By this time, it was equivalent to ten at night. There was no moon in the sky, everything pitch black and oppressive.
The over one thousand ships of the allied fleet to destroy Sauron were brightly lit!
At this time, they had already arrived at the entrance to Devil Bay.
Devil Bay was like a sack, small at the mouth and large inside. The entire entrance was less than eight li wide.
Originally, the allied fleet to destroy Sauron had planned to land in Devil Bay during daylight. Now it was a pitch-black night where one could not see one’s own hand.
The commander-in-chief of this allied force was Tu Liwen, with Hai Wuyan as deputy commander, because these two families had dispatched the most naval troops.
The leaders of the four allied forces were all on Count Tu Liwen’s flagship for final deliberations.
They were respectively Tu Liwen, Hai Wuyan, Ashi Zhuo, Hai Naier, Gui Xingfu, and Tu Lingchen.
“Where is Sauron’s fleet?” Allied commander-in-chief Tu Liwen asked.
“Already entered Devil Bay, attempting to land and flee.” The officer below reported.
Zhi Li had said that the primary goal of this battle, even the only goal, was to annihilate Sauron’s fleet and kill Sauron.
Tu Lingchen said, “Sauron is cunning. Could he have laid traps and ambushes in this Devil Bay?”
Ashi Zhuo sneered, “Traps? Ambushes? How many ships and soldiers does he have?”
Gui Xingfu said, “This Devil Bay is like a sack, small entrance and large inside. Once entered, it is difficult to get out again. In this geographical environment, the greatest concern is fire attack.”
Tu Lingchen said, “Over these several days and nights, Sauron has consistently used fire attacks. Only the battle results were minuscule. According to intelligence from Tianye City and Pirate Harbour, a mysterious large buyer purchased all the fish oil and whale oil on the market, approximately eight hundred thousand jin.”
Tianye City and Pirate Harbour were currently the two largest trading markets.
Count Tu Liwen said, “Over these several days and nights of naval battle, Sauron threw tens of thousands of fire oil bombs. He must have exhausted this batch of fish oil completely.”
Tu Lingchen asked, “If Tianye City spared no cost in catching fish and buying fish to boil fish oil, how much could they produce?”
Count Tu Liwen said, “Fish oil seems expensive, several tens of copper coins per jin. But production is extremely low, and boiling it is extremely troublesome. Moreover, Tianshui City lacks fishing boats and lacks a fishing tradition. Wanting to boil fish oil themselves, production would certainly not be much.”
In this world, for fire attacks, what was used was nothing more than fish oil and tung oil. And tung oil, due to various shortcomings, was not used much.
Hai Wuyan said, “That is to say, Sauron certainly no longer has sufficient fish oil in hand to launch fire attacks?”
Tu Liwen nodded, “And even if he had not consumed his fish oil before, several hundred thousand jin of fish oil could not possibly destroy our enormous fleet of over one thousand ships.”
Indeed so. Several hundred thousand jin of fish oil over several hundred square kilometers of bay was truly insignificant.
Tu Lingchen said, “However, if the allied forces wish to land, it would be more appropriate to choose daytime. Under the cover of night, this Devil Bay is indeed fraught with danger.”
Tu Liwen said, “Now, Sauron’s fleet has already entered Devil Bay, about to land and flee. Once he escapes to land, what will happen?”
Gui Xingfu said, “He leads seven thousand Rock pirates into Tianshui main city. Tianlang Pass, Savage Gorge garrisons, all territory garrisons assemble at Tianshui main city, a total of forty thousand troops, confronting our one hundred thirty thousand. A threefold force besieging the city, the chances of victory are great, but it will take over half a month to fight. By then, His Majesty the King’s rescue troops will enter Tianshui City under the name of suppressing bandits.”
Hai Wuyan said, “Does His Majesty the King still have troops in hand?”
“Of course.” Tu Lingchen said, “Although not many, assembling several tens of thousands of troops is not a problem.”
Gui Xingfu said, “Of course, all military nobles have defected to Prince Zhi Li’s side. The troops we can dispatch are even more numerous. But this way, it equals Prince Zhi Li directly confronting the King, meaning the civil war of the Nu Lang Kingdom breaks out. Did we not disguise ourselves as pirates entering Tianshui City precisely to avoid this?”
Ashi Zhuo sneered, “You mainland nobles are truly as timid as mice. A full over one thousand ships, over one hundred thousand troops, and you actually fear ambush from merely seven thousand men, still wasting time deliberating here. Just charge in and kill Sauron’s army cleanly. Ambush? Several thousand men ambushing over one hundred thousand, a heaven-shaking joke.”
Count Tu Liwen said, “Raise hands to vote. Those agreeing to enter Devil Bay now to pursue and kill Sauron, please raise your hands.”
The first to raise his hand was Ashi Zhuo, then Hai Naier, then himself.
Next, the fourth to raise his hand was unexpectedly Tu Lingchen. He had spoken again and again of worrying about Sauron’s ambushes and traps, yet he himself actively raised his hand.
He desperately wanted to put Sauron to death, completely not wanting to let him return to Tianshui main city.
On the other hand, he also worried about Sauron’s cunning, that there might be traps and ambushes. One could see his mood was complex, wavering between two sides.
“Order, the entire army enters Devil Bay, annihilate Sauron’s fleet!” Allied commander-in-chief Tu Liwen ordered.
Immediately, over one thousand ships crowded together, stretching out magnificently as they entered Devil Bay.
The cautious Count Tu Liwen still dispatched several scout ships to enter the bay to investigate.
But of the several tens of small scout ships, merely two returned.
“Reporting to the City Lord, Sauron’s fleet is desperately landing. The bay is full of abandoned ships, too many to count.” The scout who returned reported.
“Hahahaha…” Tu Lingchen laughed loudly, “Sauron painstakingly invented a new-style catapult that can throw four to five hundred meters, originally thinking it could serve as a large-scale killing weapon, helping his fleet achieve victory through surprise. He never imagined the catapult’s accuracy would be so pitiful. Fighting for several days and nights, spending countless gold coins, yet only obtaining a laughable battle result. Now he has no choice but to abandon all ships and flee.”
Tu Liwen said, “Even the Rock pirate fleet’s warships, abandoned?”
That scout said, “Abandoned, not only floating everywhere on the sea surface. Moreover, some warships have already been scuttled.”
Tu Lingchen’s eyes brightened greatly, saying, “Charge in immediately, do not let them scuttle all the warships. These Rock pirate warships are both sturdy and agile, with astonishingly fast speed. We must seize them.”
Count Tu Liwen said, “This Queen Island fleet is the only naval force in Sauron’s hands. Now he has even abandoned these warships. One can see he is truly at the end of his rope.”
“What are we waiting for? The great army charges forward at full speed, seize the warships, kill all the people…” Ashi Zhuo roared loudly.
Gui Xingfu’s eyes also blazed with light. His Linhai fleet had not recovered since suffering heavy damage last time. If he could obtain Rock pirate warships, even merely twenty or so, he could completely restore his former glory.
In this naval battle, everyone had seen that the Rock pirate warships were truly remarkable, far surpassing human kingdoms.
Regarding Sauron’s invented new-style catapult, they were inwardly amazed, but not particularly covetous.
But toward the Rock pirate warships, Gui Xingfu and Tu Liwen were drooling with desire, even including Hai Wuyan.
The Yingzhou Hai Clan originated from Rock Island, so they were certainly not unfamiliar with Rock pirate warships. However, the earliest batch of Rock pirate warships had been used for a hundred years and were already damaged. And newly built warships, in order to carry more soldiers and more supplies, had also developed toward larger ships.
Because their mission had changed. The Yingzhou Hai Clan no longer relied on plundering. So they looked down on the previous Rock pirate warships.
But this large-scale naval battle made them see the outstanding qualities of these Rock pirate warships.
Count Tu Liwen shouted loudly, “Great army advances at full speed, annihilate Sauron, capture the warships!”
Immediately, over one thousand ships, sails fully unfurled, desperately rowing, charged into Devil Bay at maximum speed, wanting to annihilate Sauron’s army that was landing in one fell swoop!
…
A full over half a shichen later, the over one thousand ships of the allied fleet to destroy Sauron had completely entered Devil Bay.
Devil Bay was like a sack. After entering, the crowded fleet could finally spread out somewhat. But over one thousand ships spread over less than two hundred square kilometers of sea surface still appeared crowded, with merely several hundred meters between each ship.
Moreover, at this time abandoned ships that Sauron had discarded were drifting everywhere on the sea surface, floating aimlessly.
The Rock pirate fleet’s landing was already in its final stages. Seven thousand Rock pirates on the beach had constructed temporary defensive lines.
Nearly one hundred Rock Island fleet ships had been washed by waves to shallow water, already grounded.
Sauron and Yan Chuor stood atop the high mountain peak, looking down at the entire Devil Bay.
“Aunt, I am sorry.” Sauron said, “These one hundred Rock pirate ships must also be destroyed. Even the flagship you specially built for Little Xue must be destroyed.”
This loss was truly heartbreaking, especially that flagship with a displacement of several thousand tons.
Yan Chuor said, “Exchanging one hundred for one thousand, very much worth it. Moreover, we still have several tens of ships remaining, plus several tens of captured ships. In the future, protecting Tianshui City’s sea power will be sufficient.”
Yan Chuor’s heroic breadth of mind was astonishing.
Originally the entire Devil Bay was pitch dark, but the allied fleet to destroy Sauron was brightly lit, making the entire Devil Bay also brilliantly illuminated.
Each light represented a ship.
A total of over one thousand ships, each ship with over one hundred people.
The four forces, over one thousand ships, a total of over one hundred thousand troops, had already entered this Devil Bay, entered Sauron’s death trap!
It looked rather like ten thousand household lanterns spread across the sea surface, poetic and picturesque.
And now, what Sauron was about to do was to completely tear apart this sea area, completely destroy all life.
“Aunt, it is about time!” Sauron said.
Yan Chuor lit a fire arrow, fiercely shooting it into the sky!
“Bang…” This sky crystal in high altitude suddenly exploded, becoming a brilliant spark.
This was a signal arrow!
“Bang bang bang bang bang…”
At the entrance to Devil Bay, both sides were steep, towering cliffs.
At this time, countless wooden barrels filled with crude oil rolled down.
Several hundred, several thousand, over ten thousand…
Over ten thousand oil barrels rolled down from cliffs several hundred meters high, instantly shattering into pieces.
Over one million jin of crude oil suddenly spilled at the entrance to Devil Bay.
The entire entrance was merely over four thousand meters wide, instantly covered with a thick layer of crude oil.
Then…
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
From both sides of the cliffs, countless fire arrows shot down.
“Boom boom boom boom…”
Fire arrows fell on the crude oil on the sea surface, and instantly… the entire sea surface burned fiercely.
The entrance to Devil Bay completely became a massive wall of fire, blocking the escape route!
A wall of fire of several thousand meters, burning fiercely.
The allied fleet to destroy Sauron was greatly shocked!
“Trapped, trapped…” Tu Lingchen said in alarm, “I knew it, I knew Sauron must have traps waiting for us!”
Every night, the sea tides grew increasingly powerful.
Long tides advanced toward the coastline.
But at this time, the entire tide had already become a wall of fire several thousand meters wide, pushed forward by surging waters toward the coastline.
Immediately, the allied fleet to destroy Sauron witnessed an incomparably magnificent scene.
Several thousand meters of fiercely burning fire line, like ten thousand horses galloping, rapidly approaching.
Distance from the allied fleet to destroy Sauron grew closer and closer, closer and closer.
Count Tu Liwen and others also changed colour greatly, then roared out orders, “Fleet advances at full speed, land immediately…”
But…
No matter how fast ships moved, they could not outpace the surging tide.
One only saw a wall of fire quickly catching up to the rear formation of the allied fleet to destroy Sauron.
Flames ignited every ship.
Crude oil on the water surface stuck to every ship.
But…
This amount of crude oil, this amount of flames, although astonishing, was not completely inextinguishable!
It could not immediately burn the fleet!
This amount of flames, even if not extinguished, could hold out until landing!
Sauron’s fire attack, although very astonishing, was not truly fatal!
While everyone rejoiced, only Gui Xingfu’s face changed greatly.
He understood Sauron too well. This was merely the appetiser.
Indeed…
These walls of fire, igniting the ships of the allied fleet to destroy Sauron, was not the worst.
The most terrifying thing was that they ignited the Suo clan cargo ships moored scattered throughout Devil Bay.
Each of these cargo ships carried several hundred barrels of crude oil, several barrels of fish oil.
Fish oil was extremely fierce.
After being ignited by flames, it instantly burned fiercely, and the enormous energy with no outlet violently exploded.
“Boom boom boom boom…”
The over one hundred cargo ships moored in Devil Bay successively underwent violent explosions.
Each explosion!
Several hundred barrels of crude oil were suddenly thrown into the air, wooden barrels shattering.
Countless crude oil sprayed out.
Each cargo ship had over one hundred thousand jin of crude oil.
Instantly… becoming like a giant powder magazine.
“Boom boom boom…”
Each explosion became heaven-shaking flames. Terrifying burning crude oil instantly sprayed toward several thousand meters in the air, then fiercely crashed onto the sea surface.
The entire sea surface instantly burned fiercely.
“Boom boom boom boom…”
Incomparably magnificent, incomparably terrifying heaven-shaking explosions.
The greatest films on Earth were not so magnificent and astonishing.
Over one hundred large cargo ships, over one hundred thousand barrels, nearly twenty million jin of crude oil, completely burned fiercely.
The entire Devil Bay, the nearly two hundred square kilometers of sea surface, was completely swallowed by flames, completely turned into hell.
Over one thousand warships, over one hundred thousand troops, all found themselves in hell.
“Finished, finished!”
Hell was burning!