Qian Qiren from the Guiyuan Sect inquired, "You said the ruse of self-harm was planned between you and Chen Sansi. If Ziwu Valley proves unsuccessful, how should we respond? Did he tell you anything?"
Sima Yao stood leaning on his sword, gazing at the distant river in silence.
Qian Qiren approached the strategist with the feather fan and scarf, "Since Chen Sansi left, you've been holding the Commander Seal and directing. Didn't he tell us how to break through?"
Standing in the cold wind, Xu Wencai slowly pointed his feather fan to the rear, commanding loudly, "If we can't leave, then we shall not try. All warships should turn around, prepare for a decisive battle with the enemy army!"
A fight to the death!
"Are you insane too?"
Qian Qiren looked perplexed, "The opposing side has a Second-Tier Formation; they can crash into us and crush our forces. With what are we to have a decisive battle? Why not break out instead?!"
"Indeed, knowing that we can't win yet still charging ahead recklessly—isn't that courting death?"
The cultivators from the Guiyuan Sect and some generals debated among themselves.
Quite a few cultivators were already planning to abandon the army and run away on their own.
"Those who disobey orders—"
Xu Wencai prolonged his tone, "Behead!"
Military orders are as immutable as mountains.
For the Beiliang Army, they naturally complied without dissent.
The imperial troops knew there was no retreat, so they could only grip their weapons tightly, ready for victory or death.
Only the cultivators hesitated, leaning more towards outright fleeing.
King Yan, Cao Zhi, approached and inquired, "Do you and my big brother have any ingenious plan?"
According to his understanding.
The likelihood of the White Robe abandoning everyone's life and death to attack Ziwu Valley was very low.
But in the current situation.
It seems they're at a dead end, unable to guess their true intentions.
"Your Highness, what kind of ingenious plan could we have?"
Xu Wencai said indifferently, "With no retreat path behind us, isn't it just a fight to the death?"
Cao Zhi, half-believing and half-doubting, naturally understood the principle of "if it's not secret, it leaks," thinking perhaps it cannot be revealed. Thus, he began to persuade the cultivators to stay: "Fellow Daoists of Guiyuan Sect, success or failure hinges on this one move. How can we speak of retreat so easily?"
"Cao Dao You, I'm afraid even if we wish to retreat, it won't be so easy."
A cultivator from the Guiyuan Sect looked up to the sky and suddenly spoke.
Directly above them, the cultivators of the Shengyun Sect had completely sealed off the escape, forming battle formations among themselves, clearly not intending to let a single person, including the Guiyuan Sect cultivators, escape!
Qian Qiren angrily said, "Brothers, since the Shengyun Sect gives us no escape route, we have no choice but to fight them to the death!"
At Seeking Immortal Tower, the Guiyuan Sect cultivators, having no retreat, had to accept the military orders with anger.
The small and large ships of a two-hundred-thousand-strong army all turned their bows towards the entrance of Donghan Lake, then arrayed their naval battle formations, fully prepared, awaiting the last moment.
Jiangnan naval forces' great army.
Prince Qi and Prince Qin, aboard a Meng Chong Battle Ship, sailed in the opposite direction of the main army, then moored at the dock. After waiting for about two hours, they saw towering sails appear in the distance, with transport vessels quickly approaching and gradually reducing speed near the dock.
Standing on the deck of the foremost transport ship was a middle-aged man dressed in a long robe, full of scholarly air, who saluted from afar toward the Python Robed Prince with respect, "Minister Dan Qunyu, pays respects to Your Highness, the Great Sheng Prince Qi!"
"Haha, no need for formalities, General Shan!"
Prince Qi got straight to the point, "There's no issue with the quantity of supplies, is there? This concerns the life and death of my great army."
"Rest assured, Your Highness."
Dan Qunyu assured, "These supplies are enough for forty days of consumption for the forty-thousand-strong naval forces of the court!"
"Oh? Even more than anticipated."
Prince Qi waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to go up and count.
After confirming the supplies were sufficient, he couldn't help but beam with joy, "Great, with General Shan's supplies, defeating the bandit army is a finger snap away!"
Dan Qunyu clasped his fist, "The supplies have been delivered. What arrangements do you have for us?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
Prince Qi said without hesitation, "Naturally, you'll be integrated into the naval forces!"
A while ago, they had split off part of their troops to chase King Jin on land, so they could use these men from Liangshan to fill the gap.
Dan Qunyu and his men, to deliver supplies at the fastest speed, didn't bring battle ships, almost entirely using transport horse ships, and thus were dispersed among the various battle ships.
Prince Qi patted his shoulder, "Coming early is surely not as good as coming at the right time. The great army is about to enter its decisive battle, seize the opportunity to make a name for yourselves."
"Minister Dan Qunyu is willing to go through fire and water for the court!"
Dan Qunyu's voice resonated.
Prince Qi was greatly pleased, "In our Great Sheng Dynasty, we have loyal and heroic families like Zhou Lang within, and righteous warriors like General Shan outside. How can we not flourish for generations! Quickly board the ships!"
"The time to serve the court has arrived!"
The Liangshan contingent, originally from naval forces, with everyone skilled in diving, required no training and could dive straight into battle.
Nearly twenty thousand heroes of Liangshan boarded the available "Feiyun" and "Gai Hai" tower ships.
"Everything is ready!"
"Supplies and personnel are adequate!"
On the eve of the decisive battle, Zhou Rong changed his usual behavior, no longer drinking or playing, not leisurely lounging, but staying up day and night, hardly eating even a single grain.