"Yes, the red-haired governor said he wanted to negotiate."
"Go to the island and invite Dr. Zheng here."
Zheng Guozhong's current official position is Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Rites, which is equivalent to the deputy director of the central agency. He has managed the industrial and commercial department in Fujian and is familiar with Manila trade, so he was appointed as the envoy of the festival. He also presided over the canonization of the kings of Brunei and Sulu.
.
Under the protection of several soldiers, Zheng Guozhong crossed the obstacles beside the moat and came to the center of the bridge on the moat.
Governor Coquilla also came over. There were tables and chairs on the bridge, and the two parties sat there to negotiate.
Through translation, both parties exchanged names and positions.
Immediately, Coquilla said: "In view of the massacre of Tang people by Pampanga soldiers, we feel very sad and compassionate, and at the same time extend our most sincere apology to your country..."
"We've already laid siege to the city, so stop talking nonsense like this!" Zheng Guozhong interrupted directly.
Coquilla was surprised: "Your envoy can actually speak Spanish."
Zheng Guozhong said expressionlessly: "I have lived in Manila for four years. One of the Chinese who were killed last year was my uncle. So, how do you want to surrender? Just come up with the conditions and don't talk nonsense.
The nonsense about soldiers killing Han people."
Coquilla was immediately speechless, and several congressmen involved in the negotiations were also stunned, not knowing what to do.
China's chief negotiator turned out to be a family member of the victims of the Chinese massacre.
After a while of silence, Coquilla said: "As long as your country withdraws its troops from Manila, we are willing to compensate for the loss of 50,000 pesos. At the same time, we will ensure the safety of the Chinese in Manila. From now on, the Chinese will be taxed the same as the Spaniards and will not be taxed again.
Extra taxes.”
50,000 Spanish pesos is 40,000 taels of silver.
Zheng Guozhong sneered contemptuously: "Is this your sincerity? Surrender should look like surrender, don't even think about bargaining!"
Spain's talk of surrender at this time is exactly the same as the Dutch's talk of surrender more than 20 years ago.
It was clear that we were desperate, but there was still no sincerity. The only difference was that after the Dutch talks collapsed, the enemy was out of food and food and withdrew its troops, but now it is impossible for China to withdraw its troops.
Coquilla continued to test: "How about compensation of 100,000 pesos?"
Zheng Guozhong said: "Luzon Island is decided by China!"
Coquilla suddenly felt despair. If he lost Luzon Island, he might go to jail for the rest of his life.
Since Portugal became independent from Spain, the Netherlands has continued to dominate the island of Java. It has sent troops to intercept Spanish ships every year and come to exterminate Spanish strongholds every year. In order to maintain Manila's rule, 40% of America's silver production is shipped directly to Manila every year.
Do administrative expenses and military expenses.
One can imagine how much the Spanish royal family values the Philippines!
Of course, corruption is also very serious. 40% of America's silver production is shipped to Manila every year and is quickly consumed. They say they are recruiting troops and building warships, but Manila's military strength is still like this.
Although the Spanish royal family has a monopoly on the galleons trade, the annual smuggling is extremely alarming, and it is all smuggling by colonial officials from the Americas and the Philippines.
Coquilla forced himself to calm down: "Your Excellency, please don't forget that once our country loses Manila, the silver wire trade will be completely cut off. By then, Chinese merchants will also suffer heavy losses, and China's raw silk will completely lose the American market."
The galleon trade is also called the "silver silk trade", as long as the goods are Chinese raw silk and American silver.
Among them, Hu silk has the largest proportion, which is the raw silk of Huzhou Prefecture.
If the silver wire trade is cut off, a large number of workers in Huzhou Prefecture and surrounding areas will inevitably lose their jobs in the short term, and the income of farmers who grow mulberry and raise silkworms will also drop sharply.
In addition, workers and farmers in Guangdong and surrounding areas will also suffer certain losses. Because the market share of raw silk from Guangdong is second only to Hu silk, and Guangdong raw silk is shipped from Jiangxi, Hunan and other places.
Zheng Guozhong said disdainfully: "How can the interests of businessmen be compared with the majesty of the imperial court?"
Coquilla was speechless. He felt like a fool when discussing business interests with Chinese officials.
Zheng Guozhong wanted to kill all these bastards, but he shouldered an important task. That was to throw the Spanish governor and army further south to the Philippine Islands without affecting the war situation.
Spain must be beaten, but it cannot be beaten to death with a stick, and the Netherlands cannot be allowed to dominate.
Zheng Zhilong and Nanyang merchants provided a large amount of information to Zhao Han. Based on this information, Zhao Han repeatedly discussed with the cabinet and calculated the most beneficial outcome for China. That is: China occupied Luzon Island, the Netherlands occupied the southern area of Mindanao, and Spain continued to occupy
Southern Islands.
As a result, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sulu will fall into a long-term melee.
China is the sovereign state of Brunei and Sulu and can intervene in the war at any time based on its own interests.
At the same time, Spain was able to survive and continue to maintain the silver wire trade, bringing a large amount of American silver to China and shipping Chinese goods to the American market.
As an emperor, Zhao Han could not only think about revenge, but also had to take the overall situation into consideration.
If Spain is completely driven out of Nanyang, both China and Spain will lose in the overall and long-term perspective, and the only real winner will be the Netherlands.
"stop!"
"Step aside!"
The Dutch navy and army commanders finally came in a hurry when they learned of the negotiations between China and Spain.
However, it was blocked from the outside and couldn't get close at all.
Zheng Guozhong smiled and ordered: "Let them come over."
There were three Dutch negotiators. In addition to the navy and army commanders, the real negotiating leader was Kui Yi.
According to the transliteration standards of later generations, Kui Yi should be translated as Kuai Te. Historically, Zheng Chenggong recovered Taiwan from this man, but at this time Kui Yi was only a "high-level businessman" of the East India Company.
"Please sit down." Zheng Guozhong said.
Kui asked straight to the point: "Excuse me, what were you talking about just now?"
Zheng Guozhong said: "Spain will compensate my country 100,000 pesos and the Chinese troops will withdraw from Luzon."
"Don't be fooled by them!" Kui Yi said immediately.
Once China withdraws its troops, the Netherlands will have no choice but to withdraw its troops, and it will not gain much benefit.
Because there are troops stationed in various strongholds in the southern archipelago of the Philippines. There has been no news about the Spanish fleet for a long time. Most of the troops are gathered in the southern archipelago, and there may be thousands of Spanish troops.
When the time comes, the Netherlands will not be able to handle the withdrawal of the Chinese navy and army.
Coquilla, the Spanish governor, did not pay attention to the Dutch at all. He glanced at Kui and said: "Spain only negotiates with China, and you can just sit here and observe."
Kueyi retorted: "China and the Netherlands are allies, and the Netherlands has the right to participate in negotiations and share the benefits of the war."
Zheng Guozhong emphasized again: "Luzon Island must be added to China. Mindoro Island, China will definitely also want it."
Mindoro Island, whether you want it or not, the price is really high during negotiations.
Coquilla said: "This is impossible. As long as the Chinese troops withdraw from Manila, Tortoiseshell City and Luzon Island to the north, Spain will recognize that it belongs to China."
"Manila should belong to the Netherlands!" Kueyi couldn't help but say.
All three countries need Manila, which is the center of Nanyang trade.
After another struggle, the negotiations still broke down, and Spain refused to give up Manila.
The siege of the city lasted for a long time, and the rainy season was halfway over in the blink of an eye.
During this period, the Spanish fleet went to Samar Island to mobilize troops, leaving only 20 soldiers to defend each stronghold on the island.
Unexpectedly, one of the strongholds was informed by the indigenous servant army, and a large number of indigenous warriors took advantage of the rainy season to attack. The 20 Spanish soldiers were unable to defend it, and the indigenous servant army was unwilling to sacrifice their lives, so the stronghold was captured by the indigenous rebels.
The Spanish fleet, which originally mobilized troops to go north, received the news before they could get far, so they had to lead their troops back.
The Spanish quickly recaptured the stronghold and carried out a massacre nearby. Thousands of natives suffered bloody revenge.
After this incident, the Spanish fleet did not dare to draw too many troops, leaving 30 soldiers to garrison at each stronghold. It was delayed until the end of the rainy season, and a Spanish army of 1,100 people was summoned and transported by the fleet to Mindoro Island, preparing to go to rescue Manila.
.
The Second Battle of Manila breaks out.
Without much fighting, China and the Netherlands have occupied Corregidor Island and are guarding the throat of Manila Bay.
Part of the Chinese and Dutch fleets withdrew to Manila Bay, and part of it retreated to the northern seas. As long as the Spanish fleet dares to come in, it will be attacked from the front and rear by the fleets of the two countries, and the coastal defense guns on Corregidor Island will also bombard the Spanish fleet.
The experienced Spanish fleet commander, after seeing some enemy ships heading north, decisively chose to lead the fleet back.
The 1,100 Spanish Army troops gathered in the south could not be transported to Manila at all. They did not dare to land in advance, because Luzon Island at this time was full of mountains and forests, and transportation was inconvenient. A random landing would probably annihilate the entire army.
The battle situation is deadlocked again.
The Dutch returned to Batavia, got the governor's latest bottom line for negotiations, and convened representatives from several countries to sit at the negotiating table again.
This time, representatives from Brunei and Sulu also participated.
Zheng Guozhong directly took out a map of Nanyang, circled it with a quill and said: "Luzon Island and Mindoro Island are all owned by China..."
"Wait a minute," Coquilla interrupted immediately, "Mindoro Island cannot be handed over to China."
Zheng Guozhong asked: "In other words, Spain agrees to hand over Luzon Island?"
Coquilla remained silent, acquiescing that the food stored in his castle could last for another two months.
If we don’t negotiate the terms well at this time, and we’ll be in a desperate situation two months later, I’m afraid Chinese officials will be even more aggressive.
Zheng Guozhong also said: "Zamboanga must be returned to Sulu."
The Sulu country negotiator was overjoyed. He didn't expect that the Chinese father could actually throw a bone out.
Coquilla did not refuse, because Spain has never firmly occupied the entire peninsula where Zamboanga is located. It is often captured this year and lost again the next year. The resistance of the Sulu people is very troublesome.
Kueyi interjected: "The Netherlands should set up a stronghold in Zamboanga and jointly manage this port with Sulu."
Zheng Guozhong asked the Sulu envoy: "Do you agree?"
Sulu also wanted to introduce the Netherlands to check the expansion of Spain, and nodded: "The Netherlands can be allowed to trade in Zamboanga, but it cannot interfere with the management of the port, nor can it build churches at will."
Kui Yi was very unhappy: "The Netherlands has suffered huge losses. Is this all they have left?"
Zheng Guozhong drew a circle in the southern part of Mindanao and said: "This place belongs to the Netherlands."
Everyone has no objection. It does not belong to any country. They are all extremely primitive indigenous tribes.
"It's not enough," Kueyi said, pointing to Busuanga Island. "This island should also belong to the Netherlands."
This island is very magical. It is adjacent to Sulu to the southwest and Mindoro to the northeast. It is not particularly far from Manila, but so far it has not been occupied by any country.
After half a month of negotiations, the "Manila Four-Country Agreement" was released:
First, Spain admitted its defeat and compensated China and the Netherlands each with 10,000 pesos (8,000 taels of silver) for military expenses, and compensated Brunei and Sulu each with 100 pesos for military expenses.
Second, Luzon Island should be placed under Chinese rule, Busuanga Island and southern Mindanao Island should belong to the Netherlands. The western peninsula of Mindanao Island, that is, the territory near Zamboanga, should be returned to the Sultanate of Sulu by Spain.
Third, the Netherlands can establish a trading post in Zamboanga, but it cannot garrison troops, build churches, or participate in port management.
Fourth, the Netherlands has exclusive trade rights in Brunei and Sulu. The spices and gems of Brunei and Sulu are jointly monopolized by China and the Netherlands, and no country is allowed to participate.
Fifth, Spain will establish the Governor's Palace in Cebu Port, and Manila's silver wire trade will be transferred to Cebu Port in the future. No country is allowed to attack Cebu Port, otherwise it will be equivalent to declaring war on China, the Netherlands and Spain.
Sixth, Spain and the Netherlands recognize China as the suzerainty of Brunei and Sulu. Based on the existing borders, Spain and the Netherlands are not allowed to expand in Brunei and Sulu without authorization, otherwise it will be equivalent to declaring war on China.
Seventh, the Netherlands abolished the additional tax imposed on the Chinese in Batavia.
Eighth, stop killing the Spaniards in Luzon and allow the Spaniards to evacuate with their property (except in Manila, the Spaniards in the castle are not allowed to take away any property).
This agreement was signed by the Governor of the Philippines, and the King of Spain will probably not acknowledge it.
But you still have to admit it, otherwise it will be a war.
Moreover, it is very likely that the King of Spain did not admit his mistake and resumed trade while at war.
Governor Coquilla and other officials could only leave with some documents. The wealth they robbed and accumulated was divided between China and the Netherlands: China accounted for 50%, the Netherlands accounted for 35%, and Brunei and Sulu together accounted for 5%.
, the remaining 10% will be distributed to the indigenous people participating in the war.
Coquilla sent a messenger to notify the planters to evacuate.
As a result, news was received one after another that the Spanish plantations near Manila had long been robbed.
It has nothing to do with the Chinese army, it is a good thing done by Chinese refugees.
