As the distance got closer, the expression on Franco's face grew sadder.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen the ships of the First Fleet before, but that time it was the first time he had come to attack him, and it was the first time he had seen it so closely.

It's so big.

Why is it so big?

There were many people watching around, but they were all separated by soldiers.

The inner thoughts of the merchants of other countries were roughly the same as Franco's, pointing at the battleship one by one, and exclaiming from time to time. And some forward-thinking businessmen have begun to think about what it would be like if these iron guys drove to their doorstep.

Zheng Zhilong sent someone to talk to him, and Xie Xuelong walked down from the boat.

After the two exchanged pleasantries at the dock, Zheng Zhilong looked at Franco.

"Franco, get on board. Send you a thousand miles, and there will be a farewell. Hopefully we'll see each other again!"

"Zheng Zongbing, I still think that there is no need to trouble the superintendent."

"This matter is His Majesty's will, and no one can change it. Come aboard, and hopefully this time, you and I will be brothers, not enemies!"

Zheng Zhilong didn't have anything to do with him, and his face became serious.

Franco had no choice but to honestly board his own sailboat.

He stepped on the wooden deck, looked at the Ming battleship that was several circles larger in the distance, and lowered his head in inferiority.

The whistle sounded, and the battleships left the dock.

The eighteen warships were divided into two fleets, each with nine warships.

The First Fleet, two more ships were added to the original one.

Each fleet has its own captain, but both are under the command of Xie Xuelong.

In addition to this, next to the island of Corregido, twenty transport ships are parked. The ship was loaded with supplies for both fleets.

Bottled water, canned food, grain, medicine, clothing, coal, cannonballs, you name it.

Compared to the old manpower galleons, although these battleships were large, there were not many people on board. The contents of these twenty transports are enough for a year's consumption.

In fact, most things can be replenished along the way, after all, the business of global commerce has been done for so many years, and the road has already been traveled, but it is always good to be prepared.

As for the task this time, it is naturally a negotiation. However, Zhu Youzhen felt that it would be better to negotiate in person, and for the sake of safety, it was reasonable to pull the two fleets over.

After all, when I arrived in Spain, I was unfamiliar with the place and was bullied.

Besides, taking the guy to negotiate will have more confidence after all.

If the negotiations are successful, then it will be a tour.

If it doesn't work, you can't come back empty-handed.

In general, in Zhu Youzhen's plan, this is a business that only makes money and does not lose money. But then again, he won't do anything that is not beneficial, and that's not his character.

For this reason, Zhu Youzhen also talked with Xie Xuelong for a long time, describing to him how much profit it would bring to the imperial court and how much it would improve the national strength if none of the overseas colonies in Spain had concessions. and appointed Xie Xuelong as the head of the mission, so that he would let the king of Spain agree to the request of the Ming Dynasty at all costs and not be stingy with shells.

In Zhu Youzhen's plan, this is only the first step in infiltrating the West. Spain, though strong, was only dying, and what he valued over the years was their colonies, the trade markets of the whole of Europe, and the silver of the Americas.

It's going to be a long process, but he's not in a hurry, he's only twenty-four years old, and there's time. In the next generation, at this age, he was still a young chicken.

On the dock, Zheng Zhilong kept looking in the direction where the fleet had left until they disappeared from the end of sight.

"Big brother, Your Majesty sent so many warships to Spain, is it to capture their king?" Gan Hui stood beside Zheng Zhilong and said with emotion.

"Catch the king? You're all right, right? And I didn't bring infantry on the ship, how did I land and arrest people? Besides, Spain is leaving

We are thousands of miles away, even if we capture them? Can you destroy their kingdom?

His Majesty's purpose is to force them to submit, Xie Xuelong has experts with him, and he has drawn up a charter for negotiations, if he does not agree to our conditions, the landing is estimated to be not, but his harbor, docks, and fleet merchant ships at sea are estimated to suffer.

It's okay to use your brain, don't ask brainless questions all day long. Zhibao can't come back, so you have to worry more about the Luzon military in the future."

Zheng Zhilong frowned and reprimanded Gan Hui a few words, but the last words made Gan Hui extremely happy.

"Thank you, big brother! But what is an expert?"

"Expert, that's it, that's it, you don't understand it anyway. Go back, there is a rebellion against the natives in the east, and you can lead your troops to suppress it as soon as possible."

"Okay, big brother."

After Franco left, Manila calmed down again, and everything seemed to go back to the way it was.

Those who should do business do business, those who should farm the land should have children, and those who should have children have children.

It didn't change because of anyone's absence.

There had been no war recently, and Zheng Zhilong planned to rest for a while, but Zhu Youzhen quickly arranged a new task for him.

Troops were sent to Hainan to cooperate with the imperial court officials in the development of Hainan Island.

Although he was very confused about what the rubber in His Majesty's mouth was, he still carried out Zhu Youzhen's order to the letter.

Time passed day by day, and it came to the summer of Chongzhen's seventh year.

July 28th

evening

Forbidden city

Zhu Youzhen was squatting on the ground and tinkering with a floor fan.

"Daddy, can these leaves really turn?" Zhu Cihong squatted next to him, looked at him and asked.

"Yes, not only does it spin, but it also blows a very cool wind so you don't feel hot."

"Is it because of the electricity?"

"Yes, plug this plug into the socket."

"And where does the electricity on this socket come from?"

"Electricity from the generator."

"Where did the generator come from?"

"Daddy ordered it to be made."

"Oh." Zhu Cihong closed his mouth.

Just when Zhu Youzhen thought that he had finished this 100,000 whys, Zhu Cihong spoke again.

"Daddy doesn't know how to pretend?"

"Daddy will pretend."

"Then why did Daddy put it on and then take it off?"

"Daddy turned the fan blades upside down."

"Why is Daddy so stupid?"

"Poof~" Wang Chengen, who was standing on the side, couldn't help laughing. There are really not many times when you can see Banzai being called stupid.

Zhu Youzhen turned around and glared at him, and then looked at Zhu Cihong.

「... Cihong, you come out to play, does your mother know? I think I just heard her call you."

"My mother won't call me, when I came to play with my father, I asked my mother for instructions, and we agreed on a time to go back. My mother won't let me make trouble here."

"Have you finished your homework?"