The city of Geranza. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

The cold north wind blew, Claire tightened her trench coat, and Rhodes stood by his side and described to him what he had seen and heard in Qingzhou.

"Generally speaking, the development of this fief of the King of Qi is somewhat deformed, they have a strong military industrial base, but the people's livelihood industry is far behind Europe, and the people of Qingzhou are more civilized than other places, but they are also not comparable with Europe." Rhodes recalls what he saw and heard in Qingzhou.

Claire frowned, "This King of Qi is really born for war, he invests too much money in war and ignores the foundation of a country, while we in the Netherlands, on the contrary, invest too much money in social welfare and people's livelihood but ignore the threat of war, which leads to today's dilemma." ”

"In that case, we can really complement each other." Rod laughed at himself, "But do we really want to agree to King Qi's request to withdraw the army from the city of Geranza?" In this way, our merchant ships are children who have lost their protection. ”

After Rod said the negotiation process and the subsequent inspection of Qingzhou, Claire's expression relaxed, and he said to Rode: "Rode, you are still suitable to be a businessman rather than a politician, this King of Qi is very unusual, this is just his negotiation calculation, now he is just testing our reaction with a minimum, if he really does not leave us a little leeway, he will not continue to waste time with you." ”

Rhodes was stunned for a moment, he was just an employee of the Dutch trading company, and the identity of the Dutch ambassador was just convenient for dealing with the surrounding countries, shrugged his shoulders, and asked: "I don't think so, this King of Qi is very tough." ”

"The side that is on the edge is always tough, but I feel the need to make a final attempt, we are all nobles, maybe we will have something in common." Claire laughed, "Well, let's go to Dengzhou again, and whether we can talk about achievements depends on this time." ”

Rhodes sighed, "Lord Count, why are we negotiating with them?" Maybe through war we will lose nothing. ”

"No, you're wrong, we've got more to lose." Claire's gaze was deep, he looked at Sakai holding an arquebus under the city and said: "The ambitions of the Wa Kingdom are expanding day by day, this beast we raise will eventually engulf us, and now the tentacles of the British are also extending to East Asia, the British are too strong, our fleet is not an opponent, so we need an ally more." ”

Rhodes nodded, and he said, "In that case, I hope God can give us good luck this time." ”

With that, Rhodes went down from the prefect's office to the city.

"Ambassador Rhodes, how's it going? Is it that we are going to war, we can't wait. Sakai licked his lips, a dangerous glint glint in his elongated triangular eyes.

Rhodes said: "We have no plans to start a war with the King of Qi, and this King of Qi is very powerful. ”

Sakai's eyes rolled, "So you're ready to continue the negotiation?" It was a stupid decision. ”

"Watch your words, Sakai, we didn't pay a lot of money to hire you to involve you in our decision-making." There was a strong warning in Rod's words.

Like Claire, they sensed that Sakai was trying to interfere in their decisions in East Asia, and behind this loomed the shadow of Nobunaga Yamada, who always wanted the Dutch to go to war with the Great Yu Kingdom.

Perhaps Claire is right, they should be more wary of the expansionist ambitions of the Wa Kingdom.

After two days of preparation, Claire led the fleet north again, and seven days later they reached the sea off the coast of Dengzhou again.

Qingzhou.

As soon as the New Year passed, the government government quickly resumed operation, in fact, because of the lack of entertainment activities, the New Year's flavor of the Great Chongqing Kingdom was only three or four days, and the excitement passed, and the people were hiding at home and roasting briquette stoves and were reluctant to come out.

During the Chinese New Year, Xiao Ming was really idle, he accompanied Fei Yue'er to play around in Qingzhou City, and the two were very relaxed and leisurely, until Dengzhou came to the news again this time.

"Count Clare?" Xiao Ming chewed on the suffix of the name, the title of earl is rare even in Europe, and this Claire is also a person of high status in the eyes of the Netherlands.

More than a month has passed since the last negotiation, and Claire's personal arrival in Dengzhou seems to be an attempt to bring the negotiations to an end.

After a deep sigh, he said to the post general who came to report: "You take the first step to tell the Count Claire that the king will personally go to Dengzhou to meet him, and let him stay in Dengzhou for a few days. ”

"Yes, Your Highness." The general nodded and turned to leave.

When the post was about to leave, Fei Yue'er said at this time: "Your Highness is going out again?" ”

"Yes, this negotiation is very important, and if we can talk about it, we can avoid a war." Xiao Ming said.

When Fei Yue'er heard this, she knew that this matter was very important, and she said sensibly: "Since this is the case, the concubine will ask her subordinates to clean up her things for Her Highness." ”

"Doesn't the princess want to go?" Stunned for a moment, Xiao Ming said with a smile.

"I'm going too?" Fei Yue'er was a little surprised.

Xiao Ming nodded, "I'm afraid there are still a lot of things to deal with when I go to Dengzhou this time, and I need to stay for a few days, so why don't you go with this king, so you can also see what the Dutch are like?" ”

Fei Yue'er was overjoyed when she heard this: "Yes, Your Highness, the concubine will go back and prepare." ”

With that, she trotted all the way back to the dormitory with her skirt and packed her things.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming smiled helplessly, Fei Yue'er was deeply influenced by the three outlines and five constants of the Great Chongqing Country after all, and she has always adhered to the idea that women do not go out at home.

Xiao Ming didn't say it, she wouldn't take the initiative to mention it, but now that Xiao Ming said so, she was naturally overjoyed.

After packing up, Xiao Ming went to Dengzhou the next day under the protection of 5,000 musketeers, and three days later, he returned to Dengzhou again.

"Your Highness, Count Claire is already waiting at the palace." As soon as he entered Dengzhou City, Yang Chengye immediately reported the situation of the Dutch to Xiao Ming.

This time the Dutch did not send soldiers to the city, but Rhodes and Claire entered the city with four soldiers.

Nodding, he said to Fei Yue'er: "Princess, you go to rest for the time being, this king will go to meet the Dutch first." ”

"Yes, Your Highness."

Fei Yue'er whispered in the sedan chair.

Following Yang Chengye, Xiao Ming returned to the Dengzhou Mansion after two months, and at this time he met Rhodes and a slightly fat, but somewhat graceful European.

"Your Royal Highness the King of Qi, this is Earl Clare, the Dutch Governor of East Asian Affairs." Rod said respectfully.

When Xiao Ming looked at Claire, Claire was also looking at Xiao Ming, and then he said, "It's an honor to be able to meet you, Your Royal Highness King Qi." ”

(To be continued.) )