that colluding with pirates would disgrace the nation. He advocated continued contact and negotiation. The two sides argued furiously, leaving the elderly king in a dilemma once more. In the end, he adopted a delaying strategy: he ordered the Chancellor to prepare the army for war while tacitly allowing the Foreign Affairs Minister to maintain "contact" with Peach Blossom Spring. In truth, he was waiting to see the outcome of the clash between the Bloodsail Fleet and Peach Blossom Spring before making his decision.
Guo Jia confirmed the Flower Country court's ambiguous stance and its secret collusion with the Blood Sail Fleet through Gan Ning and other channels. The news hung over Peach Blossom Spring like dark clouds. Rather than easing with the peace talks, the pressure had grown more tangible and deadly. Everyone understood that a battle against Blood Sail, a large and notoriously vicious pirate force, was now inevitable. This battle would directly determine Peach Blossom Spring's survival and its future place in the balance of power in the West Blue.
The council hall was brightly lit, the tension before battle almost tangible.
"Eldest Brother, Fengxiao, those bastards at court were up to no good after all! Colluding with pirates! Once we finish off Blood Sail, I'll storm the Golden Throne Hall myself, yank off that emperor's head, and kick it like a ball!" Zhang Fei bristled with fury, his voice shaking the roof tiles.
Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and stroked his beard, speaking in a low voice. "Calm yourself, Fourth Brother. Despicable as the court's actions are, they were not unexpected. With a formidable enemy before us, we must focus on dealing with Blood Sail. If we win this battle, Peach Blossom Spring's name will resound throughout the West Blue. Then even the Flower Country court will not dare underestimate us."
Zhao Yun looked grave. "The Bloodsail Fleet has roamed the West Blue for years, plundering countless targets. Its leader, 'Blood Butcher' Bark, has a bounty of fifty-eight million Beli. He is cruel and brutal, with dozens of warships and over a thousand pirates under his command. Their strength is far beyond that of the Black Tide Pirates. They have also spent years fighting at sea and possess extensive combat experience. Our navy is newly established. I fear this will be a hard battle."
Huang Zhong spoke with seasoned composure. "On land, our army has nothing to fear. But if they rely on their sturdy ships and powerful cannons to blockade the coast and besiege us for a prolonged period, or avoid our strength and strike our weak points by plundering nearby villages and towns to force us into battle, we will be at a disadvantage."
Liu Bei looked worried. "The people's confidence has only just settled. If Blood Sail attacks, the surrounding populace will suffer devastation. We must take precautions early."
Everyone's gaze turned once more to Chen Yu and Guo Jia.
Chen Yu swept his gaze over them and spoke steadily. "Blood Sail may be strong, but it is not invincible. Its advantage lies at sea; its weakness lies in its injustice. Our army has just won a victory, and morale is high. We also have favorable terrain and the people's support. This battle concerns our very survival, but it is also the battle in which we will make our names and truly establish ourselves in the West Blue!"
He turned to Guo Jia. "Fengxiao, now that we know the enemy's situation, how should we respond?"
A calculating gleam flashed in Guo Jia's eyes. His earlier languor vanished, replaced by a strategist's sharpness on the eve of battle. "My lord, generals, the Bloodsail Fleet is indeed a formidable enemy. Yet it also has weaknesses. First, it is campaigning far from home, with long supply lines. Second, though fierce, its discipline is lax. Plundering is ingrained in its nature, and its men are prone to arrogance and impatience. Third, it and the Flower Country court are merely using each other, each harboring its own schemes. True coordination will be difficult."
He walked to the crude nautical chart and pointed at a stretch of sea outside Peach Blossom Spring, thick with submerged reefs and intricate waterways. "We can still employ the strategy of luring the enemy deep and using land to control the sea, but it must be more refined. Blood Sail is not Atlas. We can exploit its piratical habits."
"Please explain!" The generals perked up.
"This battle can be divided into three steps:
"Step one: feign weakness to lure the enemy, and offer bait to draw out the prize," Guo Jia said. "Blood Sail is greedy by nature and especially fond of plundering merchant ships. We can send a small force disguised as a large merchant convoy, laden with 'valuables' actually consisting of sand and stones, along a route they may take in their attack, tempting them to plunder it. At the same time, spread rumors that Peach Blossom Spring suffered heavy losses in its battle against the Six Treasures Navy, that our interior is undefended, and that we urgently need to transport a large quantity of treasure elsewhere. Arrogant as Bark is, he will surely bring his main force to seize it. General Zhao Yun will lead our naval elite in a feigned defeat and retreat, drawing them into our prepared ambush waters—Reef-strewn Islet! Submerged reefs abound there, leaving large ships little room to maneuver. It is precisely the place to limit the advantage of their ships and cannons."
"Step two: strike from land and sea, and burn their ships with fierce flames," Guo Jia continued. "Once the enemy vessels are caught among the reefs of Reef-strewn Islet and their movements slow, General Huang Zhong will lead the sharpshooter squad to occupy the surrounding high ground. Use fire arrows to target their helmsmen and sail handlers, and set their sails alight! General Zhang Fei will lead a death-defying assault force in small boats to launch a surprise attack, force their way alongside, and engage in close combat! General Guan Yu will lead the main force in ambush at key waterways, intercepting enemy ships attempting to break out or provide rescue! Meanwhile, my lord can seize opportunities to use divine power, raising wind and waves or obscuring their sight with mist to throw their formations into disorder! On land, we will maintain strict readiness against surprise landings by small enemy detachments."
"Step three: capture the chief to defeat the bandits, and end the battle swiftly." Guo Jia's gaze sharpened. "Bark is the soul of Blood Sail. If we can kill him in battle or capture him alive, the leaderless pirates will surely scatter. The keys to this battle are speed, precision, and ruthlessness! We must deal them a crippling blow, or even annihilate them, before they can combine forces with the Flower Country court! Only then can we deter these villains and secure a turn in our fortunes!"
"An excellent plan!" Zhang Fei roared. "I'll twist that Blood Butcher's damned head off with my own hands!"
Guan Yu nodded. "The terrain at Reef-strewn Islet can indeed offset the enemy ships' advantage. But boarding and close combat are exceptionally dangerous. You must be extremely careful, Zhang Fei."
Zhao Yun said, "Luring the enemy is a duty I will not shirk! I will make sure Bark comes but never returns!"
Huang Zhong stroked his bow and sneered. "My fire arrows are ready. I will turn their ships into a sea of flames!"
Liu Bei said, "I will immediately organize the evacuation of the surrounding villages and towns, fortify our positions and clear the countryside of supplies, and mobilize able-bodied young people to assist in the defense."
Having heard them out, Chen Yu rose abruptly, his gaze blazing. "Then we will follow Fengxiao's plan! This will be the battle that establishes Peach Blossom Spring's might! Victory is the only acceptable outcome! Brothers, take your positions and prepare with care! From this day forward, I want no one on the West Blue to dare underestimate Peach Blossom Spring!"
"As you command, Eldest Brother-my lord!" the generals thundered in assent, their killing intent soaring.
With the strategy settled, Peach Blossom Spring's war machine began operating with unprecedented efficiency.
Zhao Yun's navy drilled repeatedly at Ghost Fang Reef, familiarizing themselves with every waterway and every submerged reef. Zhang Fei's marines trained hard at handling boats, boarding enemy vessels, and fighting hand to hand alongside them. Huang Zhong's archers tested the range and accuracy of their fire arrows. Guan Yu coordinated the overall effort and inspected the coastal defenses. Chen Yu secretly surveyed Ghost Fang Reef several times, using Arceus's power to subtly alter local currents and preparing a means to raise wind and waves at the critical moment.
Guo Jia's intelligence network worked at full capacity, keeping a close watch on Blood Sail's movements. Liu Bei efficiently organized the coastal population's evacuation inland, fortified positions and cleared the countryside of supplies, and stockpiled provisions.
Several days later, urgent bells and shouts rang out from the coastal lookout tower. "Northeast! A large number of blood-red sails spotted! It's the Bloodsail Fleet! They're here!"
Chen Yu and the others climbed to high ground and gazed toward the horizon. A mass of sails that looked soaked in blood surrounded a flagship as enormous as a mountain and as hideous as a demon, cutting through the waves and heading straight for Peach Blossom Spring. The pirate flag embroidered with a dripping scimitar snapped in the wind, exuding a thick reek of blood.
"At last..." Chen Yu murmured, his eyes holding not a trace of fear, only cold, piercing battle intent. He turned to look at each companion behind him, with whom he shared life and death, and spoke in a steady, powerful voice:
"Brothers! Follow the plan!"
"Let the West Blue remember this day! Peach Blossom Spring will not be violated!"
Faced with the surging blood-red storm, the slumbering dragon that was Peach Blossom Spring finally bared its sharp fangs! A fierce naval battle that would decide its fate was about to erupt in these reef-choked waters!
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