raided Swallow Island, and Hu Le, who returned with a full load, met the person he didn't expect on Shujia Island, Xu Wenle. Xu Wenle, Li Xingyan and others were originally arranged by Hu Le to divide their troops to the north to attract the Qi army's sailors. Later, the naval division of the Qi army also divided the troops, Hu Le went west, and Xu Wenle took the clipper to the north, and the goals of the two sides were not the same. Seeing Xu Wenle now, Hu Le was extremely surprised.

"How did you kid end up here? Could it be that the Qi Army and Water Division on the North Road have withdrawn? Thinking of this, Hu Le's brows furrowed. If the people and horses of the Qi Army's Water Division North Road turn back, the strength of the Qi Army's Water Division will increase greatly. In front of Hu Le, I am afraid that I can only prepare to evacuate immediately.

Xu Wenle said with a smile: "No, the people on the North Road of the Qi Army's Water Division have all been killed by us?" ”

Hu Le was stunned, and then smiled: "You guys? It's not you, it's probably the army of sailors. After that, Hu Le's heart tightened, and he said, "What about the Shu family bandits?" They were killed by you too? ”

Xu Wenle said with a smile: "Don't worry, the people sent by the general just dared to surrender before the army of the water division was dispatched. The remaining three-way bandits have been wiped out by us. ”

"And what are you here for? Could it be that the sailor is ready for a big operation? Saying that, Hu Le couldn't help but feel happy in his heart. This time, he divided his troops here to disintegrate the strength of the Qi army's water division and gradually weaken the four water bandits, the purpose of which was to let the Qi army's strength withdraw from the middle of the Taihu Lake waters. If there is the support or participation of the army, then it will be very convenient to expel the Qi army and water division from this place, and even completely bring the central area of the Taihu Lake waters under its jurisdiction, and integrate all the water bandits here. In this way, the Jieyi Army Sailor will be the overlord of the waters of Taihu Lake, and no one can provoke it, not even the Qi Army.

Xu Wenle said in a deep voice: "General, your action this time has been passed into the hands of the Metropolitan Governor through Jiaxing County, and the Metropolitan Governor believes that since the Qi army has penetrated deep into the middle of the waters of Taihu Lake, then our sailors should also take action." In addition, with the current strength of our sailors, we can already use force to absorb all kinds of water bandits and expel the strength of the Qi army from the waters of Taihu Lake. ”

After a pause, Xu Wenle said again: "The reason why the operation is now is also related to the fact that the Qi army has begun to approach the northeast of Yangzhou. Now the Qi army has eliminated the southern rebels and is beginning to approach the north. In order to allow us to have a back road, and also to allow us to pass through the waters, attack the Qi army in the western part of Taihu Lake, and open up another front, the Metropolitan Governor decided to dispatch all the forces of the water division to level the central area of the Taihu Lake waters, and even sweep the western region. ”

Hu Le couldn't help but be shocked, so to speak, the battle between the Jieyi Army and the Qi Army was already close at hand. Not only on the waters, but on land, the two sides are about to start a big war.

"And what about the main force of our sailors? Where is it now? How do you need us to cooperate here? Hu Le suppressed the other thoughts in his heart, shifted his attention to the water battle, and asked in a deep voice.

"To the east of Tongshan Island, the army arrived at night last night, and has already taken Tongshan Island, where it is stationed, waiting for an opportunity. The generals of the second town, the town army, and other generals were there. After discussion, the generals' meaning was to let the generals invite the Qi army to fight here, and the army would fight from behind and completely defeat them. ”

"Very well, so that General Ben doesn't need to continue to find a way to lure them in and raid their lair again. In that case, we can just engage them directly. With the participation of a large army, the middle waters of Taihu Lake can be determined in the first war. ”

Swallow Island, just turned back, Yan Mingfeng, who was inspecting and resting on Swallow Island, received an invitation to fight from the sailor of the Jieyi Army. This made him feel very surprised, and he didn't know what tricks the sailors of the Jieyi Army were doing. Yan Mingfeng did not give an immediate reply, but invited the leaders of the three parties to come and discuss. After all, when it comes to water warfare, the tripartite leader knows more than he does.

In fact, the purpose of Yan Mingfeng's visit this time was to recruit water bandits and form a water division of the Qi army, which was hostile to the water division of the Jieyi army. Even if they can't let these water bandits use themselves and can't form a real water division, they definitely don't want these water bandits to be used by the Jieyi army. Therefore, Shen Tuxiong asked them to recruit the water bandits, and the conditions given were very superior, but they did not carry out formal reorganization and form a regular sailor force.

Perhaps, Shen Tuxiong was born as a land general, so he did not pay attention to the strength of the water division. Perhaps, he still has no time to care about the strength of the water division, so he did not let the precious officers of the Qi army and the water army from above come to command and form the Taihu Lake water division of the Qi army, so it seems that the Qi army is very fast in recruiting water bandits in the western and central waters of Taihu Lake, but their strength has not increased much. Even if they are given armor and equipment, but after all, the water bandits are only water bandits, and if they are not trained, how can they become regular water masters?

Therefore, Yan Mingfeng's action this time was not in the plan of Shen Tuxiong and Yan Mingfeng. In other words, the Qi army was not ready to engage the Jieyi Army sailors head-on in the waters of Taihu Lake. Of course, it is not excluded that Shen Tuxiong wants to bring these water bandits over first, and let them be hostile to the Sailing Army and then reorganize.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a letter sent by the sailors of the Jieyi Army to fight us head-on. You see, are we going to fight or not to fight? After the leaders of the three parties gathered, Yan Mingfeng asked straight to the question.

"Fight! My lord, what are we fighting with the Righteous Army for so long? Isn't it just to wipe out the righteous army? If we don't fight, then we don't know what rumors will be released by the Jieyi army, and we don't know what the bandits in the surrounding waters will think of us. Fang Dahai, the leader of the water bandits on Swallow Island, said hatefully. When he turned back this time and saw the appearance of his old nest, he was angry with itchy teeth. In the decisive battle with the sailors of the Jieyi Army, he definitely raised his hands in agreement.

Seeing that Yan Mingfeng was still thinking, Fang Dahai continued: "My lord, this is the Jieyi Army Sailor inviting us to fight, no matter if we don't want to, the Jieyi Army Sailor will not stop there." Even if we refuse at this moment, will the Jie Yi Army Naval Division still withdraw? No, they will not withdraw their troops, but will continue to attack us. ”

"The sailors of the Jieyi Army first broke Shujia Island and incorporated the Shujia Island water bandits. We don't know how much we can profit from it, but we don't think it's too bad. After all, Shujia Island is not much different from us. Subsequently, Lao Tzu's Swallow Island was also broken by the Jieyi army, and the wealth accumulated in our sea has also been plundered by the Jieyi army. In addition, the island's young sailors, craftsmen, fishing boats docked at the pier, and warships were all taken away by the sailors of the Jieyi Army. ”

"It can be said that my Swallow Island is planted this time. However, on the contrary, the sailors of the Jieyi Army made a fortune this time. Moreover, they won both wars, so will they continue to attack Leishan Island? Will it attack the nest of the remaining two brothers? ”

"We have stolen away the water bandits of the Qi army, which is different from the surroundings. We are weakened, we are eliminated, it is a kind of weakening of the strength of the Qi army. If the remaining three are removed, the Qi army will no longer be able to establish influence in the middle waters of Taihu Lake. My lord, compared to you continuing to recruit An, it will not be too smooth, because, stealing the Qi army, you will definitely be attacked by the sailors of the Jieyi army. These water bandit leaders naturally need to be carefully considered. Only if we are victorious, will you be able to continue to recruit the other bandits, and it will go very well. ”

Originally, the other two leaders were still thinking about the relationship between the decisive battle with the Jieyi army, or rather, their gains and losses after this battle. But when Fang Dahai said this, Du Zirong and Yu Wen also began to get nervous. Before, the two of them united with Fang Dahai and Shulin Quartet, thinking that they could easily defeat the sailors of the Jieyi Army, and they could follow the big ship of the Qi army and obtain certain benefits. At the very least, the officers who can sit on the Qi Army's naval division will change from water bandits to water troops, and they are naturally happy to see it. Water bandits are water bandits after all, and no matter how powerful the water bandits are, they can't resist the suppression of the imperial court and the government. Although they seem to be crisscrossing the waters of Taihu Lake now, they can reach the imperial court and avoid being surrounded and suppressed by the government army in the future?

Far away, it's not that among the bandits in the waters of Taihu Lake, I don't know how many of them can't be defeated, and I don't know how many are equal to their strength. However, if they put on the skin of a Qi army sailor, they would be able to ignore these bandits whose strength was comparable to their own. In addition, they can also get supplies such as armor and equipment from the government, and they don't need to carefully go to land to buy the supplies they need, and they don't need to buy supplies for them through transit merchants.

However, in the more than ten days of fighting, Shujia Island was first broken, and the Shujia water bandits were forced to surrender by the Jieyi army along the way. Then they arrived at Swallow Island, and Du Zirong and Yu Wen didn't dare to guarantee that they would become the target of the Jieyi Army's sailors on the next road? didn't get the benefits, and was broken by the Jieyi Army first, and that was the fatal thing.

"My lord, since the righteous army is going to fight, then let's fight them. Even if they didn't divide their troops before, even if they incorporated the road to Shujia Island, their comprehensive strength would not exceed ours. We don't lose out on it. Yu Wen was the first to speak.

Du Zirong also groaned a little, and said in a deep voice: "My lord, can you wait for the part of the troops that went north to turn back, and we are fighting a decisive battle with the Jieyi Army Naval Division?" In that case, we can say that we are sure to win. ”

Yan Mingfeng shook his head and said, "You think I didn't think of it?" The question we can think of is that the rebels can't think of it? The reason why they divided their forces was to disperse our forces, so that they would dare to fight us to the death. If our forces are far superior to theirs, do you say, will the Righteous Army still fight a decisive battle with us? ”

"The Jieyi Army invited us to fight a decisive battle in the waters between Shujia Island and Yanzi Island the day after tomorrow, and the victory or defeat of both sides will determine the ownership of the Jieyi Army and the Qi Army in the middle of the Taihu Lake waters. If we don't agree, they will continue to harass us and make our lives uneasy. I was supposed to delay time, but the messenger of the righteous army has already set the time to death, and whether to fight or not to fight is just a matter of our thoughts. If you want to fight them, then it goes without saying. If there is no war, then in order to ensure that you can develop normally in the waters of Taihu Lake, you still need to move your foundation westward and move into the western waters. ”

Looking at the different faces of the three of them, Yan Mingfeng said in a deep voice: "Do you think that such a simple matter needs to be considered so carefully, which is not quite consistent with our previous attack on chasing the Jieyi Army?" The rebels dare to invite us into battle when this situation is not in their favor, and I can hardly guarantee that they have no tricks or tricks. ”

"Think about it, if the commander of the Sailor Division of the Jieyi Army on the other side will simply invite us to fight? We pursued it for more than ten days, and what was the result? I'm worried that this big war will not be in our favor. ”

Du Zirong said in a deep voice: "My lord, we don't need to worry, in the vast waters, the two sides are fighting, and the competition is the quality of the warship and the morale of the soldiers. No matter what, we must fight against the Sailing Army. After all, this operation is for the sake of our Qi army sailors to wash away the shame and establish a prestige. If we were to evacuate like this, the consequences would be unpredictable. As I said, even if we want to move west, it's not a simple thing. These three brothers, the things on the two islands, are afraid that if they are loaded on the ship, they will become the target of the sailors of the Jieyi Army. Even if it is to migrate, it is necessary to defeat the sailors of the Jieyi Army first. ”

Yan Mingfeng's face sank, and he nodded: "It's okay, that's it, then let's fight with the sailors of the Jieyi Army." Three, this battle is about you and me, and it is also about the prestige of the Qi Army's naval division in the central waters. Therefore, you all need to gather all the warships and soldiers on the island to fight the last battle against the Jieyi army. ”

Looking at the three leaders who went down to prepare, Yan Mingfeng's heart couldn't help but pound. As a coach all the way, this is also his first time Yan Mingfeng, he is both excited and nervous. Especially now that he is commanding the forces of the Sailor Division, which he is not very familiar with, which makes him unable to exert a lot of his strength. After all, there is a big difference between naval combat and land combat.

"Why do the sailors of the Jieyi Army dare to confront us head-on? What are their hole cards? Could it be that the soldiers who surrendered to Shujia Island and the harvest on Shujia Island and Swallow Island made them confident that they had the ability to defeat us? As the commander, Yan Mingfeng also began to think deeply about the reason for the battle of the Jieyi Army and his reliance.

"My lord, why bother so much, you will know if you have fought a lot. In addition, it is said that the commander of the sailor division of this Jieyi Army is a general of the Jieyi Army, and he was also a leader of the water bandits earlier. Seeing that Yan Mingfeng's face was uncertain, the adjutant beside him said with a smile.

Yan Mingfeng couldn't help but smile and said in a deep voice: "The one on the other side is not simple, if it is really as simple as you said." However, in the past few days of chase, we have been played by each other. It's a pity, if the people who went north also found out that the situation was not right, it would be good to turn back immediately, if that case, we would have no problem fighting with the Sailing Army. But it's nothing, the two sides are at war, and in the end it depends on the true strength of both sides. ”

"In addition, it is not the right thing for us to recruit water bandits like this. Look at the Jieyi army on the other side, they also recruit water bandits, but they want to integrate these water bandits together to form a true water division force. And we are always hard to match. After this battle, we will have to train these three people well. ”

"But, my lord, they are afraid that they will not be willing to accept the integration of the Jie Yi Army."

"Don't want to?" Yan Mingfeng said coldly, "They have no choice, they have already fought to the death with the Jieyi Army's water division, can they still get out?" What are they without the support of our Qi army? In addition, this time, Swallow Island was confiscated by the sailors of the Jieyi Army, and they have lost the ability to support their families, so it is easiest to make them succumb. As for the other two, they will not be able to do so at that time. The banner of our Qi army is not something for them to use casually, and the interests of our Qi army are not so easy to take. ”

After this battle for several days, Yan Mingfeng understood the gap between himself and the other party, so he planned to reorganize the water bandits he recruited after this battle, and even persuaded Shen Tuxiong to send officers who were good at water warfare to train these so-called "Qi Army Water Divisions", so that they could become real water divisions, rather than water bandit combinations under the banner of water divisions.

On Shujia Island, Hu Le also ordered his men and horses to prepare for a big battle. All kinds of materials have begun to be processed and replenished, and those warships are also being inspected and repaired. When Shu Lin heard the news of the decisive battle, he was also surprised. However, when he learned that the Sailing Army's naval division had wiped out the northern half of the enemy army, and the army was approaching here, the worries in his heart were completely put down. In his heart, he was even secretly lucky. If Shujia Island had not been broken by the Jieyi Army Sailor this time, and the Shujia Water Bandit had not surrendered, I was afraid that the Shujia Water Bandit would have been ambushed by the Jieyi Army Sailor Division.

In order to ensure the smooth operation of this operation, Hu Le also went to Tongshan Island to discuss with Du Linshan, Qin Shouyi, Xue Mingran and other sailor generals to determine the plan of action. Seeing the warships covered with branches and covered as trees and the blockaded semi-circular pier on Tongshan Island, Hu Le also understood why they settled here. More than 100 regular warships are docked here, and if you don't get close to observe, you can't see the existence of a large army here.

As soon as Hu Le and several other sailor generals met, they were greatly envious of the other people about the battle. After several people discussed, in order to prevent these water bandits from escaping when they heard the news, and finally became the force of the Qi army's water division, they made the decision to destroy the enemy's water division first and break the enemy's water bandits' lair. Subsequently, Hu Le detailed the situation around Shujia Island and Swallow Island, and made arrangements for action to the west. Since the Jieyi Army's water division army is dispatched, it is natural to completely take down these three water bandits.