The Sun and the Lion

Cabral had no patience to wait for Zamorin's reply. Everyone believed that the Indians were malicious and their silence was to paralyze them and buy them enough time to prepare for war.

During the day the next day, gunfire sounded in the port without warning. Flemish and German gunners operated almost all the artillery in the fleet to shoot at the Muslim ships in the port, paralyzing them and telling the whole city that revenge was coming. A commando team formed by the Portuguese attacked the ten selected Muslim merchant ships, killing all the crew members remaining on the ship, looting all the cargo left in the ship's hold, and finally burning the ship.

The surprise operation of the Portuguese fleet in the port lasted until sunset. More than six hundred people were massacred, and their bodies were thrown directly into the water. The success of the washed ashore frightened the citizens of Calicut. As for the loss of property, it is impossible to calculate.

After sunset, the Portuguese fleet changed its target. Cabral took advantage of the cover of night to bring the warship to the shore. At dawn, countless cannonballs fell into the city, countless houses were damaged to varying degrees, and several dignitaries Zamorin was killed by the shelling and was forced to flee the city.

The massacre at the port and the bombardment of Calicut demonstrated to the Indians the formidable force of arms and artillery power of the Portuguese fleet. Indians feared these strangers because they knew that these people had the power to coerce others.

Of course, this also represented a complete breakdown in the relationship between Portugal and Calicut. The massacre at the trading post and port made both sides believe that the other side was the first to cause trouble. This was the first salvo in a war over trade and faith in the Indian Ocean.

Seeing that diplomacy at Calicut failed, Cabral implemented his alternative plan and led his fleet south to Cochin. On the evacuation, they captured and destroyed more Muslim ships.

According to the information he collected, Cochin is a vassal of Calicut Zamorin, but has been seeking independence and is likely to welcome the Portuguese just like Malindi. This was of course regarded as a new breakthrough point for him.

As expected, the situation developed in a direction favorable to the Portuguese. The ruler of Cochin warmly welcomed these outsiders: "I heard that you caused great harm to Calicut. Even Zamorin was scared out of the palace." , he asked Cabral about the name of the Portuguese monarch and basic information about the Kingdom of Portugal, and expressed his willingness to form an alliance.

Seeing the enthusiasm of the Cochin monarch, Cabral was a little embarrassed. After all, the diplomatic gifts had been given to Zamorin. Fortunately, Cochin was the active party, and the Indians took the initiative to provide anchorage and supplies for the Portuguese fleet.

Thanks to the friendly attitude of the monarch of Cochin, the Portuguese successfully established a trading post here - the first stronghold of the Portuguese fleet in India - and learned other intelligence about the Malabar coast. After hearing about the massacre at Calicut, the other two vassals of Zamorin sent envoys to Cochin to meet Cabral, actively inviting the Portuguese to trade and hoping to form an alliance to fight against Zamorin.

But Cabral received more than just good news. Two Indian Christians found him. The commander warmly entertained them at first, but then the truth stated by the priest was not to their liking.

"Dear Commander, what you think of as heresy is actually the paganism that led to the martyrdom of saints. In this land, there are few people who listen to the teachings of Saint Thomas, and they are trapped in the plight of being besieged by pagans. Moreover, all trade in the coastal areas Almost all are controlled by Muslims, and your joining will undoubtedly attract everyone's attention." The Indian priest slowly told everything he knew, and finally concluded.

The revelation of the truth left the Portuguese fleet at a loss. Fortunately, the fleet's artillery and Cochin's friendship were enough to allow them to gain a foothold in this unfamiliar ocean.

After writing down the correct religious and political situation on the Malabar coast and Cochin's alliance intentions, he wanted to quickly send this important intelligence back to Lisbon to correct Manuel and others' misunderstandings about India.

At this time, the cargo holds of five ships were already full of goods. Cabral sent these ships back home first, and he wanted to lead the remaining empty ships to carry out expeditions filled with supplies.

The Cochin envoy who was responsible for sending supplies suddenly said to Cabral: "Your Excellency, I have just received news that Zamorin is eager for revenge and has assembled dozens of ships in Calicut to intercept your fleet. I We will not sit back and ignore our friends. If you need it, we will send warships..."

When Cabral heard that it was Calicut's fleet, he responded with scorn: "I appreciate your kindness. You have already provided us with supplies and goods. How can we make you pay so much unilaterally?" What? I have full confidence in the fleet’s armament. The people of Calicut are actually frightened and they don’t dare to come close.”

The remaining three sailing ships quickly pulled up anchor and set sail. As the Cochin envoy said, they soon saw a huge fleet. If the envoy's exaggerated words were believed, then there were more than eighty people in front of Cabral. battleship. Find bookstore www.zhaoshuyuan.com

But things were exactly as the commander expected. The Calicuts, who had seen the power of artillery, were afraid of the weak Portuguese. After only firing a few symbolic cannons, they did not dare to get closer at all. After nightfall, they followed lost.

Cabral visited the two port cities that actively contacted him northward. After stopping the ship to load the spices, he would also start crossing the Indian Ocean, but he was not in a hurry to return home.

Manuel, who is far away in Lisbon, is designing a strategic layout in the Indian Ocean. To this end, Cabral needs to send people to explore the Red Sea and the East African coast to provide enough information to His Majesty the King.

Diogo Dias was dispatched. The unfriendly climate on the Red Sea caused the Portuguese sailors to suffer a lot. After the commanders reunited, the number of living people on the ship dropped to single digits. It was only for supplements. Northwest corner of Indian Ocean chart. To be precise, the price paid was simply to allow the cartographer to view the entrance to the Red Sea.

Then, as they sailed arduously along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, another merchant fleet set off from Lisbon. Manuel believed that the valuable gifts he had prepared would help Cabral to resolve the dispute amicably with Zamorin, Calicate. misunderstanding and decided to send an expedition to India every year.

Because the voyage is too long, the fleet cannot go back and forth between Lisbon and India within a year. All news about India is only updated in the mainland about two years. The Portuguese court took some measures to ensure that the next fleet could make use of the experience of the previous one. Starting from Cabral, the returning fleet had to leave messages on the shore of the Cape of Good Hope.

Despite the unsatisfactory results of the voyage, Manuel was ready to brag about his victory in Europe. The first to bear the brunt are the Venetians who have been paying close attention to this.