By the time everyone on board woke up, the Jackdaw was no longer undermanned. Finally, the cannons on board could be put to good use. Based on the Jackdaw's current condition, even though the cracks and holes on the ship's body had been plugged and no longer affected the ship's navigation, it would still take a long time to fully repair it. Most importantly, they lacked sufficient materials. The follow-up repairs could only be carried out when they returned to Nassau.
Therefore, it was dangerous for the Jackdaw to engage in battle in its current state.
Dufresne, Billy, Anne, and Harry were all present at the pre-battle meeting, especially the latter. When they were dealing with the treasure ship, he could only sit in the galley with the chef, Ramsey, and listen to the commotion. This was the most frustrating thing for him. He never thought that he would be able to participate in a pre-battle meeting that only the higher-ups could attend. Although Zhang Heng ordered him not to speak, he could not hide the excitement on his face.
In contrast, Billy looked guilty. He drank too much last night, and he couldn't be of any help at the most critical moment. He had failed his duty, and when he sobered up, he wanted to resign from his position as the helmsman. However, Zhang Heng and the others persuaded him to stay.
No one was more suitable to be the helmsman than Billy. Dufresne preferred to be the quartermaster. Before this, Billy had always been a conscientious man, and he couldn't deny all his previous contributions just because of one incident. Of course, he would be punished accordingly. For the next three voyages, Billy's loot would be halved. However, he would still receive an additional bonus, which meant that he would be receiving the same amount as an ordinary sailor.
Now that he was back to being the helmsman, he asked, "Are you sure they will come after us again?"
"They definitely will," Zhang Heng said confidently. "When they sent two ships after us, it was obvious that they wanted to catch all of us in one fell swoop. However, we managed to escape due to the sudden storm. After last night, they must have sunk all the pirate ships on the island. If that's the case, they only need to leave one or two ships to keep an eye on the people on the island. The rest of the ships can continue to chase after us. After all, we were heavily damaged, and it's only been less than half a day since we left Parrot Island. If they set off now, it's entirely possible that they will catch up with us halfway."
"But what if they choose to move together? Wouldn't we be walking right into their trap?" Dufresne asked.
"The possibility of that happening is very small. Judging from the previous battle, the enemy's commander is a very powerful guy. He should be able to realize that even if we want to return to Nassau, we might choose to take a detour to get rid of our pursuers. So, their best option is to split up and search for us.
"Our ship's hull is severely damaged. We won't last long if we fight them head-on. Even if they split up, they can still deal with us. In this case, I believe their commander is willing to take a little risk and kill us."
"Coral Island is two hundred nautical miles east of Parrot Island, in the same direction as Nassau. However, compared to Nassau, it's a little further north. We'll wait here for a day. If I'm wrong, and the navy moves together, they'll probably head in the direction of Nassau. That way, they'll pass us by, and we won't be in any danger. On the contrary, if I'm right, they'll expand their search area, and a ship will meet us here. By then, we'll be able to solve our food and water problems once and for all."
"What should I do? My ship's hull is severely damaged, and I doubt we'll be able to survive another high-intensity battle, "Billy said worriedly.
"That's why we need an island," Zhang Heng said. "Actually, this is similar to the strategy we used to deal with the Spanish treasure ship. First, we'll dismantle the cannons on the ship and move them to the island. Then, we'll use the Jackdaw to lure the enemy ship into the firing range of the cannons. Then, we'll launch a direct attack from the island. This way, we can avoid any damage to the ship."
Zhang Heng's confidence stemmed from the system notification he heard earlier. His sailing skill had leveled up from Lv.2 to Lv.3. However, he was too focused on the task at the time, and he completely ignored the notification. It was only after the storm had passed that he noticed the skill change on the character panel.
Previously, when he piloted the Jackdaw into the navy's blockade at the port, the immense pressure had forced him to unleash his potential. Now that he was Lv.3, he could steer the Jackdaw like an extension of his arm. He was confident that he could lure his target to Coral Island without incurring any damage.
However, the key to the success of this plan was to lure the enemy into the firing range of the cannons. The cannoneer had to kill the enemy before they realized that they had fallen for the trap. After all, once the enemy escaped the firing range of the cannons, there would be no time for the Jackdaw to return to the island and reload the cannons before giving chase.
"Let's take a look at the terrain first. There should be a way to solve this problem," Zhang Heng said.
The nautical charts of the early 18th century were far less accurate than those of the modern era. There was no satellite positioning system, and the island's shape was crudely drawn. Other than a name and an approximate distance, there was no other useful information.
Fortunately, the Jackdaw was very close to the island. After about half a day, they arrived at the island.
Zhang Heng took Anne and the others to row a small boat around the island. "I finally know why this place is called Coral Island," said the red-haired girl.
"Speaking of which, this place does have more corals than other places," Billy said. Along the way, they had seen a lot of corals of various colors. However, the ones that attracted Zhang Heng's attention were the corals that were hidden under the water.
"Maybe we can find a way to keep the ship within the firing range of the cannons," Zhang Heng said.
"You want to use the reefs here to run the ship aground? That's a good idea, but we will also face the same danger. I don't think we have time to explore all the reefs. "
"That depends on the waterline of both of us. Our ships are about the same size, but after removing the cannons, our ships will become lighter. Also, the cannoneers will be able to lighten our weight when they disembark. When the time comes, we can move all the heavy things, including food and water, onto the island. That way, we can safely pass through the reef area. "
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