Chapter 337 The wind rises on the shores of Fuzhou
just as the people of the Ming Dynasty are spending the New Year with joy, sorrow, or sighs.
Sitting in the huge sailing ship built in Macau, Anthony, the great Portuguese shipowner, was filled with anxiety.
He was writing to the Portuguese governor in Goa, asking him to inform their king of the great changes in the east.
In fact, Anthony's letter was not written to their king. The current King of Portugal, Sebastian I, is only seven years old and cannot handle national affairs at all. Now the power of Portugal is in the hands of the Duke of Évora and the Cardinal. In Rick's hand, Anthony's letter was addressed to the regent.
Macau, as Anthony's biggest achievement in the East, he originally imagined that he could make a lot of money as a big shipowner in Macau, return to his motherland with wealth and glory, enjoy the honor with other pioneers in the age of navigation, and finally return home in his own manor. People tell stories about their experiences in Eastern legends.
But his hopes were completely shattered. The tough Ming Dynasty official Tan, who was still considered a Ming Dynasty official, forcefully overturned the lease treaty signed by Anthony by bribing the Ming Dynasty officials and drove all the Portuguese out of Macau.
Not only were they driven out of Macau, but outposts were also built by the Southeast New Army in areas such as Langbaiao where the Portuguese trade had stopped in the past, and the Portuguese were also expelled from these areas.
The only thing that makes Anthony happy is that this new regime allows foreign merchants to trade. As long as they abide by their rules and pay taxes, the Portuguese can trade freely at any port.
Anthony wrote to the Governor
of Goa: "Dear Governor, I regret to tell you that our ten years of efforts in Macau have failed." "
In the Ming Empire, an internal rebellion led by the great scholar Su Ze swept the entire In the southeastern region of the empire, the Guangzhou Prefecture also fell into the hands of the rebels." "
The envoy of Governor Su, the official Tan, who is also a great scholar, severely expelled us and completely overturned the lease we signed with the Ming Empire. Contract, this is shameful treachery! May God forgive their crimes." "
The governor Su Ze who rose within the Ming Empire has an advanced navy that is no less than that of Europe. For this powerful force rising in the East, I feel deep fear."
"It's hard to imagine what a terrifying force the Ming Empire, with such a huge population, would be once armed. It would be a more terrifying force than Attila and the Mongols!" "It makes me even more frightened
. What's strange is that the newly-emerged Governor Su in the Ming Dynasty did not shy away from expressing his atheistic beliefs. He expelled our missionaries in the Ming Dynasty and closed the churches in Macau." "All the officials under his rule seemed to be like this,
although They will also perform sacrificial activities at fixed times, but these sacrificial rituals are more similar to celebrations than prayers." "
Such a Ming Dynasty makes me feel scared. The changes in the east may not affect our mother country for the time being, but such intelligence should Let more Europeans know so that they can respond to changes in the maritime situation in the future."
Anthony, the big shipowner, dipped his quill and continued to write:
"After talking about the bad news, here is the good news for the gentlemen of Goa."
"Su Ze, the new governor-general with a scholar background, is completely different from the traditional bureaucrats of the Ming Empire. He actively embraces the ocean and is willing to open all ports in the areas he rules." "Macau, Guangzhou, Chaozhou, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Zhangzhou
, Ningbo, Hangzhou, and even Shanghai, a brand-new excellent port at the intersection of rivers and seas." "
Comrades in Goa, after receiving this letter, you should follow our advice, load up your cargo and sail to the East. Believe me, A trip will definitely make you a lot of money." "
But please don't bring any more Indian cloth. The great scholar Governor Su invented a brand-new loom that can weave cotton better. They weave The cotton cloth made by cloth workers is fast and good. Believe me, Indian cloth will never be sold here." "
If I were you, I would come to the East loaded with food, weapons, spices and books, all of which can be sold in the East. High-priced things."
"And these new specialties from Eastern ports will definitely surprise them. If they are sold back to Europe, they can make huge profits."
Anthony, the big shipowner, stopped writing and added:
"In addition, you The best currency for purchasing things is silver. Merchants in the Ming Dynasty like this currency very much, but it must be exchanged for the same amount of silver dollars at the Shipping Department first." "Another thing I want to tell you gentlemen, under the rule of His Excellency Governor
Su Bureaucrats should be efficient and honest. Give up your previous stereotypes and don't try to bribe officials of the Municipal Shipping Department to do extraordinary things. If you are expelled for this, it will be the biggest loss in your life." Putting the letter into the envelope, the big shipowner
Anthony Get out of the cabin.
He led these Macau residents back to Malacca. Next, he would build more merchant ships in Malacca to completely open up trade with the East.
Compared to the Portuguese's embarrassment, the Spaniards also learned about the opening of ports in the southeast for trade from merchants traveling from Southeast Asia.
In a castle near Manila, Liguez, a Spanish caravan leader and Spanish nobleman, was also writing a letter to their emperor.
King Philip II of Spain was a Spanish king from the Habsburg family, which had power across Europe.
This king is extremely ambitious. He has only been on the throne for five years and has shown strong expansion ambitions.
Liguez was just a minor nobleman. He originally went to America to do business, but he came to Manila along the Eastern Route. He purchased a place from the local ruler with silver and hired natives to build a castle.
Manila was a very good port, and Leguis took advantage of Manila's unique location to make a fortune in Southeast Asian trade.
The only thing that displeased Liguez was that the Maynilaraja state that now informed Manila was a pagan state.
Liguez really couldn't imagine how a certain religion that was fighting with the Catholic world in Europe spread to this island country across thousands of miles and established a political system like a mandala flower.
Liguez was aware of his monarch's ambitions, and since Philip II succeeded to the throne, he has regarded himself as the defender of the Catholic world.
In the second year after he took the throne, he launched a war against France and defeated the French army in the Battle of Saint-Quentin. The price was that Spain, a country with vast South American colonies and one of the top powers in Europe, went bankrupt!
During this financial crisis of the royal family, Ligas decisively "donated" gold coins and obtained the title of baron.
Riguez was also aware of Spain's desire for wealth. In his letter to Philip II, he greatly exaggerated the wealth of the East and the importance of Manila, a port in the South Seas.
"Your Majesty, I strongly recommend that you detach a few ships from your invincible fleet, capture the pagan city of Manila, and establish a trading post completely dominated by Catholics." "This trading
post It will become the treasury of the empire in the Far East and the bridgehead for the Catholic world to preach in the Far East."
Riguez asked his assistant to send the letter to the country immediately. However, at the current sailing speed, he did not know when the letter would be delivered to Philip II. desk.
Hearing the news of the opening of the Southeast Sea, all the forces in Southeast Asia are gearing up and preparing to make a fortune in this trade wave.
In addition to these Western colonists and Nanyang merchants who were interested in maritime trade, the two important members of the Ming Dynasty's tribute system, Korea and Japan, also sensed the changes in the wind of the times.
Li's Korea, as the most loyal vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, naturally could not do business with a traitor like Su Ze.
At this time, Lee's North Korea, like his sovereign state, the Ming Dynasty, was in the midst of a fierce whirlpool of internal strife. It was a good time for all parties to have their own affairs, and palace coups to be carried out.
The current king of North Korea, Li Gong, obtained the throne from his half-brother Li Gong.
His brother Li Gao, whose cause of death was unknown, only reigned for seven months. According to Korean folk legend, he was poisoned by the current Queen Mother Wending. The former lord Li Gong was the stepson of the Queen Mother Wending, and the current lord Li Gong was the biological son of the Queen Mother Wending.
Today's state affairs in North Korea are naturally controlled by the relatives of the Queen Mother Wending.
Not long after Li Hong succeeded to the throne, another disaster occurred in North Korea. This was a struggle between North Korean relatives, and many North Korean civil servants were also involved.
Then came the Burning Rat Incident, and the Joseon Dynasty entered the era of powerful ministers with the "Three Traitors of Xinmao" and the "Three Fierce Men of Dingyou" in power.
Relatives, powerful ministers, and honorary honours, you can sing and I will go on stage and serve the North Korean King Li Xiong to the best of my ability. It can be regarded as enjoying all the "blessings" enjoyed by the Eastern Han Dynasty emperor.
However, due to the cruelty of political struggle, many North Korean civil servants chose to resign and go home to set up academies.
These academies were naturally based on the learning of the Ming Dynasty. When the country was in such turmoil, it was naturally also a period when new ideas and new trends of thought were flourishing. For example, the learning of Xin Xue and Su Ze also entered North Korea through various means.
In an academy in Seoul, a fifteen-year-old boy was secretly reading "Nan Ke Meng" hidden in his desk.
Just when he was reading enthusiastically, the teacher from the academy suddenly shouted: "Yi Sun-shin!"
The young man immediately stood up and "Nan Ke Meng" fell from the desk to the ground. Seeing the teacher's face, Yi Sun-shin knew that he was going to Got whipped.
After the other students dispersed, Yi Sunchen was called to the study room at the back by the teacher. Looking at this incompetent disciple, the teacher said: "
Your ancestors were high-ranking members of the East Class. Your ancestors and your father were both knowledgeable. Man, why are you so stubborn and unwilling to study?"
Looking at the teacher, Yi Sun-shin suddenly said: "Teacher, what's the use of studying? My grandfather was impeached for studying innocently. You are good at learning, so weren't you expelled from the court?"
" You!"
Yi Sun-shin simply gave up. He said to the teacher: "Teacher, the government is weak and the current situation is turbulent. Students think that just reading the Four Books and Five Classics is useless!" Seeing that the
ruler was about to fall, Yi Sun-Shin closed his eyes. I closed my eyes, but I didn't feel the heat in my palms.
"Then tell me, how can we save North Korea?"
Yi Sunchen gave the prepared answer: "New learning!"
"Teacher, I want to go to Fuzhou and learn new learning at the New Military School! This is the way to save the country. Tao!"
Originally, Yi Sunchen thought that he would be reprimanded by the teacher, or simply expelled from the academy, but this was his wish.
Unexpectedly, his teacher said: "I didn't expect you to have such ambition."
After saying this, Yi Sunchen's teacher said: "In that case, you go to Incheon. I have an old friend who is also planning to go to Fuzhou to open up trade routes. , you can take his ship to Fuzhou."
"As for whether you can join the New Military Academy, it depends on your luck."
Yi Sunchen stared blankly at his old-fashioned teacher, but he did not expect that he would support him in going to Fuzhou. ?
The white-haired academy teacher looked out the window and said: "Since the Four Books and Five Classics can't save Korea, why don't you try the new learning? What if it can succeed?" At this time, in the Japanese country, during the battle between the narrow barrels, the
dramatic Oda Nobunaga, who defeated the Imagawa clan who dominated Tokaido, was attacking the Saito family of Mino country. The Japanese nation is still at war within itself, but many Japanese lords have begun to understand the importance of cannons and artillery.
Oda Nobunaga, who was in the Gyeonggi region of Japan, also called his trusted retainer, Kinoshita Tokichiro, who had just gotten his surname through marriage.
"Monkey, the Ming Dynasty opened the sea to the southeast, and I intend to let you go to Fuzhou."
Kinoshita Tokichiro was nicknamed this nickname by Oda Nobunaga because he looked funny like a monkey.
Kinoshita Tokichiro was shocked.
Oda Nobunaga laughed and said: "I'm not asking you to go to Fuzhou to become a pirate. I'm asking you to go to the port of Fuzhou to see if you can buy some blunderbuss and artillery." Kinoshita Tokichiro breathed a sigh of relief and said
: "Lord, will the people of the Ming Dynasty do business with us?"
Oda Nobunaga laughed and said: "If it is the Ming Dynasty, it will definitely not be possible, but the new southeastern army will definitely do it." "
I have already read "The Rebellion Against Rebellion", that Su It seems that the governor of Zeda wants to establish a shogunate to take charge of the Ming Dynasty like our Japanese country." "
Since he has already said that all nations will trade, such a person will naturally not go back on his word!" "
Whether it is blunderbuss or artillery, or... It's other firearms. You have to buy them back no matter how much they cost!" "Although
you and Ning Ning will be sent far away when you are newly married, thank you for your hard work for the Oda family's business!"
Kinoshita Tokichiro quickly knelt down and grabbed the ground with his head: " Serve the Lord, even if you die!"
The world is changing, and time has entered the forty-second year of Jiajing, 1563 AD.
The decisive battle that will decide the Ming Empire is the last calm before the storm.
At this time, both sides are actively deploying troops and generals to prepare for military operations after the beginning of spring.
This year's Lantern Festival, neither the capital nor Nanjing held the Aoshan Lantern Festival celebrations. Just after the Lantern Festival, after the ministries and offices began to work, the emperor urgently summoned the cabinet ministers and ministers to the palace for a meeting.
The discussion was naturally about the Spring War that would determine the fate of the Ming Dynasty.
There are two normal updates today. This chapter is a transitional chapter. After all, this book is not limited to the Ming Dynasty.
In the Age of Discovery, the goal is naturally the stars and the sea!
(End of chapter)