binnovel Chapter 709: The Power of Heaven and Earth is So Terrifying
Chapter 709: The Power of Heaven and Earth is So Terrifying
Beneath a gloomy, oppressive sky, the floodwaters of the Ganjiang River, after bursting their banks, surged like a raging ancient beast, raging with devastating force. Turbid waves, carrying a torrent of mud and sand, surged forward, their momentum seemingly threatening to raze everything to the ground. Wherever the flood reached, there was a vast expanse, with no end in sight, as if the entire world were engulfed by this surging water.
Villages along the way struggled to withstand the floodwaters, but in a moment, they were mercilessly swallowed. Simple houses collapsed under the impact of the huge waves, sending up a huge splash. Beams, furniture, and other debris swirled in the water, rapidly swept away. Livestock, unable to escape, were swept away by the torrent, their desperate cries quickly drowned by the roaring water. The faces of the unprepared people were filled with fear and helplessness, driven to despair by this sudden disaster. Elderly people, women, and children struggled desperately in the floodwaters, grabbing anything they could to save their lives. However, most were swept underwater by the relentless waves and disappeared in an instant, leaving only a few pieces of clothing floating on the surface, a testament to the fragility and fleeting nature of life.
Yuan Shu, clad in a magnificent brocade robe, stood proudly atop the city wall, accompanied by his advisor Yang Hong. He clasped his hands behind his back, a smug expression on his face, as if this disaster wasn't a human tragedy but a source of pride for his achievements. The raging floodwaters tore through the city walls, crashing against their sturdy foundations, stirring up waves of white foam and a deafening roar. Fortunately, the walls had been meticulously reinforced during this period, temporarily withstanding the onslaught. However, the swaying walls and the cascading spray still conveyed the terrifying power of the flood.
Yan Xiang stood aside, gazing at the overwhelming waves, his heart filled with sorrow and worry. The devastation wrought by the flood pierced his heart. He considered the killing of innocent civilians to be a violation of the laws of nature and human morality. He hurried forward, admonishing Yuan Shu: "My lord, this flood has caused countless deaths. Such actions will surely bring down heaven's wrath. I implore you to halt your subsequent actions and save the people first." However, Yuan Shu acted as if he hadn't heard, barely raising his eyelids as he continued his animated conversation with Yang Hong, as if Yan Xiang's words were but a passing wind.
Yang Hong frowned, his expression grave as he gazed at the surging floodwaters. He then addressed Yuan Shu, "My lord, the current is too fierce, with high waves and swift currents. In my opinion, we should wait until the floods subside a little, perhaps a day, before sending our navy to attack Ma Chao. By then, they will surely be exhausted from the floods, and we can catch them unawares. Otherwise, with these surging waves, our navy will likely suffer significant losses." Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu's eyes flashed with impatience. He was consumed with anxiety, eager to see Ma Chao trapped and dying as soon as possible. He refused to wait any longer. He flicked his sleeves and declared decisively, "We can't wait that long! Launch our attack in half a day! I want to see how Ma Chao can hold out in this flood!" With that, a sinister smile crept across his face, as if victory were imminent.
Ma Chao and his generals stood high atop Baishan Mountain, overlooking the raging floodwaters, their expressions growing increasingly solemn. Turbid waves rolled forward, leaving devastation in their wake. Countless livestock struggled in vain, uttering miserable cries before being mercilessly swallowed in an instant. The common people fled in panic, often swept underwater by a wave. Only floating debris remained, a testament to the cruelty of the disaster. Ma Chao clenched his fists, his knuckles white from the strain, his teeth chattering, his eyes filled with anger and resentment.
Beside them, Lu Su and Xu Shu were equally shocked by the horrific scene, their faces filled with sorrow and worry. Lu Su shook his head slightly and sighed, "So much suffering! Yuan Shu's actions are truly sinful." Xu Shu looked solemn, his gaze far away, and said in a deep voice, "To attack with such cruel methods, with such complete disregard for the lives of the people, is truly contrary to the will of Heaven."
Ma Chao's chest heaved violently, his voice filled with uncontrollable anger. "Those in power in this world are often driven by selfish desires, chasing fame and fortune with complete disregard for the lives of the people. Water and fire are inherently merciless and should not be used lightly. Yuan Shu actually used the power of water and fire to attack his enemies, yet put millions of people to death. This is truly unforgivable! Such an act that goes against the will of heaven will surely bring retribution upon him!"
Lu Su's gaze was resolute as he took over the conversation, "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Since ancient times, he who wins the hearts of the people has conquered the world. Yuan Shu's actions have already lost the hearts of the people. This flood may seem like his magic weapon for victory, but in reality, it has pushed him into an abyss of no return. The people, suffering from this calamity, must hate him to the core. We must step forward now and rescue the people. Only by doing so can we win their hearts, which is the foundation for achieving great things. After repelling Yuan Shu, we must devote all our efforts to disaster relief, comforting the people, and allowing them to regain hope in life."
Ma Chao nodded heavily, expressing his heartfelt agreement with Lu Su's words: "What Zijing said is exactly what I want. We must do our best to rescue the people after the war and live up to their expectations." Although the three of them were still on the top of Baishan Mountain, discussing the situation, seemingly chatting and laughing calmly, the state of the generals behind them was completely different.
Most of these generals came from the north, having grown up on the inland plains. They had never witnessed such a raging, roaring flood. At that moment, looking at the overwhelming, seemingly endless torrent, every face turned extremely grim. Faced with this terrifying force, seemingly emanating from heaven and earth, humanity seemed so small and fragile. A deep fear welled up in the generals' hearts, a dread that slowly crept over them like an icy tide.
The ordinary soldiers stationed on Baishan Mountain were terrified by the flood's might. Despite Ma Chao and his generals' repeated orders to remain calm, most of them couldn't help but tremble in fear when faced with this devastating natural force. Their legs felt weak, and they could barely hold their weapons steady.
Ma Chao keenly noticed the crowd's annoyance. He chuckled softly at first, then said frankly, "Forget it, forget it. Let's stop pretending to be calm. Not to mention the soldiers, even I feel terrified looking at this flood. Not to mention the brothers down there, their fear is only worse. Everyone, go back and control your men and calm them down. Let's just wait here for that old Yuan Shu to put on a good show!"
Upon receiving the order, the generals hurried to their respective units, striving to calm the terrified soldiers. They moved among the crowd, offering earnest words of encouragement, and with much difficulty managed to stabilize the position. Even so, the soldiers' eyes, gazing at the flood, were still filled with panic and fear. The roar of the flood seemed to have become a lingering nightmare in their hearts.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, barely half a day in, was already terrified, eager to dispatch his entire navy and attack Baishan. His advisor, Yan Xiang, was distraught and pleaded again, "My lord, this is not the right time to mobilize! The flood is still raging. Our soldiers would be in great danger fighting in such conditions, and we fear they would suffer heavy casualties!" However, Yuan Shu ignored him, his face etched with impatience. Even the resourceful Yang Hong had failed to dissuade him, let alone Yan Xiang. In Yuan Shu's mind, it seemed as if any price was worth paying to see Ma Chao's swift defeat.
By then, Generals Lei Bo, Li Feng, and Le Jiu had returned from their mission to dig the dike. Yuan Shu, without hesitation, dispatched the navy, led by Generals Lei Bo, Li Feng, and Le Jiu, to set out on time. Warships were densely packed on the water, flags fluttering in the strong wind. Soldiers, clad in heavy armor and armed with weapons, stood on their ships with nervous expressions. Despite the raging floodwaters and the violent swaying of their warships, they had no choice but to forge ahead under Yuan Shu's strict orders.
Yuan Shu, along with Yang Hong, Yan Xiang, and the others, remained in the military city. Standing atop the tower, he stared intently at the retreating navy, a smug sneer on his face. "Ma Chao, today is your end! I want to see how you can withstand my attack amidst this flood!" Yang Hong stood aside, his brow furrowed in worry, yet knowing he couldn't change Yuan Shu's decision, he could only pray for a smooth battle. Yan Xiang, his face filled with helplessness and sorrow, sighed silently as he watched the retreating navy. He sensed that this battle might not go as smoothly as Yuan Shu had imagined, and might even bring them unbearable consequences.
However, driven by the raging wind, the surging flood surged like a thousand horses, its waves more than ten feet high, like walls of water poised to collapse at any moment. Looking out, the familiar plains had completely vanished, ruthlessly swallowed by the turbid torrent, leaving only a vast ocean. It seemed as if only the endless flood and the howling wind remained between heaven and earth.
Yuan Shu's meticulously crafted warships now seemed so small and fragile in the raging flood, like fallen leaves drifting in the wind. Wave after wave of surging waves slammed heavily against the side of the ship, making a dull and deafening sound, and the warships were violently shaken and tossed from side to side.
The soldiers on board suffered even more misery. Tormented by the raging wind and waves, they could barely maintain their footing. Every wave struck, flinging many soldiers away, plunging them heavily into the freezing waters. Another wave followed, instantly drowning them. The drowned soldiers desperately struggled in the water, uttering pitiful cries and flailing their arms in vain, trying to grasp at a shred of hope. But they were quickly swept away by the surging current, vanishing into the vast flood. Only the cries and shouts echoed, faint and helpless amid the roar of the wind and waves.
As the navy gradually retreated, heading towards Baishan, the air thickened with tension and unease. On Baishan, Ma Chao and his men had already taken up their positions. Although the flood was raging, Ma Chao's men held the high ground, making it unlikely that Yuan Shu's army, even if they managed to scale Baishan, would be able to do so. Ma Chao had every confidence in his ability to hold Baishan.