The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 294: Suzerainty Treaties and European Emperors

"The Ming people appeared in La Plata!"

The King and Queen of Spain were shocked when they received the report:
"What do the Ming people want to do! Are they going to declare war on Spain?"

Godoy, the Spanish Prime Minister and the Queen's favorite, quickly explained:

“The Ming people did not enter La Plata, but went to the area south of La Plata to open up the land that belonged to the Mapuche people in the Treaty of Quillin.

"This matter... nominally has nothing to do with Spain..."

The Queen of Spain said subconsciously:

“It doesn’t matter, but after the Ming people gain a foothold there, will they continue to extend their greedy tentacles to Buenos Aires?

“The greed of the Ming people for land knows no limits.

"He traded with us to gain the Great Plains of North America, and used his national strength to control all of Africa.

“We also signed a suzerainty treaty with Portugal and acquired Brazil.

“What are they going to do next?
"Buenos Aires is too dangerous, we have to do something!"

Godoy spread his hands helplessly and said:
“Even if we issue a warning and ask the Ming Dynasty not to open up new land south of La Plata, the Ming Dynasty will definitely ignore it.

"And we can't declare war on Ming because of this...

"What we should do now, what we can think about, is to strengthen the defense of Buenos Aires."

The King of Spain said uncertainly:

"We are allies with the Ming Dynasty, right? We have a treaty of friendship and alliance..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the king realized something:
"When was the treaty signed? How long is its term? How long until it expires?"

Godoy also realized this, and said with a serious expression:

"The treaty was signed in 1782. It should have been for years, and it will expire in a little over a year...

"I think it's time to contact Ming again to discuss the renewal of the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance."

The King of Spain immediately echoed this:

"Yes, yes, it's time to discuss renewal."

The Queen of Spain said anxiously:

"Will Ming sign it?"

Godoy immediately said:

"Inviting Ming to renew the treaty is a good way to test Ming's attitude towards this matter and Ming's attitude towards Spain.

"If the Ming Dynasty refuses, then we really have to prepare for the worst."

The Queen of Spain understood what the worst-case scenario was:
"Then arrange for someone to go right away. The sooner the better... No, this is the most important matter. You should go there in person."

Godoy had no way to refuse. The relationship with the Ming Dynasty was the most important thing. He had dealt with the Ming Dynasty several times and had some experience, so he could only agree.
-
In the autumn of the seventh year of Tiangong, the laying of the submarine cable from Guangzhou to Luzon was successfully accepted, and submarine cable communication was confirmed to be feasible.

On the twentieth day of the first month of the eighth year of Tiangong, the Ming Dynasty ushered in a new year, and all government offices officially opened for work.

Zhu Jianxuan formally ordered the establishment of the Ming Intercontinental Communications Company and began laying submarine cables connecting the world.

First, the Haiti cable was laid across the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, allowing more stable wired telegraphs and even telephones to connect the African and American continents.

Not long after the company was established, Zhu Jianxuan received a telegram from Tunisia, informing him that the Spaniards were coming to visit again.

When Godoy went to the Ming Dynasty, he usually took a Ming Dynasty steamship directly and passed through Tunisia, Egypt and other places controlled by the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, the news would be known to the Ming Dynasty people.

After the Western Factory received relevant information, it would mention it in its routine reports.

So when Godoy was still in the Mediterranean, Zhu Jianxuan knew that he was coming to Ming Dynasty again, and after a brief confusion, he roughly knew what he was going to do.

After Zhu Jianxuan found out, he called the Honglu Temple and gave them some instructions.

More than a month later, on February 1801, the eighth year of Tiangong, April 4, 7 in the Gregorian calendar, the Spanish delegation arrived in Shuntian Prefecture.

If it were any other unrelated country, even if the other party's highest official, equivalent to the prime minister, came, the Ming court would only let the Honglu Temple receive him.

However, the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between Spain and the Ming Dynasty has not yet expired, and the two sides have a relatively equal relationship under the treaty.

Now that the Spanish Prime Minister had arrived, Zhu Jianxuan asked Liu Quanzhi and Duan Yucai, with whom he had dealt before, to receive him. Both of them were the highest-ranking civil servants in the Ming Dynasty.

It was still at the Libin Palace of the Honglu Temple, and the two sides, as old acquaintances, met and exchanged greetings on behalf of each other's monarchs.

Then Spanish Prime Minister Godoy explained his purpose.

Liu Quanzhi and the other person had already been arranged. At this time, they looked at each other and Liu Quanzhi smiled and said:
"The Treaty of Friendship and Alliance cannot be renewed. This is not directed at Spain, but at all countries. The Ming Dynasty will not sign similar treaties in the future.

"If Spain or other countries want to establish a stable and friendly relationship with the Ming Dynasty, they can sign a vassal treaty and become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty."

At this time, Liu Quanzhi was speaking the elegant language of the Ming Dynasty. European high-ranking nobles and officials such as Godoy had also become proficient in using the elegant language of the Ming Dynasty over the years.

When Godoy heard that the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance could not be renewed, his heart suddenly pricked.

Subconsciously, I thought that the Ming Dynasty had already regarded Spain as its prey, and after gaining a foothold in Brazil and the Pampas, it would be time to attack the Viceroyalty of La Plata.

This judgment is certainly not wrong.

However, Liu Quan's subsequent words reduced his panic a little, but also made him more shocked.

"Suzerainty and vassalage? Becoming a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty? Like Portugal?"

Liu Quanzhi casually explained:

“Similar, but not quite the same. Portugal is a small country with few people, so it only has the treatment of a county kingdom.

“Spain has more territory and population, and has cooperated with Ming many times in the past twenty years. Both sides are satisfied and there are no conflicts.

"So Spain can enjoy the treatment of a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty."

After hearing this, Godoy fell silent, thinking that Ming Dynasty’s request was a bit ridiculous.

In the eyes of Europeans, vassal states are dependent states, that is, conquered countries, which is different from the mentality of the vassal states surrounding the Ming Dynasty.

Spain considers itself a European power and a colonial empire since the Age of Discovery.

"Being a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty... this is impossible..."

At this time Duan Yucai spoke:

“Your Majesty has issued an order to establish the vassal system of the Ming Dynasty. In the future, the trade scope of the Ming Dynasty will be limited to the vassal system.

“After the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between Ming and Spain expires, official open trade with Spain will be stopped.

"Ming will no longer export traditional Ming goods to Spain and all independent European countries."

This time Godoy found it even more incredible:
"Why? Why did the Ming Dynasty close its doors to the outside world? Why did the Ming Dynasty stop foreign trade? If the Ming Dynasty doesn't want silver, we can take gold."

Duan Yucai bowed upwards:

“Your Majesty taught that to a country, money is just a number and a gold note is just a piece of paper.

“Real wealth is the goods produced by the country, food, clothing, steel, gunpowder, guns, and machines.

"The Great Ming Gold Note is essentially a bill that has been promised and approved by the Great Ming court and can be used to redeem a general bearer bill for any goods.

“So in the future, we can completely stop using gold as a medium for accounting, and directly print the appropriate number of bills according to the country’s production capacity.

“Without its use as a medium of accounting, gold can really be regarded as something like a lump of earth or stone, except as a handicraft material.”

Godoy was stunned after hearing this, and he couldn't quite understand this economic logic:

"But... this... this is impossible... how can gold be the same as stone..."

Duan Yucai smiled and continued:
"Let me put it another way. Think about it, do you, Spain, or any other country, have any goods that Ming Dynasty urgently needs?
"no?

"Everything that the Ming Dynasty needs can be produced by itself, and can be exchanged through printed gold notes.

“Even if a certain amount of gold is needed for industry and handicrafts, as well as for the gold reserves for issuing gold notes, the gold that Ming has accumulated, as well as the gold that is currently mined and smelted, is sufficient.

"Your gold and silver are just dirt and stone to the Ming Dynasty.

“Why would the Ming Dynasty use its silk, tea, and porcelain, which are practical items made by Ming workers with great effort, to exchange for your stones and soil?

“Unless your entire country joins the Ming Dynasty’s vassal system, your nobles and common people will also become subjects of the Ming Emperor.

"Only then will His Majesty show mercy and allow you to join the Ming Dynasty's goods exchange system.

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Godoy understood a little, but still found it hard to accept. This reality seemed absurd to him:

"Is it a gift from the Emperor of Ming to his subjects that he is allowed to trade with the Ming Dynasty and obtain goods from the Ming Dynasty? If you are not a subject, you cannot receive a gift?"

Duan Yucai smiled and stroked his long beard:

"That's it."

Godoy confirmed that the Ming official was not joking, and sat there motionless and silent for a long time, trying to accept this reality as soon as possible. Duan Yucai had already started drinking tea, and when he was not sure whether to send him away, Godoy spoke again.

I asked some questions which may or may not be helpful:
"If... I mean if, Spain decides to become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, what specific conditions and changes will it need to accept?

"In government, for example? In law and religion? In the provinces and colonies?"

This time it was Liu Quanzhi who explained:
“The Ming Dynasty will not directly interfere in all matters concerning Spain unless the King of Spain takes the initiative to request it.

"You only need to provide a port in the Mediterranean for the Ming army to station and repair ships.

“As for the colonies, the Ming Dynasty will not directly interfere in the three viceroyalties of New Spain, New Granada, and Peru, but they must be fully open to the people of the Ming Dynasty.

“The Viceroyalty of La Plata and all the lands in the Amazon River Basin will be handed over to the Ming Dynasty for jurisdiction.

"But the current and future Spaniards in the area are still governed by the governor sent by the King of Spain, and all the wealth of the local nobles and immigrants is also fully retained.

“In addition, the King of Spain needs to pay one-tenth of his net income every year as tribute to the Emperor of Ming.

"The Ming navy and army will protect the security of Spain's mainland and colonies.

“All commodities sold openly by the people of the Ming Dynasty are now open to Spanish officials and citizens.

"A small amount of equipment specially supplied by the Ming army and the imperial court can also be granted to you in limited quantities according to the situation.

“However, the Ming Dynasty court and the people will no longer directly use gold and silver as currency.

“The gold and silver you bring, or other colonial or European specialties, must first be treated as commodities and sold at market prices.

"After exchanging it for the Ming gold notes left in Ming territory, she can use the Ming gold notes to purchase Ming goods."

After listening to this, Godoy said that he had taken note of it and that these conditions themselves were not particularly exaggerated.

The Amazon River basin is originally a rainforest, and there are no gold or silver mines in the La Plata region. Most of the 500,000 residents are farmers and herdsmen who have opened up new land.

In exchange for the protection of the Ming Dynasty and completely open private trade, there is no problem in exchanging one's own goods for Ming Dynasty banknotes before purchasing.

The biggest problem lies in the 10% tribute and the act of paying tribute itself.

Godoy tried several times and confirmed that the Ming court's current attitude was real and would not change, and that it would only trade with vassal states in the future.

I left with extremely complicated feelings.

Godoy stayed in the Honglu Temple for a few days, and after repeatedly inquiring and confirming that he could not meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had to set off directly back to Europe.

The matter of paying tribute and submitting to the throne was not something he could decide as the prime minister, and there was no point in staying here any longer.

On May 1801, 5, Godoy returned to Madrid and reported the gains of his trip to the king and queen.

The King and Queen of Spain were both confused after hearing the report.

"Only vassal states can trade with the Ming Dynasty by paying tribute? Is the Ming Dynasty going to restore the tradition of more than a hundred years ago?"

"The Ming Dynasty is really interested in La Plata. That place will be really dangerous in the future..."

Godoy listened to the two bosses' complaints and couldn't help but remind and ask:
"Your Majesty, how should we respond to the Ming Dynasty?"

The King of Spain said subconsciously:

"That's impossible. Spain is an independent kingdom and it is impossible for it to become a vassal of the Ming emperor. The key is that it still has to pay 10% tribute."

Godoy immediately reminded:

"Then by the end of next year, the friendship and alliance treaty between Ming and Spain will expire, and the trade between the two sides may come to an end completely."

The King of Spain was tangled:

"This……"

The Queen of Spain asked directly:

"What do you think? Is there any way for us to continue to trade with Ming Dynasty without becoming its vassal?"

On the way back, Godoy had thought of many options:

"The only feasible method is to call on all countries in Europe and Asia to unite and fight against the Ming Dynasty.

"As long as we can defeat the Ming Dynasty in the war, the so-called Celestial Empire system that the Ming Dynasty wants to establish will not be established."

The Queen of Spain was shocked:
"Defeat the Ming Dynasty? That's impossible. The Ming Dynasty has more than 500 million people!"

Godoy immediately said:

“More than 500 million people cannot be fully committed to the war.

"If all of Europe were united, there would be at least 200 million people.

“Five hundred million and two hundred million may seem like a difference of more than twice, but in reality the number of people that can be sent to the battlefield should be the same.

"We will reach the limit of the forces we can use and control.

“Especially if we can get Russia, Shun, and the Ottoman Empire to join us, we may not be without an advantage over the Ming Dynasty.

"If the Ming Dynasty stops foreign trade, it will harm the interests of all countries.

"The Ming Dynasty required countries to pay tribute before they could trade, which actually regarded all countries as inferior.

"Under these two conditions, there is a chance that an alliance against the Ming Dynasty can be established.

“Moreover, the population of the Ming Dynasty is too large. After they have occupied all the land in the world, they will definitely seize the land of other countries in the Old World.

"If European countries do not fight against the Ming Dynasty now, they will have to unite to fight against the Ming Dynasty in the future."

The Spanish king and queen nodded repeatedly:
"That makes sense. The population of the Ming Dynasty is indeed too large, and the Ming Dynasty is indeed too greedy."

"But the situation in Europe is not stable right now. Britain is still unwilling to truly hand over Gibraltar. The war may continue..."

Godoy also knew that what the king said was true, and immediately said with some grief:
"This is really the sadness of the whole of Europe. Why can't we unite and face the outside world together...

"If the whole of Europe were a country, what we should be doing now is to compete with Ming Dynasty for Africa and North America, or even India and Australia."

The Queen of Spain had an idea when she heard this:

"Perhaps Napoleon has a chance, he has now conquered Italy and most of the German states.

"He was invincible on land, and neither Prussia nor Austria was a match for him.

“Now that Spain is allied with France, in the future all it needs to do is build a navy large enough to defeat Britain.

“The whole of Europe would have a real chance to come together.

"Then the alliance against the Ming Dynasty will naturally be established."

The King of Spain was stunned for a moment, then immediately nodded and clapped his hands and said:
"What the queen said makes sense. If Napoleon could conquer all of Europe, then Napoleon would be the emperor of Europe and the emperor of Rome."

The Spaniards began to place their hopes on Napoleon, not minding or even speculating that he would become emperor.

In the European context, there are some subtle differences between the emperor and the emperor of Shenzhou.

Including the English word "emperor", the words translated as "emperor" in European countries basically come from the Latin noun "imperator".

The literal meaning is "commander, chief", and it does not mean the highest head of a country.

The "Huang" in Shenzhou is similar to that in Persia, which means the king of all kings. The "Emperor" was originally a god worshipped by the Shang king, so it also has a sacred meaning.

The concept of authority of European emperors may not be as strong as that of kings. When Europeans describe a person with great power, they usually say that he is like a king rather than an emperor.

In theory, the European king was the legitimate and direct master of the country, and also the patriarch and patriarch of an ethnic group.

The king has unlimited power over his country's land and people.

It was only restricted after the modern revolution.

The emperor in Europe was originally just a military commander, but his meaning was expanded to include the commander of a group of people and organizations, and he was supported by a wide range of people and organizations.

His actual power will be limited by various compromises because it is obtained through advocacy rather than through the status of "master".

Therefore, for a European strongman to declare himself emperor was not as sensitive as to declare himself king. As long as he really had support, he could become emperor.

To be the king of Europe, one has to look at inheritance and bloodline, and check the qualifications claimed, so it is not easy to fool people.

Because the king in Europe usually means clan leader or chief.

The words for kings of European countries, including the British king, are basically related to roots related to bloodline and reproduction, and their original meaning is the head of a large family.

So the European kings really depend on their bloodline, and it is actually more appropriate to translate it as chief.

The original pictograph of the character "王" in Shenzhou was an axe, symbolizing the person who holds the axe and controls military power and the power of punishment within a group.

Therefore, the king of Shenzhou does not mean a clan leader, but is more like a European emperor, in which bloodline is not required.

When Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor of France, European countries did not react strongly.

But when Napoleon additionally conferred the title of King of Italy on himself, Austria could no longer bear it.

When Napoleon conferred titles of king on his brothers and brothers-in-law one by one, all the monarchs in Europe were furious.

(End of this chapter)