At the banquet, Li Hongyu skillfully used knives and forks, methodically enjoyed the sumptuous Western meal prepared for him by Bu Jialao, and thoughtfully helped Yang Li'er cut the steak into small pieces, which impressed Ma Jialu and Bu Jialao.

Just as Mascolu and Bugarao were not accustomed to using chopsticks, Orientals were also unaccustomed to using knives and forks, especially when cutting steaks, which was very stiff.

But Li Hongyu was completely different from the Orientals that Mascolu and Bugarao had met before, not only could they speak fluent and authentic Portuguese, but they could also use knives and forks skillfully, and if it weren't for the color of their skin, they would have suspected that Li Hongyu was Portuguese.

Yang Li'er had learned the etiquette of Western food in the school of the Customs Department before, and she had specially reviewed it before coming this time, so she handled other things very decently except for not being used to using knives and forks during the meal.

Although Li Hongyu hates to be bound by the rules and regulations of Western food etiquette, but now that he represents the Ming Dynasty, he must act according to the rules, how can he let Ma Shigaru and others see jokes?

Mascolus was very interested in Li Hongyu's proposal to purchase Dutch prisoners of war, and had an exchange with Li Hongyu at the banquet with great interest, and as the governor of Macao, he naturally had the right to dispose of those Dutch prisoners of war.

As for the construction of the fortifications, Mascolu felt that it was easy to solve, and it was enough to bring in some natives from the South Seas, which was not only easy to manage, but also less expensive to consume every day.

As soon as he took office, he was given a big gift by Li Hongyu, which was really a happy thing for Mascolu, and after this business exchange, the relationship between the two must be very harmonious in the future.

Yang Li'er was very puzzled when she saw that Li Hongyu wanted to buy those Dutch prisoners, and she didn't know what Li Hongyu's intention was in doing this, and it was obvious that Li Hongyu didn't need those prisoners to take the risk.

However, since Li Hongyu did this, there must be his reasons, and Yang Li'er believes that Li Hongyu will definitely not be interested in those Dutch prisoners of war for no reason.

After the dinner, Mashigaru sent Li Hongyu and Yang Li'er to the Governor's Palace, where he had already arranged rooms for the two.

Because he saw that Yang Li'er was a woman, Ma Shijialu arranged the two of them in a room, which made Yang Li'er's cheeks suddenly turn crimson when she learned about it.

After all, a woman is a woman, and even if she changes into a man's clothes, it is difficult to hide a woman's characteristics, so it is normal for Yang Li'er to be seen as a woman.

Li Hongyu is nothing, anyway, Yang Xiaotian has already entrusted Yang Li'er to him, Yang Li'er's identity is equivalent to his fiancée, he doesn't have the pedantic concept of male and female defense like a Ming scholar, so how can he mind sharing a room with Yang Li'er?

Besides, this is the territory of the Portuguese, and Li Hongyu is not worried about letting Yang Li'er be alone in a room at night.

"Brother Sheng, why do you want those Dutch captives, is it to get closer to Mascolu?"

At midnight, Li Hongyu hugged Yang Li'er and lay on the bed, Yang Li'er snuggled up to his chest like a bird, and asked with ruddy cheeks.

Although Li Hongyu felt that it was nothing to fall asleep with Yang Li'er in his arms, it was a very bold decision for Yang Li'er, in ancient times, only men and women would sleep together after marriage, even if they were unmarried couples, it was rare to see each other a few times before marriage, let alone get along together.

But then again, Yang Li'er has been by Li Hongyu's side for a long time, and she also knows that Yang Xiaotian handed her over to Li Hongyu, and she is now Li Hongyu's woman, so she naturally doesn't mind having intimate behavior with Li Hongyu.

"The Dutch prisoner who was beaten in the street today was the result of a manipulation of artillery, and it took a great deal of effort for the Portuguese to find out why, so it seems that this man knew the artillery very well, and may have been a connoisseur."

Li Hongyu knew that Yang Li'er didn't understand what he was doing, so he smiled slightly and explained, "Those Dutch captives are a burden in the eyes of Mascolu, but they are a treasure to our Ming Dynasty, which will help us understand the society of Westerners." ”

"I see." Yang Li'er suddenly realized, and then said with a smile, "Brother Sheng, when it comes to doing business, if you admit to being second, no one in the world will dare to say that you are the first." ”

"I don't want to do this kind of thing, but who made us fall so far behind in the field of natural sciences that we have to find a way to catch up." Li Hongyu smiled helplessly, thinking that his dignified Ming assistant ministers actually started human trafficking, it was really painful.

"People think that Brother Sheng is in a high position and has unlimited scenery, who would have thought of the hard work behind Brother Sheng!"

Yang Li'er's eyes couldn't help but show love and concern when she heard this, not to mention the auxiliary ministers of the imperial court, which of those county lords was like Li Hongyu who worked tirelessly to charge into battle?

"No pain, no gain, for our future, it's okay to suffer a little bit now." Li Hongyu knew that Yang Li'er felt sorry for him, so he hugged her tightly and said with a smile, "When the world is peaceful, let's find a place to live in seclusion, and I will accompany you every day." ”

"Hmm!" A smile appeared at the corner of Yang Li'er's mouth, and then she asked curiously, "Brother Sheng, will the world really be in chaos?" ”

"Ugh."

Li Hongyu couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, and said helplessly to Yang Li'er, "The Ming Dynasty is already declining, although I have the heart to prosper the Ming Dynasty, but the building will be difficult to support!" After assisting the emperor in a few years, I can be regarded as repaying the grace of Lord Wanli, and the future will only be left to fate. ”

"In a few years?"

Yang Li'er's eyes suddenly showed a look of doubt, and she didn't understand what Li Hongyu meant for a while, now that the Emperor of the Apocalypse is young and strong, even if he can't reign for fifty years like the Wanli Emperor, then twenty or thirty years is still very possible, but why did Li Hongyu say that he would assist the Emperor of the Apocalypse in a few years?

"I mean wait for the emperor to be in the sky." Li Hongyu realized that he had accidentally made a slip of the tongue for a while, and he couldn't tell Yang Li'er that Emperor Tianqi had died after only seven years of reign, so he then found a reason to prevaricate.

"Brother Sheng, I will support you no matter what you do." Yang Li'er didn't delve into this matter, she closed her eyes sweetly, at this time she just wanted to stay with Li Hongyu like this, no matter what, she never thought that the young Emperor of the Apocalypse would die in a few years.

Li Hongyu couldn't help but hug Yang Li'er tightly, the expression on his face was a little solemn, he didn't want to be a slave to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and he didn't want his wife and children's families to be harmed, so he had to fight hard now, and then he could protect himself in the troubled times.

The next morning, Zhao Dawei led the people of the Customs Department and the sailors to Macao to discuss the overseas trade of the Ming Dynasty with Mascolu.

Since the Dutch also had a lot of power at sea, Zhao Dawei hoped that Mascolu would send a fleet from Macao to escort the Ming trading fleet.

In return, the Customs Department will give Portugal a share of this overseas trade, including items such as fine raw silk, tea and ceramics.

In addition, Zhao Dawei also mentioned the matter of firearms to Mascolu, and like Li Hongyu's suggestion, he also hoped that Portugal could help Daming build a gun factory and a gun factory, and was willing to give Portugal more trade shares for this purpose.

Mashigaru could not agree to Zhao Dawei because he did not have the power to help Daming build a gun factory and a gun factory, but the matter of sending a fleet to escort the Ming caravan was within his purview.

In order to get more benefits from it, Mascolus naturally had to bargain with Zhao Dawei, and the true meaning of the negotiation was to ask for the price to sit on the ground and repay the money.

In Mascolu's view, providing escort for the Ming caravan was an excellent opportunity to get close to the Ming Dynasty, which could bring the two sides closer, let the Ming see the great strength of the Portuguese navy, and reduce the space for the Dutch to operate in East Asia.

Mascolu knew that the Ming navy could only defend near the shore, and once it encountered a sneak attack by the Dutch during the voyage, then it would be the only way to escape, and the powerful firepower of the three-masted warship would be a nightmare for the Ming fleet.

In this way, the Ming Dynasty would definitely be forced to reach a compromise with the Dutch and give them a very considerable share of the overseas trade, after all, the Dutch came here thousands of miles to trade with the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, Mascolu believes that in the case that the Ming and the Netherlands have fallen out, the Dutch should not be given any chance to turn the tables, and if he is replaced, he will definitely send a fleet to show force to the Ming fleet and force the Ming fleet and the Ming court to submit.

Rather than sending a fleet, Mascolu was now more concerned about the Dutch captives, and he ordered a count of the numbers last night, and there were more than two hundred in all, all of whom had been captured during the Dutch attack on Macao.

However, Li Hongyu reported to Zhao Dawei in front of Ma Shijialu that the price was forty taels of silver for each captive, and Zhao Dawei naturally would not object, so he readily agreed.

This made Ma Shijialu secretly sigh in his heart, and Li Hongyu got half of the benefits from this prisoner of war matter in vain as soon as he touched his mouth.

Li Hongyu brought some silver taels with him this time, which was originally intended to bribe the Portuguese in Macao, but now it naturally came in handy and became the funds for the purchase of Dutch prisoners, which not only narrowed the relationship with Mascolus but also obtained those Dutch prisoners, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

Although the number of Dutch captives was less than 5,000 taels, Li Hongyu was very generous, and paid Mascolu 5,000 taels in the name of currying favor.

Mascolu was very happy about this, and thought that Li Hongyu was a generous friend, and he liked to deal with such people, and in order to express his gratitude, he specially gave Li Hongyu twenty flint muskets and a batch of ammunition, and both parties were very happy.

According to the agreement between Mashijialu and Zhao Dawei, when the Daming fleet passed through Macao, Mashijialu sent a fleet to join it to escort it.

Upon arrival in the South Seas, a portion of the cargo of the Ming fleet would be traded with the Portuguese company as a reward for the escort of the Portuguese fleet.

Not only Li Hongyu, but also Mascolu is also full of expectations for the first cooperation between the two sides, once the cooperation goes well, it will bring huge dividends to the Portuguese Empire, and he will definitely be promoted to the rank and honor.

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