15. Subjugation of Jingzhou (3)
"Hahaha! Sun Ce, you little punk! You thought you could catch me just by running around on land?!"
Huang Zu started mocking them again now that he was safe on his ships. They were about fifty paces from the riverbank—a distance arrows could reach, but swords could not. Gripping the railing, he slapped the side of his vessel and cackled.
"This is Jingzhou! On the water, we are kings! If you're pissed, swim on over! I'll turn you into a river ghost just like your old man!"
Sun Ce, standing on the bank, trembled from head to toe. His blood-red mourning clothes seemed to quiver with humiliation.
I quickly assessed the situation. Huang Zu's fleet was formidable. Dozens of massive tower ships blocked the river's width; charging in recklessly would just make us arrow fodder.
I turned to look behind me.
"Jang Heum."
"Yes, General!"
The man with bronze skin stepped forward. A native of the waterways, he navigated them like his own living room.
"Do we have the boats ready?"
"Yes. We've got fast attack ships hidden upriver. Leave it to me, and I'll knock the arrogance right out of those bastards."
Jang Heum replied with full confidence.
I nodded, about to report to Yuan Shu. That's when it happened.
"No! I'll go!"
Sun Ce cut in abruptly. Bloodshot veins bulged in his eyes.
"General Seowon! That bastard killed my father. I have to capture him myself! I can't borrow someone else's hands!"
Yuan Shu looked troubled as he tried to soothe Sun Ce.
"No, Sun Ce—my young kinsman. I understand your feelings, but you've fought through mountains and rivers in Jiangdong, mostly on land, haven't you? Any experience with naval battles?"
Sun Ce bit his lip.
"......Not much. But with my spear skills, even on a ship—"
"See? Enthusiasm alone doesn't cut it. Even standing steady on water is tough."
Yuan Shu shook his head and glanced at me.
"Seowon. I get the young kinsman's resolve, but this won't do. Better to send the expert, Jang Heum. What if we lose a fine general like that?"
Yuan Shu was spot on, a hundred times right. Rationally, send Jang Heum or bide our time for later. But in that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
Huang Zu's letting his guard down now. But if Jang Heum's elite navy shows up, they'll go on high alert. What if... we make them drop it completely?
We needed bait. Something to convince Huang Zu that Yuan Shu's army was a ragtag bunch clueless about naval warfare. Then they'd get cocky with victory, slack off, and throw a drunken feast.
And Sun Ce... he needed bitter medicine too. A furious beast charging blindly needed a cold splash to cool his head.
I shot Yuan Shu a subtle glance and spoke.
"My lord. Let Sun Ce have a shot at it."
"What? Seowon, you serious?"
Yuan Shu asked in surprise.
Color returned to Sun Ce's face.
"Thank you! I'll bring back that bastard's head!"
"One condition. Our main warships haven't arrived yet. We'll have to lash together ferryboats and rafts. Still want to go?"
"Doesn't matter! Give me a floating log, and I'll cross hellfire itself!"
No sooner had I spoken than Sun Ce rallied his men to gather ferryboats. Yuan Shu poked my side and whispered.
"Hey, Seowon. What're you thinking? What if he dies?"
"Don't worry. Sun Ce's one of the realm's fiercest warriors. He won't die. And he needs the experience—a brutal lesson in failure."
I gave a wry smile. Using a hero as bait felt ruthless, but this was the path to total victory.
"Charge! Smash those rat bastards' ships!"
With Sun Ce's roar, the makeshift fleet launched onto the river. Calling it a fleet was generous: dozens of rickety ferryboats requisitioned from nearby fishing villages, plus log rafts. Three thousand Jiangdong soldiers precariously boarded them.
"All forces, advance!"
Sun Ce leaped onto the lead ferry, swinging his spear. Jeong Bo and Huang Gai had no choice but to follow.
But problems hit the moment they reached mid-river.
Splash! Rock!
The Yangtze's fierce currents tossed the small boats like leaves.
"Whoa?! The boat's spinning! Steady it!"
"Row! We're drifting with the current!"
Yuan Shu's northern troops lost balance with every rock, some even seasick and vomiting into the river. Untrained, their oar strokes were out of sync; boats collided and tangled.
Huang Zu's fleet, meanwhile, loomed gigantic. Dozens of massive tower ships chained together like a floating fortress, unmoving. Jingzhou sailors sneered from above, nocking arrows.
"Look! The idiots are marching to their deaths!"
"Check out those boats! Beggars come to beg?"
Huang Zu waved his flag, and arrows rained from the tower ships.
Piuuuung—!
"Argh!"
"Shields! Raise shields!"
No cover on the tiny ferries. Thin planks offered no protection. Arrows pierced flesh precisely.
When rowers fell, boats spun and drifted, crashing into followers and capsizing.
"Ram 'em! Take 'em!"
Huang Zu's medium warships, the mongchungs, charged swiftly. Iron prows on their bows gouged Sun Ce's ferries.
Crack! Crunch!
Wood splintered; boats split in two. Armored soldiers flew into the cold water, sinking like stones without a chance to swim.
The river turned red in moments.
"You bastards! Come on! Fight me!"
Sun Ce deflected arrows on his rocking boat, fighting fiercely. He even hurled his spear, striking foes. But they were out of reach. His prowess cleaved only air.
Watching his men turn into pincushions or drown reaching for help, Sun Ce shed bloody tears.
"My lord! We can't! We have to retreat!"
Jeong Bo, bleeding, forcibly hugged Sun Ce and turned the prow.
"Let go! He's right there! Arrrgh!"
Sun Ce's screams drowned in the river. A defeat. Barely half returned alive to shore. His soaked mourning garb was now caked in blood and mud.
"Hahaha! What a sight! That's Jiangdong's might?"
Huang Zu's taunts echoed across the water. He threw a feast on deck, ordering musicians to play victory tunes.
"Sun Jian must be wailing in the afterlife! His idiot son got all his men killed! Yuan Shu's army doesn't know the first thing about naval warfare!"
Sun Ce slumped on the bank, shoulders heaving. Defeat, self-loathing, burning hatred crushed him. He pounded the ground, sobbing.
Yuan Shu paced, pale as death.
"Seowon, disaster. Real disaster. I told you! Thousands turned to river ghosts! If they hold and wait for reinforcements, we're sandwiched!"
But I breathed an inner sigh of relief. Sorry to Sun Ce and the men, but it went exactly as planned. Huang Zu mocked our naval skills and dropped all guard.
I approached Sun Ce amid the routed survivors. He wouldn't lift his head.
"Sun Ce."
"......I have no face. My arrogance and rage... killed my men. I should have listened to you, General Seowon."
His voice cracked.
I handed him my canteen and sat beside him.
"Admitting defeat—that's a great general's first step. Naval war differs from land. Head cooled now?"
Sun Ce nodded. The madness left his eyes; calm ferocity returned.
"But... no way through. How do I kill with those massive ships? My spear can't reach!"
I pointed to mid-river.
"Look at those ships."
Huang Zu's fleet still boasted its might. Soldiers atop had shed armor, drinking freely.
"Huang Zu confirmed we're weak at sea. He's complacent. Anchored mid-river, chained tight for stability—like land, so they can feast easy."
I met Sun Ce's eyes squarely.
"That'll be their tomb."
"Tomb?"
"Immobile ships aren't ships. Just giant wooden logs afloat. And dry wood..."
I pointed skyward.
"...burns beautifully."
In the command tent, I summoned Yuan Shu, Sun Ce, and Jang Heum. Jang Heum looked tense but eager.
"Jang Heum. Status report."
"Yes, General. Fifty mongchungs upriver, loaded with oil-soaked dry straw and sulfur. Modified prows with long iron spikes to embed in enemy hulls without dislodging."
Yuan Shu tilted his head.
"Fire attack... smart, but wind's the issue, right? Northwest breeze now. Lighting from south shore blows back at us? You wanna singe my beard?"
Valid point. Seasonally, northwest winds prevailed. For south-to-north fire ships, we needed southeast. Against the wind? Suicide.
But I smiled.
"My lord. Yangtze weather's fickle. Jang Heum, tonight's forecast?"
He grinned.
"I've lived on this river twenty years. I can tell by the water's scent. Clouds clearing at dusk, temperature shifting. By night, wind reverses."
Confident, he declared:
"Tonight at midnight, southeast wind blows. Heaven aids us."
The southeast wind Zhuge Liang supposedly prayed for at Red Cliffs. Not miracle—meteorology. Yangtze basin's terrain and pressure cause seasonal wind flips. Tonight was the night.
"Perfect!"
Yuan Shu slapped his knee.
"Heaven favors me, Yuan Shu! I am the Mandate's chosen!"
I traced the map, issuing orders.
"Jang Heum leads fifty fireships as vanguard. Slip close in darkness unnoticed. When wind rises, hoist sails, full speed collision."
"Understood!"
"Sun Ce."
"Yes!"
"They'll underestimate you after that defeat. When fireships hit and chaos reigns, that's your moment. Board burning ships, slaughter them. No saving drowners. Target only Huang Zu's head."
Sun Ce's eyes flashed. Defeat vanished; beastly killing intent surged.
"Got it. My spear through his heart—for Father's spirit. Thanks for the chance."
Sunset fell; darkness cloaked the Yangtze. River black as ink, lit only by Huang Zu's lanterns twinkling like stars. Drunk on victory, they'd slacked watch. After seeing our pathetic navy by day, night attack was unthinkable.
"Drink! Pour! Tonight's Jingzhou's night!"
Huang Zu staggered on deck, raising his cup.
Upriver reeds, Jang Heum's suicide squad held breath, awaiting wind. Flag quivered faintly. From north, it stilled, swung south, then northwest—flapping fiercely.
Wind shifted. Southeast.
"Now! Raise anchors! Hoist sails!"
Fifty mongchungs glided from dark. Sails billowed; they arrowed forward.
A drowsy sentry rubbed eyes, peering ahead.
"Huh...? What's that?"
Something sped from gloom. White foam trailed.
"Ships! Enemy ships!!"
Too late. In range.
"Light 'em up!!"
Torches hit straw. Whoosh! Fifty ships became fireballs. Red dragons awakening in night.
"Ram!!"
Blazing vessels hurtled at Huang Zu's line.
BOOM! Crash!
Thunderous impacts. Spikes embedded in tower ship hulls. Sparks leaped; flames spread.
"Argh! Fire! Fire!"
"Cut loose! Push 'em off!"
Jingzhou sailors panicked, but fire raced. Chained for stability, one ignited, flames chained ship-to-ship. Unescapable linked hell.
"Cut chains! Axes!"
Axes swung futilely on thick links. Flames devoured sails, decks. Dozens turned to inferno. Night sky blazed daylight.
"Argh! Hot!"
"Save me! I'm burning!"
Some burned alive, others leaped to boiling river, thrashing. Debris, corpses floated amid flames.
On shore, Yuan Shu clapped, cheering.
"Wow! Spectacle! Seowon, this your fireworks? Feels damn good! Hear those screams?"
I nodded, eyeing Sun Ce. He clenched fists at the fiery river.
"Sun Ce, time to go."
He bowed curtly, boarded a small boat. No hesitation, no fear.
"All forces, charge! Slaughter them! No survivors!"
"Waaaaah—!"
Sun Ce and Jiangdong troops stormed the blaze. Foes broken, spiritless. Arrows on frantic fire-fighters, blades on boarders.
Sun Ce beelined Huang Zu's flagship. Flames roared, but he leaped aboard unheeding. Mourning white glowed red in firelight—like bloodwoven garb.
"Huang Zu!! Where are you!!"
His roar pierced inferno.
Huang Zu flailed on burning deck, soot-streaked face terror-struck. No escape. Water, fire failed him. Only white-clad demon, hell's avenger, closed through smoke.
Sun Ce gripped bloodied spear.
"Found you."
His eyes gleamed. Prey sighted.
Tonight, Yangtze's waves would forever recall red blood, vengeful flames.