The blue water comes in waves and gently laps at the beach of Manila Bay. With the advent of winter, this city on a tropical island has finally ushered in the most comfortable season for Westerners who settle here.
On the south bank of the Pasig River on the coast of Manila Bay, a tall and thin Spanish white man wearing a white silk shirt was walking on the river beach with a large group of indigenous attendants and several white people dressed similarly to him.
On the south bank of the Pasig River is a castle under construction. Huge stones were transported along the Pasig River. The coolies, acted by Chinese and Luzon natives, picked the boulders off the boats piece by piece, and then Transported to the construction site - There are not many coolies participating in the construction, so the progress of the project is also very slow. The fortress known as Fort Santiago has been built protractedly for decades, and now only the outer stone wall has been completed. and city gates. The main construction of the internal fortress is still in progress, and no one knows when it will be completed.
The tall and thin Spanish white man with a sharp nose and black hair is named Diego Parrado Chacon, and he is the current colonial governor of the Philippines.
He walked slowly by the Pagosi River, with his head down and his hands behind his back in deep thought. The river water splashed on his trouser legs, but he didn't even notice. Occasionally, he would turn back suddenly and look at the Santiago Fort, which was being slowly constructed, with his thick eyebrows knitted together.
A Spanish man with a big beard who looked a little fat came to him and whispered: "Your Excellency, are you still worried about the awakening dragon in the north?"
The man who spoke was named Sebastian Caballero, a royal judge in Manila - according to the Spanish colonial practice, whenever a new and old governor changes, the new governor is responsible for reviewing the outgoing governor and is responsible for colonial legal affairs. The testimony of a royal judge will play a crucial role in the review.
So the number two person in the colony was usually the royal judge.
Diego Parrado Chacon sighed softly: "Justice, aren't you worried at all? The giant dragon in the north is awakening at a speed beyond our imagination... Not only did he organize and train a Dutch-style army, but he also opened a naval school, built Galenic sailing ships, and even wanted to cross the Pacific to New Spain for trade! Probably no emperor in East Asia has ever made the same request?"
Caballero has lived in the Philippines for much longer than Chacon. He thought about it and said: "In fact, there was an Eastern monarch who made the same request. That was the king of Japan (Tokugawa Ieyasu). It was proposed ten years ago...but was rejected by the Viceroyalty of New Spain!”
New Spain did not pursue an open-door policy, at least not on the Pacific coast. Therefore, Tokugawa Ieyasu's whim was rejected by the Governor-General of New Spain - because the Spanish were worried that Japan would accumulate wealth through Pacific trade, develop its own maritime power, and become Spain's competitor in the Pacific!
"But can we reject the requirements of the Ming Empire in the same way we rejected the Japanese?" Chacon said, "And they are now very close to the Portuguese and the Dutch! Maybe you don't know, right? The predecessor of the Dutch East India Company, Ba The Governor of Davia, Van Diemen, has been appointed as the Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Ming Dynasty... This is something unprecedented!"
The Governor of the Philippines looked worried!
Although Van Diemen himself, like Chacon, was wary of Ming's "awakening". But the new Federal Republic of the Netherlands is a merchant country that puts profits first, and it is impossible for them to refuse the high profits from China!
So when Van Diemen returned to his homeland, he reported his gains in China to the Board of Directors of the East India Company and the Parliament of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and submitted a letter written in French from the Regent Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty to the Consul of the Republic, the Governor of Orange. After the prince wrote the letter, the Parliament and Prince William II of Orange decided to respond to the request of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty and send ambassadors to the Ming Dynasty. They also welcomed the ambassadors of the Ming Empire to the Netherlands.
Considering the hostile relationship between Spain and the Netherlands, the friendly relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Netherlands has posed a serious threat to Spanish rule in the Philippines - the state of war between Spain and the Netherlands officially ended last year, that is, in 1648. The Netherlands won the 80-year War of Independence and gained independent sovereignty, but the hatred between the two sides was not so easy to resolve.
In addition, there is another Western country, the Kingdom of Portugal, which is very friendly with the Ming Dynasty. It is also fighting a war of independence with Spain!
Before 1640, the throne of Portugal belonged to King Philip IV of Spain. However, in December 1640, a riot broke out in Lisbon. Portuguese nobles occupied the palace, deposed Philip IV from the throne, and established João, Duke of Braganza, as the new king. Called John IV.
The Portuguese War of Independence broke out!
Although the war between Spain and Portugal was not fierce, the hostile relationship between the two countries was obvious.
In addition, the relationship between the Spanish Empire itself and the Ming Empire was not good. Because there were many overseas Chinese merchants in Manila, the Spanish colonists had always been worried that the Ming Dynasty would invade the Philippine colonies.
Therefore, the relationship between the Governor-General of the Philippines and the local Chinese in Manila would become very tense from time to time, and then there would be bloody conflicts and massacres... Just nine years ago in 1640, overseas Chinese in Manila launched a war against the Spanish armed uprising.
After the uprising was suppressed, the Philippine Governor-General imposed heavy taxes on overseas Chinese and Chinese businessmen!
Although the relationship between the two parties temporarily eased after Governor Chacon took office, as the Ming Dynasty became more and more active at sea, many overseas Chinese in Manila became "excited" again.
A few days ago, the news from the Champa Kingdom across the sea made Chacon deeply worried.
The Ming Dynasty's occupation of the Champa Kingdom, in Chacon's view, was a big step for the Ming Dynasty, this ancient Eastern empire, to move towards the Age of Discovery!
"Justice," said Chacón, "I think we need to impose new taxes to raise more money for the construction of the city of Santiago and the recruitment of troops... Our troops in Manila are too small, less than 2,000 men. If the Philippine colony is to be held, an army of 10,000 men may be needed, of which there should be no less than 3,000 Europeans.”
"Your Excellency Governor," Caballero understood Governor Chacon's thoughts, but he believed that the situation was not that serious. "So far, the Ming Empire has not released any hostility towards us... In fact, The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was very friendly. He invited our merchants to establish a business office in Shanghai Commercial Port, and also hoped to hire our scholars and engineers. He also repeatedly promised not to invade the Philippines.
I think we can take necessary defensive measures, but we should not show excessive hostility... An army of 10,000 people may very well turn into a huge waste. I think you should know that excessive taxes will kill all business vitality in Manila. If the Philippines loses its economic value, does it still need to exist? "
The Spanish royal judge paused and said, "Your Majesty the Governor, now we should send someone to Nanjing to meet with the Ming Emperor to try to conclude a treaty that can guarantee the security of the Philippine colonies. If you don't have a suitable candidate, I can go there myself."
"Justice, you can take this trip." Chacon stopped and looked back at the Santiago Fortress under the setting sun, "But I think you should understand that the biggest difference between us and the Dutch merchants is that we not only Pursue economic interests, and will fight to the end for the glory of the Lord. If the Ming Empire wants to take away the Santiago Castle that belongs to the Lord, then he must be prepared to bear the wrath of the entire world empire!
Our Spanish world empire is vaster and more massive than his ancient empire! If there is a war, Spain will win! "
