Chapter 69: Return

  Chapter 69 Return

   On the third day after arriving in Yancheng, Sunan and Qu Mao did not go to Yancheng again, but just wandered around the streets of Yancheng Port for a while.

  Su Nan went to Jack Twain to say hello again, counting the gold coins to buy five captives. Qu Mao and Sunan had already spent more than 30 gold on Jack Twain, which was not counted as rewards to his subordinate coastal defense soldiers and treats to meals, but this also brought Jack Twain's friendship beyond the ordinary.

   After all, 30 gold is a lot of money for a battalion commander who manages 500 third-tier coastal defense soldiers, at least equivalent to his military salary for five years.

Jack Twain was very enthusiastic about Qu Mao and Sunan. When he heard that Qu Mao and Sunan were going back tomorrow morning, Jack Twain showed deep reluctance, and repeatedly expressed his desire to invite Sunan and Qu Mao back. Unfortunately, Qu Mao did not agree.

  Starting at noon, families of skilled workers came to Yancheng Port No. 3 Pier one after another, and boarded different sea ships under the personal arrangement of Sunan.

  Compared with yesterday evening, the families of skilled workers are going too far today. Not only did they bring their families with them, carrying big and small bags, but some families even brought their cats, dogs, chickens and ducks with them.

  Seeing the goods being loaded into the sea ship day by day, and the height of the ship's side from the sea level is getting lower and lower, Qu Mao felt a little frightened, and chatted with Sunan several times.

However, Sunan refused to let Qu Mao adjust it into his backpack. Although Qu Mao didn't know why, at this time, Qu Mao could only follow Sunan's suggestion. As an old Jianghu who had been in Yancheng, Sunan would definitely not Make any mistakes at such a critical moment.

   After all, Sunan also knows very well that this batch of supplies cannot be safely returned to Yi Island, and his lady will definitely be eaten alive by the hungry citizens.

In the early morning of the fourth day in Yancheng, the livestock merchants sent the horses and livestock young purchased by Qu Mao at 4:00 a.m., and distributed them to five sea ships, so that the height of the ship's side from the sea level was already less than one meter. up.

  Su Nan hurriedly asked Jack Twain to purchase a shuttle boat, which was hung on the side of a sea ship. Waking up Jack Twain early in the morning, the price of buying a shuttle boat must be several times the normal price, making Jack Twain even embarrassed to accept the tariff from Sunan.

   At 5 o'clock in the morning, the sky was still dark, but there was already a slight light on the sea level in the east. Qu Mao and Sunan stayed on the first ship, officially unmoored and anchored, and embarked on the return journey.

  Although the sky was still dark, Qu Mao was worried about the draft of the ship, and insisted on staying on the deck with the cool sea breeze.

The ship has not yet fully sailed, only half of the jib has been hung up. It took a full hour of sailing before the sky officially brightened. Kilometers or so away.

Then Sunan said: "My lord, first adjust the cargo of this sea ship so that the ship's side is at least two meters away from the sea surface. Then the two of us took a shuttle boat to and from the other four sea ships. The goods have been adjusted."

  It took Qu Mao and Sunan more than three hours to transfer all the original heavy cargo into the backpack. In these more than three hours, the distance traveled by the fleet was less than 30 kilometers.

  Qu Mao’s heart thumped, and he asked: “Su Nan, the return journey of the sea ship is against the wind, and the sailing speed is so slow, what should I do if I can’t return to Yi Island before dark?

  According to the current speed, wouldn't it take at least 15 hours to return to Yidao Civil Wharf? It is already past nine o'clock in the morning, and after another 15 hours, it will already be twelve o'clock in the evening.

  It was completely dark at about six o'clock in the evening. Do we have to sail in the dark night for more than six hours?

  What should I do in case of yaw? What if you are attacked by a sea beast? What if it hits the rocks? ..."

  Su Nan said: "My lord, don't worry.

  These sailors have been trained many times, and their subordinates are also proficient in sailing.

  When they came last time, these sailors also knew the route this time, so they would naturally adjust their direction when sailing.

  It is already the greatest help that adults can use backpacks to help us lower the draft of the ship.

   Even if it is a night flight, the problem is not too big. The 300-kilometer sea route is only a voyage of tens of thousands of miles, so please rest assured! "

Qu Mao was still not at ease. After thinking about it, he used the shuttle boat to go back and forth between the five sea ships. He adjusted his backpack again and filled his backpack completely. Seeing that the height of the ship's side from the sea surface seemed After a little more improvement, Qu Mao returned to the front ship with satisfaction.

Sailing until five o'clock in the afternoon, the sky had begun to darken, but the Yidao Civil Wharf was still far away. Sunan began to personally operate the rudder of the front ship, and at the same time let the boats use wrist thickness, up to 100 connected by a rope of more than one meter.

  While commanding the fleet to sail, Sunan explained: "My lord, I asked Battalion Commander Jack to purchase a shuttle boat. He didn't suspect it because people who often travel at sea know that the fleet must be connected together once the night sails.

  After the sea-going ships are connected together, as long as the leading ship does not deviate from the direction, the other ships will not deviate either. Under normal circumstances, there will be a tall lighthouse in the port, which can be seen clearly in the dark night tens of kilometers away, but our civilian pier in Yidao has not yet built a lighthouse. Familiarity with the sea area, as well as the control of the ship.

  But adults, please rest assured, the subordinates will not let you down. "

  The sky soon completely darkened. After Guo Le at 6:30 in the evening, Qu Mao looked out through the window. The vast sea was pitch black, and only the sound of "crashing, crashing" waves could be heard.

  There is no moon this night, and a few stars hang alone in the sky. With a distance of more than one meter, Qu Mao can't even see where the ship's side is.

  Seeing that Qu Mao was a little nervous, Sunan said, "My lord, these stars in the sky can help us identify the direction of our sailing. At present, our sailing direction is not wrong."

   Qu Mao was still worried, and asked: "Su Nan, can't the fleet stop at night when they are sailing on the sea? Wouldn't it be safer to leave after dawn?"

  Su Nan smiled wryly and said: "Master, usually sea ships follow the coastline, so it is not a big problem to operate this way, but now this is the depths of the sea, our anchors must not touch the bottom when thrown down.

  The rope of the anchor is only 100 meters long, and it is impossible to rely on the anchor to anchor the ship at this position.

When other fleets sail long distances, when encountering our situation, they will gather all the boats together and fix them with ropes, then lower the mainsail and jibsail, drift with the waves for one night, and then re-identify the direction and position after the next day. Let the sea ships sail again.

  But we have to go back to Isle of Easy tonight, so we have to fly at night. "

  Qu Mao could only watch the ship continue sailing in horror, and finally in the middle of the night, when Qu Mao was dozing off in a daze, Sunan suddenly called out: "My lord, look quickly, there is fire!"

  (end of this chapter)