Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1772 - 1268: War of Words! Portuguese Scholars vs. Columbus

In Sintra Palace, facing Columbus's formal greetings, King João appeared calm and did not raise any difficulties. Although the scholars of the Royal Family around him were filled with disgust, eager to loudly question, in the formal setting of an audience, no one dared to speak without King João's instruction. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It wasn't until the ceremonial greeting was completed that King João II sat upright on his throne, inquiring about this Genoese navigator who had lingered outside his court for nearly ten years, seeking an audience.

"Castilian noble, Don Christopher Columbus. You previously claimed at the port station that you have sailed west to India and Cipangu and discovered a new trade route to the East?"

"Precisely! Respected King João, I was commanded by the great Queen of Castile, holding the rank of Admiral, leading a fleet of three ships deep into the Atlantic Ocean... After enduring hardships, surviving storms, and being tested by the Almighty, I was finally the first to personally discover the lands of the East from the deck! This is the Almighty's protection over me and the Queen, who wisely chose the finest navigator to bring to her!"

At this point, Columbus raised his head, showing pride on his face. He insisted he was the first to discover land, mentioning that the sailor Juan from the Pinta who first shouted and sighted land had long been in the hands of the Cipangu Natives, likely dead beyond rescue. Thus, the honor destined to enter the annals of history, along with the bounty previously announced by the Queen, could only fall upon him!

"Under the protection of the Almighty! I led people to the archipelago off the coast of India, erected a wooden post symbolizing the Kingdom of Castile, and dedicated that vast eastern territory to the wise Queen!... Then, I continued sailing southward, discovered the extremely vast Japanese Cipangu Island, and repelled the attacks from the Cipangu natives..."

"Under the witness of the Almighty! My Castilian Exploration Fleet, upon discovering both India and Japan, confirmed the establishment of a new trade route to the East! Hence, I bring this immortal and glorious news back to the Kingdom of Castile, dedicating the honor of discovering a new route to the passionate Queen who supports and values me..."

"However, on the return journey, our ship encountered a storm and was pushed off course... We had to anchor off the coast of Portugal and encountered some minor misunderstandings with the kingdom's navy..."

"Respected King João, I implore you to forgive my offense and pardon the collision at the Lisbon Port caused by the Santa Maria!... I earnestly request you release all the crew who endured maritime hardships yet brought back news from the East, and moreover, release their leader, the courageous and wise Castilian Admiral!... Only then, Your generosity and leniency will certainly be recorded forever alongside the great navigator of the newly discovered route in the annals of history!"

Upon hearing Columbus's reply, King João II slightly frowned, feeling displeasure. With his wisdom, he naturally grasped the braggart undertones aiming at praising Queen Isabella, a veiled criticism towards him for missing the "talent," and a faint moral coercion.

If Columbus had indeed sailed westward to the East, discovering the so-called new route, then how would history portray him for neglecting Columbus for ten years?

Perhaps he would be branded as a "fool," akin to Diarmaid mac Murchadha, the King of Leinster who invited Henry II to help claim the Irish inheritance only to allow him to take over Ireland. Or Isaac II Angelos, the Byzantine Emperor who lost Bulgaria, was overthrown by his brother, experienced the sacking of Constantinople, and died blind in a power struggle with his son...

King João II remained silent for a moment, containing his disdain for Columbus, as well as an underlying murderous intent. Subsequently, he did not address Columbus's request, instead turning to the court scholars with a smile and asking.

"The great navigator Columbus claims he sailed westward to the East, discovering India and Cipangu... What do my learned court scholars think?"

"Your Majesty! Liars love to swear, and those who boast about their knowledge equate to flaunting their ignorance! Columbus loves to swear and boast. How can his words be trusted? He certainly did not reach the East!"

Once the King spoke, the Portugal scholars had no further qualms, promptly stepping forward. Leading the response, the navigation scholar Leonor mercilessly scorned Columbus's character, then, amid Columbus's furious gaze, loudly questioned him.

"Columbus, you claim you reached the East... Then tell me, how many nautical miles did you sail westward?"

"Leonor, it's you again! You brainless scholar, previously slandering my navigation plan and causing me to waste ten years... Now I've returned from the East, yet you continue to bark!... Let me tell you, I sailed west... No! This is the secret of the new route, I will never tell you!"

"Ha! Since you won't say, let me calculate for you!"

Navigation scholar Leonor looked disdainfully at Columbus, with one hand raised, loudly calculating.

"You waited for a suitable wind on September 8 of last year before sailing westward from the Canary Islands... Then, on October 12, suddenly discovered land at sea, arriving at an island the next day... You sailed for 35 days altogether. According to the crew, the Clark Galleon could not always travel at full speed. I will estimate your daily voyage at 33 leagues, at most 100 nautical miles..."

"Considering this assumption, your total journey westward to land is at most 3500 nautical miles (6482 kilometers), which is about thirty percent more than the 2700 nautical miles (5000 kilometers) outlined in your navigation plan... Under the witness of the Almighty! Isn't this accurate?"

"Leonor!... How do you know this? You actually sneaked a peek at my nautical records!"

Upon hearing the figure of 3500 nautical miles, Columbus broke out in a cold sweat. This was very close to the actual distance that he repeatedly calculated for his nautical records. Seeing his reaction, Leonor confirmed that her estimation was correct and scoffed at him.

"Ah-ha! Sneaking a peek at your nautical records? Those filled with deceit and self-boasting? Ha-ha!... Besides, merely traveling over six thousand kilometers westward can reach India in the East? Ha-ha! Columbus, you need a proper education in mathematics to learn correct calculations!... Oh, sorry, I forgot, you've never attended an academy or trained under any scholar as a teacher... Therefore, inability in mathematics and earth sciences is not your fault!... Yet, lacking scholarly knowledge while boasting with arrogance is somewhat shameful..."

"Ah! Leonor, you despicable fool! I truly reached the East, many sailors witnessed this! We personally landed and arrived at the villages of Indian Natives, obtaining the natives' cotton threads and gold; It's India's cotton thread and gold!"

Mocked once more by the scholar who had derided him, Columbus was filled with anger, instinctively reaching for his waist dagger but finding it missing. Then, glancing at the surrounding palace guards and the cold-eyed King João above, he became wary and protested loudly.

"Under the witness of the Almighty! I even brought back an Indian Native, everyone saw it!"

"Columbus, you claim to have reached the islands of India... Then describe the dwellings of the Natives on the island, the type of utensils they use, what kind of food they eat, and what they wear? Moreover, what non-Christian spirits do they worship, and what rituals do they conduct?"

The navigation scholar Leonor retreated, and the humanities scholar Sebastian emerged. Known as an "Oriental scholar," he was familiar with all historical accounts of India in Europe. He confidently faced the enraged Columbus, sternly questioning.

"We have already questioned the ship's crew... The natives you discovered lived in thatched and wooden round-hut cottages, with not a single solid brick house! According to Ancient Greece scrolls and Marco Polo's descriptions, Indians have stone and wood houses, especially fond of intricate carvings..."

"The island's natives use wooden and stone tools and do not possess any ironware! But Indians possess various gold and silverware as well as ironware, certainly not barbaric and uncivilized!"

"The natives eat white tubers or gruel using wooden bowls, whereas Indians eat grains of rice, and at least possess clay bowls!... The natives lack decent clothing, only able to craft crude textiles, and even what you brought back were lumps of cotton threads. Yet Indians have splendid garments crafted by the finest weavers!..."

"According to the sailors' accounts, the natives you encountered possessed no temples or statues, only worshipping wooden plaques with abstract designs, even adoring nature! Indians are renowned for their divine carvings, never would they be this indifferent to deities, nor are they primitive nature worshippers..."

"All these discrepancies with India's records... Thus, how could the location you reached possibly be India?"