Sarmento and several Goan merchants standing beside him were amazed, and they thought that whether the princess Isabella was a puppet of the Chinese emperor or not, for the sake of the independence movement of the Kingdom of Portugal, the princess would definitely levy high taxes on the merchants under her control to finance the independence movement.

After all, if she waives the banner of independence and restoration, but does nothing, she will disappoint those patriots who follow her. Even if Macao is protected by the Chinese, but in the vast sea, Macao's ships still cannot be protected by the Chinese, after all, the current Chinese can only maintain the advantage of the near sea.

However, after the surprise, Samento said with a smile: "Even if this Princess Isabella is a benevolent highness, mercy alone cannot restore the kingdom, nor can it defeat those Spanish armies.

Do you want to live under the wings of the Chinese in the future? In that case, your so-called independence and restoration of the country is nothing more than a farce.

What you really want to do is not to refuse to pay taxes to the king and break the trade restrictions imposed by the king through the independent movement? Even if the king can't send an army to the East now, will you be able to return to your homeland in the future? ”

Pietro smiled slightly, and then said: "Mr. Sarmento, you may be right, but did we not come to the East at the risk of our lives in search of wealth and honor?"

But now the wealth belongs to our great King, and the honor has long since been erased by the officials appointed by the King. Mr. Sarmento, when you risk your life to trade across the oceans, will you gain more than the nobles of the kingdom who sit in the comfort of their mansions?

You've paid almost a lot of money in taxes for this church, but what did that majesty give you besides the title of baron? ”

Sarmento's heart throbbed, and Pietro's words finally stung him. Not to mention the local nobles, even some of the high-ranking nobles in Goa, who just regarded them as cash cows.

Otherwise, the Governor and the Parliamentarians would not have been so dismissive of his opinion. He said a little angrily: "Could it be that if you support this princess, what will you get in return?" Mr. Pietro, the nobles of the kingdom will not allow a group of overseas merchants to manipulate the politics of the kingdom..."

Petro quickly interrupted Sarmento's words and said with a smile, "Don't say stupid things, Mr. Sarmento. Your Royal Highness Princess, shouldn't it be said that from today onwards, by Her Majesty's side, it is all us merchants who support her, support her, and help her, and the nobles of those kingdoms, they don't know that there is such a Majesty in the East?

Do you think that if the Restoration Movement really succeeds, the nobles who kissed the boots of the Spaniards on their knees at home will be able to take any glory from us? ”

As Sarmento was talking, a Goan merchant beside him, who had been listening, couldn't help asking, "Mr. Petro, I would like to ask what kind of reward Her Majesty will give you when she ascends the throne today?" Will she leave you a place in her own court? Or maybe give you a knighthood? ”

Pietro pondered for a moment before replying: "When Princess Isabella ascends the throne, Bishop Antonio will be the Prime Minister of the Queen's Court, and I will be the Minister of the Interior, and the others will be given a new position. As for the knighthood, it will not be canonized until the first results of the Restoration and Independence Movement have been revealed. ”

Sammento and several Goan businessmen's eyes widened suddenly, even if they knew that these positions were now uncountable, after all, the identity of Princess Isabella had not yet been confirmed. But those titles that could only be looked up to in the past suddenly fell on a familiar person, which couldn't help but make them a little red-eyed.

Although since Prince Enrique started the Portuguese Age of Navigation, maritime trade was no longer regarded as a lowly business because of the participation and investment of nobles. However, the kingdom's aristocracy monopolized the high-return trade routes, and staying in the comfort and safety of colonial ports has always been a tacit rule.

The status of the nobility and merchants in Portugal was higher than that of the nobles and merchants of the overseas colonies, and the status of the nobles and merchants of Goa was higher than that of the nobles and merchants of the other overseas colonies. As for Macau, the most remote overseas port of the Portuguese kingdom, only the lowest-ranking adventurous merchants lived here.

Perhaps the Portuguese merchants here could have made themselves the new richest of the East with a little luck, but their poor social connections prevented them from using this wealth to squeeze themselves into the upper echelons of the kingdom. This is why, even if these merchants have amassed a lot of wealth, they rarely plan to return to their home countries.

After all, in Macau, they are all decent upper classes. But when they returned to Goa or back home, they were just nouveau riche who had made their fortune abroad, and the nouveau riche with no social status would soon be beaten back to their original form under the oppression of the Spanish tax collectors and the officials of the kingdom.

A Macau businessman like Petro could only revolve around him in the past, when did he dare to put up a stand in front of him like this. As for the title of Minister of the Interior, hell, when did the title of the kingdom become so worthless, and it could actually fall on the head of this businessman who was a foot trader next to him.

While Samento was thinking with a straight face, he heard Petro continue: "Of course, if Mr. Sarmento pledges allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, at the suggestion of Her Majesty the Emperor, you may choose one of the two posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. ”

"Chancellor of the Exchequer and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy?" Before Samento could react, Sabrosa, who was standing beside him, couldn't wait to speak.

Although Samento didn't think that such an empty title had any effect, he was quite satisfied when he looked at the expressions of surprise, envy, and jealousy on the Goan businessmen around him.

However, he did not take the bait, crooked his mouth, and said with some disdain: "Mr. Petro, do you treat me as a three-year-old child?" Do you think that if you throw out a few empty titles, I will swear allegiance like this princess?

I am a Portuguese, and I am no less loyal to the kingdom than you are. But I'm not a fool to risk my life for an empty title. ”

Pietro looked at it for a while, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Mr. Sarmento, I just proposed to you the emperor's suggestion, as for how to choose, it is completely your freedom.

But I inform you, in the name of the Queen, that if you are not willing to support the Portuguese independence movement, then your fleet will be the property of traitors.

For the good of the Kingdom of Portugal, we will confiscate all the property of traitors in the name of the Queen for the independence movement of the Kingdom. ”

"No, you don't have the right to do that. This is China, and even if His Majesty the Emperor supports Her Royal Highness's restoration movement, you cannot confiscate the property of Portuguese merchants, which is the practice of robbers. ”

"It's, it's, how can you do that? Even if we do not swear allegiance to Her Majesty, it does not mean that we are traitors, and we have not reported anything to the Spaniards that is contrary to the interests of the Portuguese..."

Petro's words immediately caused protests from several Goan businessmen, whose noise apparently affected the observation of the people around them. Under the angry eyes of the surrounding people, several Goan businessmen finally stopped talking.

After they quieted down, Pietro said lightly: "Her Majesty and we discussed it, and we agreed.

Soldiers who served and fought for the Kingdom of Spain, officials of the Kingdom who obeyed the orders of the Spanish court, and merchants who paid money to the King of Spain in addition to the normal taxes. These people who were unwilling to swear allegiance to the Queen after learning of the Queen's accession to the throne and supported the Portuguese independence movement were traitors.

Mr. Sarmento, the Sino-Japanese trading fleet under your leadership pays more than 200,000 cheres to the king every year. This money has become the king's military expenses for the suppression of the Portuguese people's independence movement, and in order to support the domestic independence movement, we can only regret confiscating your fleet to fight the power of the Spaniards. ”

Samento's face was dark and ugly, and he was silent for a long time before he said, "Does His Majesty the Emperor also know about this?" This order was for all Portuguese ships? Or is it just for us? ”

Pietro still smiled and said, "Of course His Majesty the Emperor knows about this, but His Majesty once wanted to live in peace with Goa, so he did not agree with our opinion.

However, the news you have brought with you, Mr. Sarmento, has completely dispelled His Majesty's thoughts. Therefore, as the future husband of the Queen, and now the protector, His Majesty has acceded to our request.

Starting this month, any Portuguese vessel that does not fly the flag of the Queen and Emperor will be barred from entering Asian waters. Both Chinese ships and Portuguese ships loyal to the queen had the right to attack them, and thirty percent of the property seized was handed over and seventy percent to individuals. ”

Hearing Pietro's words, Samento suddenly realized that even if His Majesty the Emperor allowed him to leave China immediately, his fleet would not be able to carry out this year's Sino-Japanese trade.

After exchanging glances with several Goan merchants, he said rather weakly: "Mr. Petro, you should know that most of our property is in Goa. If we pledge allegiance to the Queen now, our property and our families will be in danger. ”

Pietro said to Sarmento and the others, "Don't worry so much, allegiance to the queen doesn't mean you need to stand in the sun.

Before we are strong, we also need some friends who hide in the dark. You can provide us with information about the port cities of Malacca, Chittagong, Mumbai and Goa.

It can also provide the kingdom or China with the goods it needs, such as cotton, saltpeter, jute, ship materials, grain, and so on.

These are all contributions to the kingdom's independence movement, and as long as the kingdom's independence movement is effective, your achievements will not be forgotten by the queen..."