Jamaica holds the exit from the Windward Channel and has a very important strategic position in the Caribbean, and its control of the island of Jamaica is choking Spain. Decades later, when Britain and Spain resumed war, the Royal Navy's first major operation in the Caribbean was the capture of Jamaica. At that time, the Jamaican city in front of Chen Shouxu's eyes will be renamed Port Royal and become a port for pirates. British-funded pirates were to set off from the port of Royal and sack the entire coast of mainland Spain.

From Curacao to Jamaica, the wind is generally northeasterly. However, due to the influence of geostrophic deflection forces, the northeasterly winds of the trade wind belt will manifest themselves on the sea surface and become clockwise cyclones. The fleet did not sail in a straight line to Jamaica at an inadequate angle, and the sideways drift force from the northeasterly wind on the starboard side caused the entire fleet to deviate westward, forcing Chen Shouxu to adopt a zigzag near-windward sailing on several sections of the voyage in order to approach Jamaica. It took some time, but it also exercised the sailor's sailing skills.

Chen Shouxu's fleet sailed in the waters near Jamaica City, and he was to capture some merchant ships to replenish supplies and manpower. The merchant ships of Spain were not all Spaniards, in addition to various indentured slaves, there were also poor sailors from other countries. This is an important addition to the pirates' human resources.

In the hunt for small merchant ships, the Vengeance and Tempest were more efficient than the Long Water. The lightweight hull and nimble schooner made it easy for them to catch up with fully loaded merchant ships, and often without a fight, as soon as the pirates deployed their cannons and raised their boarding axes, sailor knives and grenades, the merchant ships lowered their sails and surrendered. In order to encourage this surrender, Chen ordered the ships to take the gold, silver, and supplies that had to be replenished, to recruit sailors, and to return most of the merchant ships and their goods to their owners.

The main task of the Changshui is still training. That morning, Chen Shouxu was resting in the cabin when Rhaegar reported, "The Vengeance hoisted the signal flag and asked for help. ”

Chen Shouxu put down the book in his hand, a pirate captain's diary he bought from Morgan, which recorded the experience of a captain who sailed through the Storm Strait to the Pacific Ocean.

Quickly stepping onto the stern deck, Chen Shouxu opened the telescope, and the Revenge was located 6 nautical miles away from the port side of the Changshui, with 2 compass points in azimuth.

"The Vengeance turned left, and the enemy ship was on their port side. ”

Chen Shouxu looked at the wind direction displayed by the Changhan Banner, "Turn left, let's cut a straight line to chase." Tell the Storm to follow. ”

"Turn left 4 compass points." Thunderga commanded loudly, "Hang the signal flag to inform the Storm." ”

The helmsman screwed the rudder, and the sailors ran to the stern and the turnaround truss respectively, adjusting the stern diagonal truss sails and the respective sails. The Tempest, which was on starboard, also steered when it saw the signal flag.

There was some fog in the morning and the visibility on the sea was not very good. After a period of pursuit, the sun rose and the fog dissipated somewhat. The sailors on the mast lookout shouted, "The enemy ship, Galen, is flying the Portuguese flag!" ”

Chen's fleet blocked the route to Jamaica City, and the Portuguese ships, pursued by the Revenge, were forced to sail westward. The northeasterly wind blew up from the side behind, and the sail Galen was not slow.

"So fast Galen!" Rhaegar said.

After chasing for a while, the Long Water only closed a short distance, and the Revenge would catch up before the Long Water.

"This ship is not ordinary, it is rare for a merchant ship to run so fast. Rayga, measuring wind speed. ”

"Wind speed 16 knots."

"Yes." Chen Shouxu ordered, "Hang the winged sails." ”

The sailors immediately ran to the mainmast and foremast, loosened the ropes that bound the bottom and middle girders to the wing booms, and extended the wing booms through the block of pulleys and cranks. Loosen the sail, tighten the sail footyard, secure. The Changshui spread its four-sided wingsails and sped up by two knots.

A cross-sail battleship like the Changshui has a limit speed of 9 to 10 knots, and the wind speed reaches 7, and the wind speed is more than 25 knots, so it cannot open all the sails. The speed is close to the upper limit, there are too many sails, and the ship is in danger of capsizing when it rolls in high winds. The current wind speed of 16 knots also allows the Changshui to fly its wings on the basis of all sails.

The two ships were approaching at a speed difference of 2 knots, and it took more than half a day to catch up. The Vengeance approached the enemy ship twice, intending to enter into an artillery battle, forcing the enemy ship to slow down if it could break a few sails.

But the difference in size between the two sides is too big, and this Galen has a displacement of more than 600 tons. The Revenge was also refitted, with only three 4-pounder guns on the single side, and was forced back by the enemy ship's broadside salvo before it could enter effective range.

Chen Shouxu sighed, "Collingwood, don't be too reluctant. ”

Sterling also climbed the stern at this time, "Collingwood is testing the effective range of the enemy ship. ”

The Portuguese spotted the pirate ship very early, and if they caught up with this speed difference, even if all went well, the Changshui would not be able to approach the enemy ship until the afternoon. If something happens and you are dragged by the Portuguese until dark, this piece of meat will fly.

"Collingwood slowed down." Rhaegar shouted, "Oh my God, he wants to cut the stern of the enemy ship diagonally." Even without taking into account the two tail guns of the enemy ship, he would enter the effective range of the port side of the enemy ship after a diagonal cut. ”

"I see it." Chen Shouxu said, "Mr. Rhaeggar, you are an alternate officer, please calm your excited tone." ”

Collingwood's first diagonal cut gave the Revenge's three broadside guns an angle of fire, but both ships maneuvered quickly and did not get hits. Collingwood, after a beautiful sidewalk, again slashed the stern of the enemy ship. The speed of the enemy ships was not slow, and the Revenge could not cut at a large angle, and in the process of diagonal cutting, it would always enter the firing range of several broadside guns behind the Portuguese Galen, which was still more dangerous.

But his second diagonal cut forced Galen to adjust his course.

"The Portuguese were afraid that he would shell the rudder and the sail. ”

Rhaegar suppressed his excitement, "Well done Captain Collingwood! ”

Although the Revenge's shelling was unsuccessful, the Portuguese were forced to adjust their course back and forth twice, and the straight-line distance to the Changshui was shortened.

However, when the Revenge cut the stern of the enemy ship for the fifth time, the Portuguese carefully prepared a salvo, and the chain bullets damaged the mast of the Revenge, tore the canvas, and the speed of the Revenge was greatly reduced. The Portuguese, probably trying to solve this problem, slightly deflected course and fired a second salvo at the Revenge, which could be seen on the Long Water with several punctures on the side of the Revenge, and pieces of wood and limbs flying sideways. Immediately hit the ground.

"Revenge!" Sterling was shocked, "There's no one on deck. ”

Chen Shouxu angrily turned to the deck and said to all the sailors, "Brothers, you have all seen the Great Galen. In order to buy us time, the Revenge engaged in a heroic artillery battle with the enemy ships. Tell me, what should you do? ”

"Catch up and kill them!" The sailors shouted.

"One bottle of rum per group, and send it out right away." Chen Shouxu ordered Rhaeg. The right amount of alcohol can make pirates more excited.

Boosting the morale of the ship, Chen Shouxu turned his attention to the Revenge.

It may have been that the momentum of the Long Water was too aggressive, and the speed was significantly faster, and the Portuguese Galen left immediately after paralyzing the Vengeance with a salvo. The hull of the Revenge was pierced through several large holes, and the crew on deck should have suffered considerable losses. It's just that wood is lighter than water after all, so I don't worry about sinking soon.

The Changshui hoists the signal flag and asks the Tempest to rescue the crew of the Revenge. The Changshui continued to chase the Portuguese, and as time went on, the distance shortened little by little.

It wasn't until he got closer that Chen Shouxu saw the black people on the deck who were densely bundled together, it was a slave ship.

Chen Shouxu thought for a while, "Gather the winged sails, we will maintain the current course and sail downwind to the enemy ship." ”

For example, if the northeast wind is blowing now, and the enemy ship is heading west-southwest, then the Changshui sails to the port side of the enemy ship and remains parallel to the enemy ship, which is called occupying the downwind position in the artillery battle. Upwind and downwind does not refer to the position of one in front of the other along the direction of the wind.

There is an iron frame on the deck next to each running position of the Changshui, which can jam five shells. Due to a lack of manpower, the Changshui can only fire these five shells that were moved from the ammunition depot in advance in a single burst of fire.

After loading, the gun crew rolled out all the broadside cannons, and each gun group adjusted the angle according to the fire controller's order. Gardner and Elliot walked through the gun emplacements in turn, and the Long Water began a salvo.

The power of the 24-pounder shocked the Portuguese, and after four volleys, Galen's mast sail was already miserable. Everywhere there were torn strips of cloth and falling beams. The two shells that hit the deck crushed two bloody alleys, and stumps and flesh flew everywhere.

The Portuguese couldn't run away at all.

"Get closer, get ready for melee." Chen Shouxu ordered.

The Long Water was preparing to get close and come back with a final broadside salvo to suppress the galen backboard, but before the shelling could begin, the Portuguese hoisted the white flag.

Chen Shouxu was a little puzzled, the last time the Portuguese ship on the Banshee fought to the end, and those Portuguese knights wearing plate armor left an indelible impression on him. Today he is ready to face "Santiago" again, how can this ship surrender.

He said to the boarding party led by Maiden, "Let that captain come over, I have a few questions for him." ”

Maiden soon returned, shook his head, and said, "The Portuguese captain was killed in the shelling. I brought the first mate back. ”

The captives were soon taken to the stern of the Changshui, where Chen Shouxu stopped the agitated sailors.

"Your ship is fast, not like a regular merchant ship, for what reason?"

The first mate of the Portuguese ship greeted Chen Shouxu slightly, and his answer was very refreshing, "Captain Shouxu." The ship I was on turned out to be a French cruiser, which was auctioned off after being captured by the Spanish Navy. My boss got it, you know, the mortality rate of slaves was high in seafaring. The speed of the slave ship must be fast, otherwise the more slaves will die of illness over time, the greater the economic loss. ”

"You know me?"

"Your flag has spread all over the Caribbean, sorry we didn't hear the rumors that you got a powerful warship, we didn't recognize it at first, and destroyed one of your ships."

Chen Shouxu snorted, "Since the war has already started, why did you surrender?" Most of your artillery is still there, and it's clear that it's still combative. ”

"The captain has been killed in battle, my ship is full of people, and I don't know how many more people will die if I continue to fight. And my crew saw that there were a lot of black soldiers on your ship, and they did not dare to fight anymore for fear of reprisals. The first mate paused and looked into Chen Shouxu's eyes, "I heard that you have a good reputation for not killing prisoners. ”

"But you wrecked one of my ships, and I'm hesitant to kill you now."

The Portuguese first mate smiled bitterly and calmly said something that surprised Chen Shouxu, "As the supreme commander of the current ship, if the captain of Shouxu wants to kill someone to vent his anger, please kill me alone." The sailors were innocent, they all just obeyed orders. ”

Chen Shouxu looked at the Portuguese first mate in surprise, he suddenly had an interest in knowing the other party's name, "What is your name and why do you say that." ”

"Coutinho. Morality. Norania. Orderly captain, the knight of Portugal never shirks his responsibilities. God told me that it is a great honor to sacrifice one's life to save the majority of people. ”

"Mr. Norania, you really surprise me how someone like you could work on a dirty slave carrier."

"Knights also need work to fill their bellies."

Chen Shouxu smiled, "Okay, Mr. Norania, given that you have abandoned resistance and avoided a lot of unnecessary sacrifices. As you wish, your crew will be given a chance to live. But you yourself will be my captive until I figure out what to do with you. ”

Coutinho was taken down by the sailors, and he was to be housed in the aft compartment of the gun deck.

The Tempest caught up, taking the crew of the Vengeance with them.

Roberts boarded the ship, "The Revenge was badly damaged, and it is estimated that it will take a long time to repair. ”

"Where's the crew?"

"18 people were killed, and 24 remained. Captain Collingwood suffered an arm injury, not too serious. ”

Chen Shouxu looked at the captured Portuguese Galen, "The Revenge doesn't need to be repaired, we have a better ship." ”