My Cultivation Starting from Archery

On a Meng Chong Battle Ship.

Sima Yao stood holding a knife, his demeanor a stark contrast from when he argued loudly with the White Robe earlier. His face was solemn as he looked at the water ahead.

"Father!"

Sima Chi came to his side: "Everything is arranged, a total of twenty-two thousand men, two large boats, dozens of medium and small warships, the generals under command, and the soldiers all act according to orders."

"Hmm."

Sima Yao said in a deep voice: "Tonight will be very dangerous. I won't be able to look after you, you must take care of yourselves."

"Father, don't worry. I will surely not be afraid of death, but..."

Sima Lan paused, puzzled: "But do we really have to risk so much for this person? Is it worth it?"

"Worth it or not, both depend on timing."

Sima Yao calmly said: "Given our family's current situation, getting through tonight can bring about a true turning point."

While they were speaking.

A flat boat slowly sailed forward on the river ahead, approaching their fleet.

Under the night, only a silhouette on the boat could be seen, and a restrained voice called out: "Are you Sima Yao, the General Sima?"

"Indeed!"

Sima Yao immediately said: "I am Sima Yao, leading my forces of twenty thousand to join Governor Zhou Rong!"

"So it really is General Sima!"

As they got closer, illuminated by the firelight, the visitor was revealed to be a robust general with a long beard. He clasped his hands in greeting: "I am Zhang Jingwu, ordered to welcome General Sima. Please follow me; Governor Zhou has been expecting you."

Jiangnan naval forces.

In the darkness, huge ships arranged in Iron Chain formation looked heavy and solemn, resembling water giants awakened from ancient times, dwarfed by all living creatures.

On a "Feiyun" Tower Ship.

Commander Zhou Rong stood outside the cabin on the deck, his hands behind his back, feeling the cold night wind, and suddenly asked: "General Nie, do you think we can crush the Enemy Army tonight?"

"Everything seems to be going too smoothly."

Nie Yuan pondered deeply: "Of course, if Governor Zhou thinks there's no problem, then there certainly isn't."

"Haha~"

Zhou Rong gave him a side glance: "So, General Nie feels something's amiss?"

"Yes."

Nie Yuan thought hard: "But I haven't figured it out. Maybe I'm just being overly cautious."

"..."

In the darkness, Zhou Rong's gaze, sharp as an arrow, slowly moved away from Nie Yuan, his hands behind his back, clutching a Jade Thumb Ring, ready to discard it at any moment.

After half a cup of tea's time.

Zhang Jingwu's small boat led a Meng Chong Battle Ship into view. Behind them were countless large and small warships teeming with people.

"Governor Zhou, they've arrived!"

Zhou Rong shouted loudly: "Is that General Sima?"

"Indeed!"

Sima Yao clasped his hands and said: "I have come tonight as requested by Governor Zhou. Please accept me!"

"General Sima!"

Zhou Rong asked again: "The rebel army court is in need of manpower, and the treatment offered by the Guiyuan Sect isn't too shabby either. Why come to defect to me?"

"Wasn't this clearly explained in the secret letter?"

Sima Yao said indignantly: "Chen Sansi envies the talented and fears I will steal his credit. He not only disregards my strategies but also publicly shames me for three days. This is unbearable!"

"I came to defect to Governor Zhou today with only two requests!"

"One is to be accepted by the 'Shengyun Sect.'

"The other is to personally take Chen Sansi's head!"

"Reasonable!"

Zhou Rong forced a smile and said: "In that case, let's work together to thoroughly eliminate the rebel army!"

"Lord Zhou, wait, I just thought of something!"

Nie Yuan suddenly whispered in his ear.

"Oh?"

Zhou Rong raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at him and said: "Seems General Nie is not a fool."

Saying this, he quietly put back on the Jade Thumb Ring he had been ready to discard.

"So..."

Senior apprentice brother Nie Yuan realized: "Governor Zhou already knew something was amiss. Why then..."

Zhou Rong said lightly: "General Nie, you'll see."

The two continued to speak.

Not far away, Sima Yao seemed anxious: "Lord Zhou, why haven't we been allowed to pass yet?"

At this moment.

They were still blocked in front of the Iron Chain formation of the big ships, unable to enter the battle array.

Zhou Rong replied: "General Sima, you need not enter my army."

"What does Lord Zhou mean?"

Sima Yao shouted loudly: "As I am now considered a Sheng General, shouldn't I join forces with the army?"

"General Sima, my naval forces are already arranged in Iron Chain formation, it is really inconvenient to add more ships. Re-aligning would inevitably waste a lot of time!

"If Chen Sansi's forces detect something unusual, it might delay warfare."

Zhou Rong said loudly: "It's better for General Sima to lead his men to turn the ship around and pave the way as my army's vanguard, catching the rebel army off guard!

"Rest assured!

"If this battle succeeds, not only will the court heavily reward General Sima, but the Shengyun Sect will surely appreciate General Sima as well!

"How about it?!"

Turn the ship around!

Even the smallest warship requires a great deal of time to turn, not to mention the sails, meaning they can only proceed in a specific direction.

That is to say...

Once Sima Yao and his men change direction, they can only move towards the Rebel Water Fort, unable to face the Jiangnan naval forces directly.

"General Sima, why hesitate?!"

Zhou Rong's voice gradually turned cold: "Having decided to defect, shouldn't you show some sincerity? Or is it that General Sima's allegiance to the Great Sheng Court is false, and his intention to disrupt my forces true?!"