Nan Ming Sun Never Sets

Chapter 308 The New Governor
In a luxurious mansion in Manila, the Spanish rulers here are having a grand banquet.Ladies in gorgeous skirts chatted and laughed with gentlemen holding wine glasses. The tables were covered with tablecloths with beautiful patterns, displaying all kinds of exquisite meals.There are beautiful porcelain and exquisite silverware here, everything looks so noble and elegant.

The aristocrats in Manila are living a better life. This is the intuitive feeling of many people in the past two years.

This is the welcome of the Governor Diego de Salcedo, the new Governor just arrived in the Philippines from Mexico, after a very unpleasant trip, his ship went abroad with many problems, from December 1661 Spain, who only managed to reach Manila in September 12, took his place.

But these are not important, what is important is that he is now finally the emperor of Manila.

Salcedo graciously expressed his love to a local rich lady: "Miss Elena, you smell so charming. When I was in Madrid, I never smelled such an elegant scent." smell."

Salcedo wanted to show off that he was from the mainland of Spain, from the elegant and noble Europe, and wanted to impress the local women.

Unexpectedly, this Miss Elena would not accept such a trick.She smiled slightly and said: "Of course, Your Excellency, the perfume on my body is the Liushengji from China. Its price makes ladies feel uncomfortable, but its smell is enough to make anyone artificial. It’s crazy. As for European perfumes, I’m sorry, those things are not available in Manila now, the taste is monotonous and unrefined, and even very cloudy, far less subtle, fragrant and intoxicating than Chinese perfumes.”

Salcedo was a little dumbfounded, and didn't even know how to answer it.

It was Elena's father, who was also a businessman from Manila, who helped the new governor. He said: "Your Excellency, I don't know. China has produced a lot of novel and practical products in the past few years. Makes us both excited and sad. Like this small bottle of perfume, with hundreds of options, perfect glassware and creative packaging, this is definitely not to be missed for high society ladies and gentlemen Excellent product. This year, the Manila Chamber of Commerce has sent as much as 24000 pesos worth of perfume and similar spice products to Europe, including scented candles, incense brands, incense, etc. And this is just a part of the products we bought from China Small categories, traditional silk, porcelain and tea are still in demand, and the quality and marketing are even better. Our businessmen now find a very troublesome thing, that is, there are too many good products in China, but we There isn't that much silver coming from them to exchange these commodities. This has happened before, the Chinese only want silver, but now it's more serious!"

Salcedo was a little more serious, and said: "It is my responsibility to maintain Spain's trade balance. Is our trade situation so bad now?"

The businessman shook his head and smiled: "On the contrary, the businessmen are making money, very profitable! As long as the Chinese goods are brought to Europe, it will be a huge profit. Moreover, the Chinese have a very enlightened trade policy, and they welcome our merchant ships Go to their ports, their customs are efficient and clean, and their tariffs are lower than ours. This makes our merchants' profits much better than usual, and now the streets of Manila are full of speculators who want to do business in China, as long as If you want to make a shipment of goods, then I can assure you that he will deliver it."

Salcedo said seriously: "I'm not asking about this, but about Spain's trade interests. If we buy too many Chinese goods and can only provide silver to China, it will be very dangerous for us in Spain !"

The businessman shrugged and sighed: "But this is what we in Spain can give. In fact, the situation is much better. China is undergoing tremendous changes. The defeated Ming Dynasty is regaining their lost territory. Their crown prince is now He is the actual person in power, ambitious and promoting various new technologies. China has always been a formidable country, and now we need to fear her even more. In the past, it was even difficult for us Spanish businessmen to sell goods in China, but now China There are a lot of traders, and they charge most of the things we sell. Spices, seafood, pearls, tin, lead, furs. Although the value of these goods is cheaper than Chinese goods, at least we can sell things, which is very An optimistic thing. The Chinese have the ability to process things like spices that we sell to them into products that Europe likes, and such trade is profitable."

After hearing this, Salcedo was a little discouraged and sighed: "China is really a rich country. I heard that decades ago, someone suggested that our king send [-] soldiers to conquer there, so that we can obtain silk and tea. and porcelain, and obtained the skilled craftsmen there to produce all kinds of rare products for us in Spain.”

The businessman laughed loudly after hearing this, "Is there such a thing? It's really hilarious."

The businessman quickly put on a more serious expression, and said to Salcedo: "Your Excellency, as the president of the Manila Chamber of Commerce, I have the obligation to remind you that the most important thing for the Philippine Metropolitan Government may not be Maintaining contact with Spain is not with the Viceroyalty of New Spain, but with China. This is not only related to our trade, but also to our security. From some perspectives, China is Becoming more and more like a European country, aggressive and adventurous. Their army and fleet are very powerful, I don't need to explain, what happened to the Dutch today is a good example. Now you come to the Philippines, hope You can help us achieve the greater good."

After hearing this, Salcedo did not make a clear statement, but he had another idea in his heart.

"China! This country is too great a threat to Spain. Now we must increase our garrison strength and build more forts. If it is really like what I have heard these days, the Chinese will definitely launch an attack on the Philippines. Yes, Spain must have enough force to protect its own interests!"

After Salcedo left, Elena asked her father, "Father, do you think His Excellency the Governor will listen to your opinion?"

Looking at the back of Salcedo leaving, the businessman sighed and said: "I am very pessimistic. These officers from Europe have no pattern at all. They are a bunch of stupid idiots. They don't understand the power of China, and sooner or later they will enjoy their bitter fruit of."

(End of this chapter)