"Captain," several guards came around, "How about we go to the surrounding areas to find some common people to help sail the boat?"
Mo Dou was slightly startled.
The three counties of Yumu, Yanhui and Jinghu are flat and vast, but they are all built around Jinghu. In addition, the east of Yumu County is close to the North Sea, and many people make a living by fishing, and even live on the water all their lives.
Although the land is covered in ice and snow at this time, the people here have long been accustomed to such a climate. If you really want to find some people who know how to sail, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Isn't this appropriate?" Mo Dou hesitated.
What they want to sail is not a small fishing boat, but a huge war camp-level ship. They need a lot of sailors just to row the oars, otherwise it will be impossible to sail the ship.
What's more, it's not just one ship, but more than 120 ships, estimated to have at least 10,000 sailors.
cough!
Someone coughed slightly.
"Captain, you don't need so many people."
"Our shipyard already has a lot of auxiliary workers, such as those who cut wood, transport, purchase, and cook. After subtracting these, it will be enough to find two to three thousand more people."
Mo Dou's eyes lit up, but he was still a little hesitant.
These people alone can barely drive the ship out, but such a ship does not have any offensive or defensive capabilities.
If we collide head-on with the Japanese pirate fleet, the consequences will be disastrous.
As soldiers, it is okay for them to die in battle, but it drags down thousands of innocent people.
"Captain, we can first explain the power of this trip to the people. If they are willing to help, then help. If they don't want to, don't force them. Anyway, it is better than watching so many good ships fall into the hands of Japanese pirates.
"
"Yes." Mo Dou sighed.
"Forget about the newly harvested wood and semi-finished products. It would take several years to build so many good ships. It would be a pity to just fall into the hands of Japanese pirates or be burned down."
The guards all breathed a sigh of relief and quickly struck while the iron was hot.
"Captain, maybe this trip is not that dangerous."
The man pointed to the ocean in front of him.
"The vast North Sea is vast and boundless. There are only more than a hundred ships, and even a ship as big as the Warlord-class is actually a small drop in the sea. If we hide and sail out, it shouldn't be a problem to avoid the Japanese pirate fleet."
"That's right." Others nodded in agreement.
"Besides, there is a strong northwest wind blowing now. If we go south, we will have a tailwind and it will be easy to increase the speed of the ship. If we are really unfortunate enough to encounter a Japanese pirate fleet, we can probably escape if we want to escape.
Half the boat."
If you really can't escape, hundreds of warships will collide head-on. Even without weapons and hard ramming corners, it will be enough for the Japanese pirates to drink.
As for the Beihai Pass behind him, let Huang Shitao have a headache.
boom!
Mo Dou was not a mother-in-law, so he slapped his thigh heavily and said, "Okay, that's it."
The guards immediately beamed with joy.
Mo Dou glanced at them and said, "Time is running out, so stop talking nonsense. Now everyone has to do three things well."
Wow.
A group of people subconsciously straightened their chests and said, "Captain, please speak."
Mo Dou nodded with satisfaction.
"First, send a letter to General Wei explaining our plan; second, gather all the employees at the shipyard and prepare to sail for evacuation. Third, immediately go to nearby villages and towns to find people who are willing to help, and you can pay them appropriately.
"
Speaking of this, he estimated the time in his mind.
"The Japanese pirates are almost here in the past two days. Regardless of whether we can find enough people, everyone must return here before midnight tonight, and then board the ship and go to sea."
"clear!"
In the evening, it's not dark yet.
Everyone has rushed back, followed by dense crowds of ordinary people.
There are men and women, old and young.
A quick look at the ink fountain revealed that it was definitely more than five thousand.
After arriving at the shipyard, they didn't even need to give orders. They took the initiative to help carry various materials as soon as they looked around.
"What's going on?" He was a little confused.
hey-hey.
The guards had white frost on their brows and mouths, but they were all smiling happily.
"Captain, when the people around heard that our Starfall Legion was looking for someone to help get the ship out, they agreed without any hesitation. They even called on the neighbors to help."
No one even asked about the compensation.
"No, if it weren't for the thick snow on the road and the difficulty of walking, we would have been back long ago."
Mo Dou was shocked and stunned at the same time, "Have you told them the dangers of this trip?"
Before the guards could speak, Old Man Li, who was smoking a pipe and had a weathered face, came over.
He chuckled.
"General, everyone knows the situation. As long as the Starfall Legion is busy, there is no need to say anything. Everyone who can move will come to help."
Speaking of this, Uncle Li glanced at the sea in the south.
"Besides, there are Japanese pirates. We encountered them quite often when we went fishing in the past years. If we really get into trouble, we will sink them regardless of what they are doing."
"That's right." Others nodded in agreement, "They have two shoulders and one head. Who is afraid of the other!"
"It doesn't matter that we are fishermen. If there are weapons on the boat, we will probably have a fight with them. I have never been afraid of sailing a boat in all my life..."
You said something to each other, and Mo Dou was silent for a while.
He bowed his hands to everyone with an apologetic look on his face.
"Dear elders and fellow villagers, I understand what you are saying. I would like to thank you all for your support and trust in the Starfall Legion. However, we are not going to fight now, but rather prioritize protecting these ships or these weapons."
Speaking of this, Mo Dou sighed.
He looked up at the falling star flags fluttering over the shipyard.
"It's a shame to say that we, Xingluo, are border troops. We should have stayed here to resist the Japanese pirates and protect this place and the people. But unfortunately, the entire army is in Baekje, and with the current weather, it may be difficult to get back.
.”
"But uncles, please rest assured, our Xingluo Legion has always been a stickler. Now let's protect the ship and leave. We will come back next year when the spring is warm and the flowers bloom. We will never let the Japanese pirates do whatever they want to harm the people and the land here."
"It's okay." Someone laughed loudly, "It's freezing cold and the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. Although Xingluo can't come back, the Japanese pirates can't go around killing, burning and looting. I'll just kill them next year after the snow melts."
…
After everyone yelled for a while, they quickly went ashore.
It didn't take long.
Squeak, squeak,
The oars moved, and the big ships sailed out one after another, turning around and heading south.
"This general," said Mr. Li, who had a weathered look on his face, and walked up to Mo Dou.
"We have been fishing nearby all our lives and know this sea as well as our own hands. We know exactly where the water is deep and shallow, where there are whirlpools and where there are rocks."
"If the general doesn't mind, we can take the fleet close to the coast."
This is safer.
After all, the Japanese pirate fleet is fully armed, but they are unarmed, so it is better not to encounter them if possible.
"Great. We need just such a person." Mo Dou was overjoyed and gave up his position without hesitation, "Master, please lead the route."