Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

The Zheng family wanted to purchase a batch of cannons from the Bugalao Cannon Foundry, but the French did not accept the order for various reasons.

There are many reasons, but both sides know that the most important one is the possible trade conflict.

They had to prevent the Zheng family from buying their cannons and firing the shells at them.

The French were very dissatisfied with their trade in Southeast Asia because they had to pay high protection fees to the Zheng family.

In Ma Tong's opinion, if Zhang Shikang negotiated the artillery order in the capacity of the imperial court, he might not be rejected, but the price would definitely be very expensive.

The French have always been like this.

It is also for this reason that even though the Bugalao Cannon Foundry was almost a hundred years old, the Ming Dynasty court did not actually buy many cannons from the French, but instead made all of them themselves.

Of course, there was also the reason that the imperial court was too poor.

"I like to eat everything except losses. If the French are sensible, I will let them stay in the tycoon for a while. If they want to take advantage of the rich, I have plenty of ways to make them unable to operate." Zhang Shikang frowned.

Portugal was a tiny country, and no matter how big its colonial business was, its homeland was still thousands of miles away from the Ming Dynasty.

And Haojing is right next to Guangzhou. It is not difficult for the great Ming Dynasty to take over such a tiny place.

If we really want to be efficient, the worst that can happen is that we can join forces with the Zheng family and blow all their artillery pieces into pieces.

In the next few days, the Ming Navy sailed smoothly. Since it was winter, the ocean current in the Ming waters was heading north, so the fleet's sailing speed was not slow.

On November 16, the fleet finally arrived in the waters of Guangzhou Prefecture.

When Haojing appeared in Zhang Shikang's eyes, Zhang Shikang saw the artillery position at a dangerous place on Haojing Beach.

Because Zhang Shikang did not inform them in advance, and his fleet did not fly the Zheng family's flag, the French people in Haojing were very nervous.

Their soldiers, dressed in their country's military uniforms, quickly rushed to the fort to defend themselves under the orders of several leaders.

The French were greatly surprised by this fleet of unknown origin, because they had no idea whether it was an enemy or a friend.

Zhang Shikang did not make any statement. Until the fleet entered the firing range of the artillery, the French still restrained themselves from firing.

Zhang Shikang then ordered Ma Tong to tell the other party his identity.

Ma Tong personally brought an interpreter who understood French and boarded a small boat to the trench to negotiate with the French.

A moment later, the crisis was resolved and Zhang Shikang saw Ma Tong signaling to the flag bearer of the flagship.

"Marshal, Lord Ma said that the French only allow our flagship to dock."

"Tell them that I must bring my personal guards." Zhang Shikang said without hesitation.

He has been facing various assassination attempts these days, so he must be extra cautious in such an unfamiliar place.

Ma Tong communicated with the French again, seemingly explaining Zhang Shikang's status in the Ming Dynasty, using gestures and other things, and finally the French agreed.

But when Zhang Shikang really went ashore with his personal guards, the leader of the French turned green in the face.

"Ma, didn't you say that your commander-in-chief only landed with his personal guards?" The leader was about thirty years old, his brows furrowed.

Of course, important figures in their Franji country also have personal guards, but even their governor in Southeast Asia only has a few dozen personal guards.

But Zhang Shikang had about a thousand people following him, and it was obvious that these bodyguards were not easy to deal with.

Not only were all of them wearing armor, they also had swords on their waists. What was even more outrageous was that hundreds of them among the thousand people were holding dove guns.

But the French only have a little over a thousand soldiers in the trenches!

If the other party had bad intentions, the French people's hundred-year operation in Haojing would probably be ruined.

"Yes, these are our Marshal's personal guards." Ma Tong said solemnly.

Of course, he deliberately did not tell the other party the specific number of his personal guards, otherwise the other party would definitely not allow it.

But Ma Tong did not look embarrassed at all. Instead, he looked as if this was normal.

How can the Grand Marshal of my Ming Dynasty be compared to that of your French country?

At this time, a man who looked like a leader in his forties or fifties walked out of the city. He was wearing typical European aristocratic clothing and was followed by dozens of French soldiers.

His name was Shi Luobao, and he was the leader of the French Kingdom in Haojing. He was quite surprised when he learned that Zhang Shikang, the Grand Marshal of the Ming Dynasty, suddenly came to Haojing with his fleet.

The Ming Dynasty had not had a decent navy for decades. Before that, the Ming Dynasty's waters had always been in chaos until the rise of Zheng Yiguan.

Shi Luobao has been in Haojing for four or five years, but until now he still doesn't understand why the Ming Dynasty court gave such an important financial source as maritime trade to the Zheng family instead of managing it themselves.

It is also for this reason that Shi Luobao is full of expectations for the arrival of the Ming Dynasty’s top leaders.

When he saw Zhang Shikang brought so many personal guards, he was stunned at first, but soon regained his welcoming expression.

After all, the other party has already landed, so it is meaningless for him to object any further.

"Your Excellency the Grand Marshal, I am the Governor of France here, Shi Luobao. Welcome to Haojing." Shi Luobao placed his right hand on his left chest and bowed to Zhang Shikang.

His Ming language was not as fluent as Johann Adam Schall von Bell's, and sounded particularly stiff.

Zhang Shikang waved at him and said with a smile:

"You have managed my Ming Dynasty's luxury mirror very well."

Shi Luobao was stunned for a moment, but still said calmly:

"Your Excellency, Grand Marshal, I don't understand. We the French were recognized by the Ming court ninety years ago. Why are you here today?"

"I'm here to discuss business, but is this how you treat guests?" Zhang Shikang asked back.

He did not mention the issue of the sovereignty of the trench mirror any more, because he knew that no matter how he argued, it would never lead to any results.

National defense is the real backing of diplomacy. When you are strong enough to make the other side afraid, all problems will no longer be problems.

Now, it is better to proceed from reality, put aside the dispute first, and leave the rest to time.

"Your Excellency the Grand Marshal, please enter the city." Shi Luobao was very polite.

But when Zhang Shikang led a thousand guards to the gate of the castle, Shi Luobao said:

"Your Excellency the Grand Marshal, you cannot bring so many guards into the castle. You should know why."

"Governor Shi, right? Do you know how many assassination attempts I have faced in the past year?

Perhaps more than the number of assassinations suffered by the kings of your Franji country in the past three hundred years combined." Zhang Shikang said with a smile.

"Believe me, you can't afford to see me die here."

……