Unbeknownst to Valdes, just as he was racking his brains to convince the young man in front of him, his subordinate Tang Garcia had already gone south with the peace terms offered by the Ming Kingdom.

In order to save the Manila colony and his own career, Valdes finally had no scruples about exposing the intricate relationship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Dutch to the young Chinese aristocracy.

“… So, the Netherlands, the Dutch, are nothing more than a bunch of rebels in the Kingdom of Spain, just like the rebels in the north of your country.

This group of rebels, consisting of inferior people, merchants, and nobles of low status, not only despised the sanctity of God, but also denied the authority of the king.

Both the Kingdom of China and Spain were monarchies, and they also had rebellions against the royal power on their own soils. Nor should your country support a group of rebels against the king of the contemptible kingdom merely morally, for it will not do us any good.

Although I don't know how these lowly embryos have bewitched your emperor and gained your trust. But I can give a piece of advice to His Majesty the Emperor of your country, you can't believe a word about the words of this group of lowly embryos.

These rebels claimed to have come only for trade, but each time they arrived in a new place, they brought nothing but chaos and misery to the locals.

Before they reached Southeast Asia, it was a rich and peaceful archipelago of waters. But since they arrived, they have provoked wars between the indigenous people and occupied the rich Spice Islands.

Before they arrived, Chinese, Spaniards, and merchants from other countries were able to trade freely with the natives of these islands and obtain precious spices.

However, when this group of lowly embryos arrived, they savagely enslaved the natives of the island, drove out merchants from other countries except the Dutch, and monopolized the spice trade alone. Isn't their behavior harming the interests of our country and your country's businessmen?

What's more, the Dutch built a city on the northwest coast of the island of Java near the Sunda Strait, which they called Batavia. But the coolies they used to build the city were people who had been taken captive from the coast of China. They even offered exorbitant prices to encourage pirates to raid and sell people to them off the coast of China.

So, my lord, you should get to know the Dutch who are standing before you. They may seem deferential, but in fact, they are a bunch of venomous snakes that can be bitten hard when you don't watch out for them.

But we in the Kingdom of Spain are different, we believe in God and value our honor. If you can get the Emperor of China to accept the friendship of the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Spain will be your most loyal friend in the respect of the King.

Although the power of the kingdom in the East may seem very weak, in the West our position is as strong as that of your country in the East.

Dear Lord, I can assure you that the friendship of the kingdom will not only benefit your nation, but will also shine on you. ”

Valdes' brilliant speech, coupled with his sincere smile, almost convinced Chongzhen that the Spaniards had come to Asia for friendship rather than wealth.

Sure enough, the colonists of this era were a mixture of liars and robbers, and Chongzhen began to sympathize with the Indians who believed in the Spanish colonizers. These American Indians told the world with their own blood and tears that the Western colonizers brought nothing but lies and death.

He couldn't remember seeing such a record anywhere, as a Native American once said that when these European colonists came to his homeland, they had nothing but the Bible in their hands, and his ancestors owned everything here. But when these colonists settled, they got the Bible, but they lost everything.

Zhu Youzhen looked at Valdes with a smile as he estimated in his heart how much of the Spaniard's words were credible.

After listening to Xu Xinsu's translation on the side, Zhu Youzhen thought for a long time before slowly saying: "If what you just said is true, then maybe I will personally make a proposal to His Majesty the Emperor and reconsider the relationship between my country and the Dutch."

As the suzerainty of the Asian nations, it is true that we are unable to establish friendly relations with a group of rebels who have betrayed their own monarchs, which not only damages our reputation, but also violates the supreme order that governs the world. ”

Valdes was overjoyed when he heard this, he put his right hand on his chest, and bowed deeply to Chongzhen before he said solemnly: "Honorable lord, you are really a wise nobleman. As long as you agree, I am more than happy to convey your views to His Excellency the Governor of Manila. ”

Zhu Youzhen's body suddenly leaned forward, stared at Valdes and said seriously: "However, how can I confirm that what you said is the truth?" ”

The young man in front of him believed his words so easily, which surprised Valdes. However, he quickly reacted that perhaps this young Chinese nobleman, like the heirs of the great nobles in China who were not deeply involved in the world but had a high status, could no longer hold anything in their minds except noblewomen and knights.

He only froze for a moment, and then he started talking nonsense, trying to fool the young nobleman in front of him. However, he only said a few words before he was interrupted by Chongzhen again.

Zhu Youzhen impatiently told him, "This gentleman, I'm not one of those idiots, don't fool me with these unprovable nonsense." If the Kingdom of Spain wants to gain the friendship of the Ming Dynasty, it must first show its sincerity. Otherwise, why would we give up a friend who expressed friendship to the Ming for the sake of the interests of the Kingdom of Spain? ”

Rao is experienced Valdes, at this moment was also a little confused, he not only asked a little hesitantly: "But my lord, didn't you just say that as long as those Dutchmen are indeed rebels of the Kingdom of Spain, you will persuade His Majesty the Emperor of your country to abandon those rebels?" ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded, and did not deny Vades's question, he said nonchalantly: "That's true, but whether they are rebelled against the Kingdom of Spain is judged by our country, not by you or the Kingdom of Spain." The Ming Dynasty is not a subject of the Kingdom of Spain, so naturally we don't have to obey the orders of the King of Spain, do we? ”

"But, they are—" Valdes suddenly stopped talking, and he finally realized that this young man was not one of those stupid young aristocrats of the country, he was as cunning as a little fox.

Taking advantage of his eagerness to get out of his present predicament, he pretended to be harmless to humans and animals, and obtained detailed information from his mouth about the relations between the Kingdom of Spain and the Dutch. Now he is ready to use this information to pinch himself, no, it is to pinch the governor of Manila.

Perhaps these Chinese did not know much about the hostile relationship between the kingdom and the Dutch when they joined forces with the Dutch to attack the city of San Salvador, but it was only a fortuitous alliance.

But now, in order to dismantle this non-existent Sino-Dutch alliance, he has made a general statement of the hostile relationship between the kingdom and the Dutch, and even the war continues between them.

Then these Chinese, even if they didn't think about what to do with Manila before, will have ideas now. And the reason for all this was what he told the young man personally.

If this news had been spread, he would not have become a traitor. After realizing this consequence, Valdes's face suddenly turned a little pale.

"No... Yes, the kingdom will naturally show its sincerity towards your country, but you know that I am only a captured officer and cannot make any decisions for the kingdom. Valdes panicked for a moment, then immediately calmed down and began to shirk.

Zhu Youzhen sighed, and said with some regret to Waldes: "Mr. Waldes, you don't seem to have a correct understanding of your situation. Helping a king fight against rebellion in his own country is certainly appreciated. But it is also glorious enough to help a group of weak people resist tyranny and uphold freedom and justice.

If our country chooses the former, then you will not be a prisoner, but a hero who has contributed to the friendly relations between our two countries. But if our country chooses the latter, I don't think you will receive any preferential treatment, and it is also a serious question of how long the ruling order established by the Kingdom of Spain in the Philippine Islands will exist. ”

Valdes' eyes flickered for a long time before he said cautiously: "Then may I ask this honorable lord, what kind of sincerity do you think the kingdom needs to make your country give up its friendship with the Dutch?" ”

Zhu Youzhen's face put a smile on his face again, and he said amiably: "Mr. Valdes, you are really a smart person who can communicate, and I like to deal with smart people like you." Let's start with the Spice Islands, what do you think? ”

The topic jumped a little big, and Waldes couldn't react a little, and he said blankly, "What is there to say about the Spice Islands?" They're in the hands of the Dutch right now. ”

Zhu Youzhen said seriously: "I want to know the detailed information about the Spice Islands, whether it is geography, culture, or the current way of ruling the Dutch, and of course, the benefits that the Dutch get every year." ”

After thinking for a moment, Valdes gathered his thoughts and told him what he knew about the Spice Islands.

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the spice archipelago was a general term for the spice-producing islands in Southeast Asia.

But after the arrival of the Europeans, the Spice Islands became a small island with nutmeg and cloves, known to Europeans as the Maluku Islands.

The archipelago is located south of Mindanao, north of Timor and east of Sulawesi. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the archipelago was occupied by several small countries, and there was no harmony between them.

The Europeans took advantage of the contradictions between these sultans and slowly devoured the entire Spice Islands.

In the beginning, the Portuguese controlled the spice trade, then Spain, the Dutch, the British, and now the Dutch monopolize the entire spice islands.

About 6,000 bahars (75 kilograms) of cloves are produced in the Spice Islands each year, half of which is shipped back to Europe. The price of spices sold in Amsterdam is 120 times the price they bought.

The Dutch made more than 200 tons of silver, or 25 million guilders, a year from their monopoly on the spice trade.

The indigenous powers in the Dutch-controlled Spice Islands were the Sultanate of Dedra, the Khedu*, and the Kingdom of Goa on the eastern island of Sulawesi.