Chapter 594： Dig a hole for the Portuguese

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This time Columbus went to Daming, it was actually not difficult. There are only two risks-one is the pirates of the Strait of Malacca; the other is the typhoon of the South China Sea.

The problem of piracy was easy to solve. Marin equipped two ships with two hundred musketeers and one hundred gunners. Moreover, the use of clockwork igniters without a fire rope. No matter how good the martial arts are, he was shot down. Even if a brutal pirate is encountered, two hundred musketeers are launched, and one hundred gunners control the artillery to bombard them. After all, there is no pirate king like Chen Zuyi and Zheng Zhilong. Ordinary pirates, three ships are enough to balance them.

It's a typhoon. It's a terrible thing. It's not human-resistant. If you meet, you can only GG ... Fortunately, Columbus's fleet is walking along the land coast. As long as you do n’t encounter a typhoon in the middle of the sea, it ’s a big deal to avoid chanting ...

This time Columbus went to Daming, although it was for the purpose of opening up trade routes, it must not be said at first. Therefore, Marin wrote a national book in Chinese and prepared to hand it to Emperor Daming ...

Of course, this is not the kind of state book of equal greeting written by the King of Spain, but the kind of state book similar to "Bai Boss". To put it bluntly, I asked to become a vassal of Daming.

It's just that Marin's intention is not to make the Grand Duchy of Beihai a vassal state of Daming, but to occupy Taiwan Island, establish a small regime on Taiwan Island, and then ask Daming to attach.

In this way, it is not that the Grand Duchy of the North Sea has turned to Daming, but that the small country on the island of Taiwan has turned to Daming.

Anyway, the people living on the island of Taiwan are all indigenous people. Marin can occupy a place and build a small country. For example, there is a big belly kingdom on Taiwan Island, the land area is not large, but others are a small country.

The Ming Dynasty was not a fool, and wanted to be attached, the court wanted to send an envoy to check the specific situation. This is because, in the Song Dynasty, there have been cases of Arab businessmen posing as emissaries. At that time, an Arab businessman who pretended to be a Seljuk envoy came to pay tribute and deceived the rich rewards. However, the real Arab businessman told the Song court that the Seljuk empire was dead ... Then, it was embarrassing ...

Therefore, the Ming Dynasty had strict screening of tributary qualifications, that is, to prevent such embarrassing things. However, the embarrassment of the envoys of the Northern and Southern Dynasties of Japan came to pay tribute, and they also killed their lives.

In the Ming Dynasty, the discrimination of the vassals was very strict. First, we must determine whether their country really exists. Once determined, it will be reconciled and strictly stipulate the time and place of the tribute. When paying tribute, you need to check the proof of conformity, otherwise, no tribute is allowed.

Marin's plan was to occupy the local area and build a castle on the island of Keelung, a descendant of Taiwan Island. Then, ask Ming officials to verify in the past. Then, ask for "inclusion" Daming.

Therefore, when Columbus went to Daming for the first time, he had an important task to find the port of Keelung on the island of Taiwan. Determine the location of Sheliao Island outside Keelung Port. Then, learn Spanish to build a small castle on the island. Then, using this as the foundation, it gradually eroded the Keelung area and built a small city and port in Keelung Port.

Why build a base in Keelung? Because there is a gold melon gold mine near Keelung. Marin not only wants to obtain a stable supply base on Taiwan Island, but also plans to send someone to mine this rich gold mine with hundreds of tons of reserves. In this way, the cost of building Keelung City is fully recovered, and there is a big profit.

Of course, the Daming Empire is also in touch. For example, go to Guangyi Prefecture to try your luck, see if you can qualify for the tribute, and submit the letter of request for attachment.

However, Marin has no hope for this. With the cautious character of the Ming Dynasty, I am afraid he will reject Columbus. Because the people of the Ming Dynasty could not determine the existence of the Grand Duchy of Beihai. After all, the Ming Dynasty generally used the method of directly sending people to verify or inquire with other vassals.

However, other European countries have not yet visited Daming, and are unlikely to be willing to become vassals of the Ming Dynasty. The existing vassals of the Ming Dynasty are all from Southeast Asia, and they certainly don't know European countries. Therefore, no one can testify about Columbus's authenticity.

Therefore, Marin was not optimistic about the first contact between Columbus and the Ming Dynasty gangsters.

But Marin did not expect Columbus to succeed once, but it was necessary to find a foothold on Taiwan Island. As for the reason why she chose the small island Sheliao (now called Heping Island) outside Keelung, the reason is the same as the Spanish-the locals are too fierce and rush to land, and they may be killed by local indigenous people like Magellan ...

Therefore, establish a foothold on the small island outside the port. Then, send troops to come again, and then try to land to defeat the natives ...

Columbus's task was to first find Taiwan Island, then, according to the rough map given by Marin, find Keelung in the north of Taiwan Island, and Heping Island on the edge of Keelung, and record the detailed latitude and longitude coordinates.

Then, the next time Americo leads the fleet on the Pacific route to reach Taiwan Island, it will go straight to Heping Island according to this coordinate. Moreover, it will bring cement and build a fort directly on the Peace Island.

Next time, because all the routes have been explored, Marin will send a large fleet to the peaceful island of Keelung and be stationed. In particular, this time a team of trained Black Forest hunters will be sent to attack local indigenous people, control the land, and then build cities on Keelung land.

The reason why I chose to build a city in Keelung is not only because of the nearby Jinguashi Gold Mine, but also the coal mine near Keelung is also Marin's coveted goal.

After all, the steam engine has now been developed, and it will be put into use in the future to become a ship's power. Only when a coal mine near Keelung is developed can coal be supplied to a sailing boat driven by a steam engine.

Therefore, Marin gave up the idea of ​​going to the Great Plains in the southwest of Taiwan Island first, and was ready to gain a foothold now in Keelung. Then, go to plot the Southwest Plains.

In any case, Taiwan Island is actually a trade transit point for Marin. Gold mines and coal mines have also caught the eyes of Marin. As for cultivated land, Marin actually doesn't care much. He already has an American colony, and would he care about the cultivated land in Taiwan? Here, trade with Daming is the most important ...

...

In addition to contacting the Daming Empire and finding the coordinates of the Taiwan Island, Columbus actually has another very important task, that is, to contact the Malacca Kingdom that controls the Strait of Malacca ...

Of course, Marin did not want to conquer this country. His intention is actually to dig a big hole for the Portuguese ...

Marin, who has studied the history of the world, knew that the Portuguese would set their sights on Southeast Asia and the Daming Empire after they established a firm foothold in India. Therefore, they will use Goa, India as a base to advance towards Southeast Asia. Then, he directly aimed his eyes on the small country of the Malacca Kingdom, which controlled the Strait of Malacca, and in 1511 captured the capital of the Malacca Kingdom and destroyed the country.

At that time, the Portuguese sent only 1,200 Portuguese soldiers and 200 Indian mercenaries, as well as 18 ships and a large number of artillery. The Malacca Kingdom is an indigenous army composed of 30,000 Malays and Javaneses.

Because the muskets and artillery of the Portuguese could not be resisted, the Malacca Sultan had to abandon the city of Malacca and fled inland to continue to resist. Although he will not stay in the local area for a long time, he can dig a hole for the future Portuguese.

How to dig a hole for the Portuguese? it's actually really easy. It is to make Columbus find a way to provide a batch of muskets and artillery to the Kingdom of Malacca, and teach them how to operate.

When the Portuguese sent more than a thousand troops to attack, and the Malaccans also took out rifles and artillery, the Portuguese were dumbfounded ...

Although, the Malacca people are certainly not as skilled as the Portuguese. However, the Malacca people are one of the defenders and naturally have an advantage. As long as you have enough muskets and artillery, you do n’t have to worry about defeating the Portuguese aggressors.

In this way, Portugal's plan to advance eastward will be blocked. Even if you take down the Kingdom of Malacca Palace, you will be seriously hurt. And Marin, when the Portuguese were in despair, happened to enjoy the benefits of Daming Trade alone ...

To this end, Malin asked Columbus to bring an Arabic translation to communicate with the Kingdom of Malacca. The Malacca Kingdom has a green religion background, and naturally there will be people who understand Arabic. Then, as long as they are in touch, Columbus will find a way to sell or simply give the Malacca a group of matchlock guns and artillery. At the same time, they will be taught how to use it, how to collect and cook soil nitrate, and gunpowder formula.

When the Portuguese rushed to conquer a few years later, they would be beaten silly by the Malacca guns. If you want to conquer this country, do not want to do it without paying a heavy price.

Moreover, the Portuguese cannot accuse Marin. After all, is it wrong for Marin to give away a batch of guns to make friends with the Kingdom of Malacca a few years ago? No! After all, according to common sense, no one knows that Portugal will attack the Kingdom of Malacca in a few years ...

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