Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 727 Angry Portuguese
Negotiations have been stalled because of intense debate between the city council and the Portuguese businessman group with different points of view.In Macau, there is no such establishment as the Spanish Navy Macau Detachment. Most of the armed ships in the port are merchant ships. Except for a few light ships owned by the Macau Municipal Council and the Governor of Macau, almost all of them are owned by private individuals or groups.There are too many interests involved, and there are more details to be decided: the ship owner is unwilling to serve the city council in vain, and even if he is willing, he has to explain how to compensate the dead, how to share the expenses of ship repairs and ammunition loss.

As for the Jesuits, which play a decisive role in the final resolution, they have not yet expressed their opinions-but everyone knows that the Jesuits are inclined to Australians, because Australians have given the Jesuits great help in missionary affairs in China.It can be said that a breakthrough has been made.

The attitude of the Jesuits was ambiguous, and the municipal council and the chamber of commerce held long and inefficient debates day after day. Li Luoyou waited anxiously—it was said to be a negotiation, but in fact there was nothing to talk about. Most of his time was spent waiting for Portugal It is the conclusion of one's own internal meeting and negotiation.

His news in Macau has become more informed: news of the Australians launching a military parade along the Pearl River keeps coming.Li Luoyou is very clear: the Australians continue to carry out small-scale military operations, but they do not directly attack Wuyong, the gate of Guangzhou, in order to force the Guangdong government to negotiate a peace as soon as possible-to force a peace by war.

Li Luoyou consolidated all kinds of news collected in Macau, which further strengthened his thinking.In particular, he learned that more than a month ago, some Australians came to Macau to engage in activities in an attempt to establish a relationship with the Guangdong government.These few Australians are still stranded in Macau, as if waiting for something.

They must have conveyed their request for peace to Guangzhou or Zhaoqing through some channel, but the local government in Guangdong did not respond to this.That's why they launched the battle into the Pearl River.

Li Luoyou couldn't help but secretly sighed, if the local officials could respond in time and send someone to negotiate peace in private, maybe this matter can be settled here, and it won't be so troublesome.

The Australians have drawn their swords and will never return them in vain.When the two sides negotiate a peace, I don't know how many more orphans and widows, lonely ghosts, and how many houses and wealth have been burned.

He decided to find an opportunity to have a private contact with representatives of the Australians to hear their specific conditions and ideas.In this way, once a peace is to be negotiated, a lot of round-trip time can be saved.

Jalanzani said softly in his usual tone, "My child, don't worry. Speak slowly."

"Yes, my lord." Lando glanced at the chairman out of the corner of his eye. This guy's composure was faked, his hands were trembling just now.Lando felt sure about the matter.

"My lord, I got a surprising piece of news in Lingao." Lando made a very anxious look, "The Chinese imperial court will soon cancel the right of merchants here to enter Guangzhou for trade, and will block the entire At the mouth of the Pearl River, foreign merchant ships are not allowed to enter or leave. They even asked local Chinese businessmen to stop supplying food, vegetables and meat to Macau."

Jalanzani had long heard rumors of a similar ban on trade, and such rumors had been circulating in Macau for almost several months.At first it was just a rumor.Something like: "I heard that trade is going to be banned".Of course adults would not believe such nonsensical rumors, but the rumors gradually became real, with more and more details. Until recently, he already knew that it was Guangdong that advocated banning Portuguese trade. supreme justice.

At this time, Lando not only repeated the rumor, but also clearly stated the specific content.The degree of authenticity has reached more than [-]%, no matter how you look at it, it is not groundless.

"My child, is your news reliable? There are at least thirty or forty such news in the city every day."

"Your Excellency, it is absolutely reliable." Lando bowed, "I have already reported to the two priests, and they both think it is necessary for me to report to you in person. This is their letter." He submitted the letter A letter written by Lu Ruohua.It not only confirmed what Lando said, but he specifically stated in the letter that the source of Lando's information was a "high-ranking" Catholic patriarch among Australians - the other party was very concerned about Macau, a "church in the Far East". expressed great concern about the safety of the "Lighthouse" and hoped that the Portuguese in Macau would prepare in advance.

Lando said: The Australians not only learned the specific details of this matter, but also had direct evidence.

See this letter.Gelanzani frowned. Is this trying to sow discord?The Australians probably already knew that the Guangdong government was trying to ask them for help.If the Portuguese fell to Daming, it would be very unfavorable for the Australian military operations in the Pearl River.Perhaps it was for this reason that they disclosed the news to the missionary group in Lingao.

He pondered, once the news is proved to be true, there is absolutely no possibility for the Portuguese to help the Guangdong government.The purpose of the Portuguese helping the Chinese maintain security on the Pearl River was to maintain trade, not to protect the people of Ming Dynasty.If the trade is interrupted by the Chinese government, then the life and death of the Chinese people and the security and smoothness of the Pearl River have nothing to do with the Portuguese.

The Australians casually disclosed this news directly to the Jesuits, saying that they had enough evidence to prove it, so that they did not need to beat around the bush to prove their own reliability.

Jaranzani felt a sweat run down his spine.The future of Macau was in jeopardy if the Supreme Magistrate of Canton had actually asked the Emperor of China to cut off trade.Not to mention whether the Chinese will use various means to force the Portuguese to leave Macau. This city, which was built outside of circulation and shipping, has lost its main and almost only trading partner. What future does it have?
Gelanzani thought of several commercial cities that he had visited during his travels in Italy and the Netherlands, which had declined due to changes in geographical environment.Artemisia that can be fed to horses has grown on the once prosperous streets, and the population has declined to one-tenth of what it used to be.The beautiful commercial buildings and merchant's mansions are empty with nailed doors.A desolate and desolate landscape.

Once such a thing happened in Macau, he couldn't imagine that Macau could survive-it was just a small island on a promontory, and it couldn't even be self-sufficient.After the trade is cut off, the city will immediately decline and fall into ruin.

The Jesuits had no choice but to give up the best missionary stronghold in the southern China gateway.Migrated to the Philippines, which was far away and under the control of the Spaniards.

He shuddered at the thought.He hated the Spaniards--and openly hated them.Needless to say what will be the treatment in Manila.

"My child, do you have any other evidence? This news alone will not satisfy gentlemen."

"The Australian who tipped me off said that if the grown-ups were interested, they would provide all the evidence to prove it."

"I understand. Go down and rest." Gelanzani nodded.

After Lando left, Jailanzani immediately invited Li Luoyou to the mansion.

"Jacob." Jalanzani called his Christian name, and said straight to the point, "I know from a well-informed person that the Chief Justice of Guangdong has submitted a memorial to the imperial court, demanding a complete ban on trade with Macau. Do you know the truth of this matter?"

"I don't know, my lord." Li Luoyou was baffled by the fact that he was suddenly called, but now that he heard that he asked him the last thing he was unwilling to answer, he managed to maintain his composure, "You know, this rumor has already spread For a long time, I am not an official and cannot judge the authenticity of the news."

"What about your knowledge and logic?" Gelanzani pressed on step by step.

"This..." Li Luoyou hesitated for a while, feeling that it was impossible to justify whether it was possible or not.Gelanzani suddenly asked him to talk, and he obviously had important information, so he decided not to hide it anymore.

"In my opinion, this matter is very likely to be true." Li Luoyou nodded heavily, "The high inspector has always been dissatisfied with the Portuguese and the holy church. It's just that there are only rumors so far, and there is no definite news .”

"Australians say they have enough evidence." Jaranzani met his eyes. "Do you think they have?"

Li Luoyou was speechless.He realized that his mission might soon be ruined.He thought for a while: "Master President, I want to draw your attention. Even if this matter is true, Gao Xunzhen did write this memorial, but it does not mean that this will be an imperial decree. This memorial is sent to After the capital, not only the emperor's order, but also the cabinet and the six ministries have to go through the deliberations. If there are different opinions in any link, the memorial of Gao Xunzhen is just a memorial. It cannot be regarded as some kind of decree—it is It's just a 'petition'."

Li Luoyou deliberately used the weakest European word.

Jaranzani knew he was right.He pondered for a moment and said, "You know, I respect you very much..."

"Thank you, Chairman."

"...But I don't really believe what the Chinese officials say. Prior to this, several elders of the municipal council had asked many Chinese officials with real power in Guangzhou and Xiangshan about this matter, and they all categorically rejected it. It now appears that they may well have been lying."

Li Luoyou didn't know what to say, but he knew it should be the meaning of the above, and most of it was taken care of by Li Fengjie himself.

"...If this matter is true, I can only suggest that the municipal council not give any form of help to the Guangdong government. I think that if you were in our position, you would not be able to agree to help." Jalanzani said, "If the merchants can't trade, what does the safety of the Pearl River have to do with the city council?"

Li Luoyou replied painfully: "Yes, I completely understand what you mean."

"...unless the Guangdong government can give definite clarifications about Macau's future," he continued, "including guarantees for trade."

Li Luoyou knew that if he didn't come up with a definite guarantee, I'm afraid there would be no results in this meeting about borrowing troops.Apparently the Aussies played a trick.It's just that he didn't know what Australians used to impress the famously suspicious Jesuits.He thought hard in his apartment: So far, there is no definite way to contact the government, and he just pretends to be deaf and dumb to evade. It is no wonder that the Jesuits will not trust them but trust Australians.

A few days later, the Macao Municipal Council fell into a frenzy, and a batch of carefully organized documents were thrown out through the Jesuits. Transcripts and translations of the letters.

This batch of translations aroused great fear among the municipal council and Portuguese businessmen—many of them had been doing business in Macau for many years, and some of them were born in Macau, with properties, occupations and families in this small land. superior.Now suddenly tell them: They are likely to lose it all!
When they learned that the Cantonese government was asking them to send troops for help, but at the same time making a memorial to the emperor to expel them, the anger of the city council and chamber of commerce erupted.No matter how Li Luoyou explained the operating rules of Chinese officialdom: Li Fengjie was only the governor, he had no right to interfere with what Gao Shunqin said to the emperor; He "Go back!"

Li Luoyou secretly complained that not only the matter could not be done, but his representative also suffered a catastrophic disaster-his reputation was seriously damaged.

He was called into the Governor's Palace, and the Governor made his attitude clear to him:

Unless the Guangdong government can give an official document, clearly guaranteeing that the trade will not be interrupted, the Portuguese will not be prohibited from entering Guangzhou for trade, and the Portuguese will not be forced to leave Haojing by cutting off the supply. Only then can they consider sending warships to the mouth of the Pearl River Conduct patrols and help Ming to expel the Australian detachment.Otherwise the Portuguese will not interfere in all actions of both sides.

Of course, Li Luoyou knew that Li Fengjie would not provide this. In the past, the threat of expulsion and severance of trade could make the Portuguese submit.Now that expulsion and interruption of trade were imminent, such threats could no longer have any effect.

"Bastards! A group of greedy and incompetent villains! Disciples of saints! Shit! A group of despicable and shameless people! The great mountains and rivers will end in your hands sooner or later!" In Li Luoyou's Macao apartment, a Chenghua porcelain cup followed His rant was shattered, and the tea seeped into the expensive Persian rug, leaving a glaring stain.

The servants and maids were too frightened to come in—they had never seen the master get so angry.Li Luoyou stared at a portrait of the Virgin and Child in front of him, trying to suppress his anger.He is so angry.Although he had expected such a result before he set off, the various encounters in the past few days were related to what he heard and saw in Guangning many years ago.It made him have great doubts about the government, the system and the people in power.

A burst of dizziness struck, and Li Luoyou knew that he was going to get sick again, so he quickly drank the medicinal wine—this is the special medicinal wine Liu San gave him, and it was very effective after taking it, trying to calm down his mood.

His activities in Macau have been a complete failure, and it is meaningless to go back to Guangzhou. Li Fengjie is probably the one who will not shed tears when he sees the coffin.He simply stayed in the apartment and completely pretended to be deaf and dumb. This time, in order to completely distance himself from the relationship, Governor Li did not send any of his subordinates.It saved him a lot of time to hide and deal with it.

The failure to borrow troops further strengthened his idea of ​​looking for opportunities to contact the Australians and discuss the terms of the peace talks.He sent his powerful servants to inquire about the residence and activities of Australians in Macau.

Li Luoyou's mission failed under the intervention of the Intelligence Bureau, and the Pearl River Estuary Task Force no longer had any worries.Of course, the navy is not afraid of the Portuguese galleons, but the current target is Ming, so there is no need to make too many enemies to disperse its forces.

After Chen Haiyang received a briefing from the Intelligence Bureau, he transferred most of the warships of the several detachments remaining outside the Pearl River Estuary to the Pearl River waterway and assembled in Humen.At the same time, the Marine Detachment also ended its one-month parade in the Pearl River Delta, and all returned to the building for rest, repairing ship guns, and preparing to break through Wuchong in one fell swoop and enter the Guangzhou waterway called "Provincial River".

The waterway leading to Guangzhou goes all the way up after passing Wuchong to Huangpu Island, which is where the old port of Guangzhou is located.After passing Huangpu Island.The Pearl River is divided into two waterways by Henan Island.Going up along these two waterways, you can reach the White Swan Lake.

White Swan Lake is located in the southwest of Guangzhou City in the Ming Dynasty. It is the place where the three rivers converge, and the two rivers in the northwest and the Pearl River converge here.The tide here is smooth, the siltation is not heavy, the river is wide and vast, and the mist is rippling.It is more than enough to park the entire task force.

The final destination of Chen Haiyang's military operations is White Swan Lake, and he made a gesture of approaching the city.

Of course, to lead the fleet to the White Swan Lake, a series of obstacles must be broken through.In addition to Wuchong, Huangpu and other places, many emergency forts have been erected on Henan Island.Hongyi cannons were installed.In many waterways, blocking work has also been carried out.Three iron chain wooden rafts have also been deployed, straddling the waterway to intercept ships.

Compared with the channel of the Pearl River, the waterway of the provincial river is much narrower, the draft of the river channel is shallower, and there are many sandbars.All of this is relatively easy to deal with. What Chen Haiyang is most worried about is the several rivers that have completed the blockage of the river.Although according to his common sense, it is basically impossible to block the waterways of major rivers. Whether it was the Opium War that blocked the Pearl River or the Anti-Japanese War that blocked the Yangtze River, most of the efforts were useless.

For the sake of caution, he decided to specially equip and transform a ship for clearing the river to clear the obstacles in the channel.Although the Big Whale has a large tonnage and volume, it is a ship with a shallow draft, a wide deck, and a steam engine power plant. It is more than enough to transform it into a temporary wrecker.

　The throne of Portugal was held concurrently by the King of Spain.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)