The Rise of the European Emperor

Marin's guards brought Columbus back to Aurich's palace three days later, and when they brought him back, Columbus was still smelling of alcohol.

Marin was very surprised. Isn't Columbus now serving as the principal of the Captain's School? Why did you come back in three days? After returning from the captain's school by the sea, I can't use it for a day. Could it be that they took the students to sea for trial voyages?

But when I heard the report from the guards, it wasn't like that at all...

It turned out that Columbus went to Las Vegas to drink flower wine. Moreover, it was also invited by Amerigo...

According to the report of the guards, when they arrived in Las Vegas to find Columbus and Amerigo, they both slept with their naked sister Mao in their arms.

Although both were admirable navigators, neither Columbus nor Amerigo were gentlemen. Ameligo is better, Columbus is just a villain and a pervert. Amerigo only called one Maomei to serve the bed, but Columbus called two...

Moreover, because Marin has a lot of grain in his hands and a lot of wine production, Las Vegas also has a lot of spirits. The two great navigators not only slept with Mao Mei, but also drank a lot of wine.

As a result, when Columbus was woken up, he was drunk and not yet sober. Finally, as a last resort, when they returned, the guards arranged a shock-absorbing carriage to bring Columbus back all the way.

Along the way, there are no concrete roads, not even Roman Avenue. Therefore, even if it is a shock-absorbing carriage, it will go up and down, and the bumps will not be violent at most, and the carriage will not "hard land". In this way, Columbus was wrapped in a quilt in the carriage of the shock-absorbing carriage and returned to Aurich all the way. The amazing thing is that this product has been sleeping soundly all the time...

Moreover, when he came to see Marin in the morning, Columbus rode his own horse and drove over from Aurich's mansion. When he came, he was still full of alcohol.

Marin sniffed his nose and said:

"Christopher, do you know that you were drunk and driving?" | Marin would bet that Columbus, who was drunk, was caught by the traffic police and had to be deducted...

"Drink driving? What do you mean?" Columbus didn't react for a while.

Marin patted his head, forgetting that this place is ancient, and he doesn't have a driver's license. Then, he just skipped the topic. Although Columbus was puzzled, the boss didn't want to talk about it, so he gave up.

Marin looked at Columbus and said sternly:

"Christopher, I have an important task for you now, will you?"

Columbus shook his head,

To make myself more awake, and then replied solemnly:

"Yes, Grand Duke! By the way, are you going to find a route to Huaxia?"

Under the previous agreement, America was named after Amerigo. But the achievements of discovering India and China belong to Columbus. Of course, that refers to Huaxia's right of first discovery. Columbus was responsible for continuing eastward from India, crossing the Strait of Malacca and arriving in India. Amerigo, on the other hand, set out from Panama across the Pacific Ocean, looking for the Daming route.

"No, I intend for you to discover the coastal port over the Devil's Sea first. After all, our ship cannot pass through the land. So, I need you to take the fleet and find the port over there." In order to confuse other countries , Marin deliberately called the Pacific Ocean the Devil's Sea. In this way, those explorers can be frightened. This was clear to Columbus and Amerigo.

Marin took out the map, showed Columbus the outline of South America, and pointed out the location of Panama. As for the Chilean side, Marin did not immediately request a landing on the mainland. After all, Chile is now controlled by the Inca Empire, and if it landed, it would inevitably conflict with the Inca Empire. So Marin's plan was to find an island off the coast of central Chile as a foothold and a freshwater supply point. Then, using this as a springboard, they seek to attack the Inca Empire on the mainland.

Or, avoid conflict with the Inca Empire. Because, the Inca Empire expanded along the Andes Mountains. The water-rich areas off the coast of Chile, the Inca Empire must have controlled. But in the desert areas of northern Chile, because there was no fresh water, the Inca Empire did not send troops to control it. Also, no one lives there.

As long as Marin has a small island that replenishes fresh water as a base, it is enough to transport fresh water to Iquique. As for where Iquique is, Marin still knows very well. Because, in later generations, there is an unreliable legend about Iquique-it is said that tens of thousands of Taiping Army mined there and joined the Chilean army, helping Chile defeat Peru and Bolivia, and then settled in Iquique ...

Although this legend is unreliable, it has also attracted the attention of Marin. Even, Marin has searched for the information of Iquique, and knows its latitude - 20 degrees, 7 minutes and 0 seconds south latitude... At the same time, Marin still remembers that the port of Antofagasta, south of Iquique The dimension of - 23 degrees 39 minutes south latitude...

There are saltpeter mines near Iquique, and the reserves are huge, otherwise Iquique would not be so famous. As for Antofagasta, it is even more conspicuous. The city itself was established because of the discovery of silver mines. Also, there are many saltpeter mines nearby. A little further, is the famous world-class copper mine in later generations - the Chuquicamata Copper Mine.

In the later generations, the saltpeter of Chile was basically exported through these two large ports. So, as long as you find these two ports, you can find saltpeter.

Of course, the primary task now is not to find these two ports, but to find the transit island first. This island will become a place for fleets to rest and replenish fresh water. Then, the fleet continued north, without refilling fresh water, and went straight to Panama City. Even in the future, the island will become a freshwater supply point for Iquique.

Marin will have people set up a freshwater production point on the island, and they will heat the oak barrels filled with freshwater by steaming in a large pot. Finally, close the barrel as you would for a can. The only difference from the can is that the canned cork is sealed with beeswax. The fresh water barrels are sealed with mud. In this way, the sealed barrels of fresh water produced like boiling cans can be stored for several months. After being transported to Iquique, it can also be transported to the desert for workers who mine saltpeter to drink...

After explaining it in detail, Columbus looked left and right on the map. After reading it, Columbus said:

"Grand Duke, this simple voyage to find a route along the mainland coast doesn't seem to require me and Amerigo..."

Marin was stunned and asked:

"What do you mean? You don't want to go?" Having said this, Marin felt a little unhappy.

Columbus waved his hands again and again:

"No, Archduke. I mean, this kind of sailing completely along the coastline is relatively simple, and it doesn't require me and Amerigo at all. Just pick one of my excellent students from the captain's school and it will be enough to complete it. mission."

"Can this work?" Marin was still a little worried. These days, the big voyage is so difficult, and if the mission fails, it will be a waste of time.

"Totally doable!" Columbus said firmly. Then he added:

"The reason why this is possible is that it benefits from the technology you provide, Grand Duke..."

"You mean..."

"Yes, it's the sextant and the clockwork nautical bell that you made, the Grand Duke. With these two things, our captains can calculate the latitude and longitude at any time. In this way, as long as it is not a voyage deep into the ocean, it is generally A captain who knows how to use a sextant and a nautical clock and make calculations is adequate for this purpose."

When Malin thought about it, it was true, especially when he went to the old route, where the latitude and longitude were marked. As long as the coordinates left by the pioneers along the exploration route are calculated and navigated along the way, there will be no problem.

As for finding Panama along the coastline of the South American continent, it does not seem to be too difficult.

First, Columbus had discovered the Caribbean Sea. The coordinates of Grenada were also recorded by Amerigo. Later captains, as long as they knew how to measure and calculate longitude and latitude using sextants and nautical clocks, could reach Grenada very smoothly.

Then it goes south from Grenada, crosses Trinidad and Tobago, goes south along the east coast of the Americas, to Tierra del Fuego, crosses the Strait of Magellan, and then goes north along the southern coast of the South American continent. With the cooperation of a telescope, as long as you keep observing the land, it is easy to go north all the way.

Finally, it is easy to reach the Gulf of Panama, facing due south, and find the area where the future Panama City is located. It's really not possible, you can first establish a foothold on Taboga Island in the Gulf of Panama near Panama City, and then wait until Uncle Black chops down trees to the Pacific side, and then joins with it. It's important to get a foothold first...

"Then who do you think can do this?" Marin asked after thinking about it.

"I can see Captain Aben!" Columbus said after thinking for a while.

"Aben? Bald Aben?" Marin thought of the young Frisian fisherman who looked a lot like Luo Laohan, a later football star. That bright bald head is very dazzling...

At the beginning, Marin, who had just acquired Texel Island as a fief, had known the simple and honest young fisherman a long time ago. Unexpectedly, after so many years, the bald Aben can become the captain of his own...

"Yes, Aben looks silly, but he's actually very smart. He is very good at math and is very skilled in calculating longitude and latitude. It is also possible for him to lead the team."

Marin thought for a while, agreed with Columbus's suggestion, sent someone to look for bald Aben, and decided to lead the team to find Chile and the Pacific coast of Panama. Of course, it is also necessary to find a small island with fresh water as a transit station and fresh water supply point in the sea off Chile...

After discussing Aben's arrangement, Marin turned the subject back to Columbus:

"Christopher, have you rested enough?"

"Yes, that's almost it!" Although he was still reluctant to live in the corrupt life of Las Vegas, Columbus knew that it was time for him to go out.

Because, it's time to explore the Daming route...