From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

1770, October 5

The sky in Malta is not clear. Several thick cumulonimbus clouds gather and overlap to block the sun, casting a huge shadow under the vast sea. Thunderstorms and precipitation are bred between the clouds. I don’t know when they will happen. Falling from the sky.

However, rainfall is a common occurrence for this small island with a Mediterranean climate. The fishermen on the beach finished their work early and went home early, tying their boats firmly to the dock.

These people of the sea judge based on past experience that a storm is about to come to the island of Malta.

The humidity of the air is so high that even the citizens of Port Valletta who live by the sea all year round feel sticky and uncomfortable.

The number of merchant ships traveling to and from the Port of Valletta was also much smaller. Many captains saw the large cumulonimbus clouds floating in the sea around Malta midway, knowing that there would definitely be a thunderstorm here, and they also made temporary changes. route.

Only a few merchant ships were still approaching the island of Malta at the fastest speed with full sails. There was no doubt that these were ships that could no longer leave the thunderstorm area and had to choose to enter Valletta Port to avoid the storm.

On the fortress tower on the east side of the port, Lawrence and Major Serrurier stood on the observation deck overlooking the entire island of Malta, observing the situation inside and outside the city.

There were no pedestrians on the streets in the city, and even the usually busy port seemed much deserted at this time. Only a few small sailboats were hurriedly heading towards the Port of Valletta.

Thick fog has drifted over the sea since early morning, and visibility is extremely low. For people on the dock, even a tall and majestic lighthouse just over 2,000 yards away from the Port of Valletta is looming in the fog. , as if swallowed by the sea fog.

Standing high on the fortress, Lawrence and Major Serurier could hardly see anything. Only the situation around the fortress was still clearly visible, and the rest, including the situation on the port pier, were hidden in a thick fog.

Lawrence rubbed his palms covered with sweat and dew, frowned and said:

"Wet weather like this is really annoying."

"It does feel so physically." Major Serulier also took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat on his face, and said with a smile:

"But if you often command the army in combat, you will know that the soldiers down there still like rainy days like this, especially when fighting on the front line."

"Oh? Why is that?"

After all, Lawrence did not have a long-term military life, and he did not realize what Major Serurier meant for a while, so he asked curiously.

Major Serurier smiled and pointed to the cumulonimbus clouds on the horizon and explained:

"It will rain heavily soon. It is difficult to fire a musket in such an environment. The soldiers can stay in the barracks all rainy day, sleep, drink and play cards. They really like this weather."

"That's true." Lawrence chuckled and nodded, understanding what Serurier meant.

The gunsmith major had mentioned it to Lawrence when he worked with Major Cui Farley before.

On rainy days, the powder tank and fuse hole of the musket are easily wetted by rainwater, making it impossible for the gunpowder to ignite normally.

If the medicine pool gets wet, the soldiers can still try to wipe it dry and continue to use it. Once the detonator hole is soaked, it can be said that the musket is in a scrapped state until it is dry.

If they are well-maintained and well-maintained firearms, they may be able to fire several times normally in the rain, because these firearms will be frequently oiled and maintained, and the sealing of the medicine tank can also be guaranteed, making them less likely to be soaked by rain.

However, the old guns in the hands of soldiers in the army are obviously not comparable to the gold-inlaid muskets collected in the Duke and Earl's mansion. Not to mention that these old muskets are well maintained, it is a blessing to be able to fire normally. .

"That is to say." Lawrence also raised his head and glanced at the dull and depressing sky, and said thoughtfully:

"The knights and our soldiers can only use cold weapons to fight the enemy today? What if the British invade today?"

Major Serurier nodded, sniffed hard, as if feeling the humidity of the air, and added:

"I'm afraid it's not just today. It looks like it will rain for several days. Those knights will probably be very happy if the British really come today."

"Who says it isn't?"

The knights of the monastery have to receive strict swordsmanship training since childhood. Every qualified knight is a well-trained swordsmanship master. Even when the knights need them to carry muskets, they will always carry them at their waists. They wear a long sword as a symbol of their identity and glory.

If they really have the opportunity to draw their swords to defend the Knights, those knights will definitely regard it as a great honor.

While the two were chatting, a pale white thunder suddenly flashed across the sky. Along with the rolling thunder, large raindrops also fell from the clouds. In an instant, a heavy downpour fell around the island of Malta. of sea areas.

Lawrence looked at the lightning in the sky, felt the sea wind that suddenly became violent, and said softly:

"The storm is coming."

Meanwhile, on the docks of Valletta Port

An inspector wearing a raincoat shivered under the biting sea wind. He cursed and glanced at the last few merchant ships that broke through the sea fog and sailed to the dock. He couldn't help complaining:

"I really want to go back and sit by the fireplace to warm up and drink two glasses of scotch. Alas, these captains are really damned. Don't they know how to return to port early?"

This commissioner is also the unlucky guy who boarded the merchant ship where the Corsican army was a few days ago.

However, he felt that he was very lucky, because after spending several days in fear, he found that Governor Bonaparte did not seem to pursue the matter of asking for a bribe from the Knights, and he was able to work in this fat job. I continued to do some casual activities.

After inspecting the two sailing ships docked in the port according to the old rules, the commissioner snickered and put the dozen gold coins he had just received into his pocket. He weighed the heavy pocket. He suddenly felt that it was useless to work overtime in the heavy rain. Nothing bad.

After assisting the previous captain to dock the ship's anchor tether at the port, the commissioner turned to look at two more merchant ships heading towards him through the sea fog.

The two merchant ships were much taller than those brigs. They were obviously large armed merchant ships like the ships in Lawrence's fleet.

The commissioner glanced at the models of the two ships and couldn't help but cursed to himself:

"Oh? Why are there two more big ships? Damn, what a bad luck."

The last time he received such a large merchant ship was on Lawrence's ship, which reminded him of some bad memories, and his face became much uglier.

"Forget it, forget it, don't think about it that much." Mr. Commissioner shook his head and waited quietly for the two merchant ships to dock. Then he climbed up the gangway to the upper deck of one of the ships in a familiar way.

I don't know if it was due to the heavy rain, but there was no one on the upper deck, and even the helmsman's position was empty; but judging from the rudder that was still rotating slowly with inertia, it seemed that the helmsman had just left.

The commissioner looked around in confusion, then walked up to the captain's cabin door, kicked the cabin door hard, and shouted domineeringly:

"Where's the person in charge! Where's the captain! Come out and be inspected!"

There was a movement in the captain's room, but no one came out for a long time.

"Damn it, what are you playing with me here!" The commissioner suddenly became furious and was about to lift his leg and kick him again, when the cabin door of the captain's cabin suddenly opened at a very small angle.

The commissioner was stunned for a moment, because he saw standing behind the door a man wearing a bright red military uniform, a three-cornered hat, and a curved blade saber at his waist.

In his impression, there has never been a merchant ship captain dressed like this. Such a bright red military uniform and three-cornered hat seem to only appear in

The commissioner was stunned in place, still searching desperately in his memory, but a beautiful pistol had been stretched out from the door, and the dark muzzle was pressed directly against his forehead.

"You!" The commissioner's pupils contracted violently, and adrenaline began to be secreted instantly, making his whole body feel hot. He was about to raise his hands to persuade the other party to calm down, but.

boom!

The sound of gunpowder explosions from the pistol was quickly drowned in the heavy rain, and the commissioner also recalled before the lead bullet completely destroyed his brain tissue. Such bright red military uniforms, sabers and pistols, except for the British Who else but a redshirt?

However, no matter how much knowledge he had, it was of no use at this moment. The commissioner staggered back, and then there was no reaction. The back of his head hit the ground heavily into the puddles on the deck, and blood and slurry spurted out from his forehead. Soon the puddle was dyed red and yellow.

The officer in the captain's cabin stuck his head out, his eyes not staying on the commissioner's body for a second. He squinted at the few patrolling knights on the dock, turned back to the cabin, and used a spoon to clean the gunpowder in the pistol. Zhizhi, while ordering to the adjutant:

"Start taking action immediately, with the main goal of seizing the key fortress on the island. We must occupy the island of Malta before the Knights react!"

"yes!"

Just two minutes later, a dozen thick wooden boards stretched out from the second deck of the ship and were firmly clamped on the dock, forming covered bridges for soldiers to attack.

The soldiers of the entire ship were mobilized. They mounted the sleeve bayonets on the muskets, got off the ship in an orderly and rapid manner, and under the leadership of their respective non-commissioned officers, launched an attack into the interior of Valletta Port.

The merchant ship docked at the adjacent dock also immediately took action. The more than a thousand British soldiers on the two ships combined were like red streams gushing out of the cabin, converging into a blood-red lake, trying to Flooded the entire island of Malta.

At the same time as the storm arrived, the British attack began.

At the port, the patrol team composed of citizens saw the bright bayonets and brightly colored uniforms. Fear and panic instantly occupied all their thoughts. The residents of Malta are all citizens of the sea. These citizens of the sea How could one not know the dominance of the British at sea.

Everyone dropped their long sticks and short knives and ran away in all directions, crying loudly at the same time:

"The British are coming!"

"Run quickly, the British are coming!"

"Ahhhhhh, don't stop me!"

The only ones who could remain sane in this situation were the monastic knights with less than twenty people at the port.

They were also shocked by this sudden attack, but unlike the fleeing citizens, the knights quickly calmed down; a young knight held the hilt of his sword tightly and looked firmly at dozens of times To his enemies, he calmly ordered:

"Everyone follow me and sound the alarm immediately."

The young knight knew very well that it was impossible to stop the British attack with just a dozen of them. Their only mission was to let the knights know about the raid at the port as soon as possible.

"But Captain!" One of the knights glanced at the red-shirted soldier charging with a bayonet, gritted his teeth and said:

"The latest alarm bell is still at the dock. We may not be able to catch up, or we should retreat first and spread out to various forts to deliver the news."

The nearest brass clock to the knights is set on the pier of Valletta Port, right in the middle between the knights and the red shirts.

Every knight understands that if they choose to go to the dock for warning, it means that they will have no possibility of retreat and will be completely submerged in the bayonets of the red shirts.

Whether to retreat backwards and seek to survive, or to fight forward to spread the news of the attack to the entire knights, there was no time left for everyone to consider the decision between life and death.

"whispering sound!"

The young knight turned his head and glanced at his subordinates, his clear eyes showing no trace of confusion.

He knew that even if his group chose to retreat, they would not be blamed by anyone, because no normal person would expect a dozen of them to convey the enemy's information while surrounded by more than a thousand attacking red shirts.

But he also knew that in such foggy weather, the soldiers on the watchtower would never be able to notice the situation at the port immediately.

In other words, whether the knights can learn about the raid on the dock as quickly as possible depends on the dozen knights present.

Thinking of this, he growled and pulled out his long sword. Amidst a faint audible sword cry, he raised his sword and pointed it at the charging red-shirted soldier, and shouted loudly:

"We must not retreat here! Passing the enemy's information to the Knights is our ultimate mission, everyone! Follow me!"

After the shouting ended, the young knight took the lead and rushed out of the station house, holding his sword and galloping against the wind and rain towards the oncoming red-shirted army.

The other knights were not surprised or hesitated, even the knight who suggested retreating just now.

After receiving the order, they unsheathed their swords in unison, looked at each other, and expressed their perseverance and determination to their companions with their eyes. Then they immediately followed the captain's footsteps and started running against the enemy's charge.

The British obviously knew that they could not allow the knights to react to this surprise attack as quickly as possible, so they specially sent a company of troops to the big bell to try to stop the knights' attempt.

On one side were more than a hundred of Great Britain's feared Red Shirts waiting with bayonets in hand, and on the other were a dozen knights of the Knights Hospitallers holding swords and running into the wind and rain.

The two parties soon met.