Chapter 486 - 29: Departure
July 28, 1663, marking over a year since the indigenous people were captured, and four days before the second festival on the island.
After a long period of preparation and nearly a month of intensive training, the three-person team was finally ready to set off before Chen Zhou’s "birthday".
...
On the afternoon of the 28th, the entire beach was deserted.
The other indigenous people were working in the fields on the mountain. Their workload was very large today, likely working until it was completely dark before heading home.
This was specially arranged by Chen Zhou for Saturday, as he did not wish anyone besides the three-person team and Saturday to know about this.
As the daylight waned, the beach was enveloped in a slightly dim golden hue.
A wooden stone wall cast a shadow in the distance, and a newly made sailboat anchored under the western cliffs, swaying with the tides.
Sunday, Kulu, and Kosu stood straight as they bid farewell to Chen Zhou.
The three were dressed in military green digital camouflage, wearing steel helmets, carrying backpacks, and draped in raincoats.
Although they were relatively short and had not undergone formal military training, they did not look as spirited as professional soldiers.
But the appearance relies on clothing; once they donned these identical outfits, even if they did not resemble American soldiers, they bore some resemblance to Vietnamese veterans.
"Have you packed all the equipment?"
Looking at the determined eyes of Sunday, Chen Zhou, like a worried old father, asked for the countless time.
...
"Yes, packed."
Sunday pointed to his backpack.
The equipment carried by the three were generally the same, with Sunday, the person Chen Zhou valued most, having slightly special equipment.
Kulu and Kosu carried multifunctional military sabers, infrared night vision goggles, each a dismantled American Hunting Recurve Bow, and fifteen real feathered arrows per person.
Besides, as the navigator, Kosu also carried a compass, sextant, and other professional instruments for direction finding. Despite his repeated claims of being familiar with the sea route between Big Island and Little Island, Chen Zhou insisted on him bringing these items.
Kulu’s backpack contained food and medicine, including tightly packed unleavened buns, high-sugar chocolates, hemostatic medicine, and antiseptics.
As the main combat force and commander of the three-person team, Sunday’s equipment was the best.
An enclosed compartment on the ship concealed a flintlock gun, specifically prepared for Sunday.
Moreover, Sunday carried Chen Zhou’s "precious treasure" — the Chen Family 1662 rifle.
The rifle was improved from Chen Zhou’s initial version.
Although Chen Zhou had yet to create bullet primers, with the power of two machine tools, he could manufacture copper bullets.
Compared to lead or wooden shell bullets, copper bullets offered stronger penetration, higher stability, and greater precision. Chen Zhou produced over thirty rounds, all handed to Sunday.
If it weren’t for some indigenous people on the island needing a protective weapon, Chen Zhou would have handed Sunday the revolver.
After all, Sunday was embarking on a nation-expanding level task; its first execution, if successful, would continuously increase the island’s population.
In order to enhance the success rate, Chen Zhou was willing to provide all the help he could.
...
In terms of weaponry, both the American Hunting Recurve Bow and the Chen Family rifle were overpowering tools against indigenous people and even Spaniards.
Among melee weapons, the multifunctional military saber was evidently unsuitable for frontal combat.
Nonetheless, Chen Zhou never intended the three-person team to confront Indigenous Warriors directly—
Their task was stealth, capture, and withdrawal; facing hard battles with merely three people landing was not feasible.
Yet unexpected situations arise, and since they were invading the indigenous stronghold, no one could guarantee no unforeseen conflicts. After much consideration, Chen Zhou decided to equip Kosu and Kulu with bayonets.
As for Sunday, he preferred his Long Saber, despite its material being inferior to the bayonet, it was the most fitting weapon for him.
If someone carrying a gun was forced to engage in melee, it was often an indication of dire circumstances.
In this regard, Chen Zhou did not insist Sunday use a specific weapon; as long as he could tighten his grip on the gun and calmly aim and shoot, it would suffice.
More than the firepower of firearms, the loud blast itself was a psychological weapon of intimidation against the indigenous.
...
"Hmm, remember everything I told you."
Chen Zhou’s gaze subtly shifted towards Kulu and Kosu.
He was reminding Sunday that in a moment of desperation, he should avoid being reckless; if necessary, he could abandon the two as long as he returned safely.
Sunday nodded, raised his wrist, looked at the time on his watch, and whispered.
"It’s time."
"Then off you go! Wishing you a successful operation."
Knowing it wasn’t early, worrying that further delay would affect landing time, Chen Zhou waved his hand at the three-person team.
The three immediately knelt on one knee, saluted him, turned around, entered the shallow water, raised anchor, and hoisted sails, gradually sailing into the distance under twilight.
...
Watching the sailboat leave, Chen Zhou felt an indescribable sensation.
Despite knowing Sunday was drastically different from modern peers, this young indigenous boy experienced hardships, life-and-death struggles, and hell-like life.
Yet in his view, Sunday was not much different from his younger generation, even resembling his own child.
This loyal fellow, willing to face any adversity for him, actually had not received much benefit.