In 1483, Columbus inherited the "mantle" of Tuscaneri and again proposed the method of sailing westward, and Columbus's idea was more mature, the main idea was to use the "equal latitude navigation method" based on the islands in the Atlantic, although this method does not allow you to determine where you will go, but it has the advantage of ensuring that you will be able to reach a land near that latitude after a long enough time (so it is important to prevent mutiny) - if there is land there at all.

Of course, the Portuguese government has been engaged in maritime business for many years, and it has a large number of talented and capable people, so it is not generally more ambitious than other European countries, and will not catch one by one like Spain, England, and France.

So after the "study", the Portuguese government rejected Columbus's proposal.

But the suggestion sent to the door had to be tried, so Portugal made a failed voyage with Columbus behind his back, and then, there was no more.

The opportunity to discover the New World was missed for the second time in Portugal.

……

Of course, Portugal's nautical business is still booming. In 1487, Dias successfully sailed across the southernmost point of Africa to the Cape of Good Hope.

Dias's luck was not so good. In 1500, Cabral's expedition to India was shipwrecked when he returned home to report the discovery of a new land, and the name of Dias was prominently on the list of victims.

"A few people have returned to modern sailing" does not seem to be an empty phrase.

The year 1488 was a very important and crucial year for Portugal, and at the same time as Diaz returned to his voyage, two major events took place that had important implications for the future of Portugal, although they were buried in the dust of history.

The first big thing was the arrival of the Portuguese in India!

How did the Portuguese get to India? Could it be that it flew over?

Of course, the Portuguese did not fly over, they went by sea and land.

This was done with the help of a spy named Covillian. Covilha, a spy, was a legendary figure during the Great Discoveries, and from this point of view, Akashi Genjiro, Werther, and Sorge are not as great as Covilha's contribution to history.

Covilha, a spy of the Kingdom of Portugal, sailed to Alexandria in Egypt, then traveled to Aden via the Red Sea, and finally crossed the Arabian Sea to the port of Cananor in western India. Covilha was the first Portuguese to set foot on Indian soil.

That's why the Portuguese are so sure that India is in the East, because they've already discovered it!

Covilha's accomplishments don't stop there, the journey of this legendary spy is far from over.

In 1489, Covilha, a spy of the Kingdom of Portugal, left India for Hormuz, Iran, and then sailed along the coast of East Africa to Sofala, near the 21st parallel, in present-day Mozambique, to learn about trade and navigation in the Persian Gulf and East Africa.

In other words, Covilha not only reached India, but also explored the east coast of Africa and the western Indian Ocean, and basically at the same time that Dias crossed the Cape of Good Hope, the route of the east coast of Africa was already clear to Covilha, which prepared the stepping stone for da Gama's success.

By 1490, however, the Kingdom of Portugal was still unaware of these momentous discoveries, and Covilha wanted to send the information back to his homeland.

In 1491, a group of envoys sent by the Kingdom of Kongo to the Kingdom of Portugal followed the Portuguese mission back to the Congo. King Nzanga Kuvu of the Congo was baptized into Christianity along with some of the nobles. João II and the whole of Portugal were bathed in glory.

This year, I was adrift overseas for three years. Covilha returned to Cairo, Egypt, and got in touch with the people sent by the Portuguese, compiled the information from the Orient and wrote a long letter to report it to King João II of Portugal.

With such a significant discovery, Covilha is worthy of great glory.

However, Covilha was not a navigator, but a spy, and the spy was destined to live and fight in the shadows.

Disappear into the shadows, too.

In that year, Covilha was ordered to go to the Ethiopian plateau to discover the "kingdom of elders".

The wind is sluggish and cold, and the spy is gone.

"Is it possible? In that legendary church in Ethiopia, Covilha opened the Ark of the Covenant left by God? Enough to write a fantasy novel. How could Castile and Aragon not have such talents? Otherwise, I wouldn't have knocked on the table so emotionally and depressedly. ”

A successful traveler, explorer, and spy, Covilha was a successful traveler, explorer, and spy, and he discovered the Indian Ocean part of the Portuguese kingdom's eastern expeditions and trade, except for the circumnavigation of southern Africa, in which he was unable to participate. It was on the basis of Covilha's secret intelligence that the Portuguese government was able to develop and implement the future plan for da Gama's maiden voyage and the strategic plan for the expedition to India.

The great achievements of Genjiro Akashi, the legendary experience of 007, the ingenuity of Sorge, and the mystery of Witte are equal to Covillian.

"If I could, I would like him to be the leader of the Nidhogg group, not you." After telling the story of Covilha, Ferdinand tapped the table and said a sigh that embarrassed Cisneros without mercy.

……

But let's go back to 1488, the year when Covilha's saga had just begun, when another historic opportunity was presented to Portugal, and for the third time.

Compared to the previous story, this story is not very interesting.

In a word, Columbus applied again.

In the east, there is Liu Xuande's three visits to the thatched house, and in the west, there are Portugal's three rejections of the westward flight.

Portugal: "I feel a mysterious reaction from the East......"

Three defeats on land, three invitations and three refusals at sea.

What a sad story.

Dias's voyage and Covilha's expedition were the last two major Portuguese geographical expeditions under João II, and the foundations were laid for the opening of the Indian route.

João II's great maritime brilliance was not the work of him, but of hundreds of brave Portuguese explorers, navigators and even spies.

After talking about João II's voyage, let's talk about João II himself.

As for João II, his character is cold, cruel, stubborn, mercenary, calculating, and unyielding.

Perhaps every monarch of the time had such a heart, but only João II showed it so obviously. Anyone who knew the monarchs of various countries at that time, if he painted a portrait of each king in his heart, only João II would make him instantly have a gloomy and cold appearance in his heart-

"You can tell at a glance that that guy isn't a good guy." Ferdinand summed it up brilliantly.