Wang Fengwu walked as fast as flying. In a blink of an eye, he stepped in front of Mr. Hu and laughed loudly: "Brother Hu, are you going to go to sea? You haven't gone to sea in a few days."
Hu Erlao looked at Wang Fengwu and then at the people behind him. He took a sip of dry smoke and blew out a stream of white mist. He shook his head and sighed: "I'm old, I'm old! In the past, no matter how big the storms were, I didn't care.
Now I have been beaten with a stick, and I have to rest for a few days before I can regain my strength." The so-called "knocked with a stick" refers to the pirate attack and sinking of one of his large ships a few days ago, and Huang's father died in this battle.
Wang Fengwu smiled and said: "Brother Hu has been living in the sea for decades. He has never experienced any storms. How can he be discouraged? Brother Hu, if you just say a word, I will immediately go and take off the head of Mr. Taipan."
"I accept Brother Wang's kindness." Hu Erlao shook his head and refused without thinking. It was not that he couldn't save his face, but that he couldn't rely on outsiders. Mr. Taipan himself had nothing to worry about, but there was a big Bodhisattva sitting above him - Lin
Qilao, the great pirate who dominates Dachen Island, has forty or fifty warships, large and small, under his command, and no less than two thousand warriors who dare to fight. With any move, the entire Zhejiang coast will be filled with thunder, and the vegetation will be filled with soldiers, and he is extremely powerful. Hu
In the final analysis, the conflict between the two elders and the top class boss is a private matter between the two people and has nothing to do with the forces they belong to. If Hu Er Lao asks Wang Fengwu for help, the top class boss will naturally ask Lin Qilao for help. With Lin Qilao's strength, he can wave his hand casually.
Then their village can be wiped from the world.
Wang Fengwu knew what Hu Erlao was thinking, and he was also aware of Lin Qilao's fierce power. Others were afraid of Lin Qilao, but he was not afraid at all. He couldn't defeat him. Just leave Dachen Mountain, there are thousands of islands in Zhejiang, and there is always a place to stay.
To take a step back, even if you can't stay in Zhejiang, you can go south to Fujian or north to Nazhi. Why worry about having no place to stay? As long as you live, you will fight with Lin Qilao until death. This is what a man does. In Wang Fengwu's opinion
, a sea man, once he loses his will to fight, all he can do is wait for death.
Wang Fengwu was dissatisfied with some of the conditions in the village, and his sense of identity was never enough, but he never thought of leaving. If he wanted to leave, he would have left long ago. All the big bandits in Dachen Mountain, including Lin Qilao, tried to recruit him.
He was never moved by his brains, either with power or with benefits. Because he valued loyalty the most in his life, he regarded it as more important than life. When he was an old man, Erlao Hu took him in.
A bereaved dog, such kindness cannot be reciprocated.
Wang Fengwu chatted with Mr. Hu for a few more words, and then took his confidants aboard the seven-foot-long bird boat not far away. Mr. Hu also led his men to board the boat.
Huang Chen followed a plank to the Big Bird Boat and looked around curiously. It seemed like nothing on the shore, but it was only when he was inside that he clearly felt how huge it was. There were two masts on the deck, the headmast was four feet long, and the mainmast was even taller.
It was six feet long, with an observation tower built at the top. Huang Chen was secretly stunned. Modern six or seven-story buildings were only this high. Those who dared to climb up were undoubtedly brave people. There were ropes and sails piled under the mast.
, if the sails were fully unfolded, the width and length would be three to five feet.
Huang Chen slowly withdrew his gaze, remembered something, and asked Zhao Hongyi beside him: "Uncle Zhao, I vaguely heard my father mentioning that there are dozens of large and small boats in the village, why are there only five boats here, and where are the other boats?
?”
Zhao Hongyi said: "It's all here, Brother Huang has included the boat."
"Jiao boat..." Huang Chen looked in the direction Zhao Hongyi pointed. It was a small boat tied to a large ship. The captain of the foot boat was just over two feet tall and about five feet wide. He followed the big ship to the left and right in case of emergency. Under normal circumstances,
They carried four to six people. Huang Chen looked again and saw that, except for the rowing boat, the other four sailboats indeed all carried paddle boats, which added up to nine. The sunken sailboat that Huang's father was on must be no exception.
There are eleven ships in total, which is consistent with the claimed number of dozens of large and small ships. But...sampans are also considered ships?….
In order to make Huang Chen familiar with the environment as soon as possible, Zhao Hongyi taught him to identify ship equipment, such as tents, ropes, poles, anchors and other objects. One explained carefully and the other listened attentively.
Jue. At the stern of the ship, there is a shrine enshrining a statue of the goddess.
"Mazu..." No matter in his past or present life, he knew this famous Chinese female goddess of the sea.
Zhao Hongyi said: "This is the Heavenly Concubine. When sailing on the sea, you need her protection to be safe. Please pay your respects."
Huang Chen never believed in ghosts and gods. Even if his soul traveled through ancient times, he still didn't believe it, but he had to worship, otherwise it would be too shocking to fall in the eyes of Zhao Hongyi and others. Huang Chen knelt down on his knees without hesitation and kowtowed respectfully.
Three rings.
The introduction on the ship was almost complete. Zhao Hongyi led him into the cabin. The two of them went down the ladder to the first floor. The cabin was hot and dark. The right side was empty for the convenience of the crew, and there were several instruments placed on the left side.
Stove. Walking forward from the corridor, you can see eight bedrooms on the left and right. Zhao Hongyi said that lower-level crew members like them are not blessed to enjoy it.
On the next floor, the environment is several times worse than the one above, almost unbearable. The bedrooms are still the same, but the number of beds has been greatly increased. Small rope-suspended beds fill the space. This is where Zhao Hongyi and Huang Chen rest every day.
"Not bad, at least it's better than a Western-style hammock..." Huang Chen laughed inwardly. The third floor is a place for storing items and filling in boulders. There is nothing interesting to see. The entire ship has three cabins at the front and rear, which can accommodate a hundred people.
, if you squeeze it, it can accommodate one hundred, fifty or sixty people.
Zhao Hongyi took Huang Chen around every corner of the cabin, and finally returned to the deck. During this period, some more people boarded the ship. Huang Chen estimated that the number of people exceeded a hundred, and the actual accurate number was one hundred and thirty-seven. Pirates
It is roughly divided into two parts. One is the unarmed people like Huang Chen and Zhao Hongyi, who are responsible for sailing, and the other is those who carry weapons and firearms, who are responsible for fighting. Of course, this division is not absolute, and those who sail the boats also have to participate in the battle.
, those who fight also need to help hoist sails, etc., but each has different emphasis.
After everyone arrived, Mr. Hu and several of his cronies paid homage to the Heavenly Concubine and then ordered the sails to be raised.
Zhao Hongyi's main job is to be responsible for the headmast chores. He is proficient in some carpentry work. If the portman is unable to board the ship due to an accident, he can temporarily take over and take charge of the ship's port. He can be regarded as a multi-talented person.
Huang Chen followed Zhao Hongyi's instructions and came to the headmast to participate in raising the sail. There are many ropes on the canopy, which are divided into hanging sail ropes, sub-foot ropes, head ropes, sail-fixing ropes, etc. Each has a fixed number and cannot be pulled at will.
.Huang Chen and the other slender men who were fully clothed tried their best, and the canopy finally unfolded leaf by leaf and rose up along the mast. The western cloth sail was fixed on the scale and only needed to be untied
The tied ropes can be quickly deployed when facing the wind, but it is a bit cumbersome to furl the sail. The Chinese hard sail is just the opposite. Due to the heavy material, the sail is raised slowly and lowered very quickly.
Dozens of people worked together to raise the headmast, with awnings on both sides of the main mast. At the same time, six large oars were protruded from the left and right sides of the ship, swinging up and down, hitting the water. Amidst the long and deep shouts, the ship slowly started, sailed out of the harbor, and entered the harbor.
The endless sea.
Huang Chen was lying on the side of the ship. Everywhere he looked, the sea and sky were the same color. Looking as far as the eye could see, the graceful arc shown where the sea and the sky met made people intoxicated. After a short break, Huang Chen got busy again. In order to integrate into the pirate group as soon as possible,
Not only does he never discount Zhao Hongyi's requests, he is also willing to help others if they ask for something, as long as he can do it, such as moving things.
On the sea surface in Zhejiang in June, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. Under the scorching sun, Huang Chen was scurrying around on the ship like a top. After only an hour, he was already exhausted and almost collapsed. He sat weakly under the helm, sweating profusely.
Out of breath….
"Are you tired?" Zhao Hongyi sat next to him, fanned himself with a bamboo hat to cool down, and said, "You have just arrived, and you don't know the filth in it. There are more than a hundred people on the ship, and none of them are diligent in their own affairs. The rest are all
People who are lazy and slippery don't like hard work. The reason why I don't remind you is to let you remember this lesson. As the old saying goes, hearing is false and seeing is true. Next time, just do your own thing well and do what others ask for.
, just do what you can, and don’t try to be brave, otherwise you will be the one who suffers in the end.”
"Uncle Zhao taught you a lesson." Huang Chen said with a bitter smile.
Zhao Hongyi said: "There is nothing happening on the ship at the moment. You can go back to the cabin and rest."
Huang Chen nodded, got up and came to the hatch, went down the ladder, and when he was going down to the second floor, he met Hu Yin, who was the first to speak: "Last time you said you would come to work for my father, it turns out you are
Became Zhao Hongyi's companion."
"Exactly." Huang Chen replied with a smile.
Hu Yin couldn't help but asked curiously: "Why did you choose that Zhao Hongyi?"
Huang Chen couldn't help but be stunned and thought to himself: "What do you mean by this? Is it strange to choose Zhao Hongyi?"
Hu Yin saw that Huang Chen seemed to have limited understanding of Zhao Hongyi, so he directly revealed the latter's background. After hearing this, Huang Chen suddenly realized that Zhao Hongyi knew everything about sails, carpentry, and ship hulls. Such a versatile person was so popular.
It's so strange that it really makes people scratch their heads. There is only one reason. He is timid and timid to fight. He always shrinks back every time he fights. As a pirate, he doesn't dare to fight with the enemy. No matter how good he is in other things, he can't even think about it.
If he gets even the slightest respect from everyone, he will only be treated as a laughing stock after dinner.
Hu Yin said: "I know almost all the young people in our village who are outstanding in martial arts, but no one can compare with you. With your ability, following Zhao Hongyi is too unqualified."
Why couldn't Huang Chen hear Hu Yin's subtext? It would be a lie to say that he was not moved. After all, Hu Yin is the only son of Hu Er. Taking this line would save him one or two years of hard work. It is the hardest, most difficult, and most dangerous.
For a year or two, Huang Chen thought about it over and over in his mind and said: "I know nothing except proficient in some fists and kicks. Uncle Zhao's martial arts are mediocre, but he has rich experience on board. This is what I lack most at the moment. If I don't know anything else first,
I will train with Uncle Zhao for a period of time, and then I will work for the young master."
There was a look of surprise on Hu Yin's face. He thought that if he showed his attitude, the other party would agree without hesitation. Although he did not get the answer he wanted, Huang Chen's answer made Hu Yin improve his evaluation of him.
After several levels, he said: "Okay! Let's do it for three months. After three months, you leave Zhao Hongyi and follow me. I guarantee that you will have a bright future."
Watching Hu Yin climb up the ladder, Huang Chen smiled with a smile on his face. No one in the world could convince him, not Hu Yin, not even his father Hu Er.