The Sun and the Lion

Due to continued piracy activities, the Portuguese fleet did not rush to Calicut until early October. However, the commander had a conflict with the local ruler in Cannanore. The Portuguese commercial agent stationed in the local area hurriedly came to mediate. Finally, he He simply warned the local rulers: "If any Christian is harmed under your rule, the subjects you protect will definitely pay the price."

Taking advantage of this gap, news of the arrival of the Portuguese fleet had reached the Malabar coast - especially what had happened to the pilgrims on the Miri, and Zamorin was pondering how to deal with them. Obviously, the Portuguese did not come here by accident. Fleets arrive every year on the monsoon, and what they encountered this year was the largest fleet in recent years.

Not only did they come regularly every year, they also found ways to disrupt shipping and gain reliable coastal strongholds, which made it very difficult to expel the Portuguese, especially since they had technological advantages.

While Vasco da Gama was still dealing with the dispute in Cannanor, Zamorin wrote to the commander to reveal his desire for peace: "I assure you that I have only pure friendship for the Christians, let us abandon everything in the past All the discord, start developing the relationship again.”

Calicut agreed to compensate Portugal for the loss of cargo, but because of the commander’s massacre of the Mili and other Muslim merchant ships, Zamorin refused to compensate: “Both you and I are bearing blood debts, and I think in this regard we We owe each other nothing.”

However, the commander received two letters from Zamorin, one to him and the other to Cochin. Zamorin analyzed the situation to his rebellious vassal monarch of Cochin, hoping to persuade him Abandon the alliance with Portugal,

Cochin was at present contented with its alliance with Portugal, and the monarch thereupon showed the letter to the Portuguese at Cochin, through whom it was delivered to the commander.

"Oh, all peace and friendship are just his cunning expediency."

The commander's attitude towards the Indians became even tougher. Before arriving at Calicut, he specifically ordered the Indian prisoners to be hanged from the mast for everyone to see.

The fleet anchored in the waters not far from the city. The commander did not make any concessions and asked the messenger to meet Zamorin in a small boat with the original conditions. Obviously, the monarch of Calicut could not agree to these conditions, but he still replied patiently: "Muslim merchants are the most important subjects under my rule. They are honest, trustworthy and loyal, and have provided me with many valuable services. "

After receiving the reply, Vasco da Gama immediately said: "This is Zamorin's neglect and contempt for me and even my monarch Manuel. I cannot tolerate such rude behavior."

Hostile actions intensified. First, dozens of Indian fishermen were captured, and the lucky ones among them joined the team of hanged men from the mast. Then they shelled the crowd on the beach, killing a large number of Indians by the shells, and basically the buildings on the shore were damaged to varying degrees. Long after the first round of shelling ended, at nightfall, the waves washed more than thirty headless men onto the beach, and an unmanned boat ran aground.

People cautiously approached the stranded boat. A letter was nailed to the bow of the boat. The hull was also covered with a layer of canvas. A bold person lifted up the covering canvas, and the disgusting and thick smell of blood hit him directly. His face forced him to take a few steps back.

Everyone took a closer look and suddenly felt uncomfortable - the scene covered under the canvas was heads and limbs piled together haphazardly, soaked in blood, and covered with flies.

There is no doubt that the original owners of these heads and limbs were those headless human sticks that washed up on the beach first.

Just getting used to these uncomfortable sights, Zamorin had already finished reading the content of the letter, but to the effect he insisted on all the previous conditions and asked Calicut to reimburse the Portuguese fleet for the gunpowder and shells consumed for this purpose.

Before he could reply, the Portuguese fleet prepared another bombardment. This time the gunners raised their guns and aimed at the palaces and wealthy areas far away from the coast.

A morning of bombardment saw the gunners pour hundreds of shells into Calicut, and da Gama hoped that the heavy bombardment would bring Zamorin to heel.

Seeing that the goal was still not achieved, the commander was a little frustrated. After convening the captains for discussion, he announced: "After a reasonable discussion of the current situation, I decided to divide the fleet into two parts. His Excellency Vicente Sodre will be responsible for the attack on the card." Liquat’s blockade and I will go to Cochin to do what needs to be done.”

The Portuguese sailors weighed anchor under the command, and the swollen sails took the Portuguese warships south along the coast to Cochin. These were clearly seen by the sentries assigned by Zamorin.

After this setback, Zamorin completely gave up any intention of easing relations with these Frankish pirates. The next thing he had to consider was how to expel these Portuguese.

As for the firepower advantage possessed by the Portuguese, Zamorin knows very well about the firepower advantage of the Portuguese. Cabral and Da Gama have both taught him, so what he is most concerned about currently is diplomatic work. , at least to unite the entire Malabar Coast.

It's just that this diplomatic goal currently seems unlikely. Cochin, which has committed rebellion, will obviously not side with Zamorin at the moment.

He looked at the nobles around him: "Tell me, what strategies can you think of to defend against the enemy?"

"Your Majesty, I think we can deal with Cochin or Cannanore first. These two cities are determined to stand with those pirates. They must be at home to fight against foreigners. These traitors who are connected to foreign countries must be eradicated!"

They realized that they seemed to be able to take advantage of the fact that the Portuguese fleet was limited by monsoon patterns. The Portuguese fleet could not stay on the Malabar coast all year round. After they returned with spices, there would be a window of about a few months to use. Against the Portuguese allies who could not get support.

Regarding this suggestion, Zamorin fully affirmed: "What you said makes sense, I think it can be done this way. But what I am worried about is not the resistance of the rebels. Those pirates are the real trouble, and we have to deal with them after all. "

"Your Majesty, it seems that the pirate leader is still willing to negotiate with you. I suggest that we take advantage of this and lure him to the designated place. At that time, we will ambush the leader and capture or kill the leader alive. Those who have lost The leader's pirates broke up without fighting and dispersed."

Zamorin turned his gaze to the Brahmin who made the suggestion and stared at him closely: "Your plan is very good, so who is willing to take on the task of deceiving the enemy chief?"

"Since it is my suggestion, I'd better not trouble others and let me go." Meeting Zamorin's gaze, the Brahmin stood up and responded proactively.