I

  Chapter 504 501【Divide Nanyang】

   "Want to negotiate?"

   "Yes, the red-haired governor said to negotiate."

   "Go to the island and invite Langzhong Zheng."

   Zheng Guozhong's current official position is Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Rites, which is equivalent to the deputy director of the central organization. He had managed the industrial and commercial sector in Fujian and was familiar with Manila trade, so he was appointed as the envoy, and he presided over the canonization of the kings of Brunei and Sulu.

   Zheng Guozhong, under the protection of several soldiers, crossed the obstacles beside the moat and came to the center of the bridge over the moat.

  Governor Coquera also came over. There were tables and chairs on the bridge, and the two sides sat there to negotiate.

  Through the translation, the two sides report their names and positions to each other.

   Immediately, Coquera said: "In view of the massacre of Tang people by Pampanga soldiers, we feel very sad and sympathetic, and at the same time extend our most sincere apologies to your country..."

   "The city is already besieged, so stop talking nonsense!" Zheng Guozhong interrupted directly.

   Coquella was surprised: "Your envoy can speak Spanish."

Zheng Guozhong said blankly: "I have lived in Manila for four years, and one of the Chinese people who were killed last year was my uncle. So, why are you willing to surrender? Just ask for the conditions, don't talk about it." The nonsense of soldiers killing Han people."

  Corquila was speechless for a moment, and several congressmen who participated in the negotiation also stood there in a daze, not knowing what to do.

  China's chief negotiator turned out to be a family member of the victim of the Tu Hua Incident.

After a moment of silence, Coquila said: "As long as your country withdraws its troops from Manila, we are willing to compensate you for the loss of 50,000 pesos. At the same time, we will guarantee the safety of the Chinese in Manila. From now on, the tax amount of the Chinese will be the same as that of the Spaniards, and will not be paid any more. Excessively taxed."

  50,000 Spanish pesos is 40,000 taels of silver.

   Zheng Guozhong sneered contemptuously: "Is this your sincerity? Surrender should look like surrender, don't think about bargaining!"

  Spain talks about surrender at this time, exactly the same as the Dutch talked about surrender more than 20 years ago.

  Obviously there is no way out, but there is still no sincerity. The only difference is that after the Dutch talks collapsed, the enemy withdrew their troops out of food and grass, and it is impossible for China to withdraw its troops now.

  Corquila continued to test: "How about compensation of 100,000 pesos?"

   Zheng Guozhong said: "Luzon Island, China is about to be settled!"

  Corquila suddenly felt desperate. If he lost Luzon, he might spend his whole life in prison if he went back.

  Since Portugal became independent from Spain, and the Netherlands has dominated Java again, it has sent troops to intercept Spanish ships every year, and has come to remove Spanish outlying strongholds every year. In order to maintain the rule of Manila, 40% of the annual silver production in the Americas is directly transported to Manila for administrative and military expenses.

   One can imagine how much the Spanish royal family values ​​the Philippines!

  Of course, corruption is also very serious. The 40% of the silver production in the Americas is shipped to Manila every year for rapid consumption. It is said that it is recruiting troops, and it is said that it is building warships, but the strength of Manila is still like this.

  Although the Spanish royal family monopolizes the galleon trade, the annual smuggling is extremely alarming, and it is all smuggled by colonial officials in the Americas and the Philippines.

  Coquera forced himself to be calm: "Your Excellency, don't forget that once my country loses Manila, the silver silk trade will be completely cut off. At that time, Chinese merchants will also suffer heavy losses, and China's raw silk will completely lose the American market."

   Galleon trade, also known as "silver silk trade", the main commodities were Chinese raw silk and American silver.

   Among them, Husi has the largest proportion, which is the raw silk from Huzhou Prefecture.

  If the silver wire trade is cut off, workers in Huzhou and its surrounding areas will inevitably lose their jobs in a short period of time, and the income of farmers who grow mulberry and silkworms will also drop sharply.

  In addition, workers and peasants in Guangdong and surrounding provinces will also suffer certain losses. Because the market share of raw silk from Guangdong is second only to lake silk, and Guangdong raw silk is shipped from Jiangxi, Hunan and other places.

   Zheng Guozhong said disdainfully: "How can the interests of merchants be compared with the majesty of the imperial court?"

  Corquila was speechless for a moment. He felt like a fool when he talked about business interests with Chinese officials.

   Zheng Guozhong wanted to kill all these bastards, but he had an important task. That is to throw the Spanish governor and army to the Philippine Islands further south without affecting the battle situation.

  Spain must be beaten, but it cannot be beaten to death with a stick, and the Netherlands cannot be the only one.

  Zheng Zhilong and Nanyang merchants provided a lot of information to Zhao Han. Based on this information, Zhao Han repeatedly discussed with the cabinet and calculated the most beneficial result for China. That is: China occupies Luzon Island, the Netherlands occupies the southern region of Mindanao, and Spain continues to occupy the southern islands.

   As a result, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sulu will fall into a long-term melee.

   And China is the suzerain of Brunei and Sulu, and can intervene in the war according to its own interests at any time.

  At the same time, Spain can survive and continue to maintain the silver trade, bringing a large amount of American silver to China, and shipping Chinese goods to the American market.

  As the emperor, Zhao Han couldn't just think about revenge, but also had to take the overall situation into consideration.

  If Spain is completely driven out of Nanyang, in the overall and long-term perspective, both China and Spain will suffer losses, and the only real beneficiaries will be the Netherlands.

   "Stop!"

"Step aside!"

  The Dutch navy and army commanders finally came in a hurry when they learned that China was negotiating with Spain.

  However, they were blocked on the periphery and could not be approached at all.

   Zheng Guozhong smiled and ordered: "Let them come here."

  There are three Dutch negotiators. In addition to the navy and army commanders, the real negotiating leader is Kui Yi.

  According to the transliteration standards of later generations, Kuiyi should be translated as Kuayite. Historically, Zheng Chenggong recovered Taiwan from this person, but Kui Yi at this time was only a "senior businessman" of the East India Company.

   "Please sit down." Zheng Guozhong said.

   Kui asked straight to the point: "What did you talk about just now?"

   Zheng Guozhong said: "Spain compensated our country with 100,000 pesos, and the Chinese army withdrew from Luzon."

   "Don't be fooled by them!" Kuiichi said immediately.

  Once China withdraws its troops, the Netherlands can only withdraw its troops, and there is no benefit.

  Because of the southern Philippine archipelago, there are troops stationed in various strongholds. There has been no news of the Spanish fleet for a long time, and most of them gathered troops in the southern islands, and it is very likely that there will be thousands of Spanish troops.

   At that time, the Chinese navy and army will withdraw, and the Netherlands will not be able to bear it at all.

  The governor of Spain, Coqueira, didn't pay attention to the Dutch at all. He glanced at Kuiyi and said: "Spain only negotiates with China, and you can just listen here."

  Kuiyi retorted: "China and the Netherlands are allies, and the Netherlands has the right to participate in negotiations and share the benefits of the war."

   Zheng Guozhong emphasized again: "Luzon Island must be assigned to China. Mindoro Island, China must also."

   Mindoro, whether you want it or not, is really asking for a lot of price during the negotiation.

  Coquera said: "This is impossible. As long as the Chinese army withdraws from Manila, Hawksbill City and Luzon Island to the north, Spain will recognize that it belongs to China."

   "Manila should belong to the Netherlands!" Kui Yi couldn't help but say.

  The three countries all want Manila, which is the Nanyang trade center.

   "Then keep fighting." Zheng Guozhong said.

   It was another entanglement, the negotiation still broke down, and Spain was unwilling to give up Manila.

  The siege of the city was endless, and half of the rainy season was over in a blink of an eye.

  During the period, the Spanish fleet went to Samar Island to deploy troops, and only 20 soldiers were left to defend each stronghold on the island.

  Unexpectedly, one of the strongholds was tipped off by the indigenous servant army, and a large number of indigenous warriors came here during the rainy season. The 20 Spanish soldiers were unable to defend, and the indigenous servants were unwilling to work hard, so the stronghold was captured by the indigenous rebellion.

  The Spanish fleet, which had originally dispatched troops to the north, received the news before it went far, so it had to take the army back to fight back.

  The Spaniards quickly regained their stronghold and carried out a massacre nearby. Thousands of indigenous people suffered **** revenge.

  After this incident, the Spanish fleet did not dare to draw too many troops, leaving 30 soldiers to garrison each stronghold. It dragged on until the end of the rainy season, and the Spanish army of 1,100 people was summoned and transported by the fleet to Mindoro, ready to go to rescue Manila.

  The second Manila naval battle broke out.

   There was not much fighting. China and the Netherlands have already occupied Corregidor Island, guarding the throat of Manila Bay.

  Part of the Sino-Dutch fleet withdrew to Manila Bay, and part of it withdrew to the northern waters. As long as the Spanish fleet dares to come in, it will be flanked by the fleets of the two countries, and the coastal defense artillery of Corregidor Island will also bombard the Spanish fleet.

  The experienced commander of the Spanish fleet decisively chose to return with the fleet after seeing some enemy ships going north.

  The 1100 Spanish Army assembled in the south could not be transported to Manila at all. I dare not land in advance, because at this time Luzon Island is full of mountains and forests, and the transportation is inconvenient. Random landings may wipe out the entire army.

  The situation of the battle is deadlocked again.

  The Dutch returned to Batavia, got the governor's latest negotiating bottom line, and called representatives from several countries to sit on the negotiating table again.

  This time, representatives from Brunei and Sulu also participated.

  Zheng Guozhong directly took out a map of Nanyang, circled it with a quill pen and said: "Luzon Island and Mindoro Island are all owned by China..."

   "Wait a minute," Coquila immediately interrupted, "Mindoro, it is impossible to hand over to China."

   Zheng Guozhong asked: "In other words, Spain agrees to hand over Luzon Island?"

  Corquila remained silent, as he acquiesced, the food stored in his castle would last for another two months.

  If you don’t agree on the conditions at this time, and you will be in a desperate situation two months later, I am afraid that Chinese officials will ask the lion to speak up.

  Zheng Guozhong said again: "Samboanga must be returned to Sulu Kingdom."

  The negotiating envoy of the Sulu Kingdom was overjoyed. He did not expect that the Chinese father could throw a bone out.

  Coquera did not refuse either, because the entire peninsula where Zamboanga is located has not been firmly occupied by Spain. It is often beaten down this year and lost next year. The resistance of the people in Sulu is very troublesome.

   Kuiyi interjected: "The Netherlands should set up a stronghold in Zamboanga and jointly manage this port with Sulu."

  Zheng Guozhong asked Sulu envoy: "Do you agree?"

  Sulu Kingdom also wants to introduce the Netherlands to check and balance Spain's expansion. It nodded and said: "The Netherlands can be allowed to trade in Zamboanga, but it cannot interfere with the management of the port, nor can it build churches at will."

  Kuiyi was very unhappy: "The Netherlands has lost a lot, is it just these leftovers?"

   Zheng Guozhong drew a circle in the southern part of Mindanao and said: "This place belongs to the Netherlands."

  Everyone has no objection, it does not belong to any country, and all of them are extremely primitive indigenous tribes.

   "Not enough," Kui Yi pointed to Busuanga Island and said, "This island should also belong to the Netherlands."

  This island is very magical. It is adjacent to Sulu Kingdom in the southwest and Mindoro Island in the northeast. It is not particularly far from Manila, but so far no country has occupied it.

  After half a month of negotiations, the "Manila Five-Nation Agreement" was released:

  First, Spain admitted its defeat and compensated China and the Netherlands with 10,000 (8,000 taels) of pesos each, and Brunei and Sulu with 100 pesos each.

  Second, Luzon Island is under the rule of China, and Busuanga Island and southern Mindanao are under the Netherlands. The western peninsula of Mindanao, that is, the territory near Zamboanga, should be returned to the Sulu Sultanate by Spain.

  Third, the Netherlands can establish a trade point in Zamboanga, but it cannot garrison troops, build churches, or participate in port management.

  Fourth, the Netherlands has the exclusive right to trade in Brunei and Sulu. The spices and gems in Brunei and Sulu are jointly monopolized by China and the Netherlands, and no country is allowed to participate.

  Fifth, Spain will establish the Governor's Palace in Cebu Port, and the silver trade in Manila will be transferred to Cebu Port in the future. No country is allowed to attack Cebu Port, otherwise it would be tantamount to declaring war on China, Netherlands and Spain.

  Sixth, Spain and the Netherlands recognize China as the suzerain of Brunei and Sulu. Based on the existing borders, Spain and the Netherlands are not allowed to expand in Brunei and Sulu without authorization, otherwise it will be tantamount to declaring war on China.

  Seventh, the Netherlands canceled the extra tax imposed on the Batavian Chinese.

  Eighth, stop killing the Spaniards in Luzon, and allow the Spaniards to withdraw with their property (except for Manila, the Spaniards in the castle are not allowed to take any property).

  This agreement was signed by the Governor of the Philippines, and the King of Spain may not accept it.

  But if you don’t recognize it, you have to recognize it, otherwise it will be war.

   Moreover, it is very likely that the Spanish king refused to accept the account and resumed trade while in a state of war.

Officials like Governor Coquera could only leave with some documents. The wealth they robbed and accumulated was divided between China and the Netherlands: China accounted for 50%, the Netherlands accounted for 35%, Brunei and Sulu together accounted for 5% , and the remaining 10% is distributed to the indigenous people who participated in the war.

  Coquera sent a messenger to notify the plantation owners to evacuate.

  As a result, news was received one after another that the Spanish plantations, those near Manila, had been robbed long ago.

  It has nothing to do with the Chinese army, it is a good thing done by Chinese refugees.

  (end of this chapter)