Chapter 1272 Before Setting Sail, the Scholar’s Troubles
"The king's edict: appoint the knight Bruno Kang as the captain of the exploration fleet, and the knight Francisco Silvera as the deputy of the exploration fleet, form an exploration fleet of two caravel sailing ships, and explore the Atlantic Ocean together..."
"Tsk tsk! The boss has become so powerful that he actually became the captain of the fleet! Well, who is this Silvera Knight? The name sounds familiar..."
"He's the third son of a run-down baron's family. He has no inheritance rights... He was a newly promoted captain last year. His qualifications are very junior and he can't compare to the leader..."
"Ah, exploring the vast Atlantic Ocean sounds very dangerous! This mission... can... can you refuse..."
"Haha! Ivo, this is an important task ordered by the king himself, how could he refuse it..."
During the dry season on the peninsula, the color is bright and dry. Bruno looked solemn, sitting in his long grass courtyard, seeming a lot more haggard. Several old sailing brothers also gathered around, looking at the documents and records issued by the royal family. Boatswain Haroldo took the king's edict, frowned and read the beginning, then turned the page and looked back.
"This is a secret mission for the kingdom. When the east wind blows in September, we will set sail from Setubal Port in the south... The main goal of the voyage is to find a new route to the East and explore the connection between the Atlantic Islands and the East... In the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, about 3000-4000 nautical miles to the west, between 20-22 degrees north latitude, there is an extremely vast island... The native kingdom on the island is very warlike, but it has definite connections to the east... The fleet needs to find the big island here, be cautious and Contact with the native kingdom and explore eastern intelligence..."
"Hiss! 4,000 nautical miles deep into the Atlantic Ocean? Doesn't that mean you have to sail in the endless sea for two or three months? Lord! This is really, really dangerous!..."
"A warlike kingdom of natives? What kind of army do they have? Are they the same as those chicken-feathered warriors from the Kingdom of Congo in the south?"
"Hmm... look at the interrogation record, the native navy has galleys, equipped with small cannons, fire arrows, and throwing oil and fire cans... Oh, and it is also said that we should beware of the native archers, their archery is very accurate..."
"Ah! The Aboriginal Kingdom on this big island actually has artillery?! Damn it! Then it will be difficult for them to be deterred by our artillery. This is stronger than the Aboriginal Kingdom on the southern continent!..."
"Otherwise? The Castilians have said that their fleet of three ships with seventy or eighty people encountered repeated attacks and pursuits by the natives, and in the end only one ship with ten people was left to return..."
"Damn it! The king is asking us to die!..."
"Stop arguing! This task is indeed very difficult, but how we complete it flexibly and to what extent we complete it depends on ourselves!...I called you guys over just to think of a solution together...Mattim, This is the kingdom’s permission to use supplies. Take a look, is there anything else you want to add?…”
With that said, Bruno handed another document to Quartermaster Mattim. After Mattim took it, he started reading directly.
"Two caravel sailing ships, each carrying 20 sailors and soldiers, stored dry food for three months...Each ship was distributed 10 matchlocks, 10 pairs of breastplates, an 8-pounder cannon, two boxes of 40 iron bullets and other necessary supplies Gunpowder...Huh? Boss, you want to replace the four small cannons on the ship with a large 8-pounder?..."
"Yes! According to the Castilians, the natives also have 2-3 pound cannons and many bows and arrows. Their galleys also attack very quickly. We must not clash with each other at close range, especially to maintain Distance! The shooting distance of the 8-pounder is much farther than that of the small cannon, and 40 iron bullets and gunpowder are about the limit of the remaining cabins on the ship, otherwise I would like to bring more... Of course, we It is an exploration ship. If you can avoid conflicts, try to avoid them..."
"Boss, you have thought everything through. I have nothing to add for the time being..."
"Don't be in a hurry, think about it slowly..."
Bruno pondered for a moment and handed another prison document to the old carpenter Ivo. Behind the paperwork was a list of Castile's crew.
"King Ling, Knight Bruno Kang, can participate in the interrogation of the Castilian spy crew. Likewise, he can call on the non-noble Castilian crew... The crew list is as follows..."
The old carpenter Ivo took a look and immediately asked in surprise.
"Hey! There is actually a native sailor? Boss, we need an interpreter to negotiate with the natives. Get this native over! There are still a few months left, enough to teach him simple Portuguese!..."
"Well... I have already made a request to the warden, but the other party told me tactfully that this native sailor has been booked by the distinguished court scholars, saying that he will study some 'Oriental scripts and languages'... I have to continue Think of a way to find Nuno, the palace director..."
"That's it! When dealing with the natives, it's best to have a translator..."
The old carpenter Ivo scratched his head and looked over it for a while, then reached out and pressed a name.
"Boss, the other sailors are of no use, and the two nobles are not allowed to move... Then only this guy is useful, you must get him! Navigation records and real navigation are always different..."
After hearing this, everyone came over to take a look and saw a very important position on the ship with an inconspicuous name, "Navigator Pedro".
"Okay! I will go to the prison again today to ask him to come over!..."
Bruno didn't waste any words and nodded directly. Boatswain Haroldo also put down the king's edict, touched his chubby chin, and his cunning little eyes flashed.
"Boss, this voyage is very dangerous! There is no important person on the two ships, and they can be easily abandoned by the kingdom... I think... we need a noble who is not on the list, who is capable and has status!... In this way, even if we are trapped on those native islands, the kingdom's subsequent fleet will consider looking for and saving us..."
"Huh? Haroldo, what nonsense are you talking about? This voyage is a gamble with life! Which noble of the kingdom is willing to board the ship?..."
"Haha! Matim, no noble of the kingdom is willing, then isn't it a noble of the kingdom? Don't forget... the noble scholar who sailed south with us before and fell into our hands, leaving a devil's handle..."
"Huh? You mean, the distinguished astronomer, the royal court adviser, Martin Beheim?..."
Hearing this, Bruno was stunned, and his eyes flashed with thought. This is indeed a distinguished person and a truly capable scholar. If the other party can get on board, it will be a great help in navigation and latitude observation! Not to mention the other party's status, which is even higher than that of many court scholars. I am afraid that with just a piece of paper, the native sailor can be brought. But...
"Haroldo, scholar Martin left the royal court three years ago! He is a nobleman from Nuremberg. We can't go to Germany to find him, right?"
"Haha! Boss, I have been secretly paying attention to this scholar for a long time! His father was a member of Venice, and his father-in-law is the governor of the Azores. He and his noble wife live on Faial Island in the Azores... It is only a few days' sailing from Lisbon, and it is also a supply point that must be stopped when exploring the west..."
Speaking of this, Haroldo squinted his eyes, lowered his voice, and made a bold plan.
"We should find out clearly first and make sure he is on the island before setting off... Then the fleet will arrive, stop at the Azores for supplies, and invite him to meet privately... He has leverage in our hands, so he will definitely come to see us, and he will probably come alone secretly!..."
"As long as he comes, we will 'invite' him on board and then lead the fleet away!... This scholar of noble birth, as long as he is on the ship, he will be at our mercy... Hehe!..."
"If we can't come back, there is such a great noble, trapped in the Atlantic Ocean, the nobles of the kingdom, at least the family of the Governor of Azores, will definitely send people to look for him!... If we can come back alive, with such a long voyage, he will have more fatal leverage in our hands... At that time, he will take the initiative to help us make things right. And with his participation in this voyage, he can also better seek credit in the kingdom!..."
"Hiss!..."
Hearing that Haroldo actually set his sights on the great noble, everyone present looked at each other, and their expressions changed again and again. After a while, Bruno took a deep breath and made a low and decisive statement.
"Okay! Scholar Martin is our benefactor and our old friend! We will invite him on board and ask him to volunteer to participate in his favorite seafaring exploration!... And when he arrives on board, everyone must treat him with courtesy and respect this distinguished noble scholar!..."
"Yes! Boss!..."