"What, Rakshasa?"
After Yang Zongtai listened to his subordinate's report, he couldn't help but frown, and immediately spoke and confirmed to the subordinate official.
"Yes, Lord Magistrate, according to the report of the soldier who came to the government office, the group of Rakshasa people has a total of five ships, and they are currently docked near the port. Lu Yong, who is patrolling, has led his troops to move these ships. The Rakshasas are under control!”
"Well, I know it. Without further ado, let's set off now!"
After Yang Zongtai finished speaking, he immediately stood up from his seat, took the government officials and the translator who could speak Rakshasa language, and walked non-stop in the direction of the port.
Not long after, when Yang Zongtai led his people to the port, the inspector Lu Yong, as if he had seen a savior, immediately came up to him and reported respectfully.
"I have met the magistrate!"
When Yang Zongtai heard this, he just nodded slightly, and then asked.
"Where are those Rakshasa people?"
When Lu Yong heard this, he immediately looked stern, pointed at several ships docked not far away, and responded respectfully.
"Reporting to the magistrate, the group of Rakshasa people have been controlled by the subordinate officers and soldiers, and they are waiting for your orders!"
"Well, take me there!"
After that, Yang Zongtai followed Lu Yong's footsteps and headed towards the direction of the docked ships.
Along the way, Yang Zongtai also learned the purpose of these Rakshasa people from Lu Yong's mouth.
"Are you saying that those Rakshasa people came here just to start trade with me, the Ming Dynasty, and buy silk, tea, and porcelain?"
Before stepping onto the sampan, Yang Zongtai suddenly stopped and asked Lu Yong.
When Lu Yong heard this, he nodded immediately and responded without thinking.
"Yes, my lord!"
After receiving Lu Yong's confirmation, Yang Zongtai's last doubt was dispelled. Immediately, under the leadership of Lu Yong, he walked onto the sampan and stepped onto the deck of Nils' ship.
Seeing Yang Zongtai's arrival, Nils couldn't help but have an expression of joy on his face, because judging from the eagerness of the officer who detained them earlier, this person should be a high official!
But soon, the official uniform Yang Zongtai was wearing attracted his attention, and he saw a lifelike cloud goose embroidered on the crimson official uniform Yang Zongtai was wearing.
Although Nils couldn't name this animal, he was certain that the commander of the fleet he encountered not long ago was also wearing similar clothes, both in style and color, they were very similar. .
Thinking of this, Nils put away the contempt he had always felt. He originally thought that all heretics were barbarians and uncivilized barbarians!
But now, the naked fact is before him. The country in front of him, which is rich in silk, tea, and porcelain, is very powerful and is a powerful enemy that the Kingdom of Spain cannot provoke!
Thinking of this, Niels could not help but make the sign of the cross on his chest with his hand and pray to God secretly.
"God, I sincerely hope that such a powerful country will never be an enemy of my Kingdom of Spain!"
When the Ming soldiers on the side saw this, they couldn't help but become nervous. Without any explanation, they pulled out the weapons at their waists. What's more, they already raised their blazing guns and aimed at Nils's location.
Seeing this situation, Yang Zongtai's expression did not change, he just waved his hand and gave instructions.
"It's okay, don't be nervous. As far as I know, this is a unique custom there. They are praying to their own gods for help!"
After listening to Yang Zongtai's explanation, the group of Ming soldiers put down their weapons again.
Nils, on the other hand, looked shocked. After he calmed down, the translator on the side also relayed to Nils what Yang Zongtai had just said.
Seeing that the Ming official in front of him knew so much about European customs, Niels couldn't restrain his curiosity and immediately asked.
"My wise and wise lord, where did you learn about our customs?"
When Nils finished speaking, Yang Zongtai brought a translator who understood Rakshasa language and immediately relayed Niels' words to Yang Zongtai word for word.
When Yang Zongtai heard this, he glanced at Nils, and then spoke unhurriedly.
"The people who trade with our Ming Dynasty are not only you Rakshasa people, but also people who call themselves English or French. In short, they look similar to you, and their language is also very different!"
The translator next to Nils, after understanding what Yang Zongtai said, immediately relayed it to Niels word for word.
When Niels learned from the Ming Dynasty official in front of him that this country rich in silk, tea, and porcelain actually had trade relations with England, Spain's archenemy, he was immediately furious. Come.
But soon, Nils suppressed all the words he wanted to say.
There is no other reason. After all, he is currently in a foreign country that he is not familiar with, and the country in front of him has a strength that is not inferior to that of the Kingdom of Spain. It is better to be cautious.
Besides, there is absolutely no need to provoke such a powerful enemy for the Kingdom of Spain for no reason!
After that, Yang Zongtai glanced at Niels rather strangely, and then chose to get down to business.
"Before this, I heard that you came here this time to start trade with my Ming Dynasty and buy my Ming Dynasty's silk, tea, and porcelain?"
Yang Zongtai's words soon reached Niels' ears after being relayed by the translator.
After thinking for a moment, Nils nodded firmly, turned his gaze to the official uniform Yang Zongtai was wearing, and said in a deep voice.
"Yes, we came here this time on the order of our king to carry out trade with you. We want to obtain silk, tea, and porcelain from your country!"
"We can exchange gold and silver with you!"
Niels's words, after being relayed by a translator brought by Yang Zongtai who knew Rakshasa language, fell into Yang Zongtai's ears word for word.
When Yang Zongtai heard this, he suddenly became energetic, because if he can negotiate this deal for the court, it will definitely be a great achievement!
After that, Yang Zongtai calmed down, suppressed his inner eagerness, turned his eyes to Nils, and asked.
"How much silk, tea, and porcelain do you plan to buy?"
Yang Zongtai's words soon reached Niels' ears after being relayed by the translator.
He shook his head slightly and explained.
"Sir, we are here under the order of the royal family. If we want to carry out long-term trade with you, you only need to regularly transport silk, tea, and porcelain to us. We will pay the corresponding gold and silver in exchange!"
When Yang Zongtai heard this, he couldn't help but take a deep breath. After that, even his breathing became rapid. He looked away from Niels and said to himself.
"Hiss~ It seems that this matter is no longer something I can handle. It must be reported as soon as possible!"
Immediately, Yang Zongtai turned his eyes to the translator aside and gave instructions.
"You tell him that this matter is beyond the scope of my responsibilities and needs to be reported to a higher-level official!"
After listening to Yang Zongtai's instructions, the translator who knew the Rakshasa language did not dare to neglect at all, and immediately translated Yang Zongtai's words to Niels word for word.
After hearing what the translator said, a look of confusion suddenly appeared on Niels' face, and he immediately asked.
"Isn't your status very high in the Ming Dynasty? Why do you need to report to a higher-level official?"
When Niels said this, he was afraid that Yang Zongtai would not understand what he meant, so he immediately pointed to the official uniform he was wearing and continued to add.
"Sir, only a very small number of princes and nobles in our area can afford to wear clothes made of silk like the ones you are wearing!"
When Nils said this, there was an undisguised look of envy on his face.
After hearing what Niels said, Yang Zongtai was stunned for a moment, and then explained with a smile.
"You misunderstood. I am just a small prefect in our Ming Dynasty. Above me, there are also the governor, six ministries and nine ministers, the cabinet minister, and the supreme emperor of our Ming Dynasty!"
After that, perhaps for fear that Niels wouldn't understand, Yang Zongtai added another sentence.
"Our Emperor, just like your king, has supreme power!"
Yang Zongtai's words were also relayed by the translator and reached Niels' ears word for word.
Nils saw the expression on Yang Zongtai's face and said to himself immediately.
"When this Ming official mentioned their monarch, he had a very respectful expression on his face. It seems that this monarch must be a wise, intelligent, and ambitious man!"
"In addition, from the fact that this official can wear clothes made of silk, we can see how wealthy this country is!"
"And just now this Ming official said that he was just a small role in their country. It seems that the things recorded in "Mark Boro's Travels" are true. This country is really full of gold. , extremely rich!"
Thinking of this, Niels could not help but feel an uncontrollable greed in his heart. He wanted to send the news back to Spain immediately, and then persuade the king to send an invincible fleet to plunder the country's wealth. Then use the local people as slaves.
Just like they did over there in the Americas, massacre the local indigenous people and then steal the gold and silver from their hands!
But soon, Nils gave up this unrealistic fantasy, because the country in front of him was on par with their Kingdom of Spain in terms of national strength, and in some places, it was even slightly stronger than Spain.
This can be seen from the huge and invincible fleet he encountered before.
"It seems I have to take this opportunity to learn more about this country!"
Thinking of this, the expression on Niels's face became extremely solemn, and he turned his eyes to Yang Zongtai and asked.
"This smart and wise lord, I wonder if we will have the honor to go and meet your Emperor during our trip?"
"After all, we came here with the sincerity of the royal family this time!"
Niels's words, after being relayed by the translator, fell into Yang Zongtai's ears word for word.
After Yang Zongtai understood what Niels wanted to express, he suddenly fell into a dilemma.
"The group of Rakshasa people in front of me threatened to start a long-term trade with our Ming Dynasty. As long as this business can be negotiated, then our Ming Dynasty will have a steady flow of gold and silver flowing in every year. However, they asked to see His Majesty. Is there something wrong? What if His Majesty..."
After Yang Zongtai hesitated for a long time, he finally made up his mind. He turned his eyes to the translator aside and gave instructions.
"Tell him that I can convey this wish for him, but whether His Majesty is willing to see them is another matter!"
When Yang Zongtai finished speaking, the translator on the side quickly narrated the words to Nils intact.
After listening to the translator's narration, Niels did not show the slightest trace of dissatisfaction on his face, because from the description of the Ming official in front of him, the monarch of their country must be very busy.
The fact that the Ming Dynasty official in front of him was able to convey this wish for him was already a good result.
After that, Niels could see a look of gratitude on his face. He couldn't help but stretched out his hand to Yang Zongtai and said.
"Wise and wise sir, I will remember everything you have done for us!"
Seeing this situation, Yang Zongtai couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, but soon he realized that this was the unique etiquette of those barbarians.
He was smiling, and he stretched out his right hand to hold it tightly with the hand held out by Nils. Both parties showed smiles on their faces almost at the same time.
Immediately, after holding hands for a moment, the two released their hands, and the atmosphere between the two parties became visibly harmonious.
After that, Yang Zongtai turned around and gave instructions to his subordinates.
"Take them to the Huitong Pavilion to rest!"
"Yes, Lord Prefect!"
After that, Yang Zongtai glanced at Niels and gave instructions in a leisurely manner.
"I will go back and report this matter to my superiors now. Someone will lead you to the designated place to rest!"
"In the next few days, please don't run around. Even if you want to go out for a stroll, you must get permission from the government and be accompanied by a dedicated person before you can go out for a stroll!"
"In addition, one thing to note is that you must not violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"
Yang Zongtai's words, after being narrated by a translator, reached Niels' ears word for word.
After listening to what the translator said, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on Niels's face. Seeing this, Yang Zongtai also felt relieved, nodded, and immediately walked away.
(End of chapter)
