Why did Portugal think of turning to the Ming Empire for help?

Portugal during this period was really miserable, they belonged to the same peninsula as Spain, they were also the pioneers of the Age of Discovery, and there was a very close relationship between the royal families of the two countries, originally, they should be on the same camp, but King Philip III of Spain used the relationship of inheritance by marriage to annex Portugal, making Portugal and Spain go to opposite sides.

At this time, Portugal was freed from Spanish rule, but they had to face the wrath of Spain.

Although Spain is in decline, but the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, both in terms of size and military, Spain is much stronger than Portugal, although Portugal took advantage of the inextricable time between Spain and the anti-Habsburg alliance to occupy the Lisbon Palace, forced down the Spanish garrison, and gained nominal independence, but it is still very simple for Spain to go back and clean them up.

So, they have to seek outside help.

In recent years, King João IV of Portugal has been constantly seeking external help to carry out so-called "liberation diplomacy".

He sent diplomatic envoys to Britain, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Rome, expressing Portugal's willingness to join the Bourbon bloc led by France and fight against the Habsburg bloc led by Spain.

For Portugal, Spain's enemies should naturally accept Portugal as an ally, but for the anti-Habsburg powers, there was no interest in forming an alliance with Portugal, and such a weak country could not help them against Spain at all, but needed their help.

Moreover, Portugal had many colonies and commercial ports overseas, and these were the fat meat coveted by the anti-Habsburg allied powers, and if they formed an alliance with Portugal, then they could not eat this fat meat, who would do such a thankless task!

Therefore, Portugal's liberation diplomacy is very difficult and bitter, and they basically stick their hot faces to other people's cold butts.

For example, in France, João IV sent an envoy to ask for an alliance with France, but France ignored it, and he lowered his demand, as long as France verbally recognized the alliance, France still ignored it, and France also made it clear that Portugal and Spain were not allowed to negotiate peace!

I will not make an alliance with you, because I want to rob your overseas colonies, and you are not allowed to form an alliance with Spain, because I want to rob your overseas colonies, this is the attitude of France!

Other countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and other countries almost had this attitude, and only Britain was willing to give Portugal some support, but they opened their mouths and demanded huge returns.

If you want us to help you deal with Spain, all your overseas colonies must be open to us, and the interests must be equally divided, and this is the British attitude.

Their so-called equal distribution of interests is actually to obtain half of the interests of the colonies, and if the benefits obtained by British merchants after the opening up are added, then most of the interests of their overseas colonies will be robbed by Britain.

Moreover, Britain also demanded the opening of the port of Lisbon and allowed their navy to enter and exit freely, which is tantamount to pinching Portugal in its hands and giving it what it wants!

At this time, Joao IV was forced into a corner, surrounded by wolves, all wanting to take a few pieces of fat from him, and no one was willing to help him, so he was sick and rushed to the hospital, thinking of the overlord of the Far East, the Ming Empire.

At this time, the Ming Empire was very strong, very strong, and the emerging maritime overlord Holland was beaten all over the ground by them, if they could get the help of the Ming Empire, then what Habsburg Dynasty and the anti-Habsburg alliance were floating clouds!

After listening to the description of the army and navy of the Ming Empire by Luo Bao, the former governor of Macau, João IV immediately ordered Svera to win the support of the Ming Empire at all costs.

Of course, he was forced to say it at all costs, but he couldn't take it seriously, Schvera knew quite well that the so-called at all costs was not really at all costs, His Majesty the King meant that he would do everything possible to win the support of the Ming Empire, and he could pay the price, but this price could not be greater than the support of the British, otherwise it would be meaningless.

So, how much does it cost to gain the support of the Ming Empire?

Schweira has been thinking about this problem, and unconsciously followed Zhang Bin to the cabinet room.

Zhang Bin invited him to sit down at the guest seat, and ordered someone to serve fragrant tea, and then asked with a smile: "Your Excellency the Governor, does your country really want to form an alliance with my Ming Dynasty?" ”

There was no doubt about this, but he couldn't be too eager, and the more eager he was, the more he would lose when he talked about it, and he knew that he was quite clear.

Shi Weila thought about it for a moment, and then nodded solemnly: "Our Majesty the King really wants to form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty. ”

Zhang Bin smiled again and asked, "Then what is the purpose of your alliance?" ”

Schwera hesitated, but still said vaguely: "Of course, this is to safeguard the common interests of both parties." ”

Zhang Bin still said unhurriedly: "Your Excellency the Governor, you should know that we are completely capable of safeguarding our own interests, and we don't need to seek help through alliances at all. ”

The meaning of this is obvious, if you want to get help through alliances, just say it, anyway, we don't need allies to help.

Shi Weila was stunned for a moment, and then said embarrassedly: "Your Royal Highness, you should have some understanding of the situation in continental Europe, right?" ”

Zhang Bin nodded lightly and said: "Understand a little, now the Habsburg Dynasty, represented by Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, is competing with Britain, France, the Netherlands and other European powers for European hegemony and control of global colonies, and you Portugal has just become independent from Spanish rule, is the general situation like this?" ”

When Schvera heard this, his face was suddenly full of solemnity, His Royal Highness the Duke knows the situation in Europe very well, and it seems that it is difficult to impress the Duke without paying huge benefits.

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: "Yes, we have just gotten rid of Spanish rule, and Spain is unwilling to let us become independent, if they go all out to deal with us, we will probably not be able to resist, so our King wants to seek the help of the Ming Empire." ”

Since you can't fool people, you can only tell the truth, I just hope that His Royal Highness the Duke is not too greedy, if he is more greedy than His Royal Highness the Duke of England, then there is no way to talk about it.

Zhang Bin didn't rush to put forward the conditions, he continued to say lightly: "You don't go to the enemies of Spain for help, but come from thousands of miles to ask our Daming for help, it must be that the price proposed by others is too high, or people are not willing to help you at all, right?" ”

When Schvera heard this, he couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, trouble, His Royal Highness the Duke knows the situation in Portugal well, what should I do?

Do you let others put forward conditions?

He hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded with difficulty: "Your Royal Highness, you are right, the general situation is like this. ”

When Zhang Bin heard this, he couldn't help but show a bright smile, Portugal was really sick and rushed to the doctor.

He knew that this Portuguese envoy had lost the initiative, and now the initiative was in his own hands, on Daming's side, as long as his offer was not too ruthless, they would accept it!

PS: I recommend "Han Disciples" from Yuanqi, I would rather laugh through the ages than regret being a believer in the Han Dynasty! Different Three Kingdoms, different Han clansmen, interested readers and friends should not miss it.