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"In my long-term contact, the Ming people, or the Chinese, are xenophobic, cowardly, greedy, and superstitious. They can break out a peasant war in order to fight for a cemetery. They don't contact foreigners and let them lead the way , always asking for a lot of silver coins...After Zhao came, he slowly began to change. Officials did not dare to ask for bribes anymore, at least on the surface, they secretly asked for silver coins without telling Zhao."

"Zhao said he would deal with these corrupt officials. He invited me to dinner, and the dishes were not extravagant, unlike other wealthy Chinese..."

"But it's a pity that Zhao, such an excellent young man, actually eats with chopsticks like other Chinese people. Some of them hold the bowl, and some put the bowl on the table, just like a pig digging in a trough. I It is totally unacceptable that many Chinese people wear luxurious silk and use exquisite porcelain, but eat like pigs. My good yearning for Chinese people is shattered because of their way of eating..."

Chapter 267 [Unequal Treaty? 】

The English communication between Zhao Han and Peter Mundy was very difficult!

Guessing the whole process, occasionally writing words with a pen.If it doesn't work, let the two translators do it.

The first translator, in Portuguese, communicated with Peter Mundy, and then told the other two translators in Cantonese.The second translation is to convert Cantonese into Ming Mandarin so that Zhao Han can really understand it.

"In other words, the Dutch navy is the most powerful now?" Zhao Han asked.

Peter Mundy replied: "Spain is not weak, both sides are evenly matched. But Spain is on the defensive, and the Netherlands is looking for opportunities to attack everywhere. This is also the case in Asia. Last year, the Dutch fleet blocked Malacca for several months. The Spanish fleet has been avoiding war. Dare to show up."

"How did the Dutch navy rise?" Zhao Han asked.

Peter Mundy said: "The Dutch's navigation technology is already developed. Since the beginning of independence, they have been building warships. Seven years ago, the Dutch fleet attacked Antwerp at night and wiped out the Spanish fleet in the port. They also captured a large number of warships. The Spanish battleship. The power of the two sides was reversed, the Dutch turned from the defensive to the offensive, and the Spanish turned from the offensive to the defensive."

"The Netherlands is not that big, is it?" Zhao Han said.

Peter Mundy said with a smile: "Of course, they are very small, but they have money. Spain is poor now, and they can't even pay the salaries of the crew."

Jurisprudentially speaking, the Netherlands at this time was still a province under Spain, and the supreme ruler was the Governor of the Netherlands appointed by the King of Spain.

Any religious conflicts are superficial excuses. The reason why the Dutch fought for independence was because Spain was too exploited, and its nature was a bourgeois revolution accompanied by a war of national independence.

As for the key node, the Spanish royal family went bankrupt, the Dutch financiers suffered heavy losses, and the financiers completely fell to the independent faction.

Peter Mundy also said: "Portugal is also fighting for independence, and it has long cooperated secretly with the Dutch. Without Portugal's port in India, the Dutch would never even think about disrupting the situation in China. But last year, the Dutch blockade of Malacca completely destroyed Portugal. The people were outraged. The colonial ports of India refused to allow Dutch ships to dock for supplies. In desperation, the Netherlands had no choice but to lift the blockade."

It can be understood that Spain is the head of the family, while Portugal and the Netherlands are the younger brothers.

The two little brothers are both arguing about breaking up.

The Netherlands beat up Spain, making you come and go.

Portugal did not dare to join, and while secretly handing a stick to Holland, he stood by and muttered that I also wanted to separate.

The Portuguese in Macau belong to the concubine of the family.While dissatisfied with the Spanish patriarch, they fought with the Dutch brothers because the Dutch wanted to come to Macau to grab lollipops.

Neither Zhao Han nor Peter Mundy knew that after a naval battle next year, the Netherlands would officially become the world's number one maritime power.

Only at sea!

From Africa to Asia, all along the way are Portuguese colonial ports.The Netherlands is showing off its power at sea, but it is like sleepwalking when it goes ashore. It can only shrink back in southern Taiwan and bully the aborigines.

The Netherlands once tried to capture Macau. Thousands of soldiers landed and were ambushed by dozens of Portuguese. The whole army collapsed on the spot.

If fighting on land and in the wild, two hundred Datong soldiers should be able to defeat three or four thousand Dutchmen head-on.

Listening to Peter Mundy's talk about the situation in Europe, Zhao Han felt that his opportunity had come, or that it was a good time to go to sea in the future.

Spain is declining day by day, Portugal has long been dead, and Britain has not yet risen at sea.

The Netherlands is about to flourish, but the territory of the Netherlands is too small.The population is scarce and the army is weak, so they can only do business honestly and don't want to occupy too many colonies.

As a commodity production center, China beats these countries into dogs and drives them all out of Southeast Asia, and they will also come to engage in trade.Because tea, silk, and porcelain can only be bought in China, they are all scarce commodities in Europe.

But all of this must be led by oneself.

Before training a powerful navy, the Europeans cannot be driven away, and Macau will be Zhao Han's window to the outside world.

Of course, the Netherlands must fight, who makes it the number one maritime power?

Peter Mundy returned to the house and continued to write his travel notes: "Zhao talked about the situation in Europe today, and he was very interested in it. This is a king with far-sighted vision. Yes, king, please allow me to use this word, He may one day be the Emperor of China. God, it's unbelievable that I should be friends with the great Emperor of China..."

"There is no doubt that Zhao will definitely develop the navy. From his eyes, I can see that he will definitely go to war with Spain and the Netherlands in the future. For the United Kingdom, for all European countries, this is a big thing Good thing. Once China defeats Spain, Portugal, Holland, many countries will be able to trade directly with China..."

"May God bless Zhao and bless him with his victory over evil Spain and Holland, from which Great Britain will benefit greatly."

……

After hanging out with the Macao Mission for three days, Zhao Han finally summoned him.

"It's a great honor to meet you, great general." Shi Paulo saluted with a smile.

Zhao Han cupped his hands and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Fang Shengchang, the prefect of Guangzhou, Guo Shunyu, the admiral of the Municipal Shipping Department, Deng Yunzhan, the head of the Municipal Shipping Department, and Wan Bangyan, the commander of the Guangdong Navy, all attended the negotiation process.

The members of the two sides knew each other, and the negotiations soon got to the point.

Macao Councilor Desino said in Ming Dynasty official language: "Zhao Zongzhen, the Governor of Macao and the Macao Parliament are willing to recognize the general's right to rule over Guangdong. The premise is that Macao maintains the status quo and Guangzhou immediately resumes food supply."

"Of course not," Zhao Han said with a smile, "I want to take back Macau, especially the bunkers and forts you built."

After Desino's translator relayed the report, Julio, the commander of the Macau Guard, stood up immediately: "This is impossible, the Emperor Ming has already leased Macau to us!"

Zhao Han looked puzzled and asked, "You don't know that I'm a rebel? What does it matter to me that the Emperor of Ming Dynasty leased Macau?"

That's right, Daming's lease of Macau has nothing to do with anti-thieves!

Julio was at a loss for words, and then said with a red neck, "War, Your Excellency will definitely lead to war!"

Zhao Han laughed and said, "I've found out everything. Not counting the navy crew, the land garrison in Macau only has 300 people. I'm too lazy to send troops to attack. I'll wait until you starve for a few months."

Naval Commander Samento said: "Your Excellency is forcing the Macao Navy to go to the coast to rob. We only want to do trade, not pirates. Please think carefully."

"Zheng Zhilong is a guest at my house. If you want to be pirates, you can chat with him and maybe learn some experience." Zhao Han said kindly.

Hearing Zheng Zhilong's name, all of these people's expressions changed drastically.

The Portuguese in Macau also have to pay protection fees to Zheng Zhilong.Moreover, a major event happened this year, and Japan closed its doors.

The "Macao-Japan" trade route is one of the main routes for the Portuguese in Macao.In the future, if you want to obtain goods, you must go to Fujian or Ryukyu, or simply buy goods from Guangzhou to Malacca.

Guangzhou is the largest entrepot trade center in China.

A large number of commodities from Zhejiang, Fujian, Japan, and Ryukyu were first shipped to Guangzhou for sale.Zhao Han took control of this place, regardless of the food, and the Portuguese were also stuck in business.

Paulo Shi, Governor of Macau, still had an aristocratic smile: "Please ask the general to offer a reasonable price, otherwise this negotiation will be difficult to proceed."

"Look for yourself." Zhao Han threw out a contract.

Shi Baoluo took it over and read it carefully, his face was very ugly.

Article [-], Zhao Han has sovereignty over Macau, Portugal and Macau must hand over the forts and disband the guards!

The second article allows Portugal and Macao to retain the parliament, but it can only manage the Portuguese and Spanish settlements.

The third article allows Portugal and Macau to retain the Grand Court, but it can only try Portuguese and Spaniards.Any cases involving Chinese people must be handed over to Xiangshan County for handling.

Article [-]: Portugal and Macao are allowed to keep the church, but they can only preach in the church and not outside the church.

Article [-] Foreigners who have settled in Macao for a long time must apply for household registration in Xiangshan County.Holders of household cards can leave settlements and travel outside Macao.

Article 12: Allocate a piece of land for the establishment of Macao primary schools, and establish Macao secondary schools at an optional time in the future.Children under the age of [-] in Macau must attend school and do not enjoy the preferential treatment of free study.

Article [-]. Foreigners who have settled in Macao for a long time, if they can speak Chinese and write Chinese characters, can apply for official residence registration and become naturalized Chinese from then on.However, Western religious beliefs such as Catholicism and Protestantism must be abandoned.

Article [-]: A Taoist temple and a Buddhist temple will be built on the edge of the foreign settlements in Macau, and the land will be distributed to monks and Taoists for cultivation.Foreigners who are willing to convert to Buddhism or Taoism can go to listen to monks and Taoists.

Article [-] allows Portuguese and Spaniards to trade directly in Guangzhou.

If these nine articles are signed, what kind of governor will Shi Paulo still be?

Julio's face was even more livid. He was the commander-in-chief of the Macau Guard, but Zhao Han wanted to forcibly disband the Guard.

The rules of Guangzhou Port are very strange. Merchants from all countries can directly trade in Guangzhou, except for Europeans and Japanese.

Europeans who wanted to do business had to smuggle goods from Guangzhou to Macau through fishermen.

This is the latest policy at the end of Ming Dynasty.

Now that Zhao Han is still open, Portuguese and Spanish merchants can also go directly to Guangzhou to buy things.mean what?

It means that half of the port of Macau has been abolished, which means that the Netherlands and the United Kingdom can bypass Macau and go directly to Guangzhou!

"No haggling is allowed, you only have two choices. Sign or not! Don't worry, even if you don't sign, I will let you go. After you go back, prepare your troops for war." Zhao Han left after finishing speaking, ending the negotiation directly.

Everyone looked at each other.

Shi Paulo said: "Who dares to sign?"

No one answered.

After a long time, Desino said, "If we don't sign the contract, Magang will be gone. With Zheng Zhilong at sea, we can't fight land battles. The bunkers are useless. Without food for a month, the defenders will all starve to death."

Paul Shi sat down slumped.

Chapter 268 [Macao Coup]

The Macau Treaty was still signed, and there was no other choice.

Spain is at war with the Netherlands, Portugal has been fighting for independence, and the Governor of Macau is caught in a dilemma.

Zhao Han's allowing the autonomy of foreign residential areas is the last face left for the governor and the parliament.Once the face is torn apart, I am afraid that even the residential area will be lost. What should the more than 2000 Portuguese and Spaniards on the island do?

"One, two, three, bump!"

"One, two, three, bump!"

"boom!"

The Macau boundary wall built by the Portuguese was not yet completed at this time, and sections were torn down.

The place Daming leased to Portugal was not the entire Macau Island, but a small piece of the island.The church built by Portugal across the border was demolished many times by the Ming government, and only the cannon factory remained.

Although Zhao Han allowed the inhabited area to be autonomous, it was limited to the inhabited area, and the boundary wall encloses a large area of ​​the village.

Gan Dashou, the magistrate of Xiangshan County, personally brought the officials to come and distribute the land to the Han people on the island.

Some local officials beat the gong and shouted: "Come and register, and the land deed will be issued after the household registration is registered, and the private land without the title deed will be confiscated! As long as the household registration is registered, you will not be afraid of being bullied by the Frangipani in the future!"

Eight forts have been built in Macao, and another fort is under construction. There are more than 60 fixed coastal defense guns and [-] field artillery.

Fei Ruhe personally led the troops to receive the forts and cannons.

After taking out the treaty, everything went well, and the fort was soon in Fei Ruhe's hands.

"Stop, this is a Portuguese artillery factory. What you are doing is robbery! The "Macau Treaty" does not specify the ownership of the artillery factory. You cannot take it away at will!" Councilor Mascar stopped at the entrance of the artillery factory.

Tu Tingye said to the interpreter: "Tell him, I am Tu Tingye, the inspector of the Macau Inspection Department, and I will be in charge of the security of Macau from now on. The Bucarao Cannon Factory is a building that crosses the border and must be taken back. The Macau Council can only manage residential areas. ! Raise the gun!"

Three hundred firecrackers were raised in unison.

Tu Tingye saw that the opponent still didn't let go, and shouted again: "Light the match!"

Ma Shijia was so scared that he immediately moved away, and said angrily: "War, you are going to start a war!"

The Bugarao Cannon Factory claims to be the best cannon factory in the Far East, not only selling well in Asia, but even selling it back to Europe.

The "Shenwei General Cannon" of the Beijing Tower was produced in the Bucarao Cannon Foundry in Macau.

Tu Tingye sneered: "Go in and tell them."

Wang Shengtai walked into the Cannon Factory with more than a dozen apprentices and said: "From now on, the Bucarao Cannon Factory will be renamed Macau Cannon Factory. I am the supervisor of the Cannon Factory. Your salary will remain the same. If you can Improve the craftsmanship, or cast high-quality cannons, and you can get rewards."

A man who looked like a craftsman and a boss came over and said to Wang Shengtai: "I am Wendis Bogarao, this artillery factory was opened by my grandfather. I want to ask, I still have 15% of the shares, Are these shares also taken away?"

"You can stay," Wang Shengtai replied, "as long as you have extraordinary casting skills, I will leave you 1% of dry shares. You can only pay dividends, you cannot participate in management, and you cannot leave it to your descendants. Void."

Wendis Bucarao said angrily, "You guys are robbery!"

Wang Shengtai sneered and said: "Then let me answer you, the Cannon Factory is not a leased land. Your grandfather crossed the concession and forcibly occupied the villagers' land. What kind of behavior is this? A robber! I will leave you 1% dry shares, which is already very I've given you some face. If it wasn't for the order of the chief town, I'd expel you directly! Either take 1% of the dry shares and continue to make cannons, or leave the cannon factory immediately!"

Wendis Bogarao was silent, accepting this reality with a slump.

The whole of Macau, as well as the Cannon Factory, had already been seriously injured because of the previous war.

That battle was fought in Shandong.

In the third year of Chongzhen, the Portuguese artillery team from Macau arrived in Beijing.The annual salary of the leader is 150 taels, with a monthly subsidy of 15 taels; the annual salary of ordinary gunners is 100 taels, with a monthly subsidy of 10 taels.They not only trained gunners of the Ming army, but also went to Liaodong to fight. At the Dengzhou cannon casting base, they adopted the barrel cold casting technology to triple the range of the Hongyi cannon.

Due to the high wages, Portuguese gunners and cannon-casting craftsmen continued to travel from Macau to Dengzhou, and they fought so hard in Pidao that they dared not go to sea again.

In the fifth year of Chongzhen, Kong Youde rebelled and led troops to besiege Dengzhou.Due to Geng Zhongming's betrayal, Dengzhou City Gate fell.

The Ming army either died or surrendered, and the Portuguese artillery team was isolated and helpless, still sticking to the artillery position to fight.

The artillery team under Kong Youde was taught by the Portuguese.