Isabel Walton, captain of the Nemesis, rests on the table on her elbows, holding two slices of bread with leaves, cheese and corned beef. He glanced at the leaves, cheese, and corned beef, opened his mouth, and took a bite. After biting down on 1/3 of the homemade "sandwich" bread, I munched on it with relish.

After swallowing the food in his mouth completely, he turned his head to look at the curious navigator and whispered, "Sir, do you know? On his way back from opening a new route, many of his crew members died of a strange illness. ”

Cassiano Avigliana, the Spanish navigator, nodded, picked up a pickled fig, looked at it twice, put it in his mouth and chewed it. Then, as he swallowed, he looked at her, "I have heard of it, and I also know that this Portuguese has opened a new route to India through the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. ”

Isabel finished her sandwich bread, clapped her hands, and glanced at Captain Hawkins, who was sitting at the top of the table. Immediately, he said to the navigator with a smile, "Sir, let's let Captain Hawkins talk about it." ”

Seeing that she didn't say any more, the navigator just smiled, "Of course, it should be based on the content of today's discussion." ”

Captain Hawkins invited Isabel to dinner on his ship to discuss the next voyage with her. Just now, because of Isabel's status, she didn't interrupt her conversation with the navigator. Now, since the other party has taken the initiative to give up the right to speak, he feels that he should show gratitude.

Standing up politely, he smiled and nodded at Isabel, who was sitting on her left hand. Next, he glanced at the rest of the crew present, "Gentlemen, this is the first time that the Hawkins family's fleet has reached the coast of Africa, which is owned and controlled by the Portuguese. The Portuguese established their first colonial forts here in the last century, and later traded gold and slaves near 'Mina' (Ghana's Gold Coast) in Africa. ”

After a slight pause, he propped his hands on the table and looked at everyone solemnly, "Gentlemen, do you think we should trade legally with the Portuguese or plunder them legally?" ”

Captain Hawkins' maritime lieutenant lowered his head slightly in thought for a moment, then raised his head to look at him again, "Captain, Portugal is just a small country split from Spain, and it doesn't have much army to occupy many colonies. As a result, the main methods were the establishment of military fortifications, monopolizing trade routes, and engaging in fraudulent trade to plunder treasure, spices, and slaves. ”

Captain Hawkins nodded, then looked at Isabel again, "What do you think, Captain?" ”

Isabel picked up her glass and took a sip of wine, her expression looking relaxed, "Captain, we have already obtained the permission of His Majesty, and the Portuguese are not our allies, why should we treat such a fierce and brutal colonial empire with a chivalrous demeanor?" ”

Cassiano, a subject of the Spanish Empire, who was also a colonial empire, agreed with Captain Hawkins and Isabel, and he did not mind leading a group of English to plunder the Portuguese slave ships or merchant ships. After all, since Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas at the end of the last century, Spain and Portugal have been at war for colonies, markets, and wealth.

Now, why not borrow the hand of the English to weaken some of the land, ivory, spices, slaves, and gold that the Portuguese had been given to them on the basis of the "Papal Meridian"!

The Papal Meridian was the dividing line between Spain and Portugal in 1493 under the arbitration of Pope Alexander VI of Rome, and the Pope decided: "The two sides shall be bounded by the meridian, the west of the line belongs to Spain, and the east of the line belongs to Portugal." ”

In 1504, the two countries signed the Treaty of Taolé de Cirias, which set the boundary between the spheres of influence of Spain and Portugal from 370 li west of the Cape Verde Islands. In 1529, the two countries again made adjustments to the "Papal Meridian", which allowed Spain to gain exclusive rights to the Americas, and the Portuguese occupation of Brazil was recognized. That is, from 1529, Spain and Portugal divided the entire earth for the first time, and carried out frenzied colonization and plunder.

Captain Hawkins, who was mentally and spiritually obedient to the aristocratic lady Isabel, soon made the decision that when he arrived in the Cape Verde Islands, where the Portuguese were in the sphere of influence, he must use all means of force to snatch wealth, slaves, spices, and other priceless goods from the Portuguese.

Once the strategic objectives have been determined, it is necessary to further define the tactical requirements at sea. Captain Hawkins, who was accustomed to business, was obviously inexperienced in naval warfare, and he voluntarily ceded the right to speak to the aristocratic lady Isabel. Unexpectedly, Isabel said very simply, "Sir, from now on, all ships must obey my orders. No matter what kind of flag my standard-bearer says, you just have to follow it strictly. ”

The navigator Kasiano looked with interest at the "merchant's daughter" standing at the table, and he felt more and more that he was right about her. This "Miss Brenda" must be a descendant of a Saxon military aristocracy. If not, where did she get her tactical ideas about warfare at sea?

Coughing lightly, he looked at Isabel with his wine glass, "Miss, how do you plan to use your four merchant ships to plunder the Portuguese merchant ships?" ”

Isabel glanced at the navigator and smiled lightly, "Sir, when the Portuguese Magellan sailed around the world, the ships he used were all Spanish Clarks, and the flagships that Columbus took when he discovered America were also Clarks. Therefore, I believe that the Clark ship has a high status in the hearts of the Portuguese. ”

"Well, the Clark ship has always been our pride." The navigator, who had been praised a few words, nodded sharply.

"Now, the Portuguese have considered the Cape Verde Islands to be their inland sea territory. In addition, the Clark ship had large cabins for cargo and sailors, and was able to withstand attacks from smaller ships. Isabel took another sip of wine as she said this, "I think the Portuguese will surely transform the Clark into a single heavy merchant ship, and the small Galen for escort." ”

Captain Hawkins suddenly understood what she meant. When she paused, she interjected, "Captain, I think I see what you mean." The merchant ships of the Portuguese are not armed, and we are armed, is that so? ”