"In a while, the wind will be stronger." The old helmsman also expressed his judgment.

The old captain nodded: "Fortunately there is the southeast wind, otherwise I would never dare to do such a risky thing today."

He sighed softly, and said to the young sailor, "Put down the sail."

Just as the sailor put down the sail, the old helmsman had already swung the rudder and adjusted the bow of the ship that was originally facing east towards the northeast.

The sails fell, felt the wind and began to swell.

The old captain held the sail control rope in his hands, smiled and said confidently: "Please note that the ship is going north, and the Dionian warship will chase after him, but don't worry, we will go home safely."

Everyone responded with a serious expression.

On this 13-meter-long and 4.5-meter-wide merchant ship, there were only ten sailors, a total of 12 people, except for the captain and helmsman. It was just the opposite of the warship, with light in front and heavy in the back, narrowing and upturned bows, wider in the stern, and the sails and helmsman were on the stern. The ten sailors were separated from both sides of the hull, and the center of the hull was covered with linen.

The old captain pulled and put it on, and the sail quickly turned to a suitable position, and the sail quickly bulged, and the speed of the entire ship suddenly accelerated.

The merchant ship behind also followed the ship and accelerated its sailing to the northeast.

………………………………………

"Mr. Commander, Carthage's fleet fleeing north, and Stefakas is leading the fleet to chase after him."

When Secrean heard the news, he turned his head and looked at the waves, frowned slightly: "Escape to the north... It seems that the Carthaginians want to take advantage of this south wind."

"Do we need to chase after us?" asked the captain.

Secrean made a decision without hesitation: "It is far from enough to transport food to Carthage's 100,000 troops, just 300 merchant ships... Since Carthage wants to trick us out of here, no! Let us stay here and never let their next fleet enter the port of Lilibi easily! However, we cannot be careless, let the Clippers strengthen their connection with Stewarkas, and I must always know the movements of the 1st squadron!"

"yes!"

Secrean's order allowed 200 warships to cruise on the sea near Lilibi, while 80 warships led by Stefacas chased the Carthage fleet and were almost approaching Motia.

Mothia was once a military center in Carthage in Sicily. Dionysius led an army of 100,000 and worked hard to destroy it. The Carthaginians did not rebuild it, but built a new military center near it - Lilibi. Therefore, more than 20 years have passed, the city of Mothia has not been cleared, including the causeway mobilized by Dionysius that leads from the coast to Mothia. Due to the existence of this causeway, the shallow sea between Mothia and the coast has become a pocket-like bay. Stefakas concluded that the Carthaginian fleet would not dare to enter, otherwise they could catch turtles in a jar.

Stefakas judged the course of the Carthage fleet correctly. Because he led the fleet to prepare in advance, he took a little advantage and narrowed the distance with the Carthage fleet, especially the rapid warships collided and sank several merchant ships behind, causing some chaos in the Carthage fleet, and even collided with each other and capsized.

This is because the Carthage fleet is located on the west side of Motia Island, and on the west side of Motia Island is another small island, aegusa. The two islands are only less than ten miles apart and are relatively narrow. The merchant ships behind feel dangerous and rush to accelerate, which immediately makes the entire Carthage fleet crowded.

But this situation soon improved because after passing this section of the sea, another small island of Pharbantia appeared diagonally in front of it. The Carthage fleet was immediately divided into two teams, one team continued to move forward and the other turned westward, while the Carthage crew members who fell into the water swam onto these islands calmly.

After learning from the lookout's mouth, Stefakas frowned. He knew roughly what the Carthaginians wanted to do: there were many small islands in the sea ahead, and some reefs that could not be called islands. During this period, Secrean led the fleet to cruise the western Sicily waters. On the one hand, it was to cut off the sea transportation in Carthage, and on the other hand, it also made the newly built fleet familiar with the sea conditions here. All crew members regarded the sea area ahead as a dangerous area, especially

It was at high tide that some reefs were flooded by rising sea water, and ships not familiar with the sea conditions were easily hit, causing damage or even sinking. The new Sicilian fleet had learned such a lesson, so Secretlian deliberately made people draw this sea area into a map for each captain to remember. But since that is the case, they are definitely not as familiar as these Carthaginians who have been sailing here for many years. These cunning Carthaginians must have used this sea area to get rid of their pursuit and create some trouble for them.

Stefakas thought for a moment and conveyed the order to slow down all warships and be vigilant. At the same time, he decided not to disperse the fleet for the time being, but to chase the fleet that was heading north first, and must block the near coast and prevent it from entering the port of Elex not far ahead.

Unexpectedly, after seeing that the Carthage fleet turning westward, when they saw that the Dionian warship did not follow, they immediately circled Agusa Island and turned southward. The fleet towards the north was divided into two again, turning westwards through an island reef...

Under such circumstances, Stefakas had to order the warships to be dispersed and interspersed between the islands to intercept and attack the enemy ships, because he could not allow these Carthage fleets, which had almost not suffered much loss, to slip back to the south. Although there must be a main fleet in the south, they saw that they had been chasing for a long time and had not achieved any results. No one was on their face, not to mention that Secretly emphasized that "a Carthage merchant ship must not be let go."

So, a large-scale sea hide-and-seek game began.

……………………………………

At this time, on the sea near Lilibi, the main fleet of Dionia was cruising with news from the Clippers sent to the southwest: another Carthage fleet with a smaller number than the Sicilian fleet was heading towards Lilibi.

"Mr. Commander, your judgment is very correct. The Carthage merchant ship is here again!" the flagship captain praised.

Secrean seemed a little dissatisfied: "There was a little less number and notified the fleet to unfold in the southwest. Before the Carthaginians discovered it, quickly come up and eat them as soon as possible! Maybe the next wave of merchant ships will arrive soon."

Just as the warships in Dionia received the order and began to arrange their formations, the clutch's lookout hand opened his eyes in surprise. He suddenly saw that the Carthage fleet in front of him began to transform from a column into a horizontal line, and adjusted the direction of the sails. The speed of the merchant ship suddenly accelerated: Are the Carthages crazy?! At this distance, we should be able to see our warships. Why don't we escape, but instead rushed forward?! Do you still want to fight us with a merchant ship?!"

The lookout didn't know that in the center of the Jiatai Chi fleet opposite, Captain Barricos was driving the sails while shouting loudly to the nearby merchant ship: "It's time to test your courage! If you feel scared, you can still withdraw at this time!"

"I have been sailing for decades, and I have never seen any kind of wind and waves. I even followed Morbar, crossed the Pillar of Hercules, went to the distant coast, and saw the two-wheeled chariot of the gods (now Cameroon Mountain)... Isn't it just death? What's there to be afraid of!"

"It's right! We old guys are alive until today, just for this moment! We die and can meet with our former comrades in Bar Harmon's temple!"

"Don't just talk about us. Compared to us, you are still young, you have not enjoyed enough life, nor have you seen enough wars. When the warships of Dionia rushed towards you at close range, don't be scared to know how to control the sails."

Barricos laughed loudly: "Don't worry, my ship will rush in front, avoid the collision of all the Dionyan warships, and enter Lilibi safely. I want the Dionyans to know that the Dionyans were not the real Carthaginians before, and the real Carthaginians were heroes on the sea, and they could not defeat them!"

"That's right, Barricos, show the ignorant Dionians what is the real sailing!" The crew members on the ship waved their arms and responded enthusiastically.

Barricos smiled: "Brothers, get ready, the adventure is about to begin!"

He controlled the sails. This small merchant ship with less than 10 meters long and only three meters wide, with a total of 8 crew members rushed towards the opposite Dionia warship like arrows shot out.

Under his leadership, 60 merchant ships that were almost the same as it rushed into the arms of the hungry wolf like sheep that broke its head.

The captains of the Dionian warship were very surprised to see the performance of this Carthage fleet, but they would never make themselves kind because of the stupidity of their opponents. Under their orders, the Dionian warships put away their sails and rely on nearly 200 oarists to row together. The huge warship also rushed forward at an astonishing high speed. The head of the ship flashing with black light cut the waves that surged towards them, and the water splashed onto the deck.

The Carthage fleet was like a row of waves pushed by the southwest winds toward the Dionia fleet, and the Dionia fleet was in a double-sided array, and the front warships charged almost 1-to-1, just like the boxing match of the Olympic Games, which was exciting.

But when the two sides approached, compared with the Carthage merchant ship and the Dioria warship, it was like a baby facing a giant, with a huge difference in size, and a slight collision would cause bones to be broken.
Chapter completed!