Matsolko remembered that the Ming Dynasty was indeed not a vassal state for any country!
In the East Indies, there are many Tianfang Sultanates who want to join the Ming Dynasty as vassal states, including the Banten Sultanate and the Malanda Sultanate next to Batavia, as well as those on Sulawesi. Sultanate, who doesn’t want to be a son-state to the Ming Dynasty?
When you become the son of the Ming Dynasty, you don’t have to be afraid of the Dutch devils!
But who got it?
Of the many sultanates in the Southeast Asian region, only the Sultanate of Sulu and the Sultanate of Boni gained the status of vassal states of the Ming Dynasty. And it took a long time to get it!
Other sultanates do not have this qualification... According to the Ming Dynasty, they have no origin or inheritance with the Ming Dynasty, so they cannot become vassal states of the Ming Empire!
However, countries such as Japan, Korea, Annam, Siam, Chenla, Laos, Ryukyu, and Jeju can easily obtain the status of Ming Dynasty vassal!
Among them, Japan and Annan had fought wars with the Ming Empire, and they still gained a high status in the Ming Dynasty's vassal system.
The first vassal state of the Ming Empire is not the "local tycoon" United States of Xinzhou, nor the powerful Zhungeer Kingdom, but the Kingdom of Korea, a country that seems to have no sense of existence.
The second vassal state of the Ming Dynasty was also not the United States of Xinzhou and the Jungar Kingdom, but the small Annan Kingdom.
As for the third vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, it was the Kingdom of Japan in a strip of water.
These three vassal states were awarded the title of "Little Chinese Kingdom" by Zhu Cixiang. Therefore, the people of the three kingdoms were the same as the people of the Ming Dynasty, they were "Xia people" rather than "Yi people".
The Xia people are Chinese people who do not need to be educated by Laozi, the Ming Dynasty. They are their own people, so they do not need the Ming Empire to send a supervising yamen responsible for education - this yamen is also responsible for conveying the Ming Emperor's will and supervising the vassal states on behalf of the emperor. domestic affairs, diplomacy, military, economy and other aspects. It’s a very troublesome yamen! However, not every vassal state has it. The three small Chinese states of Korea, Annan, and Japan, as well as all the Ming Dynasty vassals, do not have a supervisory state.
In addition to not having a prison state, the people who migrated from the three small Chinese kingdoms to live in other vassal states in the Ming Dynasty also have the same treatment as the native immigrants in the Ming Dynasty - they will be regarded as Chinese citizens and Xia people!
In addition, the royal families and nobles of the three small Chinese kingdoms (the current royal family of the Korean Kingdom also comes from Zhu Ming) can also enter the intermarriage circle of the Ming royal family and nobles.
Compared with these three countries, the status of Sulu (the Sulu that went to Aceh, not the new Sulu Principality taken over by the Zheng family) and Boni is so different that they basically cannot enter the inner circle.
The reasons for this kind of closeness and distance are cultural inheritance and blood relationship (mainly based on appearance). North Korea, Annan, and Japan all belong to the "same culture and species" and are naturally the core countries of the Chinese civilization circle. The Republic of Batavia is obviously not qualified to become a "son state" of the Ming Empire.
"Your Majesty," Matsolko was still a little unsure, "can you really guarantee the independence and neutrality of the Batavia Republic?"
"Of course, my guarantee can be written in the peace treaty." Zhu Cixiang said with certainty, "And as long as the neutrality of the Batavia Republic is not destroyed, its independence and territorial integrity will be guaranteed by the Ming Empire. Assure!
If Chancellor De Wit is willing, I can also sign a secret treaty with the Netherlands to protect the Netherlands' special interests in the Republic of Batavia. "
In fact, the geographical location of the Republic of Batavia has determined that it must rely on the Ming Dynasty. The so-called neutrality and independence are just a cloak used to cover its free trade.
Therefore, as long as Zhu Cihong is on stage, the Ming Empire will definitely not tear off this coat.
The Netherlands' special interests in the Republic of Batavia were a rope used by the Ming Dynasty to trap the Netherlands.
Matsolko was silent for a while, seeming to be thinking about a very difficult question, and finally nodded and said: "Your Majesty, after I return to Batavia, I will immediately promote the establishment of a republic... But Badavia The establishment of the Asian Republic still requires permission from the Netherlands, so..."
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "De Wit will agree! Because the British East India Company will be very close to my empire...very close!"
After saying this, Zhu Cihong winked at Mary Mancini.
Mary immediately said: "Governor, can I accompany you downstairs? There are many friends downstairs waiting to meet His Majesty!"
…
Mary Mancini sent Matt Solko downstairs, and then brought up Banwurster of the British East India Company.
"The little man Worster respectfully wishes His Majesty the Emperor a holy greeting!"
This was not the first time that Worster had met Zhu Cihong. As a chief executive of the British East India Company, he was a frequent visitor to Pang's Garden (Mary Mancini's former residence), so his Chinese-style bowing ceremony was quite formal. Something like that.
"John," Zhu Cixiang called Worster's name, and then pointed at Princess Nessa beside him, "This is Princess Nessa."
"Your Highness Princess Jin An."
Princess Nisha smiled and nodded, and said, "Teacher Worster, I have received a letter from the Emperor of India. Thank you very much."
"Princess, this is what we should do," said Vorster, "because the East India Company is a good friend of the Timurid Empire in India."
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "You are also friends of Ming Dynasty!"
"I'm very honored to hear this from Your Majesty!" Worster replied with a smile.
Princess Nisha smiled and said to Zhu Cixiang: "Your Majesty, should we take care of the interests of our British friends?"
"Of course," Zhu Cixiang smiled and asked Worster, "John, is your East India Company ready to participate in the exploration and development of the Southern Continent?"
"Your Majesty," Vorster replied, "We would love to get involved, but this is a huge investment and we are a commercial company and need to take the interests of our shareholders into consideration."
"There will be rewards that satisfy them." Zhu Cixiang smiled, "I want you to start exploring and developing from the west coast of the Southern Continent...so that you can directly enter the Southern Continent from the Indian Ocean.
In addition, I also allow you to recruit workers from Burma to develop your free cities on the southern continent. "
"Recruiting laborers from Burma?" Worster was a little surprised. Isn't the emperor worried that people from the Dashun Empire will take the opportunity to enter the southern continent?
Zhu Cixiang nodded and said with a smile: "There will be many northern exiles in Myanmar, and many local Burmese people will also want to leave their hometown and make a living, so it will be easy for you to hire enough labor."
"Your Majesty," Vorster thought for a moment and then asked, "can you tell me from which direction the Dutch will enter the Southern Continent?"
"From the southeast," Zhu Cixiang said, "The Dutch East India Company had reached the sea in the southeastern part of the Southern Continent during an expedition to the Southern Continent in 1642, and was quite familiar with the situation there. Although it did not discover the Southern Continent. On the southeast coast, a large and valuable island was discovered. There are primitive indigenous inhabitants on the island, which should be able to provide some supplies for the exploration fleet."
The large island discovered by the Dutch in 1642 was the west coast of New Zealand. When he attempted to land, he was attacked by Maori and had to give up his ashore expedition.
Zhu Cixi hoped that New Zealand would be named Henry Island as a fiefdom for his and Mary Mancini's son Henry Zhu.
Therefore, in the contract with the Dutch East India Company, Zhu Cixiang would also include a clause to help the Ming Navy establish a stronghold on Henry Island. A battalion of marines (including a company of cavalry) will board the sailing ship of the Anzac Company and follow the Dutch fleet to Henry Island, responsible for establishing a base on the island.
Of course, Mancini Tea House will pay all the expenses for this operation, and the Australia and New Zealand Company will be responsible for establishing Zuoyuan City, the first colonial city on Henry Island.
