Chapter 43 Unexpected Gunshot

Amidst the drizzling rain, the Fast Eagle slowly departed from the pier, but this time it wasn't for a long voyage. In the departure notice given to the Salvadoran port authorities, Captain Elgar filled in "Engine testing, returning within three days."

This time, Zhang Hainuo left Otto and a small portion of the crew in El Salvador, specifically to assist at the Schneider Shipyard. The secret submarine hangar, converted from Dock No. 3, was crude but reliable for storing U148. Who would have thought that beneath a warehouse filled with bicycles lay a submarine hangar?

With the workers on holiday, when they returned, Dock No. 3 would transform into a complete warehouse. The only one who might see through the facade during this process was likely Schneider!

As more people joined the plan, the composition of participants became more complex, and the risk of leaks increased. This would be another unavoidable challenge in the plan! Zhang Hainuo had repeatedly warned the crew not to disclose anything about the sunken treasure to the German crew serving as stokers and mechanical technicians on the Fast Eagle. If those men discovered they were part of the plan but couldn't share the enormous wealth with the German crew, some might act out of imbalance.

However, not all crew members could keep their mouths shut, especially after downing glass after glass of "horse urine." Finally, one day, Thomas approached Zhang Hainuo, saying that since the eight crew members were part of the plan and were "naval auxiliary personnel," they should share in the sunken treasure, especially since even the two Turks got a share!

Zhang Hainuo didn't outright refuse Thomas's request but told him that all crew members, including Turks Arslan and Elgar's family, had made undeniable contributions to salvaging the sunken treasure. The current distribution principle was agreed upon by everyone. Although the eight crew members, including Thomas, had indeed worked during the voyage from Turkey to America, effort and labor were proportional. He could, to some extent, improve their treatment, but concerning the sunken treasure, he couldn't unilaterally decide to include them without collective approval!

Thomas left in a huff. To appease the crew, Zhang Hainuo, after consulting with Otto and others, decided to share the shipyard's profits with them in the future, albeit at a lower ratio than the crew members. When Zhang Hainuo announced this decision to the eight crew members, their reaction was very tepid—clearly, the allure of the treasure was too great!

Reluctantly, Zhang Hainuo had to instruct the crew to monitor these eight closely and, in case of any unexpected situation, permit them to use force to detain them.

Although prepared for the worst, Zhang Hainuo didn't want to see bloodshed within his team. However, on the other hand, human greed was unavoidable:

Bearing the same risks, doing the same work, shedding even more sweat, yet only receiving a limited salary; on the other hand, selling this information to the British or Americans could fetch a substantial reward, making one an instant millionaire. It's hard to guarantee that anyone wouldn't be tempted by that path!

So, should Schneider be informed of this internal matter?

Zhang Hainuo was conflicted. Elgar and Arslan had joined and remained disciplined and respectful because their lives in Turkey were miserable. After joining the team, they not only received care but also shared dividends like the crew members. However, what about Schneider? And Thomas and the seven German crew members, as well as potential future individuals who might learn about this secret—should they all receive a share of the wealth?

Zhang Hainuo wasn't greedy, but the more people involved in the distribution, the less wealth each person received. Over time, discontent might arise among the crew who risked their lives for this venture. If this team fractured as a result, the consequences would be unpredictable!

At economic cruising speed, it took Fast Eagle 16 hours to reach the designated rendezvous area. As usual, the crew used signal lamps on board to transmit prearranged signals until U148, lurking in the area, was spotted. These tasks seemed simple, but Zhang Hainuo knew how difficult the days were for Hessen and the crew waiting on the boat. Fortunately, once they hid U148 in that secret submarine hangar, the crew would have a peaceful life for several years!

After reuniting with U148, Zhang Hainuo gathered Hessen and the officers on board and explained in detail the coastal conditions of Salvador and the planned route for U148's entry into the port. One of the significant reasons they chose the port of Salvador was its location on the east coast of Todos Bay, meaning it wasn't a traditional enclosed port—the docks of this commercial port were arranged in a single line from south to north, each with its breakwater. This meant that U148 didn't need to pass through narrow channels to reach the Schneider Shipyard from the open sea; it only needed to avoid being detected by ships entering and leaving the port or people onshore.

Because of this, they decided to command U148 to enter the port at night, with Fast Eagle responsible for piloting and cover. If done correctly, this action wouldn't be much more difficult than when Zhang Hainuo led a submarine through the Strait of Gibraltar!

Once the details of the entry plan were finalized, Zhang Hainuo calculated the timing. With Fast Eagle and U148 traveling at 7 to 8 knots, they would arrive at the port of Salvador exactly at midnight. To ensure the success of this operation, Zhang Hainuo decided to jointly command U148 with Hessen, leveraging his knowledge of the port of Salvador and Hessen's excellent command and control abilities, undoubtedly increasing the chances of success!

Zhang Hainuo and Hessen went to U148, leaving Simon as the highest commander on Fast Eagle. Additionally, there were 24 other crew members on board. Thomas and the crew were still working in the boiler room and engine room. However, whenever he thought of them, Zhang Hainuo felt annoyed. How did he not see that they would be the type of people to abandon national interests for personal gain? Was it a case of knowing someone's face but not their heart, or was it seeing someone's true colors over time, or should human greed be blamed?

Despite this, considering Simon and the crew's numerical advantage on Fast Eagle, armed with two pistols and three rifles, Zhang Hainuo wasn't worried about the crew causing trouble at this time. However, he was wrong. The fact told him not to relax his vigilance at any time!

If the daytime rain continued like this, it would be very advantageous for them. However, things didn't always go as planned. Just as they were three hours away from Salvador, the rain stopped, and under the influence of the wind, the dark clouds dispersed rapidly. By the time Fast Eagle and U148 arrived outside the port of Salvador, the bright moonlight flooded the sea. After the rain, Salvador appeared clean and peaceful.

"Fortunately, most residents should be asleep by now!"

On the conning tower of U148, Zhang Hainuo looked at the port ahead and said. The clock pointed to 1:10 AM, and there were only a few lights visible ahead. However, the moonlight was much brighter than when the entire city was illuminated. Standing on the high ground of Salvador, people could clearly see every ship passing through the port, even if it was just a 20-ton cargo ship!

In this situation, Zhang Hainuo quickly adjusted the previous plan. Fast Eagle proceeded at 5 knots, with U148 following at a slightly slower speed at periscope depth. According to the information Zhang Hainuo had obtained from Schneider and several local shipbuilders, the water depth was generally over 20 meters in places not too close to the coast!

Even though the moonlight was bright, people onshore wouldn't notice the small periscope on the sea surface. The wake left by Fast Eagle effectively masked the splashes made by the periscope. Under the joint command of Zhang Hainuo and Hessen, U148 slowly proceeded to the Schneider Shipyard, as planned. As long as Fast Eagle blocked the view from the outside, the submarine could sneak into the converted submarine hangar from the dock. Otto and the remaining crew were waiting there for assistance.

If there were any anomalies around, they would signal with lights at the first sight of Fast Eagle.

After nearly 50 minutes of ultra-slow navigation, Fast Eagle began to decelerate, and through calculations and observations of coastal buildings, Zhang Hainuo knew they were just a step away from the Schneider Shipyard. At this moment, a non-natural sound suddenly entered their ears.

Crack... Crack...

From a distance, it sounded like someone was setting off a few firecrackers in succession, but for experienced soldiers like them, this sound was all too familiar.

Gunshots?

Zhang Hainuo and Hessen turned their gaze to Fast Eagle simultaneously. The sound was coming from there!

Little did they know that a fierce battle was taking place on the deck of Fast Eagle at that moment. Several gunshots had already been fired on the ship, but they were happening inside the cabin and hadn't been heard by outsiders!

Two shots, three shots, four shots, until the sixth shot, the gunfire finally ceased!

Now, Zhang Hainuo and Hessen didn't have time to figure out what was happening on Fast Eagle. Some Salvadoran citizens must have already been awakened by the gunfire, and now, there were two options before Zhang Hainuo: first, to immediately command the submarine to dive underwater to avoid being detected by locals attracted by the gunfire; second, to quickly take the submarine into the hidden submarine hangar, but this would entail significant risks!