Chapter 95, Landing and Abandoning Ships

Translator: StarReader

As dawn broke, thick fog began to creep across the land, blanketing the vast expanse of the Vastest Lake in a white haze. The lake was calm after the suppression of the Whale Gang’s water devils, allowing the allied fleet to speedily cross its waters. Suddenly, three large warships emerged from the fog ahead, their monstrous shadows looming like hulking beasts on the move, brimming with menace.

“Those seem to be imperial warships,” muttered some of the leaders, puzzled. “Did the court dispatch more troops without our knowledge?”

As both sides closed in, it became clear that the three warships were flying the black whale flags of the Whale Gang. Behind them swarmed hundreds of swift, slender fast boats, their shallow drafts making them excellent for combat in water. These crafts, like wolves, prowled the Vastest Lake and Wu Region’s rivers, striking swiftly at merchant vessels before retreating out of reach of pursuing soldiers.

At the helm of the lead warship stood Scholar Liu Hong, a handsome man in civilian clothes holding an iron fan, his expression arrogantly amused as he stared down the allied leaders. To his left was a muscular vice leader, and to his right, several fierce division leaders, with scores of pirate captains behind them. On board the three ships were over a thousand pirate archers and spearmen.

“No, those aren’t imperial warships,” someone realized. “That’s Liu Hong, the leader of the Whale Gang!”

Behind him stood a burly man, the Vice Leader of the Whale Gang, Li Bao! Among the gathered leaders, some had seen this scholar before, and one immediately recognized him.

“But where did the Whale Gang get those three massive warships? Those are navy ships!” someone exclaimed.

“Probably abandoned by the soldiers after their failed raids. The pirates must have snatched them up,” another leader grumbled.

Daoist Han Shan, standing on the union’s warship, called out loudly, “Leader Li! I am Daoist Han Shan, leading the Wu Region’s forces. Surrender now!”

Liu Hong smiled arrogantly. “I’m Liu Hong, known for my brilliant strategies. Never thought I’d lose our first battle against Water Devil Hall. I underestimated you. But to surrender, you’ll need to take Misty Peak’s main base. I await you all there!”

With a flourish of his iron fan, he retreated into the pirate crowd, boarding a fast boat with Li Bao and disappearing.

The Whale Gang’s three warships pressed forward, shielding numerous fast boats as they attacked the alliance’s vast fleet from the flank.

Daoist Han Shan knew persuading Liu Hong to surrender wouldn’t be easy. The battle raged on. Three thousand court-trained soldiers clashed with the pirates’ main force in a fierce water duel.

Daoist Han Shan and the leaders directed their troops from the bows of their ships, arrows flying and blades clashing. The court’s forces had the advantage in numbers and strength, but the Whale Gang’s agile, fast boats held their own.

The Whale Gang’s pirates dared not send men underwater to sabotage the ships, unable to cause chaos. Both sides fought bitterly on the lake for a while, but neither gained an advantage. The pirates’ ships retreated swiftly.

“Do not pursue them,” Daoist Han Shan ordered, “lest we fall into their trap!”

The allied fleet continued its assault on the Whale Gang’s headquarters at West Cave Mountain without chasing after the retreating pirates.

Upon reaching West Cave Mountain Island and disembarking at the Northern Swamp—a five-mile stretch of land covered by dense reeds—the three thousand official soldiers and tens of thousands of martial disciples began their march. All the ships remained on shore.

Daoist Han Shan cast a glance back at the ships and asked his fellow leaders, “What are your thoughts on these vessels?”

The leaders quickly found themselves at odds. Some insisted on leaving a few thousand troops behind to guard the ships, fearing that the Whale Gang might take advantage and destroy them, cutting off their retreat.

Others argued that this would disperse their forces, giving the Whale Gang the chance to pick them off one by one. They advocated abandoning the ships altogether and concentrating forces to capture the Whale Gang’s main base and burn their supplies.

This was a critical issue, as it would determine the outcome of the battle, the safety of their troops, and their escape route. Both sides stood firm in their convictions, and heated arguments ensued.

Daoist Han Shan inquired but offered no further opinion, choosing to wait for the leaders to reach a conclusion on their own.

Medicine King Sun Baihong watched as the leaders engaged in fierce debate. He interjected, “Gentlemen, please stop arguing. Let me leave behind three thousand martial disciples to guard the ships. Though I am a Grandmaster, my martial skills are merely average. Taking Misty Peak will require the combined efforts of Daoist Han, Old Brother Han, and Old Brother Li—three Grandmasters. The terrain leading up to Misty Peak is treacherous; should we fail in our assault, at least we’ll have these ships as a fallback.”

In truth, Heaven Falcon Group leader Han Ya would certainly join the battle, though his whereabouts were unknown. As the first among assassins, he always operated alone.

Li Shuo rejected Sun Baihong’s proposal without hesitation. His voice echoed firmly through the room, “Our army is at Vastest Lake; we’re fighting with our backs to the wall. Our morale is high, and our forces are united—we can storm Misty Peak without fear of defeat by Whale Gang. To divide our forces now would give them the chance to pick us apart!”

One leader challenged him, “Li, what if we fail to take Misty Peak? Without ships, we’d be stranded on this island with limited supplies. That’s a full-scale disaster!”

Li Shuo scoffed, “And whose fault would that be if our forces are divided and defeated or the defending troops annihilated?”

The leader had no retort.

Sun Baihong leaving behind might result in a Grandmaster’s death at Whale Gang’s hands—something he couldn’t afford. Both plans carried risks with heavy consequences should they fail.

After a moment’s thought, Han Pingshan agreed with Li Shuo. “Old Brother Li is right. Our forces must storm Misty Peak in one fell swoop and annihilate the Whale Gang. This island has plenty of timber; even if our ships are destroyed, we can build rafts to escape back to Xikou Town.”

“You can do as you please; let the ships fend for themselves! The Whale Gang is already wary and prepared. Ahead lies the Northern Swamp, where we’ll likely face a tough battle.” Daoist Han Shan stated calmly before falling silent.

The leaders, both great and small, turned their gazes towards the Northern Swamp, scrutinizing the five-mile stretch of motionless, silent reeds. Even those unfamiliar with warfare could see that if the Whale Gang intended to intercept their united forces, this swamp would make an ideal ambush site.