"Huh?"
Involuntarily making a sound of surprise, João IV couldn't help but open his eyes wide and look at the port carefully.
I saw densely packed ships docked at the pier. Although they are far away, you can tell at a glance that the style of these ships is definitely not European sailing warships.
"How can it be?"
João IV couldn't help but rub his eyes, and then took a closer look.
The shape of the ship was very impressive to him.
He had never seen it before, but the last time Johnson came back, he brought back five ships. It's just a pity that it was taken away by the Spaniards.
But this time, ships like that were almost all over the port!
How can this be?
Subconsciously, Joao IV stared at the most critical parts of this kind of ship.
Sure enough, he still saw it.
All the ships in the port have a cylinder.
Just by looking at it, I recognized whether it was a man or not...
Bah bah bah!
no!
King Joao IV was extremely excited. He could confirm that it was a steam paddle-wheel warship from the Ming Empire in the Far East. The sign was so obvious!
Well, now, the Spaniards have snatched away all the previous steam paddle-wheel battleships, and now there are so many more here, even more than Spain, hahaha...
After laughing for a while, João IV's laughter suddenly stopped, as if someone had pinched his neck and he couldn't laugh anymore.
"Could it be that this is the navy of the Ming Empire, coming to take care of itself?" Joao IV thought in his heart, and his face turned pale.
After all, the new guns and steam paddle-wheel warships were important military weapons of the Ming Empire in the Far East. Johnson emphasized this point again and again. It was only because Portugal was a vassal state of the Ming Empire that it had the luck to purchase these important military weapons.
The result was good. Portugal transferred its important military equipment to Spain without the consent of the Ming Empire. Although they would receive money, this thing was not trivial after all.
What's more, now Spain won't give any money...
When he thought of this, King Joao IV became sweaty.
At this moment, I suddenly heard a surprised voice from behind: "Father, I'm back!"
When I hear this, it feels both strange and familiar at the same time!
A figure immediately flashed in John IV's mind, and that was his eldest son Theodosio.
So, Joao IV immediately turned around and looked intently after hearing the sound.
Then, he was dumbfounded!
I saw a few people standing in front of him.
Johnson, he knew him. However, he did not recognize the young man surrounded by Johnson and others!
Didn't someone call "Father" just now? It sounds like Theodosio! What about others?
"Father, the child is back!"
Hearing the voice, it was clear that it was the young man speaking, and João IV couldn't help but be a little dumbfounded!
It sounds like it is indeed Theodosio, but the man in front of me, not to mention his black hair, and what else is stuck in his hair, at a glance, he is an Oriental scholar, right?
Thinking like this, Joao IV suddenly became confused again and couldn't help but open his eyes wide.
It seems like we haven’t seen each other for five years. This young man does look like Theodosio. He must have grown taller and grown up!
However, I have never heard of people’s hair changing color as they grow up!
Looking at the expression of João IV, Johnson knew what the problem was. He couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, and then said: "Your Highness, this is indeed your eldest son, the Duke of Braganza and the Prince of Brazil!"
"..." Joao IV was a little dumbfounded when he heard this. Is this his eldest son?
"Father!" When Theodosio saw him, he stretched out his hands, showed off the Ming Dynasty Confucian uniform he was wearing, turned around in a circle and continued, "Aren't you handsome?"
"..." After hearing this, João IV was dumbfounded and debuffed...
"Father, you are so ignorant!" Theodosio said a little disappointed when he saw him like this, "Can't you recognize the child's dress? The child is dressed like a Confucian scholar. The child is a supervisor of the Imperial Academy of the Ming Dynasty, and he has a serious reputation..."
Hearing Theodosio talking there, Joao IV finally came to his senses and wanted to say something, but for a moment he didn't know where to start!
However, he still remembered that there were so many Ming Dynasty steam paddle-wheel battleships at the port, so he quickly interrupted his son's long speech, and asked with a very concerned look: "What happened to those Ming Dynasty steam paddle-wheel battleships in the port?" What happened? Could it be that the Ming Dynasty navy came with you to raise an army to investigate the crime..."
At this point, he couldn't speak anymore.
Because of Theodosio's cheerful appearance, there was no way this was possible!
It's impossible. Theodosio is not only completely Ming-minded in his dress, but also Ming-like in his heart. He doesn't mind at all about the Ming navy coming to attack the enemy, right?
Obviously Theodosio did not feel the same way as his father, but Johnson understood very well what Joao IV was worried about, and quickly reported: "Your Highness, don't worry, Ming understands our difficulties and has not punished us." For us!"
Upon hearing this, João IV couldn't help but feel overjoyed, and his anxious heart was relieved.
However, he still had doubts and asked quickly: "Then why are there so many steam paddle-wheel warships in the port?"
Hearing this, Theodosio replied excitedly: "We bought those from the Ming Dynasty!"
"..." When João IV heard this, he was dumbfounded again. How could he afford so many steam paddle-wheel warships?
He felt that his son was a little unreliable, so he turned to look at Johnson.
But this time Johnson did not answer. Theodosio had already explained: "The Emperor of Ming Dynasty and Duke Xingguo understood our situation and knew that it was not easy for us, so they sold it to us at a discount. They also said that they can take as much as they want, all the time. Until we in Portugal are able to protect ourselves."
At this point, before John IV could speak, he added: "Duke Xingguo said that our Portugal is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, but it is too far away and the vassal state is in trouble. The suzerain state cannot send troops to protect it for the time being. We in Portugal have the final say, so they can only sell us more military equipment first. They also took into account our financial resources and gave us a discount!"
King Joao IV listened and moved his mouth. Before he could speak, Theodosio continued excitedly, without giving him a chance to speak: "There are fifty steam paddle-wheel battleships in total! Moreover, the ship is equipped with all new guns and cannons, enough to arm Portugal!"
When John IV heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little dizzy.
His dizziness was not due to heatstroke or being knocked unconscious by a stone, but because he was knocked unconscious by a pie falling from the sky.
Today's João IV is squeezed by Spain and feels precarious again, and once again understands the sorrow of a weak country. As a result, the Ming Empire, no, the suzerain country directly "gave" fifty steam paddle-wheel battleships, as well as fifty ships of new guns!
If Portugal is armed with so many military weapons, how can it be afraid of Spain?
From then on, Portugal stood up!
From now on, I, Joao IV, have become stronger!
Thinking like this, he suddenly felt so excited that he wanted to cry!
Under such circumstances, the Ming Empire was so considerate of him. Not only did it not punish him, but it even offered him help in times of need!
Where can I find such a good suzerainty?
When I formed an alliance with the Ming Empire and became a vassal state of the Ming Empire, I really did the right thing. It was the most correct thing I did in my life!
After finally calming down a bit, John IV began to ask about details about the Ming Empire. At the same time, he naturally also told Theodosio and Johnson about the current situation in Portugal.
Not to mention the young and energetic Theodosio, even Johnson was very angry at Spain's oppression.
"Alas!" João IV couldn't help but sigh when he remembered the insults and torture he had suffered before. Then he smiled and said, "It's better now. With so many military and national weapons, I feel confident. If Spain wants to bully us Portugal again, we have to see if he has the strength!"
Hearing this, Theodosio immediately remembered something, and quickly said to John IV: "Father, Duke Xingguo of the Ming Dynasty asked me to tell you something!"
Johnson had already told King Joao IV about the status of Duke Xingguo a long time ago. Therefore, he understood that Duke Xingguo's words actually represented the meaning of the Ming Empire.
So, he quickly put away his emotion, looked at his son attentively and said, "What did Duke Xingguo of the Ming Dynasty ask you to tell him?"
Thinking about it, João IV probably said something like "I won't do it next time" and wanted to beat myself up.
But who would have expected that Theodosio, with a look of admiration on his face, said sternly to John IV: "Duke Xingguo said that before the Ming Dynasty can protect your Portugal, one of your Portuguese rules of conduct is, first of all We must ensure our own safety, and the second is to ensure the interests of Ming Dynasty. As long as we can do these two things, no matter what happens, we can deal with it first and later!"
Hearing this, King Joao IV was stunned again!
He never expected that Duke Xingguo, or the suzerain country, would be so kind to Portugal!
After coming back to his senses, King Joao IV sighed with emotion: "Even God could not help Portugal in times of hardship and humiliation, but the Ming Empire did it! I have truly seen in my life what benevolence, righteousness, heroism, and responsibility are!" Portugal is really lucky to have such a suzerain country!"
In the past, he would never have said such words.
However, now that he said something that seemed a bit rebellious, the people present, whether it was Theodosio or Johnson, did not object and even nodded.
