PREVIOUSLY
[Umzye turned toward the European captains, his face illuminated by the cold, greyish light of dawn. "We shall take a perilous path... The Tequendama II Suaza will advance alone toward the largest island. She is our most imposing vessel, the one that best embodies our sovereignty. The remainder of the fleet—the English, Spanish, and Portuguese ships—shall hold position three leagues yonder, prepared to intervene should diplomacy fail."
"Do you intend to enter that hornet's nest alone, General?" Columbus inquired, struck by Umzye's resolve.
"I do not go alone, Admiral... Moreover, I have a premonition that we may find exactly what we sought upon this expedition," Umzye replied.]
Year 12 of the SuaChie Calendar, Ninth Month (1494 AD).
Eastern Sea of the Ryukyu Kingdom (South of Japan),Aboard the Tequendama II (Suaza Delegation).
Two hours had passed since General Umzye made the decision to advance solitary toward the main island. Christopher Columbus, unable to remain lagging behind on the Spanish ship while a new page of universal history was being written, found himself aboard the Tequendama II Suaza.
He had delegated command of the Tequendama I to Luis and Officer Quihicha, preferring to be a direct witness to the first encounter with a civilization that, by all appearances, bore no resemblance to the visions of his navigator's dreams.
As the majestic Suaza ship cut through the waters, a fleet of junks began to surround them in a preemptive maneuver. Columbus, leaning against the gunwale, observed the local vessels with technical precision.
These were not the ramshackle boats of the Ma-i pirates; these junks boasted polished timbers and matting sails that shimmered under the sun with military cleanliness. What most caught his attention, however, were the cannons.
Their designs were radically different from European bronze artillery or the potent Juracán of Chuta; they were shorter pieces, adorned with reliefs resembling dragon scales, peering through square portholes with a silent threat.
Upon nearing the port of Naha, Columbus—positioned to Umzye's right on the command bridge—noted the physical distinctions of the inhabitants crowding the wharves. Their skin did not possess the deep bronzed hue of the Caribbean peoples or the recently visited archipelago, but rather an olive paleness. Their eyes, slanted with a double eyelid that lent them an expression of perpetual analytical observation, vaguely reminded him of Marco Polo's descriptions of the Great Khan's subjects. Their attire—long silk tunics with geometric patterns and flowing sleeves—spoke of a society that had mastered textile refinement long before most European courts.
The Tequendama II slowed its pace until the escorting ships shouted orders in a tongue that sounded like the clinking of stones upon glass. Although no one in the expedition understood the language, the signals from the local sailors—arms extended toward the pier and gestures to halt—were sufficient.
"Do not reach for your blades unless I command it," Umzye declared, with a calm that Columbus found almost exasperating given the circumstances. "We shall disembark by boats to the port."
The General ordered the formation of a small retinue. Umzye would lead, flanked by Columbus—who had offered himself with a mixture of curiosity and Castilian pride—and a group of sparingly armed Suaza soldiers.
They carried only short swords at their belts and light armor of hardened leather reinforced with iron plates over vital areas. It was a clear signal: they came in peace, but not defenseless. Behind them walked four specialists of the Suaza Kingdom: the linguists.
Columbus observed the Suaza with growing admiration. He could plainly surmise that if the attempt at communication failed in this nest of armed hornets, they would all likely perish before reaching the boats.
Yet, he saw not a single trace of doubt upon the copper-hued faces of the soldiers, nor even upon Umzye, who held the ultimate authority and, therefore, the greatest responsibility for failure. The courage of these men was not born of recklessness, but of an absolute faith in the preparation Chuta had imbued within them.
As they stepped onto the solid wooden pier, they were met by a phalanx of warriors and a group of men whose attire—silks of somber colors and peculiarly shaped hats—betrayed their noble status. To Columbus's relief, he saw no portable firearms like arquebuses, though the curved swords hanging from the warriors' belts seemed capable of severing a hair in mid-air.
The initial encounter was a clash of awkward silences.
The locals furrowed their brows, bewildered by the newcomers. It was not only the languages—the rhythmic Suaza tongue and Columbus's forceful Castilian—that disconcerted them, but also the starkly disparate physical features. Columbus could see several nobles staring at his grey beard and angular face with a curiosity bordering on astonishment; it was evident they had never beheld a man of his lineage.
Umzye, noticing the tension beginning to crystallize, signaled to his linguists. "Step forward. Show them why the Suaza Kingdom does not always require the fire of cannons."
The experts, who had already been analyzing the greetings and gestures of the locals from a distance, stepped forward with impeccable courtesy. They performed a bow of the torso that exactly mimicked what they had seen the local subordinates do before their lords, and offered a greeting in the local tongue with clear accents.
Then, with slow and steady movements, they unfurled a map of high-quality paper. The map displayed the eastern waters they had traversed over the last month, marking their passage through the Ma-i archipelago. Cleverly, the map did not show the crossing of the Sunset Ocean, keeping the secret of the Great Quyca safe.
The reaction was immediate. The local nobles drew closer, showing genuine surprise at such precise cartography. Moreover, the fact that these foreigners, who clearly did not speak their language, had deduced their greetings so swiftly and possessed such detailed knowledge of local maritime routes was interpreted as a sign of high wisdom.
In a culture that valued knowledge for its proximity to the influence of the Ming Dynasty, this gesture was the master key. The nobles smiled with contained satisfaction and nodded.
Columbus, watching from a step behind, felt small before the efficiency of the Suaza specialists. He had seen them act in Dawn City in 1492, but this was different. Communicating with the island cultures in the Sunset or the archipelago was one task; dealing with an advanced civilization, with rigid protocols and established sovereignty, was something entirely different.
Two weeks later.
Columbus sat before a lacquered wooden table in one of the houses the Kingdom of Ryukyu had leased to the expedition to house the dignitaries. The harbor breeze drifted through the paper windows, cooling the room.
In a mere fourteen days, the Suaza linguists had achieved what seemed a miracle to Columbus. Their speed in deciphering the grammar and vocabulary of the Ryukyuan tongue was nearly identical to what they had demonstrated when the Spaniards first arrived at Dawn City.
They could communicate on almost any general subject, and every morning they returned from the market or the castle with new grammatical records, names of spices, and local chronicles.
Columbus, who had always boasted of his adaptability, had surrendered to the tonal complexity of the local language. Now, he limited himself to using the young Suaza linguists as his voice before the Ryukyu nobles. Thanks to them, the expedition had learned they were south of the mythical Cipango, in a prosperous kingdom that served as a bridge between China, Japan, and other nearby realms.
"It is exactly what Umzye suspected," Columbus murmured to himself as he reviewed his notes.
Ryukyu was a treasure. In its markets, the Admiral had found what the Old World craved with desperation: cinnamon, pepper of superior quality, ceramics that seemed forged from petrified light, and silks that made the finest fabrics of Seville look like kitchen rags. Columbus, along with Juan Cortizos and James Norrington, had spent the afternoons negotiating with the merchants of Okinawa.
The economic revelation was staggering. Comparing the prices they now paid directly in Ryukyu with those they had to pay in Europe for goods brought via the Silk Road, the profit was astronomical.
There was no longer a need to pay the extortionate tolls of Middle Eastern kingdoms, nor to deal with Turkish intermediaries or the monopoly of Venetians and Genoese in the Mediterranean. A fleet of Tequendama I could transport in a single voyage what a thousand camel caravans could in a year, and for a fraction of the cost.
However, a shadow of regret crossed Columbus's face. Looking through the window toward the port, he saw the English Tequendama II being loaded with bales of silk and spices to the limit of its capacity. James Norrington was exultant; thanks to the massive payment the Kingdom of England had made to the Suaza Kingdom for the use of that vessel, the profits for Henry VII would be incalculable.
Columbus bitterly lamented that the Catholic Monarchs had lacked the vision to finance a similar participation, leaving him on a smaller ship with a more limited budget. England, without a doubt, would be the great victor of this first commercial voyage.
A sharp knock on the wooden door interrupted his reflections.
"Enter," Columbus said, resting his quill upon the journal.
It was Luis, his assistant, who entered with an expression of contained urgency. "Admiral, I have news from General Umzye."
"Tell me, Luis. What is the matter?"
"It is two things, sir," the youth explained. "First, General Umzye has sent word to all captains of the fleet. We depart in exactly one week toward the north. The course is set: toward Cipango."
Columbus arched his eyebrows, surprised. "So soon?" he wondered aloud. "Ryukyu is already an unprecedented success. Our holds are half-full and we have the maps we require. Why risk further north now?"
"It seems the Suaza are not satisfied with the market alone, Admiral," Luis replied. "They wish to reach the heart of the legend. They want to come face-to-face with the inhabitants of Cipango, just as Young Chuta planned from the beginning."
Columbus nodded slowly, closing his journal. The Suaza Kingdom sought not only trade, but knowledge and the total connection of the world. And he, whether he wished it or not, was the privileged passenger of that ambition.
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Columbus remained seated, still absorbed in the news brought by Luis. The sunlight illuminated the interior of the room he used as an office, casting long shadows over his logbook. Before rising to end the day, a thought anchored him to his chair: Luis had mentioned two pieces of news, and only the first—the departure for the north—had been discussed.
"Luis," Columbus called, looking up at his assistant, who waited by the door with unusual rigidity. "You mentioned a second piece of news. What is it?"
Young Luis hesitated. His fingers toyed nervously with the edge of his doublet, and he avoided direct eye contact with the Admiral. A flush of shame rose up his neck, tinting his cheeks a visible red in the fading light. After a long sigh that seemed to drag a heavy burden from his chest, he finally spoke.
"Admiral... we have had grave trouble with the crew. With the mariners."
Columbus felt a prick of irritation. His mind immediately jumped to the Suaza allies, whose efficiency at times felt alienating to him.
"Is it the Suaza?" he interrupted, but fell silent almost instantly. The mere idea of Umzye's disciplined men committing crimes in a foreign port seemed, after months of living together, a statistical impossibility. Those men were not merely sailors; they were extensions of their Kingdom's will.
Luis shook his head, confirming Columbus's suspicions.
"No, sir. It is our own. The Spaniards," he added quickly, attempting to soften the blow to the Admiral's pride. "Though, to tell the truth, the other European crews—both English and Portuguese—are suffering exactly the same. It is a shared malady."
Columbus struck the table with his palm, weary of the evasions. "To the point, Luis! I have no patience for cabin diplomacy. What have they done now?"
Luis resigned himself, letting the truth burst forth. "The European crews have frequented the red-light districts of the Ryukyu cities, Admiral. The local pleasure houses. Many of them have drunk themselves into a stupor and... well, they are in no condition to depart soon if it were necessary."
The assistant fell silent, but his gaze indicated there was more. Columbus made an imperious gesture for him to continue. "There are debts, sir. Many mariners have incurred gambling debts and service fees they cannot pay. And worse... others have stolen goods from the holds of the Spanish Tequendama I—merchandise intended for trade—to pay for their vices in those houses."
Columbus closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. The news brought a sting of exasperation mixed with profound resignation. He knew the ilk of many of the men who had sailed with him; they were men hungry for gold and pleasures who had seen only water and wood for five months.
"What is the state of these men?" he asked in a glacial voice.
"Some have been imprisoned by the local Okinawa authorities," Luis replied guiltily. "Those caught stealing merchandise from the ship are being closely watched by Suaza guards... I took it upon myself to hide it from you until now, Admiral. I thought I could handle it, that they were simple sailor escapades after months of confinement, but it has spiraled out of my hands."
Columbus, seeking bitter consolation in the misfortune of others, asked about the rest of the fleet. "And the others? Do Norrington and Cortizos have the same mud upon their boots?"
"The English are in the same situation as we are, sir," Luis explained. "But the Portuguese mariners have gone further. They have committed robberies within the cities, assaulting local merchants' stalls. The situation is tense for them... The only ones who have maintained impeccable conduct are the Suaza."
Luis paused, a spark of genuine wonder in his eyes.
"In fact, Admiral, what surprised me was something else. The Suaza have not frequented those wretched districts. On the contrary, they have established formal relationships. They have arranged marriages with humble families of the island, following their own rites. They will carry several dozen Ryukyuan women as new crew upon their ships. Some Suaza officers have even requested permission from Umzye to remain in Okinawa with their new wives' families to strengthen future commercial ties."
Columbus was struck dumb for a moment. Surprise prevented him from responding immediately. He recalled how European attempts to establish similar pacts had been flatly rejected by the local nobles. He understood, with painful clarity, that the difference lay in the way the Suaza adapted: they did not seek to impose themselves or sate base impulses, but to integrate with a superiority born of education and respect. The Europeans—perhaps even himself—carried an unconscious arrogance that the locals detected and despised.
"Enough news," Columbus said, finally rising. His face showed the weariness of one who carries the weight of a continent. "Control the remaining crew. Prepare everything for departure. I shall go to see General Umzye to see if his influence can extract our men from the Ryukyu jails before the wind changes."
Two weeks later, tenth month of Year 12 of the SuaChie Calendar (1495 AD).
The Spanish Tequendama I cut through the waters of the Eastern Sea of Cipango with an elegance that concealed internal tensions. From the stern, Columbus watched as they approached the imposing port of Osaka. They sailed escorted by a group of Ryukyuan merchant ships, whose captains now called the Suaza "brothers."
Thanks to Umzye's management and generous gifts—minor technology, jade jewelry, and spices from the Great Quyca—all European criminals had been pardoned and returned to their ships. However, the damage was done. Columbus felt the weight of the locals' silent contempt; to Ryukyu, the Europeans were useful but dangerous barbarians, while the Suaza were honorable allies.
"They are visionaries," Columbus thought as he looked toward the Tequendama II Suaza. "We are mere buyers; whereas they had prepared themselves in advance."
The Suaza had foreseen these encounters. Their holds contained not only supplies, but a vast array of items from the Great Quyca (America) and European products obtained in the Dawn Ocean (Atlantic) specifically intended to open markets. Meanwhile, the Spaniards and Portuguese had scarcely any trinkets to exchange, relying solely on the gold and silver sent by their crowns.
Conscious of this weakness, Columbus had met with Juan Cortizos to agree upon a common front. They had to avoid at all costs the mariners causing further disturbances in Cipango if they ever wanted the Crown of Castile or Portugal to be able to claim a route of their own in the future.
Upon entering the port of Osaka, the scale of the Nippon civilization struck them head-on. Unlike the port of Naha, the presence of local ships here was massive. Hundreds of cargo and war vessels, with their characteristic wooden structures and rectangular sails, crowded the wharves. Cipango was not merely an island; it was an empire in motion.
The disembarking retinue was met by shrewd-eyed merchants and minor nobles in lacquered plate armor. The protocol was similar to Ryukyu's, but swifter. The Suaza linguists, by direct order of Umzye, had spent the last few weeks studying the fundamentals of basic Japanese through their contacts in Okinawa. The initial greetings and diplomatic links flowed with a speed that left Columbus relieved, yet uneasy.
"Luis," Columbus whispered to his assistant as they walked along the pier under the curious gaze of the locals. "Not a single man shall step off the ship without my leave. I do not trust them. They have already loaded most of the goods, so they have no excuse to set foot on land. Let them stay in the holds if necessary."
Two months later. Twelfth Month of Year 12 of the SuaChie Calendar.
The weather had taken a brutal turn. Columbus found himself confined to his office on the Tequendama I, a thick wool blanket over his shoulders, noting the final details of their stay in Cipango. Through the small window, he saw a grey, choppy sea beneath a sky that threatened snow. The cold of the Sunset Ocean was different from that of the Dawn; it was a cold that seeped into the bones, paralyzing the joints.
They had left Cipango with hearts full of wonder and spirits troubled. Columbus reviewed his notes on the differences between the Ryukyuans and the Nipponese. Although they shared traits, they were distinct worlds, separated by ancient protocols and pride. But what most unsettled him was the instability of the land. Cipango was in flames; an internal war—which the locals called an era of rebellions—ravaged the Kanto region and other provinces. They had arrived in the midst of a whirlwind of power struggles.
Just as Columbus was preparing to read a confidential note regarding his meeting with a noble named Hōjō Sōun—a man of penetrating gaze who seemed to see through European pretensions—a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," he said, rubbing his hands to regain warmth.
It was Luis, whose face was pale with cold. "Admiral, the Suaza flagship has sent signals. General Umzye orders maximum precaution. Temperatures have dropped below forecasts, and there is a risk of lung ailments among the crew."
Columbus nodded, looking toward the corner of his office where several bales of heavy winter clothing were piled. At the start of the expedition, he had internally mocked Chuta for sending such an excess of garments, considering it a waste of precious space in the holds. Now, as he felt the freezing wind whistle through the cracks, he understood that the young Suaza leader left nothing to chance.
"Tell the men to don the warm tunics immediately," Columbus ordered. "And ensure that all medical instructions from the Suaza are followed. I do not wish to bury anyone in this frozen sea."
Luis bowed and departed. Columbus looked out the window again toward the immensity of the Sunset Ocean. He sighed, thinking of the strange symmetry of his life: he had sought the Indies and found a new empire in the west, and now, led by that same empire, he was returning from the lands of the rising sun, proving that the world was far vaster, colder, and more complicated than any European map dared to show.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
I hope you are well, and that you liked the chapter.
Before continuing with my thoughts on the chapter, I would like to apologize for the delay of this chapter, and the changes in the recent publishing pace.
The truth is that I have a problem with writing and another personal problem.
The personal problem is that we only have one computer at home (my brother's, I haven't fixed mine yet), and now my sister needs to use it to finish her thesis.
The writing problem is: I'm making the chapters too long.
For example, the second part of this chapter was actually another entire chapter, in total like 3000 words.
It was a whole conversation between Luis and Columbus about what was happening in Ryukyu with the sailors with abstinensia Hahaha. And when I read it, it seemed quite natural to me; a lot of dialogue, pauses, looks, etc., but when everything was put together it seemed like simple filler.
So I have no idea what to do. Sometimes it seems that I am practicing new types of writing that I unconsciously read and copy from other novels, but that in the end I end up not liking.
Due to all of the above, the two chapters I had planned became this one chapter.
Not to mention, I was looking for a lot of information about the Ryukyu Kingdom, even going to the point of looking for sources in Japanese.
Now I wanted to mention a little about Hōjō Sōun, but this author's note is very long. I will only say that all of Eastern Asia is in complex periods.
Spoilers for the next chapters.
There will be a new: war chapter (Aztecs), or maybe two if they are well written, and then we will return with the chapters with Chuta, and many time jumps. Hahaha.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 91)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis. (Chapter 34) (FLASHING)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 14) (INTERMITTENT)
You can find them in my profile.]