nashuaworldcup Chapter 311 Retreat
Chapter 311 Retreat
Rows of bamboo rafts were strung together, blocking the river and attempting to cut off their retreat. A rope blocked their path ahead.
Yan Zeyu originally intended to trap them to death in this section of the river.
But who would have thought that a conch shell would appear? While the conch shell was planting people, the South Vietnamese soldiers swiftly cut the ropes and cleared a waterway for their advance.
Instead of boarding the ship, the conch shell lingered at the bottom of the river, planting any Dongyang soldiers who dived into the water there.
Just as Xue Yunfan was about to order them to continue, he suddenly heard the thunderous sound of war drums and saw countless small boats coming downstream, followed by escorting warships.
The small boat charged directly into the South Vietnamese fleet. The Dongyang soldiers, armed with large machetes, climbed onto the South Vietnamese boats and engaged in close combat with the South Vietnamese soldiers.
With ships blocking their way in front and bamboo rafts cutting off their path behind, the South Vietnamese fleet had no choice but to turn a naval battle into a land-based melee.
Not to mention the soldiers, even Nian Yao was a little flustered and said to Xue Yunting, "How about we retreat to Nanquanzhou?"
Xue Yunfan didn't respond, but snatched the drumstick and struck it heavily on the drum. The drumbeat was stirring and inspiring.
The soldiers seemed to be calmed by the drumbeats and began to focus on the battle at hand.
Xue Yunfan tossed the drumstick to the soldier guarding the drum, drew his longsword, and leaped onto the small boat.
Nianyao followed closely behind, snatched the long pole, and helped him pole the boat.
Xue Yunfan stood at the bow of the ship fighting the enemy, while Nianyao controlled the ship at the stern, with three bodyguards protecting them.
The small boat darted nimbly across the river, like a snake gliding across land. Xue Yunfan's sword strikes were unerring, killing either people or severing bamboo rafts.
The two worked well together, and the morale of the Southern Vietnamese soldiers was greatly boosted by this sight.
Seeing the chaotic battle before him, Yan Zeyu leaped off the ship, using small boats and bamboo rafts to try and intercept Nianyao and Xue Yunfan.
Seeing this, Xu Sheng sneered, lightly pressed down on his folding fan, and the small sword hidden in the fan rushed towards Yan Zeyu, while he also blocked Yan Zeyu's way.
Yan Zeque had long admired Xu Sheng's reputation but had never fought him, and now he was eager to win. Moreover, in a battle between two sides, if the commander-in-chief personally took to the field, then the commander-in-chief's victory or defeat would determine the outcome of the entire battle.
In terms of pure skill, Xu Sheng was slightly stronger. However, Xu Sheng always kept a portion of his attention on the river surface, constantly watching for the conch shell.
Yan Zeyu, wielding a long spear, had the advantage in weaponry. In addition, he was a seasoned veteran with rich combat experience, so for a time neither side could gain the upper hand.
Xu Sheng showed no mercy, and Yan Zeyu's moves were all deadly. The two exchanged blows, leaping and attacking across the river, leaving no one else able to intervene.
Sea snails can move freely underwater, but they don't know kung fu. If they encounter an orderly attack, they naturally can't handle it.
Just as Xu Sheng had predicted, on the blood-stained, murky river surface, the conch struggled to emerge, seemingly in great difficulty.
Xu Sheng launched a powerful attack followed by a feint, then leaped towards the conch shell. Just then, the conch shell surfaced, and Xu Sheng reached into the water, grabbing its clothes and trying to pull it out.
The conch shell had a fishing net tangled in its legs, and its clothes were torn to shreds by Xu Sheng, causing it to fall back into the water.
Xu Sheng grabbed the hand that Hailuo had just reached out, used his folding fan to cut open the fishing net that was entangled in Hailuo, and lightly pressed the switch on the folding fan. All the small arrows in the fan ribs shot into the water, and the Dongyang soldiers who were hiding underwater to launch a sneak attack surfaced like fish out of oxygen.
Although the series of actions were completed in the blink of an eye, there is no room for error in a battle between masters.
With his back wide open, Xu Sheng was immediately met with a gust of wind. He slightly shifted his body, bracing himself for the bullet: as long as it didn't hit his heart, he shouldn't die, as long as he didn't die…
With a clang, Yan Zeyu's spear did not pierce his back as he had expected. Nian Yao first swung her long pole to deflect Yan Zeyu's spear, then leaped over to stop him.
The sight of the conch shell's bloodied and mangled back made Xu Sheng's heart clench. Forgetting the fight, he grabbed the conch shell and leaped back onto the ship.
Yan Zeyu had already expended a great deal of energy fighting Xu Sheng. Now, facing Nian Yao, he felt no sense of victory whatsoever.
Nianyao was skilled in martial arts, and had an advantage in the river. When her long sword struck the water, the water droplets splashed out like steel balls, causing people to feel pain.
Nianyao had completely forgotten that this was a battle between two nations; she had only one thought in her mind: this was a battle for Xue Yunfan's honor, a battle for the honor of the Xue family. They couldn't lose, they absolutely couldn't lose.
The bamboo rafts that were originally layered and blocking the stern of the boat have been smashed to pieces. No matter what lies ahead, at least a way out has been found.
Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Xue Yunfan stepped forward to block Nianyao's path. He bowed slightly, very politely, and said, "Please enlighten me, General Yan."
Nianyao didn't persist. She landed back on the small boat, kicked up a bamboo pole to propel it, and was ready to provide assistance at any time.
Yan Zeyu turned his head slightly and realized that he was now surrounded by the Nanyue fleet and separated from the Dongyang fleet. The river as far as the eye could see was littered with corpses; the scene was utterly gruesome.
Xue Yunfan's expression was solemn, as if he were determined to fight to the death. Just then, the sound of gongs suddenly rang out, and the Nanyue fleet began to retreat.
Should they call a retreat? Nianyao and Xue Yunfan both looked at the middle ship, with the same thought in mind: What is Xu Sheng planning to do?
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yan Zeyu braced his spear against the bamboo raft and leaped backward. Xue Yunfan was about to give chase without thinking, but Nianyao grabbed him, saying, "Don't chase."
Yan Zeyu stepped on the shoulders of his soldiers, deflecting the pursuing arrows, and landed safely on the Dongyang ship. He watched the retreating Nanyue fleet but did not order a pursuit.
As soon as Xue Yunfan and Nianyao returned to the ship, someone came to report: "His Highness has ordered a retreat."
Xue Yunfan's face darkened: "Where is he?"
The man pointed down: "The medic went to his room. The young master seems to be quite badly injured."
Conch's lower body was completely covered by the blanket, while his upper body was naked. He lay face down on the bed, a gruesome wound running diagonally from his left waist to his right shoulder.
The medic had already treated the wound and was bandaging it. The conch had never experienced such pain before and kept howling in agony.
When Nianyao and Xue Yunfan went in, they heard Hailuo crying out repeatedly, "It hurts so much... I'm going to die from the pain... It hurts so much... I'm going to die from the pain..."
Xu Sheng was sitting on the edge of the bed. When he saw them come in, he replied, "Now you know it hurts? What were you doing just now?"
Conch retorted, "What kind of tone and attitude is that? Am I fighting on your behalf?"
Xu Sheng was unmoved: "Are you helping me fight or helping the second young master fight?"
The conch shell asked, "What's the difference?"
Xu Sheng said, "The difference is huge."
The conch shell roared, "Where is it big?"
Xu Sheng's tone was even more indifferent: "I'm old, the second young master is young."
Xu Sheng is old and Xue Yunfan is young, what does it have to do with him helping to fight the war? However, Hailuo knew that she couldn't get through to Xu Sheng, so she simply buried her head in the soft pillow and hummed.
The army doctor, unaware of the situation, honestly replied, "Your Highness is still young; we dare not say you are old."
Xue Yunfan scrutinized Hailuo. Although the skin on her back was smooth and delicate, it wasn't fair, and she wasn't wearing a bellyband or anything like that. From his angle, he could see that her chest was flat, without a trace of femininity.