The Rock Demon’s one hundred thousand naval troops, eighty li away.
Fifty li.
Thirty li.
Previously, it was the griffin riders in the sky reporting the exact position of the Rock Demon army. Now, suddenly, the Rock Demon army came into view.
These seventy thousand rock pirates plus thirty thousand sea pirates were like a dark army bursting forth from hell.
The originally empty line where sea met sky was suddenly invaded by a patch of black.
Then this blackness grew more and more numerous, denser and denser, until finally it was completely boundless.
Sauron rode several hundred metres in the air, clearly seeing the Rock Demon’s one hundred thousand troops. Over a thousand warships spread across the sea surface, truly seeming to blot out the sky and cover the sun.
Originally, Sauron’s fleet of over two hundred ships was already spectacularly grand. Now, compared to the Rock Demon’s army, it was truly like a small sorcerer before a great one.
Instinctively, his hairs stood on end, his heart suddenly skipping a beat.
Sauron truly felt extremely nervous, because he really had no certainty about this battle.
If this battle was lost, it meant destruction.
Not just his own destruction, but the entire Sauron clan buried with him.
Leave it to fate, leave it to fate!
The Rock Demon stood at the bow of the flagship, looking up at Sauron in the sky.
Although Sauron was above and the Rock Demon below, his gaze seemed to be looking down.
This battle was filled with unknowns for Sauron.
For the Rock Demon, there was no suspense whatsoever.
His army outnumbered Sauron’s by four times, and among Sauron’s twenty-five thousand naval troops, apart from the ten thousand rock pirates, the rest were completely like chickens and dogs.
In the Rock Demon’s view, his strength was not four times Sauron’s, but ten times.
However, when he saw that Sauron’s twenty-five thousand fleet was actually forming battle lines on the sea to face him head on, the Rock Demon was still greatly astonished.
Because he had thought Sauron would certainly play tricks, certainly use tactics like luring the enemy deep.
Little did he know, Sauron was not unwilling to play tricks. It was just that large scale artillery used in naval warfare was a first. Whether gunners or sailors, all were completely unfamiliar with it. Sauron dared not use any unorthodox methods, lest he make things worse.
Moreover, from what he had seen of eighteenth century naval warfare, it was all artillery ships directly exchanging broadsides.
…
The griffin riders flew in the air, continuously using flag signals to report the exact distance of the Rock Demon fleet.
Ten thousand metres, eight thousand metres, five thousand metres, three thousand metres…
Closer and closer, closer and closer.
At this moment, the atmosphere seemed about to freeze solid.
The pirates on the Rock Demon’s side were filled with excitement and wildness.
The navy on Sauron’s side were filled with gravity and solemnity.
Many gunners even sat down, closed their eyes, and began their final adjustments.
The people on the entire fleet seemed almost afraid to breathe deeply, yet because of nervousness, their hearts beat incredibly fast, so they actually felt somewhat suffocated.
“Zhuang Zhixuan, previously if my Tianshui City lost, I could still retreat to the sea. But now, after losing, I will have nowhere to retreat. The world is vast, yet there will be no place for me anywhere.” Sauron said.
Zhuang Zhixuan had never seen Sauron like this. Not only was he filled with a sense of crisis, but even filled with pessimism.
A few months ago, facing the several armies sent by Zhi Li, he had been full of confidence, completely appearing at ease and fully prepared.
But this time, it was completely unknown.
After thinking for a while, Zhuang Zhixuan comforted him, “Even if we lose, to die gloriously is better than to live in obscurity.”
Sauron crudely pinched her between her legs. “You really know how to comfort people.”
…
On the sea surface, the two fleets were two thousand metres apart!
One thousand five hundred metres!
The moment this number came out, all gunners on Sauron’s fleet opened their eyes. The tendon at the back of their necks seemed to suddenly tense, their hair suddenly standing on end.
One thousand five hundred metres, already within range!
“Whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo…”
The griffin warriors in the sky desperately waved blood-red flags, crossing them back and forth.
This had only one meaning. Fire, fire, fire!
Then, the distant battle horns of Sauron’s fleet sounded.
“Aim the guns, aim!”
The commanders of each ship shouted sharply.
In fact, all cannons on the warships were already prepared, even already aimed.
But the gunners still made final adjustments, final aiming.
“Fire!”
“Fire!”
“Broadside fire!”
“Boom boom boom boom…”
Nearly two hundred cannons suddenly roared out.
Heaven-shaking thunder, like heavenly thunderbolts.
The Rock Demon and his pirate army were greatly startled. At this distance of three li, Sauron’s trebuchets were already firing?
Because Sauron had previously used heavy hammer lever trebuchets in large numbers on the battlefield, the Rock Demon instinctively assumed Sauron’s main weapon this time was still trebuchets.
The Rock Demon standing at the bow sneered coldly, “Firing from three li away, is this meant to scare people to death? Or to bolster your own courage?”
In this world, there was no weapon that could reach three li.
However, why was Sauron’s weapon so loud that it could be heard from three li away? After firing, there was also a burst of thick smoke.
Looking at this display, it was quite intimidating!
Immediately, the Rock Demon laughed heartily, “Sauron’s warships are amazing! Not only do they fart, but they fart so loudly, and the farts even have smoke!”
The rock pirates on the warships burst into loud laughter, joining in to mock Sauron.
But immediately after, the Rock Demon and the pirates could no longer laugh.
Because the projectiles fired from Sauron’s warships were as fast as black lightning, tracing arcs through the air, actually getting closer and closer.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Then, a terrifying scene appeared.
Countless iron balls, carrying scorching heat, whistled as they flew overhead.
The speed was actually that fast? The momentum was actually that astonishing?
If struck by these iron balls, probably a dozen or so people would be pulverised.
The Rock Demon felt his scalp go numb in waves. What secret weapon did Sauron have now?
It could actually reach three li? A terrifying three li!
And looking at this display, it was far more than three li!
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Nearly two hundred red-hot iron balls whistled past over the Rock Demon’s fleet.
At a distance of one thousand five hundred metres, after entering a mature and stable firing state, the hit rate could reach about seventy to eighty percent.
But to enter this mature and stable firing state required at least ten or so shots of warming up and adjustment.
However… that was when attacking a single target ship.
And now, Sauron’s fleet faced over a thousand warships, densely packed, countless in number.
So, even though it was the first round of firing, there was already tremendous success.
…
On a pirate warship in the Rock Demon’s camp.
At this moment, over a hundred pirates were densely packed on the deck. They suddenly heard a piercing whistling sound, then saw a red-hot iron ball getting closer and closer.
“Thud…”
The twenty-some jin heavy iron ball viciously flew into the crowd of pirates.
Instantly…
It ploughed a bloody path. Wherever it passed, bodies flew and bones were shattered.
No screams, no cries of alarm, not even pain.
Because after being penetrated, the entire body was directly cut in half at the waist, dying instantly beyond any further death.
“Boom!”
Immediately after, another loud sound. The iron ball violently smashed open a large hole in the thick deck, drilling into the inner cabin, smashing everything inside to pulp, piercing through three or four layers before finally stopping.
The surviving pirates on the deck were stunned for quite a while.
What, what kind of weapon was this?
It was actually so terrifying, so sharp?
Then, they felt something strange on their faces, involuntarily reaching out to touch, finding their faces covered in blood and bits of flesh.
Looking at the deck again!
A scene of blood and flesh, approximately a dozen or so corpses?
Each one was incomplete, at least broken into two pieces.
The only relatively complete corpse was because that man was extremely fierce and robust. A huge hole had been smashed open in his chest area, about a chi in diameter. All the internal organs inside were gone.
This was completely hell!
“Ugh, ugh, ugh…” The first pirate began vomiting.
Then, the other pirates followed suit in vomiting.
These pirates killed people like flies, had seen every kind of scene, but now they were actually vomiting alive!
…
“Boom boom boom…”
Sauron, riding his griffin floating high in the air, saw it clearly. The first round’s hit rate was approximately close to ten percent.
A total of nineteen iron balls struck the Rock Demon’s warships.
The luckier ones flew directly over the deck, taking a dozen or so lives, smashing through the cabins on the deck.
The unluckier ones directly struck the hull below the waterline, smashing open a huge hole, seawater madly pouring in.
The first round of artillery fire damaged nearly twenty warships and took several hundred pirates’ lives.
Sauron was completely overjoyed, almost unable to believe the results before his eyes!
It was completely much better than he had imagined!
In his most pessimistic estimate, the first round’s hit rate might be one percent, or even zero was possible.
Because after all, this was actual combat, the enemy’s ships were constantly moving.
He had not expected the results to be so good.
Then, Sauron deeply felt he had truly been doctrinaire.
In his mind, in eighteenth century naval warfare, the two sides’ warships exchanging broadsides required who knew how many ranging shots before hitting.
Moreover, battles often lasted days and nights, exchanging hundreds of cannon shots.
His mind was full of the pitiful hit rates of eighteenth century naval warfare, and not knowing how many cannon shots needed to hit before sinking a warship.
However, eighteenth century naval warfare on Earth was one-on-one broadsides, needing to hit a single target.
And now, the Rock Demon’s warships were densely packed, blotting out the sky and sun. Even by sheer luck, many shots could hit.
Moreover, eighteenth century warships had who knew how many watertight compartments, and two or three decks protected the interior relatively intact. Moreover, each warship’s tonnage was over one or two thousand tons, so many cannon hits were needed before sinking.
But now, most of the Rock Demon’s warships had displacements of only several hundred tons. Because there were no cannons, the protective strength of the warships was not high. So, even a single cannon hit on a vital part of the hull was fatal.
…
The Rock Demon was also completely stunned by this first round of cannon fire. Although he still did not know the casualties. But to be able to hit from three li away, the momentum was truly too terrifying.
The key point was that Sauron could hit him, but he could not hit Sauron. This point was too frustrating.
At this time, the mainstream of naval warfare was still to close to within two or three hundred metres of the enemy ship, then both sides’ crossbows would fire volleys. After completely closing, the pirates would wave their curved blades and directly jump onto the enemy ship to fight.
So at this time, the pirates’ fierce courage and bloodlust were especially important.
The rock pirates were the best naval troops under heaven, not only unafraid of death, but actively pursuing death.
But now, Sauron could hit them from three li away. This point was too terrifying.
Although the hit rate was low, people always felt awe towards the unknown, and the Rock Demon was no exception.
He had to change the battle situation, pull the battle into the method he was most skilled at. Close with the enemy, then jump ship and fight.
At that time, with four times the military strength, with rock pirates unafraid of death, he could easily tear Sauron’s fleet to shreds!
“Close in, close in, close in…”
The Rock Demon loudly roared his orders!
Signal horns sounded. Dozens of pirates standing on the masts desperately waved flags!
At this moment, the Rock Demon had only one thought in his heart. Once I close in, you Sauron are dead!
In the howling south wind, the Rock Demon’s fleet sailed south at full speed.
One thousand five hundred metres distance, about five minutes of time.
And Sauron’s fleet’s firing interval for each round of cannons required over seven minutes.
Without Sauron needing to give orders, Sauron’s fleet also sailed south at full speed, maintaining a certain distance from the Rock Demon’s fleet.
Thus, the two fleets continuously sailed south.
However, the rock pirate fleet was known for being light and fast, faster than Sauron’s fleet.
Eight minutes later, Sauron’s fleet’s cannons completed their second round of loading.
At this time, the distance between the two fleets had closed to about one thousand three hundred metres.
“Fire, fire, fire!”
With a single order, Sauron’s fleet fired a second time.
Another burst of heaven-shaking thunder, several hundred projectiles like black lightning spanning over one thousand metres, whistling as they smashed towards the Rock Demon’s fleet.
Sauron saw clearly from the air. Still nearly twenty solid shots hit.
Although the hit rate was not high, once hit, it was destined to be a sea of blood, wailing ghosts and howling wolves.
Thus, both fleets sailed south with full sails.
Every eight minutes or so, Sauron’s fleet would begin a new round of cannon fire.
And every eight minutes, the Rock Demon’s fleet closed another hundred or so metres.
One fleet desperately running, one desperately chasing.
“Fire, fire, fire!”
“Boom boom boom boom…”
…
Nearly one hour later!
Sauron’s fleet had carried out twelve rounds of cannon fire.
Damaging over a hundred of the Rock Demon’s warships, killing several thousand pirates.
Among them, eight warships were hit in vital spots, seawater continuously pouring in, forcing them to abandon ship.
This result was, without doubt, enormous.
And the Rock Demon was nearly driven mad. He was completely in a passive position of being beaten, only able to watch helplessly as Sauron fired round after round of cannon fire.
Each time taking several hundred lives.
Although, the casualties and losses were actually not that great, the damage to morale was too severe.
Finally, under his full speed pursuit, the distance to Sauron’s fleet was only about five hundred metres. The enemy ships were already clearly visible.
Five hundred metres distance, still needed about half an hour to catch up, still needing to endure five or six more rounds of cannon fire from Sauron.
“Just you wait Sauron, once I catch up, I will exterminate you to the last man!” the Rock Demon said in pain.
And at this time, Sauron gave an order!
Switch to chain shot!
Chain shot, two projectiles connected by an iron chain, then fired out.
This was completely a ship killer, a sail killer, a mast killer!
And at a distance of four or five hundred metres, the hit rate of chain shot would far exceed solid iron shot.
So, this time Sauron’s chain shot attack would be enough to give the Rock Demon a fatal blow!
“Fire, fire, fire!”
With a single order, dense cannon sounds rang out again.
Then, nearly two hundred chain shots, whirling as they flew out.
Two cannonballs connected by an iron chain, under centrifugal force, rotating as they flew towards the Rock Demon’s fleet.
In the air, emitting waves of wailing ghost and howling wolf sounds!
Chain shot, the hellish killing god of sail warships!
Sauron opened his eyes wide, filled with infinite anticipation for the results!