Chapter 466: The End of 1487 AD, the Successor Dias

November 1487, 22 degrees south latitude, Cape Cross, Namibian coast.

The summer sea breeze in the southern hemisphere blows from the western ocean, carrying a moist and salty smell, rushing to the eastern sand sea. Above the clear sea and sky, flocks of seabirds soar. Albatrosses spread their long wings, red-bellied egrets sing loudly, white pelicans fly into the sea, and flamingos fly high in the sky.

The sea is shining with waves, and dolphins surround the anchored sailboats, curiously looking at many people they have never seen before. And a few miles away, more than ten meters long humpback whales jumped out of the water, raising several meters high water. These giants are content, shaking their bodies, stretching their wing-like pectoral fins, and making complex and long low moans!

"Tenho saudades! This is the confession of the deep sea, like a friend who has left. He is tired of life on earth and rests forever in heaven. Only I, a lonely wayfinder, am left to spend my time in the world!"

Dias stood on the coast, looking at the wooden tombstone in front of him, and chanted in a low voice with melancholy. He was wearing the aristocratic captain's uniform that symbolized his rank, his hair was meticulous, and he only held the captain's hat in his hand. His weather-beaten face revealed the deep melancholy unique to the Portuguese. Then he closed his eyes and prayed to the Lord devoutly.

At this moment, his mind was wandering in the memories of love, and the hundreds of sailors and crew members behind him became insignificant backgrounds.

Bruno, wearing a captain's uniform, lowered his head, and stood silently behind Dias. He pursed his lips and drew a cross on his forehead with force. Unspeakable emotions surged in his heart, but he had no way to speak.

"Merciful Virgin Mary! Please grant me divine protection, so that I can find the route to the East and the country of Elder John!"

After a while, Dias made the sign of the cross and finished his last prayer. Then, his expression became cold, and he glanced at Bruno behind him, with murderous intent in his heart.

"Bruno, I heard that you also participated in the last mass of the Royal Knight Diogo?"

"Yes! Respected Royal Knight, when the respected captain passed away, I stood by and prepared olive oil for him. The captain was cursed by the devil and coughed up blood for several months. When he went to heaven, he was as thin as a stick, even thinner than a child."

Bruno was uneasy and replied respectfully. At the end of his words, many tears squeezed out of his eyes, both true and false, but he couldn't even tell the difference.

"Yeah."

Seeing Bruno with tears streaming down his face, Dias was silent for a moment and nodded slightly. He turned his head and looked at the tombstone of his old friend again. The murderous intent in his heart was finally suppressed and turned into a long sigh.

"Oh, forget it! I understand your intention. You let him participate in the last mass and handed over the flagship to him, which means you chose to forgive. In this case, let him go back alive! May you rest in peace, my old friend, Diogo!"

When exploring the depths of the Congo River, a rebellion broke out on Diogo's ship. Although the rebellion was finally quelled and the leader was hanged, the tricks could be hidden from the court of Lisbon, but not from the equally experienced great navigator. Dias was sure that the noble knight Bruno must be guilty

Thinking of this, Dias shook his head slightly. How many navigators who can stick to the sea route are innocent? Whose hands are not stained with blood? Even he, in Elmina Castle, killed the indigenous tribes in order to occupy the surrounding gold mines. After a moment of recollection, Dias bowed his head again and prayed softly.

"Praise my Father in heaven! The Lord shows His grace through redemption between generations and eternity. He gave me the holy sword to cut off all evil, and also gave me light to redeem my blood!" Hearing Dias's chanting, Bruno quickly bowed his head and made a pious prayer gesture again, not daring to make a sound. After following the captain for many years, he roughly figured out the code of conduct of the kingdom's seafaring nobles. That is, even if you are cruel and ruthless, killing people like a devil, you must have firm faith, believe in the light of your soul, and the salvation of the Lord. Don't look at Dias's kind face when he prays now. If you really want to kill him, you won't blink an eye when you chop off his head. Bruno complained in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face. He waited patiently for Dias to finish praying before speaking softly. "Respected Royal Knight! Captain Diogo's tombstone was temporarily carved out of wood. It has been almost two years and it has become somewhat rotten. Otherwise, the fleet will stop here for two days and carve a stone tablet for the captain?"

"Stop for two days and carve a stone tablet"

Hearing this, Dias pondered for a moment, and was obviously moved. But in the end, he shook his head.

"Forget it. The kingdom will remember the name of Knight Diogo, remember his piety and dedication. As for his burial place, let him rest in peace and don't be disturbed by anyone! After all, this place is far away from the kingdom"

"Yes, you are right! Praise the Virgin Mary, may the captain rest in peace!"

"Yeah."

Dias nodded, looking at the respectful and pious Bruno, he was a little more pleasing to the eye.

Last summer, the kingdom's fleet that explored the south returned with the news of the death of navigator Diogo and a sea chart of the African coast extending to 20 degrees south latitude.

After Pope Sixtus IV passed away, his nephew Julius della Rovere, after a struggle, still firmly controlled the power of the Holy See and sidelined the new Pope Innocent VIII. The policies of the Holy See continued the tradition of the previous pope, and the search for the Eastern Kingdom of John the Elder was always urgent.

King João was ambitious and eager to open up new shipping routes. The output of the Elmina gold mine has greatly improved Portugal's finances. The discovery of the Kingdom of Congo also gave the kingdom more incentives. In October last year, King Joao summoned the royal knight Dias, a highly trusted descendant of the royal family, appointed him as the leader of the expedition fleet, and issued an order to continue exploring southward to find the Eastern Sea Route.

After nearly a year of preparations, Dias set off from Lisbon in August this year, leading three ocean-going expedition ships to search for the unknown boundaries of the southern continent. He learned from the experience of the rebellion of Diogo's fleet and chose two caravels and a square-rigged supply ship.

The flagship Caravel sailing ship was the "San Cristobal" that he personally commanded, and carried the largest number of sailors. His brother Pero Dias was in charge of the square-sailed supply ship carrying food and water. One of the brothers controls the sailors, and the other controls the food and water. They coordinate with each other to minimize the risk of crew rebellion. As for the last caravel.

Dias turned around and glanced at Bruno lightly again.

The royal family's original favorite was actually the noble knight Joao Infante. But unexpectedly, the royal advisor and scholar Martin Behem, who returned from the sea, praised the noble knight Bruno and strongly recommended him to the royal family. And João Infante's temper was indeed a bit violent. After careful consideration, Dias finally handed over this risky opportunity to the experienced Bruno with murderous intent.

"Bruno, you are now a glorious kingdom captain! I don't care what you were like before, from today on, you must serve the Lord devoutly and serve the kingdom faithfully! Remember, the Lord, through redemption, is in this world and eternity. Time to show His grace. Do it well, and grace will come to the world!”

"Yes, yes! Dear Royal Knight, I will serve the Lord devoutly, practice His words, experience His ways and devote my life to the kingdom! In this voyage, I will listen to you in everything!"

Bruno immediately fell to his knees, raised his left hand, and cried piously. He heard the forgiveness in Diaz's words, and the worries he had felt for many days were suddenly swept away, and joy even welled up in his heart. The royal knight in front of him was a big shot with royal blood and deeply trusted by the king. As long as I get close to this thigh

"Yeah. Get up!"

Dias looked calm and gave instructions in a deep voice. Then, he glanced around at the waiting sailors and crew and shouted sharply.

"Captain Perrault d'Arenquer!"

"Here! Captain."

A capable senior officer, armed with a sharp scimitar, stepped out from among the sailors to salute.

"Report the latitude!"

"yes!"

Navigator Perot reached out and took out a volume from his arms. He unfolded it, took a few glances, and then reported loudly.

"Captain, according to the four-star measurement of the Southern Cross last night, we are between 20 and 22 degrees south latitude!"

"very good!"

Diaz nodded, looked at the people around him with a serious expression, and declared loudly.

"The purpose of this voyage is to bypass the border of the southern continent and go to the east to find the powerful Kingdom of Elder John! The respected royal knight Diogo has dedicated his life to extending the boundaries of the kingdom's navigation exploration from the equator. At 20 degrees south latitude! Our exploration of this voyage really starts from here and extends to 40 degrees south latitude!”

"40 degrees south latitude?!"

Hearing this, Bruno felt a chill in his heart. Many sailors also looked frightened and raised their heads to speak.

Diaz's eyes were like an eagle, with undisguised murderous intent, and he swept the crowd coldly. The sailors immediately fell silent and did not dare to complain at all.

"Very good! The Lord testifies that you all agree with what I say! Since there is no objection, then get on my boat now and set sail south! Blessed Mother!"

"Our Lady of Blessing!"

The sailors responded in a low voice, quickly divided into three teams and headed towards the three ships. Soon, the anchor was retracted, the sail was raised, the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal was flying high, and the caravel slowly accelerated.

In the vast South Atlantic Ocean, outside the long sandy beach of Namibia, whales play and seabirds sing. This uninhabited sea is so clear at the moment. Between the sea and the sky, there are only three small exploration sailing ships, sailing against the cold Benguela current and sailing towards the unknown south with difficulty!

In front of them was the endless southern continent and the mysterious sea that had never been known before. Behind them was a lonely promontory, a decaying tombstone, and a buried pioneer of the kingdom.