King of German Mercenaries

Because he wanted to explore the Grenada route, while arranging the spring ploughing work, Marin also arranged for the shipyard to continue building ships. Because the old Portuguese designer Varado was very stubborn, Marin planned to build some "250" class armed merchant ships as merchant ships.

Therefore, in the end, Marin divided the original Thorenche shipyard into two parts - the old Portuguese designer Varado is still in the Thorenche shipyard and continues to build 250-class armed merchant ships. The other half of the craftsmen, led by the most outstanding Venetian shipbuilder Boigny, came to Emden to build a new shipyard and began to manufacture double-layer artillery decks according to Marin's "design". Galen ship.

This new Galen ship, in addition to the top deck, the lower deck also has windows that can be closed to facilitate naval warfare. Also, its aspect ratio is determined to be 4 to 1. Moreover, Marin made it bigger this time, and directly launched the 500-ton class. Not only that, Marin also requested to strengthen the thickness of the ship's broadside to meet the needs of naval warfare, making it a professional warship.

Of course, he didn't expect to do it any time soon. Anyway, as long as the 500-ton British Galen ship can be built within this year. As long as the first one is built, and with experience, more ships can be built smoothly in the future. The biggest difficulty is that the first one is not easy to build. After all, there are very few 500-ton ships in all of Europe, let alone the brand new British Galen.

As for the old Varado, they continued to manufacture 250-level armed merchant ships. This type of merchant ship already has mature manufacturing experience and can be started with two ships. It is estimated that in a few months, the two ships will be able to launch. Moreover, Marin also dispatched 500 carpenters with good craftsmanship to join the Thorencher Shipyard to participate in the needs of two 250-class armed merchant ships and cultivate their shipbuilding experience. When the training is mature, Marin will transfer them to the new shipyard in Emden to participate in the manufacture of the 500-ton British Galen warships.

As for what ship to use after recruiting Amerigo, Marin thought about it and decided to let Amerigo use the two small warships of 100 or tens of tons eliminated by Columbus first.

Because, exploring Grenada is not too difficult. After all, Columbus left behind a full set of nautical records. Amerigo only needs to follow the "strategies" left by Columbus, follow the map, and follow the mature route directly to reach the Americas, without any brains. Moreover, Amerigo is also an "old driver" in the sailing world. As long as there is a full set of materials and Marin's directions, exploring Grenada is not a problem at all...

On this day, Marin was signing and stamping important documents sent by Jeffrey in the palace, and suddenly a guard came to report - an Italian who called himself Amerigo Vespucci was clamoring to see Marin ...

Marin's face was full of astonishment, the gold and silver in his hand for stamping fell to the ground, almost hitting Marin's feet...

"What's the situation? It hasn't been long since I sent someone to Italy to find this guy. Why did this product arrive directly?"

In fact, Amerigo wasn't originally looking for Marin on this trip. His original goal was to find Columbus who served Marlin...

After meeting Columbus in Genoa more than two years ago, Amerigo, who loves sailing and adventure, soon went to Spain to look for opportunities.

But he was very unlucky. After he came to Spain, he found that up and down Spain, he lost interest in continuing to explore the wild continent (America), and he did not form a fleet to continue exploring the Americas. So, Amerigo had to stay in Spain first.

When Marin presented the information on the Indian route this time, Spain finally began to form a voyage fleet. Amerigo originally wanted to squeeze into this fleet and travel to the legendary India.

It is a pity that this time, because of the ready-made nautical information and the old driver of Columbus, it is foolproof. Therefore, this voyage to India is very hot inside Spain. Many aristocratic children, in order to get credit, have found connections and squeezed into the fleet.

It doesn't matter if they are poor, because they just need to follow the old driver Columbus's boat...

So, in this case, Amerigo, an Italian, was naturally brushed down mercilessly. Because a good thing like "discovering India" in a relatively safe way is not the turn of a foreigner who is not valued...

In desperation, Amerigo thought of Columbus in East Friesland. Amerigo and Columbus had a little friendship. So Amerigo rushed to East Friesland by land, hoping to squeeze into Columbus's fleet and go to India to see on the basis of his previous friendship. By the way, in the nautical chart, also record some precious nautical information, publish it to earn fame, or sell it to those who need it...

Unfortunately, he came by accident. By the time he arrived in East Friesland, Columbus' fleet had already departed south...

In desperation, Amerigo turned his heart away, and simply ran to the Royal Palace of Aurich and asked to see Marin, hoping to find a good job in Marin through "self-recommendation"...

It is a pity that Amerigo did not understand German, and the guards of the palace did not understand Italian and Latin. Therefore, Amerigo had to chat with the guards in a hurry.

Fortunately, Amerigo was well-dressed, and the guards thought he was a nobleman, so he did not embarrass him. Otherwise, he would have been thrown out a long time ago—how can the lords of a country be seen by ordinary people?

Fortunately, when Amerigo was arguing with the guards at the gate, a guard who came to change his shift heard Amerigo's voice calling himself "Amerigo". Coincidentally, that day Marin ordered someone to go to Italy to find Amerigo, and the guard was standing guard beside him. So, the guard hurried back and reported to Marin...

After hearing this, Marin was shocked for a while, and then hurriedly ran to the door...

Marlin thought as he ran--Amerigo, come to my bowl...  

Then, Marin saw Amerigo who was blushing and arguing with the guard at the gate. However, what makes Marin amused is that Amerigo uses Latin, which is commonly used in European aristocratic circles, and how does the guard at the gate understand this high-level language? The two of them, one in Latin and one in German, kept talking there. But in fact, no one understands what the other party is saying...

It is also fortunate that the guard standing on guard has a better temper. If he were a little more violent, he would have kicked Amerigo away in anger...

Marin hurried forward and asked in Latin:

"Excuse me, is it Mr. Americo Vespucci?"

Amerigo was stunned, turned his head, and saw Marin. However, since Marin didn't wear a noble suit, Amerigo didn't know that the Earl of Marin he was looking for was right in front of him. Of course, Amerigo was happy that someone could finally communicate with him in Latin. So he asked back:

"I'm Amerigo, may I ask who you are?"

"I am Marin von Hoffmann, Mr. Vespucci, welcome to East Friesland!" Marin extended his hand of friendship...

"You are Earl of Marin?" Amerigo looked surprised. After all, he had never seen Marin. Seeing that Marin was so young, he was still wearing ordinary woolen clothes, not the gorgeous silk robes that nobles like to wear. He thought Marin was a Latin translator... But, seeing The guards on the side paid tribute to Marin and quickly believed.

"Yes, I am, Mr. Vespucci, this way, please!"

After Amerigo was surprised, he entered the palace with Marin...

Ameligo is actually a person who is keen on fame. Otherwise, he would not have traveled thousands of miles from Italy to Spain to find opportunities.

He came from a wealthy merchant family in Florence, Italy, the son of a wealthy bank notary. Because of his good family background, Amerigo received a good education in his youth, and he also learned Latin, which was commonly used by nobles and missionaries. In addition, he is also a person who is very interested in astronomy. In the original history, before his death, he also became the royal astronomer of King Ferdinand II of Spain.

Of course, in this era, every outstanding navigator is an astronomer. Because, navigators need to use the sun, moon and stars as a reference to determine the position and direction of the ship. Over time, every navigator's astronomy level is very good.

After all, in this era, without telescopes and sextants, navigators sailing on the sea can only rely on their own eyes to judge and calculate. Anyone who can become a navigator is not an ordinary person.

However, no matter what, Amerigo was just a commoner. But Amerigo was envious of Columbus's voyages and won titles and fiefs. He also wanted to study Columbus, and through sailing, get a noble title. Don't need a baron, just a knight is enough... That's why he left Italy and went to Spain to look for opportunities, eager to make merit and be awarded. Seeing that Spain had no chance, he came to East Frisian again...

Through conversation, Marin discovered that Amerigo was indeed a seafaring talent. So, Marin strengthened his determination to recruit Amerigo:

"Mr. Vespucci, you have been in Spain, you must know that I have 15 colonies in the wild continent?" After Columbus presented the nautical chart, it was specially promoted by the Spanish royal family. Its purpose is to occupy the "right of first discovery" in order to find an excuse to intervene in Indian trade. Although Portugal was angry, Spain had 20,000 soldiers on the Spanish-Portuguese border, which frightened Portugal. In desperation, Portugal had to acquiesce to the fact that Spain participated in the Indian trade. After all, on land, Portugal is really weak. What if you could kill the Spanish fleet at sea? People can lay siege to your capital from the land...

Moreover, in order to emphasize its right of discovery, Spain specially emphasized that Columbus was specially sent by the Spanish royal family to find India, but did not drag Marin into the water. Therefore, the Portuguese did not know that Columbus was actually sent by Marin. This has blocked the disaster for Marin. Otherwise, Portugal's anger is not something that Marin can bear now. Of course, insiders like Amerigo who once joined Spain's official navigation agency still know the fact that Columbus is now a Marin man. Therefore, this time Amerigo will find East Frisian to come.

"Well, I did hear about it when I was in Spain." Americo Vespucci nodded. This incident can be said to be the biggest news in Spain in the second half of 1499. As long as the news is not too closed, I will hear it.

"Now, Columbus has gone to lead the Spanish fleet, and he won't be back in two years. I need a navigator who goes to America... oh no, to the wild continent to find a suitable colony point..."

"Lord Count, what do you mean?" Ameligo became excited. Without having to speak by himself, the earl opened his mouth to recruit himself.

"I would like to invite you to join the East Frisian Navy and go to the wild continent for me to find a suitable island as my first colony point!"

"Island? Lord Earl, since it is a wild continent, why not colonize the land directly? Isn't the land area larger?"

"Mr. Vespucci, you don't understand, the tropics... well, the middle-aged and hot regions, where Europeans are very unaccustomed. Living there for a long time is prone to serious diseases, such as malaria or something. As a result, the mortality rate is high…”

"Moreover, in the land area, there are many local indigenous people. If you establish a colony on the land, it is easy to be attacked by the local indigenous people..."

"My lord, the natives are so ignorant and backward, shouldn't they be able to stop our European troops?" Amerigo asked rhetorically.

"Having said that, however, we must first gain a foothold and let my men adapt to the subtropical climate. To this end, I chose a very good island..."

"What kind of island?" Americo asked with interest.

"This small island, which I call 'Grenada', is not big, but has an advantage that other tropical regions don't have - no poisonous snakes and poisonous insects..."

"Aren't poisonous snakes and poisonous insects?" Amerigo didn't quite understand what the relationship between poisonous snakes and poisonous insects had to do with disease. He is not a traveler, how can he know that many tropical diseases are spread by poisonous insects...

"Well, you don't need to understand this, just know that people will be less prone to malaria and other tropical diseases..."

"Oh... It's not easy to get tropical diseases, and it seems to be quite good..." Right now, the big voyage has just begun, and Europeans have not suffered from tropical diseases. Therefore, Amerigo clearly lacks awareness of the terrible degree of tropical diseases...

"Then, Mr. Vespucci, are you willing to discover this island for me? In return, if you do, I am willing to knight you and grant you a fief..."

"I am willing, Lord Count, Amerigo Vespucci is happy to serve you!" Before Marin finished speaking, Amerigo, who is keen on fame and fortune, agreed...

When he learned that Columbus had left a full set of nautical information, he only needed to take the fleet along Columbus's route to a place called "Windward Islands", and then look for a small island close to the mainland to the south. , was even more surprised. Because this is simply too difficult to challenge. Even the strategy is given in advance, what difficulty can it be?

In this way, Marin and Amerigo soon signed an employment agreement and a non-disclosure agreement. After that, Amerigo touched the Bible and swore allegiance to Marin... So far, the second seafaring master became Marin's general...