Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1779 - 1273: Before Setting Sail, the Scholar’s Tribulation

"Royal decree: Appoint Bruno Cao Knight as captain of the exploration fleet, Francisco Silvira Knight as the deputy of the exploration fleet, to form an exploration fleet of two caravels to jointly explore the Atlantic Ocean..."

"Wow! The boss made it, actually becoming the fleet captain! Uh, who is this Sir Silvira anyway? The name sounds a bit familiar..."

"It's the third son of that impoverished baron's family, without any inheritance rights… he was promoted to captain last year, really has little experience, nowhere near the boss..."

"Ah, exploring the vast Atlantic Ocean, it sounds so perilous! This mission... can it... can it be declined..."

"Haha! Ivo, this is an important task personally ordered by the King, how could it possibly be declined..."

The dry season on the Peninsula is vividly clear and refreshing in green. Bruno looked grave as he sat in his grass-grown courtyard, seeming much more haggard. Several old brothers from the maritime days gathered around, altogether reviewing the documents and records issued by the Royal Family. Boatswain Haloduo held the king's decree, furrowed his brows after reading the beginning, then turned the pages to read further.

"This journey is a kingdom secret mission. Depart from the southern Setubal Port when the eastern winds rise in September… The main objective of the voyage is to find a new sea route to the East, scouting the Atlantic Islands and the connection to the East… In the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, about 3000-4000 miles west, between 20-22 degrees north latitude, there is an exceptionally vast Great Island… The native kingdom on the island is very belligerent, but has definite connections with the East… The fleet needs to find this Great Island, cautiously contact the native kingdom, and scout eastern intelligence…"

"Hiss! Going deep into the Atlantic Ocean 4000 miles? Wouldn't that mean sailing in the endless sea for two or three months? Almighty! This is truly, truly dangerous!…"

"A belligerent native kingdom? What kind of army do they have? Like those chicken fighter warriors from the southern Congo Kingdom?"

"Hmm… according to these interrogation records, the native navy has oar-sail ships, equipped with small cannons, fire arrows, and something like oil fire jars for throwing… Oh, it also says to watch out for the native archers, very accurate in archery…"

"Ah! The native kingdom on this Great Island actually has firearms?! Damn! Then they'd be quite hard to threaten with our artillery, stronger than the native kingdom on the Southern Continent!…"

"What else? The Castilians did say their fleet of three ships with seventy to eighty men encountered successive attacks and pursuit by the natives, with only one ship and a dozen men returning…"

"Damn! The King is sending us to die!"

"Stop arguing! This task is indeed difficult, but how flexibly to complete it, and to what extent, still depends on us!… I called you all here just to think together… Matim, here's the kingdom's supply allocation permission, see if there's anything else to add?..."

Saying this, Bruno handed another document to Quartermaster Matim. Matim received it and started reading aloud.

"Two caravels, each carrying 20 sailors and soldiers, stocked with three months of provisions… Each ship is equipped with 10 matchlock guns, 10 breastplates, one 8-pound cannon, and two boxes of 40 iron bullets and the necessary gunpowder… Hmm? Boss, are you replacing the ship's four small cannons with one large 8-pound cannon? Carrying 40 iron bullets?"

"Correct! According to the Castilians, the natives also have 2-3 pound small cannons and many bows and arrows. Their oar-sail ship's strikes are swift too, we absolutely must not engage in close-range conflict with them, especially keeping distance! The shooting range of the 8-pound cannon is much farther than the small ones, much more suitable. And 40 iron bullets and firing gunpowder are about the limit of the ship's remaining hold, or I would have wanted to bring even more… Of course, we're an exploration fleet, so avoid conflicts whenever possible…"

"Boss, your thinking is thorough, I have nothing to add for now…"

"No rush, think slowly…"

Bruno pondered for a moment and handed another prison document to old carpenter Ivo. At the back of the document, there was also a list of Castilian sailors.

"Royal Decree, Bruno Cao Knight may participate in the interrogation of Castilian spy crew. Likewise, he may recruit non-noble Castilian sailors… The sailor list is as follows…"

Old carpenter Ivo took a look and immediately asked in surprise.

"Wow! There's even a native sailor? Boss, we need a translator to negotiate with the natives, bring this native over! Still have a few months, enough to teach him simple Portuguese!…"

"Hmm… I've already made requests to the Warden, but he politely told me that this native sailor is already reserved by distinguished court scholars, claimed to study 'Eastern text and language'… I need to figure out a way to find the court supervisor Nuno…"

"Oh, dealing with the natives is really better having a translator…"

Old carpenter Ivo scratched his head, mulled it over repeatedly, then pressed a name with his hand.

"Boss, other sailors are of no use, and the two nobles cannot be moved… then only this guy is useful, you must get him! Nautical records and actual navigation are always different…"

Hearing this, the crowd gathered to see a very important ship position and an unremarkable name, "navigator Pedro."

"Alright! I'll go to the prison today to bring him over!"

Bruno didn't waste words, nodded directly in agreement. Meanwhile, Boatswain Haloduo laid down the king's decree, rubbing his chubby chin with cunning eyes flickering.

"Boss, this voyage is quite dangerous! The crucial personnel aboard the two ships do not matter to the kingdom, easy to be abandoned… I feel… we also need someone not on the list, a competent and prestigious noble!… So, even if we get stuck on those native islands, the kingdom's subsequent fleets would consider looking for, rescuing us…"

"Hmm? Haloduo, what nonsense are you talking? This voyage is gambling life! No noble with royal status would be willing to board a ship!"

"Haha! Matim, indeed no nobles with royal status are willing, but what about those not from the kingdom? Don't forget… the noble scholar who sailed the South with us before, then fell into our hands with devilish leverage…"

"Hmm? You mean, the esteemed astronomer, the royal court advisor, Martin Behaim?…"

Bruno stood dazed upon hearing this, emotions flickering in his eyes. This is indeed a distinguished figure, also a truly capable scholar. If he could board, just for nautical mapping and latitude observation, would be of great help! Not to mention his status even overshadowing many court scholars, probably could get that native sailor with just a paper document. Just…

"Haloduo, Scholar Martin left the royal court three years ago! He's a noble from Nuremberg, we can't possibly go to Germany to find him, can we?"

"Haha! Boss, I've kept an eye on, tracking this scholar! His father was once a Venice council member, his father-in-law is the Governor of the Azores, he and his noble wife live on Faial Island in the Azores… It's merely days of sailing from Lisbon, also a necessary stop for supplies when heading west…"

Saying this, Haloduo narrowed his eyes, lowered his voice, boldly planning.

"We first get clear information, confirm he's on the island before setting off… Then the fleet arrives, staying in the Azores for supplies, invite him secretly to meet… He's surely to meet us due to our leverage, and likely to sneak over alone!…"

"Once he arrives, we 'invite' him onboard, then sail the fleet away!… This noble scholar, once aboard, would be at our disposal… hehe!…"

"If we couldn't return, having such a Great Noble caught in the Atlantic, kingdom nobles, at least the family of the Azores Governor, would definitely send someone to search!… If we survive, with such a long voyage, he would have more precarious leverage landing in our hands… By then, he would help us smooth the situation proactively. And his involvement makes it easier to receive accolades within the kingdom!…"

"Hiss!!…"

Upon hearing how Haloduo actually set sights on the Great Nobility, everyone present exchanged glances, their expressions fluctuating. After a long while, Bruno took a deep breath, decisively speaking in a low voice.

"Alright! Scholar Martin is our noble, also our old friend! We have to invite him onboard, invite him to willingly participate in his dearest nautical exploration!… And once aboard, everyone shall treat this distinguished Noble Scholar with courtesy and respect!…"

"Yes! Boss!…"