Chapter 36

On Thursday, October 7, 1632, it was a clear day.

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the arrival of the time-travelers. Tartan Port, which started from nothing, is now bustling with activity.

Several large sailing ships were moored in the port, and busy dock workers were using pulleys to hoist tons of cargo from the ship's hold onto the dock. The cargo piled up like mountains on the dock, and the workers skillfully sorted them, after which the port authority's transport team used horse-drawn wagons to haul them away.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dock, a large group of refugees from the Baltic region were waiting for their physical examinations, with police in black uniforms carrying military sabers maintaining order around them.

The scene was busy yet orderly. When Blanquito stepped onto the dock of Tartan Port again after several months, this was the scene he saw. This time, he was accompanied only by the merchant Carlos.

Blanquito brought three large ships this time. Two of them were loaded with 500 tons of coal, and the other was full of sugar, cotton, indigo, and leather. The voyage from São Vicente to Tartan Port was not an easy one for the Portuguese, as Dutch ships were almost everywhere, causing trouble for the Spanish and Portuguese. Therefore, Blanquito took a considerable risk by coming this time.

To be honest, Blanquito did not want to come here. These Easterners left a very bad impression on him: they were devious, greedy, and dangerous.

Yes, Blanquito believed these Easterners were very dangerous. He could sense their strong confidence, aggressive demeanor, and unhidden expansionist ambitions. Living next to such people might not be any easier than fighting the Dutch. He frankly expressed his views and opinions to General São Paulo and the governor temporarily stationed in Rio de Janeiro, but they did not take them seriously enough.

As the war in Bahia became increasingly unfavorable, the governor and generals tried every means to turn the tide and racked their brains. Just last month, the Dutch West India Company organized a force that achieved a significant victory north of Salvador, severely damaging the Portuguese army of 1,000 soldiers and mercenaries. Over 500 were killed, wounded, or captured, severely demoralizing their side. The governor's plan to retake Salvador and Recife suffered a major setback.

Not only that, but the retreating army also abandoned more than twenty cannons, and many muskets were lost or damaged. General Maranhão, who participated in this battle, requested the governor of Bahia to quickly replenish personnel and weapons, or he would not be able to continue holding out in Bahia and Pernambuco.

This request left the gentlemen at a loss. The Spanish, who held power in the Council of India and overseas territories in the homeland, were also helpless in the war in northeastern Brazil. Currently, Dutch, French, and British warships frequently attacked the Spanish coastline in the Caribbean, leaving them unable to provide much assistance to Brazil.

Worse still, with a large number of colonial troops being deployed to the front, the rear towns and plantations, which were already thinly manned, were frequently attacked by the Palmares Black Alliance hidden in the palm forests. These escaped slaves received assistance from the Indians, armed with rudimentary weapons, and launched attacks in rural areas, helping slaves escape from plantations. These escaped slaves killed all the whites they saw, destroyed tools on the plantations, and burned warehouses, causing irreparable damage to the colonial economy. The governor and the kingdom still had no good solution.

The matter had to be resolved by themselves!

Blanquito sighed. For now, he could only seek help from these Easterners. But thinking about their greed and deviousness gave him a headache. He hoped they would not make excessive demands. Sending mercenaries to Brazil to fight, in Blanquito's view, was a distant hope, but at least they should agree to sell some weapons to make up for General Maranhão's significant losses in the previous defeat. Before leaving, Blanquito rushed to Rio de Janeiro to meet the governor, who authorized him to agree to the terms proposed by the Tartan people if necessary.

Blanquito had been to Tartan Port before, so this time he easily followed the port road into the city. The city was bustling with activity, with many old wooden buildings being demolished and replaced by numerous red brick houses.

The entire city seemed to be expanding. The original city area was small, limited to a wall with a perimeter of only 1,500 meters. After two years of development, it was no longer sufficient. Now, many new buildings, including residential houses, shops, workshops, and foreign trading houses, had been built along the west and north sides of the wall. Blanquito could see that the Tartan people were preparing to expand the wall, and the expansion would likely be in the west and north directions. The scale of this expansion project might be significant, and the new city area could be several times the size of the old city.

What a magnificent city! In just two years, it was truly incredible. Blanquito shook his head and continued walking down the street toward the city center.

The flow of people on the street was not as exaggerated as the last time he came, but it was clear that Tartan's commerce had flourished in recent months. Leather from La Plata, blankets, cured meats, cheese, and sugar, tobacco, feathers, and dried fruits from Brazil were commonly seen in stores. This indicated the prosperity of smuggling trade and the increasing purchasing power of Tartan residents.

Crossing the cross street, Blanquito and Carlos arrived at the administrative building again. His request for an audience was quickly responded to, and an Easterner who introduced himself as the foreign secretary led them into the foreign affairs office in the building.

The office was not large, with white lime-painted walls and a few crudely made tables and chairs. There were only a few staff members. Gao Mo, the foreign affairs commissioner he had dealt with before, was waiting with a smile.

Blanquito and Carlos reluctantly shook hands, unsure of how to start, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent.

"Ha ha." Gao Mo laughed, breaking the silence. "Thank you, Mr. Blanquito Almeida, for bringing us two ships of coal. This is the material we need, and you have contributed to our cause. Speak up, friend, what do you need us to do? Friends should help each other."

Blanquito secretly breathed a sigh of relief but automatically filtered out the part about "friends." He thought for a moment and then said, "Can your company consider sending a mercenary force to fight in Bahia and Pernambuco? All expenses will be paid by the governor of Bahia."

"No, that's impossible." Gao Mo rejected it without hesitation. What a joke, how could we send our limited forces into the Brazilian quagmire? Moreover, without naval control, crossing the sea to fight in northeastern Brazil? To put it bluntly, once they go, they won't come back. Do you think we're fools, just for a little money?

"If we formally recognize your company's sovereignty over the area south of the Gerar Mountains and also allow Ming immigrants to move to Tartan Port?" Blanquito, not giving up, added more incentives.

Gao Mo still shook his head.

It seemed that direct participation in the war was impossible, which Blanquito had anticipated. So, as a second choice, he decided to buy weapons. "Can your side sell us some firearms, such as muskets, plate armor, military sabers, and cannons?"

Gao Mo had also received authorization from the executive committee. He was very clear about the committee's policy: covert support was possible, but direct participation in the war was out of the question, and the Portuguese had to pay enough benefits.

"Then let's have an honest conversation," Gao Mo said to Blanquito. "Steel cannons are not possible in the short term. Our artillery platforms are currently being upgraded, and we don't have the capacity to handle external business. However, the old bronze and cast-iron cannons that have been phased out can be sold to you. We have about 20 cannons, ranging from 3-pound to 24-pound, at a price of 80% of the market value, considering depreciation. We can also sell you a batch of matchlock muskets, about 300 in number. Military sabers are currently in production until the end of the year, but I will request the executive committee to allocate some from other orders, also not exceeding 300. As for plate armor, it can also be sold, but I want to know what you can offer besides money. I think you understand what I mean."

Blanquito secretly calculated. Twenty cannons of various types, 300 matchlock muskets, and military sabers, and even hard-to-get bulletproof plate armor. In the context of Dutch harassment along the coast and increasingly difficult transportation of supplies, this batch of weapons would be significant and could greatly improve the plight of the front-line soldiers.

"Yes, I understand your meaning," Blanquito decided and said, "As you expect, the governor of Bahia has authorized me to write to the governor of Goa in East India after this deal is made, requesting him to use his influence in the East to recruit immigrants to the new continent's Tartan Port for colonization."

"How many can immigrate each year?" Gao Mo asked.

"I cannot guarantee that," Blanquito replied. "It depends on the effectiveness of the governor of Goa's work in Macau and the Ming territory, as well as the sea conditions and pirate harassment. However, at least two ships carrying immigrants should arrive at Tartan Port each year."

Two ships. It was acceptable, better than nothing. Gao Mo thought for a moment and then asked, "What about the plains west of Lake Patos and south of the Gerar Mountains? Don't give me useless talk. You have no colonies there, only wilderness and Indians. You have no reason to claim sovereignty. We just want to confirm the boundary to avoid future disputes."

"It depends on your sincerity," Blanquito suddenly smiled. As long as the other party had demands, it was better than having no demands at all. "I'm actually curious. As you said, that place is indeed a wilderness. It is also far from Tartan Port. Do you have the population and strength to colonize it? Perhaps there is something very attractive there?"

"That's none of your business," Gao Mo replied, "Please sign the agreement with us as soon as possible."

"How much plate armor can you sell us?"

"You? Why are you bringing this up again? We need to discuss this."

...

After a series of negotiations, both sides finally reached an agreement. Gao Mo, representing the East Shore Company, and Blanquito, representing the governor of Bahia, signed the "Secret Mutual Assistance Treaty of Tartan Port." The main content of the treaty included: the East Shore Company would secretly sell 20 cannons of various types, 300 matchlock muskets, 300 military sabers, and 50 sets of plate armor per month to the Portuguese. In return, the governor of Bahia confirmed the area west of Lake Patos, east of the Great Cuchilla Mountains, and south of the Tacuari River as the territory of the East Shore Company. Additionally, the governor guaranteed that at least two ships of no less than 300 tons, carrying Ming immigrants, would arrive at Tartan Port each year from the East. Of course, the Portuguese also had the obligation to keep this secret transaction confidential.