After Jiajing sat down on the cushioned stone bench, he turned his eyes to Lu Fang and gave instructions.
"Come, Lu Fang, drink tea with me!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang didn't refuse. After answering, he immediately sat down opposite Jiajing.
Soon after this, a maid came forward and poured a cup of hot tea for Jiajing and Lu Fang each with extremely skillful techniques.
In an instant, the fragrance of tea overflowed, and the air was filled with a faint aroma that seemed to be present, and combined with the exquisite pastries on the stone table, it made people's fingers lick their fingers.
Jiajing picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Lu Fang who was about to speak but asked.
"Lu Fang, is there anything you want to tell me?"
After hearing Jiajing's words, Lu Fang no longer concealed anything and carefully expressed the doubts in her mind.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I don't understand why you want to sign an alliance with that country called Spain. I am the country of the Ming Dynasty. There is no need at all..."
Before Lu Fang finished speaking, Jiajing chuckled and explained unhurriedly.
"The reason why I signed an alliance with them is because I, the Ming Dynasty, can gain huge benefits from the trade between the two parties!"
"As you said before, Lu Fang, our country, the Ming Dynasty, is a kingdom with abundant products. Because of this, we can be self-sufficient without starting trade, and we don't need to buy goods from other countries at all!"
"In addition, I said before that the current Kingdom of Spain massacred local indigenous people in America, Africa and other regions, and plundered a large amount of gold and silver treasures from their hands. Their royal family became extremely wealthy as a result."
When Jiajing said this, he paused for a moment and then continued to add.
"It is precisely because the royal family of their country has become extremely wealthy that they are able to purchase a large amount of silk, tea, porcelain and other luxury goods from my Ming Dynasty for enjoyment!"
"And our Ming Dynasty has abundant products and there is no need to buy anything from their country. In other words, the large amounts of gold and silver they plundered from the Americas, Africa and other regions will eventually flow into the pockets of my Ming Dynasty through trade!"
"My Ming Dynasty can take this opportunity to secretly accumulate strength, and when the time is right, we can officially start a war with Spain. After defeating Spain, our Ming Dynasty can take over Spain's position and become the new maritime overlord!"
After listening to Jiajing's explanation, Lu Fang's original doubts were completely dispelled. What he didn't expect was that Jiajing had already considered it to this extent!
What shocked Lu Fang even more was that the two sides had not yet formally signed an alliance, and His Majesty was thinking of breaking out with Spain when the time was right, officially going to war with Spain, and then replacing it.
After that, Lu Fang looked ashamed, leaned down and spoke respectfully.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, by doing this, I am also seeking justice for the indigenous people who were massacred!"
When Jiajing heard what Lu Fang said, he nodded slightly and turned to speak.
"Well, Lu Fang, you are right. This move of Ming Dynasty is to seek justice for the indigenous people who were brutally massacred!"
Immediately, Jiajing seemed to suddenly remember. After glancing at Lu Fang, he changed the subject and asked immediately.
"Lu Fang, the imperial concubine will give birth in September. I am wondering whether I should call Prince Jing back from the fiefdom. What do you think?"
When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately leaned down and responded without thinking: "Your Majesty, I feel that for such a big event, His Royal Highness King Jing should be called back to the capital to celebrate the empress!"
Jiajing nodded and agreed with Lu Fang's proposal. Immediately, he looked at Lu Fang and asked.
"By the way, Lu Fang, how is the situation with King Jing now?"
When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart. After organizing the words in her mind, she carefully responded.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, everything is fine with His Highness King Jing, but in recent times, he has been in contact with more and more people in private!"
"Oh, who are they?"
After hearing Lu Fang's answer, Jiajing couldn't help but become interested. He raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Your Majesty, according to the news sent by Jin Yiwei, in recent times, the people who have had close contact with King Jing, apart from the gentry, are the local monks from Xuanguang Temple!"
When Jiajing heard this, he couldn't help but frown, a look of doubt appeared on his face, and he said to himself.
"Oh, monk, what, did Zhen'er encounter something unclean, or does he want to become a monk?"
When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, a look of uneasiness suddenly appeared on her face, she lowered her head and said nothing.
After Jiajing thought about it for a moment, he turned his gaze to Lu Fang and gave instructions.
"In this case, Lu Fang, send someone to investigate the details of Xuanguang Temple. If you find out any information, report it directly to me!"
When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, she immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
…
On the other side, after a long period of war of words, the two sides finally discussed all the details related to the trade treaty.
"Please take a closer look at the contents of the treaty. If it is confirmed to be correct, sign it!"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he picked up the writing brush and signed his name on the signature of the trade treaty.
Shortly after this, a subordinate quickly came forward and handed the drafted trade treaty to Nils and others.
The content of the trade treaty is very similar to what the two sides negotiated not long ago, but many more provisions have been added in the details.
The treaty stipulated that the Ming Dynasty must transport no less than sixteen ships of silk, tea, porcelain and other luxury goods to the Kingdom of Spain every year.
Before the cargo ship officially departs, the Spanish royal family must pay half of the payment to Daming in advance, that is, 6.81 million taels of silver. The merchant ship will not set off until the payment is completed!
After the merchant ship transported the goods to Spain, the Spanish royal family paid the other half of the payment.
Not only that, the trade treaty also stipulates in detail the specific price of each item, which changes with market fluctuations.
This trade treaty signed by both parties even takes into account many unexpected situations.
For example, many issues such as what should be done if a ship is unfortunately capsized by wind and waves during transportation, or what should be done after a ship is robbed by pirates on the road, etc., are also often covered in trade treaties.
Nils looked at the trade treaty in front of him, drawn up in the languages of the two countries. After confirming that the contents were correct, he took out his quill and solemnly signed his name on it.
Seeing that the trade treaty has been officially signed, both parties could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, before this, the two sides were going back and forth, fighting each other, and doing whatever they could to gain more benefits for their respective countries.
When the situation was at its most intense, Nils and his party even wanted to leave right away.
But in the end they stayed. After repeated and extremely intense discussions, both sides took a step back and finally successfully signed a trade treaty.
Immediately, Yan Song and Nils stood up from their seats respectively. After exchanging the trade treaties in their hands, it meant that their tasks were successfully completed. (End of chapter)
