After saying for a while, and after dividing the good things from the East, João IV leaned his head back in his chair and said a little more relaxed: "I believe in the charm of these Oriental goods, I dare not say anything else, at least the French side should be fine, the most popular with them." As long as France can support us, Spain will have to have some scruples......"

Speaking of this, he suddenly seemed to have just come back to his senses, so he used a little more force, his back left the back of his chair, looked at the fleet commander and said: "I didn't expect that the Emperor of the Ming Empire in the East really fulfilled his promise and brought back so many good things at once." What are you going to tell about this time? ”

When the fleet commander heard this, he hurriedly replied: "Your Highness, the minister has only one feeling, that is, the Eastern Empire is too powerful!" It is a blessing for us to be able to form a brotherly state with this Eastern Empire! ”

"Hmm!" Joao IV listened, nodded, um, but then came back to his senses and hurriedly asked, "How powerful is this Eastern Empire?" ”

At first, he felt that Portugal could gain great economic benefits from the East, and therefore it was a blessing for Portugal, which he did not object. However, he immediately understood that there seemed to be other benefits, so he hurriedly asked.

When the fleet commander heard this, he replied to him: "Your Highness, Weichen's suggestion to be introduced by Anders, the former governor of Annam, will be the most detailed. ”

João IV, of course, would not disagree, so Anders, who had returned home with this fleet, soon appeared in front of him.

As a result, Anders began to introduce João IV to the power of the Ming Empire.

First of all, the territory is so large that Anders counted the countries of Europe and even some countries in the Arab world before he said to João IV: "All these countries are combined, and they are still not as big as the Ming Empire!" ”

When João IV heard this, he was a little surprised, so he asked: "Hey, last time, it didn't seem to be so big!" ”

The last time he wanted to conclude an alliance, he had already heard about how big the Far Eastern Empire was, but when he heard it, it was actually the size of many European countries, which made him a little surprised.

When Anders heard this, he smiled and said: "Your Highness, the emperor of the Ming Empire is wise and martial, he has not tasted defeat in the southern and northern wars, and has conquered Dongwu, Annam, as well as Luzon occupied by Spain, Batavia occupied by the Dutch, etc., all of which have been returned to the Ming Empire." ”

As soon as he heard this, João 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 the South Seas, right?" ”

Anders laughed when he heard this, and only after a pause did he reply: "Your Highness, the Battle of the South Seas was the Spaniards who asked the Dutch for help, and finally united against the Ming Empire, but they were also defeated. Diego, the governor of Spain, was captured alive by the Ming army, as was Antony, the governor of Batavia in the Netherlands. ”

Speaking of this, he added with a straight face: "Your Highness, it is undeniable that the number of people in the Ming Empire is large, more than the population of our entire Europe combined, and naturally they have more troops. However, what Weichen wants to emphasize is that the elite of the Ming army is in no way inferior to the army of any European country. The minister dared to say that if it weren't for Europe being too far away from the Ming Empire, maybe there would be no France and Spain, and they would have a little bit of strength! ”

Seeing that João IV did not speak, Anders continued. As a person who has experienced it firsthand, and has changed from the identity of an enemy of the Ming Dynasty to a friendly army, his feelings are particularly profound, so when he tells it, it is also particularly convincing.

João IV listened, his face full of envy and yearning.

After a long time, I saw Anders after the introduction, and said sincerely: "Weichen is far away in the Far East, and he has been worried, and he has been completely relieved after hearing that His Highness agreed to the covenant. Don't dare to say anything else, our Portugal can become a brother state with the Ming Empire, it is definitely a big profit! ”

This conclusion can be seen from the goods brought back this time, João IV nodded when he heard it, but still said regretfully: "In the covenant, there is a definite offensive and defensive alliance. Now the situation in Portugal is dangerous, and I don't know when Spain will fight. If this Ming Empire is close, there will always be an ally, and it will be a little better. ”

"Your Highness, if the Ming Empire is close!" When Anders heard this, he immediately said loudly, "The minister dares to say, Spain is definitely not like this, with the alliance between Daming and my Portugal, Spain is absolutely obedient, and he doesn't even dare to let out a fart!" Otherwise, as soon as the Ming army is dispatched, it will definitely be able to destroy Spain! ”

"Is it really that powerful?" When Joao IV heard this, he immediately craned his neck and asked in surprise.

You must know that Spain has been dominating Europe for decades, including both naval and land armies, all of which have been dominating for a long time. Although the Thirty Years' War was ultimately lost, Spain's strength was still one of the strongest in Europe. João IV himself, facing this kind of power, is the most touching.

Therefore, although he had heard how powerful the Ming army was, he couldn't help but question it when he heard that the Ming army could suppress Spain and not even dare to let out a fart.

"Of course!" Anders listened, as if he himself were a Ming person, and said with a sense of pride, "As far as he is concerned, Spain does not even have a single province in the Ming Dynasty, let alone a population." In terms of navy, the Ming State had several fleets, and the number of warships alone could be several thousand. As for the army, there are 100,000 cavalry at will; The musketeers and other infantry troops were as many as a million......"

Isn't that an exaggeration? João IV, as a European, did not sit on the side of the Ming Dynasty, listening to Anders say that he was so powerful, he always wanted to provoke, so he interjected and asked: "But the armaments and equipment of the Ming Kingdom are not as good as those of our Europe, okay, we all have flintlock pistols now, and the Ming Kingdom must not have them, right?" Also, their artillery is also purchased from us......"

Hearing this, Anders couldn't help but interrupt João IV's words and said: "Your Highness, it's all the old yellow calendar, and the Ming army has already had flintlock pistols." And they have a wider variety of firearms, and they are all very sophisticated. As for the artillery, they have long been cast themselves. I don't know why, the Ming army had a small number of flintlock pistols and artillery with far more range and accuracy than we used. ”

He was referring to rifled flintlock pistols and cannons, but these were few and kept secret, so the Portuguese were not aware of the peculiarities of these guns.

When João IV listened to Anders's introduction, he felt that his impression of the East had been subverted. There was a look of astonishment on his face, and it was a long time after Anders finished speaking, and he came to his senses and had to admit: "Why can't this Ming Empire be closer to Europe?" Otherwise, we would have been able to get reinforcements. Now it's too far away, even if it's an offensive and defensive alliance, it's only overseas! ”

Hearing this, Anders thought for a while, and hurriedly said to João IV: "Your Highness, hasn't the Ming army already occupied Dongwu?" Now they have built a shipyard at the mouth of the Indian Ocean, and if they have a fleet in the Indian Ocean, they will be much closer to Europe. ”

Joao IV was still a little excited when he heard it at first, and even hurriedly asked a few words about the situation of the Ming army's Dongwu shipyard, and then said dejectedly: "When the Ming fleet is to be in the Indian Ocean, I don't know when." But Spain can now attack us Portugal at any time, in short, it is still far from being able to solve the near fire! ”

After a pause, he said a little excitedly: "Also, the British overthrew the king's rule, and now they are also pressing us Portugal, maybe one day the Spaniards have not called, and the British will come!" ”

Speaking of which, it's really a lot of sorrow.

If it had been according to the original historical development, the British did not attack Portugal in the end, but forced Portugal to sign an unequal treaty, allowing the British to enjoy the privileges of superiority in both Portugal and his colonies.

Hearing this, the fleet commander also interjected: "There is also news from Colombo, saying that the Dutch and the British are coveting that side and have an attempt to seize Colombo. ”

If the original history is followed, eventually this Colombo will be taken by the Dutch and then by the British.

When João IV heard this, he was even more sorrowful.

However, when Anders heard this, his eyes purred, and when he saw Joao IV's sad face, he said to him: "Your Highness, our Portuguese mainland is far away and it is difficult to quench our thirst, but Colombo is not far from the cave of the Ming Empire, and you can ask the Ming Empire for help!" ”

If you go from Dong Wu to Colombo, it's very close.

"Didn't you say that Dongwu's shipyard is not good yet, and where is the fleet?" João IV listened and asked a little puzzled.

When Anders heard this, he smiled and said: "If it is only to Colombo, as long as the Ming Emperor says a word, he can transfer the fleet from the South Seas." We provide ports and supplies, and there will be no problem! ”

"Yes, Your Highness, we have an offensive and defensive alliance with the Ming Empire!" The fleet commander heard this and hurriedly reminded him.

When João IV heard this, he couldn't help but think about it seriously.

Of course, he will not be naïve, let the Ming State send troops, and he Portugal will not pay the price. However, as long as possible, he now of course hopes for the help of the Ming Kingdom.

He was thinking about it, when Anders suddenly said again: "Your Highness, and our enemy Spain, haven't they shipped so many Ming goods now?" As long as we make good use of these goods, we will definitely be able to drag Spain from immediately sending troops to attack us Portugal. Then, we can use the Ming Kingdom to further weaken Spain! ”

"How?" When João IV heard this, he was very interested and hurriedly asked.

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