"Your Majesty the Emperor, I am here for peaceful trade, and I don't understand why you treat guests from afar like this. Trade is good for both countries, and I take my wife and family with me because I believe that the master of the East is a sane emperor. Now it seems that I overestimated you! ”

"Bold!"

Seeing Alfonso holding his head high, after Yang Tinghe shouted this sentence, the general of the Siyi Pavilion trembled: Your Majesty has ordered that the original words must be translated, and the translation of 1510 is very scary, in other words, is it considered a bully?

Fortunately, the emperor did not seem to be angry.

Zhu Houxi said disapprerovingly: "In order to make it easier for you to understand, I will tell you a little clearly." Manraka and the surrounding countries have been worshipping the Ming Dynasty as their suzerainty for many years. From the time you attacked and occupied there, a war had already been waged against the Ming Dynasty. Since the war has begun, when will it end, Da Ming will say it. Do you think it's borderland? ”

After listening to the translation, Alfonso's face changed slightly.

It was an archipelago that had only just been discovered, rich in products and backward in technology.

"But we didn't find out about your dominion there! If you must use this as an excuse at such a distance from your empire, then I can only think that you are not prepared to live peacefully with the Portuguese Empire. ”

Zhu Houxi chuckled and said: "It's just a kingdom, don't put gold on your face just because you grabbed some overseas territories." Your homeland is no bigger than the land of my Ming Dynasty. The Labor Expedition occupied a vassal country protected by the Ming Dynasty, and how dare you talk to me about peaceful coexistence? This battle will not end until you retreat from the South Seas. Now, your status is that of a captive. ”

Alfonso looked at Zhu Houxi angrily: "This is impossible! ”

Listening to the meaning of the Emperor of the East, he would take Manraka back in the future, and the Portuguese forces would not allow it to touch there. In this way, will not the wealth of the East be cut off?

"Is it possible, you don't count." Zhu continued, "Now, your king has been replaced by João III. I may allow you to send back a letter to your king to see if he will accept my request to withdraw from the Ming Dynasty. If you refuse, then build a battleship as soon as possible and recruit soldiers to send to the East. If you want peace and want trade, it should be your king who sends an envoy to ask me for peace! ”

Yang Tinghe stopped talking after listening, but Alfonso replied very dryly: "Okay." If you must go to war, Portugal will not be afraid! ”

"Let's go down and let him write the letter."

Yang Tinghe said: "Your Majesty, after a few years, the new law will be completed, and the ministers will be able to ensure that the Ming Dynasty's food and salary will be enough to support the expedition of the soldiers, help Manchurian to restore the country, and Xuanwei Nanyang." Now that the country has been prepared early, does Guangdong have to constantly guard against the enemy coming from the South Seas? ”

Zhu Houxi just said with a cold face: "There is no external trouble, what have all the provincial guards along the river become rotten?" Just a hundred pirates can be invincible! The coastal provinces are waiting for work, so why be afraid? Now Japan's neglect of tribute, and its disobedience is clearly revealed. If Manraka is based on the Ming Dynasty, if he can't drive out foreign enemies for him in the future, won't the Nanyang countries be cold and turn to other countries? If all the vassal kingdoms turn against each other, then what face will I have to see my ancestors and ancestors? ”

It sounded as if the emperor was at odds with Yang Tinghe again.

The court counselor pondered in his heart.

"Yang Ge Lao is ready to conquer even Japan, what are the thousands of people sent by Portugal in Manraka thousands of miles away? I won't be happy to be in a hurry, Yang Ge Lao can rest assured. Since I have entrusted Yang Ge Lao with a heavy responsibility, whether the new law can enrich the country depends entirely on Yang Ge Lao. ”

At the end of this prisoner sacrifice ceremony, many people in the court counselors pondered.

Since His Majesty is not ready to send troops to conscript the Portuguese on the side of Manraka now, then this is to use Yang Tinghe's previous statement that he will conquer Japan to continue to play, and the main thing is to use this matter to make a fuss about the new law.

In fact, in everyone's minds, Portugal is certainly nothing.

Wang Hong's first defeat, there was a reason, didn't he win the next two battles?

Although the Portuguese occupied Manraka, they naturally had no chance of winning when they came to fight the Ming Dynasty.

His Majesty stopped Yang Tinghe's idea of conquest of Japan, but offered to go to Manchuria to drive out the Portuguese in the future.

After all, there is still a five-year covenant in Jiajing.

Unbeknownst to Alfonso, Portugal was being used by the Ming monarchs as a tool to spur internal change.

He wrote to João III very seriously.

At the same time, he also recalled the process of the previous defeat.

Although the warships and cannonballs of the Eastern Empire were still slightly inferior, they were no longer as big as those who had fled back before.

This time, he captured many warships and shells, and he was escorted all the way to Beijing, and he already felt first-hand what a huge country it was and how many people it had.

He didn't understand how many problems there were within the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't understand that it was difficult for the Ming Dynasty to formally form a huge naval division to fight in Manraka, and he didn't know how many contradictions would be aroused within the Ming Dynasty if he continued to tug at the Portuguese in Manraka for many years in the future.

He only knew that Portugal would never be able to officially defeat the country in terms of national strength alone.

From the city of Canton to Mangara, the fleet only needs to sail for a month. From India to Manraka, the time gap is not large. The key problem is that it's too far from Portugal.

But Manraka's position was so important that Alfonso could not imagine how much Portugal would lose if he abandoned Manraka. All goods from the East, which could not be obtained at such a low cost as now, were shipped back to Europe to make huge profits.

It is difficult to defend it, and this matter really needs the king to think carefully about how to deal with it.

In the presence of the Emperor of the East, he was suddenly heard expressing his determination to reclaim Manchuria, and Alfonso stated that Portugal would not be afraid.

Now that he's calmed down, he's found that it's a dead end.

After writing the letter, he was taken away again, this time to the palace of the Emperor of the East.

Arriving at a small palace complex that was not so tall, the emperor changed into a suit of clothes and sat there, and Alfonso saw two maps hanging on the wall.

These two maps made Alfonso's eyes obviously jealous, because the world map seemed to be more detailed and complete than all the maps he had seen.

What shape did the Spaniards discover the New World? Is there such a huge island south of the Spice Islands?

Zhu Houxi paid attention to his performance, and his heart was slightly happy.

The map of the Ming Dynasty has been around for a long time, and as for the map of the world, there have been various versions before. Although Zhu Houxi's painting skills are not very good, it is enough to outline the general outline of the world map and disguise it as the income of the Foreign Inspection Factory, so that the people in the Wanfa Museum can trace it in detail.

After the completion of the Heart Cultivation Palace, the counselors were quite shocked when they saw this world map at first.

The world is so big that the counselors were the first to open their eyes.

Zhu Houxi smiled meaningfully after reading the letter that Tongshi had translated: "Alfonso, the tone in your letter is not as tough as you used to be. ”

Yang Ting and they were also circulating the letter, and although Alfonso was still forced to kneel, he said truthfully: "The Portuguese did not come to the East to start a war with your empire. After I led the fleet to the southern coast of your empire, I also sent an emissary to negotiate a peace treaty. Your Majesty the Emperor, war is a great drain on your country, but trade will benefit everyone. ”

"You can occupy some places in India, and you already have outposts in the East. If Manraka is not handed over, there can be no peaceful trade. Zhu Houxi shook his head, "If you want to plunder the wealth of the Spice Islands at the lowest cost, you have to build on strength. At the doorstep of the Ming Dynasty, you are not qualified to occupy our vassal state, and what peace can we talk about. ”

It is impossible to take back Manraka by lip service, and Zhu Houxi knows that Alfonso will not and is not qualified to make any decisions.

"I don't know what you're going to do with our fate." Alfonso simply asked about something personal.

Now they were prisoners, but he didn't realize that the Emperor of the East had any intention of executing them.

"There are two options." Zhu Houxi said to him, "The first one, like Pilleizi and them, is now in prison to taste the torture of the Celestial Empire, and tell everything you know. The second is to continue to have a decent life, and from now on submit your allegiance to me and contribute to your abilities. ”

Alfonso's face changed as he listened to the translation.

The first one is hard to imagine that pain, and the second is to ask him to betray?

"I thought you wanted me to continue to act as an emissary to His Majesty, after all, I asked His Majesty to appoint me as an ambassador to negotiate a mutually acceptable peace and trade treaty with your empire."

"Whether he accepts your advice or not doesn't change the outcome. No matter how long it takes, the Portuguese will have to withdraw from the South Sea Islands. Now that you've mentioned your fate, think about it for yourself. ”

Alfonso looked at the young emperor.

Very tough, very resolute.

He knew that the warships he had brought to this country this time were already almost all the mobile combat forces that could be mobilized in the direction of India and Manraka in a short period of time.

Now, Portugal has only three permanent fleets: the Coastal Fleet, which patrols the Portuguese coast; the Archipelago Fleet, which protects shipping in the Atlantic; The Channel Fleet, which protects shipping routes in the Mediterranean and Africa.

As for the fleets on the Indian side, they are all ad hoc fleets, which are sent from Portugal every year together with merchant ships.

There were already many overseas territories and shipping routes, and it was impossible for Portugal to give up the protection of so many places and send a huge fleet to the East.

Besides, how huge can it be? In the previous battle alone, he had seen the southern province send nearly a hundred warships, large and small.

Although there were less than ten large warships in total, it took less than half a month for them to reach the border, and the warships from other parts of the empire should not be mobilized so quickly.

Now he looked at the map of the country, their coastline was so long, one could imagine how many warships would be scattered all over the place.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, did you want us to betray João III because you wanted us to help your fleet fight against your own people?"

Zhu Houxi shook his head: "I don't need you." However, your warships and weapons are different from the Ming system, and they are not without merit. I have set up a Ten Thousand Dharma Pavilion, in which you can communicate with the scholars and craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Alfonso sighed: "It seems that we don't have a choice. ”

"As a captive, there really is no choice." Zhu Houxi laughed, "Since it is impossible to be put back by me, it is better to work hard to learn the language of the Ming Dynasty and try to live here." ”

"And my wife and daughter......" Alfonso asked bitterly.

Zhu Houxi grinned and said, "Your daughter was first locked up in my palace as a hostage. If you don't want to be tortured to say what you know, it's up to you to say what I want to know for them. Huang Jin, let Zhang Guan send him and the other captives over and guard them in the Taisu Palace. ”

Alfonso stood up: "No, you can't ......"

Zhu Houxi only waved his hand, and Alfonso was taken out like this.

Yang Ting and them looked at the emperor strangely.

Zhu Houxi was calm: "Now I know why they must occupy Manraka thousands of miles away, right?" The benefits of the sea trade were enough for them to venture forward. The information sent back by the Foreign Inspectorate Factory showed that they had found countless gold and silver in Europa's opponents. In the future, after subduing them, they will guard Manraka and let them obediently bring Western goods to trade and pay taxes. ”

Yang Tinghe sighed: "Since the minister knows that His Majesty intends to help Manchurian restore the country, this water division still has to be built." In addition to Guangdong, the minister is also preparing in Zhejiang. ”

"The Portuguese know that we want to be Manraka, and they can only get this goods from the smuggling merchants. The official channels of the city department are broken, let's see which people are still taking risks. There will definitely be more pirates, and more and more people will be robbed along the coast. As for whether it was a real pirate or a fake robbery, I didn't care, and I took it as Ruqing and others to strengthen the coastal defense road and suppress the people of Kou. ”

Zhu Houxi continued: "Although the Portuguese cannot trade with the Ming Dynasty in Guangdong City, in this way, they will definitely use Jiaozhi and Zhancheng as a transit. How to cultivate a large number of magnates who rely on the profits of Ming goods in Jiaozhi and Zhancheng through Guangdong depends on how Qing and others arrange. The goods of the wealthy merchants in the southeast were transported to Guangdong, and the tax collection of the city shipping company would take effect within a year or two. If you don't want to make less money and still want to smuggle and break the ban, it's all done! ”

Everyone looked at him and once again felt that the calculations in his heart were ring after ring.

As soon as the Bosi Division of Zhejiang City was withdrawn, there were only two openings left in Fujian and Guangdong. And Fujian, on the other hand, was ostensibly only responsible for tributary trade with the Ryukyus.

Is it possible that such a small place in the Ryukyus can still produce such a large scale of trade on the bright side? Can you get a card, forcing the wealthy businessmen in the southeast to smuggle, or to sell goods in Guangdong to pay taxes to Huang Mingji?

Zhu Houxi discussed with them for a while, and finally looked at Fei Maozhong: "Are you used to it?" ”

Thousands of horses galloping in the Fei Mao Center: My uncle is actually an internal ghost of the imperial party in the old party! It's still a party leader-level ghost!

He hurriedly nodded: "Minister...... Struggling to adapt. ”

"When you get used to it, hurry up and write back to Fei's house, so that Yan Song can do a little better in Jiangxi."

“…… Be. ”

Fei Hong is a native of Jiangxi, how many fields does the old party leader have in his hometown? Yan Song had a task when he passed through Jiangxi, and after all, the old party also had to face His Majesty's request to enrich the country.

Is it necessary to solve the problem of investment and hidden fields and hidden households, so as to make Jiangxi's taxes look better?

When they left from the imperial study of the Heart Cultivation Palace, Zhu Houxi came to the backyard and glanced at Wen Suyun: "See?" ”

Wen Suyun grinned, grabbed his arm and nodded.

"Wait for the Portuguese daughter to arrive, learn the Portuguese language from her, and let her learn our language too."

"Huh?"

"Find you something to do." Zhu Houxi tugged at her face, "Don't be idle and pester me every day!" ”

After Wen Suyun found out that the emperor was not so serious and funny, he was now both enthusiastic and excited, always pestering him to ask about strange news from all over the world. In her eyes, His Majesty is much more knowledgeable than his father and the other two talents. She wasn't interested in arithmetic, but she was interested in the world map that was that big.

"Don't break the clock, I still have to arrange someone to study it." Zhu Houxi pointed to the loot that was sent to the Heart Cultivation Palace, "I'm going to see the queen and the virtuous concubine." ”

When he came back from a trip to Kunning Palace and Chang'an Palace, there were already two more people in the Heart Cultivation Palace.

Wen Suyun leaned over and looked at the uneasy girl in front of him with him: "It's so white! The eyes are still green, like a ghost! ”

Zhu Houxi asked the palace maid who Zhang Zuo had arranged to learn Portuguese from Pillay for a long time: "What's your name?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, slave Qu Mei."

"What about her?"

"Full name......" Qu Mei said after thinking for a moment, "Your Majesty, she said that her name is Carolina, and she has just passed her seventeenth birthday. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at this Carolina, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

In Zhu Houxi's eyes, she is not a top Western beauty, after all, what Western star has she never seen back then?

But at this time, it's a novelty, and it's really quite impressive.

She should have been bathed just now, and now she is wearing a palace maid outfit.

It's not fun.

After Zhang Fujing's old and unashamed jokes about Huguang Mengyao, he is now more and more open.

The newspaper directly said that Alfonso was of noble birth and Portuguese royal blood, and that his daughter was born with white skin and beautiful appearance, and that she had brought her to the East to prepare for marriage - he wanted to be the future governor of India.

At that time, it was said at the welcome dinner that if a trade treaty could be signed, he could marry his daughter to a Ming nobleman.

Who would marry a Westerner as a proper wife? It's good to play.

It's better to let others play than to let His Majesty play, of course, you can't let her give birth to a prince.

Anyway, although Zhang Fujing said it tactfully, he believed that the emperor was also willing to taste the beauty of the West, in the name of Zhenghu Guangmeng Medicine.

Carolina knew that this was the emperor of the Eastern Empire, and she didn't expect to be so young.

Coming all the way as a captive, she was now left with nothing but fear.

Here, there are all unfamiliar faces, and the language is not understood. Kneeling on the ground is like a lamb to be slaughtered.

Zhu Houxi looked at her trembling, waved his hand and said, "Qu Mei, you take her to the back first, and teach her and Concubine Shu to learn the Portuguese and official dialects." ”

"Slaves obey ......"

Zhu Houxi asked Huang Jin to arrange for someone to hold the clock: "Go to the Wanfa Pavilion." ”

Arrange the work first, and then talk about the Yanmar taming.

As soon as Zhu Houxi left, the first people in the harem were Empress Dowager Jiang and the princess who had not yet married, and then a few curious concubines came.

Carolina was watched by so many people, weak, pitiful and helpless.

Qu Mei introduced her one by one, and most of them were the emperor's wives...... She didn't understand what the concubines of the main palace meant.

Empress Dowager Jiang looked serious: "Don't let Your Majesty be harmed by this Yi girl!" This child, when Your Majesty comes back, please go to the main palace! ”

(End of chapter)