"Do you want the sailors to disembark?" Juan. When López heard Gonzalez's words, he immediately felt a little uneasy.

Because his Spanish galleon was not well manned, a typical configuration should have fifteen officers, twenty-six sailors, nineteen midshipmen, ten miscellaneous men, twenty-one gunners, and one hundred and twenty-five men, for a total of two hundred and sixteen men. But since the galleons in the Pacific have always been stable and there is no fighting, there are fewer and fewer soldiers on board—after all, fewer soldiers can be loaded with more "extra" cargo, and all the expenses of hiring soldiers can be put in their own pockets. And those "extra" cargo, which did not belong to the authorities of New Spain, but to the Viceroy of the Philippines, the Viceroy of New Spain, the Commander of the Fleet, the Captain, and the prosecutor who supervised the Governor and officials at all levels

And Juan. The eight Spanish galleons commanded by López should theoretically have a total of 1,000 soldiers, but in reality there were only 80 men, and each ship had only 10 men, and the average number of members on a sailing ship was only 1001, including the rest of the crew.

It's just such a small person, if you encounter something, then it's troublesome!

Gonzalez seems to have seen Juan. López's mind smiled and said to him: "My commander, they are all Christians, what bad intentions can Christians have?" ”

Yes, they all believe in God the Father, how can they still have bad intentions?

But Juan. López still did not dare to take it lightly, and he said to Gonzalez: "Consul, why don't you go to the Naha market first, and then go to the church to meet Father Hong." ”

Gonzalez turned his head and asked, "Master Feng, is Father John Hong on the island?" ”

"No," said Feng Xifan, "he had gone to Japan with General Geng, but his assistants, Father Gao and Father Lee, were at the Naha church, and they were both Europeans. ”

"Well, can I meet these two French priests?"

"Yes," Feng Xifan smiled, "please come with me." ”

With that, he took Gonzalez and two other Spanish officers through the deserted streets of Naha's merchant market and walked towards the church with the cross erected.

He found that less than half of the shops in the market were open, there was no business, and there were no young and strong men or owners, only some old people, children, and women supporting the façade.

The few pedestrians on the street were also elderly, children and women, and there were almost no able-bodied men.

Led by Feng Xifan, Gonzalez quickly crossed several streets and came to a church that had been converted into a temple. Two white men in black robes were talking in a whisper outside the temple, occasionally pointing at the temple's buildings, as if discussing how to renovate them.

At this time, Feng Xifan suddenly shouted to the two white priests in French: "Father Gao, Father Li, there are distinguished guests from the Philippines. ”

The two white priests turned around together, and Gonzalez also saw their appearances, yes, they were both blonde and blue-eyed Frenchmen, and one of them was a little older, with a somewhat gray beard, and at a glance he knew that he was an old priest who had devoted himself to the cause of the Lord for many years. The other priest was a little thin, and at first glance he knew that he was a holy man who was willing to be poor.

The white-bearded priest first made a cross on his chest, and then said to Gonzalez in French: "Welcome, welcome brother from the Philippines, I have seen the sailboat on the pier." What do you think? Did it go well along the way? ”

The priest, who was a little thin, asked solemnly: "My Spanish brothers, are you also here to help General Geng save the Christians in Japan?" Your late King, Philip IV, who loved the Father so much, must be watching this holy war in the kingdom of heaven! ”

That's right, Gonzalez said in his heart: these two priests must be French, they look like French, they speak like French, and even the thin man's aggressive tone is very French. No one in sight, completely in the style of Louis XIV!

Since they were French priests, Gonzalez was relieved. Although Spain was part of the anti-French coalition in Europe, it was besieging the ambitious Louis XIV along with the Netherlands, Austria, Prussia and other countries. But according to the practice of the European colonizers who robbed money in the East, the grievances of the mother countries in Europe have nothing to do with the East, and unless they also have irreconcilable rivalry in the East, they will not go to war in the East because of the conflict of the mother country - after all, the mother countries of Europe often fight with each other, and often a war has to be fought for decades. If the following East India Companies also fought together, would it still be so profitable? There is no money to make, and capital is not willing to invest!

France's power in East Asia was very weak, and Pondicherry, the closest colony to East Asia, was far away in India, and it was impossible to compete fiercely with Spain and the Netherlands in East and Southeast Asia.

In addition, the now ruling Prime Minister of Spain, Juan Brown. José was pro-French, so it was only a matter of time before France and Spain reconciled.

Thinking of this, Gonzalez said to the two French priests: "Two honorable priests, we did not know about this sacred war before our fleet was a Spanish galleon that passed through the Ryukyus to the New World, can you come with me to the docks and introduce to our commander this war aimed at liberating the Christians in Japan?" ”

Both French priests nodded, then smiled reverently and triumphantly.

The eight Spanish galleons all docked and lowered the gangplank, because there were a lot of materials to be carried - three months' provisions, and a large amount of goods, all of which needed to be carried on their shoulders, and the warehouse where the supplies and goods were stored was relatively far away from the dock, plus the livestock and vehicles on Ryukyu Island were all requisitioned by General Geng, so Juan. After seeing the two French priests, Commander López ordered eighty men from each ship to disembark and carry supplies, leaving only twenty men on board to keep watch. He, along with López, Feng Xifan, and the two French priests, entered a yamen near the docks.

The two Spaniards were very interested in the ongoing war between the Ming Dynasty and Japan, so as soon as they sat down and took a few sips of tea, they began to make noise.

"Father Albert, I don't understand a little, the Ming Empire is not a Catholic country, why did they launch a war aimed at liberating Japanese Catholics?"

The one who was called "Father Albert" was the bearded man, and his French surname was Alba, which means noble and noble in Chinese, so he became "Father Albert." Of course, "Father Albert" or "Father Gao" are fake, his real surname is Gaofu, his Han surname is Gao, and his real identity is the noble Baron of the Ming Dynasty!

This is a real Ming nobleman!

In addition, he is also the chief instructor of a government hall in Zhangzhou, a member of the council of the Nanyang Trading Company controlled by the Zheng family, and the chief instructor of maritime affairs!

"No, no, you misunderstood," Lord Gao shook his head and said without blushing at all, "The Ming Dynasty did not go to war against Japan to liberate the Catholics, in fact, they also forbade the spread of Catholicism, of course, this is not because of anything to do with the Heavenly Father, but because the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal once tried to invade and conquer the Ming Dynasty!" ”

Fr. Lee. His British surname is "Li", and he claims to be from Lyon, France, so the Han surname takes a syllable at the beginning of "Lyon", and his surname is Li. He took Lord Gao's words and said with a serious face: "The sixth Philippine governor San Diego. Morality. In 1586, Vera had drawn up a plan for a large-scale invasion of the Ming Dynasty with 10,000 to 12,000 Spanish troops, 5,000 to 6,000 Indians, and an equal number of Japanese, totaling more than 20,000 men. And this plan was approved by Philip II, and if it weren't for the heavy losses suffered by the Spanish Armada in 1588 during the invasion of England, Spain would have carried out the invasion of the Ming Dynasty!

And Portugal had similar plans before it became the Spanish Confederation of Co-monarchies! ”

"What?"

"This."

Both Spaniards felt a little wrong at this time!

Isn't this a good invasion of Japan? Why did you mention that Spain and Portugal wanted to invade the Ming Dynasty? It's been 90 years, and a plan was made at that time, but it wasn't implemented!

Feng Xifan looked at the surprised looks of the two Spaniards, and said with a smile: "The general of the Ming Dynasty has long heard about the conspiracy of Spain and Portugal, but he is not sure of the authenticity of these invasion attempts, and he does not know whether the Spaniards are still preparing to invade. ”

"Master Feng, those invasion plans were just people's fantasies ninety years ago!"

"Yes, yes, there is absolutely no way to achieve it!"

Feng Xifan's smile had already been put away, and he pointed out with a serious face: "But Louis, the King of France, gave a diametrically opposite answer in his handwritten letter to the general!" King Louis said that you Spaniards will not die in the heart of invasion of China! You have been building fortifications on Luzon Island, and for the sake of secrecy, you have repeatedly slaughtered the people of the Ming Dynasty on the island! Japan, on the other hand, is an accomplice of you Spaniards!

Therefore, the general thought that the Ryukyu Island controlled by Japan would become a springboard for the Spanish invasion, so he would send General Geng to lead his troops to recover the Ryukyus and crusade against Japan Once Japan succumbs, the Ming Empire will also unite the Kingdom of Japan, the Kingdom of Korea, the Kingdom of Annam, and the Kingdom of Ryukyu to expedition to New Spain together! ”

"You're going on an expedition to New Spain? Are you crazy? ”

"No way, it's absolutely impossible. You can't get through the Pacific Ocean at all! ”

The two Spaniards, already sensing that something was wrong, jumped to their feet, drawing their swords while still stiff-mouthed.

But the two "French priests" were not used to the Spaniards, so they lifted their robes and pulled out their short knives and threw them on their necks - this action, at a glance, you knew that it was the French military priest!

Before the two Spaniards could react, Feng Xifan said to them in a very stern tone: "We can pass through the Pacific Ocean, because you will take us across the Pacific Ocean!" ”

"No, it can't be!"

Feng Xifan smiled coldly: "You will!" The torture experts of the Brocade Guard are on the island, and they have a hundred ways to get you to speak. And I promise, until you are honest, death will be a luxury for you! ”

"Woohoo"

Suddenly the gunshots rang out.

The two Spaniards immediately understood what was happening, and their faces turned white with fright.

The smile on Feng Xifan's face was even colder, and he said coldly: "Our French friends have already mixed up with your galleons, and they will soon cooperate with our army to seize all the ships!" When the time comes, we'll get eight captains, eight first mates, and we'll get charts and logbooks from the ship. If you surrender now, I promise you will become rich and noble, nobles of the Ming Dynasty, and you will still be able to retain the Catholic faith! ”

It turned out that with Lord Gao and Lord Li, there were hundreds of sailors and mercenaries recruited by Zheng Jing from the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company at a high price, and these people changed into the clothes of the knocked out Spanish sailors and soldiers, mixed with the eight galleons, and then after the Zheng family pirates who were ambushed on the shore let go of their guns, they came to join forces and seize the sailboat!

I have to admit that although the people of the Zheng family are not very good at land warfare, they are really too professional in robbing merchant ships! And this time, Zheng Jing also had the help of British and Dutch experts who were dug up at a high price.

From planning to execution, the whole process was seamless and so professional!

And the high lord from England did not forget to pit Louis XIV again at this time, and said seriously: "Dear Spanish friends, don't blame us, we are also acting on orders, we are French naval officers, and now France and Spain are at war!" ”

France. Old traitor!

The remorse in the hearts of the two Spaniards!

What stupid pigs they are!

How can the French be trusted? The French could even do something to collude with the Ottoman Turkish Empire to betray the Catholic world! Now that France and Spain have not ceased war, they united with the Ming Dynasty to attack the New Spanish colonies, which are the financial resources of Spain, is not it a matter of course?

On the walls of the Shuri Castle, Geng Jingzhong, who did not know that he was also calculated by Zheng Jing (he was also counted as cannon fodder by Zheng Jing in history), saw the red battle flags raised on the masts of eight Spanish galleons, and he was already dancing with joy.

The surname Zheng is really a third-generation pirate! They were professional in robbing and robbing ships - in order to rob these eight boats, they prepared a large stack of scripts alone, and they were willing to spend the capital to rent all the shops and a temple in Naha City, and hired all the strong men on Ryukyu Island to build a castle in the mountains north of the island at a high price. also leased all the merchant ships in the port of Naha and sailed to Ningbo, and invited a group of blonde and blue-eyed foreign devils to help perform together.

And in order to ensure the effect, they rehearsed it eight times before today. It turns out that it's not easy to go to sea to grab money!

In addition, the surname Zheng also found the one who carried the black pot, one was the general Li Zhongshan - he was completely blindsided, and he got involved with the Kingdom of Spain in a daze! There is also a French king Louis, whose surname is also unlucky, and somehow became a mortal enemy with Spain.

This surname Zheng is so fine, no wonder he is called "Zheng Jing", he is about to become fine, his father's name is Zhu Chenggong, he is simply called Zhu Chengjing!

Just as he was thinking about Zheng Jingchengjing, Zheng Jing, a sharp-beaked monkey gills and a lupine scarf, was already standing beside Geng Jingzhong, coughed, and said with a smile: "General Zhengdong. It seems that things have worked out, and it's time to talk about your trip to New Spain! ”

Geng Jingzhong looked back, and quickly smiled at Zheng Jing, "Lord Wang, I am not familiar with this new Spain, you can give me a lot of advice." ”

"It's easy to say, it's easy to say," Zheng Jing nodded, "You guys in New Spain, if everything goes well, you should be able to see the New World after two months of sailing at sea." But you can't land right away, because you're looking at the northern part of the New World, which is inaccessible and unexplored, and where your 3,000 men have no foothold. ”

"And where do I go?"

"Continue south along the coastline until you reach a port called Acapulco, a very prosperous commercial port, and then you take the looted food and goods and sail north on a Spanish galleon to a seaport called the Banderas Valley, where you will be stationed in the tuntian and wait for my reinforcements!"

"Oh, what kind of valley are you guarding?" Geng Jingzhong was still a little worried, "Will the Spaniards counterattack in a big way?" ”

"Yes," Zheng Jing smiled sincerely, "But don't be afraid, with this king here, he will definitely support you!" ”

(End of chapter)