Chapter 70

"But we don't have a fishing net..." Hong Tao didn't act immediately; another scene flashed through his mind. He had seen a similar situation at sea before, but it was different from what Azhu described.

Seabirds find it very difficult to catch fish on their own because fish don't stay on the surface for long periods. Except during the flying fish spawning season, they usually swim at depths of several meters to tens of meters. If seabirds gather on the surface, it means something underwater is herding the fish to the surface, making it easier for the birds to dive and catch them.

What could be that something underwater? There's only one possibility: marine mammals—sea lions, sea dogs, seals, penguins, dolphins, and whales. These animals are smarter than fish and understand the concept of teamwork. They can organize and coordinate to drive fish from the depths to the surface, cutting off half of the fish's escape routes, making it easier for them to catch their prey.

In the South China Sea, the likelihood of sea lions, sea dogs, seals, and penguins is extremely low; Hong Tao had never heard of them. The most likely candidates for herding fish underwater are dolphins and whales. Their method of herding is quite unique: they blow bubbles under the fish, layer by layer, forming a net-like structure that traps the fish, forcing them to swim upward.

"Karl, raise the sail. Let's go and take a look, but don't get too close, just a hundred or two hundred meters will do." Although Hong Tao didn't have a fishing net and couldn't take advantage of the situation, he suddenly had another idea. If it really was them, this time the hero of the Tanka people would have to be him. Compared to sharks, they are more docile, have higher economic value, and are more suitable for the Tanka to catch.

As the sailboat approached the area where the seabirds were gathered, Hong Tao's heart began to race involuntarily. Although he didn't see their figures on the surface, he could already see the water spray they were exhaling! Whales! A pod of whales! The whales were herding the fish!

"Ha ha ha... Azhu, we're going to get rich. Watch me catch the big fish for you; those sharks are nothing!" Once he confirmed his target in the sea, Hong Tao slapped the railing hard and, while Azhu wasn't paying attention, kissed her cheek.

"Ahh! It's a whale! It's a whale! No, we can't go, I won't let you go!" The whales underwater seemed to hear Hong Tao's words. Suddenly, one of them leaped out of the water and then fell back with a splash, creating a white wave that looked like a curtain in the wind. This time, Azhu didn't try to avoid him or hide; instead, she clung tightly to Hong Tao's arm to stop him from moving.

"Oh, you know whales? Why can't I go?" Hong Tao's knowledge of marine life wasn't professional, but it wasn't negligible. Whales jumping out of the water isn't for fun or performance; it's to call their distant companions. This means the pod hasn't finished driving the fish to the surface, and they need more help. Since they haven't eaten yet, they won't leave, so Hong Tao wasn't in a hurry. He pulled Azhu's hand and leaned against the railing, wanting to hear her reasons.

"My great-grandfather's boat was crushed by a whale, and my great-grandfather saw it with his own eyes. They are too big, like small mountains. You can't beat them!" Azhu was already crying. If sharks are the hungry wolves that the Tanka people fear and avoid, then whales are the fierce tigers that make them retreat. A Tanka's small wooden boat, three to five meters long and slow-moving, would capsize if it even touched a whale, let alone be attacked. Given the low level of productivity, whales were not easy prey to hunt.

"Oh, those must be orcas or sperm whales. Your great-grandfather must have provoked the wrong kind of whale. The ones we've encountered are harmless; they don't have teeth, they're like toothless old ladies, hehehe..." Hong Tao understood where Azhu's worry came from. Her great-grandfather had encountered toothed whales, which are more aggressive. He couldn't determine the exact species. In the future, due to changes in the marine environment and overfishing, the number of whales along the Chinese coast is not abundant. If there are any, they are mostly small whales like pilot whales, and large whales are rarely seen.

"Old ladies? You're lying!" The whales in the sea seemed to hear Hong Tao's insults and were dissatisfied. They jumped out of the water again, and this time both Hong Tao and Azhu saw them clearly. They were huge, even larger than the 20-foot sailboat!

"I'm not lying, I've never lied to you! They don't have teeth, but they have something more valuable than teeth waiting for us. Listen to me, what did your great-grandfather tell you? Didn't he tell you to listen to me? If you don't listen, I won't take you out next time! Go, help Karl steer the boat, lower the sail a bit, and get a little closer. Karl and I will go out on the sailboard to catch them. Once the harpoon hits, follow the bamboo tube. Sometimes it will sink, but don't worry, just follow its previous course, and it will resurface after a while." Explaining something to a woman that she doesn't understand or doesn't want to understand is difficult. At such times, you can't just explain; you also need to scare her to temporarily convince her.

"Karl, those whales are your ticket home. Whether you can return home sooner depends on whether you dare to go with me to catch them. It could cost you your life, do you dare?" He used a different approach with Karl, who had the right to choose not to risk his life. Although Hong Tao was sure it was a pod of baleen whales, possibly humpbacks, baleen whales are not to be underestimated. One swipe of their massive tail could be fatal, with no chance of rescue.

"I'll go with you... God will protect me... protect us both!" Karl was quite brave; he hadn't wasted his time as a knight.

"Cut it out, your God isn't that generous. On the contrary, he's very stingy. He might protect you, but I'm a heretic, and he'd be happy to see me dead! Son of a thief! I'm going to go and suck you dry again, come and get me if you can!" After teasing Karl, Hong Tao suddenly remembered the guy who spoke to him in his dreams. He shouted in English to the sky, even extending his middle finger. He was living well in the Song Dynasty, but if possible, he still wanted to return to the modern era. He was worried about his children and wanted to see them grow up.

PS: Click, collect, and recommend! Throw them all at Hong Tao...

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