What is the purpose of being the Governor of Malacca?
Fat! There is a lot of oil and water, and he can also control trade for the royal family and gain the favor of His Majesty the King.
Juan immediately began to ask Wang Zhi what goods he wanted to exchange.
"We don't need to bring back a lot of goods this time. Father told me that there aren't many goods from the West that are easy to sell in the Ming Dynasty." Wang Zhi shook his head, "I only need gold and silver. Do you see how many gems I brought?
There are already a lot of gems in Yunnan. In addition to gold and silver, we only need some exquisite decorations and a small amount of gems that are not easy to find in the Ming Dynasty. As you know, the court will replace many important ministers this year, and my father only uses them as gifts."
Alfonso was anxious: "Where's the glass? You don't want any glass either?"
"Glass?" Wang Zhi chuckled, "The news coming from the capital is that there is so much glass now that some wealthy families are planning to use it as windows."
"...When did that happen?"
Wang Zhi held up his music and looked sideways at the Duke of Nan'ao County: "It's been more than five years since you left the capital, right? In the past five years, the capital has built another outer city. The changes have been so great that I marvel every time. Now,
Unless you find the rubber that the British company needs, we can just come to Malacca and buy some spices here. Even this fine wine...you have a taste of this."
He actually took out a small wine flask made of thick glass from his waist, which seemed to be everywhere.
In fact, Alfonso brought this from the palace and put it at his place first.
Juan only saw him opening the cork on the bottle, and then a strong aroma of wine spread into the room.
"That's all!" Wang Zhi smacked his lips, "I only brought one jar with me, and I have to drink more on the way back!"
Zhu Houcong was already arranging to develop disinfectant alcohol, which was a by-product of the process. The Ming Dynasty did not have enough grain to allow Zhu Houcong to start brewing this stuff.
But soon, Juan felt the excitement of the high-quality oriental liquor.
It was dizzy and the atmosphere was the most exciting. Wang Zhi said that he would come over next time and give him a beautiful and supple Japanese beauty. Although Wang Zhi had not been there yet, now he wanted to go there.
Alfonso also took the opportunity to ask about the views of wealthy private businessmen like the Xu family on Malacca, as well as the latest news about Cochin.
Wang Zhi tasted the local delicacies, took out a handkerchief also made of silk from his arms and wiped his mouth luxuriously: "Some people say that the complete annihilation of the Mongolian Tatars is the first step, and some people say that the Lord of Malacca's memorial is the first step.
We cannot ignore it. These are matters that all the adults in the imperial court are concerned about. Alfonso, your Majesty is willing to let you go, isn’t it just to let you honestly abide by the rules of the Ming Shipping Department if you want to do business? Why do you ask these questions? "
Alfonso glanced at Juan and said slowly: "Malacca is very important to us. The Ming Dynasty may not be short of Europa's goods, but we cannot abandon Malacca."
Wang Zhi frowned after hearing his words.
Not only did he not say a word, he also looked at Huan again.
After creating some strange atmosphere, Wang Zhi spoke: "I have been wanting to ask just now, is this friend of yours Juan, the one who is called the Governor by the people in the tavern, right?"
After saying that, he looked at Alfonso and said a little warily: "Alfonso, I am willing to do business with you because you have promised the British Duke and the Marquis of Jingshan that you will only do business with your familiarity and understanding of the sea.
Businessman, now that you are saying this, are you trying to get involved in the Ming Dynasty and Malacca affairs again?"
"This is indeed your Excellency the Governor." Alfonso said anxiously, "I am more familiar with the sea, the route from Europe to Malacca. If there can be peace between the two countries, I can rely on my knowledge of both Europe and the Ming Dynasty.
The advantages can help the British Duke and the Marquis of Jingshan make more money. This is also better for your family, isn't it?"
Juan saw something was wrong in the atmosphere and asked.
Alfonso didn't hesitate and explained a little bit about what they were talking about, and then simply asked him to call a confidant translator to listen.
Wang Zhi first greeted Juan formally and saluted, and then hesitated.
After a long time, he said with a headache: "Father, I also hope that Malacca will be like this. Since Mr. Juan said that you can take the silk, porcelain, and tea we brought, naturally we don't want this place to be like this."
There is a war again. If there is a war, there will be no business."
"Can you please ask the British Duke and the Marquis of Jingshan to help? If His Majesty the Emperor thinks it is possible, we can support the local people to establish a new dynasty and submit to His Majesty the Emperor for canonization."
"Do this..." Wang Zhi suddenly seemed to be inspired, "I'll tell you a piece of news that you don't know yet. The son of the great uncle committed a crime in the capital and was demoted to Jiaozhi as an official. I heard..."
Seemingly having the common interest of being a businessman and stabilizing trade, Wang Zhi began to provide Alfonso with an intelligence and operational idea.
"Young Master Yan is the son of the great uncle. He wants to reclaim Jiaozhi as the territory of the Ming Dynasty and make contributions to His Majesty. If you can help him accomplish this feat, the great uncle, as the Minister of Rites, may be able to persuade Your Majesty on this matter. Jiaozhi
The richest place is in the north, and the remaining place will be handed over to the original Li family. Then you can send envoys to the capital to ask for a seal, so you can do it together, and there will be no more troubles in the future."
Alfonso was eager to try and looked at Juan: "What do you think?"
There was a time lag in this fact, but Juan didn't know it.
Now faced with Wang Zhi's proposal, he didn't say anything.
"... Pretend I didn't say it." Looking at their reactions, Wang Zhi immediately spoke, "Alfonso, when you mention Malacca, you will be able to convince your people to establish peace with the Ming Dynasty and conduct stable trade in the future. Only then will I be willing to do so.
Come with the goods. Now that you say it is impossible to abandon Malacca, I will wait for the outcome of the matter here after I go back. When passing through Guangzhou, the navy has already assembled in Dongguan. A major military event, the British Duke and the Marquis of Jingshan
Although I won’t say it, I guess it’s natural to solve the problems in Cochin and Malacca together.”
Wang Zhi shook his head: "Luzon also said that you Westerners came nine years ago, and they were so scared. Then we'll see if Feng Zhou can follow the navy to visit all the vassal states. If so.
If there is really going to be a war, I will go to Ryukyu, Japan, and Korea."
Alfonso was anxious: "But although the new king of Cochin has not yet been canonized, won't our attack on Cochin further anger His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Don't you often say that you have mercenaries over there?" Wang Zhi rolled his eyes, "I have various business partners on Cat Ba Island, and I secretly have business dealings with the descendants of the Li Dynasty. I will help you get one more
Line, you were hired by Ruan Gan to help the Li Dynasty recover. Following the lessons learned during the Xuande period of Yongnian, this time we will only want the north of Jiaozhi, which is easier to govern."
Juan didn't understand. After Alfonso's explanation, he realized that a hundred years ago, the Ming Dynasty had regarded the entire Cochin as a province under its direct jurisdiction, and the southernmost border was terrifyingly close to Malacca.
"The obstacle now is not Ruan Gan, but Mo Dengyong!" Wang Zhi seemed to be a person of great status here, pointing out the country, "In the past, it was a lot of trouble to directly govern Jiaozhi, and now I will not take further measures.
How about Malacca? We just need to be more secure in the south of Cochin and Champa, which are too far away. The most troublesome thing for you is that you took advantage of the courage of a bear and attacked Guangdong!"
Wang Zhi glanced at Juan. Although he was the governor, Wang Zhi's current personality was different.
He said contemptuously: "Your Excellency Governor, the Ming Dynasty is not an uncivilized small tribe like Malacca. If you can't give up the benefits of trade here, it is better to make a choice earlier. Help Mr. Yan, and you will have a good start. When the Ming Dynasty arrives,
At the door of your home, you still have to abide by the rules here. Alfonso, have you told the Governor the story about Japan?"
Alfonso nodded.
Juan looked at Wang Zhi's expression and felt a little angry.
However, he also had to think about the legendary Japan that was also far away from the Ming Dynasty. It was originally one of the vassal states, but because two nobles in the country were competing to trade with the Ming Dynasty and violated the rules, they were later deprived of the opportunity to trade with the Ming Dynasty.
qualifications.
Now, they can only wait in Japan for the merchant ships of the Ming Dynasty to pass by, sell their own things at cheaper prices, and buy what they need at high prices.
This is not bad, after all, the trade route is still open.
And this rule that His Excellency Wang Zhi mentioned is the previous tribute payment and the current trade license.
"The current Grand Sima is none other than Master Wang Hong, who defeated you in the past." Wang Zhi added, "Don't you just want to get a license when you return to Malacca so that you can lead a fleet between Ningbo and Malacca in the future?
?If the military campaign against Jiaozhi is successful, Mr. Wang will also be successful. With all due respect, if it is difficult for the British Duke and the Marquis of Jingshan to talk to you, it can only be done if you have two ministers to speak for you! This is all, you can decide for yourself.
"
Other Portuguese merchants did not have much objection to the fact that the governor wanted to eat most of the goods first on behalf of the royal family.
But Mr. Wang Zhi, who generously purchased fine European wines, exquisite gifts from the West, and even works of art, said: He is not sure when he will come back next time.
Now other Portuguese businessmen had a big opinion: they were still eagerly waiting for the goods from the Ming Dynasty. If they were lucky enough to return to Europe, they would sell them for a lot of money!
Naturally, they also knew about the dispute between Portugal and that big eastern country ten years ago. It was just the ten years of peace that made them think that the matter was over, or they didn't think it was a big deal.
For trade, of course, you have to knock on the door first. If the door can be opened with a light knock, that is the lowest-cost trade - robbery.
If you can't knock it open, then you are very strong and have the qualifications to fight first and then be polite.
Let’s talk. Is there anything we can’t talk about?
Unable to figure out the reason from Wang Zhi, they could only seek explanation from Juan again and ask Alfonso, the "big Mingtong".
In the end, that truth is very convincing: His Majesty the Emperor's majesty and face, the Emperor's status and deterrence in the minds of the vassal states are all very important. Malacca may have to deal with the long-term harassment of Portugal's powerful fleet and caravans that are both merchants and thieves.
The gain outweighs the loss, but if the main navy of the Ming Dynasty and their tens of thousands of troops deployed thousands of miles away from the capital come here, how will the Portuguese Governor of India respond?
The difference between canonizing a king of a vassal country and entrusting a duke with real power is just like the Ming Dynasty setting up the Duke of Guizhou to guard the southwest border for generations.
"Isn't it true that many soldiers are now employed by Ayutthaya? We can hire new people in Malacca together, we all have ships! Sir Alfonso, can you really get permission to trade with the Ming Dynasty?"
"...I came with the mentality of giving it a try, as long as I can find the rubber that His Majesty the Ming Emperor has been looking for for many years."
"Rubber, what is that?"
Alfonso shook his head: "I don't know. His Majesty the Emperor said that if there is no East India and India, it can only be the New World on the other side of the ocean."
"Oh my god, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty also knew about the New World? Wasn't that what Magellan just discovered?"
"...Don't be stupid, the Ming Dynasty's fleet almost reached the Cape of Good Hope a hundred years ago. Not only did the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty know about the New World, but the Yin Di'an people in the New World were descendants of their own dynasty who migrated there two or three thousand years ago..."
Alfonso was also fooled by Zhu Houcong, and more ironclad evidence of "since ancient times" authenticated by the Emperor of Heaven was spread here. As for the Indians who were mistakenly thought by Western navigators to have arrived in India, could they be the emperor of the huge Eastern empire?
Not more authoritative than him?
"His Majesty the Emperor said that there is a huge rain forest over there, and maybe rubber is something there. Believe me, His Majesty the Emperor of Ming Dynasty has incredible knowledge. There are different species in different places. As long as rubber can be found, then
We will definitely get permission to trade with the Ming Dynasty."
Another mission of Alfonso was to spread the news that Ming Dynasty needed rubber through Malacca, and according to Zhu Houcong's arrangement, clearly pointed out the Americas, the most likely place of origin.
Zhu Houcong has been looking for it in South and Southeast Asia for so long but has not been able to find it. If such a thing exists in Africa, there should be some news.
Now, let the European sea outlaws find this thing on behalf of the Ming Dynasty, and then bring it over - at any rate, they will actually come up with some goods to exchange with the Ming Dynasty, instead of only giving out gold and silver, which will cause an unbearable deficit.
Then take out the opium.
Industrial raw materials? Until there is a qualitative breakthrough in the tonnage of sea-going ships, only some goods with higher profit margins will become the main trading goods. It is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to buy iron ore and coal from overseas at excessively high unit prices.
If a ship can haul a few dozen tons or two to three hundred tons at most, how much can it be sold for?
The total value of the goods Wang Zhi brought could not be said to excite these people, but what excites them is the possibility, the possibility of stable trade profits in the future.
Wang Zhi suggested that Alfonso and Juan solve the peace problem between the two countries, which was also to their liking: they could first become tacit comrades in arms to deal with a neighbor problem that Ming Dynasty now wanted to solve.
How complicated can it be to use mercenaries to attack seaside cities in a small country that is much weaker than the Ming Dynasty?
It's not to occupy them, it's just to bring chaos and greater pressure to them.
We are going to rob, friends!
In the tavern, someone carrying a bag full of silver coins began to recruit desperadoes.
Without Juan's personal intervention, other businessmen spontaneously began to cooperate and discussed the proportion of "investment" and the proportion of dividends for this "sale".
Juan felt that this was not possible. What if something happened?
At this moment in real history, Malacca actually sent two hundred mercenaries to Ayutthaya. At this moment, the defenses in the city of Malacca were not very tight.
He urgently sent a Karak warship and a general with fifty people as the commander-in-chief to restrain these merchants who used the merchant ships as warships, so that after approaching Cochin, they must first see the destroyed old city of Cochin.
The king hired messengers and negotiated the price.
Alfonso must also be among them, both as a hostage and to prevent this from being a trap set by Alfonso, a man who cannot yet be completely trusted.
At the same time, he also urgently issued an order to recall the two hundred mercenaries who had gone to Ayutthaya, thus saving Eight Hundred Dadian from an upcoming sneak attack.
It is also appropriate to request support from Goa and prepare for the worst case scenario.
This is how the nest in Nanyang was built.
Autumn has entered, and except for Tang Shunzhi, the governor of the three border areas, who is still stationed there to guard against the northern invaders, Wang Shouren has to return to Beijing.
After surviving that year, Wang Shouren's health had really stabilized. His old friend Wu Wending, after making great contributions to the southwest, had been traveling abroad in Yunnan at the beginning of the year and now he has applied for a job.
The focus of the capital is the upcoming major national policy meeting, while on the grassland, the bald people are breaking into pieces, hiding among the tribes looking for a place to spend the winter, moving eastward, or pretending to be common people on the grassland.
The caravan heading towards Duoyan tribe.
Walking day and night, they approached the Duoyan area, which had been at peace for four years.
With the scope of the territory they control, the horse team sprints and plunders with all their strength, and it won't take long to get to the heart of the Duoyan tribe - only two to three hundred miles at most.
In this way, on the eve of the major national policy meeting in November, the Duoyan Department was attacked.
Although the Duoyan tribe itself had considerable military strength, due to calculations without intention, the Duoyan tribe suffered heavy losses.
For the Ming Dynasty, the Duoyan tribe controlled over ten thousand strings, but only three thousand riders broke into the core area, plundered a large amount of supplies, and then escaped to the north. This was due to the Duoyan tribe's own incompetence, or that it had just taken over.
There was a big problem with the Gram's control over the tribe.
However, the Ming Dynasty's diplomatic embassy stationed in Duoyan was also ransacked, and no one, from the propaganda envoys to the ordinary guards, was spared.
When the news came back to the capital, Zhu Houcong's face turned pale: "Xuan Feihong, Xia Yan, Xinjian Hou, Yan Song, Yang Shen, Wang Hong!"
The Minister of Household Affairs and the Minister of War were convened at the same time. There is no doubt that the emperor was really angry and had the intention to send troops.
Zhu Houcong calmed down and then said: "Secret orders are given to Wang Xueyi, Yan Shifan, Ping Nanbo, and Jiaozhi. It is best to subdue others without fighting! If the Xuanwei Division cannot do it, we can set up the Dutong Division! I want the three prefectures and Ji Po
There must be an island! Let Zhao Jun take the navy commander over there and take a look around!"
There are new changes in the north, and the south can only settle for the next best thing.
Then he said to Wang Shenzhong: "Let Mingbao write an article to announce the death of Duoyan's envoy to the country, and posthumously reward him with the title of Chengde County Lord!"
"I obey the decree!"
Then Zhu Houcong clenched his fist, gritted his teeth and whispered: "I answer..."
Although there is no direct evidence, I am the only one who sees the danger in the north in Zhu Houcong's eyes.
At this moment, Anda was also shocked and angry after receiving the report: "That bastard Man Shou Tu! Why did he massacre Akito's diplomatic embassy after letting him sneak away after the robbery?"
He was reasonably shocked, but also helpless.
Among the generals under his command, only Man Shou Tu, who had traveled a long distance to Qinghai, was more suitable for this task.
But despite all the warnings, Man Shou Tu could not forget the humiliation of being defeated by Li Jin. Naturally, he would have many excuses, but An Da understood the consequences of this incident and what kind of passivity the Tumote Department would face.
.
Sure enough, even though the important ministers had not yet arrived at the Yangxin Hall, Zhu Houcong issued the fourth order: "Instruct Guo Xun and Yu Dayou to prepare for war and capture the Tucheng and the horse-drying platform!"