Chapter 83

"smallpox!"

A terrified scream pierced the morning haze.

The ship was cramped, and it was common for dozens of Spaniards to be crammed into the bottom of the ship at the same time. Officers were treated better, but they still had to share a small room with several other people.

Upon waking up, the junior officer, who had unfortunately shared a small cabin with his secretary, was so frightened that he fell at the doorway. His face was slightly distorted with terror, and he used his hands and feet to support himself as he backed away, only able to make gurgling sounds from his throat.

Who got smallpox?

The secretary, lying on the bed, felt burning hot and uncomfortable all over, but the word that represented despair made him shudder. He subconsciously rolled off the bed and tried to run out, but unconsciously touched the blisters all over his face and body.

Those dense red rashes that covered my face and limbs before I fell asleep last night looked exactly like a skin disease, but after fermenting overnight, they revealed their true nature like a demon baring its hideous teeth.

In the dark cabin, the secretary repeatedly touched her face and limbs, her expression slowly changing from disbelief to fear and despair.

“I have smallpox? I have smallpox…” he said repeatedly, his throat trembling, hoping someone would give him a negative answer.

But no one dared to approach him anymore.

On the Spanish ship, the soldiers scattered like a flock of startled birds. The quick-witted ones ran to report the news to the naval commander, but most of them began to desperately stay away from the secretary, even if it meant jumping off the ship and swimming in the sea.

When Admiral Alessandro heard the news, he could hardly believe his ears.

Smallpox is an incurable disease; there is no cure. One-third of those who contract it will die, and the remaining two-thirds will be left with terrifying scars on their faces and bodies for life, which will never fade over time.

Although country doctors claimed that horse manure and rat whiskers could cure smallpox, a learned and rational nobleman like Alessandro knew that this was just as absurd and foolish rumor as witches destroying crops and poisoning babies.

What's even more terrifying is that smallpox is so contagious that it can spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. If one person is unfortunate enough to contract the disease, then everyone connected to him will suffer.

The thought that he had let this secretary receive the letter last night sent a chill down Alessandro's spine. He wanted to kick the secretary a few times, but he also wished he could rush out and take a shower immediately, and then endure the nausea to eat horse manure and rat whiskers.

"Immediately! Immediately place everyone who has been in contact with the secretary under surveillance, keep them far away from them, and then bring all the ships to a complete stop. Without my order, the soldiers on each ship are not allowed to meet again! Go now!" Alessandro almost roared.

The Spanish soldier who brought the news was so intimidated by his commander’s anger that he practically scrambled to run away.

“…Wait,” Alessandro called out to the soldier again, his face shrouded in shadow, looking somber. “…Keep the news under wraps! The British must not be allowed to know that smallpox has broken out on the Spanish ships!”

"Then... Your Excellency Alessandro, what if someone else has contracted smallpox?" the Spanish soldier asked timidly.

“Then put them all on a ship and burn them,” Alessandro said calmly.

Burn all the patients who had smallpox to death.

This is also the most suitable way to stop the spread of smallpox as quickly as possible.

...

"The Earl of Hertford defeated the army led by the Duke of Alba of Spain at Leyton!"

The messenger, arriving with the news, waved his arms excitedly, recounting England's victories to Her Majesty the Queen, his face flushed with pride.

"When the Spanish surrounded the army, the Earl led his soldiers to work through the night, personally breaching sixteen sea dikes, allowing seawater to pour inland like a waterfall, and the endless floodwaters submerged the outskirts of Leiden."

"Those arrogant Spaniards, as rampant and unrestrained they were on the land of the Netherlands, are now in such a miserable state that they are like drowning rats, struggling in the sea, but unable to escape the fate of being submerged."

"By daybreak, we had not lost a single soldier or wasted a single bullet, but the Spanish, unable to withstand the casualties, had no choice but to retreat, slinking away on their escape. Because they had been in the water for so long, sick Spanish soldiers were constantly being abandoned along the way. Lord Hertford suspects that many within the Spanish army must have contracted dysentery..."

The British army defeated the Spanish army, which dominated Europe, a glory that every Englishman should be proud of!

With such a major victory as a foundation, the situation in the Netherlands is basically stable and there will be no more surprises. From now on, we only need to focus on the war at sea.

Mary, who had been fighting on two fronts and supplying both sides with resources these past few days, breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the pressure on her shoulders greatly reduced.

“Thank God for England,” Mary said, making the sign of the cross.

"But this is also inseparable from your brilliant command and the Earl of Hertford's valiant fighting," the messenger said approvingly.

"Spread this message! Tell my ministers and soldiers to reward them with money, roast meat, and wine, so that they may share in my joy and strengthen their confidence in defeating Spain," Mary said with a smile.

"As you command," the messenger said, bowing, and then departed.

That night, burning wooden bundles and campfires were lit on the decks of the British Navy.

The jubilant soldiers took turns receiving bags full of coins and praising the Queen, while sitting in a circle, waiting to enjoy the roast meat and wine that had been bestowed upon them.

In those days, it was harder than climbing to heaven for sailors and naval adults to get fresh food on floating ships. The bread and biscuits that were distributed were salty, bitter, and hard to the bone, and because of the humid weather at sea, they often became moldy and rotten, and were full of oak nose worms and blackhead maggots. Even the fresh water was often smelly, and they could only mix it with rum and then hold their noses and drink it.

Therefore, a delicious meal is a rare treat.

Compared to the jubilation of the British Navy, the situation in Spain was much quieter.

The naval battle had lasted for more than half a month, but the Spanish attacks were far less swift and intense than the British had expected. Apart from the initial battle, the attacks seemed to have weakened and become powerless. In particular, in the last two days, the Spanish had not even opened fire.

Mary had originally predicted that the Spanish, having ventured across such a vast ocean to fight on British soil, would certainly be hampered by logistical difficulties. She believed that if they could withstand the initial fierce attacks and turn the war into a protracted conflict, the Spanish would not last long before being defeated.

Spain's performance was even worse than she had imagined.

Standing at the window and gazing into the distance, Mary felt both reassured and subtly uneasy.

...

The next morning, Mary realized why the Spanish had been so quiet these past few days: taking advantage of the thick fog at sea, the Spanish had thrown more than a dozen smallpox patients' corpses onto the English ship.