Chapter 8, The Pirates Attack

Ma Biao and the other three ship guards were likely the most anxious individuals on board, as their responsibility was to fend off pirate attacks and ensure the safety of the vessel. In times of peace, they enjoyed a leisurely existence, well-fed and entertained by the activities of others, often mocking their fellow crew members. However, the situation had changed, and they could no longer afford to laugh. Each of them appeared tense, rushing back and forth across the deck, placing various weapons within easy reach along the ship's side. They retrieved their bows from their cloth cases, using their legs to secure the bow arms while stringing the bows. They also took out gunpowder to load several three-barreled guns and matchlock firearms, busily preparing for the impending threat.

Once these fishing nets are stretched out, they form a net wall at the side of the boat. While this may not be effective as a barrier against arrows, it can effectively prevent pirates from directly jumping onto the ship after approaching. Otherwise, even if the pirates manage to jump over, they would get entangled in the fishing nets, which would be akin to seeking death. They would either fall into the sea or be stabbed to death by the people on the ship.

According to Yu Xiaotian, the firearms of the Ming Dynasty were diverse and varied. Although in the later period of the Ming Dynasty, Western-style cannons such as the flintlock and the Red Yi cannon were introduced and imitated, many of the cannons were still of an older design. The bowl-mouth cannon is one such example. This type of cannon has a short barrel, thin walls, is difficult to load, and has a very slow firing rate. Most critically, its range and power are quite inadequate. During his early years visiting Beijing and touring the Military Museum, he saw a Ming Dynasty bowl-mouth cannon on display, which bore a resemblance to the one before him.

Yu Xiaotian did not know what was placed under this oilcloth, so he hurriedly untied the rope and forcefully lifted the oilcloth. Upon looking down, he was immediately startled once again.

Fortunately, the helmsman and the crew on this ship are relatively skilled, and their coordination is adequate, which has prevented the vessel from losing control and being capsized by the waves. If a group of novices were to undertake such maneuvers, it would be certain that an accident would occur.

Fortunately, this situation did not last long. Gradually, the ship completed its turn, the tilted hull began to regain balance, the fully raised sails started to catch the wind effectively, and the ship's speed noticeably increased, heading in the direction they had come, aligned with both the wind and the waves.

Thus, Xu Xiaotian was somewhat surprised, thinking to himself that it was no wonder this fellow surnamed Liu could sail the seas for so many years without being ruined by pirates or the sea; it turned out that this man knew how to invest. He actually had two such cannons on his ship, and it was likely that he had scared off quite a few pirates with these two cannons, which allowed his ship to remain safe.

Yu Xiaotian pretended to be curious, observing for a while as Ma Biao and the others loaded ammunition. After Ma Biao and his team busily completed the loading and poured the primer into the firing chamber, Yu Xiaotian quickly and quietly retreated, hiding far away.

This further clarifies that their target is this ship. When encountering such a situation at sea, one can basically ascertain the identity of the other party. Generally speaking, according to what Liu Laoliu had previously told Yu Xiaotian during peaceful times, even if they happen to encounter a government military ship or an official vessel at sea, they would not venture out to inspect passing ships during rough weather. This indicates that there is over a 90% likelihood that the other party consists of two pirate ships. Generally speaking, according to what Liu Laoliu had previously told Yu Xiaotian during peaceful times, even if they happen to encounter a government military ship or an official vessel at sea, they would not venture out to inspect passing ships during rough weather. This indicates that there is over a 90% likelihood that the other party consists of two pirate ships.

However, this bowl-shaped cannon seems to be even coarser than the antique in the Military Museum. Xiatian secretly speculated that this type of cannon was certainly not officially cast. It might have been commissioned by Liu Chuan Dong through an underground workshop, spending a large sum to have it privately made, and due to its simple craftsmanship, it turned out to be so crude

Because he could not closely observe the cannon chamber, nor did he know whether it had been polished inside, he felt that this object could only be described in two words: crude! And it is extremely crude!

At this moment, the two ships turned to the rear of this ship. From a distance, they also began to raise their sails and accelerate in pursuit. However, due to the timely discovery by the lookout and the identification of their identities, the distance between the three ships was still relatively far, approximately several miles apart, and did not pose any significant threat.

After Ma Biao finished loading the breech-loading cannon at the stern of the ship, he did not dare to slack off. He quickly ran to the bow position and began loading another breech-loading cannon...

If the pirate ship continues its pursuit without the night falling, it will be very difficult for them to escape the pirate ship's chase. Now, all their hopes rest solely on delaying until nightfall, using the cover of darkness to evade the pursuit of the pirate ship

This cannon is placed on a more rudimentary wooden frame, lacking wooden wheels below, and there is no mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the barrel. If aiming is required, it relies entirely on human effort to move the entire gun carriage for alignment

However, after taking a closer look, Yu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed again

After the two cannon muzzles were uncovered, Ma Biao and his companions immediately moved several barrels of gunpowder out from the cabin, noisily opening the lids of the barrels. They also brought out barrels of iron nails, iron sand, and fragments of iron particles, which even contained pebbles and broken porcelain pieces, certainly intended for use as cannon projectiles

With the joint efforts of the helmsman and the crew, the ship began to slowly change its course on the rolling waves, adjusting the bow to the direction from which they had come. During the turn, the ship tilted at a significant angle due to the strong wind filling the sails, causing some unsecured items on the deck to slide towards the port side. The waves crashed against the hull, sending sprays of water that drenched those lying near the ship's side.

However, today their luck was somewhat unfavorable. They thought that when they arrived at Dongshan Island, it was still morning, and there was plenty of time before nightfall. The pirates had enough time to pursue them, making it difficult for them to hold out until dark.

Although these two small cannons may not catch Yu Xiaotian's attention, he must admit that they indeed possess a considerable deterrent effect for people of this era. No matter how much Liu Chuan Dong invests, it is unlikely that he could procure advanced weapons such as the Red Yi cannon or the French gun for his ship. Acquiring two such small cannons is already quite impressive.

Due to his tall and sturdy build, Yu Xiaotian naturally could not avoid helping them. Following the instructions of the shipowner and Ma Biao, he propped up the broken fishing nets on the ship with poles and hung them over the side of the vessel

After a brief examination, Yu Xiaotian could basically conclude that this object, if it could be called a cannon, was somewhat overestimating it; it was essentially a large iron gun. From its design, it resembled a cast iron bowl mouth gun.

It was only then that Yu Xiaotian realized that operating a sailboat in this era was not simple. Not only did it require the helmsman to control the rudder effectively, but it also necessitated the crew on board to adjust the sails in coordination with the helmsman in order to successfully complete a turn. If they were to execute an emergency turn like they did earlier, especially with the rough seas, even a slight miscalculation could lead to the boat capsizing.

As Yu Xiaotian just uncovered this cannon, Liu Chuan Dong instructed him to go to the bow of the ship, where there was also a pile of items covered with oilcloth. After Yu Xiaotian ran over and uncovered it, he indeed saw another cannon of the same type at the bow.

What they need to do now is distribute the weapons, and additionally, begin loading several matchlocks and firearms with ammunition, remaining ready to fire at any moment

Only those desperate outlaws, like pirates, would choose to brave such storms, searching for prey at sea and launching attacks against it

The manufacturing of this cannon is crude, and who knows how safe this thing is. Moreover, when Ma Biao and his team loaded the gunpowder, they were also just estimating the amount. No one could clearly say whether they loaded too much or too little.

Ma Biao took advantage of Yu Xiaotian standing by the cannon to watch and, when Yu Xiaotian was unprepared, kicked his leg and scornfully shouted: "Mute! Get out of the way, don't obstruct my business! Haven't you ever seen a bumpkin? This thing is powerful! Help me move it, aim it at the back! Damn it, if the pirates catch up, just watch me blow them to pieces with one shot!"

Until now, Yu Xiaotian had only just come to understand that these worn fishing nets on the boat were not merely used to obscure people's attention. Throughout the journey, Yu Xiaotian had been full of complaints, feeling that the shipowner was unkind for not casually casting a few nets to catch some fish to improve the meals for those on board. It turned out that they were keeping these fishing nets for the purpose of defending against pirates.

The ship's rolling began to shift from lateral to longitudinal, yet the amplitude of the swaying significantly decreased, allowing those on board to regain normal movement. With the cooperation of the crew, the sails were adjusted to an angle that could capture maximum wind power, providing the vessel with optimal propulsion

However, at this moment, he had no time to argue with Ma Biao. He reached out to help move the gun mount of the cannon. As he moved it, he realized that this object, including the barrel and the mount, was indeed quite heavy, estimating it to weigh over 200 pounds. The wood of the mount seemed to be made of mulberry, which was both cumbersome and sturdy, making it quite laborious to shift.

As soon as the fishing net was set up, Liu Chuan Dong called Yu Xiaotian over, and he ran to the stern next to a pile of things covered with an oilcloth. Liu Chuan Dong, with a tense expression, shouted at Yu Xiaotian, "Mute! Hurry up and uncover it!"

Then, Ma Biao, showing off, brought along a subordinate and began to load ammunition into the cannon. He first poured gunpowder into the muzzle. The gunpowder used by Ma Biao and his men was black powder, and it was in powdered form. This type of black powder is unstable in quality; when stored for a long time, the three raw materials—saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal—have different specific gravities, and the sizes of the crushed powder particles also vary. Over time, the heavier materials will settle, while the lighter charcoal will float to the top, resulting in a decrease in the power of the gunpowder and even leading to situations where it cannot be ignited. This instability in the quality of black powder, when stored for extended periods, is due to the differing specific gravities of the three raw materials—saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal—and the varying sizes of the crushed powder particles. Over time, the heavier materials will settle, while the lighter charcoal will float to the top, causing a reduction in the power of the gunpowder and potentially resulting in situations where it cannot be ignited.

Just now, the people on the ship were cursing the heavens for the wind that had risen, causing the sea to become turbulent. However, at this moment, they all secretly wished for the wind and waves to grow even stronger, hoping that the two pirate ships behind would recognize the difficulty and retreat on their own.

This so-called cannon has a barrel diameter of only about ten centimeters, and the length of the barrel is approximately two feet, definitely not reaching one meter. Its weight is also not very heavy. Moreover, looking from the muzzle, the opening is flared, and the walls of the barrel are relatively thin. The cannon body is made of cast iron, and its surface is very rough with numerous bumps. Clearly, after casting, the cannon body was not polished, and there is a layer of rust on it, giving it a mottled appearance.

At this moment, everyone on the ship understands what they are facing. No one has the mood to joke or chat anymore; each person's face is tense. While attending to their immediate tasks, they continuously glance towards the stern of the ship, all appearing extremely anxious

If the cannons were to fire in a little while, Yu Xiaotian felt he had no confidence in this matter. He believed that this thing could easily become a Mediterranean pirate; in his view, the likelihood of a misfire was quite high, and the chance of killing the enemy was probably less than that of accidentally harming his own men. Therefore, he secretly resolved that if a battle were to break out, he would do everything possible to keep a safe distance from these two cannons, lest they misfire and take him along with them. In that case, he would be utterly wronged. Thus, he firmly decided that if a battle were to break out, he would definitely stay as far away from these two cannons as possible, to avoid being caught in a misfire that could unjustly involve him.

As the vessel completed its turn and increased speed heading north, the situation began to become clearer. The two unidentified ships remained at a distance, trailing behind the vessel where Xiaotian was located, continuously adjusting their course in accordance with their maneuvers, and gradually began to close in.

At this moment, the lookout on the mast was still firmly clinging to the mast, continuing to monitor the two unidentified ships in the distance. The mast swayed significantly in the wind and waves, making one admire the courage of the lookout. A person with even a slight amount of timidity would likely not dare to climb to such heights in this situation. Hence, it is often said that only the brave can become qualified sailors.

In Xu Xiaotian's heart, he secretly cursed Ma Biao as a country bumpkin, thinking, I have seen things before, and even if you use your toes, you still wouldn't think of it

However, apart from Yu Xiaotian, the people on the ship are well aware that the pirate ship is in a lightly loaded state. Generally, pirate ships tend to have larger sails, which, although alters stability and is not very conducive to the safety of navigation, can effectively increase sailing speed. However, the ship they are on, while sturdy, is in a fully loaded state, resulting in a deeper draft and consequently a slower sailing speed.

However, it is evident that this group of people is not familiar with such knowledge. They took out the gunpowder and began to load it directly, but regarding the specific proportions of this black powder, Yu Xiaotian is also not very clear, and naturally cannot determine the power of this black powder!

Ma Biao and another ship guard loaded gunpowder into the muzzle of the cannon, then used a pestle to push the gunpowder down to the bottom of the barrel and compact it. Next, they inserted a wooden plug that was approximately the same diameter as the barrel and also compacted it with the pestle. Finally, they filled the barrel with a haphazard assortment of projectiles. The loading process was extremely complex, tedious, and slow

To his surprise, beneath the oilcloth lay a dark, imposing cannon! Before Yu Xiaotian uncovered the oilcloth, he had never imagined that such a formidable weapon would be present on their ship

Although the ship is accelerating, the people on board have already begun to prepare for defense against pirates. When they were heading towards Dongshan Island, Captain Liu had actually instructed Ma Biao and the others to make some preparations against pirates in advance, moving the weapons hidden in the cabin out onto the deck for their immediate use.

Another wave crashed in, causing the ship to shake violently. First, it was lifted by the waves, and then it quickly plunged into the trough. Some unprepared individuals fell immediately, sliding towards the port side with startled cries. A considerable amount of seawater splashed onto the deck from the starboard side, drenching Yu Xiaotian halfway with seawater, which jolted him awake and invigorated his spirit. He hurriedly reached out to grab a rope, stabilizing his stance, and thus avoided falling.