***

Now Daqin is still at war with the Netherlands and Spain, and no truce has been declared.

With no contact with France, and Italy locked in the Mediterranean, and the Strait of Gibraltar, the throat of the Atlantic, controlled by Spain, Italy was technically a semi-landlocked country.

Only Portugal and England, although they had conflicts with Great Qin, had been reconciled, and they were both Atlantic coastal countries, which was conducive to trade between the two sides.

After all, in the future, it is not only to let the merchant ships of European countries go to the East for trade, but also the merchant ships of Daqin will sail more directly to Europe, dump domestic industrial products directly into Europe, earn a greater price difference, and grasp a greater trade initiative.

Then in order to ensure the safety of Daqin's merchant ships in Europe, as well as a stable port of call. It is very important to choose a Mingyou in Europe.

On this trip, Zhang Haoran wanted to lease a port on the coast of the European continent, in addition to looking for allies.

The so-called allies are all a combination of interests, and the relationship of interests will change at any time, in short, allies cannot be relied on forever, and at critical times, they still have to rely on themselves.

If Great Qin could lease a port and station a few warships along the coast of Europe, Great Qin's interests in Europe would be somewhat more secured.

So which country is suitable and possible to lease a port to Daqin? The Netherlands and Spain don't have to think about it, unless they send warships directly to hit their homeland and force them to sign an alliance under the city.

France is also unlikely, the two countries have not been in contact at all, and people will rashly lease a port to you?

Italy is not in the picture, and unless the Suez Canal can be opened and the canal is controlled, you will have to stare dryly as soon as Spain locks the Strait of Gibraltar.

It is possible to lease a port from England, after all, there are many ports in England. Cromwell urgently needed Great Qin's trade to improve England's poor financial situation.

However, England was independent of the European continent and leased ports in England, which was not conducive to the large-scale entry of Daqin's goods into the European market.

Thinking about it, only Portugal is left, Portugal is in a difficult situation at the moment, and there is the best chance of getting a port from grapes.

Faced with Earl Brewster's request for marriage, of course Zhang Haoran would not directly refuse, and he discussed with the deputy envoy Zheng Jie: "What does Lord Zheng think? ”

Zheng Jie replied very dryly: "That Princess Catalina is also dignified and beautiful, and Her Majesty is at the age of heroism. There are not many concubines in the harem, so there should be a few more concubines. In other words, even if you don't like this Princess Caterina, it's just to let the palace open more mouths to eat, this marriage is beneficial and harmless to Daqin, and Xia Guan thought that he might as well agree first. ”

Zhang Haoran bowed his head slightly, and said to Earl Brewster: "Your Excellency the Earl, we have no objection to the marriage between the two countries. And it's nice to hear the good news. I believe that this marriage will definitely make the relationship between the two countries closer and form an unbreakable alliance, but "

"Your Excellency, Ambassador, if you have something to say, you might as well say it directly."

"Your Excellency, the Earl. In order to strengthen the exchanges and friendship between the two countries, in the future, Daqin's ships will also come to Europe for trade one after another, but your Excellency, you should also know that our Daqin is still in a state of hostility with the Netherlands and Spain. There is a possibility that the two sides will clash again at any time. Therefore, we hope that your country can lease a port to Daqin, so that we can use it to station a few warships to protect the safety of Daqin's merchant ships. ”

Lease a port? As soon as I heard this. Count Rubst immediately vetoed: "I'm afraid that the matter of leasing the port will not work. However, as a close ally of your country in Europe, we pledge to do everything we can to protect the safety of your ships coming to Europe. ”

"I also hope that your country will seriously consider this small request of ours, and it will be regarded as a witness to the marriage between the two countries."

Zhang Haoran said this kind of thing, and Rubst also knew that this was not a condition that Zhang Haoran casually proposed. But Portugal was a small country, and if it leased its own port for other countries to garrison, it would be tantamount to putting a bomb in the heart that could explode at any moment.

Brewster was able to negotiate with the Great Qin Mission as the plenipotentiary of João IV, and his own ability was not bad, he pondered for a moment, and resolutely said: "Your Excellency, Your Majesty of our country is sincere and hopes to form a close alliance with Great Qin, so he does not hesitate to marry Princess Catalina to the far east, which is enough to reflect our sincerity."

As for the port, we can give Safavid Port in northern Africa to Daqin as Princess Katarina's dowry. Safi Port is an excellent port with a two-day cruise from the Strait of Gibraltar and a very advantageous location.

Your Excellency is satisfied that you have a port of Safi that is sufficient to protect your ships, and that when you cross the Strait of Gibraltar, your warships will do their best to protect your ships? ”

It has to be said that Brewster is a very flexible person, first, Cromwell in Britain was very angry because the royalists used the port of Lisbon to sneak attack his fleet, and João IV was intending to give away some American and African colonies in exchange for Cromwell's forgiveness and support.

Second, Spain has been eyeing Port Saffi in Morocco because it is not far from the Strait of Gibraltar and is a necessary transit point for Europe on their way to India and the Far East.

Such an important port, for the focus of competition for all parties, Portugal internal and external troubles, is struggling to survive, rather than continue to defend the hot potato of Port Safi, it is better to give it to Daqin as a favor. Let Daqin fight with Spain and England.

On the other hand, Port Safi is not far from the Grape mainland, and after forming an alliance with Great Qin, Portugal may soon be supported by the Qin army stationed in Port Safavi.

In short, from any point of view, the advantages of sending out Port Safi outweigh the disadvantages for Portugal.

When Zhang Haoran and his entourage came to Europe, they had anchored in Safi Port, which was very well established, as a strategic base between Daqin and Europe, it was definitely the best choice, and at the same time, it could also be used to clamp the Strait of Gibraltar, which is known as the throat of the Mediterranean.

Thinking of this, Zhang Haoran said happily: "Since your country is sincere, but we are disrespectful, here, I want to feel Portugal's generosity on behalf of Daqin, and may the friendship between Daqin and Portugal last forever." ”

After Zhang Haoran took over the dowry of Princess Catalina, Port Safi, the Earl of Brewster felt that the matter had been completed and was very happy.

He was about to make some requests, but Zhang Haoran said again: "Your Excellency, in fact, in my opinion, if Portugal is willing to lease another port to Daqin, it will be beneficial to Portugal.

As far as this envoy knows, England, France, and the Netherlands are not willing to accept you, and Spain, which does not recognize your independence, is preparing for war in an attempt to destroy Portugal.

Count Ge, please think that if your country leases a port on the mainland to the garrison of Daqin, then Spain must have some scruples when attacking your country, and if the war is unfavorable, our garrison can also provide support to your country at any time.

In addition, after China leased the port, it was mainly used as a trading port to trade with the whole of Europe. There is a saying in my country that the building near the water gets the moon first. Your Excellency the Earl, you can imagine that the more merchant ships of my Great Qin come, and the richer the goods they bring, the more taxes your country will receive from them, and it will not be difficult for your country to become the commercial center of Europe, the richest country.

But unfortunately, your country seems to be worried about Daqin's ally, and you have missed such a good opportunity in vain. It seems that we will have to go to England and find another port to rent. ”

Although Safi Port is good, it is also one of the strongholds along the way that Daqin wants, but unfortunately, it is not Europe after all, but Africa.

Daqin's purpose was to dump a large number of goods directly into the European continent, not to trade with others.

Earl Brewster, who thought that the problem had been solved satisfactorily, was secretly happy, and Zhang Haoran's words were like a slap in the head, which made him a little dizzy.

Thinking about it carefully, for the current Portugal, leasing a port to Daqin is not necessarily a bad thing, first, it can make Spain have some scruples, and second, once a large number of merchant ships from Qin arrive, Portugal can become a commercial center of Europe with this port.

Anyway, opportunities come with risks!

*************************

PS: I got up a little confused this morning, and I got the chapter serial number wrong, so that some book friends subscribed to one more chapter, and I sincerely apologize to you again, please bear with me. (To be continued......)