The famous Hongyi cannon is a type of heavy cannon that the British Royal Navy is equipped with.

But the arrival of the Hongyi cannon in China was full of comedy.

The Ming court purchased artillery from the Portuguese who occupied Macao.

So the Portuguese salvaged an eighteen-pounder cannon from a British armed merchant ship that sank off the coast of the mainland and sold it to the Ming authorities.

Later, in a series of naval battles with the Dutch, the Ming army found that the Dutch's armed merchant ships were equipped with this kind of heavy cannon, so they named it Hongmaoyi after the Dutch.

In other words, the Hongyi cannon was a British artillery, but it was sold to the Ming Dynasty by the Portuguese, and finally because the Ming Dynasty fought with the Dutch, it was finally named after the appearance and characteristics of the Dutch.

It can be said that the relationship is very chaotic and full of comedy.

The technology of the Ming army craftsmen to produce Hongyi cannons was gradually perfected with the technical support of the Portuguese in Macao.

Gore happily took more than 40,000 Spanish silver dollars as a deposit.

At the same time, as a guest of the city of Laoag, a visit to the Spanish captives began.

Liu Yu did fulfill his promise and did not embarrass the Spanish captives, whether they were officers, soldiers, or merchants.

In an elaborate bungalow, Gore met Brent.

The former consul of Laoag was a little depressed, perhaps because he was imprisoned by the Ming army or because the Ming army had taken away the property of the colonial government of Laoag, and he was obviously emaciated, looking very haggard and old.

Gore, on the other hand, didn't say anything when he saw Brent's appearance, but only motioned to the co-ordinator who had come over to step back outside the house and leave some private space for them.

The co-organizer in charge of surveillance gave Brent a wary look, then retreated outside the house.

The two Westerners, who did not speak the same language, finally met under the watchful eye of the Ming army, and Gore handed over to Brent a letter written by Governor Juan himself.

Brent unwrapped the envelope and read it over and over again, then tore the letter to shreds in front of Sir Gore.

The Ming Army Coordinator outside the house frowned, but did not step forward to stop him.

"It looks like Manila is giving up on Luzon." Brent smiled wryly.

Apparently very disappointed with the colonial government of Manila.

"You should understand that Manila has to think about the lives of thousands of of you." Gore explained, seeing Brent's slightly disappointed expression.

"Hmph, our safety, if Manila really cares, these Han Chinese should send troops when they besiege Laoag." Brent sneered.

"It's come to this, and there is no reason or excuse for the loser." Gore shook his head and continued.

"I have negotiated with the Han Chinese generals in northern Luzon that you officials and merchants can leave Laoag, and of course you will have to pay a ransom."

"You are the highest Spanish official in Laoag, you go and explain to the businessmen who are imprisoned here, I think they will pay this ransom and go back to Manila."

After listening to Gore's words, Brent's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Really......" he looked at Gore in surprise.

Gore nodded, not saying anything.

It is better for the Spanish official to talk to the merchants than to explain to the mercenary merchants himself, although the ransom that the marquis asked for is quite high, but it is better than living and dying in Laoag!

"What about the soldiers?" Brent asked suddenly.

Gore shook his head and said helplessly: "You must stay in Laoag, you know, this is war, they are already prisoners of the Ming army."

Brent didn't get too excited as if he knew the end, and after thinking about the ending of Brewster and those artillerymen, Brent felt that it was okay to let these soldiers stay in Laoag, at least the Ming army would not massacre prisoners of war.

It's just a pity that Manila will lose a living force.

"It's God's mercy to be back alive in Manila."

As if he knew what Brent was thinking, Gore spoke.

The Ming army set aside a block for Spanish merchants to live in.

Although they could not go out and their personal freedom was restricted, at least they could eat and drink, and the merchants and soldiers and sailors were at peace these days.

When Sir Brent told the merchants of the truce between Manila and the Ming army, the Spanish merchants breathed a sigh of relief.

"What, you can't take your property in the city of Laoag with you, you can only keep your clothes and other luggage back to Manila, what are you kidding!"

When Brent spoke out about the Ming army's demands, the merchants blew up the nest en masse.

Brent also felt that the ransom was too high, thinking that the Ming army would only extort a wave, who would have thought that the ransom would be all the assets of the wealthy Spanish merchants in the city of Lasag.

"Sir Brent, the price is too great for us to accept." A wealthy Spanish businessman led by him said tremblingly.

The wealthy Spanish businessmen present looked at Brent with begging eyes, but Brent was unmoved, he just looked coldly at the businessmen around him.

"Half a month ago, when the Ming army besieged the official residence, the Ming army promised to keep your wealth by surrendering, and for the sake of wealth, you chose to fall into hell, and surrendered with the city of Laoag and hundreds of soldiers." Brent's eyes were cold, and a pair of gloomy eyes stared at the rich businessmen present.

"You have chosen to surrender, for the sake of your wealth."

"For the sake of your death, the silver, jewelry, and porcelain made Laoag fall into the hands of the Han Chinese."

"God, for Manila's sake, I'd rather you all stay in the city of Laoag." Brent's tone was so cold that the rich Spanish businessmen present shivered.

Yes, although the Ming army surrounded the Laoag official residence at the beginning, with the army in the official residence and the various strongholds in the city, it was possible for the Spaniards to hold out for a few days, and even expel the Ming army.

Because Liu Yu's Huben Town only has 500 people, even counting the gunners.

There are also four or five hundred Spanish soldiers in the city, and if they really fight, it is unknown whether the Ming army can take the city of Laoag.

And even if you take it, you will suffer heavy casualties, and you will even be stabbed in the back by a mercenary who is ready to move.

Therefore, Liu Yu chose to besiege and persuade the Spaniards to surrender by retaining the wealth of the wealthy merchants in the city.

When these stingy wealthy Spanish merchants heard the assurances that the Ming army would not annex their assets in the city of Laoag, they immediately surrendered like the Ming army, and even encouraged and persuaded the Spanish officers to surrender together.

If it weren't for the divine operation of these Spanish merchants, Liu Yu really wouldn't have been able to take Laoag City.

For this, Liu Yu is still quite grateful.

Out of gratitude to these Ming heroes, Liu Yu decided to give these Spanish businessmen a ticket to Manila, without the kind of return trip.

The wealthy Spanish businessmen present all fell to the ground one by one.

Most of them lived in the city of Manila, but they happened to be trading in Laoag, but the pirates besieged them for two months.

Most of their roots were in Manila, and the wealth of Laoag was at best the merchant ships and the cargo on board, and of course there were some people who were rooted in the city of Laoag, but there were very few of them.

But even these riches are reluctant to give up, and they are like ashes, and they are stuck there.

"Either come back to Manila with me, or stay in Laoag." Brent said coldly.