Coincidentally, in a dense forest less than three li south of the bustling Ancient Market Town, iron arrows were likewise flying as thick as rain.
That rain of arrows poured from two ten-thousand-shi ironwood warships on the river.
Hundreds of military crossbows fired unceasing volleys, filling the dense forest with anguished cries.
Flaming arrows also shot out, igniting the dry trees within.
At first, the people in the forest could endure it and remain still. But once the fire blazed and smoke filled the woods, a throng of helmeted, armored figures came swarming out.
What greeted them next, however, was an even denser barrage of heavy wolf-tooth arrows. Large numbers of soldiers wearing Great Ning's standard-issue armor toppled to the ground, blood flowing freely.
An angry curse also rang out from the forest. "Tie Kuangren! What gall you have, daring to use military ships and crossbows to shoot down the officers and men of my Tianping Army! I think you mean to rebel!"
Tie Kuangren stood at the bow of an ironwood warship with his hands behind his back. A crimson iron spear roughly two zhang long was planted beside him.
At those words, he could not help laughing. "You jest, General Wei. Where is this Tianping Army you speak of? Shouldn't your officers and men be in Hansha Town, seventy li away? Or did you move troops out of camp without orders, General Wei? Just what are you intending, disregarding the Imperial Court's military orders-"
At that instant, a figure in black armor abruptly charged out of the woods.
His force swept out like a tide, clearing away every arrow around him. In a single instant, he had rushed up before Tie Kuangren. As he swung his mace, countless waves surged up around the warship, while the surrounding river