After preliminary consultations, both the Ming Empire and Portugal have the intention of further cooperation, and then they can discuss the details of cooperation, and the two sides have conducted in-depth discussions on the situation of each colony around the map.

Portugal is most anxious about the problem of the Gold Coast now, the Duke of Bragança pointed to the Gold Coast on the map and said: "Your Majesty the Emperor, now the Dutch have begun to invade the Gold Coast, just last year, they have seized our Elmina, Axim and Accra and other places are also in danger, our main forces in Portugal are now in South America to resist the invasion of the Netherlands and Britain, do you see if the Ming Empire can help us garrison the Gold Coast?" “

In fact, Zhu Cijiong told Shi Weila on the way here, of course, it was said in an informal setting, and it was not counted, he had to repeat it here again: "This place is too close to the European continent, and now is a sensitive period, and the Ming Dynasty cannot directly send troops to intervene, please forgive me." However, you can consider recruiting servants from South Asia to assist in the defense, and in terms of weapons, the Ming can sell some to you at a low price. “

When Duke Bragança heard this, his eyes lit up, he really hadn't thought about the issue of recruiting servant soldiers, he couldn't help but turn his head and ask Svera: "Count Svera, how is the loyalty of the natives in South Asia, can they be developed into servant soldiers?" “

Shi Vera thought for a while, nodded and said: "They are just a little inactive, loyalty is still okay, especially the civilians near Goa, who have a strong sense of belonging to us Portugal, you can consider recruiting a group of servant soldiers, and Comdet and I can support a thousand veterans to manage these servant soldiers." “

The Duke of Bragança estimated that two thousand veterans could probably bring twenty thousand servant soldiers, a total of twenty-two thousand, which was a little insufficient for the counterattack, but it was enough to hold the existing fortress, so he clapped his hand and said: "Then recruit 20,000 servant soldiers according to His Majesty the Emperor's proposal, the problem of this weapon is ......" “

The emperor of the Ming Empire gave him ideas, and now he wants people to sell weapons at a discount, Duke Bragança feels a little embarrassed, but Zhu Cijiong doesn't care, the profit of weapons is ridiculously high, and the preferential point is still sold to them to make money, he said generously: "20,000 24-type flintlock guns, 100 317-type howitzers, 100 417-type howitzers, all of them are half price for you, is it enough?" “

Duke Bragança said gratefully: "Enough, enough, thank you Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your generosity we will always remember." “

The problems of Africa are almost discussed, and the next thing should be discussed is the problems of other places, Zhu Cijiong stared at the map, and still couldn't help but point to the narrow junction between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea in northern Africa and reminded: "Your Majesty the Duke, you should develop here in the next step, as long as you dig a canal in the middle, the distance from the Far East to the European continent will be shortened by more than half, and how much profit will be generated in the middle, you should think about it, right?" “

Unexpectedly, the Duke of Bragança was not only not excited when he heard this, but frowned and said: "Your Majesty the Emperor, the matter of digging the canal here has been mentioned a long time ago, but after actual measurement, the width of this place has reached a terrifying one hundred and twenty miles, and it is very difficult to excavate!" “

Mile? This really stumped Zhu Cijiong, he really didn't know much about these imperial units, and couldn't help but look at Shi Weila when he heard the words, Shi Weila hurriedly explained to him, and after explaining for a long time, Zhu Cijiong finally understood, one mile is about equivalent to more than three miles, more than a hundred miles is nothing, he said proudly: "What's the difficulty, do you know, there is a canal running through the north and south in Daming, which was built by the Great Sui Empire a thousand years ago, with a total length of nearly 1,100 miles, This 120-mile canal is nothing! “

When the Duke of Bragança heard this, he thought about it, even if this canal was dug up, Portugal would not be able to defend it, and they would not have the ability to deal with those European powers, so he simply proposed: "Why don't we find a way to occupy it first, and then our two countries will jointly develop it and share the benefits equally, what do you think?" “

Zhu Cijiong originally intended to control there, but it was closer to the European continent, and Daming, a non-continental European country, controlled their choke point, and it was strange that they did not attack in groups, so he reluctantly reminded Portugal to occupy it, and now it seems that Portugal should feel that he is weak and unable to control it, so he pulled Daming, so good, with Portugal, a native country of the European continent, things will be much easier, so he readily agreed.

Then the eyes of both sides moved to South Asia, and the Duke of Bragança said with concern: "Your Majesty the Emperor, I heard that the Netherlands is preparing to reorganize the Second Fleet in the Far East and reappoint Admiral Van Mendi as the Governor of Batavia. This guy has a strong desire to expand, and he may not dare to do anything to the Ming Dynasty after he takes office, but he will definitely not be soft on us Portugal, and I am afraid that in addition to Goa, Mysore, Ceylon and other places where the Ming expeditionary force is stationed, other colonies will be robbed by him. “

Zhu Cijiong thought for a while, pointed to the Strait of Malacca on the map and said: "On the way here, I told Count Schwila that I could consider sending a fleet to garrison here, since the Netherlands wants to expand in the Far East, then I will simply send all the Nanyang Naval Division and the South China Sea Fleet here to coerce Batavia, if they dare to come out and rob your colony, I will order the Nanyang Naval Division and the South China Sea Fleet to directly take their old nest Batavia!" “

The Duke of Bragança couldn't help but look at Zhu Cijiong with reverence, such a protective character, such a domineering decision-making, Portugal is really looking for the right ally!

Schvera said a little worriedly: "Your Majesty, you seem to have said last time that Daming and the Netherlands signed an armistice agreement, if Daming boldly tore up the agreement and directly sent troops to deal with the Netherlands, the Netherlands just found an excuse to entangle its allies to unite against us, then it would be troublesome!" “

Zhu Cijiong said calmly: "It's okay, there are also provisions in the armistice agreement, the Netherlands is not allowed to attack the allies of the Ming Empire in the Far East, they are ready to attack you originally wanted to unilaterally tear up the agreement, and the Ming Dynasty will not violate the agreement if they attack them again, besides, the Far East is not Africa, it is close to the Ming Dynasty and far away from the European continent, it is not a wise decision to come to the Far East to fight with the Ming Empire, I believe that their allies will consider the consequences, will they take such a big risk for the Netherlands?" “

Hearing this, Shi Vera couldn't help but praise: "The emperor is wise. “

Next, the two sides discussed the development of the colony, the use of resources and other issues, the Ming and Portugal comprehensive cooperation officially launched, because there are too many things involved, the two sides did not sign any specific agreement, Zhu Cijiong believes that Portugal will never dare to play any tricks, Portugal also believes that the Ming Empire, an ally, will not do anything to disappoint them.

In the end, the Duke of Bragança even said bluntly: "Your Majesty the Emperor, we will find a suitable opportunity to launch an uprising in the next two years to overthrow the rule of Spain, and please mediate between it when the time comes, after all, we do not want a full-scale war with Spain!" “

When Zhu Cijiong heard this, he nodded solemnly and said, "When the time comes, I will personally come to help you mediate." “