Joao and crew arrived at the mansion, and sat down at the dinner table. The atmosphere was a bit austere, contrary to what the majority of them had thought, becoming "rich" had surprised them and somewhat demotivated them.
While the waiters of the manor twirl to put the plates garnished with succulent dishes, with various and quality drinks, the 11 directors of the company "Horizon Brazil", look at the dishes like boxers coming out of a match, a little stunned.
Juan breaks the shadowy silence, which did not fail to surprise the waiters, some of whom imagined that their last expedition was not very fruitful.
"Hey guys it's not the end of the world, here we can take it for granted that we're going to have more than a million and a half cruzados, we should, I don't know, somehow celebrate that"
The waiters paused in their dance and observed, with round eyes of surprise and gaping mouths.
"That's not it, but..."
"We're going to have 10 ships in a few months, especially for privateering, but we've already made a catch of more than a million cruzados"
"So does it count or not as a buccaneer catch?" asked Diogo
"Yes, it counts. Now we're like wounded after a big blow," replied Joao, probably the most surprised of the group
"In the end, this story is like in the indies: the Capitan says 10 years, and after two years, we already have what we need for the next project"
"After the experience of the sesmaria in Salvador, I'm not sure that a million is enough," Rui says monotonously.
"Well what? We'll take rubber trees or find them there, and that's it."
"No, it won't work for the rubber trees (shévéas), the botanist explained to me that these trees need a certain climate, especially in Santa Catarina, there is not what they need" says Pietro
"In addition, apart from fishing, a few trees, livestock and local crops, there is still the strategic position for the circulation of ships, but not enough to bring in merchants, and I don't want us to have to take care of everything on site..."
"Why don't we change places?"
"Flair! Manuel, the flair! " says Luis as if underlining the obvious
"yes, that.... On the other hand, two years, like in India? "
"That's what depresses me," Joao says
"Oye! This kind of thing can happen to everyone, we all know it here... "
"Anyway, krakens can't be found everywhere, there's very little talk about it"
The waiters who remained to listen had a second surprise. one.. Kraken?
"Come on, let's move on: Rui, where are you with .. Uh... What is her name already? " asked Joao, diverting the conversation
"Miranda" Rui replied, with the same monotone tone
"Oh yes Miranda, so that's a serious story?" asked Luis
"uh ... it's the dowry..."
"What is a dowry?"
"What is a dowry?" Surprised at the question
The gloomy atmosphere began to relax and a few laughs occurred
"A dowry is either a gift to the couple from the bride's family, or a gift to the bride family from the future husband..."
"So what's the problem with the dowry there? We have the means"
"The problem is that they don't have the means... considering our "wealth, so I feel poor"
"I'll go and give them a donation, and then they'll have the means, problem solved," Diogo said, provoking giggles and openly hilarious laughter.....
But Rui remained on his monochord air, strangely, Luis noticed it
"They don't want to, because: they consider you too rich?"
"yes that's exactly it..." always in his monotone tone
Joao was annoyed: "Come on Rui, throw us the story!!" before taking out a huge cup of wine in one gulp.
"Ha, ok, it's more complicated than that, she doesn't want to go to the colonies, let alone a camp that is just starting out. I'm sad about her"
"Ok you have to change tthe bride then.. or ....." Joao left his sentence hanging, staring at Rui
"Do you want to stay in Lisboa and manage business here?"
"No. but do you have a fever or what Diogo? Rui said, starting to come out of this monotonous tune with this exclamation bordering on the tone of outrage.
"What does this have to do with the dowry?" asked Manuel
"None," Rui replied again in his monotone ..
"Ha his little heart makes him suffer!! "
"At the brothel tonight, anyway I already have a reservation" (for technical reasons the author, me, prefers not to mention the name of this director)
______
After a few days, the crew began to adjust to their new condition as "rich". Some decided to take courses from professionals for certain habits of the .... "rich".
After deciding what they were going to do in the meantime, they decided to go and pay a little visit with a small escort to Santa Catarina east of carrasqueira, from which a certain "Capitan" got his "surname".
They too were intrigued by the concordance of the "Santa Catarina", one in Brazil given by its Spanish discoverer, and the other a few days from Lisbon near Alcacer do Sal.
When we get there, the first surprise: it's very small.
The small hamlet was located in a valley where the waters of the Alcáçovas River, a tributary of the Sado River, flow.
Joao explained to them a small project: to make water collection tanks, large enough to irrigate vast fields of wheat and barley over hundreds of hectares.
An engineer who was accompanying them on this little trip, looked at Joao, a little hesitantly:
"It could cost more than a fleet of 10 ships, Sehnor Carrasca "
"Your assessment?" asked Luis interested
"That is to say that there is already a river, these reservoirs should be built a little apart, a few kilometers or so, put them on promontories to let the water collected flow at the desired time, or even build the promontories..." the engineer inhaled and exhaled and inhaled... leaving his evaluation as if in abeyance
"And then you feel like carrying out such a project, sehnor?" asked Diogo
Rui looked at Diogo who was waving at him with his hands and Diogo continued
"Ha, excuse me "master architect", but do you think you have the necessary qualities for such an undertaking? "
Joao let out a laugh laughing, "Ha! The courses work!! "
"Aye! it's okay, we do what we can," said Diogo nonchalantly
Luis remains in awe of Diogo's solemn declaration to the architect.
After long discussions, the group continued to survey the region.
And then they returned to lisboa. There still remains to recruit a captain of soldiers for privateer operations, and also about 1000 men for the capture of the Indians of the VOC.
On the way back, a dozen bandits arrived with spears and pikes.
Joao took one of his grenades, lit it, threw it in the middle of the small group:
"Everyone follows me !!" trying to run in the opposite direction to the brigands.
"Hahahaa!! We just have to take the cargo!! "
After about a minute, while the brigands are taking everything they can from the convoy's carioles: boom
The carts are a little damaged: and the guards are heading back to the brigands who are not on the ground or moaning or both....
At that time, people knew that this kind of material existed, but they hardly ever encountered it in their lifetime... Even the guards of the convoy felt surprised by the orders given by Joao and almost stayed in the shrapnel explosion zone.
The scene was somewhat gruesome, the brigands, wounded, surrendered to the guards, as for those who were able to flee, they fled.
The normal treatment of these brigands prisoners would have consisted of being publicly executed, with rather atrocious physical abuse at worst, and at best years in galleys held in irons.
"What do we do with those guys ?"
"Are there among you who... Were you soldiers before you did that noble trade of robbing the rich, the poor, the free, and the slave? Joao announced with that little touch of nobility.
"Joao: the courses were useful to you too"
"you think so too ? thank you gentlemen"
Between groaning quarrels
"yes, me,"
"me too arghhh" holding one of his arms
"And you have a captain? A soldier. "
"We will never deliver it to you"
"Ha so you have one...."
"you !!!! no, we don't have a captain, we're done with the army and we thought about doing that, brigand's period."
"Ha.. We were looking for a captain, to recruit and educate about 1000 soldiers, the pay is 12000 reals per year, but if you don't have a captain, ... "
"And yes no choice, with these "work for" as Joao says, we will have to deliver them to the other "work for", so that the "work for" can judge them according to their degree of conformity with the "work for" "
"Of what?"
"Ha I was just putting this touch of noble langage into practice with our usual expressions" replied Manuel
"ha ok, so ... "
"Uh, sehnores, uh you.... want to hire them?" asked the captain of the guards
"er... yes that's kind of the idea, instead of rowing they will be paid to board boats ... with probably some manoeuvres on land too"
"So much better if they already have experience as soldiers"
The guards' captain looked at the few wounded brigands and ordered the guards to start treating them
"Come on, it would be easier to answer, these guys are recruiting sailors and soldiers for their future privateer fleet, it would be better than ending up in the galleys or worse public execution"
Later, the convoy stopped to bivouac, and the discussions went a little in circles like this
The captain arrived with his entire little band, a few lighters ready for the wicks to receive them, and finding their companions neat and eating decided to avoid the conflict
"Do you prefer a new job, or the authorities to decide what to do about a highway robber band ??"
The negciations quickly turned to the advantage of the assailed who offered shelter and food.... and a pay and arms and .. also the duty to recruit about 1000 men in the same situation as theirs, to go and plunder Dutch convoys from the Indies.
Offering them prospects for the future a little better than those they have to compete for.
On his return Joao had a contract drawn up for each of these men, and the future recruits actually had a contract for one hundred men.
Contract of Engagement for the Crewmen of a Corsair
As between the parties:
Company "Horizon Brazil" hereinafter referred to as "The Captain"
Name of the seafarer hereinafter referred to as "The Seaman"
Preamble: By virtue of the Letter of Marque granted by His Majesty John 4, King of Portugal, the Captain undertakes to recruit a crew to undertake maritime activities within the framework of privateering.
Article 1: Purpose of the contract The Seaman undertakes to carry out the orders of the Master on board the ship [name of the ship], for a period of one year, renewable, from the date of commencement of operations.
Article 2: Remuneration The Seaman shall receive 30 cruzados per year and a share of the profits obtained, up to 40% of the catch after deduction from the crown, which each Seaman shall share in equal shares. These shares will be distributed after deduction of the expenses related to the operation of the ship, and from the various commission agents of the ships.
Article 3: Obligations of the Parties
The Captain undertakes to provide a seaworthy vessel, food, water and the necessary equipment.
The Seaman undertakes to perform the duties assigned on board, to respect the orders of the Master and to contribute to common tasks.
Article 4: Discipline Any breach of the rules of discipline on board, including mutiny, theft or neglect of duties, will be punished according to the maritime customs in force.
Article 5: Care and Compensation In the event of an injury in service, the Seaman shall be entitled to medical care and compensation proportionate to his incapacity.
Article 6: Dispute Resolution Any dispute between the parties shall be settled according to the laws and customs of the Navy of the Kingdom of Portugal
signed at [Location], this [Date].
"Give them a pay and half of what's left over?"
"Isn't that a bit too much?"
"hehe, hahahahahahaa" Luis laughed with a sinister touch which did not fail to attract attention and he continued
"And, even if we make mistakes: what we earn: these are: colonists... most of them won't stay on the continent after that..., that's my opinion"
"They're not all going to leave either...."
"In any case, for what I see for our privateer operations, we will have more experienced men-at-arms, it will be a question of monitoring that the sailors of the requisitioned ships continue to carry out operations to bring them back to the ports, I can't imagine us having the necessary discipline...." Joao said
"So that's it, and it will probably be a few more settlers who woulod go to Brazil with us. "
"Well, we would have to take a dozen ships to make it profitable..."
"yes precisely, that's the goal..." Joao said like oil on fire
"A convoy of 5 Indians took and brought back to Lisboa, it would be a record"
"If pepper still weigh more than its weight in gold, then we could beat the record for francis drake, it seems to me that this is the goal?"
"Who's this drake?"
"An Englishman, explorer, English admiral who repelled the invincible armada of Spaniards, and made a legal piracy of the equivalent of 210 tons of silver, in comparison, it would take 400 tons of silver to make an equivalent prize."
"So what? Only one indiaman with only pepper and ho record broken right? "
"No"
"There are still a few months before the ships are ready, and Joao talks about capturing a whole convoy"
"We risk sinking the ships or getting sank off before storming them"
"The worst thing is the idea of boarding"
"Yes, Joao is not going to be easy.... In addition to the shocks, I'm not sure that the new ships can suffer these types of beating shocks before bthe booarding session twice or thrice in a row"
" Yeah we can worry about hat , but wa can transfer as much as possible after taking control of the ennemies ships in the indiaman of the VOC before they sinks"
" That make the operation quite the expensive one if it doesn't work....."
"yes.... It's undeniable, but .. Admit it: you've all been bored since we started.. And it makes me weird to say that: but since we've become : "rich" "
"yes, not wrong, not used to it as far as I'm concerned"
"Same for me"
"Same ...."
"And then there's another thing: we're not rich enough to command fortifications like those of Elvas"
"The fortifications of Elvas?"
"yes there are fortifications that to jean 4 commanded at the beginning of the war of acclamation"
"Ha to counter badajoz troops?"
"Exactly"
"So we're not rich like John 4?"
"Even with empty pockets, the king would still be richer than any of us.... you have to understand that..."
"Even a penniless king?"
"There has already been a king without land"
"Hahahaahaha!: John without land!!"
"still rich enough to get them back..."
"Ok, okay, I assume even with a million cruzados I'm still poor..."
Then Igua, a nickname due to the fact that he spent his time fishing in the indies, spoke:
"By the way, there is a way to make it easier to board from the stern"
"Which one?"
"You know the balls that bounce there with the rubber"
"yes...."
"They float too..."
" Yeah, I had noticed that, so what?"
"Well, it's simple: you hang strong ropes, you leave them with a makeshift sloop that you would make in Angola, you throw it in front of the boats and the nets get caught in the rudders... after that they can no longer change course"
"..." A long, meditative silence spread
Joao broke the silence:
"It would change the whole art of naval warfare..." a little stunned....
"Maybe more than we can think about that's for sure "
..... the friends looked at each other, questioning and imaginative
"Of course it is: the big boats immobilized, attacked by fast frigates.... "
"Because for the moment it seems unstoppable, but we also have to storm them otherwise they take the net away and then the battle resumes"
"yes but now we have 5 medium frigates to approach them"
"and 5 medium harassment frigates"
"With the only limit would be the number of collision-type shocks that collision frigates can take"
"In any case, what doesn't change is the boarding, and we won't have to wait long to recruit all these men, considering the contracts"
" for the sailors it will be easy on the other hand for .. The naval musketeers, I don't know..."
"It will depend on our new recruits, they have said that they could recruit them, and their captain seems certain to me that it will be easy"
"He was a sergeant in the army before, it's the highest rank that a non-noble can reach, it's not nothing anyway, i think he is trustable" said Luis.