Just like when I arrived in Nanyang from the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, this meeting was at the Governor's Mansion of Little Burns in Manila.

The overall environment is still the same, but the decoration and furnishings are much better, which shows that the overall situation of Xiao Pence during this period is good.

"Welcome, my friend!" Little Burns was much more enthusiastic than last time, and came straight to the gate to greet me, instead of sitting in his back garden and waiting for my arrival leisurely, as he did last time.

After all, at that time, I was just the head of the Chamber of Commerce who had some fame in the Ming Dynasty and some power in the South Seas, but now, I am the sea strongman who assisted the British in defeating Spain in the West, and I pushed all the way from Africa to the Indian Ocean and then to the South Sea.

This world adheres to the law of the jungle, and the law of the jungle preys on the strong. In front of my strong ship and cannon, the rest of the vain heads and brains were floating clouds, so he chose to cooperate with me, completely, thoroughly, and with a little bit of self-determination.

We talked a lot, from the situation in the West to the environment in the Indian Ocean, from the next development in the South Seas to the attitude towards the Ming Dynasty.

When it comes to his attitude towards the Ming Dynasty, Xiao Pence is very ambiguous.

"Admiral of the Expeditionary Fleet?" When mentioning his identity, Little Burns smiled very meaningfully: "When you have a cash cow in front of you, will you hold it tightly, or push it away?" Your Excellency the Duke. ”

Sure enough, Pence Jr. was just as I thought, a wise and profit-oriented man. Dealing with such a person is actually simple, that is, as long as you are strong enough, as long as you can ensure his interests, other things are actually easy to discuss.

I took the black tea and took a sip: "Fujian? After getting Xiao Pence's affirmative answer, I smiled more casually: "So you didn't plan to attack the Ming Dynasty at all?" It's about using this identity as a way to make money, right? ”

After saying that, I added: "Referring to your cooperation with us, I can't overstate my understanding! ”

"Of course!" Little Burns smiled softly, but full of smugness: "Not only is it correct, but it is quite in place." The way to become wealthy! That's it. ”

"Why?" I put down the teacup and leaned back comfortably, the rattan chair was of good quality, and as my back squeezed, a gentle thrust came back, which made me feel a burst of pleasure.

Hua Mei was puzzled when she heard this, and then asked: "Yes, although you are of Portuguese ethnicity, after all, you are now leaning under the door of Spain, if they completely fall, what good will it do you?" ”

Little Burns pursed his lips and smiled, and praised: "Miss Li's wisdom is really as good as your beauty, indeed, in the Oriental dialect - it is good to enjoy the shade under the big tree, but if this is a tree that we don't lean on at all, then this theory does not exist at the root." ”

Hua Mei and I nodded together and listened as he continued.

"My ancestors were royalty in Portugal, and in their heyday, they were rich and powerful. But then, the Spaniards seized our sovereignty through dirty marriages, and from then on we had to survive in the cracks! ”

Little Burns's voice gradually cooled, as if he remembered the tragic experience before: "They banished us to the South Seas, please forgive me for using the word banishment, but it is true. When I first arrived, Manila didn't even have a decent road! ”

I couldn't help but laugh dumbly, and it was quite interesting to see the true feelings of this regional leader.

"Later, we continued to work like a wasteland here, and it wasn't until seafaring technology made another leap forward to improve the efficiency of ocean-going trade."

He is right, Nanyang has been a place of escape and exile for the past few hundred years, and the real rapid development may be just a few decades now.

"Therefore, we have repeatedly written to the Spanish royal family to describe the beauty and richness of the Ming Dynasty and its victory, with the aim of leaving ourselves a cash cow and a talisman. Do you understand what I mean? ”

"Of course I do." I smiled and said, "It's not a good job, if you win, the benefits go to the top; If you can't win, you have to carry this pot yourself, isn't that what it means? ”

Little Burns clapped his hands happily: "Lord Duke, this is exactly what I am worried about. So that's the answer to the previous two questions. If this big tree falls, a new big tree will naturally grow, and I, the head of the land, are not afraid that there will be no market. If it doesn't fall, then I'll continue to suck blood, anyway, I have absolutely no psychological burden! ”

As soon as these words came out, all of us laughed together, and I also admired Xiao Pence's thinking and eloquence to be able to talk so fresh and refined about digging the corners of the public house.

As they spoke, the waiters pushed open the door and entered, and on the trolleys they were pushing were delicate, covered plates, and it seemed that it was time for dinner.

Dinner was hearty, a combination of Chinese and Western. After a little tasting, I knew that these dishes must have come from the hands of the Chinese living in Nanyang, and they were authentic Chinese dishes.

Of course, there are also the Portuguese egg tarts, which I loved in later generations, and the marinated cod with a mouthful full of oil, all of which are made with the finest ingredients and are also very well made.

Food wasn't our goal, though, so after a few bites I put down the dishes and moved on to the conversation.

Of course, I didn't say much, because the next words may not be for too many people to know.

Seeing that I was vague and knew that I probably had something secret to say, Little Burns invited me to admire the paintings, and invited me into the inner court.

After the door of the house was tightly closed, Xiao Pence put away the casual he had been having, sat down very seriously and asked me: "Qilan, there are no outsiders here, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."

I looked at Little Burns and didn't say anything for a long time. He also looked back at me, his eyes very clear.

"Can I trust you? My friend. I suddenly asked, "I mean trust, not friendship in general."

Little Pence gently patted the armrest of the chair, thought for a moment before replying, "I have always been at odds with the Kuhn Chamber of Commerce, and this time I uprooted them. In a sense, I have betrayed the country, there is no doubt about that, right? ”

I nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"Now, I am alone in Nanyang, there must be speculation about me in Spain, and my motherland Portugal has no hope of rising in the past ten years, Qilan, do you think I have any other choice than to unite with you?"

As he spoke, he laughed dumbly and said, "Do you want me to be like you to make a false deal with that old woman of Elizabeth I?" I don't have your charm! Qilan! ”

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard this, and so did Little Pence. His analysis from the perspective of interests and reality is more effective than any expression of loyalty and high-pitched singing.

Seeing that I agreed with his statement, Pence Jr. raised his hand to me, signaling that I could speak.

I looked at him and said in a moment: "When necessary, I need you to attack the Ming Dynasty!" I mean, real offense! ”

As soon as I said this, Pence Jr.'s face suddenly showed a look of surprise. After thinking for a long time, he said slowly: "Are you going to borrow me to accept the name?" That's also a way to do it. ”

I shook my head slightly, stood up, walked to the window, looked at the scenery outside the window, and said lightly, "No, it's not." I don't want a petition, I want ...... Pressure! ”

Little Pence didn't understand what I meant, and he said very sincerely, "What do you mean by that?" What pressure? I don't really understand! ”

I stood with my hands in my hands and continued lightly: "I am a Chinese family, from the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, to the Qin and Han dynasties. After the world, the world was divided into three parts, and it was reunified, but unfortunately it encountered more serious perennial chaos, and the people were struggling to make a living, and fell into a trough. ”

Little Burns listened quietly, I paused, and continued my speech: "The world after tomorrow was unified in the Sui and revived in the Tang Dynasty, creating a new prosperous era for thousands of years!" All nations come to the dynasty and become prominent in the world, which is really an immortal achievement! ”

Xiao Pence nodded: "The majesty of the Tang Dynasty is still being praised today, what Qilan said is true, but I don't know what the connection is with what we said?"

I smiled bitterly and continued: "It's a pity that the Zhao clan of the Song Dynasty was weak and incompetent, and was taken advantage of by the grassland people and took over the world. Although these steppe barbarians are brave in battle, they are full of beef, which is really a huge damage to the national strength and national situation! ”

Burns Jr. agrees with me: "Historically, there has been a dismissive attitude towards the prairie people. It's just that I still don't understand ......."

I spread out my hands and said helplessly: "In this dynasty, there was once hope for ZTE, but in recent decades it has declined again!" The reason for this is that China is vast and centralized, and the emperor lacks a sense of crisis, and he does not know how to work hard and is busy with infighting all day long! ”

Xiao Pence finally understood what I meant: "So Qilan, you want to take this opportunity to wake up the royal family of the Ming Dynasty in one fell swoop, give them a crisis of survival, and let them work hard?"

I nodded, then shook my head, "That's right, but not quite." No one can wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep! The only way is to make them feel the pain! And the fear and fear from the heart may or may shake up the spirit and regain the prestige! ”

When Little Burns heard this, he bowed deeply to me: "Others are patriotic, and most of them talk about it. Qilan is patriotic, but it is permeated in his bones. I admire you! Just ......"

He walked to the navigation chart, pointed in the direction of Dongying and said: "At present, I heard that the Japanese people of Dongying are attacking Goryeo, and the Ming Dynasty is actively deploying troops, Qilan, do you think this pressure is not enough?"

I shook my head and sighed, "Not enough! Not enough! The people of Dongying Fusang are in a corner of peace, and it is okay to fight in a small area, but it is still congenitally insufficient to compete for hegemony with the Ming Dynasty! That's why I hope you can attack Da Ming when necessary and fight hard! Hurt them! I have more convincing reasons! ”

Xiao Pence looked at me for a long time, smacked his lips and nodded: "I am absolutely willing to support you just for your feelings!" Qilan, as long as you send a letter to me, thousands of rivers and mountains, my little Pence will arrive! ”

Hearing this, I feel a lot of feelings in my heart, I have never regarded myself as a righteous man and a gentleman, but in the face of major rights and wrongs, I am very accurate and steady. I never thought that one day I would invite someone to attack the Ming Dynasty!

Maybe my idea and intention are good, but will it succeed...... It still depends on the will of God!

I hope that everything will be as I wish, and I can use blood and fire to provoke the Ming Dynasty to work hard, stand on top of the world again, and overcome the starting point of blood and tears that have inhibited the Chinese nation for hundreds of years in one fell swoop.

The weakness and incompetence of the Chinese land began at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the reason for this was self-castration, which spontaneously gave up the courage to explore the vast sea, so that the Chinese nation had been strangled by the Ming Sea for hundreds of years!

At this time, there is only one poem hovering in my heart:

Lingtai has no plan to escape from the gods, and the wind and rain are like a dark homeland.

If you don't notice the cold star, I recommend Xuanyuan with my blood!