The Rise of the European Emperor

When the meeting ended, everyone began to leave the venue. But Ferdinand II deliberately fell behind a few steps and asked Marin in a low voice:

"Why do you want Japan? Didn't you say Japan is a poor island country? Why do you want it? Are you deceiving me?"

Manuel I, who was walking in front, had better ears, so he stopped and listened carefully, listening to how Marin explained...

"That's right, Your Majesty, I am jealous of Huaxia's silk and porcelain. Although Huaxia belongs to Portugal, I can build a base on a seaside island and engage in a little smuggling... Don't you think that the Japanese archipelago is? Is it close to the best smuggling base in China?"

"Really..." Ferdinand II agreed with Marin's statement. Because, it sounds reasonable, anyway, Ferdinand II couldn't think of a reason to refute.

"Officially despicable, Count Marin, how can you do this? It's still a Portuguese colony!" Manuel I was a little angry. However, this guy is too arrogant, and he directly starts to regard Huaxia as his own colony, so shameless...

"His Majesty Manuel, Portugal doesn't allow others to drink soup? China is so big and has so many benefits. How much can I earn from smuggling? I don't think I even have a fraction of your money? Besides, if a smuggling boat If you find out, I'm unlucky!" Marin simply followed the words of the arrogant Manuel I, the meaning of the words, as if Portugal had won the Ming Dynasty...

Manuel I thought about it, really, how much money can smuggling make compared to colonization? At that time, after Portugal controls Huaxia, strict management will prevent Marin from smuggling. 【】At that time, I won't even give that boy Marin a drink of soup...

It's just that Manuel I never thought about whether he could beat the Ming Empire's problem...

After Manuel I left, Ferdinand II said with a smile:

"This fool, really thinks that Portugal can defeat China. It's just like the weak army of Portugal and the hundreds of thousands of troops of the Ming Empire. It's just abusive..."

"That's why I asked His Majesty the Pope to give me the Japanese archipelago. In this way, I can engage in smuggling. No matter whether Portugal can beat the Ming Empire or not, anyway, smuggling is no problem."

"Sounds so good, it makes me want to go to Daming to smuggle..."

"No need, Your Majesty, if I succeed in smuggling. At that time, I will definitely let your son Prince Juan be the agent of Huaxia specialty products in Spain and Italy, and let him make a fortune together! You know, Prince Juan and I are the same. My friend!" Marin said that he was afraid that Spain would really intervene in the smuggling of Daming's side.

"So good, Marin, don't forget what you said today!" For Ferdinand II, who attached great importance to Prince Juan, if Prince Juan was good, he was good.

"It must be..." Just like that, Ferdinand II left with satisfaction. 【】

...

With a relaxed mood, Marin whistled and returned to his house.

However, he had only rested for a while when an intelligence officer urgently knocked on his door...

"What's the matter? I'm resting! Don't disturb me if there's nothing important!" Marin said angrily.

"Sir, it's a big deal!" The person who came here, Marin knew, was one of Kohler's personal followers, named Jerry. Originally, this guy should be in East Frisian, but suddenly appeared here, obviously there is a big event.

then,

Marin was also nervous, thinking that something had happened to East Frisian:

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Cape Breton Island has been discovered!" Jerry said nervously.

"What?" Marin was taken aback. He always thought that North America was run by him alone. Since someone else finds out, it may be leaked.

"Who was the discoverer?" Marin asked nervously.

"It was an Italian captain named John Cabot, who served King Henry VII of England," Jerry said.

In fact, in the original history, John Cabot discovered the east coast of the North American continent as early as 1497. And Henry VII also declared that North America belonged to England based on his discoveries. And, historically, John Cabot died in 1499.

However, after Marin crossed in 1494, because of the change of history, there was also a change on the British side. John Cabot's 1497 voyage did not take place, mainly because of Marin. Because, he revealed that syphilis came from the wild continent, and the wild continent is not Asia, nor India.

So, the voyage in 1497 was cancelled by Henry VII. But also because of this, John Cabot did not die in 1499, but was alive and well.

Henry VII later thought about it and felt that although there was no India, it was acceptable to occupy some territories in the wild continent as colonies. As for the real India, the British were a little worried about Portugal, which was more powerful at sea, and did not dare to interfere.

In 1504, Henry VII finally agreed to John Cabot's request for exploration. However, as in the original history, only a small sailboat of about 100 tons and 18 sailors were given to John Cabot. In this way, John Cabot, with his three sons and 18 sailors, set off from the port of Bristol in that small sailboat and sailed westward, looking for the northern half of the wild continent.

Then, John Cabot's boat, as it had in history, arrived in Newfoundland.

In southeast Newfoundland, John Cabot spotted a fishing boat sent by Cape Breton Island. So, John Cabot and his boat followed the fishing boats and arrived in Sydney, the capital of Cape Breton Island...

The Governor of Cape Breton Island, Garland, was taken aback when he learned that a British ship had come to Cape Breton Island. As one of the oldest old men who had been with Marin for the longest time, Garland knew about Marin's confidentiality requirements. Therefore, John Cabot and his party, Garland is not going to let go...

However, he is also an old man who has been with Marin for many years, and he is still very scheming. He first pretended to be very warm, and warmly received John Cabot and his sailors. However, John Cabot was cautious and only brought two sons and nine sailors ashore. The others, remain on the boat to prevent being detained.

It's just that Garland concealed it very well, and warmly entertained John Cabot and his party, with good wine and good food every day. In addition, I also took John Cabot and his party to visit many places on the island, and it seems that there is no idea of ​​secrecy.

Just like that, a few days later, John Cabot let down his guard. After John Cabot said that he was going to leave here and continue to explore, Garland enthusiastically expressed that he would hold a farewell banquet.

John Cabot, who had lost his guard, brought everyone ashore for the banquet, and then—they were all arrested...

Garland realized the seriousness of the matter, and hurriedly sent a ship back to Europe, urgently reported the matter to Marin, and asked for instructions on how to deal with the detained John Cabot and his party.

However, by the time Garland's ship arrived at Emden, Marin had already left for Rome. Kohler felt that the matter was important, so he sent out his cronie Jerry and came to Rome to report the matter to Marin in person...

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