The Rise of the European Emperor

In November, the Canary Islands, four ships led by Columbus and 10 ships of the Spaniards, appeared in the port of Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

Marin sent to pick up Columbus' armed merchant ship No. 2509, just in time to wait for Columbus and Draka to land for repair. Draka hurriedly handed over the collected spice seeds to the captain Aben (bald-headed Aben) who came to greet them, and there were more than a dozen untouchable slaves who had bought from India and knew how to grow spices. At the same time, Draka also brought back a few sacks of rice seeds, the food that Indians often eat, so that these Indian pariah slaves could be planted in Grenada.

The reason for this is that Draka was afraid that these Indian slaves were not used to eating bread, so he let them grow some rice and make pilaf to eat... After all, these slaves from Indian pariahs will be the main force for planting spices in the future. Therefore, Draka did not dare to be too negligent. After all, it's about Marin's big money-making career...

If Marin knew that Draka had done this, he would have given him a hundred likes. And, when the Grenada rice is ripe, it will definitely ask for supplies to itself. Because, Marin hasn't eaten rice for several years...

Now that he has received spice seeds and Indian slaves, Aben plans to set sail directly for Grenada. But Columbus frowned:

"Aben, you have only learned sailing for a few years? Are you sure you will find America with your fleet? Don't get lost in the Atlantic Ocean..." Columbus felt that it seemed too much to let Aben lead a lonely ship.

"It's okay, Lord Columbus, Lord Earl and Lord Da Vinci invented an instrument called a sextant, which can measure latitude. They also invented a method to measure longitude using a nautical clock and taught me. Although I am not capable of exploring, But Mr. Amerigo has been to Grenada once before, and he has recorded the latitude and longitude. What I have to do is to measure the latitude and longitude every day. According to the coordinates given by Mr. Amerigo, it is easy to reach Grenada..."

"Longitude? Latitude?" Columbus frowned. He knew the latitude, he was a navigator after all. But in this era, the concept of longitude has not been clear, and he is also a little confused. Moreover, this matter was brought up by Marin after Columbus left. So Amerigo knew, but Columbus didn't.

"Longitude refers to the distance between the east-west direction and Emden Port... I can't tell you this. My lord, please go back and ask the Count and Da Vinci. I only learned the calculation method, but the reason is also true. I don't understand..." Aben scratched his bald head honestly...

"By the way, Lord Draka, Lord Earl told me before that I would ask Baron Sandro to help me with the idea of ​​buying a coastal oasis at the southern tip of Morocco in the east of the Canary Islands. It seems to be called Laayoune..."

"Ayoun?" Draka frowned.

"Yes, the map is here, please take a look!" Aben handed the map of Laayoun's geographic location hand-painted by Marin to Draka.

"Did the Count say anything else?"

"He asked me to pay attention to this matter, saying that this place is very important to him. If you come back, this matter will be left to you. Because, I have to go to Grenada..."

"Okay, I'll leave this to me. I'll leave a small boat here until I'm done."

"Well, I have asked Baron Sandro to communicate privately with the chiefs of Morocco before. It's just that I don't have time to wait now. So, I'll ask you to finish this matter. Lord Count said, it's very important. It's important! If anyone asks, it's for raising Arabian horses..." Then, Aben told Draka some of the points that Marin had to pay attention to...

After handing over the matter, Aben took the whole crew, and the spice seeds, rice seeds and Indian untouchable slaves just obtained, and set out on a journey to the west...

After getting the errand, Draka and Columbus quickly made arrangements.

They freed up one 180-ton ship and put the cargo on the other three ships. Then, leave enough guards and sailors for Draka.

Columbus then continued north with the Spanish fleet with three other ships. After arriving in the Spanish waters, he stopped briefly in Spain to receive the recognition and rewards of the two kings of Spain. Then, take the fleet back home...

In Cadiz, Columbus and the commander of the Spanish fleet, Alonso de Ovida, were warmly received by the Spanish kings. When they set sail from the Canary Islands, a speedboat returned home first and reported to Toledo. Then, Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, together with Prince Ann, came to the port of Cadiz to welcome the return of the fleet...

Of course, the more popular one is actually Alonso de Ovida. After all, he is a Spaniard and a subordinate of the twin kings. And Columbus, now just an outsider...

Therefore, the treatment of the two is completely different. Alonso de Ovida was named a baron, but the fief was in the Spanish mainland, with fertile land and a vast area. And Columbus, although he was once again canonized as a baron by Spain, and rewarded the land, but he was actually entrusted to the wild continent...

Yes, the wild continent, the wild continent almost ignored by the two kings of Spain now. Moreover, the specific fief has not yet been determined. Ferdinand II told Columbus calmly - are you not a navigator? Go on an adventure by yourself, find an island, feel good, just report here...

It's really easy to have two kings of Spain, and even the location of the fief has to be found by Columbus himself, which is insincere...

This time, the Spanish fleet dispatched 10 ships and brought back 1.2 million pounds of spices. In fact, the Spaniards wanted to buy 2 million pounds of spices. However, there are not so many spices in India for them to buy...

They bought out the spice market in Calicut, and only collected a million pounds. Moreover, the purchase price of spices has been raised from 1.5 pfennig per pound to 2 pfennig per pound.

Later, Indian spice merchants other than Calicut brought in a lot of spices from other places to Calicut, which allowed them to collect 1.2 million pounds of spices. On the other hand, Draka, who is quick-witted and quick-witted, bought the "quota" of 50,000 pounds of spices first. Otherwise, you will not receive it.

Of course, even so, the Spanish double kings also made a profit. 1.2 million pounds of spice, at 10 shillings (2 gp) per pound, fetched 2.4 million gp. But the cost is very low, the entire sailing cost and procurement cost, no more than 100,000 gold coins.

If sold at 10 shillings a pound, the double king would earn 2.3 million gp. Of course, that's not possible. Because the quantity is too large, it must be sold at the wholesale price. Even so, it is enough for the double king to earn a huge profit of no less than 1.8 million gold coins...

Looking at the boat full of spices, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, who had always been calm, were excited, regardless of their middle age, on the bow of the spice boat, there was a cheerful ballroom dance...

When Columbus's fleet returned to Emden, Marin was also extremely excited. Because, Columbus brought back 300 tons of saltpeter and 100 tons of copper to Marin.

300 tons of saltpeter can make 400 tons of gunpowder, so Marin can use it for several years. So Marin has every reason to be excited. And 100 tons of copper can also cast a lot of artillery. Or, it's also very profitable to sell it...

Before, Marin sent all the gunpowder in stock to Sweden, and he felt very unsure. In the event of a war, the guns of the Marin army would be scrap metal. Now that Columbus returned with saltpeter, Marin was relieved.

Of course, Marin is not a stingy person. Columbus came back with something and couldn't help but reward him. However, this time Columbus was a leading party for the Spaniards, and he did not take much credit for Marin. Therefore, the title cannot be promoted. However, there is a reward for money...

So, Marin pointed to a treasure chest that was carried under his hand, and said to Columbus with a gentle face:

"Christopher, this is 10,000 gold coins, take it back to subsidize the family..."

"Subsidizing the household..." Everyone on the side had cramps in the corners of their mouths - what's the matter, whose ordinary household needs 10,000 gold coins? still subsidized...

Then, they looked at Marin eagerly - boss, my family is very difficult, please subsidize me a little...

Naturally, Marin will not subsidize casually. After all, the Columbus family is a boat that has been out for two years. Moreover, Marin also intends to let Columbus serve as the principal of the Captain's School to help him train more navigators...