vncnus Chapter 529 The Captain
Chapter 529 The Captain
Chapter 529 The Captain
"My lord, Earl Hubert is always a man of few words when he commands this ship, but once he speaks, everyone must act according to his orders."
When Dick asked David how to be a good captain, this was his answer.
Dick could only look helpless: "I understand the reasoning, but I'm not a loyal dog. Although I really want to be as good as him, I knew nothing about sailing a year ago."
The Knights School taught Dick many strategic skills, and Dick mastered them all.
Whether it's a surprise attack, an ambush, or positional warfare, Dick knows how to plan it.
Dick knew by heart all the details of the battle: how the infantry and cavalry should be arrayed, when the spearmen and archers should enter the fray, and so on.
The Knight School not only trains powerful warriors, but also excellent generals.
However, they did not teach them how to sail.
Perhaps the Desert Knight School is inherently isolated from water, while other knight schools teach similar skills.
But at least for now, Dick doesn't have it.
David simply smiled, making his sun-darkened face look incredibly honest: "You've at least grasped some things, and that's enough. Commanding ships is the same as commanding an army. First, you need to be clear about your strategic objectives. War is not something one person can fight, and voyages are large vessels that require multiple people to operate. You must learn to trust your subordinates, sir."
“Of course I trust him,” Dick said, frowning. “I just don’t have confidence in myself.”
1
Dick is now at Bone Bay in Elbow Point, the southernmost port of the kingdom.
Soon, the Hunting Dog will set sail and head towards the vast ocean.
For Dick, this was definitely an extremely challenging voyage.
Therefore, he must be fully prepared.
But he knew his own strength was limited, so how could he not panic?
“Then there’s no problem,” David said. “When you want to move forward, just order to move forward; when you want to stop, just order to stop; when the sea conditions ahead aren’t good, just order to move away.”
"All crew members will perform their duties and complete their tasks according to instructions. A qualified captain does not necessarily need to give detailed instructions, although this technique can indeed greatly increase the efficiency of the ship."
"The important thing is to guide the warship. The captain's thoughts are the ship's thoughts. And knowing when and how to make the right judgments is what makes a qualified captain."
I don't know if David was just trying to comfort me, but if that's all there is to it, Dick certainly could do it—
But: "What if my judgment is wrong?"
"Then you will lead the entire ship to its demise," David shrugged. "And that's the most important thing a captain needs: a sense of responsibility. Sir, remember, you bear a heavy burden; the lives of everyone on board are on your shoulders."
"Responsibility?" Dicks pondered David's words, standing on the diving board, gazing blankly at the distant island.
That's the elbow bone island.
According to David, when Lord Hubert first led a massive fleet to hunt down the Navigator, he used this island as a base, but unfortunately the Navigator escaped that time.
David said he was just an ordinary soldier at the time.
Lord Hubert was already a renowned lord.
At this moment, Dick will take this as a starting point to search for the "Fallen Feather Island," whose existence is unknown.
Hmm—I hope my loyal dog will wish me good luck.
"Thank you for your guidance, David."
Dick snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at the first mate beside him, asking, "Is everything ready?"
“Of course,” David said, “although I still think we’re crazy right now. But we have plenty of food, water and medicine. I can assure you we can stay out here for four months without worrying about supplies.”
Dick pointed out, "But that means our ship will be packed full," and this is an old, aging ship. "The HMS Yellowhound will certainly have a deep draft, which will affect our speed."
"In fact, it's a rowing sailboat with a wide berth, so even when fully loaded, the speed won't be sacrificed too much," David said. "However, it will definitely have an impact."
This was Dick's biggest worry: "And if we encounter the enemy, our ships will be neither able to catch up nor escape."
"But as long as we can win, that's all that matters," David grinned. "The crossbows on our ship were a gift from the Holy City Lord of Lieyang City. They're not only advanced, but even the giant arrows are specially made. Don't be fooled by the fact that there are only twenty of them; they can be used in all sorts of situations."
Dick knew this better than anyone else. In fact, Dick had even served as John Justinian's advisor for one night. Dick nodded and then walked toward his ship: "Then notify the assembly to prepare for departure."
The flags of the longships of Bone Bay flutter in every corner of the harbor.
It is said that this place once housed the world's most powerful fleet.
The lord would dispatch countless ships from here to guard the security of the kingdom's coast.
However, over the long years, this ancient family could not escape decline.
No one drives a pure oar longboat anymore; sailboats are dozens of times faster.
With the emergence of various technologies, Bone Bay's glory existed only on its fluttering flags.
Dick boarded the ship.
The crew is making final preparations for departure.
Dick stood upstairs, calmly watching the bustling activity.
Peggy was quickly brought up.
This girl always loves to wander around the streets.
She hadn't had enough fun at Bone Bay last time, and since she couldn't really help anyway, she was given a bodyguard to protect her as she wandered around town.
However, she didn't seem very enthusiastic, only going out for two hours each day before returning to the deck.
But Dick was too busy to pay attention to her every move.
Peggy looked up and met Dick's gaze, gave a snort, and then walked into the captain's cabin.
David then approached Dick: "Sir, everyone is back."
A true captain must make decisive decisions—Dick thought to himself, and couldn't help but chuckle—though I'd rather call myself a knight.
"Then, let's go."
David bowed, then directed the men to weigh anchor and hoist the sails, and the ship began to move.
The Hunting Dog set sail from the waters between the islands and the mainland, heading south.
The sea breeze in spring is a mix of warm and cold, with a rather peculiar flavor.
Watching the busy figures of the sailors on the ship, Dick gradually understood what David had just said.
These men didn't know where the ship was headed, but the hunting dog was running, because Dick knew where to go.
I am the brain — Dick thought — and also the heart.
He carried the lives of everyone on the ship on his shoulders.
But I can't see the end of this journey.
What were the feelings of the Scarlet Prince as he led his ships to the open ocean a thousand years ago?