As Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu were locked in fierce combat, Qin Longyang advanced northward, aiming for Liaodong.
Seizing this opportunity, Gongsun Du gathered his generals and decided to counterattack Beiping, which was now left vulnerable.
"Everyone! It has been four years since I, Gongsun Du, declared my independence. Thanks to the wise counsel and valor of all of you, Liaodong's military is strong, and our granaries are full! "
"Now, while Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu are caught in a prolonged struggle, it is the perfect time for us to strike!"
Wearing silver armor and exuding an impressive aura, Gongsun Du stood before his generals, who all held their heads high, awaiting his command.
"Prepare the troops immediately! I will personally lead the army, board ships at Lelang, bypass Yingzui Pass, and strike directly at Gongsun Zan's heartland! The first battle will be decisive, so I expect everyone's utmost effort!"
"We will follow the King through fire and water without hesitation!" The generals shouted in unison, their eyes filled with fervor.
Before the echoes of their voices faded, a man stumbled into the hall, falling to his knees as he reported, "My lord! Bad news!"
"Fool!" Gongsun Du's fury flared at the unwelcome interruption just after he had roused the spirits of his men. "Speak quickly! If you delay our battle plans, I'll sacrifice you to the heavens!"
The messenger, trembling, replied, "My lord, scouts returning from sea report that nearly a hundred warships from Qingzhou have been sighted heading toward Lelang County. They estimate that there may be forty to fifty thousand soldiers aboard!"
"What!" Gongsun Du was shocked. "Qingzhou? Who in Qingzhou would dare move against me! Are you fabricating enemy reports?"
"My lord, please believe me! Every word is true. Those warships will likely arrive at Lelang County by tomorrow!"
The generals fell silent, their earlier excitement replaced by fear. Even if they combined all the troops stationed across Liaodong's various counties, they might barely muster forty to fifty thousand soldiers.
Recently, the Goguryeo and Buyeo peoples had been caught up in internal strife, leaving them unable to offer any assistance.
Gongsun Du's face turned ashen as he sat dazed in his seat, his mind racing to figure out which Qingzhou faction he might have offended to bring about this calamity.
"Why panic?" Just then, one man rose and spoke, casting a disdainful glance at the others—Xi Zhicai.
"My lord, why should we fear an army that has traveled such a distance?" Xi Zhicai confidently addressed Gongsun Du.
Gongsun Du's expression brightened instantly. "Does the strategist have a plan to repel the enemy?"
"Haha," Xi Zhicai chuckled, stroking his small beard. "In my opinion, this approaching force is likely Qin Longyang's from Xuzhou."
"Qin Longyang?" The name conjured up memories for Gongsun Du, and he couldn't help but recall the Battle of Fengyan Valley, a flicker of fear crossing his face.
"The former governor of Youzhou? His soldiers are fearless, and in that past battle, his few thousand troops managed to hold off my tens of thousands. If this is indeed his army, taking Liaodong with forty to fifty thousand men would be an easy feat."
Hearing their lord's lack of confidence, the generals wore bitter expressions. Some were already contemplating surrender.
Xi Zhicai smiled again. "Why would you lose heart, my lord? If we defeated them once, we can do it again and again!"
"I do admit that Qin Longyang's forces are somewhat superior, but if we choose the battlefield at sea, the outcome is far from certain!"
"At sea?" Gongsun Du thought for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed. "Yes! Our Liaodong navy has been training for a full year. A naval battle will surely bring us victory over Qin Longyang! If he dares to come, I'll send his fifty thousand men to feed the fish!"
"You are wise, my lord!" the generals echoed in agreement.
Regaining his confidence, Gongsun Du waved his hand. "In that case, we'll focus our efforts on Qin Longyang! I shall personally meet this Qin Longyang!"
...
At that moment, a hundred warships sailed in formation across the open sea outside Lelang County.
This grand sight was rare in the Eastern Han, where shipbuilding was not highly advanced. However, this impressive scene contrasted sharply with the soldiers on board, who were struggling to stand steady.
"Ugh!" The soldiers weren't the only ones suffering; even Qin Longyang, seated in the cabin, was vomiting.
He hadn't eaten much during the two-day journey, as most of it had been thrown up. Before any battle began, Qin Longyang already looked sickly.
He had never experienced seasickness before, but the ships were made entirely of solid wood, with insufficient draft to stabilize their center of gravity.
It was bearable when the sea was calm, but when the wind picked up, the ships rocked with the waves, making it hard even to stand. The constant motion could scramble one's brains.
"My lord!" Concerned generals rushed to check on Qin Longyang, who forced a smile and awkwardly said,
"It's nothing. I've spent my life fighting on horseback and have never fought at sea. I'm just not used to it yet, so please bear with me."
Tai Shici, full of worry, bowed and said, "It's not just you, my lord. Many of the officers and soldiers on the other ships are also seasick. I fear our army's morale may be…"
"Sigh," Qin Longyang sighed as well.
"This is my miscalculation. I failed to consider that these soldiers, who have followed me through countless battles since our days in Youzhou, have never been on a ship before. This operation has truly put them through hardship."
"Do not blame yourself, my lord," Tong Yuan reassured him. "It is an honor for the brothers to serve as the sharp blade in your campaign. Besides, these men are our elite troops. Once we land, they will quickly recover."
Qin Longyang looked at the old general, feeling a wave of admiration. Despite being over fifty, the old man was still full of vigor.
He too had never been at sea before, yet he seemed completely unaffected, even spending his free time practicing spear techniques on the deck with Zhao Yun. It was truly remarkable.
"Report!" As the group continued discussing their battle plans, a messenger entered the cabin. "My lord, a message from Xiangping!"
Hearing it was from Xiangping, everyone knew it was a secret letter from the strategist, and they all turned to Qin Longyang, waiting for him to read it.
"This..." Qin Longyang's expression turned mixed with both joy and concern after reading the letter, which only heightened everyone's curiosity about its contents.
"My lord, is there a problem?" Wei You asked softly.
Qin Longyang sighed, massaging his forehead. "Gongsun Du has learned of our approach and is personally leading his army to board ships at Changcen Port in Lelang, intending to meet us in a naval battle! We will likely encounter them near Lelang County tomorrow morning."
"A naval battle!" Everyone's faces reflected their concern. Given the current state of their forces, they might only be able to utilize a fraction of their combat power in such a battle, and the chances of victory seemed slim.
"Changcen..." Zhuge Jin, who had been studying the map on the table, suddenly spoke, tracing his fingers over it, catching everyone's attention.
"My lord, I have an idea!" Zhuge Jin exclaimed, striking his fist into his palm as a plan formed in his mind.
Qin Longyang was visibly pleased and quickly nodded with a smile, "Please, speak, Ziyu."
"As everyone fears, if we engage in a naval battle, our forces in their current state will likely suffer a great defeat. Therefore, we must avoid a direct confrontation and instead use strategy."
"Gongsun Du has chosen to board ships at Changcen Port to save time and engage us at sea as quickly as possible."
"However, the waters near Changcen are filled with hidden reefs. While it's easy to enter, it's incredibly difficult to leave," Zhuge Jin explained, pointing to the area marked with reefs on the map.
Wei You, after a thoughtful pause, chuckled. "Ziyu speaks the truth, but this is still Gongsun Du's territory. How could the lord of the land not be familiar with the dangers of his own waters?"
"Hahaha," Zhuge Jin laughed heartily. "Precisely, if it were Gongsun Du himself, he wouldn't venture into such a treacherous area. But if there's a thick fog tomorrow morning, and the enemy fleet, unfamiliar with the terrain, gets trapped among the reefs..."
"Are you suggesting!" Wei You immediately grasped Zhuge Jin's meaning. After a moment's thought, Qin Longyang also understood, "Ziyu, you mean for us to pretend to be trapped among the reefs, lure Gongsun Du in, and then surround him!"
"My lord is indeed wise!" Zhuge Jin nodded with a smile. "The frequent sea fog these past few days makes it entirely plausible that our fleet could appear to be caught in the reefs."
"Ziyu, this plan is truly brilliant!" Qin Longyang exclaimed, grasping Zhuge Jin's hand. His dizziness and fatigue vanished, as the weight on his heart was finally lifted.
"You flatter me, my lord," Zhuge Jin humbly replied. "However, I will need to borrow your flagship. On the battlefield, nothing attracts the enemy more than the opposing commander."
"Hahaha, if it ensures our victory, Ziyu, I wouldn't hesitate to remain on the ship as bait!" Qin Longyang laughed heartily.
...
"General, it seems Gongsun Zan is determined to fight us to the end." Meanwhile, at the foot of Changping City, Gongsun Zan and Qi Zhou had been at a standoff for another night.
The lieutenant pointed at Gongsun Zan's camp below. "This morning, they even started drilling their troops."
Qi Zhou glanced at the enemy camp and scoffed. "It's all for show. There isn't a boulder in sight big enough for them to use as a battering ram. I don't believe Gongsun Zan can scale these walls by forming a human ladder!"
Just as he finished speaking, a messenger arrived beside them, reporting, "General! Reinforcements have arrived!"
"Reinforcements? Has the lord sent reinforcements?" Qi Zhou asked eagerly, grabbing the messenger.
The messenger quickly shook his head. "No, it's General Xianyu Fu!"
"Xianyu Fu?" Qi Zhou's expression soured. "That brute has often clashed with me. Why would he come to our aid now when we're in such dire straits?"
"General Xianyu recently defeated another of Gongsun Zan's forces at Anping, securing a victory. Upon hearing that Changping was under siege, he rushed here with his troops overnight."
"This..." Qi Zhou was momentarily speechless. "I never imagined that Xianyu Fu, despite our past disagreements, would still come to our aid in times of crisis. It seems I've judged him wrongly. Come, let's go out to greet him!"
"Yes, sir!"