Chapter 1728 International Influence
Mr. Fei Cexian, who was being worried about by the North Korean special envoy Li Xi, had just left the house at this time. In fact, because the Ming Dynasty Embassy in Sanya has not yet been completed, he is currently living in the Guest House, but the villa he lives in is far away from Li Xi's residence, and the two have not met yet. This is of course not a coincidence, but from the sea. The Han Ministry of Foreign Affairs made careful arrangements. In view of the sensitive relationship between the two families, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not want them to meet in Sanya too early.
Haihan invited North Koreans to come to Sanya to watch the ceremony this time. In fact, Ning Qi had already informed Fei Cexian about this in private. Although Fei Cexian knew that Ning Qi's greeting was also out of respect for the Ming Dynasty, but when he thought that the Koreans who had knelt down in front of the Ming Dynasty in the past began to embrace Haihan's thighs and even sent a special envoy to Sanya to build an embassy, he still felt that Some lumps.
I remember that when Fei Cexian was working in the Ministry of Rites, he also received envoys from North Korea. Fei Cexian still vividly remembers the humble attitude shown by North Koreans in the Ming Dynasty at that time. But since Haihan entered the northern part of the Ming Dynasty, North Korea no longer seemed to regard the Ming Dynasty as its only backer. The reason for this was well known to Fei Cexian, who personally went to Liaodong to see the fighting on the front line. Both the Ming Dynasty and North Korea dealt with the weak Houjin, but they were defeated steadily by the Haihan army fighting far away from home. It is no wonder that the North Koreans were half-hearted.
Basically all the guests invited this time have arrived in Sanya before this, and the purpose of today’s dinner is to warm up the celebrations that will start in two days, so that guests from all over the world can get to know each other in advance, and Haihan officials will also stop by. Announce the specific arrangements for subsequent celebrations at the dinner. And Fei Cexian also wanted to take this opportunity to confirm again which countries chose to turn to Haihan and which countries still regarded Ming Dynasty as their first choice for diplomatic direction.
Although there was still harmony in the capital's court, and Ming's status as the supreme court of the Kingdom of Heaven seemed to never change, after leaving Ming, Fei Cexian could clearly feel that the external situation was not as optimistic as before. The Ming Sea Territory from the south of the Liaodong Peninsula has become the territory where the Haihan people can take whatever they want. I am afraid that the huge crisis contained in this process is not truly realized by the high-ranking officials in the court.
For example, the Shandong Peninsula that controls the exit of the Bohai Sea, the Hangzhou Bay in the idyllic land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the Fujian Strait in the southeastern sea, and the Pearl River Estuary, the most important sea channel in Lingnan, these coastal key points that originally belonged to the Ming Dynasty are now all "concessions" with Haihan A colony actually controlled by the name. The Haihan people not only carried out trade and colonial activities in these places, but also stationed a large number of armed forces. Quechaojiu occupied the area and performed the so-called "maintaining maritime order" function for the Ming Dynasty.
Didn’t the Ming court know about these conditions? No, in fact, the emperor and cabinet ministers were well aware of Haihan's little actions on the coast of Ming Dynasty, but the problem was that Ming Dynasty no longer had the ability to expel Haihan from these areas, let alone fight with him on the long coastline. Such a maritime power goes to war. After the failure of force to expel the Haihan people in Shandong, no one in the court mentioned the war. Everyone understood that at this stage, the Ming Dynasty could not afford to fight, let alone lose, such a war, let alone It was necessary for the Haihan people to hold back Hou Jin's march southward in Liaodong. As long as Haihan did not plan to invade the interior, these small actions on the coastline would pass by with a blind eye.
But even so, Fei Cexian still wanted to obtain some benefits for Ming Dynasty as much as possible within his own capabilities. In particular, we need to maintain the image of the Great Tomorrow State in the international community, and we cannot let Haihan steal all the limelight.
If Fei Cexian had not come to Hainan Island in person and witnessed what Haihan did here, it would be difficult for Fei Cexian to imagine how a small emerging country could grow into a competition that even the Ming Dynasty was afraid of in less than ten years. opponent.
During the months when the embassy was being built, Fei Cexian had been living in the Guest House and took the opportunity to get to know many powerful figures in the country. Although these small countries in the South China Sea may have been inconspicuous in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty in the past, when they gradually regarded Haihan as their regional leader, they gradually stopped paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty. Although the Ming Dynasty did not care about the value of the local products that these small countries paid as tribute, Haihan's international reputation has indeed been rising rapidly in recent years.
For example, today's dinner was attended by at least a dozen countries. Except for the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, which are from the north of Hainan Island, they are basically all countries in the South China Sea or Western colonial empires. This kind of appeal has already It is difficult to realize the Ming Dynasty today.
However, Fei Cexian was a little relieved that Daming was at least as skinny as a camel and was bigger than a horse. When he entered the venue, he immediately attracted a lot of attention. Everyone who recognized him took the initiative to say hello, and Ning Qi also came over to chat with him immediately, which made him feel that his presence was quite good.
"There are quite a few countries attending today. It looks like it will be a lively banquet." Fei Cexian praised Haihan's dinner arrangements with a smile.
Of course Ning Qi understood the meaning of such a scene, and responded with a smile: "I believe that many people are here just to see Mr. Fei. As soon as I leave, Mr. Fei will be surrounded."< br>
Fei Cexian and Ning Qi looked at each other and laughed tacitly. As the two countries with the strongest national power in the Far East, the relationship between Haihan and Ming Dynasty is undoubtedly the focus of many countries. It is no exaggeration to say that for every conversation they have here, many people will prick up their ears and want to know the content. After all, the diplomatic relations between the two countries they represent will, to a large extent, determine the future international relations in the Far East. The direction of the situation.
Fei Cexian still has a good impression of Haihan's foreign minister. After all, they are both scholars, and Ning Qi is a student of history and culture. He knows a lot about the Ming Dynasty. The two still have many common topics. Moreover, Ning Qi is not as aggressive as other high-ranking Haihan officials, and advocates a diplomatic approach of peaceful coexistence, which Fei Cexian admires quite a lot. Countries should sit down and enjoy good wine and good food as they do now, while conducting diplomatic consultations, with peace as the common goal. Of course, it would be better if they could respect Ming Dynasty.
Sure enough, after the two of them finished their greetings, as soon as Ning Qi walked away, several people took the initiative to surround Fei Cexian, trying to find out from him what they had just exchanged. However, Fei Cexian was slightly disappointed that the people who gathered around him were all multinational businessmen. What they were concerned about was not actually the quality of the relationship between the two countries, but whether their own business could benefit from the changes in the relationship between the two countries. Avoid harm and make more money.
However, the envoys from other countries did not take the initiative to come over immediately. It is not known whether they disdain to associate with these merchants who are full of copper odor, or have other considerations. Fei Cexian, relying on his status, would definitely not take the initiative to greet the envoys of these countries.
In the end, the only foreign envoys who took the initiative to talk to Fei Cexian were Portugal and the Netherlands. Thomas, the Portuguese ambassador, and Su Keyi, the East India Company's minister in Haihan, both of whom are based in Sanya, had already met Fei Cexian before. But these three parties have one thing in common, that is, these three countries will never Consider Haihan as the suzerain state. Therefore, although these three countries have no common interests, their positions happen to be similar, so they naturally have a lot in common.
If any one of them gets too close to Haihan, it will arouse the vigilance of the other two, especially since Ming Dynasty and Haihan are of the same race and are both countries ruled by Han people. If these two families really join forces, I am afraid that in the future No one could match it in the Far East, and this did not bode well for Western colonial powers.
Although Su Keyi was of Chinese origin, his allegiance was to the Dutch East India Company, so he also did not want to see Haihan join forces with the Ming Dynasty. After coming over, he asked Fei Cexian straight to the point: "Master Fei, what did Minister Ning do to you just now?" Do you have any special instructions?" Fei Cexian frowned and said, "Mr. Su, that's not right. Minister Ning and I just exchanged a few words. Why should we say anything special in front of everyone? Besides, I am a minister of the Ming Dynasty. How could I do that? Accept the instructions from Haihan officials!”
Su Keyi said: "Hasn't Mr. Fei heard the rumors from outside recently?"
Fei Cexian asked: "What rumors?"
Su Keyi said: "It is said that Haihan's expedition to Manila this year was to show the Ming Dynasty, so as to convince your country of their cross-sea combat capabilities. In this way, your country may invite Haihan to send troops to Liaodong to replace You deal with the Hou Jin barbarians outside Shanhaiguan.”
Fei Cexian almost lost his expression. This rumor was too untrue. How could Haihan's attack on Manila have anything to do with the Ming Dynasty? Besides, Haihan troops had already participated in the war in Liaodong, so there was no need for the Ming Dynasty to invite them. And judging from the attitude of the capital, it is unlikely to ask Haihan for military help.
Fei Cexian shook his head repeatedly and said: "I have never heard of such rumors, and Minister Ning has never talked about these things with me. I'm afraid Mr. Su's source of information is wrong."
Thomas had lived in Sanya for a long time and had learned Chinese long ago. He could also understand the conversation between the two people. He immediately took over the conversation and said: "Master Fei, if your country really needs military assistance, you can actually consider our country. I think back then Mr. Xu and Mr. Sun have both received help from our country, and the military cooperation between Portugal and your country has always been very pleasant. It is not necessary to ask Haihan to send troops.”
The Masters Xu and Masters Thomas mentioned were Xu Guangqi and Sun Yuanhua, the two masters and apprentices. These two men spared no effort to persuade the Ming Dynasty to introduce Portuguese artillery, mercenaries and gun-making craftsmen. They also trained many people in the Ming army. There are few soldiers who have mastered new tactics. However, the situation was unfavorable. A Denglai Rebellion not only caused Sun Yuanhua to be unjustly killed in the fifth year of Chongzhen, but also made Xu Guangqi, who was full of grief, anger and disappointment, die in depression the following year.
Since then, the Ming court has not had similar military cooperation with Portugal. However, Portugal has been thinking about this matter and hopes that based on military cooperation, the Ming Dynasty can open its northern trade ports to Portugal. It is a situation dominated by the Haihan family. When Thomas seized the opportunity, he naturally wanted to try to persuade the Ming envoy. Whether it would be effective is another matter.
Of course Fei Cexian also knew what happened back then, but what he didn't quite understand was why the ambassadors of the Portuguese and Dutch countries thought that the Ming Dynasty would invite Haihan to send troops to the north. He immediately asked: "Maybe it's because I don't have enough information. May I ask? Where did the rumors these two mentioned come from?”
Su Keyi said: "Master Fei, you haven't read the newspaper in recent days, have you?"
Fei Cexian was stunned for a moment, then nodded and replied: "I have been busy receiving various items shipped from the Ming Dynasty these days. I wonder what new news has been published in the newspaper?"
Su Keyi said: "An article was published in the Haihan Times the day before yesterday, saying that the rebellion of the peasant army in the Central Plains of the Ming Dynasty was intensifying, and the military pressure from the north was also increasing day by day. Someone in the Ming court proposed to borrow troops from Haihan to first block the strong power of the north for the Ming Dynasty. The enemy moves south, and then frees up his hands to clean up the stubborn internal diseases.”
Fei Cexian responded casually: "Haihan has always been known for his shrewdness. I guess the borrowed troops will not be in vain, right?"
Su Keyi nodded and said: "That's natural. The newspaper said that if this matter is negotiated and the Haihan army can successfully retreat from the enemy, maybe the Ming Dynasty will cede many places such as Liaodong to Haihan as a reward for borrowing troops to defend against the enemy." < br>
Fei Cexian almost cursed. He knew much more about the situation in the north than the ambassadors of the two countries, so he naturally understood the purpose of Haihan officials in releasing these rumors through their own newspapers.
Haihan had established de facto occupation of many of the colonies along the coast of the Ming Dynasty, and had deployed thousands of troops in Liaodong. The Ming Dynasty could only pretend to turn a blind eye to this, but it did not publicly acknowledge the ownership of these places. The power was transferred to Haihan, and there was never any mention of borrowing troops from Haihan in the future, let alone any compensation. Now that Haihan has released the news, he is obviously preparing to transfer these occupied areas to his own name in a grand manner.
For the Ming Dynasty, it is difficult to clarify the truth and falsehood to the outside world. After all, it is an objective fact that the Haihan people stationed troops on the territory of the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming Dynasty wants to say that it is not borrowing troops, it is indeed difficult to explain why the Haihan people took the initiative to send troops. The army went thousands of miles away to defend the Ming Dynasty from foreign enemies. No one would believe that Haihan took the initiative to do such a thankless thing out of kindness, but if Ming Dynasty had given generous rewards, such as ceding land, then everything seemed to make sense. This is indeed a seemingly reasonable explanation for spectators such as Portugal and the Netherlands.
"No, these are all rumors. Our country did not borrow troops from Haihan. The Liaodong War... was military cooperation between the two countries, but it was definitely not military assistance!" Fei Cexian certainly could not admit that the news in the newspaper was true, even at the moment Unable to clarify the facts, he still had to express his attitude on behalf of Ming Dynasty. But when he said these words, he inevitably felt a little guilty.
(End of chapter)