Before Deng Zilong docked and landed, Luo Lian returned to her original dress, with a black scarf pulling up her forehead, a white shawl collar that could even cover her ears and nose, a cross, and finally a heavy, A nun's uniform that is roomy, does not expose any skin, and is extremely conservative and strict. Luo Lian explained to Deng Zilong the reason why this type of clothing is designed as a moral defense to prevent corruption.
Lorian looks a bit eerie and terrifying in this appearance.
Deng Zilong finally understood why Luo Lian disliked wearing pants so much in private. She wanted to break free from the shackles but couldn't rebel.
"It's very hot." Deng Zilong expressed his concern for Luo Lian.
Luo Lian smiled and said: "Get used to it, let's go."
When getting off the boat, a young sailor with blond hair patted the nun's buttocks very casually and naturally. Deng Zilong grabbed the sailor's hand and squeezed it hard. The screams immediately echoed throughout the pier of Boracay Island. There was a sound, and the red-haired fans, who were already very nervous, immediately picked up their weapons, ready to start fighting if they disagreed.
Not only did Deng Zilong not stop, he kicked the person off the trestle and said sternly: "Put your claws clean, and I will kill you next time."
Deng Zilong's words are very authentic classical Latin. After in-depth exchanges with Luo Lian, Deng Zilong learned foreign languages extremely well.
During the great travel activities in Europe and the West, anyone who speaks fluent Latin is a symbol of noble status. There is a popular trend in Europe and America of "going back to the source". Many scholars advocate giving up Latin-derived words from various countries and using the innocence of the Roman Empire. of classical Latin as a fashion.
This was due to the use of Latin in the Greek academies, which told stories all day long to promote the beauty and culture of Rome.
Deng Zilong roughly understood it this way. Pure and classical Latin was actually equivalent to the Mandarin of the Ming Dynasty, and Frankish, German, English, and Castilian were all dialects. , speak a dialect, naturally it is difficult to be respected by others.
"Thank you." Luo Lian's tone was extremely sincere, sincere, and even pious, even more pious than when she prayed.
Deng Zilong clapped his hands and asked with some confusion: "I don't quite understand. Although you haven't said it, I guess you should be a noble in Taixi. You have received a good education since childhood. You are knowledgeable and have a clear understanding of problems. And you are also No matter how you look at him, how can he cross the ocean and come to Luzon? How dare he, a sailor, take advantage of you so openly?"
"Because of the hair." Luo Lian was a little helpless, but said with a lot of lightness in her tone.
"hair?"
Deng Zilong looked at the little bit of red hair exposed by Luo Lian and said in confusion: "Hair?"
"Yes, hair." Lorian thought for a while and said, "Black hair represents nobility, holiness, and authority. It is the most noble in the West, and golden hair originated from the barbarians in Northern Europe, but they occupied many countries. Small territory, strong strength, represents barbarism, tyranny, and intimidation.”
"Red hair represents nudity, degradation, and betrayal."
"I am a nun, a lifelong nun. If I never marry, I will give up my status as a noble. That's why they are so rude."
To explain the reason for this contempt, we need to talk about it from many aspects. For example, in "The Last Supper", Judas who betrayed God is a redhead; in religious culture, redheads are usually the incarnation of the devil, a witch. Needs to be burned to death for purification; in universal culture, red is the color of life, that is, the color of blood, and red hair represents uncleanness, instinct, and debauchery. In the era when Luo Lian lived, the naked woman in the painting , most of them are redheads.
Of course, black people are slaves. On the plantation, they will not be whipped less just because they have black hair.
This kind of discrimination is another reason why Spain and Portugal are excluded from the Grand Tour cultural activities. Even though they have defeated the French five times, they still cannot gain recognition and respect.
Deng Zilong suddenly thought of the most unethical thing, which is to beat the blind and curse the mute. To be honest, the Ming Dynasty also had this kind of discrimination in the field of hair. For example, the Japanese made a handful of bald people, and the Jurchens made money rat tails. Discrimination does exist, but they all shaved their hair that way by themselves. The red hair color is natural.
The existence of this kind of discrimination is also the reason why people who come across the ocean to the Ming Dynasty are derided as red-haired fans. Those who come are all lowly people.
People live on land. No matter what era, people who go to the sea to punt are very miserable.
Deng Zilong looked around. Although these sailors picked up weapons, they did not come forward immediately. Instead, they rescued the golden retriever with all their skills.
Deng Zilong was testing the bottom line of this negotiation. He insulted a sailor, but it did not cause any adverse consequences.
"A bold man, we seem to be at war, actually came here with the flag of the Ming Dynasty. I admire your courage." Antonio walked out of the crowd, looked at Deng Zilong and said: "You can come under my command ? I think I really need a warrior."
The flag of the Ming Dynasty is the Big Dipper Flag, while the flag of the Hongmao Fan is the red cross.
Antonio was the captain, not the shipowner. His shipowner was King Felipe II of Spain. Antonio was qualified to be the heir to the Portuguese throne, but the old king didn't like him and kicked him out.
Of course Antonio wants to be king, so he needs to recruit warriors.
"Why don't we get down to business." Deng Zilong refused. He was not a good Ming general, but he went to be Antonio's lackey?
Antonio did not bother, but said with a smile: "Well, the emperor you serve is indeed more noble."
The last time Antonio went to Beijing to meet the Ming Emperor as Legaz's deputy, the battle really opened Antonio's eyes. When he first arrived in the Far East, Antonio thought that the Ming Emperor was a secular agent. Later, on the way to Beijing, he thought The emperor was the pope, and after entering the capital again, he was convinced that the power of the Ming Emperor in the Ming Dynasty was a trinity of gods descended into the world.
Everything in the empire revolves around the Ming Emperor, just like the natural stars revolve around the North Pole.
It was Zhu Yijun's fault that he didn't know Antonio's thoughts. If he had known, he would have sneered at him. He just wanted to be a Ming king who cultivated good land, and all his gods and ghosts were heretics.
Deng Zilong has been speaking in Mandarin. He can speak classical Latin in order not to be deceived, but he no longer speaks foreign languages in formal situations. He just warned the Golden Retriever because the Golden Retriever provoked his woman, and now he is serving as the Ming Dynasty court The envoy from the Luzon Governor's Palace, he can only speak Mandarin.
And Luo Lian is the translator.
The first negotiation began.
"The Ming Dynasty rashly attacked our camp. We didn't even know the reason, but we were attacked by you. Our home was destroyed, and everyone in Luzon was captured by you." Antonio first said that it was the Ming Dynasty that started the war. .
Deng Zilong said: "In the third year of Jiajing, Emperor Sejong issued an edict to the Portuguese, asking them to return the occupied Srivijaya territory, but they never did so. In the fifth year of Longqing, you killed the surviving king of Luzon, and the late emperor issued an edict. I issued an edict and ordered you to return the land to the surviving king of Luzon and not to start the war lightly, but you did not do it."
"The documents are still there. Your Governor Francisco wrote in his notes: A country that can be destroyed with only forty-two soldiers dares to give me an order. It is a dream."
"So, Francisco is our prisoner."
Antonio heard this and said with a little anger: "Damn idiot Francisco!"
Francisco is selling his arrogant war ideas everywhere, and the budget has been increased from forty-two soldiers to twenty thousand soldiers. Projecting twenty thousand elite soldiers in the far east is just a dream. Damn it if you have such projection ability. The British have been wiped out long ago.
Antonio thought for a while and said: "I can mobilize the Portuguese from the Strait of Malacca and India to help us regain the territory that belongs to us. As you know, I am one of the heirs to the throne of Portugal, and I have the ability to make this call."
Deng Zilong said unhurriedly: "Are you talking about those desperadoes who go to sea only to seek wealth when they are desperate? Do you think they have that kind of strength and courage to fight against the professional soldiers of the Ming Dynasty? If so If they can do that, will the Portuguese only occupy one port at Haojing and be driven out of the sea?"
"We also have two of the three-masted plywood giant ships that you are so proud of. To be honest, the highly praised plywood giant ships are still a bit disappointing."
"If you insist on fighting, then fight."
After Deng Zilong finished speaking, he stood up, looked at Luo Lian and said, "Do you want to stay or go back with me?"
"Go back with you." Luo Lian stood up immediately and planned to follow Deng Zilong back to Luzon. In addition to gaining freedom from Deng Zilong, she also gained dignity, which she could never get in Taixi.
Deng Zilong shook his head and said: "What Yin Butang said is reasonable. We still need to fight hard to get results."
Antonio hurriedly said: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, we have three large sailing ships coming this time. Can they enter the port smoothly and then enter Songjiang Prefecture for business?"
The two sides obviously needed a consensus. Deng Zilong knew clearly what that consensus was, but he just didn't say it and waited for Antonio to speak out. The consensus was that Ming Dynasty needed silver, and the Spaniards needed Ming Dynasty's goods.
Deng Zilong turned around and said, "Of course you can."
Antonio saw that Deng Zilong finally sat down again, and then he said: "The king appointed Legas as the special envoy. Only he can decide to mobilize the resources of the Luzon Governorate. I am just a captain and a businessman. I just want to do business. You guys If you want to fight or negotiate for peace, you can negotiate with Legaz, not me. My task is just to take three four-masted sailing ships to complete the trade, bring the goods back, and earn the money I deserve."
Antonio is a businessman. He hates war. Although war can make huge profits by hoarding goods, war represents huge risks. In Antonio's view, this war is completely unnecessary because this war happened in the far east. In war, there is no room for profit at all.
The Governor's Mansion of the Ming Dynasty was occupied by the Spaniards. Now that the Ming Dynasty has fought back its own Governor's Mansion, things seem to be that simple.
Deng Zilong said strangely: "I can give you permission on behalf of the Luzon Governor's Palace, but if you do this, Legaz will be very passive. These four-masted sailing ships are one of Legaz's important bargaining chips."
Antonio smiled and said: "My mission is my mission, his mission is his mission, it has nothing to do with me."
Deng Zilong frowned slightly and then said: "Understood, everyone sweeps the snow in front of your door and don't worry about the frost on other people's tiles. Your merchant ship has been delayed a lot of time and can set off."
"Has the tax rate changed? Is it still the same as before, drawing six out of 100?" Antonio said eagerly.
Deng Zilong and Antonio communicated many details about entering the port, including details such as not being allowed to disembark, and armed merchant ships not being allowed to fire cannons and bows.
When Deng Zilong boarded his hydrofoil sailboat and returned to Manila, he said in amazement: "Are you people in the West so profit-seeking? Do you just have money in your eyes? As long as you can make money, everything doesn't matter?"
Luo Lian changed out of her heavy clothes, and after hearing Deng Zilong's inquiry, she smiled and said: "Money has a magical power that can corrupt people's hearts. What you see in Antonio is not a minority, but a majority. It seems that as long as you have money, you will have It’s like this in the West, and it’s one of the troubles that gold and silver brings.”
"Antonio doesn't care about Manila being captured by the Ming Dynasty, the Spaniards and Portuguese captured by the Ming Dynasty, and he doesn't even care about Legaz. He only cares about interests."
"As long as the price is right, your soul can be sold to the devil."
Deng Zilong nodded and said: "I understand, sit tight and hold on, the wind is blowing."
On the way back, Deng Zilong adjusted the angle between the sail and the wind, and the speed suddenly increased. Then, under a gust of wind, the bow of the ship nodded twice, and began to float on the water. As the speed gradually increased, Increased, the boat began to float steadily on the water, drew a waterline, and sped out.
Luo Lian held on to the side of the ship tightly and watched in disbelief as the ship floated on the water. She was dumbfounded and even a little panicked and said, "How did this happen?! It's so amazing. Is it magic?"
Deng Zilong shook his head and said: "I am just a boat operator. I don't know why it can fly."
Luo Lian opened her arms and enjoyed the sharp feeling of the wind blowing across her cheeks. This was a magical and mysterious country.
"Are you just driving the boat? What about me?" Luo Lian shook her red hair.
Deng Zilong also said helplessly after hearing this: "It's not easy to learn well, but it's easy to slip away if you learn badly. You are a nun, how can you say dirty words?"
"Don't you know that learning a foreign language starts with swear words?" Luo Lian said with a smile: "I will do it myself."
When Deng Zilong returned to the port of Manila, Luo Lian turned back into a dignified nun, but her face was rosy, just like the blush on the sky when the sunset glow faded, and her eyes were still slightly confused.
"No, you just took a trip to Boracay Island and you are so tired?" When Chen Lin saw Deng Zilong's steps were a little shaky, she asked strangely: "Can you do it?"
Deng Zilong looked at the sunset on the horizon and said with a hint of melancholy: "Of course I can do it. Why did you provoke him in the first place? You can't say it, you can't say it."
"Oh." Chen Lin looked at Luo Lian's appearance and knew that something had happened. Then her expression suddenly changed, and she grabbed Deng Zilong's collar and said sternly: "My boat! You soiled my boat! I'll tell you It’s not over!”
When Chen Lin realized what had happened, he immediately became furious and threatened to kill someone. This was his boat, and two people were using his boat to do so.
Chen Lin was furious. No wonder Yin Zhengmao had four words written all over his face when he talked about this moment, and it was hard to say a word.
Really damn.
"Do you want a private fight? Private fights are strictly prohibited in the Ming Dynasty." Deng Zilong looked like he was not stingy. According to the Ming army's rules, a private fighter has a hundred sticks and is sent to a smog-filled land.
Chen Lin finally let go of Deng Zilong and said viciously: "My boat!"
On this day, Chen Lin spent the whole day painting the boat. His precious boat was dirty.
The four-masted sailing ship from the West began to slowly enter the port. Since it was not trading in Manila, it stayed anchored for half a day. After receiving the customs clearance documents, Antonio took the ship north again. When it arrived at Songjiang Prefecture, it was almost the end of July.
Antonio arrived in the capital after another fifteen days and met the special envoy Legaz.
Antonio looked at Legas, who looked indifferent, and asked a little strangely: "Did you know that Manila was captured by the Ming Dynasty's army?"
Legaz sighed and said: "I know, in fact, the war in Manila has been going on. We organized three counterattacks, but none of them achieved results. Later, we could no longer organize an offensive, so we could only acquiesce in the Ming Dynasty's attack on Luzon." sovereignty."
"Our strength in the Far East is too weak. Their Governor Yin has 3,000 elites with rich combat experience, as well as more than 5,600 pirate troops. Our strength in the Far East is basically It cannot support us in retaking Luzon."
Antonio said with a surprised look on his face: "How do you know? Ming Dynasty has extremely strict management of Yi Chuan. How do you know what happened in Manila?"
"The people of the Ming Dynasty also had a Civil Information Bureau for delivering letters, so they can naturally deliver letters." Legas did not hide anything and explained the matter clearly.
The Civil Information Bureau was founded by Ningbo merchants around the Yongle period. The Civil Information Bureau is a privately-operated profit-making organization. Its business includes sending letters, items, and handling exchanges. Legaz also dispatched some troops through the Civil Information Bureau to fight back, but with little effect.
After Legas was silent for a moment, he continued: "Of course, after the Ming Dynasty received the good news, they informed me that they took back the power to govern Luzon and were defeated again and again. Could it be that they were like that idiot Francisco, who persuaded the king to send Take back Luzon with heavy troops? Don’t you think the king is in trouble enough? Damn the British!"
The Spanish Armada had fierce exchanges with England at sea. This exchange forced the Armada to stay in the Mediterranean to guard against the intrusion of British privateers. The main battleship of the Armada, the Galese battleship, was not suitable for long voyages. , the problem of insufficient flexibility is also gradually being exposed.
The British are just like a frame, and anything can be put into it.
Even without the British, the Spanish Armada would not be able to deploy to Luzon, because the main battleships cannot go far across the ocean at all, and the oarsmen cannot cross the ocean at all.
"The Ming Dynasty did not conduct conquests in the archipelago areas such as Boracay Island and Cebu Island, and it seems that it does not intend to further escalate the conflict." Legaz said with some uncertainty.
Antonio said extremely worriedly: "You have to think clearly, if we give up Luzon Island now, Ming Dynasty will definitely do it again like it does now, constantly eroding our influence in the Far East, and eventually this sea area , completely brought under his own rule."
"A greedy snake will never be satisfied with just one successful hunt."
Legaz stood up, looked at Antonio and said loudly: "Do you think I want to do this? I can't beat him. Can you understand? I can't beat him!"
"Okay, you're right." After hearing this, Antonio could only nod. He docked in Manila for a day, and he might not have planned to find out the truth. However, the forts built by the Ming army were also extremely difficult to break. The Ming Dynasty was tightly guarded. It is indeed extremely difficult to defeat.
Antonio tilted his head and said with a confused face: "When I was in Manila, I saw the Ming people operating a flying ship. Do you know what it is?"
"Flying ship, Antonio, listen to what you are talking about? How can there be a flying ship?" Legas asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Antonio said with certainty: "It's that kind of flying ship. I saw it! It's amazing. If you don't believe it, you can ask the crew of my ship. They all saw it. Those damn privateers were not Is it because of our small boat and fast speed that we took the initiative? If we had that kind of boat, could the British still be so arrogant?"
Legaz still didn't believe it, shook his head and said, "It's normal to have hallucinations after a long voyage."
A general from Huitongyi came in and said: "Two special envoys, Chen Xuexue, the minister of Honglu Temple, has arrived."
Chen Xuexue walked in, looked at Antonio, and showed a smile. The Ming Dynasty conquered Luzon, but it wanted the silver from the galleons. This obviously wanted both. The Ming Dynasty could do it because it had absolute commodities. Advantage, Spain's demand for Ming Dynasty goods is greater than Ming Dynasty's demand for Thai and Spanish silver coins. This is the fundamental reason.
At worst, Ming Dynasty went to the Japanese country to bully the Japanese people to ensure the supply of silver.
"Is Diplomat Chen coming here for matters related to Luzon?" Li Yazhi said with a solemn expression.
Chen Xuexue shook his head and said: "No, Yuan Fu's theory of contradictions said: The struggle between contradictions is complicated and long-term. The conflict and balance formed by conflicts that have not been fully fought are short-lived and cannot last long. Therefore, The struggle still needs to continue, and only after a full struggle can conflict and peace be balanced."
"In other words, if we haven't fought enough, we will continue to fight."
"I came here this time to collect taxes. The tax collection office of Fusi Yamen in Beizhen sent us a collection note. You three ships have a total of 320,000 taels of silver hidden in them. You have to collect 19,200 taels of gold and silver according to the regulations. The big ship If you leave Hong Kong at the end of August, if the payment has not been paid, you will not be able to leave Hong Kong and will be fined 20% of the tax. If you are resisting the tax, the punitive tariff will be 20% from now on. The sky is clear and will not be missed, so don't take any chances. "
"This is just a reminder. If something like this happens in the future, we will all be punished."
After three four-masted sailing ships entered the port, the three ships carried a total of 300,000 taels of silver. They had not been declared to customs. During the trade, they were caught by Tiqi from the imperial tax office in Songjiang Prefecture. The stamps proving the tax payment were It did not match the actual trade volume. After the accounting, the tax office found out the amount of silver contained and sent the demand note to the capital.
Honglu Temple is responsible for the first and second notifications, and for the third time, they will have to board the ship to make payment.
"Damn it, I've told them repeatedly, don't hide it, do you want to evade even the 6% tax?" Antonio looked at the demand note. It was actually written in both Chinese and Latin languages. He could completely read it. Understand.
His boat carried less than 1,000 taels of silver, and the other two boats actually contained more than 300,000 taels of silver, and they were caught by the Ming court!
"Okay, you two, please pay as soon as possible. We will not charge one cent more tax, nor will we charge one cent less tax." Chen Xuexue stood up and prepared to leave.
"Diplomat, do you really not have a flying ship in Ming Dynasty?" Antonio collected the reminder ticket and asked eagerly about the flying ship he saw.
Chen Xuexue said in surprise: "Captain, do you want to listen to what you are talking about? How can the ship fly? Of course not."
"Okay." Antonio said with some uncertainty, "Am I wrong?"
In fact, Antonio didn't see clearly what the ship shrouded in the waterline looked like. Legas said it was an illusion, but the Ming officials denied it, making Antonio doubt himself.
Antonio shook his head and said more eagerly: "Diplomat, I have some gifts for the emperor. I think the supreme and noble emperor will definitely like these treasures."
"I'm pretty sure."
"Oh? What is it?" Chen Xuexue sat down again and saw Antonio taking out a list of gifts that Antonio wanted to give.
Chen Xuexue read the list, nodded and said: "Indeed, His Majesty the Emperor will like it very much. So, Captain Antonio, what do you need to get? I know that you are a businessman, and in business, if the conditions are not excessive, we can negotiate."
Antonio said with great anticipation: "I want the franchise."
"Do you think it's possible?" Chen Xuexue shook his head and said.
Antonio waved his hands repeatedly and said: "No, no, no, the franchise you understand is different from the franchise I am talking about. What I mean is that the sales of Portugal are my responsibility, and I am not specializing in certain goods from the Ming Dynasty."
Only death and taxes are inevitable. Please give me a monthly ticket, wow! ! ! ! !
(End of chapter)
