Things went even more smoothly than Marlin had imagined, and when Langton arrived in Italy, he met up with his fellow spies in Rome and received Marin's new instructions (from carrier pigeons).

After arriving in the Kingdom of Naples, the Spanish army camp was already panicked. Fortunately, smallpox had not yet broken out in the Spanish army camp. But Gonzalo. Morality. In order to prevent the spread of smallpox, Córdoba ordered that no unknown person should be allowed to approach the promise, otherwise he would be shot immediately. At the same time, he selected hundreds of people from the army who had contracted smallpox, and were responsible for contact with the outside world of the battalion and the transportation of supplies.

As in the case of the city of Rome, Gonzalo strictly forbade soldiers to go out at will, and at the same time, a large amount of quicklime was procured for the disinfection of the camp. And the hundreds of veterans who had smallpox had to change their clothes and take hot showers to disinfect every time they came back from contact with the outside world. Because, Gonzalo studied in Beihai back then......

At the beginning, Marin's "self-created" "Marin phalanx" (Spanish phalanx) amazed Europe, so Gonzalo was sent by Spain to learn the phalanx from Marin. At the same time, learn the training methods in the Marin Army.

Although Marin had reservations about Gonzalo and concealed the most important method of selecting soldiers, everything else was open for Gonzalo to learn. For example, the measures to deal with infectious diseases, Gonzalo learned from the army of the North Sea State. Therefore, in the face of the epidemic, he did a good job.

As the commander-in-chief of the Italian war, Gonzalo also adjusted the Spanish ships off Naples - all the captains who had not suffered smallpox were temporarily sent to Sicily. In temporary place for the captains were the first mates, second officers, and third officers who had suffered from smallpox.

The man Langton approached was Morientes, the acting captain of the Spanish ship "Sánchez". Morientes was originally only the second officer on the "Sánchez", from a civilian background, and there was no hope of promotion. However, the sudden smallpox caused the captain and first mate to take refuge in Sicily. As a result, he, the second mate of German smallpox, became the acting captain of the warship, responsible for cruising the southern coast of France. At the same time, he occasionally went to the island of Capri, near the city of Naples, to receive new orders from Gonzalo. For example, going to France to arrest people or something.

Most of the sailors on his ship had been replaced by those who had smallpox. Therefore, you can enter and exit the epidemic area without any scruples.

Langton smuggled to Capri in the middle of the night by dinghy, where he met Morientes, who was drinking, in a tavern. Morientes is not in a good mood, he is infatuated with what it is like to be a captain now, but he knows that once the pandemic is over, he will return to his position as second officer.

Like other European countries of this era, Spain was very particular about identity and ancestry. Although the Navy is already the least considered branch of the military, there is still a rising ceiling.

For example, a second mate like Morientes, who was a fisherman, was almost impossible to be promoted to the position of captain. Not to mention the captain, it is not even possible to be promoted to first officer.

It should be pointed out that the same management personnel on the ship, the gap between the second officer and the captain and the first officer is very large. Because, the captain is generally a man of great learning, at least a literate person, and even, in general, he is very proficient in astronomy. Not only is he good at selecting routes, but he also keeps a logbook.

The first mate is also literate, and they are actually the captain's replacement. Because, navigation in this era is very dangerous, the captain may die of illness at any time, and the first mate is the substitute captain, who is generally literate and knows how to sail.

The second mate is different, the second mate of this era is different from the second mate of later generations. The second officer of the later generation was mainly responsible for managing all the various nautical instruments and equipment on the ship, and belonged to people who knew technology.

But the second officer of this era did not have any advanced instruments and equipment for him, only to manage the sails and rudder of the ship. In addition, he is in charge of the life of the sailors on the ship. After all, the captain and the first mate are high above the sky and don't take care of things. Or, they all tell the second mate to do it.

The second mate, on the other hand, may not be educated. After all, it is not the management of advanced equipment as in later generations, but only the management of sail ropes, as well as classical equipment such as rudders, which does not require much knowledge. Many times, the second mate is a brilliant person selected from among the sailors. Morientes, for example, was selected from the sailors.

Originally, Morientes had no culture, so he had no ambition to respond. But later, he went to the captain's school for three years of special training, and mastered a lot of nautical knowledge. Combined with his experience as a sailor, he began to take on some of the jobs that could be done as a captain and first mate. For example, observing astronomical phenomena and determining the direction and position of navigation. Also, it is possible to record the logbook in writing......

From then on, ambition began to sprout in Morientes's heart. After a few years, Morientes knew that he already had the ability to command the ship. At least, there is no problem in the Mediterranean.

But what prevented him from becoming a captain was his origin and bloodline......

Don't look at the captains of those ships, many of them are not nobles, but half of their ancestors are also nobles. Otherwise, at least it is the descendant of a wealthy businessman. Otherwise, you can't afford to go to school. The descendants of the common people rarely have the opportunity to receive education. Many of the captains were excellent astronomers and meteorologists in their own right. For example, Amerigo and Columbus were both nautical and astronomical masters who had the ability to become court scholars.

In other words, those who can become captains are generally either the children of declining nobles or the children of wealthy merchants, who themselves have great knowledge. Of course, not every captain is an academic. For example, some children of nobles will rely on connections to become captains.

Generally speaking, this kind of captain who is mixed up by connections will not take on the task of going to unfamiliar waters, and will only carry out tasks on mature routes. Like the Sánchez, it operates mainly in the northern half of the western Mediterranean. This kind of simple sea conditions (there are no big storms in the Mediterranean), as well as rich records of old routes, are generally popular among the children of the nobles who have connections to compete for positions.

Just like the captain and first mate of the original "Sanchez", they are all aristocratic families in the decline of Lao Tzu. Although the family has declined, he is also a child of a nobleman. Therefore, they may not be more capable than Morientes, but they occupy the position of captain and first mate, which makes Morientes secretly hate.

Langton had inquired with the other drinkers in the tavern about the situation of this Morientes before, and he made a targeted arrangement......

……

Hooking up a drinker is simple – just ask each other for a drink. Sure enough, after inviting Morientes to a glass of medium-quality wine, Morientes became enthusiastic.

Langton concocted a lie that his name was Tony, that he had been an Italian mercenary and had served as a squad leader. However, because he was not from a noble background, he could not be promoted to company captain, so he resigned angrily and became a merchant......

When he heard about Langton's "experience", Morienteston became a confidant. Because, he is also a victim of blood!

Stimulated by alcohol, the more the two talked, the more speculative they became. Finally, Morientes spoke to Langton about his troubles - no hope of promotion......

……

Compared with the Army, the Navy actually has more opportunities for promotion than the Army. Because the voyage was too dangerous, many nobles were reluctant to join the navy. Generally, the children of nobles who enter the navy are mostly the children of small nobles or declining aristocratic families. A real aristocracy, rarely willing to join the navy. Unless, to be a fleet commander or something. A position like a captain is basically only seen by the children of declining nobles.

But for the second officer from a fisherman's family like Morientes, the captain and even the first mate are insurmountable "mountains". Unless, there are military exploits......

The army's military exploits are not the turn of the commoners, because there are too many noble children in the army. The navy is different, because there are relatively few children of the nobility, so a part of the war achievements can always be shared with the children of civilians, and the way out is better than that of the army. However, the risks are also significant. Once the ship is sunk, everyone has to finish the game.

A person like Morientes, who has become a second officer, is normally difficult to be promoted to first mate and captain. But if you make a contribution, it's not impossible......

……

So, Langton began to encourage Morientes to take advantage of this opportunity to do something to make the Spanish royal family happy. For example, smallpox spread to France......

"What? Spreading smallpox? Are you crazy? He will be excommunicated by the Pope! Hearing the advice of his new friend Langton, Morientes shook his head repeatedly. After all, Toleni's lessons are there.

Langton was a little dismissive:

"You didn't do it, but the French did, don't you know that smallpox has been spread in Spain?"

Morientes hesitated:

"Didn't Toleni of Venice do that?"

Langton pretended to be dismissive and said:

"Innocent! Toleni is dying, why do you do this? It's not that there is someone behind him to do this! ”

"You mean......" Morientes began to make up his mind......

"That's right, it was the French who secretly supported it. I have heard that Toleni had been approached by a French envoy before he sent his ship to the Spanish mainland......" Langton whispered mysteriously.

"You mean...... The French instructed this? Morientes' eyes widened.

"Almost, but, no one has evidence, alas......"

Morienteston was furious:

"What a shame on the French! If only I ...... Alas, if smallpox really spread to France, the Holy See learned that he would be excommunicated...... "In the end, Morientes was still coaxed.

But Langton had already prepared a plan for him:

"I heard that you captured a lot of French miners on Mount Vesuvius?"

When the French dug for ash on Mount Vesuvius, they sent many workers from the southern coastal areas to dig up the ash. After Gonzalo's army captured Mount Vesuvius, the men were captured by the Spaniards and forced by the Spanish army to dig trenches and build fortifications. For example, on the island of Capri, the Spaniards expanded their local docks to accommodate Spanish warships. The expansion of the wharf required hundreds of French workers......

"What do you mean......"

"If you send smallpox patients from Naples directly to France, you will surely be criticized. But if these French workers themselves contracted smallpox, what if you sent them home 'without knowing it'......" Langton said slowly.

His plan was to arrange for smallpox patients to come into contact with the French workers on the island, so that they could contract smallpox. Later, Morientes used the warship "Sanchez" to send the gang back to mainland France, in the name of "releasing them to return home and reunite with their families". In this way, he can be cleared of the charge of deliberately spreading smallpox to a certain extent......

Of course, it is unlikely that he will be able to clear his name completely, but Langton will not tell him this when he fools Morientes, but will try to pick the good ones and never mention the bad ones......

Stimulated by the prospect of "being promoted to first mate or even captain after meritorious service", Morientes finally lost his head and decided to do this under the bewitchment of Langton......