The Witcher: Make Witcher Great Again

Chapter 232: Big Ship vs. Small Ship, I Have the Advantage
On the other side, on the Nilfgaardian privateer.

"Why haven't they put up the white flag yet? Is it because they can't find it?"

"Could it be that they intend to fight to the bitter end?"

When Sir Henry Morgan heard his subordinate's answer, he snorted disdainfully: "Unless the captain of that merchant ship is crazy."

He became a pirate captain at the age of twenty-three, and this is his eighth year on the sea.

Ever since he obtained this warship, which had been retired from the Nilfgaardian navy, from the usurper emperor of Nilfgaard, he had never encountered a captain of a merchant ship who dared to resist to the end after seeing so many ballistae on this warship.

Although many people in the north have heard about the cruel treatment of other people by the Nilfgaardians.

But most people will still choose the latter between dying early and dying late.

Even if being captured by the Nilfgaardians meant a miserable life of slavery.

People always have a certain degree of hope.

Others were captured and made slaves, forced to work in mines for the rest of their lives until they died.

But what if I am different?

Sir Henry Morgan thought.

This is what scholars call human nature, or human inferiority, or some other bullshit.

But it doesn't matter.

Even if the other side is unwilling to surrender.

That doesn't matter either.

Once they show their muscles, the other side will naturally face reality and surrender.

"Privateers versus merchant ships, the advantage is mine! Everyone, get into combat positions!"

Following Sir Henry Morgan's order, the deck of the privateer suddenly became busy.

Some crew members adjusted the position of the ballistae.

Other crew members began to load ammunition into these sharp weapons of sea battle.

A brazier was also brought.

The large crossbow bolts they used to load their ballistae were specially made.

The arrows were wrapped with incendiary material.

After it is ignited, it will cause a raging fire when shot at the enemy ship.

Ships of this era were all made of wood, even naval vessels.

Even if the other party immediately sent people to put out the fire, it would tie up part of their manpower.

Moreover, the burning flames will cause panic among the crew.

It will have a morale-destroying effect.

When explaining this tactic now, it seems to be ordinary and nothing special, but Sir Henry Morgan relied on this ordinary tactic to be invincible in naval battles.

Since the distance between the two sides was not far at this time, there was no need for a monocular telescope, and the people on the merchant ship could also see the actions of the Nilfgaardian privateer ship.

When he saw those terrifying crossbows aimed at him, especially the large crossbow bolts loaded into them, all ignited...

Panic immediately spread across the deck of the merchant ship like a plague.

"They're targeting us? They're targeting us!"

"We're screwed!"

"I surrender! Don't shoot! I surrender!"

Although Lynn had just revealed his plan to the sailors, they still couldn't help but fall into panic because they knew how powerful the crossbow was.

After all, they are not navy, but sailors on merchant ships.

At most, they were mentally prepared to fight against pirates, but they never thought about fighting against privateers equipped with crossbows.

The captain tried to calm the sailors' flustered emotions.

But most of the sailors were still terrified.

It is said that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers.

But the more the sailors understood the power of the warship's crossbow, the more panic they fell into.

Only Lin En was left standing at the stern, squinting his eyes and staring at the distance between the two boats.

Just before their merchant ship entered the range of the crossbow, Lynn turned around and shouted to Borch:

"It's now!"

Borch grabbed the anchor and threw it out with all his might.

The heavy anchor slammed into the sea, splashing a wave.

After dragging a dozen meters on the seabed and clearing a large amount of mud and sand, it finally hooked onto a rock. "Full right rudder!"

The helmsman next to Lynn hurriedly turned the rudder to the extreme right side, to the limit position.

The bow of the ship was hooked by the rocks on the seabed, and was first pulled down suddenly by the pulling force from the sea below.

Then it turned to the right at an extremely fast speed.

Because the turning method was so rough, everyone on the boat could hear the sound of the hull being unable to bear the weight.

Many sailors on the deck immediately began to pray.

But fortunately, the worst case scenario did not happen.

Although the wooden boards are warped and cracked in some places.

But at least it didn't disintegrate.

"Tia, Via!"

The two Zerrikan girls untied the anchor chains.

The merchant ship, having completed its turn, charged towards the privateer like a wild boar galloping on the sea.

"You idiots! What are you all standing there for? Fire! Sink that ship!"

At the roar of Sir Henry Morgan, the crew members on the privateering ship finally woke up and reacted as if from a dream.

Shoot the ignited large crossbow bolts in one go.

"Please move aside, sir. It would be more appropriate for me to do this."

The helmsman felt like he was being pushed away.

Borch laughed.

Under his personal operation, the merchant ship miraculously avoided all bombardments.

puff!puff!puff!
All those large crossbow arrows were shot into the water, creating waves one after another.

"Be prepared for boarding, gentlemen."

The captain straightened his own hat and took the opportunity to shout.

"The sea gods are with us, boys, kill them all!"

The sailors, whose morale had just plummeted to the bottom, were ignited after experiencing an incredible big turn and miraculous snake-skin maneuvering.

I originally thought that it would be sunk just when turning.

Unexpectedly, not only did he complete the turn quickly, but he was not hit by any large crossbow arrow.

Are the ocean gods really blessing them?
I fell into panic before because I realized there was no hope.

But now, they found that they still had a chance to fight, and these men who made a living on the sea regained their spirits.

Now it was the privateer's crew's turn to panic.

"Fire! Hit it! Hit it now!"

"No, too late to reload!"

"They're coming!"

Under the horrified eyes of the crew, the bow of the merchant ship slammed hard into the side of the privateer.

All the crew members on the deck of the privateer were knocked off their feet.

Several unlucky children were even knocked into the water.

"Follow me, everyone!"

The captain, holding a sailor's knife, took the lead and jumped onto the deck of the privateer.

He raised his sword and slashed it down, knocking down a crew member who was about to fight the enemy.

Following behind the captain was Borch, and the two Zerekan girls who were guarding him closely.

Borch held a cat-head steel sword in both hands, and his sword moves were swift and agile. The enemies who were fighting against him basically had no time to launch an attack before they were killed by him.

Tia and Weia, who guard him, are also deadly roses. Although their swordsmanship is not as swift as Borch's, it is just as deadly.

Soon, blood and internal organs were scattered all around the three of them.

Seeing how brave the four men who led the charge were, the other sailors' morale was immediately boosted. They also shouted and followed the four men and rushed onto the deck.

Although they had not received much combat training, this was the sea, not land.

There are only two outcomes in naval battles: victory or death.

Now their merchant ships and privateers are like lovers in their first love, clinging tightly to each other and unable to distinguish from each other.

At this time, is there any other choice besides charging?
　Thanks to Siwei's River Fish for the reward!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)