Among the three royal representatives, the royal steward Gutierrez smiled pleasantly and did not step forward. anwhile, the clerk Rodrigo de Escobedo and the auditor Rodrigo Sanchez acted as the two witnesses. They stood on either side of the cross, observing the three captains kneeling on one knee and the flags in the captains' hands.
The simple cross represents the Almighty's majesty, while the three flags represent the authority of the Dual Kings. On this beautiful island coast, beneath the bright Oriental sun, the proclamations in Spanish resounded! Even though this island already had inhabitants, even though everyone believed this place to be the prosperous East Asia… the colonizers from Western Europe, "undaunted," declared their claim to the land and wealth in the na of the Lord's gift!…
"By the grace of the Almighty Lord! Admiral Don Christopher Columbus, second captain of the Santa Maria, Juan de La Cosa, captain of the Pinta, Martin Alonso Pinzon, captain of the Nina, Vicente Yanez Pinzon… discovered a new route to East Asia and landed on this island on October 12, 1492, after the birth of the Saint Heir!…"
"In commoration of the Lord's grace in redeeming mankind, this island shall be nad 'Santo Salvador,' or 'Holy Savior'… and by following the Lord's glory, this place from now on belongs to the Kingdom of Castile, ruled by the great Queen Isabella and the honored King Fernando…"
"According to the exploration treaty signed by the Dual Kings and the Admiral… Don Christopher Columbus shall have the governorship over newly discovered lands, specifically this island, and can receive one-quarter of the wealth inco from the territory…"
The wooden cross stood tall, and at Columbus's insistent request, the two witnesses hastened their recitation of another part of the exploration agreent. Hearing the rich terms he had worked so hard to secure, Columbus bead with joy, smiling like a blooming spring flower… Until the formal witnessing was complete, only then did they lower their heads in unison and fervently shouted the closing prayer towards the standing cross.
"Praise the blessing Lord! In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one eternal Lord will rule forever! Please protect us… An!…"
Once the occupation ceremony witnessed by the Lord was completed, the group turned their thoughts to visiting the island's village. The village on the island was not too far and appeared to consist of only dozens to hundreds of people, showing no signs of danger… Columbus, full of enthusiasm, walked almost at the forefront with the Captain of the Guard Alana, who carried a matchlock gun.
Though the village inhabitants were still unaware, in Columbus's eyes, these people had already beco his subjects, or more aptly, his provision of resources and serfs. And in the eyes of the captains and royal witnesses, such discoveries and occupations were all too natural, the only controversy being who should be the Lord. After all, Columbus, with his humble beginnings, was to take so much…
In fact, throughout the Age of Discovery, the "exploration" traditions of Portugal and Spain, and indeed all of Western European explorations, had always been this way! The explorers erected markers of ownership rights, stone pillars, and crosses on the lands and coasts they sailed, unilaterally claiming these territories as part of their kingdom. Then, by force, they evangelized, conducted ard trade, and extracted as much gold and silver wealth as possible from local tribes. Such occupation markers even extended along the coast to Macau in the southeastern Ming Dynasty, much like what the Portuguese did upon their first arrival!…
And to make the colonizers retreat, or temporarily admit defeat, any signed treaty held little significance. For treaties signed with heathens were never under the protection of the Lord and could be abruptly torn apart when the timing was right and strength was sufficient! In the Catholic World of Europe, this betrayal of heathens didn't bring any disrepute; instead, it was seen as a Christian astuteness, just like when the Portuguese annexed the Congo Kingdom… Only when a powerful monarch, leading an invincible force that the colonizers couldn't resist, erged to demonstrate unequivocal protective rights over these lands, could the greedy colonizers be compelled to follow the local rules and order!
This is like the historical incidents along the Ming Dynasty coasts and Red Sea shores. When the powerful Great Ming and Ottoman Naval Forces appeared, the colonizers imdiately beca civilized and turned into friendly rchants respecting each other's customs… But if the local tribes were not strong enough, unable to make the colonizers fear them, and couldn't protect themselves with weapons, then their ultimate fate would be tragic…
"Lord! Columbus, look closely!… These naked wild people and those thatched huts, are these what you claid as the Japanese, the Xipangu you ntioned?… But Marco Polo wrote in his travels that the Japanese in Xipangu wore cotton and silk clothing and had abundant gold and silver… They are completely not like this!… Holy Mother preserve us! Where have we truly arrived?…"
"Uh! This? The accounts in Marco Polo's travelogue… naked people, very hot regions, islands… strange… Lord! Where exactly are we?…"
The sun shone brightly, and the beaches were pristine. The wise expedition commander Columbus stood outside the small village of the Taino Tribe, carrying a sharp sword at his waist, and sailors behind him bore matchlock guns and wielded scimitars. He slightly raised his head, observing the Tainos, who were tall yet unard and even unclothed, and fell into a confused musing… Clearly, this place didn't resemble Xipangu Japan, could it be they hadn't arrived yet?…
"Nakedness, heat, islands… Ah! I understand now! I understand!…"
After long contemplation, Columbus finally realized. With his wise eyes, he saw through everything, and with his exceptional brain, he figured it all out!
"Lord witnessed! I understand! We veered from the westward route and turned southwest, thus missing the Xipangu Island… Nearby Xipangu Japan are the legendary warm regions of India, surrounded by endlessly extending tropical islands!…"
"Therefore, guided by the rciful Lord! We have not reached Xipangu, but the archipelago off the coast of India! This is India!!…"
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