Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 1521 "Navigation Treaty" (Part [-])
Gao Mengnan glanced at Pedro, chuckled lightly, and said, "I have heard Father Luo Mingjian mention you, Captain Pedro, with your Chinese level, you should be able to understand the position of General Musali. , he is the guardian of Siam - the meaning of the word guardian is obviously defensive."

Pedro immediately asked: "You mean, General Musali doesn't have the right to initiate wars?"

"Of course." Gao Mengnan leaned back a little, changed to a more comfortable sitting position, and said relaxedly: "However, although he can't initiate provocations, the word 'guard' also means that he can deal with any intruders reasonably. , looting and other acts, which include not only counterattacks, but also counterattacks and sending troops to pursue them.”

Pedro immediately replied: "It is impossible for Su Luoge and Da Ni to invade Siam. Regarding this point, I think your Excellency should be fully sure."

Gao Mengnan said indifferently: "Maybe Da Ni will not, because long before Jinghua came to Siam, it was a vassal state of Siam, and at the same time paid tribute to Ming many times. I have certain confidence in their loyalty. However, Su Luo Ge is hard to say.

This country has no vassal relationship with Daming and Siam, and as far as I know, the country has long been infiltrated by Westerners represented by your country... Captain Pedro, if I say that once this country is invaded by your country Encouragement, you dare to do something to Siam, will you deny it? "

Pedro frowned, this question was beyond the scope of what he could answer.It's not that he can't answer, but that his status is not suitable for answering such questions, so he turned his gaze to the face of Special Envoy Alfredo.

Special Envoy Alfredo noticed his expression and could only say helplessly: "Your Excellency, our country has always maintained great respect for the Ming Empire, and has been in peaceful exchanges with the Ming Empire for decades.

The two sides have very close trade ties in Malacca, Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningbo, Haojing (Macao) and even the Philippines and Japan, and both parties have benefited a lot from such trade ties.

The Kingdom of Portugal has always adhered to the diplomatic purpose of maintaining peaceful and friendly exchanges with the Ming Empire, and is willing to further strengthen trade exchanges with the Ming Empire to promote and strengthen the commercial exchanges between the two sides.On such a basis, how could our country have a vision of war against the Ming Empire, or other bad ideas?

As for the Kingdom of Siam...well, since it is a vassal state of the Ming Empire (most Portuguese don't understand the tributary system, and usually simply copy the concept of a vassal state in Europe), if the Ming Empire clearly stated that it was responsible for its security, then our country Naturally, there will be no wars or other offensive actions against it. "

"That's very good." Gao Mengnan was quite satisfied with what he heard this time, and nodded, "I appreciate your envoy's pragmatic attitude, which is also the most valued quality in Jinghua Company. I'm glad we finally reached some consensus."

Although Alfredo is a diplomat, it is obvious that Europeans still don't know what it means to retreat to advance. Hearing Gao Mengnan's words, he subconsciously hit the snake with the stick, and immediately said: "That's great, thank you Your credit, but I think there are more issues we should dig into.

For example, based on your answer to the question just now, can I understand that neither the Ming Empire nor the Kingdom of Siam have any intention to change the current situation of the countries and forces in the Malay Peninsula? "

Gao Mengnan pondered for a while, then suddenly turned his head and asked Pedro: "Captain Pedro, Father Luo Mingjian said that you have also studied our Daming's knowledge with him? I don't know if you know what bibliographies my Daming Gongju will take? "

Both Alfredo and Pedro were taken aback, but Pedro still replied: "Your Excellency, my studies in Portugal mainly focused on religion and maritime affairs. When I studied with Father Luo Mingjian, I mainly learned the basics of Chinese. I only have a little understanding of philosophy and literature, but I don't know much about them.

As far as I know, the Gongju examination of the Ming Empire mainly tests the Four Books and the Five Classics—but I must emphasize that I have only read a few words, which can only be called "a little knowledge of superficial knowledge" in Chinese terms. "

Gao Mengnan said in his heart: After reading a few words, dare to say that you know a little bit?You can't even count as Kaimeng.

Fortunately, he didn't want to care about Pedro's knowledge, so he just smiled lightly and continued to ask: "Do you know the scripture my brother Qiuzhen chose?"

"Ah, I heard from the priest that His Excellency Gao Yushi's book is "Book of Changes." After Pedro replied excitedly, he was a little puzzled: "But I don't understand why you suddenly asked about this?"

"The so-called "Book of Changes" has always been known as the head of the group of scriptures and the source of the Dao." Gao Mengnan chuckled and said: "If you understand the meaning of the "Book of Changes", you will know that my brother Qiuzhen and I are right for you. What is your attitude towards the situation in the Malay Peninsula that you have said.”

Alfredo had a bit of a headache. He had heard missionaries say that the exams for officials in the Ming Empire were actually about philosophy, and according to his consistent view, philosophy was extremely brain-intensive and very dependent on talent.

Gao Mengnan pushed such a matter that required a clear attitude to a philosophy book. In his opinion, it was nonsense. Now he can only count on Pedro to have learned the thought of "Book of Changes" from Father Luo Mingjian.

Alfredo looked at Pedro for help, but the latter scratched his head in embarrassment, and said with a dry smile, "Ah, this... I don't remember."

It's a bit embarrassing, but understandable. The "Book of Changes" was written very early, and "small words and great righteousness" reached a certain level. Even in the imperial examinations of the Ming Dynasty, there have always been a small number of scholars who chose "Zhouyi" as the scripture.

However, the reason why Gao Yushi chose Zhouyi as his scripture was precisely because its thoughts were in line with his own cognition: everything is always changing, but "everything remains the same".

Easy, change also.

What Gao Mengnan wants to express is that everything is changing, and the attitude of "our" will also change with the changing situation.In other words, he's not going to make any guarantees at all.

It's just that it might not be good to say this directly, so it's better to use "Zhouyi" as an excuse to let them guess for themselves.

Pedro was not knowledgeable enough, so Alfredo could only cough lightly, and said: "Your Excellency Gao Mengnan, there is one more thing, I hope to get some definite news from you: After the Battle of Manila, I heard that Ming The army is continuing to fight on Luzon Island, and many local tribes that were originally subject to the rule of the Kingdom of Castile have also been attacked by the Ming army...

But according to the latest news I have received, the local 'Ming Army' is not the regular army of the Ming Empire (translation Lin Jizong automatically changed it to 'Army of Jingzhi'), but the private army of His Excellency Gao Yushi.I would like to ask, is this dispatch of troops to Manila an act of the Ming Empire government, or is it a private act of Jinghua Company?
If it is a private act of Jinghua Company, there may be a huge loophole in the legal theory of the previously signed "Manila Agreement", which may lead to many unpredictable major disputes between the two parties in the future. What is your opinion on this? "

Gao Mengnan said indifferently: "The battle in Manila is not my responsibility, I have no opinion. But what I want to tell you is that although the Ming army in the battle of Manila was not an army controlled by the imperial court, except for the people and ships of our Jinghua Company In addition, it also includes the three princes of the Ming Dynasty and more than [-] subordinates of marquis and earls.

All the nobles (translated as hereditary military nobles) in the capital of the Ming Dynasty had their share, and all of them participated in this battle.Oh, by the way, they also have an organization, presumably the two of you should have heard of it in Japan - Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance.

Ladies and gentlemen, regarding this issue, I can tell the truth: the initiator of this war is not so much the Jinghua Company, but the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance.

I believe that the noble envoy’s experience in politics should be very clear. Even if the emperor heard the news of the war jointly launched by the nobles of the court (translated as the hereditary military nobles of the Ming Empire), he would definitely acquiesce—let alone win easily. "

Alfredo got the news from Pedro, and he immediately looked at Pedro.The latter recalled a little, and immediately nodded slightly to him, indicating that Gao Mengnan's words can be believed.

Alfredo, the special envoy of the Governor of Goa, suddenly felt that things were unexpectedly difficult—in his cognition, "hereditary military aristocrats" meant that his family had long held a strong military force, and in terms of European habits , this power even has a high degree of independence.

The military aristocrats in Europe are not like the Ming Dynasty Nobility Group. In name, several military meritorious noble families control the national military status through the Five Armies Commander's Mansion.In fact, not to mention that the emperor, the cabinet, and the Minister of the Ministry of War are all bigger than them, and even the military minister of the Ministry of War can speak their minds in front of them, and their real role...is mainly to make a name.

The military aristocracy in Europe is quite different. At this time, most countries in Europe are still using the enfeoffment system. There is a famous saying "My vassal's vassal, not my vassal".

The meaning of this sentence is probably: each monarch (lord) can only govern his own vassals, but he has no right to govern his own vassals.Since the land is divided into layers, the vassals only recognize the people they are directly entrusted with as their own monarchs, and have no subordinate relationship with the emperors they themselves entrusted.

This means that vassals and vassals are limited to two individuals who swear to each other, and the two parties use the oath as a contract to constrain the relationship between monarchs and ministers and masters and subordinates.

This also leads to two aspects of rights and responsibilities: on the one hand, vassals will not be able to enjoy rights if they do not fulfill their obligations;

As a result, two-way rights and obligations appeared in the enfeoffment system in Europe. Under the sense of contract, the levels were relatively independent.Even between the monarch and his ministers, there is rarely a super-centralized control such as "the monarch wants the minister to die, and the minister has to die".

In fact, not only in Europe, but in countries where the centralization of monarchy has not reached a very high level, generally speaking, similar situations will occur.

For example: in Japan at the end of the Warring States Period, on the eve of the Honno-ji Temple change, Ishida Mitsunari was a retainer of Hashiba Hideyoshi, and Hashiba Hideyoshi was a retainer of Oda Nobutada (Nobunaga had given him the position of governor).Then according to the tradition at the time, Oda Nobutada could not directly command Ishida Mitsunari, because Ishida Mitsunari only had to obey Hashiba Hideyoshi's orders.

All in all, they all possess a fairly high degree of independence.And when these highly independent "vassals" join forces to carry out military operations, especially in the case of "almost all participation" as Gao Mengnan said just now, even their vassals are unlikely to object .

Gao Mengnan's original intention was actually "the nobles act collectively, and the emperor will acquiesce because he wants to save face." Who knew that Alfredo's understanding according to European thinking would become "a tough action by the military aristocratic group to force the palace, Forced the emperor to accept the established facts."

The results are similar, but the causality is completely misplaced.

However, there is no need to study this further, because Alfredo has already believed Gao Mengnan's statement that "even if the emperor knows the news, he will definitely acquiesce".At this time, he can only consider countermeasures along this line of thought.

If the emperor acquiesces, it means that the Ming Empire will recognize the legitimacy of this action.Given that the "Kingdom of Luzon" was originally a "vassal state" of the Ming Empire, it meant that there was no legal problem with the behavior of the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance, so it would be pointless to continue to entangle with legal principles.

"It's really regrettable... Oh, don't get me wrong, your Excellency, I mean that such unrestrained war behavior will have a very bad impact on the trade environment of Manila and the entire Kingdom of Luzon."

Alfredo considered his words for a while, and continued: "Out of concern for the trade environment, I would like to ask your Excellency, how long will the war in the Philippine Islands last?"

Gao Mengnan shook his head and said: "Your envoy seems to be a little forgetful, I just said that the war in Luzon is not my responsibility, I neither know nor feel comfortable to make any statement or estimate on this.

In addition, I always feel that you are here... The scope of concern is too big. As the chief advisor of the Kingdom of Siam, I can only express my views on matters related to the Kingdom of Siam.

If what you want to know is what actions Jinghua Company will take in the entire Nanyang and even wider sea areas and regions, I suggest that you either find a way to get in direct contact with Wudi Qiuzhen. "

"However, as the Minister of Finance of the Ming Empire, Your Excellency Gao Yushi is busy with official duties, so it is impossible to leave Beijing to meet me at sea, and the Ming Empire does not allow people like me to enter at will... This really makes me very regretful."

This is true, Daming only allows certain missionaries to enter on very rare occasions, and this usually requires an official with a certain status as a guarantee.

Relatively speaking, Gao Wushi has more "power" in this matter. He often guarantees some European architects, so that they can have a deep understanding of Chinese architecture in the mainland, and cooperate with domestic architects according to his requirements. , Design some buildings that combine Chinese and Western styles—for example, Rixin Building is such a product.

If Gao Mengnan wanted to, he could actually report directly to Gao Yushi, and then invite Alfredo to enter the country in the name of Gao Yushi, but Gao Mengnan suspected that Gao Yushi might not want to talk nonsense with this person.

"It's a bit more distant than near." Gao Mengnan nodded, and said, "If not, I'll go to Huang Dutong's office to ask her to see if she is willing to meet you."

Alfredo was overjoyed: "You mean His Excellency Huang Zhiting? That's really great, thank you very much for your generosity and kindness."

"You're welcome." Gao Mengnan smiled kindly, but thought to himself: Humph, my younger siblings are not as easy to talk to as I am.If it weren't for the truth-seeking pressure, she would have leveled Malacca ten or eight times by now... Can you still get some good fruit if you go to see her?
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(End of this chapter)