How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

In this situation, if they fired with bronze cannons, superior in both range and rate of fire, from outside the enemy's range? They could retreat without a scratch.

The captain had no intention of landing at Chesapeake Bay right now. He hadn't received such orders either.

The English and their allies there might number in the thousands, and a rash landing attempt could backfire.

His life was precious, and.

Even more so to the Viceroy of New Spain, who couldn't afford to lose many resources here.

Therefore, their strategy was simple:

Harass the enemy coasts while isolating their colonies.

Detailed investigations had revealed that the enemy territories were scattered in various places, with massive volumes of goods moving between them.

So, just by blocking their logistics, the enemy would fall into great confusion.

As he nodded with certainty of victory, the soldiers began loading the cannons. And...

Boom boom!

The earth shook. The unexpectedly sturdy enemy battery didn't easily collapse, and it seemed there were no casualties among the enemy.

So the Spaniards carefully gauged the effective range of the enemy and penetrated deeper. And when they were confident that the enemy's return fire wouldn't hit them...

"Fire!"

Boom boom boom!

They fired their cannons again.

Seeing some batteries destroyed and some cannons damaged, they cheered and returned to their base.

Though the enemy's response was so quick that they couldn't force human casualties, their victory was still solid.

The Spaniards returned, firmly believing that the reason for their victory lay in their superior cannons.

But they were wrong.

They knew nothing.

For a modern person who might be possessed or transported anytime and anywhere, they didn't know about the existence of "alternative history novels," which should be read as essential liberal arts.

They were ignorant of the fact that all sorts of useful and excellent knowledge, such as iron and steel making methods, flintlock firearm manufacturing methods, and black gunpowder manufacturing methods, were equipped in them.

Therefore, they had no way of knowing the 21st-century common sense that those who are decent, cultured, overflowing with intellect, and personally excellent generally enjoy reading alternative history novels.

If Kin Issei had had enough time and opportunity...

Then he could have known the ideal material mixing ratio of black gunpowder: 75% potassium nitrate, 10% sulfur, 15% carbon.

Then Kin Issei might have been able to produce black gunpowder of much superior quality than now.

Moreover, he already had high-quality potassium nitrate, sulfur, and pure carbon extracted with 21st-century chemical engineering techniques. Therefore, he didn't need to go around turning over human and animal excrement like others.

If he, Kin Issei, had bought and read just a few more "alternative history novels," today's painful defeat wouldn't have happened.

It would have been the Spaniards, not the Virginia community residents, who were surprised and scattered by the enemy attacking from outside the range.

Yes.

Although no modern person living in the early 17th century would think of it.

Virginia's fault lay precisely in alternative history novels.

==

"Vicente, how many people are currently staying in Croatoan?"

"A total of 213 people. The rest are probably scattered on Roanoke Island and around Chesapeake Bay. Ahem, we can only know that everyone is safe."

"It's fortunate that the enemy is being cautious. If they had decided to land, accepting casualties..."

"Don't worry. They absolutely can't do that. Look, most of them are privateers and armed merchant ships, aren't they? Their lives are precious, so why would they charge in?"

The apostles present here are only Hewett, Eleanor, and Raleigh.

It couldn't be helped. The enemy attacked while taking advantage of the gap when only we were gathered on Croatoan Island.

With the enemy threatening reconnaissance, important personnel couldn't freely move around by boat.

"Still... it's fortunate that communication with the outside hasn't been completely cut off. Will that continue?"

When Eleanor spoke with a sigh, I looked toward Raleigh. Raleigh fiddled with his mustache and removed the tobacco he had in his mouth.

"Nemo, in my opinion, it probably will. If they weren't being cautious, they would have proceeded with a landing in the first place. But for now, communities everywhere, and even Her Majesty the Queen, are safe."

Of course they would be. How thoroughly have we prepared our coastal defenses?

Moreover, with at least one musket distributed per person, a bloodbath would ensue the moment they land. I'm not sure if the enemy knows that though.

"Similarly, the enemy doesn't attempt an attack when our ships are gathered more than five at a time. The enemy basically avoids direct damage.

Their purpose is to isolate us, constrain us, and let us wither away."

"...If that's the purpose, aren't they succeeding?"

"No, Thomas. Aren't we all self-sufficient? We'll never wither away."

"Ah..."

"However, Nemo, as long as our settlements are connected to each other through the sea, we cannot leave this situation unattended forever. We must find a way somehow."

Raleigh summarized the opinions. I nodded at his words and fell into thought for a moment.

"...Raleigh? Perhaps when Vicente returns from trading in the north, the enemy won't be able to attack. There will be several armed ships lined up."

"That will certainly be the case."

"Then, what would Vicente do if he arrived at Chesapeake Bay and knew our whereabouts?"

"Hmm... he would come to Croatoan."

"Let's move from that point."

"Ah, good! I like the quick conclusion. Then let's move to a different place and think about how to destroy Core Banks first."

"Let's do that, Raleigh."

"Pardon? Ah, do you mean Outer Banks?"

When Raleigh and I stood up, Eleanor and Hewett, who hadn't been on many boats, tilted their heads. I explained to them.

"Look, the enemy is monitoring this area by rotating about a dozen ships. To regularly monitor a distance of over a hundred kilometers like this, there must be an intermediate stopover point."

"An intermediate stopover point... ah."

"That's right, Eleanor."

I nodded to Eleanor.

"The fortress the enemy built to the south was probably for this purpose."

A place the enemy recently fortified with about 200 people.

Cape Lookout on Core Banks.

"Let's find a way to destroy that place from now on."

A little later, Vicente arrived at Croatoan and.

"A way to destroy a well-fortified place? I hate to say this, but couldn't we just do it the way I experienced?"

"Vicente? The way you experienced... uh..."

Getting massacred after invading someone else's land? Or switching sides very quickly, abandoning one's country?

"It seems... there's some misunderstanding, um, you know?"

Vicente whispered to me, watching my expression become strange.

"...Oh, quite crude and simplistic."

"But it would be effective, wouldn't it?"

"Well... it seems so."

Having heard the plan, I reluctantly accepted it.

So before long, we headed toward Core Banks, towing barges.