Anti-Qing: Starting from the Reincarnation of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 152 Negotiation and Decision Making

Zhu Jing'an sat in his seat, closed his eyes and fell asleep, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Huang Yingying was beside him serving dishes for him.

Obviously, the delicacies on this large table were all cooked by Huang Yingying herself.

Zhu Jing'an really likes Huang Yingying's craftsmanship.

Seeing that Huang Yingying was still busy with work, Zhu Jing'an took Huang Yingying's hand, patted it gently, and said warmly.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

Huang Yingying smiled softly, her charming peach blossom eyes were moist, and she spoke.

"I don't have to work hard!"

"I feel happy to be able to serve a great hero like the Governor."

Hearing this, Zhu Jing'an chuckled.

"Go down and rest first, and wash yourself clean. I will go to your room tonight."

Huang Yingying heard this, her peach blossom eyes twinkled slightly, becoming more and more beautiful.

After doing a thousand blessings, I resigned.

"In that case, I'll go down and prepare first!"

"Grand Governor, please don't let me guard the empty room alone tonight~"

Huang Yingying's voice is soft and waxy, making people want to conquer her as soon as she hears it.

Zhu Jing'an also felt that the blood all over his body was rushing to his lower abdomen.

He gently slapped Huang Yingying on the buttocks and said angrily.

"Go quickly, go quickly, can I still lie to you, a little girl?"

Huang Yingying gave a sweet smile and stepped back briskly.

Not long after Huang Yingying went down, an announcement sounded outside.

Zhu Jing'an said come in, and not long after, he saw old Peter pushing open the door and walking in with Charles and Filosa.

Zhu Jing'an narrowed his eyes and did not get up from his seat to greet her. He just spoke.

"It's a coincidence that you two are here. The governor is preparing to have dinner."

Zhu Jing'an's attitude was very cold, because Ming Dynasty was now the dominant party and was still in a dominant position.

Therefore, he was going to show off his posture in front of these two foreigners.

Because he can only gain the upper hand in negotiations and negotiate the most favorable conditions for Daming if he figures out his position now.

When Charles and Felosa heard this, they thought that this was going to be difficult.

But this time they came to surrender to the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, they did not dare to have any dissatisfaction with Zhu Jing'an. They could only bow to Zhu Jing'an very respectfully.

"On behalf of the French East India Company, I would like to send my regards to the distinguished General."

"On behalf of Governor Russell of Batavia, I would like to send my regards to the distinguished General."

When Zhu Jing'an heard this, his face was still cold.

He picked up a chopstick of green bamboo shoots and put it into his mouth, chewing it, and said.

"say hello?"

"Have you not decided to help the Qing Dynasty to fight against the Ming Dynasty? Are you still planning to take advantage of the emptiness behind the Ming Dynasty to attack Guangzhou City? What else can you ask this governor?"

"Just go back and prepare for the war!"

Zhu Jing'an's face was frighteningly cold.

But after he finished speaking, he turned around and said to Old Pete like a spring breeze.

"Old Pete is here just in time. Sit down and have a meal with the governor. I have ordered you to prepare the sweet potatoes you like to eat."

Zhu Jing'an's cold expression towards Charles and Filosa was just to show off his attitude and for better negotiations in the future.

But he would not embarrass old Pete, one of his own.

At the very least, in Zhu Jing'an's eyes, Old Pete was one of Ming's own.

When Old Pete heard this, he first looked at Zhu Jing'an, and then at Charles and Felosa beside him.

In the end, he did not dare to disobey Zhu Jing'an's order and sat down at the table.

Of course, I just sat down.

The atmosphere in the stadium is obviously not right now. No matter how big-hearted Old Pete is, he would not dare to eat and drink as much as Zhu Jing'an.

Hearing this, Charles and Felosa couldn't help but secretly curse Henry, an Englishman, for his big mouth.

Why did you say everything?
They are really too passive now.

Fortunately, most diplomats are shameless.

Ciel took a few steps forward and said shamelessly.

"Your Majesty the General must have misunderstood. Henry is an Englishman, not us French."

"We in France have always wanted to have good relations with China, and we have no intention of colluding with the Tatars to attack the Ming Dynasty together."

When Zhu Jing'an heard this, he chuckled.

"is it?"

Ciel said hurriedly.

"Of course, of course!"

Zhu Jing'an's expression improved slightly and he spoke.

"Oh, I hope so."

"Since you two are here, please sit down first. There is no rule in Ming Dynasty that allows guests to stand and watch me eat. Sit down and eat together."

After saying this, Zhu Jing'an ordered his attendants to prepare bowls and chopsticks.

The two of them sat down, but Charles was even more reserved than Old Peter.

Zhu Jing'an also temporarily put down the chopsticks in his hand, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and then asked.

"Tell me, you two worked so hard today and relied on old Pete's connections to ask for a meeting with the governor. What exactly did you do?"

Before Ciel could speak, Felosa stood up and said.

"Back to Your Excellency General, my name is Felosa, and I am here on behalf of Governor Russell of Batavia. I came to visit Your Excellency General today. I have a batch of muskets and artillery in my hands, and I want to start an arms trade with the Ming Dynasty."

Felosa's purpose is very pure, she just wants to make money.

Hearing this, Zhu Jing'an nodded and said.

"of course can!"

"Then the governor will arrange for the relevant person in charge of the Thirteenth Bank to contact you."

"Our Ming Dynasty is now at a critical moment in the war against the Qing Dynasty. As long as you can provide our Ming Dynasty with arms and weapons, you will be my Ming Dynasty's most loyal friends."

Zhu Jing'an said this not only to Felosa, a Dutchman, but also to the Frenchman Charles beside him.

Although the Ming Dynasty can now make its own arms, it does not need the foreign guns and cannons of foreigners.

However, in war years, there is no such thing as too much arms.

After hearing this, Ciel hurriedly expressed his stance.

"Your Majesty General, we in France can also provide arms to Ming Dynasty. Not only arms, but if Ming Dynasty needs mercenaries and military instructors, we can also provide them."

Zhu Jing'an nodded slightly and then asked.

"Very good, then what do you want from Daming?"

Charles hesitated for a while and then spoke.

"I hope Ming Dynasty can open trade to us."

"Better to open trade only to us!"

"I hope Ming Dynasty will allow our merchant ships to go to Guangzhou and allow our merchants to freely enter and exit Guangzhou city..."

The conditions proposed by Charles now are very pragmatic. He did not even mention a series of unrealistic conditions such as extraterritoriality, cession of concessions, agreed tariffs, and garrisoning troops in the concessions.

Not even a mention of missionary work!
I’m just talking about open trade!

This is the attitude you should adopt if you really want to negotiate!Hearing this, Zhu Jing'an chuckled.

"can!"

"The governor can allow your merchant ships to arrive in Guangzhou for trade, and can also allow your merchants to enter Guangzhou city."

"However, it is limited to merchant ships. Before your merchant ships enter the Pearl River waterway, they must hand over all the weapons on board and hand them over to the Ming Customs for safekeeping."

"When you leave the Pearl River Channel, you can use the customs tax forms and entry and exit registration forms to collect the weapons on your merchant ships."

"And if your merchants want to land at the dock and enter and exit Guangzhou City, they must undergo strict review and registration. From the moment your merchants set foot on the land of the Ming Dynasty, they will be governed by the laws of the Ming Dynasty."

When Charles heard this, he pondered for a while.

"Should be!"

He also knew that it was impossible for the Ming Dynasty to allow their merchant ships to carry guns and cannons and enter and leave the Pearl River waterway with such arrogance.

For the same reason, the French will not allow merchant ships equipped with a large number of artillery to enter and leave the Seine.

Because there is actually not much difference between merchant ships and warships these days.

The same sails, the same broadside cannons, the same Galen ship type, the same wooden hull, the only difference is a slight difference in structure.

Therefore, merchant ships can also be used as war ships when necessary.

During this era, European countries would recruit merchant ships to assist in naval battles.

Zhu Jing'an continued expressionlessly.

"However, as a price, Ming Dynasty needs you two to stand on Ming Dynasty's side in the next battle of Macau and declare war on Britain and Portugal."

Upon hearing this, Charles and Felosa looked at each other and nodded without hesitation.

"We are willing to obey the arrangements of His Majesty the General!"

How should I put it? Isn’t it just a declaration of war on Britain and causing trouble for the British?

They are so familiar!

There is no psychological pressure at all when doing it.

Seeing this, Zhu Jing'an's expression finally turned from gloomy to clear.

He opened his mouth to greet the attendant.

"Haha, pour wine for my French and Dutch friends from Daming."

After the attendant poured wine for the two of them, Zhu Jing'an also stood up from his seat and spoke.

"Everyone, let us drink this cup together for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the friendship between France and the Netherlands!"

When Zhu Jing'an said this, the smile on his face was very enthusiastic.

But in his heart, he was a little disgusted by his own hypocrisy.

The friendship between Ming Dynasty and France is nothing. Even if France does harm to China, it will be a matter for later generations.

Zhu Jing'an would not blame the current France for what has not happened.

However, can there really be a so-called friendship between Ming Dynasty and the Netherlands?
The Hongxi Massacre more than 30 years ago had already happened.

The blood of tens of thousands of overseas Chinese has not yet been drained!
Just because the Qing Dynasty didn't care about these things, it doesn't mean that the Ming Dynasty didn't care either.

Just because Zhu Jing'an doesn't mention it now doesn't mean he has forgotten it.

He is a person who holds a grudge!
Blood debts must be paid with blood sooner or later!
……

It's night, the moon and stars are scarce!

Zhu Jing'an, smelling of alcohol, pushed open the door and walked into the bedroom. Huang Yingying stepped forward to help her.

"Why did the Governor drink so much wine today?"

Zhu Jing'an pursed her lips and shook her dizzy head.

"We talked about a big deal today. I was so happy that I drank a few more drinks."

Huang Yingying touched Zhu Jing'an's forehead with her soft jade hands and said warmly.

"The Governor will rest for a while, and I will cook a bowl of sobering soup for the Governor."

When Zhu Jing'an heard this, he grabbed Huang Yingying's cold and soft jade hand and pulled him into his arms.

"What kind of hangover soup should I make? Why waste all that effort!"

"Aren't you the best sobering soup for me?"

After saying that, the two of them rolled on the bed together.

Not long after, clothes were thrown to the ground one by one...

After a long time, the clouds disappeared.

Zhu Jing'an held her in her arms, her long hair stuck to her face with sweat. Huang Yingying looked confused and felt calm in her heart.

In his sage state, he is thinking about Ming's next development strategy.

Using troops against Hunan and Guizhou is pushing the battle line outward.

The use of troops against Guangxi was to stabilize the Ming Dynasty's rear.

The foundation of Ming Dynasty is still in Guangdong and Guangxi.

Guangxi's strong soldiers and Guangdong's money and food are the foundation of Ming Dynasty.

Next, he will start to deal with the threat from foreigners in Macau.

When the threat from Macau is lifted, it will be almost time for the prison to move to Guangzhou.

Then, where should the Ming Dynasty send its troops?

Hunan?Jiangxi?Or Fujian?
Soon, Zhu Jing'an made a decision.

Next, Ming Dynasty will attack Hunan and send more troops to Hunan.

Then from Hunan to Hubei, they took millions of refugees from Yunyang and went eastward along the Yangtze River, directly into the south of the Yangtze River.

Zhu Jing'an has always understood that in this era, it is not Jiangxi and Fujian that can determine the ownership of the world, but Huguang and Jiangnan.

Even if the Ming Dynasty could conquer Jiangxi and Fujian, it would only be a physical pain for the Manchus.

However, this did not prevent the Manchu Qing from using money and food from Jiangnan and Huguang to mobilize troops from all over the country to encircle and suppress the Ming Dynasty.

Huguang and Jiangnan are one bag of grain and one bag of money.

This is the lifeblood of Manchuria!
Once the Manchu and Qing dynasties lost Huguang and Jiangnan, there would be big problems with the Manchu and Qing dynasty's rule.

As for Jiangxi and Fujian?

When the Ming Dynasty captured Jiangnan and Huguang, Jiangxi and Fujian had no choice but to surrender.

……

In mid-November of the 140th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming army, which had completed its preparations, began to move south from Guangzhou towards Macau.

Ten thousand Ming Army headquarters troops, plus ten thousand forward battalions, a total of twenty thousand troops marched south from Guangzhou, passing through Panyu, Shunde, and Xiangshan, all the way to Macau.

On November 140, the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming army arrived at Xiangshan and began to cut off the connection between the Macau island and the mainland.

At the same time, the navy of the Ming Army also left the Pearl River and headed all the way to Macau.

There were hundreds of ships, large and small, almost covering the sea surface, and they looked very large in scale.

Accompanying the Ming Navy were three Western-style Galen ships, which were almost the size of fourth- and fifth-level battleships.

Belonging to the French and the Dutch respectively!
On the deck of the French Galen ship, Captain Anthony looked at the Ming navy on the surrounding sea and said with a slightly disdainful expression.

"The Chinese navy ships look really vulnerable!"

Anthony had participated in the Seven Years' War and witnessed the grand scene of hundreds of sailing battleships bombarding the British and French naval fleets.

Nowadays, it is natural to look down on the small boats of the Ming army.

The first mate Roland on the side heard this and just said.

"The captain is right, these Chinese boats are indeed vulnerable."

"If our French main fleet can sail to the Far East, we can definitely use force to open the Chinese door and force them to accept free trade."

"Instead of bowing to the Chinese in exchange for trade opportunities like now!"

(End of this chapter)