In the waters of Xiamen, two two-masted wooden ships were quietly parked in the wind and rain, and the rain was like a line, blurring the line of sight. At this time, the wind and waves were not strong, and the ship gently rose and fell with the waves in the sea, and the fine rain wet the deck, and it was as wet as oil.

Several sailor generals stood quietly in the bow of the boat, the rain rustled on the robes, and the drops of rain condensed and rolled down, but they still stood still, as if they were paying attention to something.

In the rain and fog, two dhows came, and a sailor general waved his hand, and his ship sailed out, and the other side also had a sailboat to meet it, three hundred feet, two hundred feet, one hundred feet, the two ships approached, and when the sides of the ships touched, each other's hulls shook slightly, and then the sailors on both sides quickly threw their hooks and pulled each other's boats.

The two boats were brought closer together again, and two pedals were handed from both boats to each other at the same time. The soldiers took the plank and tied it to the side of the ship neatly, while looking at each other curiously and carefully. Different hair, different appearance, but you can feel the identity of a warrior on the other side.

It was the first time they had looked at their opponents so closely and so peacefully, and Jia Qingyou hurried over, the shipping merchant who had inadvertently acted as a witness to a major historical event, despite his reluctance.

The Ming generals boarded the ship, and the Portuguese side held the first negotiations on the Portuguese ship out of security considerations. They took off their robes, revealing a crisp and neat armor and a narrow blade under their ribs, and boarded the Portuguese ship as if nothing had happened. Their calm expressions and steady movements dispelled the nervousness of the Portuguese soldiers, and the clenched hands of the musketeers standing under the tarpaulins on both sides of the ship loosened, and the muzzles of their guns fell silently.

"This is General Han Wu, the Admiral of the Fujian Navy Division of the Ming Dynasty, the Fujian Political Envoy Yamen Senator Zheng Yunran, the Fujian Sea Road Envoy Tang Xingyun, and the Zhejiang Navy Master Peng Xiaochao."

The Portuguese leader on the opposite side replied with his fists in his fists that he had just learned, and Jia Qingyou's nervousness gradually calmed down, and he continued: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Admiral Sander of the Royal Navy of the Franc Country, Priest Miguel, this is the representative of Captain Pedro who is doing business in Luzon, his assistant Mr. Valente, and uh, the handsome warrior of the country."

Several Ming army generals brushed their razor-like gazes on the 'handsome' face of the pig paw, and the handsome pig paw was used to grabbing the [***] samurai bun, trying to put on an expression of indifference, Han Wu smiled contemptuously, turned his head to Sand and said with a smile: "The characters of your envoy and his party are really varied, and the eight of us meet on this sea, which is a bit of a 'eight immortals across the sea'."

A few Portuguese people didn't understand what the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea was, but the pig's paw was handsome and understood, he couldn't help grinning, but all the people didn't look at him, the pig's paw laughed twice, feeling bored, and then he couldn't help it.

Jia Qingyou was fluent in Portuguese, and communication was not a problem, so he said a few words to Sand in stammering Portuguese, and then said to Han Wu: "General Sander, please enter the cabin with all your lords."

Son also made a gesture of extending his hand to invite, Han Wu nodded, and took the lead in walking towards the cabin, Peng Xiaochao shook his sturdy body, and when he passed by the handsome body of Pigpaw, the elbow pad part of the armor suddenly shook, rubbing between the handsome chest and abdomen of Pigpaw, and at the same time glanced at him defiantly.

The pig's paw let out a handsome roar of pain, his body took two steps back, he was furious, twisted his face and grasped the long hilt of the katana, and with a "click" of the sword, he wanted to pull out and slash.

Priest Miguel pressed the back of his hand and shook his head slightly, at this time Peng Xiaochao and the others had already entered the cabin, the pig's paw handsomely pushed the knife into the sheath with hatred, gritted his teeth and followed the three Westerners into the cabin, he was short and strong, standing behind him could only see the back of the person in front of him, but he would not clash with Peng Xiaochao again.

After a few words of extemplation between the two sides, Sander got straight to the point: "We come from the distant kingdom of Portugal, and we have no intention of offending the Ming court. Manchurian is a small kingdom of barbarians, they have been annexed by us, but as a dependency of the Kingdom of Portugal, we respect the supremacy of the Ming Kingdom in the East, and are willing to negotiate peace with the Ming Kingdom on this matter."

Han Wu shook his head and smiled, "General Sander, I would like to know what your country wants to negotiate with us?" Manchu Thorn is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, called the minister Nagong and accept the protection of the Ming army, you are now occupying the Manchu Thorn Ka, Manchu Sultan Su Duan Mamo His Excellency has asked my Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to send troops to help restore the country, we should protect the interests of our own vassal country, right? ”

Priest Miguel smiled, "Your Excellency, our king very much wants to establish a good cooperative relationship with the greatest empire in the East. Our navy is the most powerful power in the West, and because of the snubbing of Manchu and Thorn Plus to us, we have annexed them and replaced their dominance. Now, as the master of Manchukta".

Zheng Yunran, the political envoy of the Bu political envoy, immediately said: "No, without the recognition of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, you are not the master of Manchu Jia, and you have no right to speak on behalf of Manchu Jialai."

Sander shrugged his shoulders in displeasure and sneered, "Unfortunately, Your Excellency, it is in fact that it is now we who decide everything that is Manchurian."

Peng Xiaochao immediately shrugged his shoulders and said-for-tat: "So, here we are!" ”

When Valente saw the strong smell of gunpowder, he hurriedly said as a peacemaker: "Gentlemen, please be quiet, please be quiet, please let me say a word!" ”

He shouted again and saw that no one paid attention to him, so he hurriedly pulled Jia Qingyou and asked him to repeat it twice in Chinese, so that the two sides could be considered to be quiet for the time being.

The rain outside seemed to be heavier, and the tarpaulin on the roof of the cabin made a rustling sound, and Valente looked at the white rain and fog outside the cabin, and muttered, "This is not a good weather for negotiations, but it is also not a good weather for combat."

He tightened his cloak and said with a smile: "General Han, my lords, I have been in the East for a long time, and I also know that although His Majesty the Ming Emperor has a vast territory and an army with a population larger than our entire country, the broad-minded Ming Monarch has no intention of using his powerful power to interfere in the affairs of the surrounding small countries, as long as no one offends the dignity of the Ming Dynasty, he is a kind giant." ”

He pointed to Sander and Miguel and said with a smile: "And we are some people who don't want to offend Daming. Regarding the issue of Manchujia as a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, we understand it like this: we want to occupy it and live here, just want to do business with the Orientals, and after the annexation of Manchujia, we are also obliged to replace Manchu Jiajia and fulfill the obligations of vassals to the Ming Emperor, that is to say: General Sander's political axe will be the same as the Manchu Jiaguo Kingdom, and we will pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and if General Yang Ling agrees, we can immediately send a delegation to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute."

Priest Miguel nodded again and again, and said: "Yes, yes, for the Ming Dynasty, there is no change, although the Manchu Thorn has changed the master, he is still a subject of the Ming Dynasty, and he is willing to fulfill the obligations of the subject state to the Ming Dynasty, I think His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will be satisfied with this."

Han Wu, Zheng Yunran and the others looked at each other, they were a little surprised, they also estimated the conditions that the Buddha Lang Jiren might put forward before leaving, thinking that it was just a deterrent by force, and at the same time giving some sweetness, to ensure that they would not invade the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and that they would not obstruct the Nanyang countries from paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty by the way.

However, even in Yang Ling's estimation, he did not think that the Westerners would agree to pay tribute, after all, at this time, the Franc Machine was the overlord of the sea, and it was ruled by a group of adventurers and opportunists who had the upper hand, and they would not show weakness and surrender because of the destruction of a few ships.

This incident was very much more than they expected, and one regime overthrew another, and he was satisfied with the deference to the Ming Dynasty, as the political envoy to the Senate Zheng Yunran. There is no need to use swords, and the status of the central state of the Ming Dynasty can be guaranteed, so there is no need to care about the changes in the small Manchu plus the internal changes.

In fact, after the internal regime change between Ben and Annan, the new ruler declared himself a vassal to the Ming Dynasty, and generally speaking, the Ming Emperor would accept it, which was a precedent thing, so his expression was greatly relaxed when he heard it, and he had already begun to nod slightly.

Seeing this, Sander was also a little proud, the Oriental people care about these false names, what about lifting him up to the position of God? As long as the actual interests and power are in their own hands. Moreover, when we have gained a firm foothold here, and our power is gradually becoming stronger, and our navy can continue to come to the East, we can tear up this paper at any time.

Han Wu, Peng Xiaochao, Zheng Yunran, and Haidao made Tang Xingyun and a few people whisper, and Zheng Yunran said: "General Han, in my opinion, this condition is worth discussing, do you want to reply to the Governor, and ask the Lord to make a decision again?" ”

Han Wu hesitated, glanced at Tang Xingyun and Peng Xiaochao, and asked, "What is your opinion?" ”

Tang Xingyun twisted his beard, looked at the four people opposite, and then said in a low voice: "This and this, we all know that the pirates of the Franc Machine are very powerful, and the Franc Robot people who are full of thorns are not pirates, but the official army of the Franc Machine, their combat power must be stronger, I think if this matter can be resolved peacefully, there is nothing bad." The rulers there, whether they are called Manchu Sultan or King Franji, as long as they are all vassals of the Ming Dynasty, what is the difference? ”

Han Wu frowned, but because Zheng Yunran and Tang Xingyun's official positions were not below him, it was not easy for him to refute it in person. He knew Yang Ling's true intentions, and what Yang Ling cared about was not who the Manthorn Jia belonged to in terms of form, but the impact on the Ming Dynasty once this sea communication artery was controlled by others.

Obviously, the Franco-Rang Marines are ambitious, and if their existence is officially recognized, the Ming Marines will only be able to circle around the Inland Sea, and the outside will become the territory of the Franc-Mechanics Mariners.

Peng Xiaochao said in a low voice: "I said everyone, you see, which of these ghosts and ghosts seems to be a good thing?" Can you believe what they say? Territory, territory, I think when my father called Putuo Mountain, who wants to come down, then he has to lead people and ships to take refuge. Just cutting off the head of a chicken, drinking blood wine, and erecting the banner of my Peng family is considered a member of my Peng family? Yaya, being an idiot is it? ”

Han Wu glared at him and said angrily: "Talking black again, you are now a military general of the imperial court!" Don't say it, the official has his own ideas."

He thought for a while, and smiled at Sander and the others: "Very good, I am also willing to believe in your sincerity, and I am not willing to meet you in battle, but the matter is big, and this official cannot be the master." Now that the Governor is waiting for you on Gulangyu Island, could you please return to General Ezeger and His Excellency Bishop La Mario, and ask them to come forward and discuss the details with us? ”

Sander, Miguel and the others whispered a few words, and Miguel hesitated: "It's not that we can't trust Your Excellency General, but General Ezeger is the commander of the Manchurian garrison, and Bishop La Mario is the envoy of His Majesty the King, how do you ensure their safety?" ”

Han Wu said calmly: "The four of us can stay on your envoy's ship as hostages." There is an old saying in our country, which is called "If two countries fight each other, they will not be killed, and we will not meet each other."

"But", he glanced at the handsome pig paw, and said lightly: "Their people don't want to be bored, we know that they are serving you, but they are not qualified to negotiate!" ”

Five nautical miles behind the two wooden galleons, each with a large number of warships gathered just in case. Sander and the others immediately sent another ship to the back to ask Commander Ezeger and Archbishop La Mario, although Ezeger had repeatedly tried to lure the chieftains of the Turks into negotiating, but he took the other party hostage, but he believed that the Ming army would not do this, not to mention that the Ming army also left four high-ranking officials as hostages, so he immediately readily agreed.

Han Wu explained the two battle ships on his side, and then when the Franc machine ship carried Ezegg and others to the middle line, they sailed to the fleet of the Franc machine man on the Portuguese warship, and the two Ming sailing ships escorted Ezeger and others to the Ming fleet.

Gulangyu Island is located in the southwest of Xiamen Island, called Yuanshazhou in the Yuan Dynasty, and renamed Gulangyu in this Dynasty. The oval-shaped island is not large, but it is a beautiful island with rolling hills. The highest peak, Longtou Mountain, and Xiamen's Hutou Mountain face each other across the bank, and there is a saying that there is a dragon and a tiger guarding Xiamen.

The rain has stopped, the air is fresh and humid, and all kinds of seabirds are flying over the beach, flying and singing. Yang Ling stood on the beach by the sea in the southwest corner of the island, the sea breeze blowing his cloak, fluttering like a flag. There are two overlapping rocks not far from his side, which have been eroded by the sea water for many years, forming a vertical hole in the middle, every time the tide rises, the waves hit the rocks, emitting the sound of the waves like drums, and are called "Gulang Stone" by the fishermen, and Gulangyu Island was renamed from the garden sandbar for this reason.

After the rain, there was a brilliant glow in the sky, like a colorful bridge between the clear water and blue sky, and at this time, several warships gradually sailed from the end of the rainbow that gradually faded on the sea.

(To be continued)