354: Chapter 354 People's joys and sorrows are not the same

Zhang Liang's face was grim; he knew full well that this was retaliation from Great Qin.

He had incited the Yunmengze Water Bandits to attack the train to strengthen his own position.

Now Great Qin was retaliating, intending to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!

Zhang Liang felt a sense of powerlessness.

This outcome was not what he had wanted.

According to Zhang Liang's plan, he should have launched a cross-commandery attack on the train stealthily, without Great Qin ever knowing it was the Yunmengze Water Bandits' doing.

That was one of the main reasons he chose a cross-commandery attack—he didn't want Great Qin to focus their attention on them.

Unfortunately, man proposes, but God disposes.

Not only did the plan to attack the train fail, but because they fled in a panic, they hadn't properly cleaned up after themselves.

The Water Bandits who were injured and unable to move easily couldn't escape and were captured by the Qin people.

Zhang Liang knew it in his heart.

Great Qin must have learned from these captives that the ones who attacked the train were the Yunmengze Water Bandits.

Zhang Liang had studied taigongs art of war for many years.

In taigongs art of war, it is said that knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle.

The Qin people, atop the Heavenly Palace, looking down at the ground, could scout the situation in Yunmeng Marsh with perfect clarity.

Once the Qin people had fully grasped the geography of Yunmeng Marsh and the locations of their Water Fortresss, they would launch a full-scale offensive!

Zhang Liang knew very well that the reason the Yunmengze Water Bandits hadn't been wiped out yet wasn't because of their combat strength, but because they relied on their familiarity with Yunmeng Marsh to lead the Qin Army in circles through the reed beds, taking advantage of the Qin Army's ignorance of the marsh to shake them off and prevent capture.

Once the Qin Army finished drawing a detailed map of Yunmeng Marsh, it wouldn't be so easy for them to shake off the Qin Army during a pursuit!

Zhang Liang could already foresee what the fate of the Yunmengze Water Bandits would be.

But he was unwilling to give up; the Yunmengze Water Bandits were numerous, and their influence was not small.

Currently, his status among these Yunmengze Water Bandits was second only to Peng Yue.

After years of wandering, he had finally managed to have so many subordinates under his command; he didn't want to see them wiped out by the Qin Army.

What should he do?!

Zhang Liang's brow furrowed.

He clenched his right hand into a fist and kept pounding it against his left palm, his mind racing.

There was still some time left for Zhang Liang.

Once the Qin people's preparations were complete and they launched a large-scale attack on the Yunmengze Water Bandits, they would be at the end of the road!

Zhang Liang looked at the Hot Air Balloon hovering high in the sky and really wanted to shoot it down.

But he had no guns, and the Mohist ballistae couldn't reach a Hot Air Balloon thousands of meters high.

Zhang Liang's mood became increasingly heavy.

When the Qin people launched their full-scale attack, this Hot Air Balloon could observe their movements from high above, making it impossible to shake them off.

People's joys and sorrows are not the same; while Zhang Liang was having a headache, Sheng Tao successfully sent out his intelligence.

A detailed map of Yunmeng Marsh had also been drawn up thanks to the efforts of the Heavenly Palace Force.

"Good, good, good!"

Wei Ping was full of joy upon seeing the detailed map of Yunmeng Marsh.

A large number of Tower Ships began to be requisitioned from all over Nan Commandery and the surrounding commanderies and counties.

There were over ten thousand boats of all sizes spread across Yunmeng Marsh, an incredibly spectacular sight.

Their main purpose was to blockade the entire perimeter of Yunmeng Marsh and then close the net inward.

Zhao Fusu also sent out the steam ironship.

The steam ironship would lead the charge, heading straight for the Water Fortresss of the Yunmengze Water Bandits.

Carrying a large number of mortars, the steam ironship would shell the Water Fortresss from outside the muddy waters.

How could such a large-scale mobilization of troops by the Qin Army be hidden from the Yunmengze Water Bandits?

Some of the more quick-witted Water Bandits began to secretly leave Yunmeng Marsh.

Wang Jin and Wei Ping, determined to completely wipe out the Yunmengze Water Bandits, had long ago dispatched Louchuan Soldiers to patrol the waters of Yunmeng Marsh. Any fleeing Water Bandits would be captured upon discovery.

In the Yunmeng Marsh Water Fortress, Peng Yue watched the low morale within.

If this continued, they would disintegrate on their own even before the Qin Army attacked.

Peng Yue had his confidants gather all the Water Bandits for a collective speech.

"Brother, I heard a large number of the Government Army is coming to wipe us out. Is it true?!"

Tie Niu stumbled into Song Jiang's room.