After the envoys from Spain and the Netherlands left, a Portuguese lieutenant colonel came out from behind, looked at Omes and said with a solemn face: "Sir Governor, do we really want to form an alliance with the Spanish and the Dutch?
Let’s go to Ming’s southern capital to negotiate with their emperor together? With all due respect, I don’t think this is a wise choice!”
Portugal's strength in the Far East is far inferior to that of Spain and the Netherlands. There are only a few hundred large and small warships and armed merchant ships combined. Most of the armed merchant ships are at sea and cannot participate in the war at all. They can assemble within three months.
There are no more than thirty warships at most, and only more than 2,000 soldiers.
Such strength can only defend Macau from the sea.
"Lieutenant Colonel Ryders, your concern is correct. As far as I know, the current Ming Emperor is very young and is reforming his empire. It is impossible for such an emperor to surrender unless we really
We can attack their southern capital, but unfortunately we cannot."
Omes said slowly.
However, he still underestimated the strength of the Ming Dynasty. Let alone the current emperor Zhu Cihong, even if it was Chongzhen, even if the Three Kingdoms captured Nanjing City, the Ming Dynasty would never negotiate and compromise.
"What do you mean by the governor?" The lieutenant colonel was obviously puzzled by why the governor didn't reject the two of them directly when he knew that Daming would not compromise.
"If the two countries have really assembled their fleets on Dongfan Island and are preparing to attack the southern capital of the Ming Dynasty, this will definitely be considered very important news for the emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"
A sinister smile appeared on Omes' face.
The lieutenant colonel frowned, obviously disapproving of this behavior of betraying Spain and the Netherlands, both Europeans, to please the Ming Dynasty.
"Sigh, I know this is despicable, but if Spain, the Netherlands, and the Ming Dynasty are really allowed to reconcile and directly reach trade, we in Portugal will probably have nothing but soup to eat in the future."
Omeisi obviously saw his thoughts and sighed helplessly. Portugal has been weakened greatly in recent years. The reason why they can still maintain their overseas interests is because the trade with Ming Dynasty has brought them huge profits.
wealth.
Once this advantage is gone, Portugal will no longer be able to support a huge fleet to safeguard overseas interests, and will completely lose the qualification to share the world cake with the Spanish and the Dutch.
The lieutenant colonel didn't say anything. He knew that what the governor said was true. Portugal has weakened too much over the years and is no longer the great maritime power it once was.
The next day, the envoy sent by Ormes to Guangzhou also came back, and the news he brought back made all Portuguese people in Macau sink to the bottom of their hearts.
"Your Excellency, Governor Zeng said that no amount of money can solve the matter in Macau this time. Only the emperor of Ming Dynasty can decide how to deal with it. No one can interfere. The only thing he can do is to deal with it under the emperor's control.
Before the order is issued, ensure our safety and prevent the army from attacking us."
"So, the life and death of all of us and the interests of the Kingdom of Portugal all depend on the mood of the Ming Emperor?"
"Yes, Lord Governor, although this is outrageous, it is a fact. In this empire, no one dares to violate the will of their emperor!
According to the governor, in September, the two largest warlords in the northwest and southwest of their empire, with a combined army of hundreds of thousands, were defeated by them in just three months just because they violated the will of their emperor.
The emperor was eliminated."
"hiss!"
Omeisi and Lieutenant Colonel Ryders both gasped, feeling a chill on their backs.
With hundreds of thousands of troops, they could not go against the emperor's will. It was really hard for them to imagine how much power and how many troops the emperor of the Ming Dynasty had.
"Does one hundred thousand taels of silver just allow the governor to ensure our safety before the emperor's order is issued?"
Omes was a little unwilling to give up, but also a little angry. One hundred thousand taels of silver in Europe was enough to have a dinner with the king and a good night with the queen.
"The governor said that he had taken a huge risk this time. If we had not been Westerners, he would not have helped to prevent the Guangdong garrison from taking over Macau, let alone one hundred thousand taels of silver, even one million taels. However,
He actually gave us a suggestion."
"What advice?"
"He suggested that we send envoys to Nanjing to pay tribute in the name of a vassal state. The person in charge of the power in the south is their queen mother, a woman. If we can present some items that can please her, we may be able to get her to intercede with the emperor.
Allow us to continue renting Macau."
Ormes frowned immediately. Although paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty would not cause substantial losses to Portugal, but would gain huge benefits, the Spaniards and the Dutch would definitely publicize this matter in Europe, so
The impact is truly incalculable.
"The impact of claiming vassalage and paying tribute is too great. Not to mention that it is too late to report to the king now. Even if it is too late, most likely he will not agree. However, the envoy will still be sent. Rhodes, you go to Guangzhou again and ask the governor to help make arrangements.
"
After thinking for a while, Ormes decided to send an envoy to the southern capital of the Ming Dynasty to see if he could bribe some ministers to mediate. Of course, it would be great if he could win the favor of the Queen Mother.
Rhodes was a diplomat sent by Portugal and had been in Ming Dynasty for more than ten years. He nodded and said: "My Lord Governor, I think so too. Even if I don't pay tribute, I still want to go to Nanjing."
Guangzhou is very close to Macau, especially by waterway. Two days later, Rhodes made a round trip from Guangzhou again. Obviously, with the contribution of one hundred thousand taels of silver, he became a guest of the governor of Guangdong and was received as soon as possible.
.
"Rhode, does the governor agree to help?"
Ormes asked impatiently. Without the recommendation of the governor of Guangdong and in the name of paying tribute, even if he sent people all the way to Nanjing, it would be difficult to get an audience with the Queen Mother.
"Agreed, but he said that if we are not going to pay tribute, we can only recommend their Minister of Rites, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs!" Rhodes nodded.
"Can't you introduce their Queen Mother directly?"
Hearing that it was only the foreign minister who was recommended, Ormes was a little disappointed.
"I also asked like this, but the governor just smiled contemptuously." Rhodes spread his hands with a wry smile on his face.
"Well, if you bring more money and gifts this time, there will always be a way for their Queen Mother to receive you when you arrive in Nanjing."
Omeisi had no choice but to compromise, but he sighed in his heart that one hundred thousand taels of silver was really not worth it.