The local king, perhaps for thousands of years, China has long been accustomed to the noble attitude in front of the barbarians of the vassal states. Perhaps people would humbly learn from Westerners, but there is nothing they deserve to respect for the barbarian chiefs of Southeast Asian countries. It is precisely because of this that the noble attitude has always influenced everyone.

All under the world is the king's land!

In other words, no matter whose place belongs to? For the Chinese, this place is China's territory. As for those local kings, if they do not obtain the permission of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, that is, their rule is illegal. They will never be recognized by the Ming Dynasty's official army.

Almost for granted, since we decided to occupy this island as a stronghold, we should be more straightforward and we don’t need to consider the ideas of the natives at all.

This is the place of the Ming Dynasty!

On the day the fleet landed, the fleet held a flag-raising ceremony on the island, and the sailors of the ship quickly built a stronghold in the wasteland near the estuary. However, in just three days, the temporary stronghold formed a simple fortress and installed multiple artillery pieces.

So much so that when Johor King Mahmoud Sultan came here, he was in the elephant car and couldn't believe everything he saw in front of him.

"Your Majesty, it seems that the Ming people want to occupy this place and not leave!"

As the prime minister of the kingdom, Mahji immediately said nervously, although especially when he saw the entire estuary was full of Ming ships, the cold sweat suddenly emerged. For Mahmud, as the Sultan, although Portugal defeated Portugal, defeated the Portuguese army in Malacca, burned their strongholds at the estuary, and cleared out the power of Portugal here, making the country stronger. However, Mahmud knew very well that the so-called strength was only far from comparable to the surrounding Turkish countries.

In fact, even though more than two hundred years have passed, the visit of the Ming fleet and the strength it showed have still enveloped the hearts of these natives.

As the sultan of the Johor Kingdom, Mahmoud naturally remembers that the Johor Kingdom came from Malacca, and the Malacca Kingdom was given the imperial edict and the seal of the Ming Dynasty, so that it was necessary to establish itself in the threats of Siam and Boyi. It can be said that if it were not for the enthronement of the Ming Emperor that year, there would not be the Kingdom of Malacca without the time when Malacca was not. Of course, they were very clear about this.

Now, facing such a huge fleet, Mahmoud had only a feeling of fear in his heart. He was afraid that an official from the Ming Dynasty would accidentally offend him.

It is also because of this that when meeting with Ming officials, they dare not put on the air of a king. For these sultans whose ancestors were just Arab merchants, they became sultans with swords and spreading religions, and knew very well what the strong meant, and knew more clearly how to surrender to the strong.

Of course, they knew better how to use the support of the strong to themselves, just like the Ming Dynasty was the support of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, one of the most fundamental reasons why the Ming officials supported them at that time was because the religions believed in were the same as them. If it were not for the support of the Ming officials, how could Allah have shrouded the Southeast Asian Sea? How could they eliminate the so-called "Buddhist Kingdoms" and use the Ming fleet's deterrence to the natives, so that those natives converted to religion and willingly accept their rule.

It is precisely because of this that the shadow of the strong has always been in their hearts. Even though two hundred years have passed, they dare not forget it.

"Xiao Wang of Xiabang meets the Heavenly Officer."

Although hundreds of years have passed, the records of the past remain in the palace. Since the Yongle period, the sultans of all generations have been very clear that one day their descendants will always deal with officials of the Ming Dynasty. After all, the sky is too far away and unable to provide them with help, and the sky is too close.

Perhaps some Ming officials would open their minds to them because of religious relations and support them here to consolidate their rule by preaching and preaching. But not all Ming officials thought so.

"The king is free from gifts."

Faced with the respect of the earth king, Qu Dajun did not show any disrespect, but he still only followed the basic Eastern style of etiquette. Of course, he was the upper and the other party was the lower.

After all, in the traditional concept of the Celestial Empire, even ordinary people in the Celestial Empire were superior to those barbarians. What's more, he was a dignified fourth-rank official of the Ming Dynasty. It would be reasonable for these local kings to kneel down when they see him. Now that they are so polite to him, they are already giving face to these local people.

"I heard that the Kingdom of Johor was born from Manraga, and the Kingdom of Manraga was my vassal of the Ming Dynasty. As early as the first year of Yongle, Baimisura followed the official Yin Qing of the capital to visit Chengzu and paid tribute to our Ming Dynasty. Chengzu named Baimisura the king of Manraga and presented an edict and a seal. Since the Kingdom of Johor was born from Manraga, then since the Kingdom of Johor was my vassal of the Ming Dynasty, I wonder what the king thought?"

He asked what he said, but in fact there was no doubt about it. Mahmoud dared not be willing to do so. For him, this was when he was holding the Ming Dynasty.

If it weren't for the golden thigh that year, there would probably be no matter in the Kingdom of Malacca. Since he had the chance to report this thigh, how could he refuse?

"What the Tianguan said is very much. Xiao Wang and Xiao Wang's ancestors have always been interested in paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty in order to seek enthronement. However, the sky is so high that the road is far and wide that it is impossible to make a move. It is a great regret. It is a blessing for Xiao Wang to be able to see the Tianguan and the army of the Tiangong today."

Although he was a Sultan, he essentially relied on doing business and preaching the mission of establishing the kingdom. He was still a businessman at heart. As a businessman, Mahmoud naturally knew how to please these people. Of course, he knew better how to survive among the strong as a weak person, just like his grandfather and father drove away the Portuguese with the help of the Dutch. Now, he can also use the Ming Dynasty to restrict the Dutch.

As a businessman, the most favorable choice between him and himself is to survive by relying on the conflict between the Dutch and the Ming Dynasty. Instead of just choosing one party stupidly.

Of course, there is a premise. The premise is that the Ming Dynasty is strong enough. If only a warship came from this Ming Dynasty this time, he would not even have such an idea. But now, facing such a powerful fleet, he naturally had the idea of ​​holding this thigh tightly. After all, the power they showed was far stronger than that of the Dutch. It was completely in line with the advice left by his ancestors - the Ming Dynasty was very powerful!

Under the influence of this mentality, Mahmoud naturally tried every means to please the heavenly official in front of him, like a businessman, constantly flattering the other party. Although he was a little arrogant in the face of the other party's compliments and favors, Qu Dajun's heart was very calm and he did not forget the purpose of this trip.

"I think when the king came up, I had already seen my Ming fleet. Since then, my Ming fleet and fleet will often travel to and from the West. Temasek lives with my Ming people, and right after the channel, in order to facilitate the replenishment of fresh water and food for the fleet, I was interested in renting this place. I wonder what the king thought?"

Mahmoud, who was still devoted to his sincerity, looked at the Heavenly Official with some surprise. What's going on? If he remembered correctly, according to his ancestors, although the Ming Dynasty was powerful, he had never tried to get anything here, and he had never established a stronghold here.

But just when he wanted to resist, he immediately thought of the Portuguese and Malacca. When the Portuguese came here, he mentioned the request to ced a piece of land to build a fortress. After rejecting their request, Malacca became history and the Kingdom of Malacca was completely destroyed. His ancestors had to settle in Johor. If they had not received the help of the Dutch, they would have been unable to drive away the Portuguese. Even if the dense rainforests blocked the Portuguese's footsteps, how could his ancestors have established the Kingdom of Johor here?

Now that the Ming Dynasty is coming, they have made the same request.

Should we refuse or accept it?

If the Ming Dynasty rejected the request, I am afraid that the experience of the Kingdom of Malacca would be re-stated here. How could it be possible to stop their attack with the power of Johor?

What to do now?

"Dear Lord Tianguan, it is not that our country is unwilling to let this place be rented to the Heavenly Dynasty, but because when this place was occupied by the Portuguese, our country had to borrow troops from the Netherlands and drove it out of the land. Later, the Dutch agreed with our country that this place should not be rented from other countries. If we want to rent it to other countries, we must discuss it with them..."

Just when Mahaji thought that introducing the Dutch people could stop all this, Qu Dajun, who was originally kind-hearted, suddenly said sternly.

"I have to discuss it with him. Could it be that Johor is a Dutch vassal state? As the leader of Johor, why do I need other people's consent to rent this place? The Dutch? I am just a wolfish ambition! How can these Western barbarians believe it?"

After staring at Mahaji and sneering, Qu Dajun said with history again,

"When the Portuguese destroyed Malacca, Malacca sent envoys to seek help from our Ming Dynasty. Although our Ming Dynasty was willing but unable to help, it was because our Ming Dynasty had no strongholds or fortresses in the South China Sea, so we naturally could not help. Today, our Ming Dynasty set up a stronghold here, which could naturally be a barrier for Johor. If someone invaded Johor in the future, our Ming Dynasty could provide protection for you, and those who needed it were just renting this deserted island to me, as a commercial station for our Ming Dynasty. This island was so desolate, so what's the use for you?"

Despite the traditional thinking of the Celestial Empire, Qu Dajun is also learning, learning the method of Westerners first establishing strongholds through negotiations and eventually constantly eroding each place. Compared with the Chinese-style army approaching, this erosion is the most reliable, effective, and lowest-cost expansion.

In the past, China always tried to suppress with brute force, which would always arouse the other party's resistance. Just like Annan and other places, instead of using brute force, it is better to use the deterrence of power like Westerners to force the other party to agree to cede part of the land. Then, it is constantly eroding the other party with its stronghold.

"Of course, although my Ming Dynasty is strong, I will never use my power to suppress others. If the king is willing to rent this place to our country, my Ming Dynasty is willing to pay a generous rent every year. I wonder what the king thinks?"

Can I refuse?

Even Mahaji knew that refusal would be very likely to pay a price. Not to mention anything else, the dozens of Ming warships at the mouth of the river had already shown their strength to them. The number of Ming soldiers even exceeded that of Johor.

Fight?

What to fight?

Perhaps the price of the struggle is to repeat the tragic situation of the destruction of Malacca's country. If they agree to their request, in addition to obtaining security guarantees, they can also benefit from additional benefits.

Thinking of the sultans that the Dutch had perished in Java and other places, I knew that the pagans would transfer their targets to Johor Mahmoud sooner or later, after a little contemplation, he immediately smiled and said.

"It is a blessing for Xiao Wang to be willing to rent a barren land in the Tian Dynasty. How could Xiao Wang refuse? As for the rent, please do not mention it again in the angels of Shangguo."

Although he is so polite, for Johor, which has no profit, Mahmoud naturally hopes to get some profits.

"Have you ever used power to suppress others when we interacted with our vassals?"

Qu Dajun naturally did not want to take advantage of others on this issue. If you learn something from Westerners, you can get unexpected returns with appropriate money. Using power to suppress others is just a temporary goal of speed, but it will also make "legality" questioned.

On the contrary, if you pay the rent, it not only achieves legality, but also prevents the other party from feeling humiliated. Just like the Portuguese and Macau, even in the Ming Dynasty, they can also obtain strongholds by renting.

What is the rent in Temasek?

There can't be more, nor can there be less. If there is too much, it will make the other party feel like he is sending a beggar. In the end, Qu Dajun still gave a number that made Mahmoud, the Johor Sultan, extremely moved.

One thousand yuan!

When he heard that one thousand yuan was equal to one thousand taels of silver, Mahmood almost immediately asked to write a covenant. Even after being reserved for a moment, he immediately agreed to sign the covenant. Of course, in the covenant, he deliberately wrote about the Ming Dynasty's responsibility for protecting Johor, including the permanent rent of the entire island of Temasek, and naturally there was a rent of one thousand silver dollars per year.

When Mahmoud left, what made him even more proud was that he received another great reward, and he gave him more than a dozen faces with just a glass mirror... These are all valuable things.

He even felt that he had taken advantage of it. If these Ming officials said they would give him more than a dozen mirrors, maybe he would directly agree to sell this deserted island to the Ming Dynasty.
Chapter completed!