Mythical Three Kingdoms

Zhou Yu led Jiang Qin towards the direction of the Kushan Navy’s command ship, attempting to strike at their critical points while the opponent’s main forces were being held back. Of course, the likelihood of achieving this was very slim, but he silently contemplated the current situation.

Although Zhou Yu didn’t understand why such a large-scale naval battle was happening in this location, nor how Liu Xuande had gathered so many pirates, his keen eyes as a skilled commander remained undiminished.

In simple terms, from the moment he joined the fray to his current position, despite not fully understanding the war’s cause, he still managed to analyze many aspects based on what he saw.

[The pirates under Gan Xingba, although numerous and possessing significant tactical advantages, in actual combat, only the initial wave of pirates can be considered to have the quality and coordination of the Han Army’s regular soldiers; the rest are merely common bandits at heart.] Zhou Yu analyzed with a serious expression as he watched the fierce fighting of the marines.

[Gan Ning is fond of taking risks, yet he’s not lacking in intelligence. This naval battle, which is impossible to win, suggests either he has a backup plan or he didn’t intend to win from the start.] Zhou Yu silently speculated on Gan Ning’s intentions for this act.

[If there’s no surprise, Gan Ning does not plan on winning, meaning his objective is to reduce the number of troops under his command.] Zhou Yu had roughly guessed part of Gan Ning’s purpose.

”It seems this time Gan Xingba is intent on drilling soldiers, if that’s the case, I’ll let him drill them well.” Zhou Yu suddenly chuckled, took out his Green Silk Zither from the cabin, sat at the bow, and slowly began to play.

To say that Zhou Yu’s mastery in the zither approaches the Dao is no joke; the ethereal zither sound slid from the Green Silk Zither, the metallic clamor of battle didn’t overshadow the battlefield’s cries, it still transmitted like a Heavenly Sound to the ears of the pirates led by Gan Ning.

Though these Kushan barbarians couldn’t understand the Han Dynasty’s zither sound, they felt a surge of ferocious fighting will from their chests, an unending battle spirit, as they listened.

Simultaneously, the Legion Talent created by Zhou Yu also spread along with the zither sound, connecting with the fighting desire of Gan Ning’s pirates, and a watery layer of Legion Talent slowly enveloped all the pirates under Gan Ning.

”What is this?” Gan Ning, upon hearing the zither sound, felt an inexplicable surge of battle Qi within himself, immediately turned to observe his soldiers and found them all with eyes aflame, high morale, as they counterattacked the Kushan Navy.

”Zhou Gongjin?” Gan Ning frowned repeatedly, never expecting that fleet to be an Eastern Wu warship; to Gan Ning, it was miraculous that Eastern Wu could reach here at all.

But after all, having crossed paths with Zhou Yu, this ethereal zither sound is one of Zhou Yu’s unique trademarks. Although he didn’t understand why Zhou Yu wouldn’t join Kushan in attacking him, Gan Ning would not show displeasure if there was assistance.

Living in Kushan for more than a year, Gan Ning clearly felt Kushan’s power. This empire, if not for its internal cultural conflict and class issues, would be exceptionally strong.

With millions of people, and tens of millions of lower classes, if integrated, Gan Ning even believes it could rival the Han Dynasty. Even without integration, the country is a locally strong nation with considerable threat.

Because of such broad vision, Gan Ning’s interest in shallow water bay naval battles at home decreased significantly. It’s not that he looked down on Zhou Yu; with his current navy and tactical skills, Zhou Yu would have only defeat facing him in naval battles.

Thus, as Gan Ning returned to the Central Plains, he fantasized about completing the Malacca naval battle, bringing back ten thousand naval seeds to the Central Plains, easily crushing Zhou Yu in a Yangtze River naval battle, and finally forcing him to surrender.

After all, Gan Ning was very displeased with Zhou Yu’s forever proud and calm handsome face; to be precise, most generals who opposed Zhou Yu were displeased with him.

Since Zhou Yu always appeared as the image of a life winner, Gan Ning, although self-assured, lacked the confidence to utterly defeat Zhou Yu in naval battles. After rigorously honing his skills, here’s finally an opportunity to try, and naturally, Gan Ning had even prepared his lines.

Just like Lyu Bu refining Inner Qi for six months just waiting to showcase his strength in Central Asia, Gan Ning had trained for more than a year, unable to defeat Kushan as a major objective, but achieving the minor objective of defeating Zhou Yu remained important.

However, the heavens went against his wishes; the Malacca naval battle hadn’t ended, and Gan Ning hadn’t returned to the Central Plains to prove his strength to Zhou Yu and utter his long-refined famous words — ”You play alone in the shallow waters of the Central Plains, Zhou Gongjin. I, Gan Xingba, have already stepped through the gateway of a new world; gaze upwards, chase after me!”

Yet, Zhou Yu clearly did not give Gan Ning the chance. Before Gan Ning returned to the Central Plains, Zhou Yu appeared at the South Blue’s edge and even lent a hand.

Although Gan Ning strongly wished to say he needed no help, or that Zhou Yu should attack him head-on to let him stand on the peak of morality and justice to defeat Zhou Yu, teaching him a lesson, he knew he couldn’t voice such thoughts.