299: Chapter 299 Fire!

Upon receiving the signal, the three helmsmen controlling the warship's direction turned the bow at maximum speed, aiming the breech-loading cannons at the whale five kilometers away.

Each cannon was manned by a three-person crew: an ammunition bearer, a loader, and a gunner.

The gunner adjusted the elevation of the muzzle so that the fired shells would hit the whale or land in the surrounding waters.

These were explosive shells; the steel fragments from the detonating warhead were more than enough to easily penetrate deep into the whale's body.

The ammunition bearer quickly hauled a shell out of the ammunition box and handed it to the loader.

Amidst the metallic clanging, the loader took the shell and placed it into the breech of the cannon.

The loader then locked the breechblock.

There are significant differences between muzzle-loading cannons and breech-loading cannons.

The most common muzzle-loader is the mortar, where the shell is loaded through the muzzle and fired when the firing pin at the base of the barrel strikes it.

Modern firearms are essentially breech-loaders; the projectile is loaded from the rear of the barrel and fired by a firing pin. Breech-loaders offer vast improvements over muzzle-loaders in terms of accuracy and rate of fire.

This was the first time Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi had ever seen such a display; they watched the grand scene with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

Under Xu Ning's command, a hundred warships roared in unison.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!...”

Three hundred breech-loading cannons fired simultaneously; the commotion was staggering.

The massive recoil caused the entire warship to lurch backward.

“Ah!”

“Ah!”

“Ah!”

...

The thunderous roar of the cannons sent the unprepared Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi into fits of terrified screaming.

But it wasn't over yet. Today was destined to become a nightmare for Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi; for the rest of their lives, they would wake up in a cold sweat whenever they dreamed of this bombardment.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!...”

Some of the three hundred shells exploded in the water around the whale, while others detonated directly against its massive body.

Under the concentrated firepower, seawater was blasted high into the sky.

The whale's blood dyed the surface of the sea crimson.

Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi felt their legs go weak; unable to stand, they collapsed onto the deck.

The three of them looked at one another, their eyes filled with pure horror.

This was simply too terrifying.

It wasn't just the noise of the attack; the power was like a divine punishment, capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Such a colossal fish had been blown into fragments!

If this were used to bombard them, they would be wiped out in swathes!

Beads of sweat the size of beans broke out on their foreheads, their souls nearly leaving their bodies from fright.

It was terrifying!

Only one thought remained in their minds: they must never make enemies of these gods, otherwise the shells that hit the great fish would fall upon them instead!

Caught in the center of such explosions, they would have no power to resist.

They would be effortlessly erased by these gods.

And they wouldn't be able to fight back in the slightest!

These gods were far too frightening.

In the face of such absolute firepower, the hearts of Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi were filled with dread; they didn't dare harbor even a hint of rebellion.

They prostrated themselves on the ground, not only afraid to look at Xu Ning but even afraid to breathe too loudly, simply hoping these people would be merciful.

Even though Xu Ning looked at Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi with a kind smile, it still left them trembling with fear, their bodies drenched in cold sweat!