The atrocities made kind people wake up. The cowardly fishermen knew that they would definitely die today. They rushed to fight the robbers one by one, but how could they be the opponents of the experienced murderers who had been trained for a long time.
Gunshots were loud, bayonets were sharp, a fisherman died miserably in the sea, a haenyeo was caught, her hands and feet were tied up like a pig, and she was lifted up with a rope. The whole sea area was filled with the screams of the victims and the excitement of wild animals. of cheers.
The old saying is true for people who are not from my race. The French don't regard the Asians as human beings at all. In their eyes, the barbarians are just beasts that can be sold.
The black slaves in Africa are not human beings, and the untouchables on the Indian continent are not human beings. Now that they have come to Asia, these yellow-skinned monkeys are not human beings either. Killing savages is like killing a beast. Is it possible to kill pigs and sheep? It's a psychological burden.
The robbers were playing a gambling game on the deck. The stakes were the naked haenyeo and the heavy lifting work. Playing cards were flying everywhere. The winner took off his pants and pounced on the haenyeo, while the loser went to move the seafood dejectedly and returned it to the group while working. Come on, beast.
At that moment, not even the sky could bear to bear witness to this atrocity. Dark clouds obscured the sun, and there were even faint flashes of thunder in the clouds.
The Bohai Bay has been a busy seaway since ancient times. Except for the winter when the freight volume is smaller during the floating ice period, merchant ships are still very common here at other times. The atrocities of the two warships really happened in the wrong place. At this time, there was a merchant ship with full sail. Driving from the east, it was just a black spot at first, but after a while it became visible to the naked eye.
"Look, there is a cargo ship in the East, it is very fast... It is a large clipper ship... The deal is coming, we are going to make another fortune..."
The ship in the distance was very fast, its slender hull pierced the waves, its huge sails caught the wind, and it rushed straight towards the pirates.
Just when the French warship was about to turn, a sudden change occurred.
Boom...a dull sound of gunfire rang out from the bow of the clipper, and a cannonball exploded just above the Lyra. A huge side sail was riddled with holes, and flames roared upwards.
The shock wave of the explosion was mixed with countless fragments, flying on the deck. More than a dozen sailors were shot in the body and fell in a pool of blood. The Lyra was suddenly in chaos.
"What the hell kind of sailing ship is this? How could a clipper ship be equipped with such a high-end naval gun?" Captain Kraft screamed and ran out of the captain's cabin. His eyes turned red when he saw the tragic situation on the deck.
In 1866, artillery technology was in a transitional period. Solid artillery shells have not withdrawn from the stage of history. Explosive shells are still a weapon exclusively used by the military. In addition, breech-loading rifled cannons are not affordable for ordinary people. The armies of various countries have not yet completely popularized them. , how could it be sold to the public?
Therefore, the artillery used by merchant ships on the sea today for self-defense are all old smoothbore cannons, which are enough to deal with those backward and primitive pirates, as long as they scare them away.
Unexpectedly, today the eagle let the little house bird peck its eyes. It is obviously a clipper ship, the most common in the Pacific, but the bow cannon is a top-notch military product.
"Full rudder on the left side...Open the gun doors on the starboard side and prepare for battle..." Captain Kraft began to order a counterattack, but it was not that simple to adjust the attitude of the heavy sailboat, and the speed of the well-equipped clipper ship was so fast It's just too fast.
The clipper boat was the last speed star to appear in the era of sailboats. The speed of ordinary models has reached 12 knots. This sailboat has utilized aerodynamics to the extreme. From then on, no sailboat has surpassed it.
Of course, it was also because of the widespread application of steam-powered ships that humans stopped developing sailboats, which made the clipper ship the swan song in the history of sailing.
The arrogant clipper ship almost collided directly with it. At the last moment, the ship's rudder was slightly adjusted. The clipper ship almost rushed past the Lyra. At that time, the Lyra did not even have a gun port. There's still time to open.
Bang bang bang... When the two ships intersected, countless sailors suddenly stood up on the deck of the clipper ship, and white smoke rose from the sea with a Spencer shot. The deck of the Lyra was in a mess.
There were screams, gunshots, and the sound of flying sawdust everywhere... It was only then that people discovered that this super-large clipper ship was actually filled with Chinese people.
"Shoot and kill these thugs... If you dare to commit violence at the door of China, you will have to pay the price with blood... The Chengfeng will attack and draw the enemy's firepower over..."
Chengfeng is Xiao Letian's Chengfeng. The three clippers originally bought from the United States are the cornerstone of Xiao Letian's wealth and career.
The three clipper ships, the Fortune, were converted into mobile silver coins, while the Chengfeng and Breaking Waves were used to conduct silver trade across the Pacific. Xiao Letian knew that it was not enough to collect scattered silver coins from within the Qing Dynasty. If you want to make a fortune, you have to trade silver ore.
Why is he trying every means to build a good relationship with the United States? He just hopes that the United States can protect his silver trade with Mexico. After all, Mexico is now the world's largest silver producer.
Ship after ship of silver ingots and ores were transported back to China from North America, and ship after ship of China's in-demand goods were sold to the North and South American continents. The two clipper ships created countless wealth for Xiao Letian.
Not only that, clipper ships are also responsible for training sailors. The Chinese nation has left the sea for a long time. Searching the coast of China can not find a group of truly qualified ocean-going sailors. Those coastal fishermen can only sail in offshore areas. There is simply no ability to travel around the world.
Everyone can use a compass, but who can read the latest nautical charts? Who can use the astrolabe, quadrant, and sextant? On the complicated sea, who will give you the current map secretly drawn by Westerners for free? When it comes to the new Who knows where there are undercurrents, where there are rocks, and where there is no wind in the sea.
If the Chinese nation wants to build its own navy, it must solve the problem of talent gap. It does not mean that a few armored battleships can dominate one side. In the end, weapons and equipment are still operated by people.
The silver trading route across the Pacific Ocean was the training ground for Xiao Letian to train ocean-going sailors. The clipper ship, which could only be operated by sixty or seventy people, was modified by Xiao Letian to have a full complement of more than two hundred people.
The Chengfeng, which returned from North America today, has more than 0 sailors on board. These are the backbone technical forces of the future navy. This is a group of precious talents.
Niu Duofu, the uncle and brother of Niu Jinfu, the famous Sihai Trading Company in Tanggu Industrial Zone. After Sihai Trading Company boarded Xiao Letian's ship, Boss Niu introduced himself as a brother who had been a maritime businessman. After several After the review, he finally became the captain of the Chengfeng.
Don’t look at Niu Duofu’s rough name. That’s because country people have the habit of giving auspicious names. In fact, Niu Duofu is really a talent. Not only is he good at sea business, but he is also a good captain. His burly body is typical of the straightforwardness of a northern man. Character, how could such a person turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the gangsters.
"Brothers from the Chengfeng, facing us are two foreign pirate ships. They are bullying Korean fishermen. They have begun to kill people... Look, they are attacking women..."
Following Niu Duofu's fingers, people witnessed with their own eyes that a naked haenyeo was hung in mid-air by a rope and dragged to the ship. If there was even the slightest resistance, a row of bullets hit her, and the body hung in mid-air, dripping with blood. Fall down.
"Perhaps you think that they are all Koreans and not our fellow villagers. It is better for us to do more than to do less... But don't forget what the Prime Minister taught you."
"Asia is the Asia of Asians. For thousands of years, this world has believed in the culture of our Central Plains. Are we going to cut ourselves off from our friends today, let them be completely disappointed in us, and then turn around and join the bandits?"
"You guys agree, I won't agree, and I believe the Prime Minister won't agree either... draw your sword to help when there is injustice, our ancestors should never lose the things they taught us."
Those who can voluntarily join the ocean caravan and undergo rigorous maritime training are all tough guys. They are the backbone of Xiao Letian's future navy. They cannot stand the stimulation of the captain.
"It's done... These foreign devils dare to commit violence at the gate of China. This is a slap in the face of us Chinese people in public. Go up and fight with them..."
The Chengfeng quickly prepared for battle, the bow cannon began to be debugged, and the new type of explosive ammunition was loaded. There were soldiers holding Spencers squatting on the deck, and the bullets had already been loaded.
"Speed, the life of a clipper is speed...move forward with full sail, hit and run..." Niu Duofu looks reckless, but people are not reckless, and they still have some cleverness.
The Wind Rider moved forward with full sail, and the turbulent sea breeze pushed it forward rapidly. The experienced gunners did not aim at the enemy's hull, but at the sails that were easier to fire, and opened fire as soon as they were within range.
With a bang, Chengfeng's side sail was riddled with holes, and then the gunner quickly reloaded. Such a fast ship speed gave him at most two cannons, so he had to hurry up.
"Brothers, hold still... open your mouth and plug your ears..." With a roar, the match rope yanked the flintlock device and produced a stream of sparks.
There was a bang, this gun was loaded with a lot of gunpowder, and the sound was still heard five miles away. The shells were fired towards the main sail of the Roma. There was only a loud noise in the air, and the main sail of the Roma was blown open. A huge hole more than two meters wide was left.
"Well done... Brothers, prepare your guns..." After two shots, the Chengfeng had rushed to the flank of the Lyra. As the two ships crossed each other, Niu Duofu shouted "Fire..."
Two hundred gunmen stood up collectively, and Ru Lin's gun barrels frightened the French troops on the opposite side. "This is not a merchant ship... this is the Chinese navy..."
At that moment, Niu Duofu also understood. He shouted, "Fuck, these are not pirates. These bastards must be dressed up as French troops... They are the troops that attacked Ryukyu."
The two ships were staggered, and gunfire started. The rapid-fire Spencer showed his power at close range, and the French army screamed miserably.
