Zaire River, Congo River, the longest river in black Africa. It runs from east to west, is 10,000 miles long, 200 meters deep, and 20 miles wide at the mouth. Since its formation in the Pleistocene, the Congo River has flowed turbulently for two million years. It completely witnesses the origin of humankind, gave birth to prehistoric civilization, and also retains the last traces of dinosaurs.
Today, it appears for the first time in the eyes of Western explorers, witnessing the arrival of a new era.
The expedition leader and flagship captain Diogo Kang silently crossed himself on his chest. Where there are fresh water rivers, there are people and tribes. Where does this river lead? What's at the end? No one knows yet.
The fleet first patrolled the river mouth for a while, but found no dangerous enemies or wild beasts for the time being. The sailor observed the distant smoke and determined that it was necessary to go deeper into the rainforest. Immediately, Captain Diogo Kang took command of the flagship and led the fleet into the mouth of the river.
"Bruno Kang, measure the water depth!" Diogo Kang ordered majestically. He was the king of this ship.
Bruno, a senior sailor, began to hurriedly tie the rope to the lead bob and then threw it into the river. Paul was there to help. The rope sank rapidly and soon reached the end.
"Captain, the rope is exhausted." Bruno reported respectfully.
"Tie on the spare cable and continue measuring." The captain's orders must be obeyed absolutely. On the sea, there are two contradictory iron rules, one is strict hierarchy, and the other is one person, one vote.
The sailors were busy again. It was not until they added the cable three times that the rope finally became loose and the plumb bob reached the bottom.
"How many?"
"Three cables, eh, 230 meters!" Bruno counted on his fingers for a while before shouting in shock. He was able to calculate basic mathematics, which is why the captain called him to measure.
Two hundred and thirty meters! Everyone looked at each other in shock. The depth of this river even exceeded the depth of some offshore waters.
Captain Diogo Kang nodded calmly. At this amazing depth, no ship in the world would have to worry about running aground. He then commanded the exploration fleet to go up the river to look for the source of the smoke. Along the way, the measured water depth remained at about two hundred meters.
There are dense rainforests on both sides of the river, and in the rainforest there are flying birds, looming beasts, crocodiles pretending to be dead, and buzzing mosquitoes everywhere.
Bunoru looked at the mosquitoes on the river with disgust. They had gathered into clusters visible to the naked eye, making a whirlwind-like roar. The warm wind blew between the sailboats, bringing with it the fresh scent of humanity. The mosquitoes gradually came closer, buzzing like bloodthirsty spirits.
"These damn tropical mosquitoes! Each one is as big as my finger, and I don't know how painful it will be if you are bitten!" Bunoru tied up the noble hat tightly, then tied up the collar, cuffs and trouser legs, and hid his body under the In the noble robes.
"Hey, Brother Bunoru. As a man, you are not afraid of bleeding or being stabbed. Why are you afraid of mosquitoes?" Paul looked carefree in a short jacket and used his hands to drive away the mosquitoes. "Now I have some doubts about whether my sister can live a happy life if she follows you."
"Damn it, wait until your sister follows me, then you will know! By the way, tell me, do the indigenous people here have gold?" Bunoru looked at the smoke rising from nowhere, and the desire in his heart was like a cat scratching at him. itch.
"There must be! But I don't know how much. Foda-se! Last time we worked all night, and the result was two pieces of gold, which was not enough. Everyone almost started working." Paul also looked at the smoke in the distance expectantly. He licked his lips subconsciously and touched the scimitar at his waist.
At this moment, a lean indigenous warrior suddenly appeared on the river bank. He wore a red feather on his head, like a canopy of grass. A necklace of bones surrounds the neck. These are symbols of veteran warriors.
The indigenous warrior's left hand held a long wooden shield half a man's height, and his right hand held a nearly two-meter spear. At the top was an iron spearhead that was one palm long and half a palm wide. The fine iron shone coldly in the sun. He only wore a crotch cloth, but he covered his whole body with thick mud and dung. Mosquitoes flew past him calmly, and occasionally one or two landed on his hand, like obedient pets. .
The indigenous warrior casually crushed the mosquito to death and threw it into his mouth. Tribes in the rainforest have a long tradition of eating mosquitoes because there are so many of them that they can be kneaded into dough. Mosquitoes are the best protein supplement, and the source is far more stable than hunting. He looked at the huge boat on the river with some confusion, as well as the vague white-skinned man on the boat.
The tribal priests mentioned the boats floating on the water in various tribes in the northwest, and the weapons that made huge roars on the distant northeastern plateau. So, he knew it was a boat, not a beast. But such a big ship, carrying two such big pieces of cloth, and white-skinned aliens?
Seeing the indigenous warriors on the shore, Paul's eyes narrowed, he picked up the early matchlock gun in the weapon barrel and began to load it. Bruno next to him was a little confused.
"Paul, what are you going to do?"
"Foda-se! The iron spear native with a head full of chicken feathers! This is a real tough one, it can hit people quickly and hard. My last brother was just like this. While he is stupid now, let me kill him! Save it! Encountered on shore at the back,"
In less than half a minute, Paul finished loading and lit the match, just like a well-trained elite musketeer. He placed the matchlock on the side of the ship and began to aim with one eye.
"The captain hasn't spoken yet, don't be stupid!" Bruno pressed the matchlock eagerly to stop him.
"Let him shoot!" Captain Diogo Kang came to the side at some point. Perhaps, although his eyes were looking outside the ship, his ears could always hear everything on the ship clearly.
Bruno retracted his hand obediently. Paul was stunned for a moment, looked at the captain's majestic face, his hand trembled slightly, and then he still pulled the trigger.
Driven by the trigger, the metal hook pushes the match rope into the fire door, and the match rope immediately ignites the black powder. There was a huge roar in an instant, and a lead bullet was launched with an initial velocity of 200 meters per second. The kinetic energy quickly turned into heat energy under the air resistance. In less than a second, the hot projectile struck nearly ten meters away from the indigenous warriors. On the ground outside, a cloud of dirt splashed up.
"Good marksmanship!"
The captain nodded. The shooting error at a distance of nearly 200 meters was less than ten meters. He was indeed an elite musketeer. Due to the lack of rifling, the accuracy of early matchlocks could only be maintained within a hundred meters. After the matchlock gun exceeds this distance, if it wants to effectively kill, it can only rely on the probability of large-scale shooting.
Hearing the loud noise and seeing the splashing soil, the indigenous warrior subconsciously ducked back. He galloped forward in two steps, hunched over and hid behind a tree, and waited for more than ten seconds, but did not hear the roaring attack again.
He then stood up from behind the tree and faced the big boat on the river, waving the spear and wooden shield in his hand, roaring angrily and helplessly. On the deck of the sailboat, there are noble captains in neat clothes and carrying swords, as well as cruel sailors holding matchlocks and holding short knives.
This image is so symbolic! Just under the witness of the Congo River, a new era has arrived. The same picture will appear again, in Angola, in South Africa, in Zimbabwe, in Mozambique, in Mombasa, in Somaliland, and then out of Africa, to the Red Sea coast, to India, across Sri Lanka, to the Spice Islands, across the Strait of Malacca, To the Philippines, to Taiwan, until finally Japan and China.
When people later open the map and see a series of peaks, islands, straits, ports and colonies with Western names along the important shipping routes, they may feel some nostalgia for the explorations and conquests that have occurred.
Under the attack of European exploration ships and warships, the Americas will be ruthlessly destroyed, and the colonists will take away everything in the Americas. Africa will be brutally plundered, and under the protection of tropical diseases, colonists will stop outside the African rainforest.
On the corpses of infants from American civilization and the flesh and blood of children from African civilization, the young European civilization grew rapidly, growing at a rate ten times that of the past thousand years, step by step, into a giant that could conquer everything.
They will have bigger ships, better muskets, and various cannons on the ships to claim the wealth of the world. Then it will further strengthen its own power and establish a more efficient killing system until it can place cannons at the doorsteps of Asian countries.
The final European giants took over the entire world and brought the world to war to destroy each other, just like the twilight in Norse mythology. Everything is like an eternal cycle, heading towards the fate that has been predicted!
If no one changes, all of Shulot's "memories" will continue to happen again. History flows like the Congo River, sweeping into the future of different races with the irresistible trend of the times, and has since determined the rise and fall of five hundred years!
Captain Diogo Kang frowned as he watched the indigenous warriors roar in the face of sailboats and muskets.
"Not afraid of big ships, not afraid of muskets? Good iron weapons, strong desire to fight, this is a professional warrior. Coupled with such huge fresh water resources... there must be a large tribe with inheritance nearby!"
"Bosun! Keep an eye on the sailors and don't go ashore privately! Before you figure out the strength of the indigenous tribes here, put away all your banditry!"
Diogo Kang glanced around the sailors majestically, and his sharp eyes stayed on Paul's fierce face for a moment. He did not continue to inspect his subjects until the other party lowered his head. Everyone bowed their heads and obeyed. The flag officer hoisted a signal to inform other fleets to "caution, garrison."
The fleet patrolled upriver for a day, and everyone spent another day on the boat until they saw the first village. Following the fleet, dozens of tribal warriors have been attracted to the river bank, including six or seven indigenous warriors wearing feathers.
Diogo Kang sent Bruno and the Fon interpreter to give gifts of glass beads to the village elders, who also gave feathers and some food in return.
This place also belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. The Fon people speak the Fon language in the language family, and the tribes here are a type of Congo language. The Feng village elders invited the priest, and the Feng translator was able to communicate with the priest, and then the two parties conveyed the message to each other.
Bruno looked at the village elder's gold bracelet and headdress with uncontrollable desire in his eyes. But looking at the dozens of iron spear warriors behind the elder, and hearing the reply from the Feng clan interpreter, he could only keep his desire deep in his heart.
"This is the land ruled by Mwene Congo blessed by the gods. The great chief owns hundreds of tribal villages. The twelve priests listen to the orders of the gods. One hundred warriors guard the kingdom of the gods! Foreigners, I I accept your friendship and return the greetings of the gods."
As he spoke, the village elder handed over a large piece of wrapped skirt tree leaves. The leaves are somewhat like palm trees in southern China and are very tough.
If the tribal elders did not lie, then there would be an unexpectedly powerful indigenous kingdom here, far beyond the comparison of the loose and weak tribes on the Gold Coast.
Bruno took the leaf, which was a plant leaf he had never seen before. He smelled the long leaves, which had a special fragrance. He looked around and saw that many indigenous people were wearing grass skirts woven from leaves. And when he finally opened the leaf with great anticipation and took a look, inside was actually kneaded into small balls and baked mosquito pancakes!
Bunoru felt extremely disgusted. He rewrapped the leaves and put them away, with a bright smile on his face. Since the other party has sufficient force, the two sides also have a basis for friendship.
The meeting ended in a friendly and sincere atmosphere, and then they said goodbye to each other. The tribal warriors surrounded the village elders and watched enthusiastically as the big ship and the white-skinned aliens left.
On board the ship, Bunoru reported the results of the first meeting to the captain, Diogo Kang. Everyone was surprised to hear that there was a powerful indigenous kingdom here.
Captain Diogo Kang fell into thinking. The fleet now only has one hundred and fifty sailors, soldiers, and a few missionaries. If there really is a powerful kingdom upstream, once a conflict breaks out between reckless sailors and them, the exploration fleet will inevitably suffer heavy losses. After thinking for a moment, the captain decided not to take any more risks and finish the important business first.
"The fleet returns and heads back to the mouth of the river!"
The flagship signaled "Follow, return", and the fleet easily turned around on the wide river and headed back to the mouth of the river in the west.
"Damn it! Disgusting black natives, heretics who deserve to go to hell!"
Bruno took out the bag of leaves given by the village elder with a look of disgust on his face, raised his hand and wanted to throw it into the river. But then he saw the strange shape of the leaves. Scholars at the Sintra Palace seem to be collecting new plant specimens? It seems that a high price was offered.
Bruno thought for a while, then unfolded the leaves, threw the mosquito cake inside into the river, then folded the skirt leaves and stuffed them into his arms. He didn't notice that since he took the leaves with him, there were 90% fewer mosquitoes following him on the way back.
"Hey, Brother Bruno, was that village elder wearing a gold ring just now? I saw it flashing there on the boat." Paul's eyes flashed with desire, and he came over to inquire.
"Don't think about it. It is said that there are ten thousand warriors here with iron spears. If there are hundreds of them, we have to account for them here. Tenhosaudades! Not only the gold ring, he also has a gold bracelet!" Bruno was serious at first. Answered, and immediately fell into the frustration of not getting what he wanted.
"Foda-se! Ten thousand warriors?! Foda-se! Bah, what a devil of a liar! The kingdom only has 30,000 troops of different levels at most. He said there is at least one-third of the kingdom here?" Paul stared wide-eyed. He opened his eyes and shouted loudly, obviously not believing it.
At this time, the Kingdom of Portugal had a population of 1.5 million. Based on a soldier-to-civilian ratio of 1:50, it was only an army of 30,000. The cavalry also consumed many times the food supply than the infantry.
Bruno shrugged. In fact, he didn't believe it either, but the captain had already ordered to return. The two of them could only look at the distant village, falling into the melancholy of Portuguese men.
After another day of return, the fleet returned to the mouth of the Congo River where it flows into the South Atlantic Ocean. Captain Diogo Kang found a suitable harbor next to the mouth of the river, and the fleet anchored here.
Then, the sailors began to land and set up camp. The captain Diogo Kang, who was dressed in aristocratic clothing, was neatly dressed and looked solemn. Because today is a special day.
Captain Diogo Kang found a piece of high ground near the river. He ordered the sailors to use a small boat to transport a padr00o, the explorer's pillar, that had been prepared. At the top of the stone pillar is the cross representing God. Below the cross is the coat of arms symbolizing the Portuguese royal family, and below it is the inscription that was carved just yesterday.
“By the grace of Almighty God, and with the patronage of the great King João II of Portugal and the Algarve, Diogo Con, son of a nobleman, first discovered the Congo River and its basin on August 28, 1482. He placed This rich land and people are dedicated to the great Kingdom of Portugal, and the royal family has the absolute rights promised by God to this land! This right is unquestionable! Bless King Alfonso V who embraces the Kingdom of God! Pray for us!”
This stone pillar symbolizes the Portuguese first discovery and occupation of this land. As for the original owner of this land? The weak indigenous kingdoms were not recognized by the civilized countries of Europe. To Westerners, this is just a no-man’s land!
When night falls, bonfires are lit. More than a hundred sailors and soldiers on seven ships gathered together. The chaplains on board the ship lit prayer candles. Today is a special day, marking the first anniversary of former King Alfonso V’s embrace of the Kingdom of God.
The sailors actually have no feelings for the king, and they don't care whether they commemorate him or not. But those who really control the fleet are, after all, the noble sons loyal to the king. Everyone wore formal clothes, followed the priest's instructions, and began to pray for the king and themselves.
“Holy Saint Alfonso,
My great king,
Please pray for us!
That glorious Trinity in heaven.
"
"In the light of Almighty God,
Give me a living faith,
Think wisely about everyone, everything and everything.
I will offer you my sincere devotion,
Use my temporary body to elevate my eternal soul,
As you have chosen.
My love for Jesus bathes me in the holy fire,
I long for his sacraments,
Burning with zeal to spread His glory.
"
“Through your powerful intercession,
Help me to fulfill my duty to God,
Save myself and the world!
Infinite faith in the Virgin Mary,
Bless the purity of my soul,
bless every day of my life,
Keep me from mortal sin,
Obtain for me the grace of a happy death.
Amen.
"
“O God, seeker of peace and great piety,
Glorified Saint Alfonso of Portugal,
He took the land from the heathen,
Through his efforts,
We create the glory of God,
Therefore they are called children of God.
through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
an eternal God,
Reign forever!
Amen.
"
“Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful gifts you have given us,
Thank you for providing the example of Saint Alfonso, Portugal.
Regardless of hardships and tribulations,
We will always be loyal to you.
Offering you this new land and the Lamb!
Through the powerful intercession of Saint Alfonso,
We beseech you for your protection and glory,
We implore you to grant us wealth and strength,
Let us find our way to the East,
Let us find the kingdom of mighty King John,
God's people will unite,
Let the glory of God shine in the world!
For 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
To be called children of God. '
We ask all this through Jesus Christ,
Looking forward to eventual peace.
Amen.
"
“Pray for us and bless Saint Alfonso.
In order to make us worthy of the promises of Christ.
San Alfonso, Portugal,
Pray for the strength of our country.
Saint Alfonso, please pray for us!
Saint Alfonso, please pray for us!
Saint Alfonso, please pray for us!
"
Although Alfonso V was not canonized, this did not prevent the king's people from praying for him with the rituals of a saint. In the devout Middle Ages, every Catholic believer had a natural obligation to spread religion. They must become a flame, bringing light to the world and burning away all impurity. What is unclean? In cruel times, the meaning is self-evident.
More than a hundred nobles, sailors, soldiers and missionaries shared a night filled with tranquility and joy. They dedicated the land on the Congo River to God and found inner satisfaction and comfort in this land far away from their homeland. They also made their own requests to God, while firmly believing in God's protection.
They seemed to have returned to their peaceful hometown. Of course, there won’t be so many mosquito swarms that stay up all night and stay up all year round in my hometown.
Early the next morning, Captain Diogo Kang was ready to set off. He wanted to continue moving forward and explore the sea route to the south. Diogo Can took only six ships, leaving one at the mouth of the river, and gave the remaining ships an important mission.
"Bruno Kang! I leave you 20 people and a ship. You have to get in touch with the indigenous kingdom upstream! As the son of a noble, you can temporarily represent the kingdom. Remember, maintain good relations with powerful tribes, Get as many maps and information as you can and find out about King John’s country! After the mission is completed, stay at the mouth of the river and wait for my return. God bless us!”
Captain Diogo Kang gave a serious order. He ordered the sailors to use their lives to complete the land exploration.
"I obey your orders, my dear captain. God bless us!"
Bruno was so excited that he almost burst into tears. This was a hero's mission. He will represent the great civilized Kingdom of Portugal and make the first contact with the backward and barbaric Congolese natives!
Captain Diogo Kang nodded, and he took one hundred and thirty people on the road. Six Calavia sailing boats nimbly left the river mouth and headed for the unknown south. There, waiting for them was a new land, the coast of South Angola.
Bruno took Paul and the sailors on an exploratory sailboat. Surrounded by mosquitoes, they headed back up the Congo River.
