July 20, 1652
The crew is a little annoyed by the lack of activities, except for Luis, who starts trading rubber clothes. Although a little skeptical, there have already been orders.
At 10 cruzados per cape, there are not many buyers. But the novelty attracts, and Luis has taken some initiatives with tailors to make these capes more "presentable".
Joao focuses his efforts on using small satchels to make a kind of mini explosive cannonball.
From the outside in: A layer of rubber, about 3 or 4 mm thick, a layer of thin fabric to place metal frgaments and other abrasive instruments, and a small load of powder contained in a small leather bag with a wick sticking out and can be lit to prime the mini cannonball.
Going to the Lisbon countryside to try out, part of the crew accompanies him to get past the boredom.
There he made his first attempts: a 20-meter radius of explosion that could even pulverize large rocks.
Beyond 20 meters it becomes less dangerous.
The guys each try these little bombs which they take a lot of pleasure in doing, trying all kinds of attempts to use them.
Taking into account the price: each of these little bombs is worth in the 2 cruzados. At least as long as rubber is so expensive, if it cost less, the cost of these little bombs would be 200 reals.
"So in your opinion: it can be of interest to the army?"
"No doubts, but the price I don't know."
"Never underestimate the sums that the "work for" can spend to kill each other"
"In any case, it would have been convenient to have this in Beruwala"
"yes!! We could even have looted all the warehouses with this in hand"
"Ha guys! Without messing around, we could have sunk all their boats well placed, these things would have pierced them below the waterlines, a delight of spectacle"
______
October 17, 1650 Beruwala, a small Dutch enclave in Ceylon.
"Hahahah, these Portuguese, too easy to exhibit, can be a subspecies of negroes," says Marten, this pirate merchant associated with the VOC.
"And then you got a little tired of each other and then, .."
"Ha we know you think about it, but keep it to yourself, really, anyway they did the phishing, provoked the surrender of this little convoy, and then we arrive we shoot some cannonballs and we win the day"
"yes precisely, hackers hacked by other pirates, and that's it! And here we are a bit like privateers... "
"Precisely, it's the same for them and there...."
"Yes it's okay we know: you think they'll come back during the night after following us for a week"
"Ha the week is over and ...."
There was a general burst of laughter.
"Fire!!! Need sapper ! Fire !!!!!! A band of madmen were about to throw a flaming brignantin into the port !!! "
"I told you so"
"But no, it's not them"
"Come on guys, let's get busy before they put a few cannons to scrap us, we'll line up the brigants and load the cannons!"
"Hey! Exactly as planned "Capitan" "
"Exactly, I feel upset, not like it's the first time or that the roles have been reversed, but here... I am... too upset not to retaliate"
The 12 brigantines lined up parallel to the port and at a flag sign: began to pour fire from the cannons directly into the port. Ravaged buildings and other warehouses, and part of the quays in the path of the cannonballs
Many hours of manoeuvring to place the ships like this, with pretty and wonderful VOC flags... Taking all of Lemodne by surprise, an attack so cliché, that no one would have believed that anyone would use this method, especially not the new occupants of the place.
Their defensive batteries were demolished at the second volley of cannonballs, before they could even fulfil their defensive role
After turning the boats, a maneuver that also lasted a few hours to realign the guns on the other side, some had come back during this little interlude believing that the boats were going to leave before discovering that they were realigning in the opposite direction.
Opening the cannonballs of their cannons again, the cannonballs continued to pour in, hindering the extinguishing of the burning boats anchored in port.
Taking a wineskin, Joao quenches his thirst before giving the sign of retreat.
"So," Joao thought out loud, "if these "Work for" do as usual, they will question themselves, hesitate before finally deciding to put out this fire, which arrived to warm them up so early in the morning, or at the beginning of the night, in short
After having been on fire, they will start repairs, count their losses, fear and offer consolation in fights for the most aggressive, in crazy fucking for the most sexually addicted...., and then... Uh... Then they will ... never think that we are going to come back during the night, especially not before sunset, bomb them again and this time empty everything we can and burn the rest".
"yes, that's what's planned," said a guy from the crew, a little questioning about the captain's condition
"Oh yes... sorry I was thinking out loud, in any case, we succeeded in the first part of the "upset" operation"
"Hey, yes," replied the sailor, a little more at ease.
The merchant ships that sailed along the coast that day received a warning shot before fleeing, only too happy not to be pursued by the small flotilla of brigantines.
The flotilla remained out of range of the telescopes that the VOC guys could use
While patrolling the area by blockading the port.
The evening sun threw its last rays from the horizon, and Joao gave the signal to return to the counter.
October 18, 1650, 1 a.m.
The 12 brigantines arrived, lining up to begin a new volley of cannonballs.
Joao had insisted on always having oars in the boats, rowing ships are plentiful in the Strait of Malacca, and sometimes it's better to gain a little speed by rowing than to stand by and watch the enemy ships board you.
Booom Boommm dozens of cannon shots resonate away from the harbor, like the previous morning demolishing everything in their path
The inhabitants wonder if it is a divine punishment that falls on them, a little more frightened than Joao had anticipated.
Around 3 o'clock that night 5 brigantines docked at what remained of the quays, and began their little intervention of looting, precious stones and all kinds of objects and resources that could be very moneyable....
While the other 7 remain to fire the cannonballs further away from the port and the warehouses.
Towards morning the operation was completed, and the flotilla returned to Cochin to make an account of its loot, not without having set fire to all they could. The only strangeness that Joao found was the total absence of infantrymen in response on land.
_____
After a few days of trials and attempts, Joao decided to go to the armory to meet with an army commander to show him his bombs.
Under the leaden Lisbon sky, the honest Portuguese merchant João Carrasca stepped out of a carriage, his black coat sweeping the damp cobblestones.
The quay was bustling, filled with the echo of sailors shouting orders, while the bells of the churches resounded in the heights of the city. João held a sturdy leather briefcase in which his precious goods rested: innovative bombs. A niche product for modern militaries looking for a tactical advantage.
He crossed the paved courtyard to the armory of Lisbon, where the walls were laden with muskets ranged like soldiers at attention, and with suspended sabres, shining like stars.
Inside, the climate was serious; men in uniform discussed supply plans. At their head, a Commander Duarte Ferreira, recognizable by his impeccable attraction and his inquisitive gaze, supervised the activities.
João approached, his step assured. "Commander Ferreira," he said, bowing with measured respect, "I have come to present you with a weapon that could change the outcome of battles, perhaps even wars."
With a precise gesture, he opened the briefcase to reveal his special bombs, each carefully placed to attract attention.
Duarte cast a curious but skeptical glance at the objects. "What guarantee do I have that these... Are special bombs reliable? We cannot risk defective equipment that would put my men in danger." His voice was deep, tinged with mistrust.
João smiled, thinking that he should have convinced Luis to come with him.
"These special bombs were tested in the countryside around Lisbon, and this material arrived from Brazil. In our tests with my company, we believe that just one of these special bombs could kill and injure all men within a radius of 20 meters."
"I suggest that you make some tests in order to dispel your .... skepticism"
Commander Ferreira crossed his arms, a sparkle of interest briefly passing through his eyes. "All right, Mr. Carrasca. Follow me."
As the men made their way to the test yard, João knew that it all depended on this demonstration. The fate of his project to obtain a title of nobility, and his reputation hung on these few expositions...
Arrived at the shooting range located on the outskirts of Lisbon. The field was vast, dotted with worn wooden targets and rudimentary dummies, remnants of previous training.
The men of the regiment had gathered in a semicircle, curious and a little suspicious of the declarations of this man. João Carrasca.
João advanced confidently, holding one of his special bombs firmly in his hand, while Comandante Duarte Ferreira, straight and imposing in his uniform, walked by his side. The two men's boots crushed the gravel beneath their feet, their echo echoing through the air laden with expectation.
"So, Mr. Carrasca," the commander said, in a deep voice that dominated the murmur of his soldiers, "show us what makes your 'special bombs' special." But I warn you: here, we test everything without complacency."
João smiled slightly. "Commander Ferreira, you will understand why these special bombs are more practical than anything your arsenal currently has."
He quickly explained what he wanted to do as a demonstration and requested an area to receive the explosion.
He lit the fuse and ran about 20 meters from the target area, a wooden structure representing a fortified wall. With precise gestures, the men around looked attentively, scrutinizing every detail.
Threw the bomb before running in the opposite direction
"Back off," João said, raising his voice
The heavy silence was broken by a resounding explosion. Shards of wood flew through the air, and dense smoke enveloped the affected area. When the dust settled, there were pieces of wood spread haphazardly all around the area, holes cutting through the entire wall
Commander Ferreira smiled thinly, but subduedly. "It's... promising," he finally admitted, though he kept a reserved tone.
"We will test again, but it certainly deserves our attention. You will be informed if we decide to add these grenades to our arsenal."
"Those grenades?" Joao asked
"Yes grenades, we already have this kind of "special bombs", but far from being as easy to handle and use.
"In addition, you mentioned a special characteristic of this material..." he said, touching the rubber outside of the grenades with his fingertips.
"Yes, this material has the particularity of being waterproof, it does not let water through, at least after a certain treatment of the initial material"
"You could make smaller bags of them, to hold powder directly"
"This material is as expensive as sugar for the moment, unlike sugar it is because it is not in high demand, I have to order them at a high price to get it."
"What is the name of this material?"
"Rubber, at least that's what they say that natives call it in Brazil"
"And for the refining of this rubber? Could I get the recipe? "
"Certainly a gift to the crown: for two or three titles of barons"
"Hahaha", the atmosphere relaxed at the firing range.
"Do you think it's worth that?"
"Honestly yes, there would be other products that can be exported and cultivated from Brazil, such as these trees from which rubber is drawn, which with more practical applications, could have as much influence as iron in my opinion, moreover one of my friends has already created storm capes for sailors with this material, and the first feedback is, a little more than encouraging"
"Hum I see many uses, impermeability, from clothes to bombs. humph! And what about the sealing of the vessels? "
"We think that it could replace tar, but we don't have the quantities for such an undertaking, we would first need intensive cultivation of these trees, of which for the moment I only know this product"
"Yes, it is indeed interesting. Could you leave me some of these grenades?"
"Grenades...", joao looked for what the commander was talking about before understanding, "ha yes my special bombs, grenades, yes, obviously, I was going to give you the contents of this briefcase so that you can make other evaluations with whomever you want"
"Hahaha, thank you very much sehnor Carrasca"
"But please, Commander, all my affairs rest on one fact that is unavoidable to me: Portugal must recover its independence and this is my meagre contribution, at least for the moment."
After a few more discussions during the return to the business center of Lisboa.
Joao returned to the crew's mansion to rest. This meeting with the commander made him think heavily of something he had not seen coming at all: the risk of being forbidden to export special rubber products by the crown to make it a strategic monopoly.
_____
That night, Joao had a horrible nightmare, all these interterpise in Asia were cataclysmic, each cannon shot went almost in the opposite direction from where the cannon was pointing... he gave some instructions to the crew, which hastened to .. Whatever it was when a huge storm was coming, they would unfurl the sails, as if to have their sails torn apart, if he told them to port, they would turn to starboard, and so on, until: nothing, there remained a voice: if you excommunicate Judah as soon as you spot him, what is left?
And then the nightmare began again....
And again and again and again
"haaaaaaaaa
"What was that?" he said dejectedly.
There was noise and gesn that were active outside the room, before knocking on his door
"Joao, are you okay?"
Luis didn't do it twice, he started by trying to open the door before forcing it open:
"Ha ... Was it just a nightmare? It doesn't happen to you often, I thought it was a pig at the slaughterhouse"
"hahahaa... " still gasping for breath
Hearing Joao's laughter, Luis' joke began to interest the visitors more than the eventual assassin.
"Tomorrow I'm going to church, I have to meet a priest or something like that"
"You? In church? Voluntarily?" replied Luis directly
"Yes. Me in church, it's as if I knew everything written in the bible, I need a professional there..."
"a professional for the after of excessive drinking, yes...."
" hehehehehehe Luis .... ha.... "
"Ok, well anyway it's already morning, so if I remember correctly there's a mass in an hour, by getting ready now, you can even look like an "Honest Merchant"
"yes? Well you know what? That's exactly what I'm going to do"
"Ok, come on, I'm going back to bed: all those who don't have a sudden desire to go to mass can go back to bed, the gorret has no assassins on his heels"
____
Joao, after freshening up, went to the nearest church "it's not like I want to go to confession, I want the guy to give me a personalized reading of the bible", ha it's going to cost me more money... "haaa!!!"
When he arrived at the church, Joao found Padre Joaquim Esperança, in order to learn about this dream he had during a series of nightmares:
"And then there was no more light, right?"
"Yes Padre, that's it"
"And there is someone who talks to you about excomuniating Judah, what is left?"
"Yes Padre that's it"
"And you want me to give you a Bible reading and as soon as I find the word "Judah" I move on to the next book, right?"
"That's right"
So: then
....
And Jacob begat Judah and his brethren, and
"Padre there is Judah"
"Oh yes, so next book:
And Jacob begat Judah and his brothers...., the padre showed more attention and continued: so the following book:
....
At the same time Mary got up and went in haste to the mountains to a city in Judah.
Verse 1:40..."
"Padre, there is the word Judah there again"
"Oh yes, indeed, ahem .... So next book:
" .....
Verse 4:3 Then he left the land of Judah..."
" padre .. Why are you stopping?"
"There is the word Judah"
"Ha.. In any case it looks like a nightmare, water a lot of water, you know padre, you find a lot of it in the sea of water ..."
"It's indeed very possible, what is giving you nightmares with this book?"
" uh at the beginning, there is the fact that the word all that there .... I mean God is God what, probably he can do anything or something like that, and then miracles aren't many"
" You had a shipwreck happen from what I have been told?"
"Yes, indeed, how do you know?"
"ha Mr. Carrasca, there is little chance that Cathay ingots will arrive in large quantities from an almost unknown merchant without it being talked about you know"
"yes, I had to sell them more slowly, but it's not India, with 20,000 cruzados over there you're like a nobleman, whereas here...."
"hehehe.... To come back to this dream, what do you think?"
"Hum not much, I thought I'd find it like that.... but maybe starting at the beginning .... "
"ok I'll look for the genesis"
"Hey! Joao surprised, you don't have to"
"Ha to hide nothing from you, I also had a dream, not the same but I'm interested too"
"Genesis ... up to 29.34"
"Hey padre, you have not met a lot of muslims I guess?"
"No, indeed"
"In India there are many, and they sing the praises of Allah supposedly, but in fact: is it Judah? Or Léa?"
"It is possible in Hebrews Leah means the cow and their second chapter begins with the cow"
"So where does this lead us?"
"I don't know, but I found some answers to my dreams"
"You're lucky: I don't...."
"What do you plan to do here? You probably came back to Portugal to do something different from what you were doing in India?"
"All I can do to get an equivalent of a captaincy in Brazil, so beat the Spaniards, beat the Dutch, and then do business in Portugal to gather everything necessary, it's a huge investment to found a new colony, and I don't have enough with my crew to do it. I have set myself 10 years to gather everything necessary."
"very good"....
After a few customary acts, Joao went back to the inn.
( small passage to highlight that churches were almost always open in that era )