Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World - Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Muddy Waters – The Pirates on the Bay (III)
Later on the same day, Henry sat behind a long wooden table with Leier standing behind him, her hands resting on her sword, while two other soldiers guarded the conference room inside the Village Chief’s house. Despite being a small place, it was sufficient to accommodate thirty people. The warm glow of the fireplace, made of stone, warded off the cold, allowing the still injured Henry to remove his heavy black furred jacket.

In the room, besides Leier, the soldiers, and Henry, there were twelve other individuals. Six of them were elderly men, while the other six were middle-aged. These elderly men were the only six shipbuilders in Frostwave Bay, possessing the knowledge and skills necessary for shipbuilding. The middle-aged men appeared to be their sons, responsible for inheriting the family business and continuing their family legacies, a quite common practice in Stahl.

Despite the almost full room, the only noise audible was the sound of Henry’s ink pen scratching against parchment, his eyes deeply focused on his writing. No one dared to interrupt, and all stood silently. The presence of the woman behind the king seemed to instill a sense of apprehension, preventing the twelve from even shifting their weight between legs and make a sound.

Finally, after a few minutes, the scratching of the pen ceased, and Henry turned his eyes towards them. Though aware of their presence, what he was writing would direct the meeting and perhaps the fate of Frostwave Bay after a few punctual changes.

“I have called all of you here to ask a few questions and convey a few things”-‘ Henry began, placing the ink pen on top of the parchment and crossing his hands.

The twelve individuals 0nly nodded, showing they were ready to hear and obey the commands of the king.

“Then, let’s begin with the questions” – Henry continued, clearing his throat before addressing them – “What are the key elements necessary for constructing ships capable of enduring long voyages across the seas?” – He had to confirm the knowledge obtained from the first one he met earlier this day.

The shipbuilders exchanged knowing glances. One of the elder shipbuilders stepped forward, his weathered hands clasped behind his back as he addressed the king in a respectful tone, his accent noticeable but not so strong.

“Yer Majesty, when it comes to craftin’ ships fer long-distance voyages, we must prioritize sturdy construction and reliable materials”- the old shipbuilder began, making an effort to sound as formal as possible, although his speech retained traces of his accent – “In the past we’ve tried usin’ wood from the nearby forest and leather from the local animals, but the batterin’ ocean waves in the open sea were too strong, and our vessels couldn’t withstand them.”

Henry uncrossed his hands and rubbed his chin, asking. “So, we need sturdier trunks and more durable and flexible leathers?”

“Aye”- The old man responded, prompting Henry to pick back the ink pen and resume his scribble. Another minute of silence followed.

“How long does it take you and your family to assemble a ship?” – Henry inquired, his hands stopping but he continued to hold the ink pen.

The old man glanced at his comrades, who seemed to signal for him to take the lead and respond to the king. Scratching his head as if calculating the required time, the old man replied – “Yer Majesty, it typically takes us and our sons about three winters to assemble a ship from start to finish.”

“Too long…” – Henry muttered thoughtfully – “If you had more hands to assist in the shipbuilding process, do you believe you could reduce the construction time?”- he asked.

The old man paused for a moment. He wasn’t dumb and could understand the underlying meaning behind the king’s question. The king wanted him to share his family’s knowledge. He wanted to deceive the king, but the penetrating gaze of those gray eyes seemed to peer into his soul, able to detect any falsehood.

“Yes, Yer Majesty”- the old man admitted after deliberation – “With additional skilled hands to aid in the labor, we could certainly speed up the construction process. With enough hands, we could likely produce a ship per winter.”

“Excellent!” – Henry exclaimed, nodding excitedly. Right now, he was sitting on six ships a year. It would still take time do develop and craft a ship capable of long journeys, but it could be done. Henry began scribbling again.

Setting down his ink pen, Henry said – “I will take care of this and send a few people here to assist you.” – His wanted to bring people from the capital to decentralize knowledge and preserve it not only in this region. He wanted to pass it down to other people, not only a single lineage.

“Do any of you know how to read and write?” the king asked, but all the men shook their heads. It was expected.

“No problem. I will also send someone here. I need you to document your knowledge. We will compile it into books for future generations to read and expand It. That way your names will become eternal and known for centuries.” Henry said, trying to bring them willingly by offering fame and an everlasting name.

“Furthermore, I will establish a school here, focusing on training more shipbuilders and developing new navigation techniques. I will also bring a cartographer to teach you. We need to start mapping the coast and the sea” – Henry’s voice echoed with his desire to copy Portugal’s Age of Discovery.

The Portuguese Empire opened the Age of Discovery, an era of Great Navigation. It was an age driven by the desire to bypass intermediaries controlling traditional routes to Asia, who imposed taxes and tariffs on goods passing through their territory, primarily the Ottoman Empire, which took control of Constantinople in 1453 and granted trade privileges to Venice, Italy. Prince Henry, the Navigator, was the catalyst for this age, laying the foundation for Portugal’s maritime expansion.

In the early 15th century, Prince Henry established a navigation school in Sagres, Portugal, where scholars, cartographers, and navigators converged to study and develop new navigation technologies. It was an institution created for the sake of innovation, which ultimately propelled the small kingdom of Portugal to distant shores.

Under Prince Henry’s guidance and protection, sailors launched expeditions along the African coast, gradually expanding the known boundaries of the world. Driven by a thirst for adventure and a life of riches, they faced endless seas without fear. The superstitions of Catholic beliefs that whispered of sea monsters capable of devouring entire ships and bringing ruin to the land didn’t force them back. It didn’t take long for a breakthrough.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias managed to navigate around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope. This great feat proved that it was possible to reach the rich markets of Asia by sea, bypassing the traditional overland that crossed through the large Ottoman Empire and other Arab nations. However, it wasn’t until 1498 that Vasco da Gama successfully reached India, arriving in the city of Calicut. This marked the establishment of the first direct sea route from Europe to Asia. From then on, Portugal emerged as a formidable global power, dominating the spice trade, one of the most lucrative industries of the time.

This newfound wealth from the spice trade fueled further expeditions, as Portuguese explorers ventured even farther beyond the known coastlines and the known world. They mapped new territories, established trading outposts, and extended the influence of the Portuguese Crown across the globe. And, just two years after Christopher Columbus’s voyage in 1492, the Portuguese Pedro Álvares Cabral reached the coast of Brazil in 1500. The Portuguese crown extended even into Japan, bringing the catholic faith to the small nation.

Now, Henry wanted to do the same in Stahl. He wanted to get a view of the wide world and understand their positions. And, there was nothing best than commerce.