Severcos and Garcia and his entourage had just entered the post station in Beijing, and before they could even salute, they couldn't wait to apply to the Ming officials who received them to meet the captured Taiwanese governor Waldes.

The official pinched the small cloth bag in his sleeve, and several round hard objects were immediately printed in his hand. He immediately told the Chinese interpreter on the side in a happy mood: "Tell this Franc Ji what kind of red-haired man he is, and the red-haired man named Walders lives next door to him."

However, he is not in the Siyi Pavilion now, and will be back in the evening. When the time comes, the official will have the servants of the pavilion come and inform you.

Also, if you are short of supplies, go to the servant at the door, and he will take you to the shop to buy them. If you are troublesome, you can also ask him to buy it for you, and of course you have to give him some errand costs..."

After giving some bribes to the Ming official who had received him, according to the instructions of a Chinese interpreter hired from Manila, Severikos clearly sensed the enthusiasm of the Chinese heretic, and he also got the information he wanted.

After confirming that Valdes was not in a Chinese prison, but had a certain amount of freedom, Sevikos's nervousness finally eased a little.

If Waldes had not been abused, then proving that his letter to the Governor General was not a forced gibberish by the Chinese was a good start to his trip north.

When Severikos asked the servants in the courtyard to get himself a bucket of hot water, and washed himself a little, washing away the tiredness of the way.

His attendant knocked on his door, stood outside and reported loudly to him that Valdes had received news of their arrival and had returned early to visit him.

Hearing the news brought by his entourage, Sevikos, who was lying in the bathtub, immediately jumped out of the barrel, picked up the soft towel hanging on the side of the barrel, wiped a few handfuls on his body, and hurriedly put it on, regardless of the water stains on his body.

Although Europeans have not yet developed the habit of bathing, these long-serving officials in the colonies of Southeast Asia have developed the habit of bathing, and no longer regard bathing as a matter of consuming health.

Of course, the tropical climate of Southeast Asia was also the main reason that forced these European colonists to adopt the bathing habits of the local indigenous people.

As a Mexican-born Spaniard, Severcos is clearly more receptive to this change of lifestyle than his European compatriots.

When Severcos hurried into the small parlor not far from his room, he saw Vades sitting in a corner of the parlor, carefully sipping a cup of hot tea.

He suddenly stopped, and ordered the entourage behind him: "Jose, you will stay at the door, no one is allowed to come over to disturb our conversation, if the officials of the Ming Kingdom are coming, then make a voice as soon as possible to remind us." ”

"Got it, sir." José immediately respectfully agreed, then exited the room and closed the door.

Severcos slowly walked into the living room, and carefully and carefully looked at Waldes, he found that the Taiwanese governor was radiant, his face was very healthy, and there was no trace of abuse by the Chinese.

Three or five steps away from Vades, Sevikos stopped, he stood there and looked at Vades condescendingly, and said in a cold tone, "Lord Vades, you are so disappointing.

As a nobleman of the kingdom, you failed to defend your honor and surrendered to a group of infidels. Did you know that your behavior is very troublesome to the Governor? Have you forgotten who gave you the opportunity to make a difference?

The Attorney General has been trying to stumble on the Governor, and you have given him a brilliant excuse. What's in your mind? ”

To Severcos's questioning, Valdes did not take it to heart. Although both are close associates of Governor Silva, their loyalty to Silva is different.

For the clerk Severcos, he and Silva had already concluded a patronage relationship, which meant that in the eyes of the Spanish aristocracy, the two had a relationship of prosperity and loss.

But Waldes' protector was not Silva, although he had a close relationship with Silva. For Valdes, the real protector who can shelter him is still in Spain.

As for the conflict between the Attorney General and Governor Silva, it was well known not only in the Philippine colonies, but also in the Mexican vice-royal court.

Because everyone knows that the Attorney General is set up by the domestic courts of Europe to spy on the local governors. If the relationship between the two had been as close as one person, one of them would have been transferred back to Mexico or Europe long ago.

And the Governor Silva and the Attorney General were clearly clever men, and they always confined the struggle to a single area, so as to reassure the Mexican Vice-Crown and the royal court, and not to really tear the two sides apart.

Sometimes, the two sides even took the initiative to fill the loopholes for the other side, so that the kingdom or the Mexican vice-royal court would not send special inspectors to meddle in the affairs of the Philippine colonies.

Valdes carefully put down the teacup in his hand, shrugged his shoulders at Sevikos, and said in a relaxed tone: "This is a good Chinese tea, you can't taste it in Manila, are you sure you don't want to take a sip first?"

According to the experience I have learned from the Chinese, tea must be drunk hot, so that the taste is the most luscious, and it is also the most effective in curing physical discomfort..."

Severikos finally lost patience with Valdes' pretending to be crazy and stupid, and he said with some annoyance: "Sir, what do you mean by that letter you wrote to the Governor? Who is the Chinese big man you are referring to?

If we cannot guarantee the interests of the colonies and kingdoms, we will not join forces with those Chinese.

Of course, as long as the Chinese are willing to release the captured Spaniards and retain the Kingdom's missionary power in Taiwan, then the Kingdom can not pursue the attack by the Chinese and recognize Taiwan as part of Chinese territory. ”

Valdes felt very deeply about the viwardness revealed in Severcos's words, and the gains and losses of certain things.

He couldn't help but pout, and said, "Didn't the Governor, read all the letters I had written?" Didn't I already write everything on it?

As for who the Chinese big man is, I can't reveal his identity yet. Until the matter is successful, this big man will not want to have anything to do with it.

As for the colonial point in Taiwan, it has now fallen into the hands of the Chinese, and whether we recognize it or not, the Chinese will not return it to us.

As for the hellish missionary power, I really don't understand, why would the Governor let you bring such inexplicable conditions, does he really intend to throw us to those Chinese at will? ”

In response to Valdes' sudden anger, Severikos wisely remained silent, waiting for him to vent almost before he said calmly: "This is what His Excellency the Archbishop meant, and the Church believes that although our current strength is inferior to that of the Chinese, we have to give up our administrative power over Taiwan, but we should not give up the cause of God."

Moreover, the Church's cause among the indigenous people of northern Taiwan is just beginning to improve, and they are not willing to give up this opportunity to develop believers.

In addition, beginning this summer, the Chinese pirates suddenly crossed the area of their previous activities and appeared in the areas of Busuanga and Palawan, south of Mindoro, where they established a base and expelled several Augustinian monks who were missionaries there.

The archbishop was very unhappy with this, and originally wanted to encourage the governor to send troops to expel the Chinese pirates from the area. However, our war with the Moros and the Dutch in the south caused us to have insufficient troops, so we had to put it on hold for the time being.

However, both the Governor and the Attorney General thought that this was not a good sign, and perhaps the largest country in the East might have turned its attention to the sea, just as we did 200 years ago.

With a country like China, which has endless wealth and manpower, once the national resources are invested in the ocean, it is obviously a self-evident truth whether the kingdom can still keep the Philippines..."

Waldes suddenly stood up and interrupted Severkos's talk, and he, who was half a head taller than Severkos, looked at him coldly and said, "Clerk, this is not a city council, you don't have to show your political talent in front of me.

How long the kingdom can keep the Philippines is a question that the vice-king of Mexico or the kingdom's court should consider.

Also, I want to remind you. Every colonial official who came to the Philippines did not think that they would stay in the Philippines for the rest of their lives, so they never bought property or built estates in the Philippines.

Everybody wants to make a fortune while working in the Philippines and then go back to Mexico or the country to run an industry.

Even in Mexico's vice-royal court and the royal court, the controversy over whether the Philippine colony should be retained has never been settled.

So Severcos, if you want to make any decision on behalf of the Governor, it's best to think about the consequences first. His Excellency the Doge would not have ruined his political future for the sake of a barren land that the Kingdom did not value. ”

Valdes' warning softened Severcos' attitude. His face changed for a long time before he reluctantly conveyed Silva's words to Valdes: "The Governor is interested in your proposal.

He had already exchanged views with the attorney general, and if the Chinese magnate had promised to be true, they would join forces to suppress the church and reach a cooperation agreement. But the Governor demanded a personal meeting with the great man and the signing of a secret pact which would guarantee their interests..."