Chu Palace.
A man shrouded in black robes was escorted by guards to the Phoenix Pavilion in the palace.
At this time, a tall middle-aged man with a stern face was sitting under the pavilion, waiting to take him. The middle-aged man had a stern face, and a black mole between his eyebrows was particularly eye-catching. A cold glint flashed from time to time in his eagle-like eyes.
"Dear Your Highness, King of Chu, why did you come to see me?"
When he came to King Chu, the man in black robes tore open his clothes. Inside was a tall young man with red hair. The young man's clothes were similar to those of Dayu. He is out of tune with the Chinese people, but he is wearing a black tuxedo, and his blunt Dayu language gives people a very awkward feeling.
Seeing this young man, King Chu's expression darkened, but there was still some dissatisfaction in his eyes. He said to the young man: "Envoy Rhodes, I think you should explain to me why your fleet attacked my merchant ship. The young man known as
Rhodes
smiled contemptuously, "Dear His Royal Highness the King of Chu, there is only one reason why we Dutch attacked your merchant ships, and that is because your merchant ships are doing business privately at sea. I think the newly appointed Earl Black said this." It is very clear that from now on, this sea area can only be transported by our Dutch merchant ships. If you need spices, we will sell spices to you from Nanyang. If you need sulfur, we will sell sulfur to you from Japan. What do you want? Porcelain sold to Europe must be transported by our Dutch merchant ships. Isn't this clear enough?"
King Chu's face was as black as dripping ink. He said: "I don't care about your new bullshit count. This was not part of the agreement we signed."
"Now it is! His Majesty King Chu, and if Earl Black knows that you are humiliating him, he will definitely be unhappy, and your supply of matchlock guns may be cut off by then. ." Rhodes said teasingly.
He didn't care what King Chu thought at all. The Dutch had the final say in this sea area now.
The King of Chu's eyes were filled with anger. Since the new earl who managed Ryukyu took office three months ago, the Dutch suddenly tore up the commercial agreement they signed. They no longer satisfied the most favorable treatment of Chu State and began to demand the entire Chongqing State. Open the market and prohibit private trade by any merchant ships in this area.
"Do you think I still care about your matchlock guns now? Now we in Great Chongqing also have matchlock guns. Go back and tell your count that if he breaks the agreement, he will bear the consequences. I will not be bullied by you casually. King Chu said angrily.
Rhodes's eyes narrowed, he caught the information in King Chu's words, and he asked: "You also have matchlock guns now?"
"Of course, on the same day that your count took office, King Qi and the barbarians in the north There was a war, and they defeated the barbarians using matchlock guns. So, don't threaten me with matchlock guns again, otherwise I can also purchase matchlock guns from King Qi, and remember, this belongs to the Kingdom of Chongqing. We have the final say over the land," King Chu threatened.
Over the years, he has made a fortune relying on trade with the Dutch, and ocean trade has made him rich in capital. Now that the Dutch have cut off his trade lines, they have cut off his financial path.
It was for this reason that he was so angry.
Moreover, he now has fifteen thousand musketeers in his hands. The most important thing is that by imitating Lin'an craftsmen, he has been able to make slightly less powerful muskets. Last year, he also purchased hundreds of artillery pieces from Qingzhou.
These artillery were installed on the warships by him. He believed that he could challenge the Dutch.
Because according to the information he obtained, the Dutch army stationed on Ryukyu Island was only 10,000 people. Although his fleet was not as good as the Dutch fleet, he had 3,000 large merchant ships.
Using these merchant ships, he was fully capable of transporting troops to Ryukyu Island to fight the Dutch.
In the past, he got along well with the Dutch and never thought of using force, but now that the Dutch have gone too far, he can only consider this as one of the options.
"How is it possible? The most you can do, King Chu, is to imitate a matchlock gun. How could this King of Qi make a matchlock gun?" Rhodes looked like he didn't believe it.
The King of Chu snorted coldly and said: "It is said that a missionary taught him. In short, the matchlock gun is no longer a secret. Envoy Rhodes, please go back and convey the king's news to Earl Black. If the agreement remains unchanged, we will still We can live in harmony, but if you continue to monopolize the trade at sea, I will have no choice but to be polite."
"Okay, Your Highness King Chu, I will inform Earl Black."
Rhodes put on his black robe again and led the guards. Go down to the dock outside Lin'an City, enter a merchant ship, and row toward the fleet in the east sea.
In the Prince of Chu's Mansion, after Rhodes left, a young man wearing a purple round-neck gown appeared in front of the Phoenix Pavilion. The young man had a long and thin face and had eagle eyes like the Prince of Chu.
"Father, why are you talking to the Dutch so much? Just drive them away. The sea route will be ours." said the young man. He was none other than the eldest son of the King of Chu, Li Chuyuan.
King Chu's eyes were deep and he said slowly: "The Dutch fleet is not that easy to deal with. Let's talk if we can. If we start a war with the Dutch rashly, we will only lose our troops. We cannot lose our troops in vain. After all, King Qi is now powerful. This time the second prince was exiled to Bazhou due to the assassination incident, which shows the influence of King Qi on the court now. It's a pity that King Qi has ruined everything after our layout for so long."
Li Chuyuan said angrily: "This should be damned. The King of Qi is really tough. He didn't kill him even if he had two chances, but now he is getting more and more powerful."
After a pause, Li Chuyuan suddenly said: "Dad, you and the Dutchman just talked about the muskets on purpose. This time we are not planning to divert trouble to the east and let the Dutch deal with the King of Qi. "
"Hey, my son is still smart. The Dutch sold us a matchlock gun for 500 taels of silver, but Xiao Ming sold it to the court for only 100 taels. , it is precisely because they have tasted the sweetness that the Dutch will ask the Great Chongqing to open all trade. This time the Dutch will be furious when they know that King Qi can produce matchlock guns, which will ruin their business. "The King of Chu was very proud.
Li Chuyuan said: "My father is wise. If King Qi falls this time, we can no longer wait. We will immediately send troops to seize the land south of the Yangtze River. Our Li family has waited for too long. This throne will also be given to our Li family." Sit down."
The King of Chu nodded slightly. The accumulation of several generations made Chu land very rich. There were so many copper coins piled in the treasury of various states that they could not be used up, so much so that the ropes that bound them rotted away.
With such a strong capital, why did he still listen to the imperial court's orders and just wait for chaos in the north? However, both plots were disrupted by the King of Qi.
As the father and son were talking, suddenly a guard hurried in and shouted: "His Royal Highness King Chu is in trouble. After the Dutch envoys boarded the ship, the Dutch warships began to bombard the dock. Several merchant ships in the dock sank. ."