1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 350 Basque Whalers
With the ringing of church bells, 1474 came to an end, the Mediterranean world entered a mild and rainy winter, snow fell on the European continent, and the new year was about to arrive.

For the Mediterranean world, winter is a busy time. Farmers weed and kill insects in the fields after sowing, herdsmen drive cattle and sheep into the pens, and workers are busy as usual in handicraft workshops or family workshops, and everyone is looking forward to the harvest next year.

However, the winter of that year was also filled with gunpowder. The large-scale conflict in Iberia had not yet begun, but the Burgundy War had officially broken out. The eyes of half of Europe were drawn to Charles the Bold. Some people admired his bravery, while others looked at him with sarcasm, believing that his reckless actions would end in a disastrous defeat.

In the central Mediterranean, the struggle for Iberia's succession rights extended to Sicily, which was controlled by Aragon. The Eastern Roman Empire's fleets stationed in the ports of Carthage and Malta once again launched continuous harassment. The governor of the Kingdom of Aragon was forced to maintain high military expenditures and exploited the Sicilian civilians even more. Many of the autonomy policies of the year became empty words, and the contradiction between the Aragonese garrison and the Sicilian people began to intensify.

The Catalan rebellion caused the Aragon royal family to lose a lot of financial and tax revenues. The successive collapse of the Republic of Venice and the Medici family of Florence made it difficult for them to borrow money from the Italian peninsula. The death of Henry IV made Prince Ferdinand focus on the throne of Castile. They could not provide any substantial assistance to Sicily.

Now, the government agencies and military ships on Sicily are almost entirely dependent on the island for support, and the heavy burden falls entirely on the shoulders of the Sicilian people.

Under the manipulation of some local Sicilian tyrants, many Sicilians began to feel fed up with this unprovoked war. Their maritime trade routes were hit, their food was confiscated, and their wives and daughters were being molested by Spanish soldiers. All these sacrifices were not for themselves, but only to save the face of King Trastamara.

Why should blood be shed for the Aragonese? This "discordant" voice is getting louder and louder on the island.

Of course, it will take some time for the building to collapse. The Trastamara family is not the Angevin family, and their reputation in Sicily is not too bad. Many local tyrants still have thoughts about them, and many people are accustomed to their rule. As expected, the infiltration of the Eastern Roman Empire did not have an immediate effect.

However, the Eastern Roman Empire's plan for Sicily was a complete overt conspiracy, based on its absolute strategic advantages in naval and economic hegemony. As long as you continue to fight, the people's livelihood in Sicily will continue to deteriorate, taxation will continue to be heavy, the previous autonomy policy will no longer be easy to preserve, contradictions will gradually accumulate, and there will always be a day when they will erupt.

Aragon is not France or Germany. It is also a maritime country that relies on maritime trade. However, it has a population similar to that of the Kingdom of Portugal, but does not have a navy as strong as Portugal.

In Carthage and Malta south of Sicily, 20,000 troops have arrived one after another and are training diligently under the leadership of Army Minister Ibrahim, ready to fight at any time.

On the Iberian Peninsula, the three claimants to the throne of Castile were intensively preparing for the future war. Military conflict had not yet broken out, but struggles at the diplomatic level were taking place all the time. The kings were trying to win over various forces and constantly made concessions and compromises. The royal territory continued to shrink, trade privileges were divided up by merchant groups, and the same piece of land was even promised by three kings at the same time. All of this laid the groundwork for long-term chaos in Castile.

For the Eastern Roman Empire, this was exactly the ideal outcome.

On the vast ocean, a small fleet was sailing southwest with the help of the wind. The emblem of the Portuguese royal family was painted on the fleet's sails.

The fleet consisted of only five ships, including a small caravel, three caravels, and a small boat of peculiar shape.

On the deck of the carrack, Justinian unbuttoned the silver buttons and let his black windbreaker rustle in the cold wind.

This is the Bay of Biscay in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The prevailing westerly winds in winter allow ships to run at a very high speed. The open sails are fluttering, and the salty smell of the sea blows into the nose of every sailor.

"Your Majesty, we are almost there, but the enemy's ships have not appeared yet, and they haven't even sent a signal."

The attendant came over and reported in a low voice.

"Look..."

"Continue to move towards the designated coast. We are here with sincerity. Even if they are rebellious, they will not ignore us."

Justinian commanded, still gazing at the barren coast just before him.

"It seems that intelligence came from Granada when we stopped in Galicia."

"Yes, sir, everything is as usual. General Gonzalo has laid siege to the city of Granada, and their food and firewood will not last much longer."

The attendant replied quickly.

"General Gonzalo said that he planned to trap Granada within three months to give it more time to prepare for the subsequent war of succession."

This dispute in Iberia consumed a lot of Justinian's energy. He was not Isaac. Like most nobles, he still put family interests above national interests in his heart and could not be completely objective and rational.

For him, this war for the throne was both a national affair and a family affair, so naturally he had to put in more effort.

The siege of Granada was still going on. The isolated city was short of food and clothing in the winter, and famine had begun to spread. After stabilizing the situation, Justinian immediately handed over the command to General Gonzalo, and took on the responsibility of diplomatic communication. He frequently contacted various forces on the Iberian Peninsula, and recently took a ship to Galicia, which had been peacefully transformed by the Kingdom of Portugal, and had a meeting with Crown Prince João.

Justinian was well aware of his own abilities, and he valued his reputation and would never interfere too much in matters he was unsure of. He was keen on hegemony and was not afraid of war, but he knew that his military level was relatively average, so he rarely commanded personally and left professional matters to professionals.

"No problem, let him fight however he wants."

Justinian waved his hand.

"Please draft a letter for me and tell Gonzalo that I will return immediately after I finish the things on hand to help him control the supplies."

During these years, the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire continued to expand, military and political affairs continued to increase, and Isaac gradually grew older and less energetic than before. He began to delegate power to his eldest son and handed over some affairs to him.

Apart from the initial preparation of supplies and troop mobilization, this Iberian War was entirely the work of Justinian, with him making all the decisions from diplomacy to military affairs.

"Yes, I'll do it right away."

The attendant nodded.

The attendant's name was Michalis. He came from a family of illegitimate children of Palaiologos and was sent by Isaac to Justinian as a clerk. After these years of contact, he had a clearer understanding of the young prince.

He knew that in Justinian's heart, feelings and relationships were the most important, talent and ability came second, and bloodline and family were just bargaining chips for political balance, which could be used but were also a threat.

Therefore, when Justinian saw that his good friend Gonzalo had extraordinary military talent, he immediately provided him with countless help, obeyed his tactical advice, and gave him 100% trust.

Justinian's excessive favor for Gonzalo certainly caused dissatisfaction among many people. They commented on Gonzalo's qualifications and pointed out his Latin origin, but this did not affect Gonzalo's career at all. Justinian cleared all obstacles for him so that he could give full play to his talents.

Gonzalo also proved himself in one war after another, repaying Justinian's kindness with practical actions, although as many people criticized, he was still essentially a Western European knight, with little centripetal force towards Rome and the Roman nation, and would only swear allegiance to his monarch until death.

"Michalis, in your opinion, what do those Basques think of us?"

The ship slowed down, and Justinian looked at the gray sky and asked casually.

"Your Majesty, the Basques are a very unique people. Their history and culture are very long. According to the latest research by the Institute of Humanities, they are likely to be the oldest indigenous people on the European continent."

Michalis pondered.

"They have a unique language, a unique system, a unique way of life, and it can be said that apart from their beliefs, they have nothing in common with the Spanish."

"According to historical records, the Basques already existed when the ancient Romans entered Iberia. At that time, they were still very primitive. It was the ancient Romans who taught them how to build water conservancy projects, cultivate farmland, train soldiers, and left them many roads."

Michalis said.

"They got along quite well with the ancient Romans. For 600 years, there were almost no rebellions. The Romans did not gain much benefit from the Basques. On the contrary, the Basques' civilization was elevated to a higher level during this relationship."

"Then there was the fall of the Western Empire, the sack of the Norsemen, the migration of the Goths, the invasion of the Franks and the great conquest of the Saracens."

"Because the Romans greatly improved their civilization, the Basques were no longer a backward and weak nation. They relied on the closed nature of the mountains, rivers and coasts and relatively advanced military tactics to maintain their independence, and even defeated the Franks on the front battlefield."

Michalis smiled.

"During the Saracen conquest, the Basque region became the only remaining Christian refuge on the peninsula. Sancho the Great established the Kingdom of Pamplona, ​​which was later renamed the Kingdom of Navarre."

"However, the Kingdom of Navarre is no longer what it used to be. Among the several major Basque settlements, only a small part is still under the actual control of the Kingdom of Navarre. The rest of the Basque region is either occupied by France or Castile."

"Currently, the throne of Navarre is held concurrently by King Juan of Aragon, but the people of Navarre are obviously dissatisfied with Juan's control. Pamplona and Zaragoza have been in a state of hostility before, and have only recently settled down."

"As expected of a student of the University of Constantinople, you have a thorough understanding of these unpopular knowledge, much better than many so-called scholars."

Justinian nodded slightly.

"But you didn't answer any of the key questions. You just simply repeated the knowledge on paper and didn't give any opinions. Don't do this again in the future."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Michalis bowed his head.

"I will improve my own qualities and learn more."

"Nothing. You study international diplomacy. This is not within your area of ​​expertise."

Justinian shook his head.

"The origins of the Basques are very complex and can be roughly divided into two branches in their evolution, one in the north, which is the Aquitaine tribe, and the other in the south, which is what people often call the Basque tribe."

"Currently, the Basque culture in Aquitaine has declined greatly. The early conquest by the Franks caused them great harm. Eleanor of Aquitaine caused the region to bounce back and forth between England and France. It is estimated that only places near the mountains still have large gathering areas."

Justinian said slowly.

"As you just said, the Basque culture in the south is well preserved, but their organizational structure also shows the distinct shadow of the tribal system, divided into several groups. The main component of the Kingdom of Navarre is the Navarre people, who are also the largest and most powerful group."

"In addition to the Navarre people, there are the Biscay, the Alawese and the Gipuzko, all three of which are currently under the rule of the Kingdom of Castile."

Justinian narrowed his eyes.

"They actually have no special feelings for the Castilians. All they want is more autonomy and more privileges. I plan to start from this aspect and try to get the Basques to stand on Carlos' side in the succession struggle. What do you think?"

"But... the crown of Navarra still belongs to Juan, and this country still has a certain appeal among the Basque community."

Michalis questioned.

"The people of Navarre cannot represent the entire Basque community, and they themselves are hostile to King Juan. When the war breaks out, they may not fight for Aragon with all their might."

Justinian said firmly.

"King Juan's claim to Navarre came from his wife, but his wife never actually handed the throne to him. It was left to her son, and Juan was only responsible for supervision."

"However, Juan persecuted his ex-wife's two children to death in an internal struggle more than a decade ago, stole the throne of Navarre through illegal means, and tried to pass it on to Fernando, his child with his second wife."

"So I said that the people of Navarre may not necessarily be willing to stand on the side of Aragon."

Justinian pursed his lips.

"The nobles who favor Carlos are mainly located in the south of Iberia. The nobles in the north and center almost all support the illegitimate daughter Juana or the usurper Fernando. It is difficult for other places to intervene. If we can open up the situation with the Basques, our pressure will be greatly reduced."

"It would be best if we could convince them to pledge allegiance to Carlos. Even if that's not possible, we have to make them remain neutral, at least not fight for Fernando."

"Your knowledge is admirable, and I think this idea is very good."

Michalis was somewhat impressed.

"People say you don't like reading. It seems they are wrong about you."

"Haha, they are not wrong. I do hate ancient texts and those difficult and obscure political and philosophical books, but I am still somewhat interested in the history and geography of the Mediterranean world."

Justinian raised the corner of his mouth.

"If you want to tame a tribe, you must first understand them. Don't always be arrogant, especially when you need something from them."

"Over the years, our diplomatic envoys have become more and more arrogant. This is not a good thing. We must never bring the way we treat colonial natives to Europe."

"Wait a minute, when I talk to the Basque leader, you have to accompany me throughout the whole process and see how I deal with them."

"I will lend you some books about the Basques that Isabella brought here. You need to continue studying. When I return, you may stay here and be responsible for connecting with them."

"Don't worry about the Portuguese. I have already discussed it with them a few days ago. Crown Prince João will support Carlos' claim."

Justinian turned and patted Michalis on the shoulder.

"Since your last name is Selimbria, you are also a descendant of Emperor Michael. I trust you."

"If there's a chance in the future, I can recommend you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"

Michalis' eyes lit up and he was overjoyed.

"So you are sure you can convince them?"

"That's about right. Father said that only with the combination of interests and emotions can one gain true recognition. I know what they want and what they like, and that's enough."

Justinian nodded.

The wind died down a little, and the fleet began to drop anchor off the coast. The sailors set up the Emperor's lights and watched them rise into the sky.

After a while, another small ship came into everyone's sight. The structure of the ship was also very peculiar. Each ship was very small, with a wide deck and many intentional gaps on the side of the ship.

What surprised Michalis was that behind the largest ship was a huge whale carcass.

"Overseas whaling is the specialty of the Basques. Many Basque warriors make a living from it, especially the Biscay people we are about to meet."

Justinian whispered to Michalis.

"Whale oil is an important export commodity of the Biscay people, but the Castilians have been suppressing the price of whale oil, forcibly buying it at a low price and then selling it to European countries at a high price."

"This is one of the important conflicts between the Biscaynes and the Castilians, and it is also one of our entry points."

"They must have been waiting nearby for a long time. This time they came over and dragged the dead whale with them. Maybe they were demonstrating to us."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I have benefited a lot from this trip."

Michalis bowed.

Justinian nodded and said nothing more, watching the Biscay whaler getting closer and closer.

Whales are the largest mammals in the world. Whale meat can be eaten, whale oil can be used to light lamps, whale bones can be used to make various handicrafts, and the feces of some whales are excellent raw materials for spices. It can be said that they are full of treasures.

Humans have been hunting whales since ancient times. The first people to start hunting whales were probably the indigenous peoples of North America and Northern Europe. However, they hunted whales mainly for food and for survival. There is nothing wrong with that and it is completely legitimate and just.

It was the Basque people of the Iberian Peninsula who really developed commercial whaling into a business. This nation has a strong whaling tradition. They often drive specially made sailboats to search for whales in the Atlantic Ocean, hunt these ancient creatures with hooks, harpoons and spears, and drag their bodies back to the coast, cut open the skin, remove the flesh and blood, and obtain whale meat, whale bones, whale baleen and whale oil.

With the development of urbanization in Europe, the demand for whale products from wealthy businessmen and nobles continued to expand, and the Basque whaling industry quickly reached its peak. Technical equipment was constantly upgraded, whaling efficiency continued to rise, and the purpose of hunting changed from survival to profit. Sometimes, they would even abandon the leftover whale meat on the coast, letting it rot naturally, and only take away the most profitable fats and bones.

Up to now, the number of Biscay right whales closest to Iberia has been greatly reduced, and North Atlantic gray whales have not been seen in many sea areas. Basque whaling ships have begun to move to the North Sea.

Of course, this kind of primitive fishing is unlikely to truly exterminate a large family of animals, and the number of whales in the world is still quite large.

Historically, it wasn't until the age of steam that whales suffered a truly devastating blow.

The urbanization process in the Eastern Roman Empire was also very rapid, and the demand for whale products was also very high. However, there were not many whales in the Mediterranean Sea, and there was basically no deep-sea whaling industry in the Eastern Roman Empire. Whale oil and whale bones mostly relied on imports, and the main source was the Basque country.

Moreover, the ocean whaling industry is not something that ordinary people can engage in. The conditions are difficult, the working environment is poor, and the risks are great. The living standards of the Eastern Roman Empire were already far ahead, and the risks of going to the colonies were lower than those of ocean whaling. There were not many people willing to do these dirty and tiring jobs.

However, the demand was so great and the price of whale products sold by Spain was so high, so the Eastern Roman Empire simply formulated a development plan for the whaling industry and casually modified some ocean-going whaling ships.

The Basques on the coast of Biscay clearly have a special fondness for whaling. In their minds, being a "whaling warrior" is the highest honor for a man.

As the whaling fleet approached, several men in rough clothes waved their hands and saluted the big ships.

Justinian gave a few instructions to his subordinates. After a while, a middle-aged man covered in blood came to the deck. He looked here and there, muttering some strange words.

Seeing that Justinian was dressed in luxurious clothes, the middle-aged man walked slowly to his side and bowed.

"Hello, envoy from the East, welcome to visit our coast, the rich Biscay coast!" The middle-aged man looked at Justinian and spoke in crude Spanish.

"I heard that you wanted to see us and asked the Portuguese to pass on a message to us. I wonder which gentleman you work for?"

Michalis was furious and was about to explode, but Justinian waved his hand to stop him.

"My name is Justinian. I come from the Palaiologos family of Constantinople. I am the grandson of Constantine, the son of Isaac, the co-emperor of the Roman Empire, and the king of the Circassian Kingdom and the Cossack Kingdom."

Justinian uttered a few Basque sentences calmly.

"I represent myself and my son, Carlos, the only legitimate king of Castile."

The middle-aged man's eyes widened in astonishment, not because of Justinian's identity, but because of his language.

"You...you can speak our language?"

"Not even the King of Castile and Navarre!"

"Before I left, my wife Isabella taught me a few things. She always said that the Oscardo people are the bravest and most sincere people in the world."

Justinian smiled.

Oscardo is what the Basques call themselves, and the word "Basque" comes from the derogatory term used by the Spanish.

"You may not know that in recent years, we are the largest buyer of Biscay whale oil. The nobles of Constantinople are all using your whale oil."

"Is there such a thing? This is all managed by the Spanish, we don't know about it..."

The middle-aged man muttered to himself.

After thinking for a while, he opened his mouth again.

"My name is Yilan, and I am a whaler captain. The leader of the Biscay is my uncle, and I am his representative."

"Very good, Elayne."

Justinian nodded and turned his gaze to the whale carcass in the distance.

"I'm glad to see you succeed again. What a great feat! You are such brave warriors!"

"Um... Sir, you just said you bought whale oil from us. How much did it cost?"

Yilan asked tentatively.

"In our country, if a whale were as big as it is today, all the oil that could be extracted from it would be worth about five hundred Venetian ducats."

Justinian said thoughtfully.

"Whale oil is a good thing, but it's really not cheap."

"So expensive?"

Elayne was surprised.

"Those Spaniards cheated us again!"

Justinian said nothing, looking at Elayne with sympathy.

After cursing, Elayne recovered and looked at Justinian.

"Sir, why did you come here from afar to find us?"

"I have read some records in ancient books. Many years ago, the Romans came to you, but they did not kill or deceive you. Instead, they brought you education. You were also very docile. Everyone got along with each other in a friendly manner and made progress together."

Justinian recalled, without directly answering Ilan's question.

“It was a really great time, I think.”

"I heard that you are still using ancient Roman roads. Is that true?"

"Maybe. I don't know much about ancient times, but roads have indeed not changed for many years. My grandfather and my grandfather's grandfather all walked the same road."

Elayne scratched his head.

"It seems that the king and nobles of Castile do not regard you as their own kind and are unwilling to build a road for you."

Justinian chuckled.

"Let me be frank. The old king of Castile has passed away. There are three kings of Castile on the peninsula at the same time. The war is about to start. Whether you support Juana or Fernando, you will only become their victims."

"I came here specifically to save you and keep you from disaster."

Michalis' eyes widened when he heard this. Justinian's main purpose was obviously to negotiate with the Kingdom of Portugal, and coming to the Basque Country was just a side job.

Yilan obviously knew something about the struggle for the throne, and his eyes rolled.

"Sir, we are subjects of Queen Juana. We pledge allegiance to her, and she guarantees our autonomy..."

"But the agreement you signed was rigged, your core rights are still difficult to protect, and you live under lies and deception."

"I'm sure you've already noticed this."

Justinian turned serious and looked into Elayne's eyes.

"Juana is a bastard, and Fernando is a liar. I hope you can pledge allegiance to King Carlos, for yourself and for justice."

"My Lord, this is inappropriate, isn't it?"

Yilan looked around and began to make excuses.

"We are quite satisfied with our current life, you see..."

"Carlos will give you greater autonomy, both politically and economically."

Justinian knew exactly what Iran was thinking.

"Politically, you will have the right to participate in any parliamentary organization of the kingdom and will no longer be excluded."

"Economically, your whale products, iron ore and wool will all be given tax reduction privileges, and your sales process will no longer be interfered with by the government, and you can decide for yourself."

"Besides that, there are many whale gathering areas in the Central and South Atlantic Ocean, and you can also use the colonial ports of the Eastern Empire at will."

Justinian said as he observed Elayne's expression.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the East, how will you implement these conditions?"

Elayne shook his head.

"Although the Spanish consider us barbarians, we are not fools."

"Let's not talk about whether your son can successfully take over Toledo. Even if he succeeds in obtaining the throne, these conditions can be abandoned at any time. We have seen too many examples of this in the past few hundred years."

"If you want a guarantee, I can have subsequent diplomatic envoys sign a formal agreement with you, in black and white, in the name of God."

Justinian said calmly.

"If you want a more practical answer, I can tell you that Carlos's focus has always been on the south. Even if he wins, it will still be on the south. He will adopt an autonomous policy for the northern region, and his political power will not be able to extend to you."

"Besides, my son Carlos is an outsider after all. He needs the support of local forces. There is a prerequisite for cooperation between you two."

"Castile's focus is on the center and north, not to mention Aragon, which makes no secret of its ambitions for Navarre."

"This is a simple relationship of interest, you should be able to figure it out."

Yilan opened his mouth and was silent for a moment.

"Well, since your center of gravity is in the south, if we openly rebel against Juana or Fernando, they will be the first to destroy us, and in that case, won't we be your scapegoats?"

"You don't have to stir up trouble, or even do anything. Just stay neutral. When we win in the south, you can stand up and share the fruits of victory together."

Justinian continued to induce.

"Why fight for other people? You should be thinking about your own business."

"Resisting paying taxes and resisting conscription is not enough to make them want to wipe us out."

Yilan licked his lips and his eyes began to waver.

"If you do really well, Carlos can even grant you some of the big cities on the Bay of Biscay so that you can live a better life."

Justinian continued to increase the stakes.

"This one……"

Yilan was engaged in a fierce ideological struggle.

"But if you insist on wasting your lives for Juana or Fernando, you will be our enemies."

Seeing that Yilan still didn't answer, Justinian's eyes suddenly became cold.

"I can tell you clearly that the Portuguese have granted the Eastern Empire the right to garrison several ports. Once our fleet is free, the next target will be the coast of Biscay."

"I believe that although you don't know much about the Eastern Empire, its maritime power should still be well-known. You have no ability to resist at all."

"Your Majesty! There is no need to do this! We have been looking forward to a new order for a long time!"

Yilan suddenly became anxious.

"I personally think it's fine! I've always thought King Carlos is wise and powerful!"

"But, I don't have the final say, and my uncle can't represent everyone. We have to hold a meeting to negotiate!"

"Very good, Yilan, I will remember you. Carlos will need a lot of knights in the future, and I think you are a good choice."

Justinian nodded slightly and meaningfully.

"I am very busy and may not have time to meet with all the leaders one by one. All future negotiations will be handed over to my diplomats."

"No problem! Your Majesty, he will be our honored guest!"

Yilan quickly nodded and prepared to run away.

"Then I'll go back and report it!"

"Wait!"

When Elayne was halfway there, Justinian stopped him.

The sailors standing by immediately stopped Yilan and looked at him with ill intent.

"His Majesty?"

Yilan swallowed and turned his head slowly.

"See that sailboat?"

Justinian ignored it, walked to the side of the ship, and pointed at the strange ship not far away.

"This is a new type of sailing ship that I asked the Carthaginian shipyard to design for the ocean-going whaling industry. Not only does it have a longer range and can carry more cargo, it also has an oil refining device. You can refine whale blubber into whale oil directly at sea, without having to bring it back to shore. This is not only more convenient, but also avoids unnecessary trouble."

Yilan looked at the large whaling ship and couldn't take his eyes off it.

"This is a gift from my son Carlos to your uncle. It represents respect and friendship. Please tell your uncle that this is a gift from the king."

Justinian said calmly.

"If you think this type of ship is really useful, or perhaps there is some room for improvement, you can place an order with the Carthage Shipyard at any time and tell me my name. They will tailor it to your needs, and the price will be the lowest."

"This is Carlos' sincerity, don't let him down!"

Justinian patted Elayne on the shoulder.

"There are also some gold, silver, jewelry, heavy muskets and gunpowder balls on the ship. Maybe the sailors accidentally left them there and considered them as part of the gift!"

"By the way, our attack on the coast of Biscay may begin soon, so don't make us wait too long."

Yilan's breathing became much more rapid, and his chest rose and fell.

After a while, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Your Majesty, I am also one of the decision-makers. In addition to the whaling industry, I also have some connections in the Iron Mining Guild. I will do my best to persuade my uncle and assist your envoys. Please wait for my good news!"

……

Ilan left, and Biskaia's small boats left one after another. The new whaling ship from the Carthage shipyard was also driven away by them. From a distance, the Basque people's exclamations and joy could still be heard from the ocean.

"Sire, when shall I go to the Basque Country?"

Michalis quietly approached Justinian.

“I feel like they’re actually pretty easy to deal with.”

"Humph, they are still just a bunch of cunning people."

Justinian showed a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth.

"We have shown enough attitude and given them enough face. This time I came to meet them, and from now on they will come to meet me."

"Don't worry, go learn that damn Basque language first, and then wait until they come to us!"

Justinian turned and looked at the ship's boatswain.

"Raise the flag, we will change to the French flag, and on the way back, we will first strike the Castilian coast except for the Basques to give them a warning!"

(End of this chapter)