Domineering Daming

Feng Zhu nodded silently, and said: "No matter what price they ask, we have to grasp two key points, and the others don't matter. One is the rules of trade, and the other is the rules of passage at sea. The most important thing about trade rules is national treatment, with equal benefits. Passage at sea The rules are to help each other, to come and go freely, so that my Daming fleet can sail to all parts of the world and mature as soon as possible..."

Zheng Zhilong and the others nodded. Their main mission this time is to open up sea trade channels, and the second is to pave the way for the navy.

Daming's maritime trade foundation is weak, and the navy has never been out to sea. It is a step too late to catch up with the weak national power, and it is necessary to suppress these European colonists first.

After a while, Oquendo and the others came together again, clinked glasses with Feng Zhu and the others happily, talked again, and at the same time boasted about Spain's glorious deeds, and put pressure on them quietly.

Feng Zhu and the others were quite introverted, with a calm and unhurried expression on their faces.

Daming was indeed facing natural disasters and was constantly weakening, but he was not afraid of these Western barbarian people. If they really wanted to be hostile, it would be hard to say who was afraid of whom.

Oquendo saw that the Ming people were reticent, showed no flaws, and showed no signs of backing down. He frowned, smiled more, and kept persuading him to drink.

Feng Zhu and the others were transparent in their hearts, and they never refused to come. They kept probing each other and confronting each other secretly, but invisibly figured out each other's bottom line.

Both sides had smiles on their faces, and at a certain moment, they all clinked glasses and drank them all in one gulp.

Chapter 1201

In the suburbs, Philip IV and Elizabeth are entertaining Zhu Youjian. This time it is not Chinese food, but authentic Spanish food.

Philip IV looked at Zhu Youjian who was sitting still with a calm face, looked at the woman next to him, and said: "His Royal Highness, this is Mary, she is my younger sister, she is of very pure blood, educated and reasonable. , understanding."

Mary is a European woman with brown hair and blue eyes, half a head taller than Zhu Youjian, sitting there, looking straight at Zhu Youjian, her eyes are full of excitement.

Mary is a rather remote bloodline in the Spanish royal family. If Philip IV hadn't wanted to marry, she would have been forgotten.

The education Zhu Youjian received was the most traditional, rigid Confucian education, and the words of the matchmaker ordered by his parents, how could he fall in love with the barbarian women in the "incest country", even from the purely aesthetic point of view, this Mary makes Zhu Youjian Hate.

Zhu Youjian looked at Philip IV and said: "In our country, women are not allowed to sit on the table, they should stay in the inner courtyard."

Philip IV naturally knew this, but there was still a dazed expression on his face. He smiled and said, "Zhu, this is Spain, take it easy. If you like this place, you will also like Mary."

Mary is of the remote blood of the Spanish royal family. In her mind, if she could leave this terrible place and follow the distant prince to their country, it would be a happy thing.

"Your Highness, I will be obedient." Mary said in a low voice, with a shy look on her face.

She was very moved by this handsome and extraordinary prince from afar.

Zhu Youjian glanced at her, looked at Philip IV and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should talk about some serious business."

The implication of Zhu Youjian's words is obvious, business is a man's business, and women should avoid it.

I don't know if it's the translation or other problems or Philip IV pretended not to understand, and said loudly: "Zhu, take it easy, we are here for fun today, forget about other things, we have things, some serious things to talk about, but not today."

Zhu Youjian was dissatisfied with Philip IV's deliberate delay. He frowned and didn't speak anymore, but he also ignored Mary.

When Philip IV took Zhu Youjian for an outing, the negotiations in the palace banquet hall were changing rapidly.

Seeming to have detected each other's bottom line, Oquendo and the others became direct and aggressive, and put forward many harsh conditions.

For example, to monopolize Ming's foreign trade, their fleets, merchants, and missionaries can freely enter and leave Ming. Asia's trade is exclusive and is exclusive to Spain. Ming's fleet must help Spain deal with pirates, and even the Netherlands and France, etc.

Not to be outdone, Feng Zhu and the others demanded that Spain be able to guarantee and consume a sufficient amount of tea, porcelain, silk, spices, etc. from Daming, with an amount as high as [-] million silver. Super national treatment, and Ming's navy can borrow all ports ruled by Spain.

The two sides were asking for prices, refused to give in to each other, and even started to quarrel.

But neither of them left the wine table, they used threats and lures, they both wanted to get the best advantage from each other, but neither of them gave in easily.

Obai acted as the vanguard, spat at each other with the Minister of Finance, full of momentum.

Spain's finance minister is also the main force. He is eager for the silver of the Ming Dynasty and wants more.

Feng Zhu and the others naturally wanted to gain more benefits, so that they could claim credit and receive rewards after returning.

Until the return of Philip IV and Zhu Youjian, a group of people only reached a compromise on some insignificant matters. On most issues, they did not back down from each other and ended in failure.

Philip IV sent Zhu Youjian away enthusiastically and reservedly, and started a secret conversation with a group of confidants.

The admiral said: "Ming people have a joint fleet plan, they want to integrate all ports, bases, and fleets to deal with pirates in a way of joint defense and extermination, but the commander must be their Ming people, sharing military expenses and sharing benefits. "

The Minister of Finance said: "They have a complete plan, and the focus is to obtain super-national treatment. Their fleet can freely enter and exit ports all over the world without being inspected or taxed..."

Philip IV listened, propping his cheek with one hand, and said happily: "Their idea is good."

The admiral said: "Even if the joint fleet is to be formed, it cannot be controlled by the Ming Dynasty. We cannot be controlled by others."

The Minister of Finance said: "There can be no so-called super-national treatment, otherwise the powerful Ming Dynasty will embezzle all of us. Our trade must be decided by ourselves and cannot be dominated by the Ming Dynasty."

Philip IV understood that the conditions listed by the Ming Dynasty were too harsh, and they could not agree to it. All today's plans failed.

Philip IV's eyes flickered, looked at Ocundo, and suddenly said: "My general, what do you think?"

Oquindo had a big beard and it was difficult to see his expression clearly. He said, "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is invincible in Asia. It is not surprising to make such a request."

Philip IV looked at him with a calm expression, then looked at the other people, and asked after a while, "What are you going to do?"

The Minister of Finance looked at Philip IV's expression and said quickly: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is a hundred times richer than the Americas. If we cannot ally with them, not only will the financial crisis not be resolved, but if Frank, England, or the Netherlands take the lead, We're in big trouble."

The admiral also said: "Your Majesty, our fleet has to deal with England, Frank, the Netherlands, and Ottomans. It is impossible to leave. If the navy of the Ming Dynasty attacks us overseas, it will be very difficult for us."

Of course, Philip IV would not let go of the foreign aid of the Ming Dynasty. Seeing that all his confidants were like this, he smiled and said, "I'm asking, how can we form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible, we need to hurry up."

Philip IV did not say clearly, that is, he had already noticed that people in the Ming Dynasty were trying to contact other countries, especially the Pope, which made him uneasy.

"Then let's back down a little more. Over national treatment, free trade, etc., we need to talk about it. It must be in our hands, and we can't let the Ming Dynasty come at will." The Minister of Finance said with a dark face.

The admiral said: "Naturally we have to watch and help each other at sea, but the joint fleet or others, the control can't be in the hands of Ming people, but it doesn't have to be completely in our hands. We can control it jointly, in sections, or in turns. , the most important thing is to deal with our enemies, the Ming Dynasty is not our enemy yet."

Oquindo looked at Philip IV and said, "I believe that the Ming Dynasty is ready to back down."

Chapter 1202 Wrestling

On the other side, Zhu Youjian and others were also discussing.

Zheng Zhilong's expression was quite dignified, and he said: "My lord, father-in-law, this Spaniard opened his mouth wide and did not back down at all, as if he has decided on us, did we leak too much?"

Obai said: "Especially in the military, whether it's the joint fleet, or weapons and equipment, going in and out, and joint research, they are all quite tough, as if they are stronger than me, Ming Dynasty, which is a bit weird."

Li Yizao also said: "The lower officials first started with religion and culture. They have always been keen on preaching. They are quite determined and don't seem to care about Asia anymore. Then in terms of trade, they tried to monopolize Ming's foreign trade. Daming is not allowed to intervene, and his tone is quite firm, which is really strange."

Zhu Youjian frowned, and said, "Philip IV pulled me out today, talking nonsense, without telling the truth, and even introduced me to a daughter of the royal family, who seemed to be trying to get married."

Feng Zhu looked calm as usual, looked at Zhu Youjian and asked, "How did the prince answer?"

Zhu Youjian said: "I was overjoyed and angry, so I rejected it."

Feng Zhu nodded with a smile, and said, "My lord is brilliant. In the eyes of the servants, these are just the bluffs of the Spaniards. They want greater benefits. They know that we are here with a mission in an attempt to lower our bottom line. As long as we We held on, and everything we should have is still ours."