The pirates were able to target the caravels thanks to the English fleet’s tactics, or rather, the tactics of European navies during this period.

European naval tactics at this time had barely changed, except that cannons had replaced earlier primary weapons.

Typical battles involved warships chaotically intermingling and brawling.

The carrack was designed to win such naval battles. Its high forecastle and sterncastle resembled a floating fortress. It wasn’t easy to board a carrack with ordinary caravels or dhows.

Rather, approaching to attack often resulted in devastating damage from the barrage coming from the forecastle and sterncastle.

For this reason, the pirates targeted the caravels.

The caravels targeted by the pirates performed evasive maneuvers around the carrack-class warships “Golden Brow” and “Golden Mary.”

They were luring the pirate ships between the two vessels with overwhelmingly superior firepower.

This, too, was a traditional tactic.

As a result, despite the pirates’ attempts at strategy, a traditional chaotic battle ensued.

Had commanders from the imperial navy witnessed this, they would have cursed before anything else.

“Imbeciles who can’t even form a battle line! What a waste of ships!”

***

The imperial navy had been using battle line formations as basic tactics for quite some time.

It began when cannons were introduced in late Goryeo and mounted on ships.

Initially, they simply advanced warships with cannons in fish-scale formations or blockaded ports before engaging in bombardment.

But it was Hyang who broke this mold.

After improving existing cannons into more powerful ones, Hyang proposed a bombardment-specialized warship, the panokseon, equipped with these cannons.

While previously cannons were haphazardly mounted on ships, the panokseon was designed specifically to properly operate cannons.

As a result, King Sejong and the navy gradually began to introduce panokseons. This was possible thanks to Joseon’s enriched treasury through economic reforms.

Hyang continued to sprinkle his “MSG.”

“Is just mounting cannons enough? Shouldn’t we form proper formations?”

“Formations?”

“At sea? Is that possible, my lord?”

To the naval commanders who responded negatively, Hyang answered decisively.

“We must make it possible! All the panokseons are identical, so with a bit more training, it can be done.”

Except for the fact that many naval soldiers suffered because of that “bit more,” Hyang’s proposal greatly improved the navy’s combat effectiveness.

By forming various formations such as straight line, long snake, and crane wing, the navy’s power multiplied. This was because they could now concentrate their firepower.

Following the panokseon, as Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships were deployed in large numbers, the Joseon navy, and subsequently the imperial navy, entered the era of line-of-battle ships.

As the saying goes, “challenge and response” or “action and reaction,” neighboring countries, especially Ming, actively responded to these changes.

They built additional large warships like the Daebokseon and introduced line formation tactics to their navy.

In response, Hyang created the “assault ghost ship,” a line-breaking vessel. Ming countered with the “twin-headed flame dragon,” but only wasted enormous funds and innocent lives.

***

There were two main reasons why Europe had not yet applied these line-of-battle tactics.

The first and biggest reason was financial.

Making cannons, building ships to mount them, and training sailors to operate them all required substantial funding.

Starting with Portugal and Spain, an increasing number of countries were realizing that controlling the seas meant profit, but for most European countries, land and agriculture remained the economic center.

For many European countries, cannons were still merely weapons for siege warfare.

The second reason was the lack of information.

Portuguese ships traveling between Suez and Mokpo trading port in the Empire’s mainland never witnessed the imperial navy properly forming battle lines and engaging in combat.

During conflicts with Ming, they were confined to the southwestern islands or Tsushima Island for safety. They had occasionally witnessed battles between pirates and the imperial navy during voyages, but only saw a couple of Challenger-class warships or three or four Haeung-class warships decimating pirates.

As a result, European countries had not yet developed the concept of line-of-battle ships and line tactics.

In the current battle between pirates and the English fleet, the English fleet formed a primitive battle line with its two carracks. However, this wasn’t a properly trained naval operation or tactic, but merely experienced captains moving instinctively based on experience.

It was clear that European navies would need much more time and bloodshed before perfecting line tactics.

***

“Whew~”

After the battle with the pirates ended, Captain Brow, the other captains, and the sailors exhaled with exhausted faces.

To repel the persistent pirate attacks, the captains and sailors had fought desperately.

Pirate ships that chased the caravels performing evasive maneuvers were devastated by concentrated attacks when they entered the firing range of the two carracks.

Longbowmen positioned on the high forecastles and sterncastles shot arrows with the famous “English longbow,” while musketeers fired their long rifles.

The pirates, who were relatively lower, fell covered in blood from arrows and bullets, and subsequently, their sails and decks caught fire from flaming arrows, turning their ships into balls of fire.

The pirates weren’t fools either. They attempted to board by blocking the path of retreating caravels, and the caravels maneuvered in various directions to avoid these intercepting pirate ships.

As a result of this fierce battle, the English fleet suffered considerable damage.

“‘Golden Wind’ sank, ‘Golden Rose’ is heavily damaged. Other ships can continue sailing with minimal repairs.”

“Damn… tsk!”

Clicking his tongue at his subordinate’s report, Captain Brow turned to the clan representative.

“What shall we do? Return to London?”

“What do you think is best?”

“Returning to regroup and starting again is a good option. However, our main ships, Golden Brow and Golden Mary, are still intact, so continuing the voyage is also viable.”

“Hmm…”

At Captain Brow’s words, the clan representative stroked his chin and looked at him. In response to the unspoken question, Captain Brow elaborated:

“The advantage of the former is that we can prepare thoroughly and depart again. However, we would need to procure at least two new ships and recruit new sailors. This means substantial additional expenditure.”

“Additional expenditure…”

The representative made a troubled expression at Captain Brow’s words. Already, there was much talk among clan members due to expenses exceeding expectations.

In this situation, returning empty-handed and requesting additional funding would very likely lead to the clan’s dissolution, or worse, bankruptcy.

“What are the pros and cons of the latter option?”

“The advantage is that our novice sailors and slaves have become much more experienced through this battle. Additionally, since our main ships, Golden Brow and Golden Mary, are intact, long-distance sailing itself shouldn’t be a major problem. The disadvantage is that our forces are insufficient to engage in another battle like this one.”

“Do you think pirates will attack again?”

“Once we reach the vicinity of the Azores, there shouldn’t be any pirates.”

“Hmm…”

After contemplating Captain Brow’s words, the clan representative suggested a compromise.

“Let’s gather the captains and collect their opinions.”

“Very well.”

Shortly after, the captains of the surviving ships arrived by boat and boarded the Golden Brow.

“What about Golden Rose’s captain?”

“Captain Sanchez has perished. The first mate as well.”

The navigator from Golden Rose announced the deaths of the captain and first mate. Hearing this news, Captain Brow pursed his lips.

“Damn. They were jovial fellows, what a shame.”

After mourning the death of the talkative but always cheerful Spanish captain and first mate, Captain Brow got to the main point.

After hearing Captain Brow, the captains quickly reached a consensus to “continue the voyage.”

-When we departed, many competitors had completed preparations. If we return now, we might fall behind those competitors. Let’s continue the voyage.

“If that’s your conclusion, we’ll proceed with the voyage. Then…”

With the decision to resume the journey, the fleet’s sailors and captains began repairs in the middle of the ocean.

They transferred crew, provisions, gunpowder, materials, and valuables from the heavily damaged Golden Rose to other ships, while moving the bodies of sailors who died during battle onto the Golden Rose.

“What shall we do with the injured slaves?”

Asked this question, Captain Brow made a cold decision.

“Move slaves with fatal injuries that can’t be saved to the Golden Rose.”

“…Understood.”

And so, severely injured slaves were transferred to the Golden Rose. No sailor objected to Captain Brow’s decision. They all knew there was no hope with the fleet’s poor medical facilities and standards.

When the work was complete, the fleet’s longbowmen simultaneously fired flaming arrows at the Golden Rose.

Thanks to the oil that had been spread beforehand, the Golden Rose quickly became a fireball, and the fleet’s sailors observed the fire in silent prayer.

***

After completing repairs, the fleet continued its voyage toward the Azores Islands.

Upon arrival at the Azores, the fleet immediately began resupplying.

While replenishing the food and supplies needed for the fleet, Captain Brow faced a troubling situation.

“You want to disembark?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Why?”

“I’m scared.”

Faced with the words of a young sailor who still had baby fat on his cheeks, Captain Brow looked perplexed.

‘It’s not that I don’t understand…’

The boy had become a sailor out of curiosity about the outside world and a spirit of adventure at a young age, but the recent battle had clearly made him realize the cruel reality.

“Hmm…”

After a moment’s consideration, Captain Brow made his decision.

“Permission granted. I’ll calculate your wages for the journey so far.”

“Thank you!”

“However, since you’re breaking the contract, I’ll base it on half the promised wages.”

“Thank you all the same!”

Similar situations occurred on other ships, and eventually, the fleet needed to recruit new sailors and slaves.

***

After completing resupply and personnel reinforcement at the Azores, the English fleet departed again, heading west.

When the journey, steadily continuing toward the setting sun, passed its tenth day, the fleet encountered another crisis.

“Disease?”

Upon receiving his subordinate’s report, Captain Thomas’s expression hardened. Among things one wished to avoid during a voyage, pirates and disease topped the list.

“What kind of illness?”

“Well… it appears to be smallpox…”

At the sailor’s answer, Captain Thomas’s face turned deathly pale.