Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1316 The little demon in the temple is very windy ([-])

On August 1662, 8, the harbor of Palermo was sunny and sunny.

The history books of later generations recorded the beginning of this negotiation as follows: "10 minutes before the negotiation started, Paul Doria secretly told Zheng Yong, the special envoy on the east bank, that Portugal's arsenal was not doing much except for continuing to manufacture land warfare ordnance. Nervous, the Portuguese aristocrats may think that they can no longer compete with the people on the east coast at sea. Zheng Yong had already learned about this before the negotiations started, and adjusted his negotiation plan immediately."

It is also recorded in the history books: "The Doria family as the intermediary informed the Portuguese envoy Prince Pedro on the eve of the negotiation that Zheng Yong had inadvertently revealed that last year (referring to 1661) "almost all the army and navy" on the east coast did In addition to inspection mobilization and exercise mobilization, the East Coast Army has maintained a "combat readiness emergency" throughout the year, "making such serious and comprehensive preparations for a protracted war", which has not been seen in the past ten years. Finally , East Coast textiles and other goods are rising in Ottoman and Baltic sales, and these important sources of national income have also reached levels not seen in a long time in the last year..."

Undoubtedly, these words of Doria had a very positive impact on the negotiations, and it also proved from the side that the Doria family was not in a completely impartial position in this mediation.

well, let's get back to business.In the first minute of the negotiation, Zheng Yong asked the Portuguese to stop playing tricks and start negotiations on the agreement and terms as soon as possible.And perhaps Paul Doria's warning had some effect, and the Portuguese's attitude softened slightly. Prince Pedro only used a half-joking remark, "Portugal's way of doing things has always been very slow" to perfunctory, but did not There was no other drastic or inappropriate rhetoric, which seemed to bode well.

It is worth mentioning that since the east coast naval escort fleet has bombarded Portuguese offshore villages and towns for two consecutive years, there are many rumors in Portugal that the people on the east coast will send a large number of troops to land operations, and this is obviously the Portuguese stepping up production. One of the reasons for land combat equipment.In fact, as early as the first round of negotiations between the two sides, Zheng Yong implicitly pointed out when facing the Portuguese that if the Portuguese did not cooperate, then the bombardment of the Portuguese mainland would continue to happen. At that time, Prince Pedro clamored for the Portuguese navy to "Make a public response at sea", but I don't know if he still has this kind of "high ambition".

"I just received a letter from the mainland, and the emotions of our people have reached an extremely passionate level." After the negotiations began, Zheng Yong waved an envelope shell in his hand and said: "We are a republic, and the emotions of the people It must be taken care of. Although we can still control it now, if the negotiations drag on for a long time, we should take some measures. Otherwise, the anger of the people will be a kind of "restraint" for the East Bank government. Too serious a test."

As soon as Zheng Yong's words came out, the atmosphere on the table was a little tense. He obviously wanted to give everyone an impression that the government behind him decided to adopt a tough policy, and the government's patience had almost reached its limit. If If the Portuguese don't readily agree to the terms of the people on the east coast.

Immediately, Zheng Yong once again put forward the conditions for the peace talks of the people on the east coast: 500. Cease the entire Brazilian territory south of San Salvador; [-]. Cease the entire Cape Verde Islands; [-]. The number of Brazilian garrisons must be strictly limited, and some fortresses must be dismantled within a time limit; [-]. Compensation for [-] million Cruzado war expenses; [-]. Release the East Coast personnel captured during the war; [-]. Open the market to the East Bank The tariff rate shall not exceed the average level of other countries; [-]. Allow fishermen on the east coast to fish off the coast of Brazil; [-]. Allow businessmen and diplomats on the east coast to freely believe in Taoism and hold religious ceremonies in the Kingdom of Portugal; [-]. Punish those who steal steam engine technology from the east coast Almeida family.

The above ten conditions are basically the same as the conditions in the first negotiation. At that time, the Portuguese were completely unacceptable. Although the attitude has softened before this negotiation, I am afraid it is still not enough.Of course, Prince Pedro and others also knew that this was a wild asking price from the people on the east coast, and they could pay back the money when they landed. Now it depends on how to negotiate.However, the speed has indeed to be accelerated. In order to carry out wars with the East Coast and Spain at the same time, the kingdom also borrowed large sums of money from domestic merchants (Jewish merchants) and Amsterdam merchants while collecting taxes. According to some financial officials In other words: "The financial circles are afraid of going bankrupt due to the war. The government lacks cash and can only rely on the help of Jewish businessmen and Dutch lenders in the country. Lisbon shuddered at the prospect of the bankers shrinking the amount of money they held in Portugal. Of course, given the vast sums the bankers had already lent, they also knew that a sudden draw would only result in Portugal's unprecedented fiscal collapse. , so they won't do it for the time being, but it is obviously a wise choice to end the war as soon as possible."

So, in such a complicated situation unknown to people on the east coast, Prince Pedro, the Portuguese negotiator, negotiated with Zheng Yong on each clause and its details (see attachment)—according to Paul Doria’s suggestion , the two parties gave priority to discussing the part of "both are interested" - the first to reach agreement is Article [-] and Article [-], which is the simplest and does not constitute any obstacle, so an agreement was quickly reached. Prince Pedro said that they will Release all captives on the east coast as soon as possible, and at the same time allow fishing boats on the east coast to fish off the coast of Brazil (the Brazilians rarely fish anyway).In return, Zheng Yong also promised to release some Portuguese prisoners of war (the number is to be determined) to express a positive and friendly negotiation attitude, and the atmosphere between the two parties seems to have improved at this moment.

Barring these two items, however, the negotiations between the two sides were as difficult as ever.Because these are very sensitive conditions, involving land, compensation, religion, national sentiment, commercial interests, etc., it is difficult to get results without a good fight, especially when the Portuguese think they have won the support of other countries in the case of.

As a result, when it came to the afternoon, Prince Pedro made a slight concession on things like opening the market after a long time of careful discussion with his entourage, that is, they were willing to bring goods from the east coast into Portugal and its overseas territories, provided that After the Portuguese handed over, that is, the merchants designated by the Portuguese government purchased goods from the east coast and then sold them. The tariff rate did not exceed the average level of other countries.

Zheng Yong is not very satisfied with this. He prefers that the merchants on the east coast go directly to Portugal (especially Brazil) to open business stations, rather than through comprador merchants.However, considering that other places—such as the Baltic Sea, Russia, and Ottomans—are all training agents to expand the share of goods, Zheng Yong reluctantly accepted it, because the people on the east coast obviously did not have so much energy to develop a product distribution system in the early days. It is also inevitable to find enough business partners locally, so this one can be barely accepted, and it has not crossed the bottom line of the people on the east coast.

In addition, regarding the punishment of the Almeida family, on behalf of the Portuguese government, Prince Pedro stated that the family will be fined 20 cruzados, and the proceeds will be transferred to the people of the East Coast as compensation.Zheng Yong thought about it in his mind, and felt that the Almeida family had a deep root in Portugal and a lot of connections on the east coast (some of them were even members of the Central Executive Committee and ministerial officials). It doesn't count, it's better to let the local people decide.

After removing these four clauses, there are still six major clauses left. For both parties, it is basically a daunting mountain. Without him, the differences are too big. I am afraid that no progress can be made if the lips are worn out Come.

In fact, this is also the case. After several days of no progress in the war of words, on August 8, Zheng Yong solemnly pointed out that the conditions he proposed on August 4 were "the minimum requirements he can raise, and there is no room for expansion and contraction." ", "If the Kingdom of Portugal refuses, the East Bank will undoubtedly take strong measures."After finishing speaking, he left the venue and went to rest in his own apartment.

On August 8th, Paul Doria, who acted as a mediator, approached Prince Pedro of Portugal and told him that people from the east bank had sent people to find their family last night and asked what would happen if the war between the east bank and Portugal deepened** Whether the Republic could "facilitate supplies", "allow access to ports or cities in Italian regions affected by it", or "provide further support in credit", this may indicate that they are committed to war.

Prince Pedro was a little flustered after hearing the news, but his tone was still tough and he avoided talking about concessions.Paul Doria failed with one plan, and resorted to another plan-on August 8, he brought people to the door again and submitted a memorandum to Prince Pedro, indicating his understanding of the prospects for the war and the next step of the Kingdom of Portugal According to his personal "opinion", he compared the current navy and army forces displayed by the Eastern and Portuguese sides, and came to a conclusion: the war will not cause them any harm except that "in Europe" it may cause "slight damage" to the East Coast Republic. Any "critical failure".

Moreover, he believes that if the Kingdom of Portugal "carries out military adventures in Brazil, Africa, India, or even the Far East", it will cost huge sums of money and encounter dangers, and the result may be "more harm than good".Moreover, in order to maintain the above-mentioned places, they had to maintain a large navy and army far away overseas. , can join the other party to attack the Kingdom of Portugal at any time", therefore, it is worthwhile and necessary for the Kingdom of Portugal to quickly end the state of hostility with the people on the east coast and strive to maintain peace.

Prince Pedro was silent about this, but he agreed to return to the meeting and have a frank talk with the East Coast people.

After finishing the work in Portugal, on August 8, Paul Doria drove to the residence of the people on the east bank again and listened to Zheng Yong's opinion.Zheng Yong's attitude towards this is the same as before. He said: "The situation is very delicate now, and the outcome depends entirely on Portugal's attitude. We will not wait too long for the other party's reply, and the negotiation should not be delayed again and again. Because it might benefit the Kingdom of Portugal militarily."

After expressing such an attitude, to outsiders, it seems that the tune of war on the east coast is very high.Therefore, when the two sides held the third meeting on August 8, the Portuguese finally lowered their proud heads a little bit and reluctantly agreed to the freedom of belief of the east bank merchants in Portugal.That is to say, as long as they do not try to openly preach, then no priests of the Catholic Church will conduct religious trials on them, and they can openly hold their own religious ceremonies in their own places. This surprised Zheng Yong a little, because he It was completely unexpected that the Kingdom of Portugal, a country with an extremely strong Catholic atmosphere, would make concessions in religious affairs, which is also fresh enough.

However, even though the two sides have completed the negotiation of a total of five major terms, the Portuguese still refused to give an inch to the crucial first five terms, which made Zheng Yong a little angry.He pointed out to the intermediary Paulo Doria after the meeting that the East Coast people were outraged by the Portuguese delay in strengthening their navy, which had been badly damaged during the war, and he therefore wanted a "quick answer" from Prince Pedro whether Agree to his first five terms, and if they still have not come up with a satisfactory answer "within a week", then the East Coasters will break off the negotiations and take measures to protect their own interests.

After Paul Doria heard such harsh words, he realized that something was wrong, so he immediately conveyed the original words to Prince Pedro, the Portuguese envoy, and expressed the hope that the Kingdom of Portugal would consider it carefully, because "everyone is trying to find a capable It is a method that does not damage the dignity of both parties and can be accepted by both parties. I hope that the Kingdom of Portugal will re-examine whether some of the conditions it insists on are appropriate." support.

The Portuguese finally failed to give a satisfactory answer within the stipulated time.Therefore, on August 8, Zheng Yong publicly stated: "He has waited beyond the reasonable limit, the negotiation has been repeatedly delayed, and the reason for the delay has not been given any effective explanation." In view of this, he decided to unilaterally suspend the negotiation. Negotiations, the war between the two sides will continue.

On August 8th, whether it was a coincidence or something, the new year's east coast escort fleet arrived at the port of Cadiz, Spain again.A number of powerful warships on the east coast brought a large number of officers and soldiers to the coast of the Kingdom of Portugal again, bombarded it violently and for a long time, and at the same time sent a large number of people ashore to make a surprise attack, trying to seize the wealth and people of the Kingdom of Portugal. Mogang has been grinding his mouth for so many days, and now the Portuguese finally feel the pain.

(End of this chapter)