Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 137: Unforgettable
When Anyang proceeded with the next phase of deployment, a chase and encirclement battle was taking place on the eastern seashore of Luliang County.
Guo Guibang and Zhao Youdan, leading a force of about 10,000 troops, had completely surrounded Liu Leigang and his remaining 400 men at the coast.
At that very moment, however, three ironclad warships on the sea had lined up horizontally in a single row.
Zhao Youdan assumed that these three large ships were planning to flee. But in the next instant, the ships stopped maneuvering and stabilized completely. Instead, the cannons on the ships began to elevate!
Unlike land-based artillery, the cannons on the ironclads had significantly longer barrels!
The 240mm cannon on the ship’s bow was particularly menacing. Even from three miles away, cultivators could clearly see the black barrel, resembling the gaping maw of a demon.
The most experienced of them, Guo Guibang, immediately turned pale and shouted, “Not good! Scatter! Everyone retreat from the shore at once!”
But in such chaos, how could such an order be effectively executed? These soldiers were not elite troops but a ragtag group from various counties and towns. They could handle a favorable battle, but once the situation became complex or required unified command, they fell into disarray.
Many soldiers were still bewildered, wondering why they had to retreat when they had been pursuing so effectively just moments before.
Hearing Guo Guibang’s urgent command, Liu Leigang smiled grimly—a cruel, vengeful smile. So you dare chase me into such a dire state? Let me show you something to humble your arrogance.
On the distant ironclads, Chang Lin could barely contain his excitement. “Hurry, faster! You’re too slow! The enemy is going to escape! Quick! Cover everywhere with artillery fire, except for the area within 150 meters of our motorcycle unit.”
“Start with a ten-round salvo.”
Nearby, a commander used flags to relay the orders. Once all the artillery pieces raised their flags to signal readiness, the order for a coordinated salvo was given.
While the disorganized Luliang County troops were still bewildered, and Guo Guibang and Zhao Youdan were preparing to retreat with their personal guards…
The first salvo from the three 240mm cannons and eighteen 150mm cannons was unleashed. With a deafening roar, the three ironclads recoiled by over a meter, sending waves several meters high surging across the sea. Plumes of smoke erupted from the cannon barrels as 21 shells, traveling at supersonic speeds, almost instantly struck the densely packed Luliang County soldiers.
Boom…
The earth and sky trembled. The sandy beach along the coast was blasted into 21 massive craters, each several meters wide. Hundreds of soldiers were sent flying through the air, while nearly a thousand others were left dizzy, disoriented, and paralyzed with fear.
From the sky, a grim “rain” fell—mud, sand, and severed limbs. In an instant, the scene turned into a hellish nightmare.
As for Guo Guibang, it was unclear whether he was lucky or unlucky. A shell landed just four meters from him. This distance left the Golden Core cultivator severely injured, with displaced internal organs and dissipated true essence, but he miraculously survived. The immense strength of a Golden Core cultivator was evident—even though all his guards were torn apart, Guo Guibang was still alive. Zhao Youdan, who was farther away, remained unharmed physically but stood frozen in shock and confusion.
Earlier that morning, when Liu Leigang had shelled the walls of Nanliang Prefecture City, most soldiers had fled after the first barrage. But now, with 21 shells—three of which were 240mm cannons—exploding amidst the troops, the devastation was unparalleled!
The sky was filled with mud and sand, limbs and remains scattered everywhere, and the smoke seemed to take on a faint reddish hue.
As the explosions subsided, all the soldiers of Luliang County were left in a state of utter terror. The psychological impact of the artillery barrage was as devastating as the physical destruction.
Unfortunately, while they hesitated here, Anyang’s side showed no such hesitation.
Liu Leigang immediately commanded his soldiers to counterattack, and with a flurry of actions, swathes of enemies fell.
On the ironclads, the 150mm cannons were the first to prepare. The second salvo began, with 18 more shells raining down, leaving another trail of death and injury.
This time, another shell landed near Guo Guibang, just five meters away. Though the explosion still did not kill him, it compounded his injuries, rupturing his organs further.
Guo Guibang struggled to stay alive. For any ordinary person, such injuries would have been utterly fatal. However, as a Golden Core cultivator, his vitality was astonishingly strong. Yet, no one around him extended a helping hand—everyone was too paralyzed with fear!
As Guo Guibang struggled, the third salvo was launched, unleashing another 21 shells.
Once again, the earth shook, and limbs flew in all directions. After enduring three rounds of attacks, however, many of the remaining soldiers finally began to react.
“Run!”
It was unclear who shouted this first, but with that, all the surviving Luliang County soldiers broke into a desperate sprint. Those who had talismans used them; those who didn’t resorted to spells. Everyone displayed their own methods to escape, frantically fleeing for their lives.
Guo Guibang, struggling on the ground, found some respite as the third salvo had shifted its impact zone. For once, he was no longer “fortunate” enough to be in the line of fire and was able to catch a fleeting breath. Yet, with the soldiers in a mad rush to flee, no one spared a moment to help him.
At this moment, Guo Guibang suddenly recalled something a peculiar man had said when he was conscripting troops: You’d better run while you still can; perhaps you might survive. Fortune and disaster come uninvited by anyone but oneself.
Suddenly, Guo Guibang felt someone step on his back. In his severely injured state, the stomp made him cough up blood, as though he were an overturned bottle spilling its contents. A mouthful of blood sprayed out a great distance.
Afterward, several others also trampled over Guo Guibang’s back. His consciousness began to fade, and in the end, the great general was trampled to death by his own panicked soldiers.
As for Liu Leigang, upon seeing the soldiers of Luliang County fleeing in all directions, he immediately led his motorcycle unit to pursue in one direction, leaving the remaining paths to the ironclads.
On the ironclads, Chang Lin was brimming with excitement—what a breathtaking spectacle!
The commander was already coordinating the seventh salvo. The sailors aboard the ironclads, drenched in sweat from their labor, were nonetheless elated. They were having the time of their lives!
In the distant sea, a water pillar suddenly rose into the air, and a stunningly beautiful dragon princess watched the scene from afar.
After a few minutes, the artillery fire ceased. In that brief moment, over ten thousand soldiers from Luliang County were left dead or wounded, and the coastline was littered with chaos. Due to their tightly packed formation, at least six thousand soldiers perished directly from the artillery fire. Liu Leigang, pressing his advantage, had taken down another two thousand. By the end, only around fifteen hundred soldiers were left, fleeing in a frantic escape.
Out at sea, Chang Lin ordered the ironclads to adjust course, turning their bows toward the inland. The main guns were raised again, aiming for around 45°.
“Increase the charge… test the maximum firing range of the main guns. All cannons, fire in three-round salvos!”
With the roar of cannons, the waters surrounding the ironclads churned violently. Three massive shells soared out of sight, disappearing behind the mountains. After a long wait—about twenty seconds—three faint plumes of smoke rose into the air, and after roughly a minute, distant thunder-like sounds were faintly heard.
Chang Lin, his eyes closed, calculated the range. “Around six and a half to seven kilometers. Again.”
After three successive salvos, Chang Lin had an estimated range—definitely over six kilometers, with a maximum reach of about seven.
Half an hour later, Liu Leigang, satisfied with his pursuit, led the motorcycle unit back. The ironclad slowly approached the shallow waters and began unloading supplies.
As for Zhao Youdan, though he had narrowly escaped death, he had been struck by shrapnel, a piece embedded deep in his left side, leaving him grievously injured. He had run about twelve to thirteen miles before stopping, his face pale with fear.
Just as he thought he was safe, Chang Lin ordered a test of the cannon’s maximum range. One of the shells exploded near Zhao Youdan, just about fifteen zhang (roughly fifty meters) away from him!
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Having just exhaled a sigh of relief, Zhao Youdan was now struck with terror, his heart pounding as he fled in a blind panic. The only thought in his mind was that the artillery’s range was comparable to a flying sword attack at the Nascent Soul stage! It was simply too terrifying!