Unlike in the 21st century, in 16th-century England, there were no career diplomats, and even envoys to the court of a given country were often mere close ministers of the king – ministers trusted by the king.

Samuel Pepys was one such man, and he gained the king's trust because he chose to stick to his post when many ministers left London for refuge during the plague and fires, and thus won the trust of King Charles II.

Because of this, after the Ming envoy arrived in London, he would be responsible for dealing with the Ming envoys, from placing them to rest, to negotiating with them, Pepis could almost be the king's plenipotentiary, but the negotiations did not seem to go well, and in the initial contact, both sides had substantive issues, only some negotiations on the "Navigation Regulations", and agreed to cede some commercial interests to the Ming.

"If Daming can cooperate with us more extensively,"

Facing the red robed envoy of the Ming Kingdom in front of him, Pepis said meaningfully.

"For example, if the Ming sent a fleet to cooperate with the British, then we might be able to divide the interests of the Dutch altogether. Of course, Daming can get the most benefits......"

"We now have control of Batavia, including Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, which is controlled by the Dutch, and they are all under our control, except for parts of Africa and the Americas, I don't know, what else they have."

Xiong Cilu replied directly that this was the first thing he said after the start of today's negotiations.

The other party's answer made Pepis hide his embarrassment with a smile, and then opened his mouth and said with a smile.

"The interests, the interests of the Dutch, are not only overseas, but also Europe, including the Netherlands proper, and now if we are to determine the sphere of their own interests, according to the will of His Majesty,"

He accentuated his tone as he uttered the word "king."

"We can work together in a much broader region. Of course, let's listen to what Da Ming plans, and if you want to come, maybe it's not just the Cape of Good Hope. ”

Pepis leaned in slightly closer to the other person he was talking to, followed by a long pause. However, it seems that this Ming official does not want to open his lips.

Are all the Ming people like this?

Peppis, feeling a little helpless, was silent for a while, and then he added a meaningful tone and continued.

"Da Ming is just stopping at the Cape of Good Hope now, we think that since Da Ming wants to go to Europe, then if he gets a stronghold in Europe, it will be ...... for Da Ming"

"Which stronghold is it?"

Xiong Cixu, who had been silent, unexpectedly interrupted Peppis's words, and his tone was a little interested.

Peppis was finally relieved by the performance of the other party, at least he guessed correctly, Daming was also interested in Europe.

"Holland!"

After Pepis spat out these two words, he saw a mocking smile on Xiong Cixu's face.

"You mean, we're going to take down the Netherlands together, right? In this case, I am afraid that we will have to pay more than people expected, which will be more beneficial to England and not to the Ming Dynasty, after all, we have come to Europe for trade, not to obtain land in Europe. If we were to divide the Netherlands together with England, we, as infidels, would be the enemies of all Europe! Is this the plan of England? ”

Peppis couldn't help but be embarrassed by Xiong's rhetorical question, and he wanted to remind him that unless this was the case, it was impossible for the Ming to get what they wanted—to gain a foothold in Europe. However, he knew that it was best to refute the question immediately anyway. So he made a vague gesture and began to talk about the changes in the situation in Europe, just to tell Xiong that the partition of the Netherlands would not cause a backlash from the countries of Europe.

"I believe,"

Pepis said as he looked at Xiong Cixu.

"Both of us can benefit from the occupation of the Netherlands. In the future, the cooperation between us and the Ming Dynasty will also bring us benefits, as for the pagans, it is now the 17th century, not the era of the Crusades! Who's going to care about that? ”

As he said these words, Pepis remembered the resistance in Vienna, which was resistance against the infidels, but what was the point of that? After all, Vienna was too far away, and for Pepys, he needed the fleet of the Ming Dynasty and financial support, and beyond that, as for the future...... Perhaps England would join France and other countries in expelling the infidels.

After all, heretics are always heretics!

But now, there is room for cooperation between the two.

Thinking of this, he smiled again, and said with a smile.

"So, we can work together."

"Cooperation, at what level?"

Xiong Cixu asked directly and retortingly.

"Did the Ming send his own fleet?"

'Of course!'

Pepis nodded in reply.

"Of course, we will also send our own fleet to work with you."

After a slight pause, he continued.

"I think that if our two countries join forces, the Dutch will not be able to resist our attack, and once we defeat the Dutch fleet at sea, then England will also send its own land in the attack on the Dutch land, and the Ming will be able to achieve great benefits for themselves at that time."

"Can I understand ...... like that?"

Xiong Cixu asked directly.

"We only need to send the fleet, and we don't need to send the army, the land of England is responsible for the occupation of the Netherlands, right? Then you will knock down the Netherlands to us. ”

Pepis looked at Xiong in amazement, and he wanted to retort loudly, but just as he tried to refute, he noticed that the man's face still maintained a calm and unpredictable expression.

"Is this Oriental trying to tease me?"

Pepys thought so, he didn't know why the other side would say such a thing, he didn't know at all, it was just a skill at the negotiating table.

"How should I answer now, how should I answer it, so that I will not anger Da Ming, and let them agree to send their own fleet......

Pepis repeated in his head the order given to him by the king, at least for the Ming to send their fleet, and England needed the sea power of the Ming to defeat the Dutch.

At this moment, Xiong Cixu said to himself.

"I don't think so. For the first time, if nothing else, England is now plagued by the plague or the Great Fire of London...... The blows to Britain were catastrophic. Especially after the fire, now, for you, what you seek is peace talks on conditions favorable to you, and not to attack the Netherlands. ”

Pepis was stunned for a moment, as if all the hole cards had been seen by Xiong Cixu, as if the other party had guessed their thoughts with these evidence.

"Of course it's impossible!"

Pepis raised his voice slightly, feigning indignation.

"Dutch, what do they want? It is obviously impossible for us to abandon the Navigation Regulations, we cannot abandon this Act. ”

This time his tone was very serious.

"Yes, you will not give up, but the Navigation Regulations are negotiable, just like our previous negotiations!"

Xiong Cixu's answer was like a loud slap in the face, and Pepis didn't come back to his senses for a long time, and he even shouted loudly in his heart.

"It's over, it's over, they all know it......"

Got it?

Naturally, they knew England's intentions, and for England, all they needed was to pull Da Ming to their side, and use this new ally to tell the Dutch that they now have strong allies, and if you don't negotiate, it will be disastrous for the Netherlands.

Of course, if the Netherlands refuses, then England will also pull Daming on the thief ship, and everyone will go to fight the Netherlands together, but now Xiong Cixu's answer made Pepis realize that the other party has completely grasped England's thoughts, so he immediately looked at the other party talking vigilantly, and thought to himself.

What was the purpose of saying these things? Could it be the true intentions of the British. Do they already have some information? No, it's impossible. They can't possibly know, they are coming to Europe for the first time, and who will provide them with intelligence? ”

Indeed, there will be no one to provide information, because they are strangers to England!

After thinking this out, Pepis smiled and said to Xiong Cixu very politely and solemnly.

"I can understand your caution, Your Excellency, but such caution is completely unnecessary, for in the eyes of England, in order to avoid the next war with the Dutch, it is undoubtedly our only option now to end the future conflict by occupying the Netherlands."

I'm afraid only a ghost would believe this!

Of course, Xiong Cilu would not believe it, and because of this, he did not react to Pepys's words at all. He just listened quietly, then nodded imperceptibly, and finally he looked at Pepis and said.

"We maybe, we can send a fleet, maybe, we can provide a large loan to support England in carrying this war on, but ......"

Seeing that Peppis seemed to be a little excited by his words, the corners of Xiong Cixu's lips lifted, and then said.

"We do not think it is realistic and appropriate to divide the Netherlands, so we need additional assurances that it would be appropriate if your country could cede to us St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, and New Amsterdam in North America, and of course the colony of Jamestown, and of course in the case of the colony of Jamestown."