PDLP Chapter 326 The Jin Army at the Dock is a Trap
Chapter 326 The Jin Army at the Dock is a Trap
Just as the warriors of Li's army were busy cleaning up the battlefield and the dust had not yet settled, a series of rapid and dense hoofbeats suddenly rang out from the west side of the dock, like thunder before a sudden rainstorm, instantly tightening the heartstrings of the frontline commanders.
"All personnel on high alert! Positions in place! Enemy attack imminent!"
The command, steady and powerful, shattered the post-war tranquility.
Those Jin soldiers who had been huddled on the ground, waiting to be taken in by Li's army, suddenly seemed to spring back to life, a barely perceptible fervor flashing in their eyes. Among them were some audacious individuals who took advantage of the chaos to pick up the weapons scattered on the ground, intending to launch a surprise attack on their Li comrades who were nearby, turning this unexpected turn of events into an opportunity to escape or counterattack.
"Da da da... da da da..."
A sudden burst of rapid and fierce machine gun fire erupted, like the whisper of death, swirling across the battlefield. The Jin soldiers who had just mustered their courage to rise and fight back were instantly engulfed by this dense barrage of fire. One by one, they were hit by bullets and fell helplessly to the ground like leaves in the autumn wind.
The remaining Jin soldiers witnessed this horrific scene, their fighting spirit instantly extinguished, as if bound by invisible shackles. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with despair and helplessness, and they no longer had the slightest determination to resist.
On the deck of Li Jiajun's warship, a lookout's voice pierced the sea breeze and echoed loudly: "Captain, on the distant horizon, the enemy fleet is faintly visible. A rough estimate suggests that at least a dozen warships are approaching!"
Upon hearing this, Duan Chengli sighed inwardly. This seemingly inconspicuous dock was actually a carefully laid trap by the Jin army, its scale so grand that it used tens of thousands of lives as bait. He couldn't help but secretly admire the Jin general's courage and decisiveness. In this treacherous and unpredictable battle, every step was like walking on thin ice, and this move by the Jin army was undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble for victory.
Before the words were even finished, the Jin army's iron cavalry launched a fierce charge against Li's army's position like a storm. Dense arrows and sharp javelins ripped through the sky, like a torrential downpour, mercilessly striking Li's army's defensive positions, leaving behind shocking scars. Although the defending soldiers fought bravely, they too suffered some minor injuries.
Seeing the Jin cavalry step into the area where a single arrow could decide their fate, the commander of the Li family army's eyes sharpened, and he decisively waved his command flag. In an instant, the entire position seemed to be awakened by an invisible force. Countless arrows and flying stones, like an enraged swarm of bees, roared out from the formation, weaving an impenetrable net of fire that firmly suppressed the Jin army's offensive on this scorched earth.
The sounds of gunfire quickly attracted the attention of the people inside Cangzhou City. Yue Ying stood on the city wall and observed the distant battle through binoculars.
Yue Ying: "I didn't expect the navy's support to arrive so quickly. I just don't know how many people my brother can send me this time."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
A series of mortar shells suddenly roared through the Jin cavalry ranks, like an enraged thunder god raging across the sky. Mud and blood mingled under the bombardment, creating a gruesome and chaotic scene. Severed limbs and shattered armor were scattered everywhere, and the air was thick with the chilling scent of death.
The Jin cavalry, like a reckless tidal wave, forcefully tore through the first line of defense meticulously constructed by the Li family army. Faced with this sudden and fierce offensive, the officer's face instantly turned serious. Without hesitation, he waved his hand and issued an emergency order to retreat to the second line of defense.
However, despite the lightning-fast delivery of orders, the situation on the battlefield allowed no room for delay. Some soldiers of Li's army, either due to slow reaction or concern for their comrades, failed to evacuate the smoke-filled land in time. Their figures continued to struggle stubbornly in the trenches of the first line of defense, engaging in close-quarters combat with the Jin soldiers.
Amidst the clashing of swords and the deafening shouts of battle, a series of life-or-death struggles were unfolding relentlessly within the first line of defense.
“Bang, bang, bang—”
A series of crisp, rapid shots from semi-automatic rifles ripped through the air, like the whisper of death, instantly felling several Jin soldiers wielding scimitars. Their bodies slumped limply to the ground, their blood staining the earth beneath their feet. Immediately afterward, the Jin soldiers behind them did not retreat. Under the unwavering cover of their shield bearers, the warriors wielding spears surged forward like a tidal wave, determined to fill the void left by their fallen comrades.
However, at this critical moment of life and death, the soldiers of Li's army remained unfazed. Their semi-automatic rifles were empty, but the determination in their eyes burned even brighter. Without the slightest hesitation, they swiftly and skillfully attached sharp bayonets, transforming their once cold firearms into deadly weapons for close combat. A brutal hand-to-hand battle ensued, the sounds of steel clashing with flesh echoing across the battlefield, each strike carrying the weight of life and death.
Despite their exceptional bravery and strength, the warriors of Li's army were ultimately no match for the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Jin soldiers. Before long, their valiant figures vanished into the engulfing torrent of Jin troops, as if swallowed by endless darkness.
Meanwhile, a magnificent battle was about to unfold on the sea. Although the Jin army had several times more warships than the Li family army, on this vast and boundless sea, numbers were not the sole determinant of victory. As soon as the battle broke out, the Jin warships, like fragile kites, were sunk in succession by the Li family army's fierce offensive, sinking into the icy, frigid waters.
Seeing this, the remaining Jin warships were enraged and launched a full-scale counterattack. Their ships were equipped with powerful ballistae and fiery rockets—undoubtedly the pinnacle of naval warfare of that era, enough to strike fear into the hearts of any adversary. In an instant, arrows rained down on the sea, and flames soared into the sky. The two armies engaged in a fierce battle on these turbulent waters, determined to fight to the death.
Duan Chengli stood in the command tower observing the changes in the Jin army's warships. He ordered the signalman standing on high ground: "Give orders to ships number one and three, instructing them to launch a full-scale attack and break through the Jin army's blockade."
Upon hearing the captain's words, the signalman holding the red and blue flags waved them continuously. Upon seeing the flags, the captains of the two warships immediately ordered the diesel engines to be started and charged at full speed toward the Jin warships in front of them.
When designing the warships, Li Zhen specifically ordered the addition of steel rams to the noses of the warships, so that they could be used to ram enemy warships during naval battles.
As Li's army's warships shot like arrows, swiftly cutting through the waves, a thrilling naval duel was quietly approaching its climax. The Jin army's warships, caught off guard by this sudden attack, appeared somewhat clumsy and sluggish.
A deafening roar shattered the tranquility of the sea.
The number one warship of the Li family army, like a ferocious sea beast, rammed squarely into a Jin warship that was unable to dodge in time. This sudden and violent collision seemed to shake the heavens and the earth. The soldiers on both ships fell to the ground like autumn leaves swept away by the wind. Their cries of agony mingled with the clanging of metal, creating a tragic and magnificent scene.
The Jin army's warship, despite its sturdy hull, was torn open by this unstoppable force, leaving a shocking gash. The seawater, that merciless and surging devourer, instantly found the breach and poured into the hull like a tide, carrying an irresistible force.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment, yet it flowed by in an instant. In just a few minutes, the once mighty Jin warship slowly sank under the relentless onslaught of the sea, eventually disappearing into the deep blue seabed, leaving only a string of bubbles to tell the story of the fierce and tragic naval battle.