Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1600 - 1139: Third Discovery of the Continent, Finally Reaching the East!
"Heading due West, speed eight knots, between latitude 25 to 26 degrees!…"
"Boom! Boom!…"
"May the Almighty bless us! Nina has raised a flag! Nina fired a cannon! They've discovered land!…"
Morning sunlight sprinkled on the shimmering sea like cheese spread on fine porcelain, full of tempting flavor. Three Castilian sailboats unfurled their sails, speeding westward at a rate of seven to eight knots. Captain Pinzon's Nina was the fastest and first to announce the discovery of land, invigorating the sailors on all three ships! But then…
"Vaffanculo! Fool Pinzon, as foolish as his brother! They're not only stupid but also blind, mistaking clouds at the horizon for land again!… Nothing there, just nothing! Another false jubilation from everyone! Merda!"
Clouds stretched westward, merging with the distant sea, like seeing land but unable to touch it. Expedition Commander Columbus stood at the stern, cursing under his breath, eyes fixed on the vast sea and sky, seeking signs of land.
But by dusk, he sighed regretfully, acknowledging another futile day. The birds flew away, seemingly mocking him.
"Merda! Such plump birds should be shot down by Alana for a meal!… Alas, if these fools had such archery, they'd have joined the Royal Family's Holy War Army long ago and wouldn't end up as adventurous sailors…"
Columbus muttered curses, dismissing this group of sailors. Across Europe, Castile's Holy War Army was one of the first to widely deploy matchlock guns and cannons, boasting thousands of arquebusiers!
In the recent Granada Holy War, the Kingdom's Holy War Army's main force of forty to fifty thousand infantry consisted of agile, resilient round shield swordsmen, supported by crossbow and matchlock gun mixed squads. This infantry, augmented by thousands of Iberian light cavalry, was flexible, capable of defeating the Moors' tribal forces and relentlessly pursuing them.
After Granada's fall and the Holy War's end, the costly Crusader knights were disbanded by the Castilian Royal Family, leaving bankrupt Crusader knights and chamberlains scattered everywhere. Instead, these war-tested, cost-effective infantry regiments were largely retained by the Royal Family, uncertain whom they might raid next…
"Hmm… hunting bird flocks… flocks… flying southwest… hmm?!"
Columbus pondered, rambling until he abruptly paused. Staring at the white seabirds flying southwest, he seemed to glimpse new hope.
"Oh Almighty! Birds flying southwest… I recall the Portuguese following southwest-bound bird flocks and discovering Cape Verde at sea… Could Xipangu Island be southwest of us, not directly west?!…"
"Yes! It must be so!… My calculations never err! West Pan Gu Japan must be here, our failure to find it due to a misdirection…"
"Order! Order! Ships turn southwest! Sail along the bird flock's path!…"
Night enveloped the sea, the moonlight clear. The sea ship sailed tirelessly, covering 12 leagues by the next day, when Captain of the Guard Alana caught a bird with a net, delighting in roasting it. Columbus gnawed on a roasted bird leg, spitting out bones and feathers, shouting fiercely.
"Merda! Continue southwest! I'm the wise Expedition Commander, trust me! These birds are increasing… Tomorrow, catch a bigger one to eat!…"
On the third day, strong winds propelled the fleet 31 leagues, though Columbus recorded only 25 leagues. Bird flocks indeed grew, fresh seaweed drifted in anew.
On the fourth day, the wind intensified, sails billowed high, masts creaked, and speed reached 10 knots… like soaring on water!
That day, the fleet traveled 59 leagues, the wise Expedition Commander carefully reported only 44 leagues. As the ships sped southwest, the rocking decks unnerved the sailors, who surrounded Columbus, causing an uproar again.
"Columbus! The wind and waves are swelling! Such a storm is surely a warning from the Almighty!… Our ships will capsize if we continue!…"
"True! True! No more ahead! Ahead lies the sea's man-eating giant beast… Turn back, we must return!…" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Right! Coño! If we don't turn back, we'll kill you!…"
Seeing the sailors adept at regrouping, sweat beaded Columbus's brow, forced to placate them. He inwardly clenched his teeth, wishing each knife-brandishing sailor could be hanged on the mast! Alas, he dared not act nor hold the two boatswains accountable. Otherwise, it might be him hanging on the mast…
"Ah! Listen to me! Listen!… Look! So many seabirds, such fresh seaweed… Land must be ahead, just not far!…"
"Rubbish! Columbus, half a month ago, you said land wasn't far! But tell me, where's the land? Last time we saw so much seaweed, didn't find land either!…"
