? The lookout's shout woke many people up, and the pirates rushed out of their cabins. Some of them did not even have time to put on their clothes, and ran out barefooted.
Anne and Zhang Heng were already standing on the deck. Anne was holding a pair of copper binoculars, looking at the black shadow in the distance.
"How is it?" Billy sounded a little nervous.
"The visibility is too low. I can't see the details clearly. I can't confirm if it's that ship," Zhang Heng said, handing the binoculars to the helmsman beside him.
The weather wasn't great tonight, and there were almost no stars above their heads. It was already a miracle that the lookout could spot the ship, but it was impossible for him to get more information.
There were still about four hours before dawn, and Zhang Heng did not intend to take any risks. Firstly, firing the cannons was basically a gamble of luck. Even the best cannoneer might not be able to hit the target once out of ten shots. Hence, there was no need to waste the cannonballs. After all, it was all money. Besides, if they accidentally sank the ship, they would not be able to transport the goods to the ship in time. That would be a huge problem. So, he said, "Let's follow it closely. Be careful not to enter its firing range."
Billy and the others had no objections. If Anne's information was accurate, the spice ship only had a dozen six-pound and nine-pound cannons. Their firepower was far inferior to the Jackdaw's, and there was no need to attack in the middle of the night. It was better to wait for the day. After all, they had been chasing after the ship for so long.
Zhang Heng sent more people? The lookouts were divided into groups of two, and they would take turns every hour to keep an eye on the ship not far away. The rest of the pirates were sent back to rest and prepare for the battle at dawn.
However, most of the pirates were no longer sleepy. After drifting at sea for more than a month, the pessimistic atmosphere on the ship had become more and more intense. Many of them were prepared to return empty-handed, but when they were about to give up, they saw a ray of hope. They couldn't help but worry. After returning to their hammocks, many of the pirates tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. So, they took out their weapons and began to maintain them.
About a quarter of an hour later, the lookout on the other side noticed the Jackdaw. The lookout must have noticed the Jackdaw behind them as well, for the ship suddenly picked up speed. Billy and the others were not surprised. Instead, they were elated. The Jackdaw had yet to raise its black flag, and the visibility was terrible. Not only could they not see what was happening on the ship in front of them, but they also could not figure out where they were coming from.
Yet, under such circumstances, the other party still resolutely made the decision to flee. This could only mean one thing — there was definitely something valuable on that ship. Even if it wasn't spices, it must be something else.
The people who were still on the deck were shocked when they saw this.
After fleeing for a while, the ship helplessly found that the distance between it and the uninvited guests behind it not only did not widen, but it was still shrinking.
At this point, they could roughly tell that they were being chased by a warship. They were only an armed merchant ship, and they were loaded with cargo. Their maximum speed was only four to five knots. There was no way they could escape. So, they gritted their teeth and slowed down. At the same time, they turned the ship to the left, exposing the side cannons. They were ready for their last stand.
Under normal circumstances, the armed merchant ship would definitely not be a match for the warship behind them. However, the night had become their best cover. At this point, they could not see each other clearly. It was all about luck. If a cannonball landed directly on the gunpowder depot, the tide of the battle would turn.
The people on the ship knew very well that this was their last chance. Once the sun rose, the outcome of the battle would be decided. However, what they did not expect was that the battleship slowed down as well when it saw them. The battleship began to swim around, like a shark that smelled blood. It was not in a hurry to attack.
As time passed, the merchant ship became more and more passive. They could neither fight nor escape. Everyone on the ship was getting more and more desperate.
At the same time, the Jackdaw was making its final preparations for the upcoming battle. The sailor in charge of the helm strictly followed the captain's orders, steering the Jackdaw to keep a close eye on the prey in front of it. The merchant ship on the other side fired a few cannons to test the waters. Unfortunately, they could not even find the last shot. In the end, they had no choice but to give up.
The two sides were in a stalemate until the sky turned bright. Zhang Heng used his binoculars to confirm that it was the spice ship they were looking for.
From the size of the enemy's ship to the flag and the number of cannons on the ship, everything was similar to the information provided by the female merchant. After receiving the news, the pirates on the ship could not help but cheer, sweeping away the anxiety and bewilderment from before.
After so many days of suffering and waiting, the morale of the Jackdaw rose at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Zhang Heng stood at the bow of the ship and went through the battle plan with Billy, Anne, and the others one last time.
"… we will first fire two rounds of cannons at their masts and decks. Our goal is to make their ship lose power and kill as many people as possible. Make sure not to damage the structure of the ship. If the spices in the cargo hold are soaked in water, they won't be able to sell for a good price. When they surrender, we will let the Jackdaw approach them and arrange for our men to board the ship …"
After that, Zhang Heng turned to look at Carina. Carina had already sobered up. However, she was still a little dazed, probably because she recalled what happened in the captain's cabin. She vaguely remembered that last night, she seemed to have …????? Lu Zhaichuan Huai Ya Ya Ya Yun Mu? Sole? Wushang Nao Xiufeng Punishment? Hui? Le Zhaichuan Yuan Nao Xing Fei Shui Bed Slow Mei Ruo Ba?
"Your identity is a little sensitive. You should stay in the captain's cabin for now. Remember to close the windows. Don't let them see you."
Zhang Heng still needed Carina to help him sell his loot to the various ports in the colony. It was already risky for her to show her face in front of the pirates, and it was enough to prove her sincerity in cooperating with him. However, if she was seen by other merchants, it would be pointless. They would report her to the customs, and she would have no other choice but to become a pirate.
Carina understood this, so she did not insist. After thanking Zhang Heng, she walked down the deck.
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