There was a lot of talk in the headquarters.

Zhu Daolin motioned for everyone to be quiet: "You didn't understand our fleet's mission to Europe before, here, I can clearly tell you that the real purpose of this visit to Europe is three: first, let the officers from Europe go back to visit their relatives who have been absent for a long time, settle everything down, and bring their families and enough beautiful girls to live in Daming." ”

The generals burst into laughter, and Vargas laughed even more comfortably.

Zhu Daolin continued: "Second, this visit is also a test for European countries, especially the Dutch, who are already a veritable maritime hegemon, so we must understand the Netherlands and its European rivals and allies. ”

"As long as our envoys bring the goodwill of the Ming Empire and the good intentions of opening up trade and friendly trade to the countries of Europe, it will bring great pressure to the Dutch who are insatiable and want to dominate the sea, and it will be of great help to Spain, which has been suppressed by the Dutch, and Portugal, which has been attached to the Spanish Empire."

The generals and colonels suddenly had solemn faces.

Simeno nodded heavily, Zhu Daolin's move was basically consistent with his analysis, and he firmly believed that after Zhu Daolin completed this mission to Europe, he would definitely carry out an all-round containment of the barbarian Dutch.

Zhu Daolin's ambition was not only to expel the Dutch and completely occupy the island of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, which held the choke points of the Far East, but to completely expel the insatiable and extremely domineering Dutch from the waters of the Far East and become the maritime hegemon of the Far East.

Therefore, no matter how the Dutch and the Zheng family of Fujian fought and what the outcome was, within three years Zhu Daolin would launch a large-scale attack on the Dutch.

Zhu Daolin did not explain much, and continued to say the third purpose: "Third, because the religious wars that have lasted for many years in Europe have entered a white heat, more and more countries are participating in the war. It has caused great damage to European civilization. ”

"Therefore, I intend to invite mathematicians, physicists, chemists, watchmakers, smelters, ship designers and architects from all over Europe to visit and work in Daming to promote exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations."

"The four cargo ships going to Europe this time will bring people back as much as possible on the return trip, and will not load other goods!"

"Major General Bagas, you and your men need to work harder. Fully cooperate with Mr. Feng to handle this matter, and also tell all the scientists in Spain and Europe that I will invest a huge amount of money equivalent to 1 million Spanish gold coins to build a university town in Jinling, and give European scientists who come to work in Daming ten times the salary of Europe. ”

"If anyone is willing to move their family to Daming to settle down, I will not only give away a residential building with a front and rear garden, but also arrange decent jobs for their families, as long as their families are willing to come out to work, I will hire both men and women. And give generous benefits. ”

"If you and your subordinates want to know more about the comprehensive implementation plan, you can go to the head of the mission, Mr. Feng Shengtai."

"Yes!"

Vargas replied loudly that although he could not understand Zhu Daolin's decision, he would do his best.

Li Changlong, Yang Dading and other generals were stunned, and they didn't understand why Zhu Daolin liked the bearded and scumsome Franc machine man so much? I have a lot of literati who have the ability! Why go far?

Several other Spanish and Portuguese generals in Simeno were equally shocked.

Mathematicians, physicists, chemists and ship designers, they dare not guarantee how many, there is absolutely no shortage of watchmakers, smelters and architects, and with such high salaries, it is easy to recruit more than 500 people in the major cities along the coast of Spain and Lisbon alone.

"Report to the General. From the south coast, two Spanish warships were approaching from the southern seas. Less than 8 km from Tamsui Port! ”

The star officer came to the door and reported loudly.

Simeno laughed: "The guests from Manila are finally here!" ”

Zhu Daolin nodded, stood up and ordered: "For the time being, if you have any questions and requirements, you can discuss with me privately, and now, let's go and greet the Spanish guests together!" ”

……

……

Two 500-ton Spanish warships were guided by a port transport boat. Slowly approaching the No. 5 passenger terminal, which was decorated with colorful flags and flowers, Zhu Daolin did not hold a grand welcome ceremony, and as he did yesterday when he welcomed the Portuguese guests, he personally led more than a dozen civil and military personnel to wait on the pier.

More than 20 people, including Sánchez, director of the Spanish East India Company, and Aznar, counselor of the Manila Governor's Office, stepped off the ship and cordially met with Zhu Daolin, director of the Portuguese East India Company, Moreno, and Saïd, a wealthy Arab businessman.

The greetings are over. A tired Sanchez praised the size and facilities of the port, and his entourage was shocked.

Although I have been constantly receiving reports on the scale and progress of the construction of the Tamsui Port, I am still deeply impressed by the amazing speed of construction and the wide and clean scale of the port.

Zhu Daolin politely said that the freshwater port occupies a certain geographical advantage, but in other aspects it is far less than the natural port Manila, which can only be said to be basically enough as a trade transit port.

Asnar finally withdrew his gaze from the Fort Hill on the left, followed everyone to the seamen's club decorated with flowers and trees and hung colorful flags, and looked at his old friends Simeno and Bagas who followed Zhu Daolin's side as he walked, his heart was full of doubts and emotion, just the straight military uniforms on the two old friends made Asnar impressed.

After sending the Spanish guests to the No. 5 Courtyard in the depths of the club compound, Zhu Daolin, Moreno, Sayid, and others took their leave for the time being and returned to their temporary residences to prepare for a welcome luncheon to be held two hours later, after which an important four-party meeting was held.

Zhu Daolin and more than a dozen civil and military officers under his command went directly to the Wanghai Restaurant, where the banquet was held, and not long after entering the spacious banquet hall on the second floor, Sa Yide arrived first accompanied by four relatives.

Sayid came to Zhu Daolin and sat down, approached Zhu Daolin and asked in a low voice, "What does the general think of the two priests among the Spaniards?" ”

Zhu Daolin replied helplessly: "I have never discriminated against any religion, but I have to say that the attitude of the two Catholic priests annoyed me, and I warmly greeted them, but as soon as they opened their mouths, they asked me why I can't see a church in such a big port?" ”

"It can be seen that religious forces have seriously influenced the foreign policy of the Spaniards, and this meeting will be very difficult."

Sayid nodded thoughtfully: "After the Spring Festival, the Japanese shogunate issued an order to expel Catholic priests and missionaries from all over the territory, does the general know the news?" ”

"I know, I'm afraid the next step is to close the country. Dozens of Spanish missionaries who have been driven out of Japan are currently stranded in Keelung Harbor in the north, and I thought that these missionaries would return to Manila, the Catholic base camp in the East, but last night I suddenly received a report that two cargo ships from Manila, transporting more than 800 craftsmen and coolies to Keelung Harbor, said that they would expand Keelung Harbor and garrison castle, and build churches. ”

Zhu Daolin had a headache about this.

This move by the Spaniards not only made his plan to recover Keelung Port come to naught, but also indicated that the Spaniards' policy had undergone a major change, otherwise they would not suddenly strengthen the colonization of Keelung Port, and perhaps Yilan and Hualien on the east coast would soon be occupied by the Spanish army.

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PS: Thank you for the big reward from my sister and my brother, thank you for the big monthly pass, Xiaohuo continues to ask for subscriptions, tips, recommended tickets and monthly pass support! (To be continued.) )