Chapter 157: Waves of War: The Turning Tide at Tianyuan

What? Seriously?

Cross-current assaults can be done like that?

I’ve learned something new today…

After ending the call, Tuoba looked completely stunned.

From what he remembered, attacking across the ocean current meant you just had to grit your teeth and charge through.

First, you’d have to face a barrage of crossfire from the defenders, using wrecked warships as cover to form a debris field and secure a foothold.

Then you waited for reinforcements, more warships arriving to back you up.

Once you had enough numbers, you’d launch an all-out assault.

That was Tuoba’s understanding of cross-current attacks. In fact, it wasn’t just him—everyone in the entire Desolate Sector, or even all Second-Tier civilizations across the Milky Way, believed the same thing.

After all, once you entered the ocean current, you could only go where the flow took you. There was no turning back, and your speed was locked in.

Plus, these passages were narrow. Only three to five warships could pass through in each wave.

Given those conditions, you couldn’t really pull off any strategy, could you?

Unless…

The defenders went to guard the wrong exit.

But that sort of mistake almost never happened.

But what did I just hear from Lin Yu?

Well, whatever—so long as I follow what he says and cooperate without question, I’ll be fine.

With that, Tuoba dialed out again, calling his family members on Tianyuan IV and giving them clear instructions.

——

Ziyang Empire.

Imperial Capital.

By now, half a year had passed since the battle at Tianyuan IV.

And over those six months, Parlo had been worried the enemy might seize the chance to strike directly at Skywarehouse V.

Anyone could see how important that place was.

With it, the Empire could strike from one location and threaten three key points of the Xitoris Kingdom—a massive strategic advantage.

It was crucial both offensively and defensively.

But the problem was, after the two main legions were wiped out, only 300 warships remained to defend Skywarehouse V.

And clearly, that’s nowhere near enough to hold off an enemy attack.

But even so…

Even after pulling fleets from other legions, by the time they arrived at Skywarehouse V…

It would take at least four or five years.

So Parlo kept it secret from everyone that both major legions had been destroyed.

At the same time, he ordered those hastily assembled noble fleets to gather at the ocean current leading to Tianyuan IV.

The official explanation:

Things were going smoothly up front, they were mopping up the last remaining enemies, and so the raiding fleet needed to get ready—once the area was clear, they’d set off right away.

And the closer you were to the current, the more time you’d save when the order came, right?

Honestly, that excuse would hold water, if what Parlo said about the frontline was true…

But the real plan was: if the enemy counterattacked, that patchwork noble fleet would…

Do nothing but serve as cannon fodder.

After all, whoever held the passage entrance always had the upper hand.

Even if the enemy’s ships were powerful, with over 3,000 warships defending Skywarehouse V, Parlo still had some confidence they could hold their ground.

But if the nobles learned the two main legions at the front had been wiped out…

They’d run at the first sign of danger, you could bet on it.

So Parlo decided to lock down all information, keeping the nobles in the dark about what had happened at the front.

“Any movement from that fleet?”

“None, sir. They’re just holding position at the passage entrance.”

“By the way, are our spies back on Tianyuan IV able to move freely again?”

Parlo asked, brows furrowed.

From the moment Tuoba had clashed with the King’s Army Third Legion, Tianyuan IV had been under martial law for over a decade.

Everyone was confined to either the planet or those huge space stations.

On top of that, all ships were restricted to designated routes and radar was strictly forbidden.

That meant their spies couldn’t monitor Tianyuan IV’s military deployment, let alone conduct radar scans.

But now, since they could observe that fleet at the passage entrance, did that mean…

Martial law had been lifted?

“Not entirely, Your Majesty. It’s just been relaxed a bit!”

“According to the newest regulations on Tianyuan IV, ships still aren’t allowed to run radar scans, but there’s no longer any restriction on flight routes. So our people can get a bit closer and use optical equipment to check the enemy’s movements.”

So that’s how it is?

Hearing this, Parlo still had some doubts—why ease up on martial law now of all times?

But he nodded anyway.

Right now, as long as that fleet stayed put, he could accept it.

Let’s keep things this way.

Once my reinforcements reach Skywarehouse V, I won’t have to worry anymore.

——

Meanwhile…

Skywarehouse V.

At the passage leading to Tianyuan IV, more than 3,000 warships stood gathered.

They had formed into two square formations: one large, one small.

The smaller group had neat, disciplined lines—clearly the regular army.

The other group was ten times bigger but their ships were scattered all over, giving off nothing but chaos.

Inside the ships, the situation was the same.

In the 300 imperial warships, everyone wore spotless uniforms and kept strict order.

Inside the raider fleet, people wore whatever they pleased—some didn’t even bother with clothes. Almost everyone was either drinking or gambling.

Some of them were even busy making the next generation, right then and there.

But there was one thing both sides had in common—

Neither paid any attention to the other ocean passage entrances.

And so…

Some five light-seconds away, several warships quietly emerged from another current. No one noticed.

Minutes passed…

“Huh?”

Aboard one of the Empire’s warships,

the radar officer took a happy sip of his hot drink.

He glanced at the radar screen.

He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again.

Suddenly, he panicked.

“Enemy attack!”

“Captain, a huge number of unidentified warships just appeared from the passage leading to Tianyuan III!”

At the back, someone in the captain’s chair froze.

Then, in a flash, something clicked in his mind…

“Quick! Get visuals, send the feed to me now!”

“Yes, Captain!”

It took only a few seconds before the feed from five light-seconds away appeared on all their screens.

Maybe the crew below didn’t recognize the incoming ships.

But the captain did…

They’d been ordered to keep an eye on that raider fleet with their 300 warships, and if necessary, act as enforcers to drive them into battle.

So they knew full well what had happened at Tianyuan IV.

It took just one look for the captain to recognize those warships.

“Send word to the general now, quick!”

“Yes, Captain!”