Because a shipload of formidable women warriors joined the battle, the water pirates suffered heavy losses. In a fit of rage, they smeared their few remaining arrows with kerosene and shot them fiercely at the fleet.
Crying and shouting echoed everywhere in an instant.
All Great Tang ships are wooden with big sails; thus, fire attacks have always been prevalent in naval battles.
Initially, the water pirates refrained from using fire arrows for two reasons: first, they thought Lin Wanwan's fleet could be easily subdued, and second, they feared the commotion from burning ships on the river might attract the court's navy.
But realizing their current strategy was ineffective, they knew they needed to escalate; otherwise, their entire crew might perish without plundering a thing.
Lin Wanwan's side was not prepared for fire attacks, leaving them vulnerable in this wave of combat.
