Chapter 605: At the end of 1488 AD, the returning Portuguese fleet
At the end of December 1488, 35,000 miles away in the east, there was the port of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal.
Thousands of sails are erected, and there are forests of masts. Hundreds of merchant ships of various colors are docked here, and dozens of flags of commercial city-states are flying on the bows. Dark-skinned coolies are loading and unloading goods, exquisite carriages are carrying nobles, and the market in the port is full of people.
Merchant. This is one of the most important trading ports in Western Europe and a trading node connecting the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
As the Portuguese Kingdom established a series of castles and strongholds on the coast of West Africa, spices, gold and silver, ivory, and slaves from the southern continent were continuously transported by the powerful kingdom's fleet to this ancient coastal city.
, injecting the most vigorous vitality.
Thirty-five years ago, when the mighty Ottomans captured Constantinople and completely cut off the Silk and Spice Road between the East and the West, the Port of Lisbon became the only stable spice port in the Catholic world. Even though, here
The spices that can be provided are just a drop in the bucket compared to the huge demand of God's world.
Among the many spices, pepper is the most preferred by the nobles and bishops of the Catholic world. Pepper has been an important cooking spice since ancient Roman times. In medieval medicine, it was also an extremely important medical ingredient.
The priests of the church and the doctors of the college believed that pepper could cure all pain, swelling, inflammation, invasion of evil spirits... and... impotence.
In addition, in this era of plague, pepper, cloves and cinnamon were also used to prevent the plague, using their special aroma to resist the "rotten smell" in the air. This remarkable knowledge even
Approved by the Pope of Rome.
Therefore, the spices from the southern continent made the port of Lisbon so special and important. The large number of gold coins minted by the Kingdom of Portugal also made the commodity trade here more prosperous. The port of Lisbon in this era was full of vitality and vitality.
vitality!
At this moment, the supervisor of the Portuguese royal family, Captain Bartolomeu Dias, was standing on the port of Lisbon, looking at this vibrant seaside city. After 16 months of difficult navigation, he finally returned again
I arrived in Lisbon and set foot on the land of my motherland.
"O merciful Lord! Thank you for your generous gift! Praise you for giving your devout believers to cross the waves of thousands of miles and return to the kingdom of God with the good news of the Eastern Route!...Ah! At the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
Since then, before the 1488th Christmas Day, we finally returned to our hometown!..."
Captain Dias closed his eyes, held the silver cross around his neck, and prayed in a low voice. Unknowingly, the corners of his eyes became moist.
The bright sunshine fell from the sky on the coast, as if the Lord's merciful gaze fell into his heart. This long voyage experienced the devil's land, the waves in the sky, potential rebellions, the discovery of new routes, and
The killings on the way back... Now, he is finally back, successfully returning with the discovery that changed the world and the achievement of being canonized after his death!
"...Praise the Lord!"
Behind Dias, the new captain Bruno lowered his head, tried hard to pray, tried hard to be pious, and tried hard to shed tears. The return trip from Cape Storm took nine months, and once again experienced terrible waves, breaking several pieces of equipment.
Ten sailors. On the long return journey, Captain Diaz, who was always strict, relaxed the discipline of the fleet and allowed the sailors to go ashore to plunder. This is like the owner of a vicious dog, loosening the leash in his hands.
They salivated and swarmed forward ferociously.
Passing through the desolate coast of Namibia, we reach the villages along the Congo. The sailors wielded their machetes and hacked to death the weak indigenous tribes. They vented their desires and pressure on their dark bodies, and even plundered the villages for their belongings. They satiated several times.
After the plunder, all the sailors gained a lot. Their accumulated dissatisfaction and resentment towards the captain's forced exploration were finally replaced by instinctive awe and obedience.
After arriving at Elmina Castle, after repairs, five caravel sailing ships, loaded with gold, silver and spices from the southern continent, joined the returning fleet under the escort of Portuguese soldiers. With the addition of the kingdom's soldiers,
The wolfdogs were tied to chains, and the last part of the voyage went without any ups and downs.
"Well, there are more and more caravans from the commercial city-states in the port!... Which company should we trade with for the gold, silver, ivory and spices we got this time?"
Bruno prayed hard while looking around. As a captain, it is naturally impossible to return empty-handed. In fact, according to the rules of the sea, the official captain can monopolize 10 to 20% of the loot, while the pirate captain usually only has four to five ordinary sailors.
Income. Well, the difference brought about by the endorsement of official power is still very obvious. As for the loot taken privately, it will definitely not go from the kingdom's caravans, but to the city-state business groups with higher prices.
"Praise the Lord! After selling the loot this time, you can probably buy a knight's manor on the outskirts of Lisbon... Well, the kind with a windmill and mill!"
Bruno prayed devoutly and turned his eyes, looking for potential buyers. The kingdom's ports were so prosperous and full of wealth. And the opportunities brought by the great voyage were enough for the illegitimate children of down-and-out nobles to completely change their poor destiny.
"Portugal's Southern Fleet...the cabins are filled with goods worth ten times the profit!"
A Jewish businessman wearing a small round hat stood dozens of steps away from the military port, looking for possible sellers. With greedy eyes, he looked at the deep-drawing Portuguese fleet. Then, with his shrewd eyes, he
On the two Caravel sailboats, which were covered with repair marks, he paused for a moment, thoughtfully. Then, he looked at Captain Dias, who was standing in front of everyone, praying devoutly, frowned uneasily, lowered his head, and avoided
Make eye contact with the other person.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "The pious nobles... are all brutal butchers in hell!..."
The Jewish businessman Eleazar cursed in his heart, with an indelible fear, which was the shadow of countless slaughters of his compatriots. Finally, he saw Bruno wearing a captain's uniform, observed for a while, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ah!...Is this?...the smell of devil and wealth..."
After a moment, Eleazar reached out his hand, patted the Slavic attendant on the shoulder, and whispered instructions.
"Go, go to the merchant group's warehouse and get two bottles of wine! And prepare some exquisite snacks. I want to invite important guests..."
"Yes, Mr. President."
The Slavic follower nodded naively. Then, he scratched his beard and asked with some confusion.
"Wine? Which one do you want? Well, the Bordeaux one or the Julanson one..."
"You idiot!"
When Eleazar heard what his attendants said, he was so furious that even his goat's beard trembled with anger.
"Who asked you to get the expensive Aquitaine red wine? Bring me the Catalan red wine from Aragon! Remember, add 40% water and some grape juice!"
"Yes! I listen to you, Mr. President."
The Slavic entourage immediately turned around and walked towards the Jewish business group at the port. But Eleazar's voice came again, with a hint of physical pain in his tone.
"Today's guests are indeed more important. Forget it, let's pay 20%... no, 25% water!"
"Yes! Mr. President."
The Slavic entourage nodded heavily, paused, and strode away again. Eleazar looked for a while, then turned back. His eyes flashed. A new business opportunity was just around the corner!
Nearby, the devout Captain Dias had finished praying. He turned his head and gave some serious instructions to the other captains. The captains also nodded respectfully and made the sign of the cross.
Then, Captain Diaz straightened his back, mounted the Lusitano horse brought by the kingdom's soldiers, and rode away under the guidance of two palace knights and more than a dozen knight attendants. He did not stop,
Rush to the Sintra Palace, fifty miles to the north. There, the wise and wise King John II is sitting on the throne, waiting for his loyal royal steward.