In the waters of Xiamen, two two-masted wooden ships quietly stopped in the wind and rain. The rain was like threads, blurring one's vision. At this time, the wind and waves were not strong. The ships gently rose and fell with the waves. The fine rain drenched the deck, making it as wet as oil.
A few navy captains wore straw raincoats and stood quietly at the bow of the ship. The rain made a rustling sound on the straw raincoats. Droplets of water condensed and rolled down, but they still stood motionless, as if they were paying attention to something.
In the rain and fog, two single-masted sailboats sailed over. A navy captain waved his hand to signal. His ship sailed out, and the other side also had a sailboat come up to meet them. Three hundred feet, two hundred feet, one hundred feet … the two ships came close. When the sides of the ships touched, the hulls shook slightly. Then the sailors on both sides quickly threw out hooks to pull the other's ship.
The two ships that had come together and then separated came close again. Two planks passed from both ships to each other at the same time. The soldiers took the planks and quickly tied them to the side of the ship. At the same time, they looked at each other curiously and carefully. His hair was different, and his appearance was different. However, it was easy to tell that he was a warrior.
This was the first time they were so close and peacefully sizing each other up. Jia Qingyou hurried over. This shipping merchant had inadvertently become a witness to an important historical event, even though he was very unwilling.
The Ming generals boarded the ship. Out of consideration for safety, the Portuguese side held their first negotiation on the Portuguese ship. They took off their straw raincoats, revealing a set of bright and neat armor. They wore narrow blades at their ribs and boarded the Portuguese ship as if nothing had happened. Their calm expressions and steady movements dispelled the nervousness of the Portuguese soldiers. The musketeers standing on the sides of the ship loosened their clenched fists and lowered their muzzles.
"This is Ming Destiny's Fujian Navy Admiral Han Wu, Fujian's Minister of Administration Yamen's Minister Zheng Juanran, Fujian's Minister of Sea Commissioner Tang Xingyun, and Zhejiang's Qianhu Peng Xiaoshu."
The Portuguese leader on the other side saluted with his fists in the Chinese etiquette he had just learned. Jia Qingyou's nervousness gradually calmed down and he continued: "Sirs, this is Frangji's Royal Navy Colonel General Sander and Priest Miguel. This is Captain Pedro's representative in Luzon, his assistant Mister Valente, uh … and Japan's Pig Claw Handsome Samurai."
A few Ming generals focused their blade-like gazes on Pig's Claw's' handsome 'face. Pig's Claw scratched his wet warrior bun out of habit, trying his best to put on a nonchalant expression. Han Wu smiled contemptuously. He turned to Sander and bowed, saying, "There are so many people in your party. The eight of us have met on the sea. It's a bit like the' Eight Immortals crossing the sea '."
The Portuguese people didn't understand what it meant by 'eight immortals crossing the sea', but the handsome Pig Claw understood. He couldn't help but grin, but no one looked at him. Pig Claw laughed twice, then felt bored, so he held it back in embarrassment.
Jia Qingyou had a rough understanding of Portuguese, so it wasn't a problem for him to communicate. He said a few words to Sander in Portuguese and then said to Han Wu: "General Sander invites you and the sirs to enter the cabin."
Sander also made an inviting gesture. Han Wu nodded and took the lead to enter the cabin. Peng Xiaoshu Handsome Samurai swayed his strong body. When he passed by Pig Claw Handsome Samurai, the elbow guard on his armor suddenly swayed and rubbed against Pig Claw Handsome Samurai's chest. At the same time, he gave him a provocative glance.
Pig Claw Handsome Samurai groaned in pain and took two steps back. He was furious. He twisted his face and suddenly grasped the long handle of the katana. With a 'Cha' sound, the katana suddenly appeared. He was about to draw it and slash.
Priest Miguel pressed the back of his hand and shook his head slightly. At this time, Peng Xiaoshu Handsome Samurai and others had entered the cabin. Pig Claw Handsome Samurai fiercely pushed his katana back into the sheath, gritted his teeth and followed the three Westerners into the cabin. He was short and strong. Standing at the back, he could only see the back of the person in front of him, so he wouldn't have a conflict with Peng Xiaoshu Handsome Samurai again.
After a few words of greeting, Sander went straight to the point: "We come from the distant Kingdom of Portugal. We have no intention of offending the court of Ming Destiny. Manchica is a small barbarian kingdom. They have been annexed by us. But as a dependency of the Kingdom of Portugal, we respect the supreme status of Ming Destiny in the East. We are willing to negotiate with Ming Destiny on this matter. "
Han Wu shook his head and smiled: "General Sander, I would like to know what your country wants to negotiate with us. Manchica is a vassal state of Ming Destiny. It pays tribute and accepts the protection of Ming Destiny's army. You have now occupied Manchica. His Excellency King Suduan Mamo of Manchica has asked His Majesty the Emperor of Ming Destiny to send troops to help restore the country. We should protect the interests of our vassal state, shouldn't we? "
Priest Miguel smiled: "General, our king very much hopes to establish a good cooperative relationship with the greatest empire in the East. Our navy is the most powerful force in the West. Because of Manchica's neglect of us, we annexed them and replaced their ruling position. Now, as the owner of Manchica … "
Zheng Juanran immediately said: "No, without the recognition of the Emperor of Ming Destiny, you are not the owner of Manchica. You have no right to speak on behalf of Manchica."
Sander shrugged his shoulders unhappily and sneered: "I'm sorry, sir. In fact, it is we who decide everything in Manchica."
Peng Xiaoshou immediately copied him and shrugged, saying tit for tat, "So, here we are!"
Seeing the strong smell of gunpowder, Walter hurriedly acted as a mediator, "Gentlemen, please be quiet, please be quiet, let me say something!"
Seeing that no one paid attention to him, he hurriedly pulled Jia Qingyou over and asked him to repeat his words in Chinese. Only then did both sides temporarily calm down.
The rain outside seemed to be getting heavier. The canopy on the top of the cabin rustled. Walter looked at the white mist outside and muttered: "This is not good weather for negotiation, but also not good weather for war."
He tightened his cloak and said with a smile, "General Han, my lords, I have been in the East for a long time. I also know that although His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and … an army that is more than the population of our country, but the broad-minded Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has no intention of using his powerful forces to interfere in the affairs of the surrounding small countries. As long as no one offends the dignity of the Great Ming Dynasty, he is an amiable giant.
He pointed to Sander and Miguel and smiled: "And we are the ones who don't want to offend Ming Destiny. As for the issue of Manchica being a vassal state of Ming Destiny, we understand it like this: we want to occupy it and live here because we want to do business with the East. After annexing Manchica, we have the obligation to replace Manchica and fulfill the obligation of vassal state to Emperor Ming Destiny. In other words, General Sander's government will be like the Manchica Kingdom and pay tribute to Ming Destiny. If General Yang Ling agrees, we can immediately send a delegation to Ming Destiny's capital to pay tribute. "
Miguel nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, yes, for Ming Destiny, there is no change. Although the Manchica Kingdom has changed its master, it is still a vassal state of Ming Destiny and is willing to fulfill the obligation of vassal state to Ming Destiny. I think His Majesty Ming Destiny will be satisfied with this."
Han Wu and Zheng Juanran and others looked at each other and felt a little surprised. Before they set off, they had predicted the conditions that Frang Ji might put forward. They thought it was just a deterrent by force and at the same time, they would give some sweeteners to ensure that they would not invade Ming Destiny's territory and prevent the Nanyang countries from paying tribute to Ming Destiny.
However, even in Yang Ling's estimation, he did not think that the Westerners would agree to pay tribute. After all, Frang Ji was the overlord of the sea at this time, ruled by a group of adventurers and speculators. They would not show weakness and surrender just because of the destruction of a few ships.
This matter greatly exceeded their expectations. Moreover, one political power overthrew another political power and expressed deference to the Great Ming. As the Chief Political Envoy, Zheng Juanran was very satisfied. There was no need to use weapons, and Ming Destiny's status in the Central Kingdom could be guaranteed, so there was no need to care about the internal changes in the Manchica Kingdom.
In fact, after the internal political changes in Nihon and Annam, the new rulers would generally accept Ming Destiny's vassal state. This was a precedent, so when he heard this, his expression was very relaxed and he began to nod slightly.
Sander was also a little proud. The Easterners cared about these false reputations. So what if they put him in the position of God? As long as the actual interests and power were in their own hands. What's more, when we gain a foothold here and gradually become stronger, our navy can continue to come to the East, we can tear up this contract at any time.
Han Wu, Peng Xiaoshu, Zheng Juanran, and the Sea Protector Tang Xingyun were discussing in low voices. Zheng Juanran said, "General Han, in my opinion, this condition is worth discussing. Do you think we should report this to the Governor-General and ask him to make a decision?"
Han Wu hesitated, looked at Tang Xingyun and Peng Xiaobai, and asked: "What do you think?"
Tang Xingyun stroked his beard, looked at the four people opposite him, and then said in a low voice: "This … this … we all know that the pirates of Frang Ji are very powerful. The Frang Ji people of Manchica are not pirates, but the official army of Frang Ji Kingdom. Their combat power must be stronger. I think if this matter can be resolved peacefully, there is nothing bad. Whether the ruler is called the Sultan of Manchica or the King of Frang Ji, as long as he is the vassal of Ming Destiny, what's the difference? "
Han Wu frowned, but because Zheng Juanran and Tang Xingyun's positions were not below his, he couldn't refute them directly. He knew Yang Ling's real intentions. Yang Ling also didn't care about who Manchica belonged to, but the impact on Ming Destiny once this sea route was controlled by others.
Obviously, the Frang Ji people were ambitious. If they were officially recognized, Ming Destiny's navy could only circle around the inner sea, and the outer sea would become the Frang Ji navy's territory.
Peng Xiaobai said in a low voice: "I say, everyone, look at these sneaky foreigners, which one of them looks good? Can their words be trusted? Territory, territory! Back when my father ruled over Mount Potala, anyone who wanted to surrender had to bring their own people and ships over to his side. Just by beheading a chicken head, drinking blood wine, and raising the Peng family's flag, does that make you a member of the Peng family? Pfft, do you think a father is an idiot? "
Han Wu glared at him and said angrily: "Slang again, you are a general of the imperial court now! Say no more, I have my own ideas. "
He thought for a moment and smiled at Sander and the others: "Very well, I am willing to believe your sincerity and do not wish to meet with you on the battlefield. But this is a serious matter, I cannot make the decision on my own. His Excellency the Governor is currently waiting at Gulangyu. Could you please inform General Azeg and His Excellency Bishop Lamario and request them to discuss the details with our Excellency? "
Sander and Miguel whispered to each other. Miguel said hesitantly: "It is not that we do not trust the general, but General Azeg is the commander of the Manchica garrison, and Bishop Lamario is the special envoy of His Majesty the King. How … can you guarantee their safety?"
Han Wu said frankly: "The four of us can stay on your ship as hostages. There is an old saying here, 'When two countries are at war, do not kill the envoy.' Moreover, we have not yet met with each other. "
"However," he glanced at Pig Claw and said lightly, "their people should not go and ask for trouble. We know they are working for you, but they have no right to negotiate!"
Five nautical miles behind the two wooden ships, a large number of warships were gathered as a precaution. Sander and the rest immediately sent another ship to the back to consult Commander Azegar and Archbishop Lamario. Although Azegar had tried many times to tempt the native chiefs into negotiations and kept them as hostages, he believed that the Ming army would not do that. Moreover, the Ming army had kept four high-ranking officials as hostages. Hence, he immediately agreed to it.
Han Wu gave his two warships clear instructions. When the Frang airship brought Azeg and the others to the center line, they boarded the Portuguese warship and sailed towards the Frang Mecha fleet. The two Ming ships escorted Azeg and the others as they sailed towards the Ming fleet.
Gulangyu was located southwest of Xiamen Island. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Yuanshazhou, and during the current dynasty, it was renamed Gulangyu. The oval-shaped island was not big, but it was undulating and had a pleasant scenery. The highest peak, Dragon's Head Mountain, faced Xiamen's Tiger's Head Mountain across the shore. There was a saying that a dragon and a tiger guarded Xiamen.
The rain had stopped, and the air was fresh and humid. All kinds of seabirds appeared above the beach, flying and chirping happily. Yang Ling stood on the beach at the southwest corner of the island. The sea breeze blew against his cloak, making it flutter like a flag. Not far from him were two stacked rocks that had been eroded by the sea over the years, forming a vertical hole in the middle. Every time the tide rose, the waves would hit the rocks, making a drum-like sound. The fishermen called it "Gulangyu Rock". This was also why Gulangyu was renamed from Yuanshazhou.
After the rain, there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky, like a rainbow bridge between the clear water and blue sky. At this time, a few warships gradually sailed over from the side of the rainbow that was gradually fading on the sea.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
