After Balabala talked for a while and divided up the good things shipped from the East, Joao IV leaned his head on the back of the chair and said more relaxedly: "I believe in the charm of these Eastern goods. I dare not say anything else. At least the French side should have no problem, they are the most popular. As long as France can support us, Spain will always have some scruples..."
Having said this, he suddenly seemed to have come to his senses, and with a little more strength, he left the back of the chair, looked at the fleet commander and said: "I didn't expect that the Emperor of the Ming Empire in the East actually fulfilled his promise. So many good things have been brought back. When you went over this time, did you have anything worth mentioning?"
The fleet commander listened and quickly replied: "Your Highness, I only have one feeling, that is, the Eastern Empire is too powerful! We are really lucky to be able to form a brotherly state with this Eastern Empire!"
"Yes!" Joao IV nodded after hearing this, but then he came back to his senses and asked quickly: "How powerful is this Eastern Empire?"
At the beginning, he felt that Portugal could obtain great economic benefits from the East, so it was a blessing for Portugal. He did not object to this. But he immediately understood that there seemed to be other benefits, so he quickly asked.
After hearing this, the fleet commander answered him: "Your Highness, I suggest that the former Governor of Annan, Anders, will give the most detailed introduction."
Of course, John IV would not disagree, so Anders, who returned home with this fleet, soon appeared in front of him.
So Anders began to introduce the power of the Ming Empire to John IV.
First of all, the territory is huge. Anders counted the countries in Europe and even included some countries in the Arab world before he said to João IV: "Total of all these countries, there is still no Ming Empire." Come big!”
When João IV heard this, he was a little surprised and asked, "Hey, it didn't seem to be this big last time!"
The last time he was about to conclude an alliance, he had already heard how big the Far Eastern Empire was, but when he heard it now, he was a little surprised to hear that it was larger than many European countries.
When Anders heard this, he smiled and said: "Your Highness, the emperor of the Ming Empire was wise and powerful. He conquered the south and north without a single defeat. He also conquered Dongwu, Annan, Luzon occupied by Spain, and Bada occupied by the Dutch. Via, etc., all belong to the Ming Empire."
Upon hearing this, King Joao IV immediately asked sensitively: "You said that neither the Spanish nor the Dutch could defeat the Ming Empire. If I remember correctly, they are from Nanyang, right?"
Anders laughed when he heard this and calmed down before replying: "Your Highness, in the Battle of Nanyang, the Spanish asked the Dutch for help, and finally united to fight against the Ming Empire, but they were also defeated. Spanish Governor Diego was defeated The Ming army captured him alive and killed him by a thousand swords, and Anthony, the governor of Batavia in the Netherlands, was also captured alive."
Having said this, he added sternly: "Your Highness, it is undeniable that the Ming Empire has a large number of people, more than the entire population of Europe combined, so naturally they have more armies. However, Wei Chen wants What I emphasize is that the elite of the Ming army is by no means inferior to the army of any country in Europe. I dare to say that if Europe were not too far away from the Ming Empire, maybe there would be nothing wrong with France and Spain. They were just a little bit more strength!"
Seeing that João IV did not speak, Anders continued to speak. As a person who has personally experienced it, and who has changed his identity from an enemy of the Ming Dynasty to a friendly army, he has particularly deep feelings, so when he tells it, it is also particularly convincing.
John IV listened with envy and yearning on his face.
After a long time, Anders said sincerely after the introduction: "I am far away in the Far East. I have been worried. I was completely relieved after hearing that His Highness agreed to the covenant. I dare not say anything else. We Portugal can and The Ming Empire will definitely make a lot of money by becoming a brotherly state!"
This conclusion can be seen from the goods shipped back this time. Joao IV nodded, but still said with regret: "In the covenant, there is a certain offensive and defensive alliance. Now the situation in Portugal is dangerous, and I don't even know it." When will Spain come? If the Ming Empire was close, there would always be an ally, and things would be a little easier."
"Your Highness, if the Ming Empire was close!" Anders heard this and immediately said loudly, "I dare to say that Spain would definitely not be like this now. With the Ming Dynasty and my Portuguese alliance, Spain would definitely be obedient, not even a Don’t even dare to fart! Otherwise, once the Ming army is dispatched, Spain will be destroyed!”
"Is it really so powerful?" Upon hearing this, Joao IV immediately stretched his neck and asked in surprise.
You know, Spain has dominated Europe for decades, including its navy and army, and has been dominant for a long time. Although the Thirty Years' War ultimately failed, Spain's strength is still one of the strongest in Europe. João IV himself was the most touching when he faced this kind of power.
Therefore, although he had heard how powerful the Ming army was, when he heard that the Ming army could suppress Spain to such an extent that it didn't even dare to fart, he couldn't help but question it.
"Of course!" After hearing this, Anders said with a sense of pride as if he himself was a member of the Ming Dynasty, "As for Spain, it doesn't even have a province as large as the Ming Dynasty, let alone a population. In terms of navy, the Ming Dynasty has There are several fleets, with thousands of battleships alone. As for the army, there are easily a hundred thousand cavalry; and other infantry such as musketeers, there are even more than a million..."
Is this too exaggerated? As a European, João IV did not sit on the side of the Ming Dynasty. Hearing Anders speak so powerfully, he always wanted to find fault, so he interrupted and asked: "But the military equipment of the Ming Dynasty is not as good as our European ones. Well, we all have flintlock guns now, but the Ming Dynasty must not have them, right? Also, they all buy their artillery from us..."
Hearing this, Anders couldn't help but interrupt Joao IV and said: "Your Highness, that's all in the old calendar. The Ming army already had flintlock guns. And they had more types of firearms. They are also very sophisticated. As for the artillery, they have cast it themselves. I don’t know why, but the Ming army has a few flintlocks and artillery with a range and accuracy that far exceeds what we use.”
He was referring to rifled flintlock guns and artillery, but these were not in large numbers and were kept secret from the outside world, so the Portuguese did not know the special nature of these guns.
When John IV listened to Anders' introduction, he felt that his impression of the East had been overturned. There was always a look of astonishment on his face. It took a long time after Anders finished speaking before he recovered and had to admit: "Why can't the Ming Empire be closer to Europe? Otherwise, we will also It’s not like we can ask for reinforcements. Now it’s too far away. Even the offensive and defensive alliances are only limited to overseas!”
Hearing this, Anders thought for a moment and quickly said to John IV: "Your Highness, haven't the Ming army already occupied Dongwu? Now they have built a shipyard at the mouth of the Indian Ocean. In the future, If they have a fleet in the Indian Ocean, they will be much closer to Europe."
King Joao IV was a little excited when he heard this at first. He even quickly asked a few questions about the situation of the Ming Army's Dongwu Shipyard. Then he said dejectedly: "If the Ming Dynasty's fleet is to be in the Indian Ocean, what will happen? I don’t know how long it will take. But Spain can attack our Portugal at any time now. In short, water from afar cannot stop fire from near!"
After a pause, he said with a little less interest: "Also, the British overthrew the king's rule, and now they are also suppressing us in Portugal. Maybe one day the British will fight over before the Spaniards come!"
Speaking of which, it's really a lot of worries.
If the original historical development were to follow, Britain did not attack Portugal in the end, but forced Portugal to sign an unequal treaty, allowing the British to enjoy the privileges of being superior to others in Portugal and its colonies.
After hearing this, the fleet commander also interjected: "There is also news from Colombo, saying that the Dutch and British are coveting that place and have attempts to capture Colombo."
If the original history develops, Colombo will eventually be taken away by the Dutch first and then the British.
When João IV heard this, he felt even more worried.
But when Anders heard this, he rolled his eyes. When he saw the sad look on Joao IV's face, he said to him: "Your Highness, we in Portugal are far away and water cannot quench our thirst. However, Colombo is far away from the Dongwu of the Ming Empire." It’s not far away, you can ask the Ming Empire for help!”
It's very close from Togo to Colombo.
"Didn't you say that Dongwu's shipyard is not ready yet, and where did the fleet come from?" João IV asked a little puzzled after hearing this.
When Anders heard this, he smiled and said: "If we only go to Colombo, the fleet can be mobilized from Southeast Asia with just a word from the Ming Emperor. We will provide ports and supplies, so there will be no problem!"
"Yes, Your Highness, we have an offensive and defensive alliance with the Ming Empire!" The fleet commander also reminded him quickly after hearing this.
After hearing this, King Joao IV couldn't help but think about it seriously.
Of course he would not be so naive that Portugal would not pay the price if the Ming Dynasty sent troops. However, as long as possible, he now certainly hopes to have Ming's help.
He was thinking when suddenly Anders said again: "Your Highness, and our enemy Spain, haven't there been so many Ming goods shipped now? As long as we make good use of these goods, we will definitely be able to prevent Spain from immediately Send troops to attack Portugal. Then, we can use the Ming Dynasty to further weaken Spain!"
"How to weaken it?" João IV was very interested when he heard this and asked quickly.
Miaoshuwu
