Due to fierce arguments between the municipal council and the Portuguese businessmen group with different views, the entire negotiation has not progressed. There is no such organization as the Spanish Navy Macau Detachment in Macau. Most of the armed ships in the port are merchant ships, except for a few
Except for the Macau Municipal Council and the Governor of Macau, light vessels are almost all owned by private individuals or groups. There are too many interests involved, and there are more details to be decided: the ship owners are not willing to serve the Municipal Council in vain, even if they are willing.
It is necessary to explain clearly how to compensate the dead personnel, how to share the cost of ship repairs and ammunition loss.
The Jesuits, who played an important role in the final decision, have not expressed their views so far - but everyone knows that the Jesuits are leaning towards the Australians, because the Australians have given the Jesuits great help in missionary affairs in China. It can be said that they have achieved great results.
Breakthrough progress.
The Jesuits had an ambiguous attitude, and the Municipal Council and the Chamber of Commerce held long and inefficient debates day after day. Li Luoyou waited anxiously - it was said that it was a negotiation, but in fact there was nothing to talk about. He spent most of his time waiting for Portugal
The conclusion of people’s own internal meetings and negotiations.
His news in Macau actually became better: news of the Australians launching military patrols along the Pearl River kept coming. Li Luoyou knew very well: the Australians continued to carry out small-scale military operations, but did not directly attack the gateway to Guangzhou.
Wu Yong is forcing the Guangdong government to negotiate peace as soon as possible - to force peace with war.
Li Luoyou synthesized various information collected in Macau and strengthened his idea. Especially when he learned that more than a month ago, Australians came to Macau for activities in an attempt to establish relations with the Guangdong government. This
Several Australians are still stranded in Macau, seemingly waiting for something.
They must have conveyed their request for peace to Guangzhou or Zhaoqing through some channel, but the Guangdong local government did not respond at all. That's why they launched a battle into the Pearl River Inland.
Li Luo couldn't help but feel sad secretly. If the local officials could respond in time and send people to negotiate privately, maybe this matter could be settled and it would not become such a mess.
The Australians will never return empty-handed once they have drawn their swords. When the peace negotiation between the two parties is successful, there will be countless more orphans, widows, ghosts, and houses and wealth burned to the ground.
He decided to find an opportunity to have private contact with the Australian representatives and listen to their specific conditions and ideas. This would save a lot of round-trip time once peace was negotiated.
Gelanzani said softly in his usual tone: "My child, don't be anxious. Speak slowly."
"Yes, sir." Lando glanced at the president from the corner of his eye. This guy was pretending to be calm. His hands were shaking just now. Lando felt that this matter was very certain.
"Sir, I got a surprising news in Lingao." Lando looked very anxious, "The Chinese court will soon cancel the right of merchants here to enter Guangzhou trade, and will
* Foreign merchant ships are not allowed to enter or exit the entire Pearl River Estuary. They even want local Chinese businessmen to stop supplying food, vegetables and meat to Macau."
Gelanzani has long heard rumors about a ban on trade. Such rumors have been circulating in Macau for almost a few months. At first, it was just a very empty rumor. Similar to: "I heard that trade is going to be banned." Something like this
Of course he would not believe the nonsense rumors when they grew up, but the rumors gradually became more real and more details became available. Until recently, he already knew that the person who advocated banning Portuguese trade was the highest official in Guangdong.
Chief Justice.
At this time, Lando not only repeated the rumor, but also clearly stated the specific content. The authenticity level was as high as over 80%, and it was not groundless no matter how you look at it.
"My child, is your news reliable? There are at least thirty or forty such news in the city every day."
"Sir, it is absolutely reliable." Lando bowed, "I have already reported to the two priests, and they both thought it was necessary for me to report to you personally. This is their letter." He handed it over.
A letter written by Lu Ruohua. It not only confirmed what Lando said, but also specifically stated in the letter that the source of Lando's information was a "highly powerful" Catholic elder among Australians - the other party.
He expressed great concern about the safety of Macau, the "lighthouse of the Church in the Far East", and hoped that the Portuguese in Macau would be prepared in advance.
Lando said: The Australians not only learned the specific details of the matter, but also had direct evidence.
Seeing this letter, Gelanzani frowned. Is this trying to sow discord? The Australian government already knew that the Guangdong government was trying to ask for help from them. If the Portuguese fell to the Ming Dynasty, what would happen to the Australians in the Pearl River?
The military operation was naturally very unfavorable. Perhaps they revealed the news to the missionary group in Lingao for this reason.
He mused that once the news was proven true, there would be no possibility for the Portuguese to help the Guangdong government. The purpose of the Portuguese to help the Chinese maintain security on the Pearl River was to maintain trade, not to protect the people of the Ming Dynasty. If trade was interrupted by the Chinese government,
So the life and death of Chinese people, the security and smoothness of the Pearl River, have nothing to do with the Portuguese.
The fact that the Australians revealed this news directly to the Jesuits without any concern showed that they had enough evidence to prove this and did not need to go round and round to prove their reliability.
Gelanzani felt sweat start to form on his back. If the chief justice of Guangdong really asked the Chinese emperor to cut off trade, then the future of Macau would be in jeopardy. Not to mention whether the Chinese would use various means to force Portugal
When people leave Macau, this city built outside of circulation and shipping has lost its main and almost only trading partner. What future does it have?
Gelanzani thought of the several commercial cities he visited during his travels in Italy and the Netherlands that declined due to changes in geographical environment. Artemisia that could feed horses grew on the once prosperous streets, and the population declined to what it was in the past.
One-tenth of the city. Beautiful commercial buildings and merchants' mansions were left with empty door panels. It was a desolate and desolate scene.
Once something like this happens in Macau, he simply cannot imagine that Macau can survive - it is just a small island on a promontory and cannot even be self-sufficient. After trade is cut off, the city will immediately decline and become deserted.
The Jesuits had no choice but to abandon this best missionary base at the gateway to southern China and move to the Philippines, which was far away and under Spanish control.
He shuddered at the thought. He hated the Spaniards—and openly hated them. Needless to say, they would be treated well in Manila.
"My son, do you have any other evidence? Just such a piece of news will not satisfy the gentlemen."
"The Australian who tipped me off said that if adults were interested, they would provide all the evidence to prove it."
"I understand. You go down and rest." Gelanzani nodded.
After Lando left, Geranzani asked Li Luoyu to come to the official residence immediately.
"Jacob." Gelanzani called his Christian name and said straight to the point, "I know from a well-informed person that the chief justice of Guangdong has submitted a memorial to the court, demanding a complete ban on trade with Macau.
Do you know the truth of this matter?"
"I don't know, sir." Li Luoyou was surprised that he was suddenly called. Now that he heard that he was asked about the thing he was least willing to answer, he managed to maintain his composure, "You know, this rumor has been spread.
For a long time, I am not an official and cannot judge the authenticity of the news."
"What about your knowledge and logic?" Gelanzani pressed forward step by step.
"This..." Li Luoyou hesitated for a moment, feeling that whether it was possible or impossible would be impossible to justify in the future. Gelanzani suddenly asked him to talk. It was obvious that he had important information, so he decided not to hide it anymore.
"In my opinion, this matter is most likely true." Li Luoyou nodded heavily, "High Commissioner has always been dissatisfied with the Portuguese and the Holy Church. But so far, there are only rumors and no confirmed news.
.”
"The Australians said they have enough evidence." Gelanzani looked into his eyes, "Do you think they have it?"
Li Luoyou was speechless. He realized that his mission might soon be ruined. He thought for a moment: "Mr. President, I want to draw your attention. Even if this matter is true, Gao Xunjian did write
The receipt of this memorial does not mean that it will be a decree of the imperial court. After this memorial is sent to the capital, it not only needs the emperor's sanction, but also needs to be discussed by the cabinet and the six ministries. If there are different opinions in any link, Gao Xun
The memorial is just a memorial. It cannot be regarded as some kind of decree - it is only equivalent to a 'petition'."
Li Luoyou deliberately used the weakest European word.
Gelanzani knew what he said was right. He thought for a moment and said: "You know, I respect you very much..."
"Thank you, President."
"...But I don't quite believe what Chinese officials say. Before this, several elders of the Municipal Council had asked many Chinese officials with real power in Guangzhou and Xiangshan about this matter, and they all categorically rejected it.
Now it seems that they are probably lying."
Li Luoyou didn't know what to say, but he knew it was the meaning above, and it was probably Li Fengjie himself who took care of it.
"...If this matter is true, I can only advise the city council not to provide any form of help to the Guangdong government. I think if you were in our position, you might not be able to agree to help." Gelanzani said,
"If merchants can't trade, what does safety on the Pearl River have to do with the city council?"
Li Luoyou replied painfully: "Yes, I completely understand what you mean."
"...Unless the Guangdong government can provide definite clarification on Macau's future," he continued, "including guarantees on trade."
Li Luoyou knew that if he did not come up with a definite guarantee, I am afraid that the talks on borrowing troops would not yield any results. It was obviously the Australians who were causing trouble. But he didn't know what the Australians used to impress him.
The Jesuits, who are famous for being suspicious, pondered hard in their apartment: As of now, the government has no definite solution, and they just pretend to be deaf and dumb to evade it. It is no wonder that the Jesuits do not trust them but trust the Australians.
A few days later, the Macau Municipal Council fell into a frenzy, and a batch of carefully organized documents were thrown out through the Jesuits. These documents included Gao Shunqin's memorial draft, discussions with the Sixth Department of the Capital, the Cabinet, and the censors.
Transcripts and translations of correspondence.
This batch of translations aroused great fear among the city council and Portuguese businessmen - many of them have been doing business and living in Macau for many years, and some were simply born in Macau, with their property, career and family all in this small land.
. Now suddenly tell them: they are likely to lose it all!
When they learned that the Guangdong government, while asking them to send troops for help, was petitioning the emperor to expel them, the anger of the city council and chamber of commerce erupted. No matter how Li Luoyou explained the operating rules of Chinese officialdom: Li Fengjie was just the governor.
, he had no right to interfere with what Gao Shunqin said to the emperor; and Gao Shunqin's memorial might not be approved by the emperor. He was still scolded, and many people told him to "go back!"
Li Luoyou secretly complained that not only could the matter not be done, but he as a representative had also suffered a disaster - his credibility had been seriously damaged.
He was summoned into the Governor's Mansion, and the Governor made his attitude clear to him:
Unless the Guangdong government can issue an official document clearly guaranteeing that trade will not be interrupted, the Portuguese will not be prohibited from entering Guangzhou for trade, and the Portuguese will not be forced to leave Hao by cutting off supplies, then they can consider sending warships to the Pearl River Estuary.
Conduct patrols and help the Ming Dynasty expel the Australian detachment. Otherwise, the Portuguese will not interfere in all actions of both parties.
Of course Li Luoyou knew that Li Fengjie would not provide this. In the past, the Portuguese could be made to submit by threatening to expel and cut off trade. Now that expulsion and interruption of trade are imminent, such threats will no longer have any effect.
.
"Assholes! A bunch of greedy and incompetent villains! Disciples of saints! Bullshit! A bunch of despicable and shameless people! Sooner or later, all the good things will be in your hands!" In Li Luoyou's apartment in Macau, a Chenghua porcelain cup followed.
His angry shout was smashed to pieces, and the tea seeped into the expensive Persian carpet, leaving a large pool of eye-catching stains.
The servants and maids were too scared to come in - they had never seen the master so angry. Li Luoyou stared at a portrait of the Virgin and Child in front of him, trying to suppress his anger. He was too angry.
Although he had expected such a result before setting off, the various experiences he had experienced in the past few days, combined with everything he had heard and witnessed in Guangning many years ago, made him have a deep understanding of this government, this system and the people in power.
People had great doubts.
A wave of dizziness hit him, and Li Luoyou knew that he was about to get sick again, so he quickly drank the medicinal wine - this was a special medicinal wine given to him by Liu San. It was very effective after taking it, and he tried to calm down his mood.
His activities in Macau were a complete failure, and there was no point in going back to Guangzhou. Li Fengjie was probably the one who would not shed tears before seeing the coffin. He simply stayed in his apartment and completely pretended to be deaf and mute. In order to completely clear up the relationship this time, Governor Li ordered his subordinates to
No one was dispatched, which saved him a lot of effort in concealing and coping.
The failure to borrow troops strengthened his idea of seeking an opportunity to contact the Australians and discuss the terms of peace talks. He sent his capable servants to inquire about the residence and activities of the Australians in Macau.
Li Luoyou's mission failed due to the intervention of the Intelligence Bureau, and the Pearl River Estuary Task Force no longer has any worries. The navy is certainly not afraid of the Portuguese's large Galen ship, but the current target is the Ming Dynasty, and there is no need to make too many enemies and spread out its troops for the time being.
.
After receiving the situation report from the Intelligence Bureau, Chen Haiyang transferred most of the warships from the several detachments remaining outside the Pearl River Estuary into the Pearl River waterway and assembled in Humen. At the same time, the naval detachment also ended its month-long tour of the Pearl River Delta and all returned to the establishment for rest and recuperation.
, repairing the ship's cannon, preparing to break through Wuyong in one fell swoop and enter the Guangzhou waterway known as the "Provincial River".
The waterway leading to Guangzhou passes through Wuyong and goes all the way up to Huangpu Island, which is the location of Guangzhou's old port. After passing through Huangpu Island, the Pearl River is divided into two waterways by Henan Island. Along these two waterways,
You can reach Baietan by going up any waterway.
Baietan is just southwest of Guangzhou City in the Ming Dynasty. It is the place where three rivers converge, the two northwest rivers and the Pearl River converge here. The tides here are smooth, the siltation is not heavy, the river is wide and vast, and the smoke waves are rippling. It is more than enough to park the entire task force.
The final destination of Chen Haiyang's military operation was Baietan, and he made a gesture of approaching the city.
Of course, in order to lead the fleet to Baietan, a series of obstacles must be overcome. In addition to Wuyong, Huangpu and other places, many emergency forts have been erected on Henan Island. Hongyi cannons have been installed. And in many places
Work has also been carried out to block the waterway. Three iron chain rafts have also been deployed across the waterway to intercept ships.
Compared with the Pearl River waterway, the river surface of the provincial river is much narrower, the river draft is also shallow, and there are many sandbars. All of this is relatively easy to deal with. What Chen Haiyang is most worried about is the several river surfaces where the river channel has been blocked. Although it has been
According to his common sense, blocking the waterways of large rivers is basically unlikely to succeed. Whether it was the Opium War blocking the Pearl River or the Anti-Japanese War blocking the Yangtze River, most efforts are in vain.
To be cautious, he decided to specially equip and transform a river cleaning vessel to clean up obstacles in the channel. Although the Great Whale is large in tonnage, it is a shallow-draft ship with a wide deck and a steam engine power plant.
, it is more than enough to transform it into a temporary wrecker.