Isabella and Bishop Antonio left together from the West Garden, and on the garden path, Isabella suddenly slowed down and said to her palace minister and godfather: "Your Excellency, do you think we really have the ability to make Goa submit to me?" ”

Bishop Antonio couldn't help but slow down and replied to her respectfully: "Your Highness, so far, the plan formulated by Your Majesty has not failed. Therefore, the minister thought that this time would not be an exception.

After His Majesty's conquest of Japan last year, most of the members of the Restoration Committee began to have confidence in the future of His Highness's restoration. Even Portuguese businessmen in Southeast Asia and the Goa colonies are now willing to approach the Repatriation Committee and contribute to the Repatriation.

Therefore, the minister thought that His Highness's right to inherit the crown of the Kingdom of Portugal had begun to be accepted by overseas Portuguese merchants. Not to mention that you are still pregnant, if Your Highness can give birth to a prince, I believe that there will be more nobles who are willing to pledge their allegiance to Your Highness.

Although the Spaniards were able to control the Kingdom of Portugal, the Spanish sea power was no longer able to defend the colonies of the Kingdom of Portugal. If the Ming Dynasty can force the vice-royal court of Goa to submit to His Highness, it means that Your Highness has mastered the trade routes between the Kingdom of Portugal and Asia.

If such a situation arises, those merchants and nobles who depend on Asian trade for their survival will only be able to continue trading under the protection of Your Highness. They have no choice but to pledge allegiance to you, Your Highness.

The Restoration Council will certainly assist His Majesty in completing his plans to march into mainland India, and only by taking Goa will we be able to formally establish the ruling government of the Kingdom and claim the crown of the Kingdom of Portugal to Spain. ”

Isabella's eyes were a little confused, if the wandering life before was just to escape the pursuit of the Spaniards, then after becoming the concubine of Chongzhen, she really considered the question of the crown of the Kingdom of Portugal.

But after she became pregnant, the scenery of her homeland thousands of miles away slowly faded from her memories, and she loved the country under her feet even more. After all, here, she did not have to deal with the many problems that arose in order to restore the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal, nor did she have to think about the strong Spanish army and the attitude of European countries towards the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Isabella, whose life has begun to settle down, is now a little afraid of letting her children cross the ocean to compete for the Portuguese crown.

She subconsciously touched her stomach and said, "Is the Portuguese crown really suitable for me and Your Majesty's children?" If he stays, will there be a possibility of going further? ”

There is always an end to human beings, and Antonio felt that he was satisfied with being able to obtain the position of bishop. But when someone put the temptation of the court minister and the archbishop of the Kingdom of Portugal in front of him, he couldn't wait to pounce.

When Her Royal Highness Isabella became pregnant, Bishop Antonio sometimes wondered what kind of status he would have if this prince could ascend to the throne of Emperor Ming.

However, in this imperial city, Antonio quickly came to his senses, and he lowered his voice and said: "Your Highness is still cautious, according to the minister's understanding of those Chinese officials, I am afraid that it will be difficult for them to accept a prince with foreign blood. Some things are better to wait until later. ”

Isabella was silent until there was a fork in the road in front of her, then she stopped and nodded to Bishop Antonio and said, "Your Excellency, we will separate first." As for the plan to enter the Indian continent, you will report it to me after you have discussed it with the members of the Restoration Committee..."

In the Xiyuan Lodge, after Isabella and Bishop Antonio left, Zhu Youzhen met with Ma Xianglin again.

Since Ma Xianglin, the stone pillar consolation envoy, was transferred to the general staff of the capital, he also met with the emperor twice in three days, so he was not so restrained in front of the emperor.

He was also a little excited about Chongzhen's private reception. Because a few days ago, there was a rumor that the emperor wanted to send him out to lead troops.

Although his mother and wife are in the capital, as a military general and hereditary toast, he is also a little unaccustomed to the leisurely life in the capital. For him, being able to go out and lead troops to fight is the most reassuring life.

Therefore, after greeting the emperor and chatting a few words of homely things, he sat up straight and listened attentively to Chongzhen's orders.

Zhu Youzhen unhurriedly opened a silver box on the coffee table, then took out a rolled cigarette, and asked Ma Xianglin, "Do you want one?" ”

Ma Xianglin shook his head and said, "The minister still can't get used to this, Your Majesty, please take care of yourself." ”

Zhu Youzhen smiled, took out a ceramic cigarette holder and inserted a cigarette, then took out a match from the silver box on the side, wiped it on the side of his boots, and after a "zi" sound, the match was lit.

Ma Xianglin watched the emperor complete the action of lighting a cigarette from the side, whether it was a cigarette or a match that could be lit with a little friction, it was a new product that had recently been launched in Beijing.

Tobacco became popular in the Ming Dynasty from the Jiajing and Wanli periods, and it could only be transported from abroad from the beginning, and it was already a field for growing tobacco in various places in the late Wanli period.

Of course, when it comes to tobacco quality, it is better to use the Americas and the Philippines. Ma Xianglin naturally smokes too, but he prefers to smoke fine tobacco from a smoking pot rather than this kind of cigarette that is too short.

Moreover, some people have been rumored recently that eating tobacco is eating Yanjing, and Yan refers to Yanjing. Because of this rumor, many officials have written that tobacco should be banned. First, it spares the curse of these smokers on the capital; secondly, it can also prevent the wealth of the people from being wasted on such useless things; Third, it can reduce the occurrence of fires.

But for the Treasury, tobacco taxes mean large revenues. Therefore, in addition to prohibiting smoking in certain wooden buildings, the emperor ordered the Ministry of Households to establish a tobacco* bureau to regulate tobacco trafficking.

As for the kind of spontaneously combusting matches, they are now also loved by the people. Although it is somewhat unsafe and can ignite by rubbing, it is so easy to use compared to a fire sickle that it is extremely popular in the market.

Ma Xianglin faintly understood in his heart that Chongzhen's purpose in publicly stating that he smoked was actually to tell the ministers of the DPRK and China that he didn't care about the rumors of eating swallows at all.

Just as he was thinking about the significance of the emperor's actions, Zhu Youzhen finally began to say to him: "Ma Qing, I called you over, you should have heard some rumors, right?" ”

Ma Xianglin immediately replied: "Yes, I heard it from Chief Sun, but I am not sure, I don't know whether to go to the northwest or Jinzhou." ”

After Zhu Youzhen spit out a smoke ring, he replied to him: "It's not the northwest, it's not Jinzhou." I plan to send you back to Sichuan, so that you can bring the white pole soldiers again. ”

Ma Xianglin was stunned for a moment, and asked hesitantly for a long time: "Your Majesty, hasn't the rebellion of Lu'an been quelled?" Why do you want the villain to go back to Sichuan? ”

After Zhu Youzhen motioned to Lu Qi on the side to take out a drawing, he pointed to the drawing and said: "Your home is in Sichuan, so you naturally know that the southwest of Chengdu is the main road to Tibet, and it is also a large area between Wusizang and Sichuan that cannot be explained the jurisdiction.

It is called Kham by the Tibetans, and it reveres Tibetan Tantra in faith, but nominally it is a place of many Tusi who surrendered to my Ming Dynasty. In modern times, after the Banshu Rebellion and the Hao'an Rebellion, this place lost contact with the central court.

Yazhou, Dajian Furnace and Litang are the three most important nodes on this road to Tibet. Once he broke through the Kham zone, Uszang was effectively defenseless.

According to traders and natives who are familiar with the geography of the region, the landscape of Kham has been described as *.

The four rivers are Nu River, Lancang River, Jinsha River, and Yalong River, and the six gangs are Semo Gang, Chawa Gang, Mangkang Gang, Bangbo Gang, Mazagang and Muya Gang. Among them, the northerly area between the Jinsha River and the Yalong River is Semogang, the area between the Nu River and the Lancang River is Chawagang, the northerly area between the Lancang River and the Jinsha River is Mangkanggang, the southerly area between the Jinsha River and the Yalong River is the Bangbo Gang, the south of the Yellow River in Qinghai and the east of the upper reaches of the Yalong River is Mazagang, and the east of the Yalong River is Muyagang, which refers to the eastern Tibetan area along the nomadic corridor.

Qinghai and Kang are like the two major gateways of Wusizang, as long as these two major gateways are mastered, Wusizang can only be controlled by the central government.

The gateway over there in Qinghai, I have already made arrangements. Now I hope that after you return to Sichuan, the gateway from Sichuan to Tibet will also be under the control of the imperial court.

The white pole soldiers are skilled in mountain warfare, and Xikang is the terrain with dense mountains and rivers, and I think that the non-white pole soldiers cannot suppress the Tusi forces here. Does Ma Qing have any problems with this? ”

Ma Xianglin carefully looked at the map in front of him, and recalled the legend about this Kang area in his mind. couldn't help but say with a sad face: "Your Majesty, if the two armies are at war, the minister has no doubts.

However, the Kang District is high and densely forested, and there is a complex terrain, so the minister is only worried about one thing, that is, the logistics cannot keep up. In this way, the deeper our army penetrates into the Kham area, I am afraid that the more difficult it will be to replenish supplies. If Uszang sends reinforcements again, I'm afraid it will be difficult for our army to support it. ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and said, "Your concerns are not unreasonable, but I have already reached an agreement with the Sichuan Merchant Association. In this battle, they will arrange the logistics for the army, and they will also scout the road for you and detect the false and real information of the toast along the road.

Of course, in return, within your defense zone, you must ensure the safety of the caravan in the future. If someone obstructs our caravan from entering Tibet, your army will also attack at the first opportunity...

In addition, after you occupy the Kham area, although you do not have to enter Tibet for the time being, you must also do a good job of monitoring the Tibetan area to prevent anyone from trying to occupy the Tibetan area and stand on their own. ”

Ma Xianglin asked with some suspicion: "Can those businessmen really afford the logistics of our army?" The minister is still a little uneasy. ”

Zhu Youzhen smiled and said: "I will ask the Internal Affairs Office to allocate a sum of money, if those businessmen can't finish it, you don't have to worry, you can mobilize this money for logistics supply at that time, and Zuo Fu will also guard the rear for you..."