I

  Chapter 754 751【Portugal and Africa】

  Mozambique was not a country at first, nor was it a large area, it was just a small island.

  Mozambique Island has been the maritime trade center of Arab merchants in East Africa for hundreds of years. Until Du Gama came and claimed the island as Portuguese territory, and then it really became Portuguese territory.

  Using Mozambique Island as a supply point, it can cross the Indian Ocean without sailing north along the coastline.

   Therefore, the island was of great importance and the Portuguese built fortified castles.

  The Dutch attempted to seize the island more than fifty years ago. After the failure, he wanted to open up a colony with a similar function on the east coast of Madagascar. But the Dutch failed. The east coast is full of tropical rain forests, and the natives there have also seen guns and artillery.

   Mozambique Island, Castel San Sebastián.

  This castle has stood for hundreds of years. With the decline of Portugal, there are fewer and fewer troops garrisoned in the castle. It's not that the population is insufficient, but that the finances are tight and they don't want to support so many troops.

  In fact, in the settlement outside the castle, the mixed descendants of Portuguese immigrants have multiplied to more than 2,000 people.

   "Your Excellency, a Chinese fleet has arrived at the port. They seem to have encountered a storm and want to dock for supplies and repair the ship. But their army is too large, and they already have the strength to attack the castle!"

   "Go to contact the Chinese first. Supplies and ship repairs are fine, but their troops are not allowed to approach the city!"

  Antonio is the current governor of Mozambique, which is definitely a fat job.

  Especially after the rise of Oman, Portugal's colony in the Arabian Peninsula fell, and Mozambique Island became more important. All Portuguese merchant ships bound for India and the Far East had to resupply at Mozambique Island.

  And the black slaves throughout East Africa were also transported to Mozambique Island, and then set off collectively to the Americas for sale.

   There is another income, which can be described as a lot of money.

  As long as you are European, no matter which country you come from, you can pay the Portuguese royal family. Then, a license can be obtained to own a large estate in Mozambique. Not only is it as simple as a manor owner, but he can also have a private army and even make his own laws. To put it bluntly, he is a small lord.

  This kind of license is nominally issued by the Portuguese royal family, but it is actually executed by the governor of Mozambique, who can use it to make a lot of money.

  …

  port, wharf.

The entourage sent by Said pointed to the castle and said to Zhang Ruifeng: "More than a hundred years ago, this was the territory of the Arabs, and the **** Portuguese occupied it with muskets and artillery. One day, the great Iraqi Maam Saeed, can take back this rich and beautiful island!"

   "I wish you success." Zhang Ruifeng smiled.

   "We will succeed, Chinese friends." The Arab messenger said.

  Zhang Ruifeng asked: "Are there any countries on the land here?"

The Arab envoy nodded and said: "Yes. In the middle and upper reaches of the Zambezi River, there is a Kingdom of Rozwe. In the lower reaches of the Zambezi River, there is a Kingdom of Monomotapa. On the north bank of the Zambezi River, there are Malawians. Formed tribal federation."

  Zhang Ruifeng asked again: "Are these three forces resisting the Portuguese?"

The Arab envoy said: "The Kingdom of Monomotapa was originally the most powerful. However, it was attacked by the Kingdom of Rozvi and invaded by the Portuguese. The land continued to shrink, and now it can only control a few tribes. Malawi The alliance formed by the Portuguese has been serving as a dog for the Portuguese, and they are going around capturing black people and selling them as slaves to the Portuguese."

  The situation in Mozambique became clear in an instant.

   Two countries, one tribal alliance. The countries in the lower reaches of the Zambezi River were attacked on both sides by the countries in the middle and upper reaches and the Portuguese. The tribal alliance on the north side of the river has always been used by the Portuguese. It is obvious that the situation is very beneficial to Portugal.

   "How many Portuguese troops are in the castle?" Zhang Ruifeng continued to ask.

  The Arab messenger said: "There will not be more than three hundred people."

  This is the core of Portugal's rule in East Africa. There are less than 300 defenders. Zhang Ruifeng wants to send troops to fight it down.

  Of course, it is definitely not easy to fight.

  The castle here is far from comparable to the castle in Malacca.

  A slave ship gradually docked, and black slaves without clothes were driven to the pier like livestock. They seem to have been numb, with no expression on their faces, moving forward like walking dead, and will be whipped if they walk a little slower.

   Cai Yuncheng witnessed this situation, and asked the grape man who escorted the slaves, and wrote in his notes that night:

   "On the east coast of Africa, there is a vast land called Mozambique. The Portuguese governor lived on the island of Mozambique, and San Sebastian Fort was built on the island. The castle is strong and cannot be attacked by force. This island has a good harbor and can shelter from wind and waves..."

  “Mozambique is rich in gold and ivory, both of which were plundered by the Portuguese.”

"The natives here have dark skin. On the north bank of the Zambezi River, there are black natives of Malawi. The Malawians are warlike and plunder people everywhere. All the captives are sold as slaves to the Portuguese. They are called slaves, but they are actually livestock. It’s not as good as that. Livestock are cherished by humans. And black slaves, no one cares about their life and death. The European colonial generation, whose humanity has been wiped out so far, is almost comparable to the Liaodong Tartars..."

  Portugueses seldom capture black slaves themselves, they are busy with gold and ivory.

  The black slaves in Mozambique are basically captured by black people. When powerful tribes attack those small tribes, they can not only plunder supplies, but also sell captives to the Portuguese for money.

  Before they were shipped to America, black slaves were so cheap that they were almost picked for nothing, so that it didn’t matter if they were killed or starved to death.

  Of course, there are also some white people who like to capture black slaves.

  They spent money to buy officials to become African lords, and recruited blacks as private soldiers. These black troops were also used to capture the black natives and bring them back to the manor as slaves to farm the land.

  The income from the plantation alone cannot satisfy the greed of the white lords. So in his spare time, the white lord took the black private soldiers and ran to a nearby small tribe to "hunt". The black natives are their prey, burning, killing, looting, and doing all kinds of evil. If there are too many black slaves to use up, they will be sold to the governor at a low price and shipped to America for sale.

   This stage was the heyday of white people in Mozambique.

   Often a few white people can pay to be a lord and own a large manor. The army is composed entirely of blacks, constantly attacking and annexing indigenous tribes, allowing their territory to expand rapidly.

   Such a system of enfeoffment will inevitably leave great hidden dangers.

  After a hundred years of development, these white territories have become countries within countries. They had their own armies, their own laws, and appointed their own officials. The orders of the Portuguese royal family cannot be implemented at all, and no lord is willing to listen to the king.

   There are even white lords who marry or form alliances with black tribes.

  It is often a black and white alliance, running to attack another black and white alliance. In the end, the order of the Portuguese royal family threatened the interests of the lords. The black and white people united to resist, and the white people actually participated in the colonial independence movement.

  Mozambique’s commercial network, due to the out-of-control Portuguese rule, was eventually controlled by Indian businessmen...

  On the fourth day when the fleet docked, a large amount of grain and vegetables were shipped to the port to be sold to the Chinese.

  Zhang Ruifeng inquired about the source of grain, but it was grown in various manors. The Zambezi River Basin has fertile soil, abundant rainfall, sufficient heat, and excellent agricultural conditions.

   "There is a big river in Mozambique, named Zambezi. Both sides of the river are densely populated, all black, suitable for farming..."

   During the voyage all the way, a thick pile of small books of civilian staff has been recorded.

  These are important materials, even if they don't come to colonize in the future, they will be read by the cabinet ministers. After reading these materials, you will definitely broaden your horizons and look around the world.

   In Mozambique Island, after two full months of rest, the ship was finally repaired and moved on.

  Maybe it was enough money to buy grain and repair the ship. The governor of Mozambique was very happy and signed a letter before leaving. With this letter, the entire Portuguese colony in Africa will warmly receive the fleet of Chinese envoys.

  The next journey, accompanied by a Portuguese fleet.

   This is a good thing for the Chinese fleet, because the Portuguese are very familiar with the terrifying Cape of Good Hope. Every year to go back and forth across the Cape of Good Hope, the Portuguese has long been an old driver.

  Lightning and thunder, storms and complicated waterways, the Chinese and Portuguese fleets passed through the Cape of Good Hope without any risk.

   Sailing to the west coast of Africa, several Portuguese merchant ships, loaded with black slaves, headed for America. The remaining Portuguese merchant ships returned to Portugal with gold and ivory.

  In view of the accompanying voyage all the way, coupled with geographical factors, after discussion, Zhang Ruifeng and Lu Tianxiang decided to visit Portugal first in Europe.

   Lisbon.

  Portuguese King João IV asked the Minister of State in great surprise: "Is the Chinese envoy here? Are you still willing to establish diplomatic relations with our country?"

   "Yes, Your Majesty."

   "Quick, come with me to welcome. All the nobles living in the city must go to the pier to welcome the Chinese guests together!"

  João IV’s emphasis on the missions was mainly due to Portugal’s poor diplomatic situation.

   Just over ten years ago, Portugal was still ruled by Spain, and Joao IV led the restoration of Portugal. The common people at the bottom support him, the aristocrats oppose him, and the bourgeoisie chooses to be neutral throughout. The Jesuits were for him, the Inquisition was against him.

  After the restoration of the country, Joao IV sent many diplomatic envoys.

  He is willing to join the French camp against the Spanish camp. The King of France refused, you are obviously from the Spanish camp, why did you jump over to help me? No, you can't do that. You must be an enemy of France for me to have an excuse to seize your colony in North Africa!

  He hoped to be recognized by the Pope, but until now, more than ten years have passed, the Pope refused to receive the Portuguese envoy, and even hated the Jesuits.

  He hopes to obtain the recognition of the United Kingdom, and Cromwell agrees, but only if sufficient benefits are given.

  For example, Portugal opened up its global colonies and gave preferential tariffs to British merchants. When Portugal leased ships, it could only rent from the United Kingdom. British missionaries could spread Protestantism in Portugal.

  These conditions are so harsh that Portugal has not yet accepted them. It was accepted in a few years, because Cromwell's fleet sailed directly to the port of Lisbon.

  At this moment, no European king has recognized Portugal as an independent country.

  The arrival of the Chinese envoy means that China recognizes that Portugal has become independent!

  (end of this chapter)