When Hai Gang’s fleet headed south, Soren had been overjoyed. He had even had Princess Zhiyan provoke Hai Gang into speeding up, all so that Hai Gang could reach the battlefield sooner and join him in attacking Yan Mo from both sides.
At that time, Soren’s fleet had only just begun using solid shot for long range bombardment. Although the results had been excellent and gave him hope of victory, he still believed the battle might turn into a prolonged struggle. Defeating Yan Mo’s hundred thousand strong navy alone seemed extremely difficult, so he intended to rely on Hai Gang’s strength.
In Soren’s view, apart from some personal grudges, there was no conflict of interest between him and Hai Gang. On the contrary, they complemented each other.
Yan Mo and Hai Gang, however, had a fierce conflict of interest. Therefore, when Hai Gang’s main fleet entered the battlefield and saw Soren gaining the upper hand, Soren believed Hai Gang would decisively attack Yan Mo from both sides. That was entirely in the interests of the Hai family.
But Soren had greatly underestimated the power of naval artillery.
He had not expected chain shot, grape shot and canister shot to become so terrifying at closer range. In less than a day, Yan Mo’s fleet had been almost annihilated, while Hai Gang’s fleet was still hundreds of miles away.
Thus, Soren no longer needed Hai Gang’s fleet to defeat Yan Mo.
When Yan Mo escaped with his remaining forces, Soren hoped to use Hai Gang’s fleet to finish him off.
The opportunity was simply too perfect.
Yan Mo’s fleet of ten thousand pirates had run directly into Hai Gang’s main fleet.
Given their life and death rivalry and Soren’s own withdrawal, Hai Gang should have seized this once in a lifetime opportunity to eliminate Yan Mo.
But…
Soren had not expected Yan Mo to be so cunning. Yan Mo had turned south and pretended that he had already surrounded Soren and was preparing to destroy him completely.
Even more unexpectedly, Hai Gang had actually fallen for it.
So when Soren invited Hai Gang to attack Yan Mo together, the response left him completely bewildered.
Yan Mo had obviously suffered a crushing defeat and nearly been wiped out.
Yet in Hai Gang’s eyes, it was Soren who was trapped and doomed.
And Hai Gang was eagerly rushing over to kill him.
Yan Mo had set such a simple trap, yet Hai Gang had eagerly jumped into it.
Seeing Soren speechless, Hai Gang sneered triumphantly.
“What? Soren, have you nothing to say? Go back. No one can save you now. I told you long ago that your personality would one day destroy you. When you arrogantly trampled upon my dignity on Yingzhou Island, your downfall was already decided.”
“In all the world, I alone could have saved you, but you pushed me away. For the sake of temporary pride, you destroyed your only chance of an alliance.”
Soren was speechless.
“Hai Gang, have you never considered the possibility that Yan Mo has already been defeated?”
“Hahaha!”
Hai Gang burst into laughter.
“If you were really that powerful, why did you try so hard to ally with me and offer such enormous concessions? The funniest part is that after paying such a great price, you became unwilling to part with the last few coins and cut off your own escape route.”
“Now that you are desperate and at the end of the road, you come begging me to save you and even claim to have defeated Yan Mo. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Soren had never considered Hai Gang an idiot.
In his eyes, Hai Gang was one of the rare heroes of recent decades, comparable even to Ashimo.
Although Hai Gang’s later behaviour had disappointed him greatly and earned him the title of a watchdog guarding his own house, Soren still believed him to be exceptionally intelligent.
But now, Soren truly had no words.
Fine.
The fact that Soren had completely defeated Yan Mo was indeed unbelievable. Hai Gang’s disbelief was understandable.
But Soren and Hai Gang had no conflict of interest.
Yan Mo, on the other hand, was Hai Gang’s mortal enemy.
Joining forces to destroy Yan Mo should have been the obvious choice.
Yet Hai Gang had instead rushed to kill Soren.
What kind of logic was that?
Thus Soren asked,
“Hai Gang, don’t you find it strange that Yan Mo’s fleet has appeared here? We should have been fighting further and further south.”
“What’s strange about it?” Hai Gang replied.
“Yan Mo divided his fleet into four groups and surrounded your fleet from east, west, south and north. He intends to annihilate you completely.”
“Fine,” Soren said. “But even if he divided his fleet into four groups, shouldn’t each contain twenty five thousand men? Why does he only have ten thousand?”
“Simple,” Hai Gang answered.
“Because that is his personal fleet. Although it contains only one sixth of his forces, its combat strength accounts for one quarter.”
Soren was left speechless.
You’re really imagining things on Yan Mo’s behalf.
Then he said,
“Fine. But why are there signs of battle on his ships? Why are none of his pirates on deck?”
“Simple again,” Hai Gang replied.
“His fleet encountered yours first. Your twenty five thousand men lost to his fifteen thousand pirates and fled.”
Soren stood dumbfounded.
Only one thought remained.
Your explanation makes so much sense that I cannot argue against it.
Then Soren suddenly realised that when a clever person, especially a narrow minded clever person, became foolish, the consequences were even worse than with an ordinary fool.
Once they became trapped inside their own reasoning, no one could change their minds.
And Hai Gang was naturally suspicious.
The more Soren explained, the more suspicious Hai Gang became.
Meanwhile, Yan Mo had said nothing.
He merely pretended to continue pursuing Soren and repeatedly tried to drive Hai Gang away.
As a result, Hai Gang became completely convinced that Yan Mo had already surrounded Soren and was about to destroy him.
People like this were not unfamiliar to Soren.
On Earth, there were many such clever people.
Tell them the truth and they doubted everything.
Deceive them carefully and they believed it completely.
For example, an item worth twenty sold for thirty would be considered worthless.
But the same item priced at three hundred would convince them it must be high quality. After bargaining it down to one hundred and fifty, they would happily buy it.
To think that Hai Gang, this so called hero, was such a “clever” person made Soren want to cough blood.
Thus Soren said,
“Even if you’re right and I am doomed, there is still no conflict between us. Why not stand aside and let Yan Mo and I destroy each other? Then you could reap all the benefits.”
Hai Gang narrowed his eyes.
“Destroy each other?”
“Soren, you think too highly of your fleet. If you were capable of fighting Yan Mo to a draw, you wouldn’t be begging me here.”
“When Yan Mo’s four fleets surround you, you won’t survive even one exchange.”
“If I arrive too slowly, there won’t even be leftovers for me. And if I contribute nothing, how could I claim a share of your salt fields and Magic Mirror industries?”
Soren fell silent.
After a long while, he finally muttered,
“Damn, there really are people who come looking for death themselves. Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”
He rode his griffin and returned directly to the fleet.
What a ridiculous world.
There was no conflict between them.
He had no desire to fight Hai Gang.
Yet Hai Gang insisted on forcing him to destroy him.
Truly absurd.
…
Originally, Hai Gang had been wary of Yan Mo because he trusted no one.
But after hearing Soren’s sincere warnings, he became completely free of suspicion.
In Hai Gang’s view, politicians never spoke the truth.
Their words always concealed the opposite intention.
That was the political wisdom he had developed over many years.
Thus Hai Gang led his fifty thousand strong fleet south at full speed, eager to kill Soren and seize the greatest benefits.
Yan Mo, meanwhile, became so immersed in his acting that he also rushed south, creating the appearance that he was competing with Hai Gang.
This convinced Hai Gang even further that Soren was doomed.
Soren himself, furious, led his twenty thousand strong fleet north at top speed.
Hai Gang’s fifty thousand ships and Yan Mo’s fifteen thousand ships advanced side by side toward Soren.
The distance shrank.
One hundred miles.
Eighty.
Fifty.
Thirty.
Twenty.
Soon the three fleets met again.
Less than ten miles separated them.
Only then did Hai Gang begin to feel that something was wrong.
Had Yan Mo not said there were four fleets?
Where were the other three?
But he quickly came up with an explanation.
The other fleets must be delayed by unfavourable winds.
Since Hai Gang had suddenly joined the chase, Yan Mo had been forced to accelerate, leaving the other fleets behind.
Testing Yan Mo’s sincerity was simple.
Would he really attack?
Yan Mo truly was ruthless.
He actually charged forward.
Even when only a few thousand metres remained, his fleet continued advancing and accelerated further. Sailors rowed furiously and giant crossbows were prepared.
Seeing this, Hai Gang had no doubts.
“Prepare for battle! Destroy Soren!”
His fleet accelerated southward. Giant crossbows and imitation catapults were all prepared.
Then suddenly…
Yan Mo’s sails swung around.
All his sailors rowed desperately.
Not south.
North.
Due to momentum, the ships continued south briefly before completing the turn.
Then Yan Mo’s fleet fled north at full speed.
Hai Gang stood frozen.
What was happening?
Why was Yan Mo running?
The suspicious Hai Gang immediately ordered his fleet to slow down and turn.
But his ships were larger and slower, and most lacked oars.
Suddenly changing direction threw the fleet into chaos.
Soren cared little.
He charged forward.
At fifteen hundred metres, his artillery ships turned broadside.
“Fire!”
Hundreds of cannons roared simultaneously.
Solid shot flew like black lightning.
Dozens struck Hai Gang’s ships.
Decks shattered and bodies flew.
Casualties were not severe.
But Hai Gang stood stunned.
At one glance he understood the terrifying superiority of artillery.
At last he realised Soren had been telling the truth.
Yan Mo had indeed lost.
He had tricked Hai Gang into becoming his rear guard.
Hai Gang had rushed here to die.
It was as though Yan Mo had pointed to a pile of dung and said it tasted delicious, and Hai Gang had enthusiastically run over to eat it.
His mistake was not because Yan Mo was too clever.
Nor because he himself was too stupid.
It was because he had been too clever.
His intelligence had misled him.
Darkness filled his vision.
Perhaps this was the most foolish and ridiculous mistake of his life.
He had been played completely by Yan Mo.
At that moment, how was he any different from his son Hai Wuyan?
Overwhelmed by anger and humiliation, Hai Gang roared,
“Yan Mo, damn your mother!”
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Father!”
Hai Wuyan rushed forward.
“Raise the white flag! Quickly!” Hai Gang shouted.
Hai Wuyan was confused.
“Why? Their fleet is less than half our size. Their weapons only seem to scratch us.”
Slap!
Hai Gang struck him.
“We came to seize spoils, not fight Soren to the death!”
Hai Wuyan protested.
“We might still beat him. If we destroy him, all his industries become ours.”
Unable to endure further, Hai Gang spat out blood again and slapped his son repeatedly.
“Raise the white flag! Stop the fighting!”
Soon white flags appeared.
But Soren ignored them.
If he had been rational, he would have stopped and chased Yan Mo instead.
But Soren was furious.
Even if it brought no benefits, he wanted Hai Gang to suffer.
Minutes later, his fleet closed to a few hundred metres.
“Fire!”
Chain shot flew forth.
Heads, masts and sails were torn apart.
The already chaotic fleet descended into greater confusion.
Countless sailors died.
Then Soren moved even closer.
At just over two hundred metres, he unleashed canister and grape shot.
The slaughter became horrific.
Blood mist rose across the sea.
Corpses piled high.
No matter how desperately Hai Gang waved the white flags, Soren continued firing.
His fleet suffered even worse than Yan Mo’s.
Unlike the Rock Pirates, Hai Gang’s ships lacked the speed to escape.
Filled with regret, Hai Gang shouted,
“Soren! Stop the battle! Fighting between us only benefits our enemies!”
Across the water, Soren heard him clearly.
“You idiot! Weren’t you the one who came seeking death? I’m just granting your wish!”
Hai Gang cried out,
“I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please spare me. I will pursue Yan Mo immediately. We have no conflict. We should be natural allies.”
Soren had repeated those same words countless times earlier.
Hai Gang had dismissed them all.
Now hearing them from Hai Gang himself felt absurd.
Soren shouted,
“You want mercy? Then listen carefully.”
“There will be no bargaining.”
Hai Gang answered bitterly,
“Speak.”
Soren roared,
“First, send your son Hai Wuyan and your daughter Hai Na’er as hostages.”
“Second, after returning home, send your wife, Madam Baiye, to me.”
“Third, I will only return them once you bring me Yan Mo’s head.”
Hai Gang froze.
The conditions were too harsh.
Not only must he surrender his heirs as hostages.
He would even have to endure the ultimate humiliation and wear a green hat.