Luzon, Manila City.

Archbishop Eduardo of Manila is worshipping in the church.

Governor Sánchez came in a hurry with his party, and immediately after the bishop had finished his service, he said: "Dear Eduardo, I have received here a letter from His Majesty from Madrid. ”

Eduardo was shocked: "Your Excellency, what did you say?" His Majesty's handwriting? ”

Sanchez nodded and said, "Yes, it is a handwritten letter stamped with His Majesty's seal, and there will never be a fake." ”

"What does the letter say?"

Sanchez simply unfolded the letter and showed it to Eduardo.

"Your Majesty has asked us to investigate the Ming Kingdom and analyze the possibility of fighting against it."

"Lord, it's not true!"

Eduardo looked terrified.

"How is this possible!"

"How could it be?"

Seeing Eduardo's reaction so fierce, Sanchez's face couldn't help but become gloomy.

Eduardo shook his head and said, "According to the missionary's description, the Ming Kingdom is very strong militarily and economically. And its territory is vast, our soldiers in Luzon are only a few thousand, how can we launch a war against the Ming Kingdom! This can't be, there must be a traitor who is bewitching Your Majesty! ”

Of course, Eduardo did not dare to complain about King Philip II, and he had to blame all this on the villains around His Majesty.

"Including the allies, we can mobilize more than twelve thousand soldiers."

Sanchez was very unhappy with Edward's behavior of increasing the morale of others and destroying his own prestige. "We can also recruit the Bisaya (indigenous Filipinos) and, if necessary, hire the Dongying Lang." Prisoners and slaves can also be used as cannon fodder......"

"The Doge doesn't mean that even the Portuguese have to join forces, do you?"

There was already a sneer in Eduardo's tone.

Sanchez didn't hear the sarcasm in Eduardo's words, and nodded, "That's fine." However, we need to come up with a complete battle plan and let His Majesty approve it. ”

"Don't forget, the Portuguese have a blood feud with us!"

Eduardo gritted his teeth.

"If I can defeat the Ming Kingdom, I don't mind taking a share of them. In the face of interests, do you think those Portuguese will be indifferent? ”

Sánchez shrugged his shoulders and said, "Besides, now that Spain and Portugal are United Kingdom, they have no reason to refuse my orders." ”

"But the Portuguese don't have to wade into troubled waters. They have already been granted residency in the trenches. ”

Sánchez said, "We only need twelve Flagada-class ships. can land from the trench. Our artillery can block the coastline of the trenches. ”

"What about the war costs? Have you considered the war expenses? How much does it cost to cross the ocean? ”

"I have discussed it with the members of Parliament, and 200,000 pesos is enough."

Sánchez sneered, "Bishop Eduardo, you just need to agree to our plan and sign that battle plan. ”

Sanchez's attitude completely angered Eduardo.

"It turns out that I was the last person to know about this plan. Governor, you are too conceited! ”

Sanchez disagreed: "I am the governor of Manila, and of course this plan should be proposed by me." As for the members of Parliament, it is their duty to discuss proposals. ”

"What about me, where do you put me!"

"Perhaps Bishop Eduardo can bless my soldiers in the name of the Lord."

Sanchez spread his hands.

"You! You deceive people too much, I will never sign this battle plan, I will never watch the Spanish soldiers go to the Ming Kingdom to die! There is nothing feasible about this plan! ”

Eduardo took a step forward and said resolutely: "I don't agree, as long as I don't agree with this plan of yours, there is no possibility of submitting it to His Majesty for personal judgment!" ”

"Then maybe it's time for a new bishop in Manila."

Sanchez's tone became cold.

"Your Excellency, are you threatening me?" Eduardo laughed and said, "Then I'm afraid I have to remind the Governor, I am the Bishop of Manila appointed by the Archbishop himself, and you have no right to interfere in the affairs of the Church." If you want to replace me, only the archbishop or His Majesty the Pope will order me personally! ”

The corners of Sanchez's mouth hooked: "Normally, that's the case, but ......"

His voice rose sharply, and he took a step forward and said, "If the clergy is corrupt and derelict in their duties, this governor has the right to arrest him and interrogate him!" Come on, take Eduardo! ”

As soon as he gave the order, two soldiers stepped forward and tied Eduardo up.

It all happened so fast that Eduardo was tied behind his back before he could react.

He cursed in horror, "You fool who doesn't know the height of the sky. Do you know what you're doing? You are blaspheming the Lord's servant, and the Lord will not spare you. ”

"All I know is that the Lord will not forgive the corrupt and derelict in their duties."

Sánchez sneered: "Bishop Eduardo, don't worry, this governor has received a report that you have embezzled 50,000 pesos with indulgences. The Governor will organize a trial of you. If the final verdict is that you are not guilty, the Governor will release you immediately and apologize to you. ”

Eduardo, of course, understood that he would not get a fair trial. He had just rejected Sanchez, and with his retributive personality, he would surely turn the trial into a game.

"I'm going to accuse you, I'm going to accuse you of being a lone husband!"

"You'd better save some effort to go to the trial and talk about it. Take! ”

As soon as Sánchez waved his hand, Eduardo was immediately escorted away by two sturdy soldiers.

"The Governor is wise, but Bishop Eduardo is corrupt and derelict in his duties, and he is no longer fit to serve as Bishop of Manila."

Pastor Silva took a step forward and drew a cross in his heart: "May the Lord forgive him for his sins." ”

Sanchez's eyes narrowed into a slit, and he looked at the lean priest in front of him.

In fact, before he came to church, he didn't expect Eduardo to refuse him without hesitation. Therefore, he has not yet decided on a successor to Eduardo. Unexpectedly, someone took the initiative to jump out......

Silva was stared at by Sanchez, and he was extremely nervous. He swallowed a mouthful of foam and forced himself to calm down.

"Lord Governor, I can report Bishop Eduardo's crimes."

That's a vote.

Silva thought to herself.

"Good!"

Sanchez finally made up his mind after some consideration.

"As long as you can prove that Bishop Eduardo is guilty of corruption and dereliction of duty, then the Governor can guarantee you the acting bishop of Manila."

As Eduardo said, Sánchez does not have the right to directly appoint bishops. But as long as he keeps the favor and writes a letter to the Archbishop of Madrid explaining the reason, he is sure that the other party will not refuse to give him a favor.

......

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