I

The English communication between Zhao Han and Peter Mundy was very difficult!

Guessing the whole process, occasionally writing words with a pen. If it doesn't work, let the two translators do it.

The first translator, in Portuguese, communicated with Peter Mundy, and then told the other two translators in Cantonese. The second translation is to convert Cantonese into Ming Mandarin so that Zhao Han can really understand it.

"In other words, the Dutch navy is the most powerful now?" Zhao Han asked.

Peter Mundy replied: "Spain is not weak, both sides are evenly matched. But Spain is on the defensive, and the Netherlands is looking for opportunities to attack everywhere. This is also the case in Asia. Last year, the Dutch fleet blocked Malacca for several months. The Spanish fleet has been avoiding war. Dare to show up."

"How did the Dutch navy rise?" Zhao Han asked.

Peter Mundy said: "The Dutch's navigation technology is already developed. Since the beginning of independence, they have been building warships. Seven years ago, the Dutch fleet attacked Antwerp at night and wiped out the Spanish fleet in the port. They also captured a large number of warships. The Spanish battleship. The power of the two sides was reversed, the Dutch turned from the defensive to the offensive, and the Spanish turned from the offensive to the defensive."

"The Netherlands is not that big, is it?" Zhao Han said.

Peter Mundy said with a smile: "Of course, they are very small, but they have money. Spain is poor now, and they can't even pay the salaries of the crew."

Jurisprudentially speaking, the Netherlands at this time was still a province under Spain, and the supreme ruler was the Governor of the Netherlands appointed by the King of Spain.

Any religious conflicts are superficial excuses. The reason why the Dutch fought for independence was because Spain was too exploited, and its nature was a bourgeois revolution accompanied by a war of national independence.

As for the key node, the Spanish royal family went bankrupt, the Dutch financiers suffered heavy losses, and the financiers completely fell to the independent faction.

Peter Mundy also said: "Portugal is also fighting for independence, and it has long cooperated secretly with the Dutch. Without Portugal's port in India, the Dutch would never even think about disrupting the situation in China. But last year, the Dutch blockade of Malacca completely put Portugal People were outraged. The colonial ports of India refused to allow Dutch ships to dock for supplies. In desperation, the Netherlands had no choice but to lift the blockade."

It can be understood that Spain is the head of the family, while Portugal and the Netherlands are the younger brothers.

The two little brothers are both arguing about breaking up.

The Netherlands beat up Spain, making you come and go.

Portugal did not dare to join, and while secretly handing a stick to Holland, he stood by and muttered that I also wanted to separate.

The Portuguese in Macau belong to the concubine of the family. While dissatisfied with the Spanish patriarch, they fought with the Dutch brothers because the Dutch wanted to come to Macau to grab lollipops.

Neither Zhao Han nor Peter Mundy knew that after a naval battle next year, the Netherlands would officially become the world's number one maritime power.

Only at sea!

From Africa to Asia, all along the way are Portuguese colonial ports. The Netherlands is showing off its power at sea, but it is like sleepwalking when it goes ashore. It can only shrink back in southern Taiwan and bully the aborigines.

The Netherlands once tried to capture Macau. Thousands of soldiers landed and were ambushed by dozens of Portuguese. The whole army collapsed on the spot.

If fighting on land and in the wild, two hundred Datong soldiers should be able to defeat three or four thousand Dutchmen head-on.

Listening to Peter Mundy's talk about the situation in Europe, Zhao Han felt that his opportunity had come, or that it was a good time to go to sea in the future.

Spain is declining day by day, Portugal has long been dead, and Britain has not yet risen at sea.

The Netherlands is about to flourish, but the territory of the Netherlands is too small. The population is scarce and the army is weak, so they can only do business honestly and don't want to occupy too many colonies.

As a commodity production center, China beats these countries into dogs and drives them all out of Southeast Asia, and they will also come to engage in trade. Because tea, silk, and porcelain can only be bought in China, they are all scarce commodities in Europe.

But all of this must be led by oneself.

Before training a powerful navy, the Europeans cannot be driven away, and Macau will be Zhao Han's window to the outside world.

Of course, the Netherlands must fight, who makes it the number one maritime power?

Peter Mundy returned to the house and continued to write his travel notes: "Zhao talked about the situation in Europe today, and he was very interested in it. This is a king with far-sighted vision. Yes, king, please allow me to use this word, He may one day be the Emperor of China. God, it's unbelievable that I should be friends with the great Emperor of China..."

"There is no doubt that Zhao will definitely develop the navy. From his eyes, I can see that he will definitely go to war with Spain and the Netherlands in the future. For the United Kingdom, for all European countries, this is a big thing Good thing. Once China defeats Spain, Portugal, Holland, many countries will be able to trade directly with China..."

"May God bless Zhao and bless him with his victory over evil Spain and Holland, from which Great Britain will benefit greatly."

...

After hanging out with the Macao Mission for three days, Zhao Han finally summoned him.

"It's a great honor to meet you, great general." Shi Paulo saluted with a smile.

Zhao Han cupped his hands and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Fang Shengchang, the prefect of Guangzhou, Guo Shunyu, the admiral of the Municipal Shipping Department, Deng Yunzhan, the head of the Municipal Shipping Department, and Wan Bangyan, the commander of the Guangdong Navy, all attended the negotiation process.

The members of the two sides knew each other, and the negotiations soon got to the point.

Macao Councilor Desino said in Ming Dynasty official language: "Zhao Zongzhen, the Governor of Macao and the Macao Parliament are willing to recognize the general's right to rule over Guangdong. The premise is that Macao maintains the status quo and Guangzhou immediately resumes food supply."

"Of course not," Zhao Han said with a smile, "I want to take back Macau, especially the bunkers and forts you built."

After Desino's translator relayed the report, Julio, the commander of the Macau Guard, stood up immediately: "This is impossible, the Emperor Ming has already leased Macau to us!"

Zhao Han looked puzzled and asked, "You don't know that I'm a rebel? What does it matter to me that the Emperor of Ming Dynasty leased Macau?"

That's right, Daming's lease of Macau has nothing to do with anti-thieves!

Julio was at a loss for words, and then said with a red neck, "War, Your Excellency will definitely lead to war!"

Zhao Han laughed and said, "I've found out. Not counting the navy crew, the land garrison in Macau only has 300 people. I'm too lazy to send troops to attack. I'll wait until you starve for a few months."

Naval Commander Samento said: "Your Excellency is forcing the Macao Navy to go to the coast to rob. We only want to do trade, not pirates. Please think carefully."

"Zheng Zhilong is a guest at my house. If you want to be pirates, you can chat with him and maybe learn some experience." Zhao Han said kindly.

Hearing Zheng Zhilong's name, all of these people's expressions changed dramatically.

The Portuguese in Macau also have to pay protection fees to Zheng Zhilong. Moreover, a major event happened this year, and Japan closed its doors.

The "Macao-Japan" trade route is one of the main routes for the Portuguese in Macao. In the future, if you want to obtain goods, you must go to Fujian or Ryukyu, or simply buy goods from Guangzhou to Malacca.

Guangzhou is the largest entrepot trade center in China.

A large number of commodities from Zhejiang, Fujian, Japan, and Ryukyu were first shipped to Guangzhou for sale. Zhao Han took control of this place, regardless of the food, and the Portuguese were also stuck in business.

Paulo Shi, Governor of Macau, still had an aristocratic smile: "Please ask the general to offer a reasonable price, otherwise this negotiation will be difficult to proceed."

"Look for yourself." Zhao Han threw out a contract.

Shi Baoluo took it over and read it carefully, his face was very ugly.

Article 1, Zhao Han has sovereignty over Macau, Portugal and Macau must hand over the forts and disband the guards!

The second article allows Portugal and Macao to retain the parliament, but it can only manage the Portuguese and Spanish settlements.

The third article allows Portugal and Macau to retain the Grand Court, but it can only try Portuguese and Spaniards. Any cases involving Chinese people must be handed over to Xiangshan County for handling.

Article 4: Portugal and Macao are allowed to keep the church, but they can only preach in the church and not outside the church.

Article 5 Foreigners who have settled in Macao for a long time must apply for household registration in Xiangshan County. Holders of household cards can leave settlements and travel outside Macao.

Article 6: Allocate a piece of land for the establishment of Macao primary schools, and establish Macao secondary schools at an optional time in the future. Children under the age of 12 in Macau must attend school and do not enjoy the preferential treatment of free study.

Article 7. Foreigners who have settled in Macao for a long time, if they can speak Chinese and write Chinese characters, can apply for official residence registration and become naturalized Chinese from then on. However, Western religious beliefs such as Catholicism and Protestantism must be abandoned.

Article 8: A Taoist temple and a Buddhist temple will be built on the edge of the foreign settlements in Macau, and the land will be distributed to monks and Taoists for cultivation. Foreigners who are willing to convert to Buddhism or Taoism can go to listen to monks and Taoists.

Article 9 allows Portuguese and Spaniards to trade directly in Guangzhou.

If these nine articles are signed, what kind of governor will Shi Paulo still be?

Julio's face was even more livid. He was the commander-in-chief of the Macau Guard, but Zhao Han wanted to forcibly disband the guard.

The rules of Guangzhou Port are very strange. Merchants from all countries can directly trade in Guangzhou, except for Europeans and Japanese.

Europeans who wanted to do business had to smuggle goods from Guangzhou to Macau through fishermen.

This is the latest policy at the end of Ming Dynasty.

Now that Zhao Han is still open, Portuguese and Spanish merchants can also go directly to Guangzhou to buy things. mean what?

It means that half of the port of Macau has been abolished, which means that the Netherlands and the United Kingdom can bypass Macau and go directly to Guangzhou!

"No haggling is allowed, you only have two choices. Sign or not! Don't worry, even if you don't sign, I will let you go. After you go back, prepare your troops for war." Zhao Han left after finishing speaking, ending the negotiation directly.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay.

Shi Paulo said: "Who dares to sign?"

No one answered.

After a long time, Desino said, "If we don't sign the contract, Magang will be gone. With Zheng Zhilong at sea, we can't fight land battles. The bunkers are useless. Without food for a month, the defenders will all starve to death."

Paul Shi sat down slumped.