The propellers are entangled, the freighter loses power and is forced to stop, and the water bandits can surround the freighter unscrupulously, looking for ways to board the ship, and finally board and rob it.

The barge itself is fully loaded with cargo, and the draft at the ship's cornice is very deep. As long as it stops, it will be a meal for the water bandits.

This seemingly crude and primitive method was figured out by water bandits during long-term robberies, and it basically works every time.

Despite the huge size of the Orchid freighter, it is basically impossible to move even with this most primitive method.

"Water bandits, water bandits are here!"

"A large number of water bandit speedboats are rushing towards us, please sound the alarm quickly."

"..."

The patrol members spotted the shadow of the speedboat on the lake in the dark night and screamed quickly and loudly.

The emergency alarm was immediately sounded on the ship.

Butcher, sniper Shi Feng and others suddenly woke up from the bed and jumped up. They picked up their weapons and quickly ran out of the cabin and onto the deck.

On the deck, Fellay, who was in charge of patrolling, was leading his team members to open fire with light and heavy machine guns.

"Da da da..."

"Tu tu tu tu..."

"..."

The situation on the barge was even more critical. Ten rifles had to face both sides. Dozens of speedboats led the charge, and later came large fishing boats. They also had machine guns.

Fortunately, the Maxim heavy machine gun on the rear deck of the freighter, the condescending fire support of the Mattson light aircraft, and the blind bombardment of the two grenade launchers.

With strong fire support, the convoy repelled several attacks by water bandits and overturned several speedboats. However, the team members on the barge were attacked on both sides and could hardly escape the torrential bullets. Two people died on the spot, and two others

Injured but still holding on, it seems to be in danger, and it will be a matter of time before it loses its position.

"Ta...ta da..."

"Tu tu tu tu..."

"Bang...bang...bang..."

Gunshots rang out loudly on the quiet lake, and bullet marks and sparks flew, reflecting the darkness of the lake.

"Kill all the water bandits, leaving no one behind!"

After the butcher came to the deck of the ship, he shouted menacingly to boost his morale.

He couldn't hear the strong wind in the lake, so he kept running back and forth on the deck.

On the deck of the cargo ship, in addition to the escort team, some crew members were running around in a panic, trying to find a place to hide.

The butcher angrily grabbed a crew member and said sternly:

"Don't run around, inform the captain and first mate, and ask them to tell all the crew members not to panic and run around, but to stand firm at their posts, and leave the rest to our convoy team!"

"Okay...Okay..." The crew member was so frightened when he saw the butcher's fierce face that he shook his head. He nodded in panic and ran towards the cockpit on both hands and feet.

Not long after leaving, the ship suddenly stopped with a creak. Due to inertia, the butcher's body leaned forward and almost fell out into the lake.

Fortunately, he was a martial arts practitioner with quick eyesight and quick hands. He grabbed the guardrail and steadied his body.

He frowned. The ship seemed to be unable to move. What method did these bandits use to force the Orchid to stop?

The butcher would never have dreamed that the first net cast by the water bandit would tangle the propeller of the freighter in one fell swoop. The freighter immediately lost power and could only slide slowly with inertia, and finally stop on the vast Dongting Lake.

.

At this time, the first mate whom I had met before appeared out of nowhere. After seeing the butcher, he seemed to have seen a life-saving straw. He grabbed him and shouted:

"The butcher's officer is in trouble, the cargo ship is forced to stop, and the water bandits will prepare to board the ship and rob it next!"

"Please don't panic, Mr. First Mate, tell me, where are the water bandits likely to board the ship?" The butcher had to stop and comfort him while asking.

"It should be on the left and right decks of the stern, because the guardrails there are relatively low and can be easily hung on iron hooks!" the first mate replied tremblingly.

"Okay, listen to me and don't panic. Now go and ask the crew not to run around. We are now exchanging fire with the water bandits. Bullets don't have eyes. Also, they have gunboats and they will also fire. Let all the crew find a place to hide.

Get up, otherwise we will not be responsible if you die!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going to give you the instructions right now. I leave it to you for the safety of this ship!"

After the first mate finished speaking, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ran to the cockpit. The bearded captain was there and he was going to report.

"Shi Feng, take people to support the left and right decks. Make sure the barge is not occupied by water bandits!"

"Understood, boss..."

But just after the conversation, the water bandits began to launch a fierce attack on the barge. More than a dozen speedboats fired hundreds of rifles, which was very powerful. Crucially, their gunboats also fired.

"Boom boom boom..."

"..."

The shells exploded around the barge, raising water columns several meters high. The barge was flooded with water and unable to move. Several of the shells exploded at the connection between the ship and the first barge, collapsing the bow of the barge and flooding the hull with a large amount of coal.

Sliding in the tide.

The most fatal thing was that the towing cable was broken by a cannonball, saving the water bandits the trouble of coming over to cut the cable.

The ship was still moving slowly due to its inertia, while the barge was like a kite with a broken string, being dragged away by the water bandits with their long hooks and sickles.

Seeing the five barges far away without help, they were forcibly captured by water bandits in a short while, and all ten guards were killed or beheaded. The comrades on the ship shed painful tears.

After capturing five barges, the water bandits' morale was greatly boosted. They howled and began to concentrate on besieging the Orchid.

At this time, the Orchid had completely stopped in the lake, floating like a half-dead fish on the water, while water bandits' speedboats circled around the hull, howling wildly and firing crackling shots.

Three armed fishing boats joined the battlefield. The machine guns on the boats were spitting out flames, which made Fele and the others dare not stretch out to shoot, making the water close to the hull a blind spot for shooting.

What's strange is that the two gunboats did not fire at the freighter, probably because the French gun's aim was inaccurate and they were afraid of accidentally damaging their own speedboats around the ship. This was fortunate.

In the fierce gun battle between the two sides on three sides of the ship's stern, the convoy's Maxim heavy machine guns, light machine guns and grenade launchers all played a role, preventing the water bandits from approaching the ship's hull in large numbers.

Several rampant water bandits' speedboats forced their way into the blockade. As a result, numerous water bandits were killed and injured in an instant, and the speedboats were sunk and capsized by thick heavy machine gun bullets.

The water bandits became fierce, and several speedboats carried grenade launchers newly supported by the Japanese.

"Watch out for enemy grenades!"

The butcher saw a speedboat emerging from his side, with two gangsters holding a small-caliber grenade on the bow and taking aim. He was so frightened that he shouted loudly.

This is not bad!

Although the Orchid freighter is strong and solid, it is not an ironclad ship. The hull and deck are all made of wood. If these water bandits used grenade launchers to blast it blindly, it would be equivalent to a small artillery shell bombardment.
Chapter completed!