In order to reduce the noise emitted by the fleet's navigation, Ushakov had to order the fleet's speed to be kept at a low level, and in this way, the danger of the fleet being detected was greatly increased.
The ten ships in the vanguard turned on their lights, and at the same time there was a lot of noise from the ships, which was used to drown out the movement of most of the movement behind them.
As Ushakov had predicted, Kutuzov's tax collection team deployed in the waters off Saremaa Island quickly approached the striker's warship.
As soon as the forward disappeared from sight, Ushakov ordered all the ships to immediately turn 45 degrees, and they had to keep a large distance from the striker, otherwise they would be exposed.
After Ushakov's order, there was no longer a single light on the entire Baltic Fleet, and all ships sailed on the old sailors.
The ships of the vanguard were led by Perenovich, the rear admiral officer of the Baltic Fleet had admirable acting skills, at least at this moment, in the eyes of Kutuzov's tax collection team, the man standing in front of them was definitely an evil capitalist!
Look at the poorly dressed workers and rudimentary equipment on the ship, and even the supplies on the ship are filled with a stingy smell.
Ten ships were carrying some grain, grain, and clothing, and although these materials were relatively valuable in the present chaotic times, according to the tax rate set by Kutuzov, these materials could only be taxed at most less than six hundred silver coins, which made the soldiers of the tax collection team satisfied.
The reason why these soldiers didn't sleep so late was not because they hoped that there would be a big boss who would make them a good deal, but if the ships were carrying weapons and ammunition or contraband and luxury goods such as silk and art, then they could definitely collect a tax that far exceeded the standard.
Those extra taxes were naturally their welfare, but now, the supplies on these ships were clearly contrary to their original intentions.
"I've never seen you before, a merchant fleet of this size, I should know about it" "Hey, hey.
My lord, we used to run the Danish route, but now that Denmark is occupied by Prussia, our business has been closed for a long time. ” The more the tax collector Hikander looked at the merchant in front of him, the more dissatisfied he became.
He said to Pilenovich angrily: "According to the rules, your ship should hand over six hundred silver coins, and now I need to know where your squire got these things?"
Hikandel's words did not disturb Perenovich, who knew that it was simply the fact that the tax collector in front of him was not satisfied with the value of the goods "Hey, my lord, these goods of mine are all shipped from East Prussia.
I heard that our General Kutuzov needed a large amount of food, and I took great pains to get such a batch from East Prussia, and you must know that there is no surplus food in the hands of ordinary people in this season, and it took a lot of effort for me to get this food from ..............."
"I see, don't talk nonsense with me!"
After a moment of speaking to Perenovich, Hikander was visibly a little tired of his quack.
Until now, this guy standing in front of him didn't know what to do, which made Hikander a little angry.
He interrupted Pelenovich, and suddenly he thought about it and said: "In that case, then show your departure documents in the port of East Prussia!"
When a regular merchant ship leaves the port with goods, the port official will issue a document, which not only explains the materials carried by the merchant ship, but also is a certificate of tax payment.
"Well, sir, you know ............. too" "Don't talk nonsense with me, if you don't have an exit document, then you are smuggling.
I can detain all your ships and cargo in the name of contraband, and get them out to me!"
” Seeing the embarrassment on Perenovich's face, Hikander was overjoyed, as he said, if there were no exit documents to prove the origin of the supplies, then he could have detained all these ships.
When the time comes, it will definitely be a great credit to Kutuzov, and now it is necessary to see if this businessman is still reluctant.
"Hey, my lord, I'm here to help General Kutuzov, these things have cost me all my possessions, please be accommodating."
As he spoke, as if he had suddenly understood the rules, he gritted his teeth and took out a money bag from his bosom and stuffed it into Hikandel's hand.
Feeling that there was one more thing in his hand, Hikander rolled his eyes at Perenovich, if he had been so sensible, where would there be so much nonsense, wouldn't it be a waste of his time!
Thinking to himself, Hikandel flipped the money bag in his hand, and the sound of the objects in the money bag colliding sounded so wonderful to him, but the weight made him a little unhappy.
Thinking of Hikander, he said: "Your departure documents are available, but we have some doubts about the legality of your goods, and according to the regulations, we must be seized and inspected for a period of time................."
"Don't, my lord, the gold coins, the bag is the gold coins" Before Hikander could finish speaking, Pelenovich interrupted him, only to see him anxiously explain to Hikander that the money bag was not silver but gold.
Hearing Perenovich's words, Hikander was obviously stunned, but then a happy color appeared on his face, and he immediately opened the money bag in his hand, completely ignoring that it was not just the two of them at the scene.
As soon as the money bag was opened, a golden light filled Hikander's eyes, and Hikander, whose mouth was wide open, almost drooled his words, and it took him a while to come to his senses.
"Well, that's good, you're in order, I think you can enter the Gulf of Riga!"
Just as Hikandel's words were finished, a sound came to his ears "What a sound!"
As he spoke, Hikander immediately looked left and right, what he didn't notice was that when the sound came, Pelenovich's face instantly turned pale, as Pilenovich, who had been fighting in the navy for nearly twenty years, naturally knew that this sound was definitely the sound of the fleet's sailing.
In fact, this voice does not blame the people of the fleet for not knowing the severity, you must know that the total sea area is so large, the area of radiation of the defenders on Saaremaa Island occupies most of the sea area, and the remaining channel for the main force of the Baltic Fleet to sail is not very wide, and now Kutuzov's tax collection team is on top of the ships in the forward, so the distance is widened, and it is not surprising that some noise is heard.
Just when Perenovich seemed a little panicked, a figure suddenly passed into the room "My lord, the power propeller on our ship is broken!"
Hearing this, Perenovich shouted God forbid in his heart, and he rushed to the figure and shouted: "Let you repair it when you leave the port, it's good for you, don't give me the repair now, it will delay my entry into the port, and you don't want your wages!"
"But my lord, you asked us to repair, but you didn't give us money, we can't repair without money!"
"Dare to talk back, quickly find a way to fix it, you must enter the port tonight!"
Bilenovich's yelling drew Hikandel's attention, and when he heard Pelenovich's words, Hikander was even more angry with the merchant, and sure enough, he was a stingy businessman who even slammed his own ship so much.
Thinking of this, Hikander knew that he would not gain any good, and besides, he was quite satisfied with the harvest tonight, so he said to Perenovich: "Since your propellers are broken, then I will give you three hours, and after three hours, whether your ship is repaired well or not, you will leave the channel for me, you know!"
"Got it, got it!"
At this moment, Perenovich smiled very flatteringly, and when he saw his smile, Hikandel's eyes rolled again, and then he walked out, he was very busy, maybe there were big fat sheep waiting for him to slaughter behind these boats.
Seeing the figure of Hikander leaving, Perenovich breathed a sigh of relief, although they had also made some preparations for this situation before, but when they were in the scene, people would always be nervous, you must know that at this moment, Pelenovich's shoulders are bearing the fate of the entire Baltic Fleet and the future of the empire!
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In less than an hour, none of the tax convoys that were still on the ships were left, after all, no one wanted to stay outside for a long time in this weather, you must know that it is still March, the weather has not yet warmed, and the night weather is even more troublesome.
If it weren't for the fact that the tax collection team could get some extra money, none of these soldiers would be willing to come out, and even so, the extra money that fell into their hands was pitiful.
Just after the tax collection team had withdrawn, Pelenovich shook his sour neck and ordered: "All set sail, our goal is Riga!"
Immediately after the order of Perenovich, ten ships in the forward line headed for the Gulf of Riga.
Seeing that the ships were finally in motion, Hikandel only raised his eyelids, he didn't want to brave the cold to see those guys fuck off as he sat in the warm cabin.
Counting the gold coins in his hand, Hikander suddenly became a little annoyed, although there were many gold coins, but if he took them out and divided them, there would not be many in his hand.
Thinking that he took out some silver coins and put them back into the money bag, and after reversing the weight of the money bag, Hikander smiled, so that he was not afraid of losing himself!
To be continued.
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