My British Empire

Several pirate ships docked in Plymouth Harbor safe and sound, and the pirates were diligently cleaning the deck with sackcloth, and their movements were swift.

In the port where people come and go, merchants, sailors, tax officials, and even dock workers all turned a blind eye to the pirate ships and continued to do their own work.

As the captain, Drake handed out some of the gold coins as soon as the ship docked, and some sailors looked at the ship and let the others go to have fun.

Prostitutes and gambling, Drake is not interested in these, he paid the berthing fee, and then went to find a shipyard, ready to repaint the newly captured merchant ship, make some changes, and then become a skeleton A member of the Pirates.

A 500-ton armed merchant ship is the largest one he has ever paid for. Drake has high hopes for it and plans to make it the flagship of the Skeleton Pirates.

There are many shipyards in Plymouth. After finding a familiar shipyard and negotiating the price, the skeleton pirate group will grow stronger in a month.

After going so smoothly, he rented a carriage and came to the Hawkins family mansion.

Since John Hawkins started the slave trade and became the first person in England to eat crabs, the Hawkins family has become more prestigious throughout Plymouth and the southwest coast.

The slave trade not only brought huge benefits to the Hawkins family, but also brought great prestige, becoming the leader of the slave trade in England.

Therefore, John Hawkins also married Catherine Gunson, the daughter of Navy Treasurer Benjamin Gunson, and became more powerful.

Because of this, Drake once joined Hawkins' fleet, saw the real ocean, and became a real captain.

After that, he left the fleet, bought a clipper with his savings, recruited a few familiar sailors, and started a pirate business.

Drake seemed to belong to the ocean by nature. He possessed an indescribable talent for naval warfare. He robbed merchant ships time and time again and harvested batch after batch of spoils.

Drake's father was a yeoman in the town of Tavistock on the back of Plymouth. In 1549, the Cornish Catholics launched the "Prayer Book Rebellion", which caused him to be exiled to Plymouth.

So, at the time of his fame, Drake, who had no background, found a good backer—the Hawkins family.

Although he is John Hawkins' cousin, interests are interests, and he will never be delayed because of family affection.

Every time Drake seized the booty, he would sell the booty to the Hawkins family at the market price of eight layers, and he would also be able to enjoy the protection of the Hawkins family, eliminating his worries.

But this time, he just wanted to ask for support.

"Sir, the Hawkins family is here!" The groom's voice sounded, disturbing Drake's memory.

"En!" Drake reacted, and immediately got off the carriage.

"How much?"

"Eightpence, sir!"

Drake handed the eight pennies to the groom, and hurried to the Hawkins mansion.

Obviously, the people in the mansion knew the gentleman's cousin. After waiting for less than five minutes, Drake was invited in by Mr. Hawkins.

He was taken into his usual study, and Mr. Hawkins was sitting in a chair, reading a book.

"Oh? Isn't this the famous skeleton captains? I heard that you captured a large merchant ship of 500 tons. Congratulations!"

Since John Hawkins personally led the team to carry out two slave trades, he no longer went to sea frequently, but instead started to run a family business, and he looked a little rich at this time.

At this time, he saw Francis Drake coming in, a surprised expression appeared on his face at the right time, and he said in an exaggerated tone.

"John, you're really flattering me. I'm just doing some business that jumps between life and death. Over the years, I've been really scared!" Drake said inappropriately, with a wry smile on his face.

"What? Captain Skeleton is scared. Are you ready to start a business? Don't worry about this. With your level, you will definitely become a famous businessman!"

Seeing that Drake looked uncomfortable, Hawkins made a joke, squinting his eyes and smiling.

"Of course not, no matter how poor I am, I will not become a businessman who smells like money, dealing with money all day long!"

"So, come this time, Mr. Captain, what can you do?" Hawkins asked softly to Drake, his cousin, who was standing on the chair again.

"John, this time, I hope you can sponsor me. I hope that, like Magellan, I can find a new route for the kingdom. The Pacific Ocean is no longer the sea of ​​Spain!"

Since the Pacific Ocean was discovered by Magellan, the Spaniards who funded him used their huge sea power and the American colonies to declare that the Pacific Ocean is the sea of ​​Spain!

Although not many people dare to repeat the dangerous route that Magellan took, Spain still said so.

In this way, Drake decided to re-walk the path of Magellan, find that route, and greatly increase his reputation.

"You want to cross the Pacific Ocean and travel around the world?" Hawkins asked in surprise.

"No, I just want to find the route to the Pacific Ocean again, and open up a new route for the kingdom!" Drake said loudly with his chest upright.

"This, this, do you know the danger?" Hawkins asked tremblingly.

"Of course, but I know more about the benefits! I don't know, Mr. John, the patriarch of the Hawkins family, will he have the guts to take a gamble!"

Derek stared into Hawkins' eyes and asked word by word.

"Haha! I, John Hawkins, have never been afraid of anything. This time, I will accept it!" Hold back the excitement in his heart, and after calculating the gains in detail, Hawkins said firmly.

"Just, I hope you can come back safe and sound!" Hawkins said deeply.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in the Pacific Ocean!" Drake waved his hand and said indifferently.

Subsequently, Hawkins sponsored a ship to Drake, 5,000 pounds, and 50 sailors, so that Drake was well prepared.

He prepared butter, bread, biscuits, wine, and all kinds of supplies, and took the barber, priest, navigator, and doctor.

Of the five ships, the largest was 500 tons, named "Pacific" by Drake, the second was 300 tons, which was sponsored by the Hawkins family, and the rest were only a few hundred tons.

In the summer of 1564, Drake set out from Plymouth with 190 sailors and five well-decorated ships, riding the wind, and embarked on a journey that will become famous in history, an extraordinary journey to Britain .