Zhang Heng switched the British saber from his slightly injured right hand to his left hand and blocked the opponent's two consecutive blows. At the same time, he also took two steps back under the reaction force. The sailor opposite saw that someone was weak after a long battle and couldn't help but Overjoyed, he stopped testing and slashed directly at Zhang Heng's chest. There was nothing fancy about this sword, and it was purely based on his strength advantage. But this time, Zhang Heng unexpectedly did not retreat, but faced him forward.
The two knives intersected, and the sailor on the navy supply ship felt a huge force coming from the tiger's mouth. His arm was swung open by this force, and a look of horror appeared on his face. The next moment, the British saber in Zhang Heng's hand was already raised. She put her hand on his neck and said, "It's over."
There was a look of despair in the sailor's eyes, and in the end he could only throw away the weapon in his hand and surrender.
Zhang Heng looked around and saw that the battle on the deck was coming to an end. The guards who were still resisting were basically forced into corners. Defeat would be a matter of time. Only the captain was left occupying the captain's cabin, but he would be eliminated. It's just a matter of time.
This was the third tough battle they had experienced in just two months. Although they still won the victory, the attrition was also very serious. Owen had already begun to replenish manpower from prisoners.
The treatment of regular navy sailors in this era was very miserable. Taking the British Royal Navy as an example, the monthly salary was only about 1 pound, which was equivalent to half of a river lock keeper and a quarter of a carpenter, and this money was not even paid. Once the Faquan is obtained, part of it will be deducted by the comptroller and officers on the ship. In addition, the date of salary payment is also uncertain, and almost never is paid on a monthly basis. The most bizarre thing is that a certain cruiser in the Far East waters actually paid a full salary. The account was settled only once every 22 years, and the Admiralty finally refused to pay the money.
The life of these sailors was not easy after they landed ashore. When the warship returned to its home port for renovation, the officers could only receive half salary, while the lower-level sailors simply stopped their pay and were left to fend for themselves. And this is not the worst, sometimes out of fear of others After running away, the Admiralty simply refused to let the sailors ashore, and directly transferred them to other warships before they entered the port, and continued to pay them in vain.
In comparison, the treatment enjoyed by pirates is simply paradise. Everyone makes money together, eats meat together, and it is rare for the captain to deduct the crew's share.
It has been almost nine months since Zhang Heng came to this dungeon. He was initially forced to join the Sea Lion in order to survive. Later, he had to enter the world of pirates because of the main mission. Now he has a deep understanding of Nassau and the group of pirates living there. To understand more, many things need to be viewed against the historical background of the time. There was a reason why pirates were rampant in the 17th and 18th centuries.
At the beginning of the Age of Discovery, it was difficult to distinguish the differences between explorers, colonists and pirates. As European countries fell into a melee and competed for sea rights, the notorious privateering licenses were also completely opened. Pandora's box, these things may seem incredible from a modern perspective.
Suppose you were a businessman in this era, transporting a ship of goods to the colonies for sale, and it was robbed by people from other countries on the way. You could not get it back through legal diplomatic means. Generally, the approach of various countries was to give you a private certificate. The plunder license encourages you to regain your losses from others.
In addition, there are many wealthy businessmen and nobles who will also sponsor some potential captains, help them get a privateering license, let them go out to sea to plunder, and then come back to share the loot. The advantage is that it can use its maximum strength to attack the maritime power of other countries, and at the same time, it can have an unorganized navy without increasing the country's budget. Once the war starts, these privateers will also join the battle.
If you grab enough, you can get a royal audience, even be knighted, and become a national hero. Henry Morgan is the best example. He was the pirate king of the Caribbean from 1665 to 1670, and later succeeded in becoming a national hero. On board the Governor of Jamaica.
In fact, it is not just the private sector. In order to make extra money, the Royal Fleet will also go out to plunder to appease the sailors who cannot get money. There are also brokers at the port who are responsible for converting the loot into cash. Of course, most of the money will eventually flow to the officers. In their pockets, lowly sailors receive little,
Fraser once said to Zhang Heng in the tavern, "Do you know the difference between us and those guys? That is, they have privateering licenses in their hands, but we don't, so we became hated pirates. And they are heroes, and this is the law of this world."
…………
Zhang Heng put away his saber, and with the sound of explosions coming from under his feet, the last place on the ship was breached. The captain of the navy supply ship died in the battle, and the remaining sailors also handed over their weapons and surrendered one after another. The ship's doctor was busy rescuing the injured, while the bookkeeper was counting the cargo in the cabin.
The casualties on the pirate side are also very high, which is why no one wants to fight with the navy. Even if it is just a supply ship, the firepower on the ship is considerable. Compared with the price paid, what can be obtained by robbing a navy supply ship The income is often pitiful.
After a fierce battle, seventeen people were killed on the Sea Lion and many were injured, but miraculously the morale was not dampened, especially when the helmsman Orff appeared in front of everyone holding a small piece of bloody treasure map. , the pirates looked even more excited.
"There is no doubt that we are one step closer to our ultimate goal, gentlemen!" the helmsman encouraged.
According to Orff, Kidd's financial report was hidden on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean. He drew a treasure map before his death, but the treasure map was eventually divided into six parts. They fell into the hands of those who participated in the arrest and trial. Now the Sea Lion is looking for the whereabouts of these treasure maps. Counting the current one, they have obtained four of them, and they can indeed say that victory is in sight.
But then Owen walked up to the helmsman and said, "Mr. Orff, can you lend me a moment to speak?"
The latter nodded, and the two came to the stern of the ship. A worried look appeared on the boatswain's face, "I wonder if you have noticed that we have lost a lot of manpower recently."
Orff nodded, "So how's the recruitment going?"
"You know we can't fill all the vacancies with these guys, right? They are the navy after all. If too many people are recruited at once, we have to think carefully about whether someone will have their throats cut while sleeping. .”
"Then what do you suggest?"
"It's been two and a half months since we came out, and I suggested that we go back to Nassau for supplies." Owen said.
Orff looked into the boatswain's eyes and said after a while, "I don't want to hide it from you. Once word gets out about our search for the treasure, it will cause some unnecessary trouble, but I will report your suggestions to the captain."
