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The rain was so heavy that it was impossible to keep one's eyes open. Everyone squinted through the downfall. Despite wearing straw raincoats, the soldiers were soaked to the bone.

It was the dead of winter. Although it wasn't as freezing as the north where water droplets would freeze on contact, the chill was still bone-deep. It was so cold that people's teeth chattered. Everyone's face was a hue of blue-purple from the bitter cold.

Massive boats were venturing out to sea. Ten of them proceeded side by side, each of them linked together.

Ten more boats were similarly linked together end to end with iron chains at the back.

In the dim, misty sea, one could hardly see the stern of the second boat from the first. If it wasn't for this measure, the boats trailing behind would not be able to keep up and would inevitably lose their way.

In such weather, if contact was lost at sea and without communication tools, attempting to re-establish contact would be tremendously difficult.