"Eighteen batteries, spread across the sides of the bay, are scattered, and five of them are too high beyond our maximum elevation angle to be able to return fire from the sea."

In the captain's room of the Badger, Nelson and Collingwood huddled side by side on a small wooden bed, listening to Lorraine's report on the fresh docks.

Lorraine poked at the improvised sketch in front of her.

"During the four hours that the family glory was anchored in the harbor, I randomly explored three batteries, here, here and here, and saw two guns, eighteen and twelve pounds of old land guns, respectively, which were not capable of firing grenades, and this was probably the only good news."

Collingwood touched a muffin: "Drake, what do you mean...... None of the batteries here can fire grenades? ”

"It can only be said that this is a guess with a big chance of winning."

Nelson waved his hand irritably: "Naval artillery can't defeat the battery, let alone fight back!" If only one of the five highland guns is a new type of grenade, we can all suffer a big loss......"

"That'...... Abandon Leloran and go to Sainte-Marie or Baspante? ”

Both of these are seaside towns similar to Leloland, Saint-Marie is a commercial port, with a large population and a prosperous economy, but its sea area is not open, and the reef beaches on both sides hinder the composition of the battle columns, which is not conducive to the use of the fleet's firepower advantage, and has been ruled out of the first battle target early in the morning.

Baspant didn't have any problems with the terrain, but it was too poor, and a pure fishing port, even if it was bombarded to slag, might not be able to lure the snake out of the hole.

Nelson's face was sad for a moment.

In this operation, the key to the maritime component was the victory or defeat with the French defense fleet.

However, the Halloween fleet is far inferior to the opponent in terms of hard power, and if you want to win, you can't expect a dignified battle formation, the right time and place are indispensable, and mobilizing the opponent is the top priority.

How can you mobilize your opponents?

Balefire.

The defense fleet is to ensure the security of Martinique's trade, and in the event of an attack on a commercial port or trade route, she must fulfill her duties and leave the port to respond to the battle.

That's why Nelson brought his fleet to Leloran, and while the Halloween fleet was still unknown, he made the defense fleet feel painful with an all-out blow, and had to dance to Nelson's baton.

But who knew that there was a battery here that couldn't be hit by naval guns......

The risks suddenly outweigh the benefits, do you really want to give up Lelorin, the most suitable bait?

He pursed his lips and shook his thighs very quickly.

"Drake, if you were to bring a hundred men ashore, would you be sure to take out those five Highland batteries?"

"The population of Leloran is not much, and I can guarantee that I will touch the three on the periphery, but the two in the center of the town...... At least 200 people are needed, plus two six-pounder guns. ”

"With 200 people pumped out, the fleet cannot guarantee the density of the attack."

"Then it can't be helped."

"What if I give the order!"

"I refuse. Mercenaries can refuse high-risk orders, and if you insist, you can choose to have the Major lead the team. ”

"Cuthbert is not good at commanding the Marines."

"It's a coincidence, I'm not good at fighting with my life." Lorraine unceremoniously slapped Nelson, "Besides, isn't that just trying to lure the snake out of the hole?" If a vole is not suitable, you can get another one. ”

"Another one...... Could it be the Lucky Horseshoe? ”

……

The Lucky Horseshoe is a Brig-type sixth-class frigate belonging to the French Atlantic Defense Fleet in Martinique. Zirdney, 29 years old, unmarried, was handsome and versatile and popular with the ladies of the upper class on the island and throughout the French colonies of the Caribbean.

There are many stories about his affairs, and the spies on the shore collected two large pieces of parchment in just four hours, and sprinkled more than 20 pieces of information, but they could not find a single anecdote that had nothing to do with sex.

In short, he was a terrific humanoid self-propelled cannon that even Acharin, who had been abstinent for several days, would like to call him a fierce rival......

With France's romantic reputation, Captain Zildeny, who eats with his face, has a thriving presence in the defense fleet, using public ships for private purposes all year round, chasing famous ladies on the lucky horseshoe, and this time is no exception.

His target is the second daughter of Sir Prio, the Speaker of the Le Lorent Regional Assembly, who is sixteen years old and known as Miss Emily.

It was only in the spring that the young lady had a coming-of-age ceremony, and she officially entered the high circle as an individual, and it is said that the number of suitors was so large that Sir Prio had to hold a second private ball dedicated to her, announcing to the whole Martinique high society that the young lady would not choose marriage until she was twenty years old, and that she longed for sweet love.

Then, there were more courters than before......

Strangely, although the number of courtships has increased, and there are many young men from all walks of life, Miss Emily hides herself instead. She no longer hangs out at balls and has less and less contact with courting people. For more than two months, no one has really been able to kiss Fang Ze, and even Junjie, who successfully asked her out of the mansion, is rare.

Miss Emily finally succeeded in attracting Captain Zildeney, and even though the fierce battle in the Caribbean Sea was raging, and despite the rumors in the Atlantic, he still drove his warship out of the military harbor and chased the flower vines all the way to the rose manor of Leloland.

That's intelligence......

Lorraine, Nelson, and Collingwood looked at each other, all of them with stroked expressions.

"This ...... Who gathered this information? ”

Collingwood coughed twice in embarrassment: "It's my first mate who cooperates with Drake on land scouting, and he is very meticulous in his work......"

"Four hours, no, six hours!" Lorraine gritted her teeth, "Your first mate only had six hours, and then he got this information!" Does the Major really think this motivation report is detailed? Can this kind of scum really become a French naval officer? ”

"Probably...... Different national conditions? ”

"If France ......" Lorraine was about to retort, but Yacharin's suave smile suddenly appeared in his mind, and he suddenly knotted.

Nelson looked at him strangely: "Drake, you've also been on the island, do you remember something?" ”

"It's not that I think of anything......," Lorraine shook his head tiredly, "Forget it, go to my ship, this kind of analysis of professional intelligence needs to be carried out by experts, and we can't do it." ”

Moments later, the trio turned to the Golden Deer in Lorraine and slapped the information on the head of Acharin.

Yacharin's face was full of excitement: "Really! ”

"Huh?"

"The intelligence is true, I have heard about Nesi more than once in the months since I came to the Caribbean. Zirdney's name, he was an excellent man, and like me, a hopelessly romantic believer! ”

Amid the unequivocal shouts, Lorraine heard the sound of Nelson's chest shattering.

"Dreams shattered?" Lorraine gently poked Nelson in the arm.

Nelson shuddered, "No, I just thought, if the Lucky Horseshoe came for the flowers, as Mr. Desai said, wouldn't she not leave the docks for a long time?" After all, Miss Emily...... Sounds pretty hard to approach. ”

Lorraine turned his head to look at Acharin, who shook his head firmly: "As long as we take the girl's first red before Zirdney, and show off in front of him skillfully, he will definitely rush out like a red-eyed wild boar, and he will go wherever we want him to go." ”

"But wouldn't it take long to get in front of Zildeny? Don't forget, we're only twenty ......."

"Five days." Yacharin opened his five fingers proudly, "I only need five days, and it already includes a fragrant night of picking flowers." ”

All the men in the room stared at Acharin with eyes akling to pilgrimage, and in the midst of worship, two soft murmurs sounded.

"Scum."

"Sure enough, it's scum."