Chapter Seventy-Seven: Water

Fang Guan fled from the port, but in a short time the Javanese ship chased after him.

The strength of the Javanese sailors is not bad, at least in navigation, and they also have some talent. After all, Java is surrounded by the sea, and without these means, how can it dominate the sea.

It's just that the movements of the Javanese sailors are strange.

They did not catch up, but followed not far away.

And at the moment the wind at sea is very little, or almost nothing. Even if the Ming people can use the eight-sided sail, but there is no wind, everything is in vain.

This also makes the two sides unable to distance themselves at all.

However, Fang was concerned about doubts. Secretly: "They can't catch up with me. I'm going to leave sooner or later. So what are they following this for? ”

At this time, the people around him gave the answer.

"My lord, there is no water on board." Said a sailor.

Fang Guan was stunned for a moment, his face suddenly turned pale, and said; "I see."

Oh, yes. I see.

The reason why Fang Guan stopped at the port in Java was for supplies, and there was a large amount of food supplies on board. There is no shortage of food at all, after all, it is still heading in the known waters of the Ming Dynasty. The food that was kept in reserve for the uncharted seas was not used at all.

What does Fang Guan want to supply?

The answer is water.

On the sea, though, there is sea water everywhere. But seawater is not drinkable. Fresh water is also the most important resource on the sea and needs to be replenished at any time.

After Fang Guan arrived at the port of Java, he was taken down, and the Javanese would not supply the ships with fresh water. Thus, the current situation has emerged.

Fang Guan also understood the intentions of these Javanese.

They didn't dare to rush over, and the artillery of the Akito gave them a great shock. At the same time, he was unwilling to let go of Fang Guan. They also knew that there was no water on board. Therefore, it bites the back of Fang Guan, unless Fang Guan does not go ashore to replenish the water source. Otherwise. As soon as they came ashore, the ships swarmed up and returned to the situation just in the harbor.

No, it should be more difficult than that. Because this time, Java will definitely prevent the ship from leaving first.

However, if fresh water is not replenished. The long voyage simply could not be maintained.

If you don't drink water, you will die, faster than if you don't eat.

Fang Guan tried to calm down and said, "How much water is there?" ”

Fang Guan will not think of replenishing the water when the water is exhausted. When he had some spare water on board, he set about it.

The sailor said: "There were still a dozen barrels, but after a scuffle just now, some of them were broken. There are only five barrels left. ”

The bucket here is not a keg. Rather, it resembles a vat. But for more than a hundred people on board, this is only a few days of water.

And the sea chase war, no matter what era, is very long. It may be difficult to catch up for a few months, but it is normal for both sides to catch up for more than ten days, or even longer.

Fang Guan said; "From today onwards, everyone will have three glasses of water a day. Don't drink too much. Nothing can be near the bucket without my orders. ”

What Fang Guan can do now is to win this long battle with patience.

It's just that Fang Guan licked his lips. It's already cracked upon. In the tropics, everything Fang Guan experienced today, he didn't drink a sip of water, this situation is normal.

------

Fang Guan's order was not perfectly executed after all.

Because everyone, like Fang Guan, has not taken a sip of water. In this case, it can't be supported at all. There are limits to the human body.

Don't say if their bodies can hold it or not. Just one thing. They were mentally unable to hold on, although they were tortured by the Javanese. They all survived. It seems that a lot of fear of death has been eliminated. However, under the stake, there is still a little rain to drink. Now there is only a little bit of water every day.

Many people would rather die than die of thirst.

The law does not hold the public accountable. Fang Guan had to let the soldiers drink bitterly.

But this time, there were three buckets of water missing.

And the Javanese have not yet shaken off.

Fang Guan thought of a lot of ways. But the Javanese are also very cunning and familiar with the sea conditions. Even Fang Guan took advantage of the night to venture out of the way and get rid of them. But Java was still able to quickly find them by virtue of their familiarity with the sea and their large numbers.

Then light the wolf smoke on the ship, attract companions, and chase after them again.

In the end, I returned to square one.

One day, two days, three days.

Fang Guan could only go all the way west, hoping to meet Chen Zuyi's fleet and get Chen Zuyi's help, in fact, he also knew that their cooperation with Chen Zuyi was inseparable. Even he didn't know what kind of situation he would encounter if he really met Chen Zuyi.

But this was already Fang Guan's last glimmer of hope.

Before the water runs out, meet life.

It's just that it is very difficult to meet a ship in the vast sea.

Fang Guan was desperate.

The water ran out. Collect the urine. Soon someone was out of pee. And then someone began to die.

At this time the sailors gathered, and all of them did not speak.

In the days when there was no water to drink, everyone lived like a ghost, and when they spoke, they consumed water. Only one leader said: "My lord, turn around, grab water, fight to the death." ”

Fang Guan understood this sentence without a beginning or an end.

There must have been water on the Javanese ship. They would rather turn around desperately and attack the Javanese convoy for nothing else than to grab a sip of water to drink.

Fang Guan looked at the embarrassed figures and resolute eyes. He knew this order, almost ten deaths, after all, the sea battles in this era relied more on jumping gangs, and now one of the people on the ship is counted as one, and none of them are healthy. Gang jumping battles are almost fatal.

But it may be better to die in battle than to survive.

Just when Fang Guan was about to give the order.

Suddenly, I heard a shout.

Because of the lack of water, the voice of the lookout in the high place had long been hoarse, and now he looked into the distance, and was so happy that he could not make a sound, but could only shout one after another. "Ah------h

Fang Guan also stood up and looked into the distance. He didn't see anything in the sky, but he saw that the Javanese ships were no longer chasing them. Running away from something.

But I saw a black line on the edge of the sky. Immediately, it was as if thousands of troops were rolling forward, covering the sky and the sun, and it was unstoppable.

The calm sea, as if disturbed by something, and as if alarming the giant beast under the sea, began to roll.

This is the most terrible thing at sea, the storm.

But at this moment, Fang Guan looked at it with a smile. "Ready, everyone, the storm is coming, the water is coming." ”

It's the water that's coming.

Storms usually bring a lot of rainfall, and the rain is drinkable.

Fang Guan actually didn't know that there was an equatorial windless belt near the equator, and there was very little wind here, which could be called calm. But Fang Guan's persistence for a few days finally left this area, and this is the only time to usher in this storm. It's also a turnaround.

Rain can certainly solve the urgent need for a moment.

But what can really solve the siege is actually this turmoil. Drove the Javanese away.

In the midst of the storm, even if the Javanese do not leave, their ships will surely blow to pieces. There is no resultant force anymore. Just a boat, Fang Guan is actually not afraid.

It's just that what Fang Guan has to face at this moment is not anything else, but a storm.

Heaven and earth are unkind, and all things are dogs.

This storm does not feel like it saved anyone. He just traveled in the direction he had been traveling. will not show the slightest mercy to the other party. Of course, Fang Guan's subordinates are all excellent sailors, and the ships in his hands are certainly the best sea ships in the Ming Dynasty.

But can you survive the power of heaven and earth?

This is also unclear.

However, this is the only way to live.

Fang Guan tied this to the mast and opened his mouth, swallowing even the wind and rain into his stomach. Although a little rain can't even moisten the throat. But for the other party, it couldn't be better.

All containers are secured. Then the rain. All the sailors are in place, have lowered their sails, and leave their fate to the will of Providence.

See what God makes them do?

In a moment, what had been day turned into night, and under the inky sky, inky waves rolled. Fang Guan's ship, under the power of heaven and earth, was like a toy, being turned back and forth by the sea and the sky. Up and down.

This seemed to be Fang Guan's last impression.