The Governor of Luzon, Count Hechakin, was lost in thought, and in the governor's office, several officers coughed softly in confusion, and only the clerk with monospectacles stood still.

"Major, you go on, what I need is proof." The Governor raised his head and continued, whether in Europe, the Far East, or even South America, the Dutch were far more powerful than the Spaniards at sunset, and even if the Dutch were suspected of piracy, the Governor would not have come up with a better way to stop the situation.

"There is no evidence." The major replied very simply, he saw that the governor's face was a little hideous, and quickly changed his words: "Your Excellency, the only people who can organize such a large pirate force in the Far East are the Dutch, according to the investigation of the Luzon Navy, their soldiers are well-trained, and have a large number of standard Dutch muskets and crossbows, whenever our navy goes to the disaster area to rescue, they can always easily escape, which is also the reason why our navy has failed to make a move, our warships are too few, Seven large warships needed to defend dozens of ports of Luzon size, and if we wanted to annihilate them, we would have to send more than three large warships to the battle, but we couldn't find them, they weren't navy, they didn't have fixed ports, and they were always elusive. ”

"So, I think it's a conspiracy of the Dutch, who are trying to use pirates to restrain our power in the Far East." The Major paused, and then continued: "You may look at the behavior of these pirates, although they plundered merchant ships like ordinary pirates, but they were very different - they slaughtered any merchant ship or anyone in the port, Your Excellency the Governor, this is not a plunder, I dare to assert that it is definitely a conspiracy aimed at weakening the power of Spain. ”

After the major finished speaking, the other officers nodded in agreement, these high-ranking officers of the navy were equally annoyed by the provocation of the pirates, and they were very ugly in face, the dignified Spanish navy in Luzon could not eliminate a group of pirates, if this matter was reported back to China, I am afraid that people would laugh off their big teeth, and this bad reputation also had a fatal impact on everyone's career. Therefore, the conspiracy of the Dutch is a very good explanation.

It was a premeditated conspiracy, and the valiant Spanish navy was caught off guard by the Dutch's tricks, not because it was our problem, but because we were only good at making meritorious service to the empire on a battlefield full of gunpowder, and we were disgusted with conspiracy and had no defense against such shameless acts.

Very good excuse! The officers were now eager to have immediate evidence that this was a despicable trick by the Dutch. But the governor Ichakin was the exact opposite of his officers, and the Dutch East India Company had forty large warships in the Far East, and if the Dutch were going to make a move against Luzon, why should Spain stand in the way? This group of rice bucket officers? Thinking of this, Khchatin glanced at the officers dissatisfied.

"Luzon is Spain's last bastion in the Far East, we must not lose it, and you should make a plan early to eliminate this group of pirates and the possible outbreak of future conflict with the Dutch." After the Major's analysis, the Earl also felt that the Dutch were very likely to intervene, and that it was time to study the course of action.

The officers began to look embarrassed, and it was the consensus of the naval officers to take the Spanish navy in the Far East to fight the Dutch East India Company, because everyone knew that it was no different from sending them to death, and it was only a matter of early death and late death if they made a plan for 10,000 people.

"Lord Governor, the disparity between our present naval strength and that of the Dutch is too great, and I am sure that if the Dutch blatantly launch an armed aggression against Luzon, our main naval forces will be severely damaged within a week, and our army will probably not be much better. I think the Empire should send the Third Fleet to reinforce Luzon, so that maybe we have room to fight back. The previous major stepped forward again.

Hechagin glanced at the other officers, "Do you think so too?" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, this is the consensus within the Navy." Everyone nodded.

"Bastard!" Hechagin was fed up with these wretches, and he cursed loudly, and then he suppressed his anger, stood up, and propped his hands on his desk, and said: "I warn you that the Empire is no longer able to send a single soldier overseas, we have been greatly weakened in the war with Britain decades ago, and we can only fight alone, warriors, cheer up your spirits, and no difficulty can overcome the brave Spaniards." ”

The officers were not greatly encouraged by this, and they all pulled their heads and remained silent, but secretly cursed in their hearts that the governor was an idiot, and the disparity between the military forces of the two sides was too great, did this idiot governor think that if he had the courage to defeat the Dutch, nearly fifty large warships with a displacement of 1,200 tons, and hundreds of various small and medium-sized warships? It's not bravery, it's stupidity!

Seeing that the encouragement was ineffective, the Governor sat back in his chair with a decadent expression, and this time his tone softened considerably: "Gentlemen, shall we just sit still and wait for death?" In Luzon, we have 14,000 soldiers and 40,000 expatriates, and we have managed to maintain our rule here for a hundred years, should we just give up? If so, how do we go back and face His Majesty Philip and our family? The entire Spanish Navy will be humiliated for our actions. ”

There was silence in the office, who could blame it? Is it to blame these poor navies with only seven battered warships? Or do you blame the Dutch for their meanness and shamelessness, and you can't blame the Armada for being beaten all over the ground by the British decades ago, right?

At this time, the clerk, who was a bystander, stood up, and he helped the monocle in his right eye and said, "Your Excellency, I have a proposal. ”

"I have heard that a large merchant fleet has recently landed in Luzon that has overcome the pirate blockade and has also succeeded in defeating the pirates and rescuing one of our priests who was captured in Puerto Princesa."

"The crux of the matter is that the leader of the merchant fleet is actually the emperor of the Ming Dynasty." The clerk made the shocking announcement.

Ming Dynasty? The people present reacted, in their consciousness, this is a powerful country, it once defeated the Portuguese, and now, one of its generals is leading a fleet to fight the Dutch in Taiwan, and won victory after victory on the battlefield in Taiwan, according to the internal analysis of the Spanish Navy, the Dutch may be completely defeated within half a year, this alone shows how terrifying the strength of the Ming Dynasty is.

In fact, before the fall of the Spanish Armada, the invincible Spaniards had formulated a plan to invade the Ming Dynasty, the plan at that time was to pour the strength of the whole of Spain, dispatch the Invincible Armada, and unite Portugal, the Netherlands, Japan and other countries to attack together, just this article, you can see Spain's view of the strength of the Ming Dynasty, Spain at that time was the most powerful country in Europe, with the most powerful fleet and sharp artillery, despite this, it still believed that the war with the Ming Dynasty must unite countries to act together. And this ridiculous plan was also stranded indefinitely after the destruction of the Armada.

The Chinese have a saying that a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, and the Spaniards obviously think so, although they got the news of the fall of the Ming Dynasty, but still have a high opinion of the strength of the Ming Dynasty's fallen emperor, after all, a dead general can fight the Dutch all over the place, let alone the general's ruler.

"You mean to say that we will unite with the Ming Emperor against the Dutch?" The Governor asked the clerk.

The clerk said: "Yes, we have not had any conflict with the Ming Dynasty, and now the Ming generals are fighting against the Dutch, I think as the supreme commander of this general is also as disgusted with the Dutch as the Spaniards, if we can get his help, I think the Spanish rule in Luzon will be strengthened, maybe we can also squeeze the Dutch out of the Far East." ”

The Governor nodded, and he had no better way, and from the mouth of the clerk he concluded that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty had a considerable sea force, at least able to deal with the damned pirates, and one of his generals was being ordered to attack the Dutch, and beat them all over the ground, which was definitely an object to be united, and the Governor asked, "What is his attitude towards Spain?" How sure are you that you will be able to come to some kind of agreement with this emperor? ”

"Your Excellency, he is very friendly to the Spaniards, and I have heard that he not only rescued a Spanish priest, but also appointed him as an adviser, who on several occasions in the port of Nasugbu expressed to our local officials the Emperor's friendly attitude towards Spain and the hope of being able to conduct reciprocal trade in Luzon." The clerk recounted all the contents of the hearsay that had been heard from the merchants in the past few days.

"This is exciting good news, the great Emperor Ming is simply a gift from God to Spain, I should arrange a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor, and this matter will be left to you." With a long-lost smile on the governor's face, he paused suddenly, and said, "Please wait, we can't take His Majesty the Emperor lightly, I think I should leave for the port of Nasugbu, I will personally meet His Majesty the Emperor, and express to him the friendly attitude of the Spaniards towards the Ming Dynasty." ”

"Okay, I'll arrange it." The clerk nodded.