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"That's true. Speaking of which, many of the captives this time are not Spaniards. I don't think they are necessarily that loyal to the Catholic king - they are nothing more than those who have breasts and are mothers. [Read the full text]"
The two did not continue to discuss this issue. Using European prisoners was a very sensitive topic. No one was willing to speak out their true thoughts before getting the direction of the Senate.
In order to change the topic, Chen Haiyang said: "I heard that a Spanish Ocean horse was caught this time. This is a rare thing..."
"I also find it strange. Why is there such a noble lady on the ship to the Philippines?"
"How do you know she is of noble status?"
"With several servants, living in the stern, and many boxes of valuable luggage." Qian Shuiting has read the mission report written by Lin Chuanqing and others, "You can't say he is an ordinary person."
"No matter how noble you are, what's the use to us?" Chen Haiyang smiled, "I'm afraid that there will be trouble over women again."
Although the elders tended to be more or less emperor-like, when it came to Europeans, although they would not say "white humanoids" and "white-skinned pigs" like Liu Zheng and Xiaobailang, they were always somewhat dismissive. But they are full of great enthusiasm for white women. One time, after drinking too much water from Hubei Province, he said that many elders were actually followers of the "Yangma Worship Cult". The three words "Ocean Horse" are simply a g-spot trigger. As soon as someone mentions it on bbs, there will be hundreds of replies.
This Spanish woman who fell from the sky is not so much a beautiful trophy. Rather, it's a time bomb.
"It doesn't matter, just bid according to the rules for disposing of spoils. Everyone is free to bid. The one with the highest price will get it." Qian Shuiting said casually, "If you still feel that you can't settle the matter, just send it to Lingao Ziming Building - serving the public will be the end of it. .”
"Then the Queen will not get mad and directly label you as slandering women..." The two of them chatted and walked along the road.
Just as they were discussing the disposal of the Ocean Horse, the information about the Ocean Horse in the Foreign Intelligence Bureau had been summarized on Li Yan's desk.
The Office of Foreign Intelligence's interest in this young girl is natural: in this era of very dangerous navigation, a woman of noble birth would rarely risk a voyage - let alone a voyage from the already developed American colonies to Manila. The new colony goes! Only something absolutely necessary drives her to do this.
Combined with the large amount of luggage she carries with her. It became more and more apparent that she had some long-term purpose in going to Manila, rather than just a short visit.
Based on their inquiries with the captain and other senior seamen and their review of the passenger list, they already knew that the lady’s name was: Donna Marina de Arellano. She is the daughter of a "Peninsula native". The captain only knew that she came from a Santo Domingo convent near Mexico City that specialized in aristocratic girls. The client who sent her to the merchant ship ordered him to deliver the young lady safely to Manila, and nothing else was known.
This situation attracted Li Yan's attention. Combined with the discovery of mercury on the ship that far exceeded the general demand, Li Yan believed that something unusual must be happening in Manila.
So he immediately went to meet Jiang Shan and reported the situation to him. Jiangshan is requested to come forward and approach the Executive Committee: Do not dispose of this Spanish girl in accordance with the "Trophy Disposal Regulations" for the time being. But "freeze" it.
"It's very likely that she will be useful!" Li Yan said, "If you shave your head, it will be very troublesome to use it again."
He pointed out that if she were to be allowed to redeem herself or to do certain work through her, "purification" measures such as shaving her head would be extremely humiliating according to the standards of this time and space. The family of origin of the captive was difficult to accept.
"You are right, there are quite a few mysteries on these two ships that we don't know about." Jiang Shan said, "I will go to the Executive Committee right away."
The temporary detention center in the quarantine area of Bopu housed all the Spanish prisoners on the two ships. Yanghe has already come up with basic inventory data: excluding those who died on the road due to worsening injuries, there are 289 prisoners who entered the quarantine area, including 4 women. The rest are all men, the youngest is eleven years old: a cabin boy; the oldest is sixty-five years old: the captain of the San Raymondo.
Although the interrogation has not been carried out in detail. However, judging from the skin color and appearance, it is obvious that not all of them are Spanish. Some of them have typical yellow faces, and may be indigenous sailors from Southeast Asia or the Americas.
Although the Executive Committee decided to screen and interrogate them before deciding their fate, it was essential to cleanse their dirty bodies before doing so. Staff at the quarantine camp quickly got busy.
Doña Marina de Arellano sat alone on a long chair fixed on the ground waiting for "purification". According to the education she received in the convent, she hung her head slightly in humility.
This shed could have accommodated a hundred indigenous women "to be purified", but now it was just her and three maids.
The three maids were sitting in a row of chairs behind her - remaining silent as usual.
Although Mrs. Tolosa said nothing, Marina could still feel her stern and vigilant eyes touching her back.
"This annoying witch!" Marina thought secretly, sincerely disgusted with this concubine who had been with her since New Spain.
Mrs. Tolosa is a widow - the kind of widow who has been there for many years. She is religious and very pious. She regards adultery and worldly temptations as the greatest sins. Therefore, she has become the favorite of young girls and women from well-established families. The most ideal companion for young women.
Marina grew up in a nunnery in New Spain. This nunnery specializes in taking in young ladies from well-known families and undertaking their education until they can be taken out by their families to get married - those who cannot or do not want to marry. A young lady from a noble family will stay in the convent and vow to become a formal nun.
Because most of the girls are from noble families and their families often pay large donations for them, this convent is not as strict and austere as other female convents. If you put aside the excessive religious activities and the loneliness and boredom of not being able to go out all year round, life in the monastery is not difficult.
In contrast, the days spent with this concubine after leaving the monastery were even more unbearable. Mrs. Tolosa watched her every move closely like the most severe jailer. Any behavior that is considered frivolous will be "reminded" - if not "reprimanded" - by her.
She even forced her to stretch her hands outside the quilt when sleeping - "To prevent us from touching our sinful bodies!" Marina felt so angry when she thought of Mrs. Tolosa saying such words openly in front of her. of shame and anger. Although the nuns had said similar things, they had never forced her to do such an action.
But she knew she had no right to resist Mrs. Tolosa--this woman was chosen by her father himself. And she relies on her father for everything. So she had to endure Mrs. Tolosa's "company" resignedly.
Not even being captured by pirates can get rid of her! Marina cursed secretly!
Although she was scared at first about being captured by pirates, she gradually calmed down after getting on the ship. Although this group of pirates looks very strange and has incredible fast boats that spit out black smoke, they are neatly dressed and disciplined, and are not inferior to the best Spanish teams from the peninsula.
As long as they weren't a bunch of cruel and ignorant rabble, she had nothing to fear. Given her origin and status, a rational pirate would definitely treat her favorably in order to ask for a ransom, and the family would also spend a sum of money to ransom her. It's just that she will inevitably have to stay in this unknown, crude and desolate place for a year and a half.
As for Mrs. Tolosa, obviously my father will not pay a ransom for a humble woman like her, so you can stay here as a slave. There was even a smile on her lips when she thought about what would happen to the sanctimonious Mrs. Tolosa.
However, it had been several hours since they were taken off the ship and sent to this "pirate camp". But none of the "pirates" came to the place designated for them to stay. This made Marina very strange.
The entire prisoner camp seemed to be very lively. From the high wooden fence wall, the voices of men and women could be heard from time to time - all in a language they did not understand. From time to time, they were mixed with scolding and yelling, and from time to time, people's voices were heard. Wails and cries.
These sounds made the originally very calm girl feel fear again in her heart. He couldn't help but tremble slightly.
What she didn't know was that the delay was due to a dispute between the Intelligence Bureau and the quarantine camp over whether to shave their heads. The Intelligence Bureau considered it from some perspective and believed that only necessary cleaning would be enough. But Yang He insisted on shaving all their hair.
This controversy was reported to the Executive Committee before a clear answer was obtained: "You don't have to shave your head, but you must wash it thoroughly!"
"This is simply an irresponsible order!" Yang He muttered, calling over some of his most capable middle-aged women. This order was conveyed.
"Wash that young foreign woman's hair well for me!" Yang He ordered fiercely, "Prepare a few more combs and give me a good comb dozens of times! Don't be stingy with soap and hot water, wash it thoroughly. Clean!"
The staff nodded together, and the team leader asked: "Where are the other three?"
Yang He sneered: "You still have to ask? Shave them all for me - not even a hair is left." To be continued. )
