Ming East India Company

In the autumn of 1603, the 31st year of the Wanli reign, after months of turbulent ocean voyages, the Ming Dynasty ship carrying Wang Shihe and Yu Yicheng finally sailed into Manila Bay in Luzon.

After the sails were lowered and the ship was anchored, the ship owner showed the ferryman the boat's sign, and then let the two men and their servants off the ship.

Wang Shihe and Yu Yicheng walked slowly along the coast, preparing to find a suitable hotel to stay in, and then present their credentials to the local governor the next day to request diplomatic relations.

At the port, all kinds of goods were piled up like mountains, including glittering silver, spices from Southeast Asia, and silk and porcelain from the Ming Dynasty.

But when their gazes passed over the cargo at the harbor and fell upon the ships moored deep in the bay, they both stopped in their tracks, their initial relief upon disembarking instantly replaced by overwhelming awe.

It was a colossal sailing ship, far beyond any human imagination, floating steadily on the sea, like a mountain forged from giant wood. Even without its sails unfurled, it still possessed an imposing, sky-covering presence.

The small sampans and even the local indigenous canoes that passed by looked as tiny as fallen leaves in front of the giant ship.

Wang Shihe had been stationed at Haicheng Yuegang for many years and was used to seeing the finest three-masted Fujian ships of the Ming Dynasty. He thought he had seen all kinds of ocean-going vessels, but he was still filled with awe when he looked at the giant ship in front of him.

This large sailing ship is extremely wide and heavy, and its entire body is painted with dark brown anti-corrosion tar, which gleams with a bluish light in the sunlight. The hull is made of hardwood planks, which are several inches thick, and the joints are perfectly fitted.

Both the bow and stern are built with towering wooden cabins, arranged in a staggered manner. The command cabin at the stern is carved with intricate and swirling patterns, and the windows are inlaid with translucent glass.

Three towering masts stood upright on the hull, and huge layers of linen canvas were rolled up, still occupying most of the sky even when not unfolded. The lookout tower at the top of the masts hung high in the air, appearing as a blurry black dot from below. The sea breeze howled past, and the canvas and ropes made a dull hum.

Yu Yicheng, a military officer, kept his eyes fixed on the sides of the ship, his brows furrowing more and more.

On both sides of the ship, dozens of square gun ports were neatly arranged, with dark cannon muzzles protruding from them, stretching out in rows, densely packed, silently demonstrating the formidable combat power of this giant ship.

On deck, Spanish sailors and soldiers in red uniforms bustled about, some straining to tighten the thick mooring lines, others shouting as they loaded and unloaded cargo.

A giant winch in the center of the deck unloaded boxes of tightly sealed cargo from the hold and hoisted them onto the waiting barges and sampans.

"Such a colossal ship exists in this world..."

Wang Shihe spoke in a daze, his voice filled with undisguised astonishment:

"Our Ming Dynasty's ships are already among the best compared to those of Korea in the East, but compared to these Western sailing ships, they are several times smaller. Their size is probably only comparable to the giant ships that Zheng He made when he sailed to the Western Ocean."

Yu Yicheng placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his eyes serious.

"Wang, the county magistrate, take a closer look at the ship's hull. Dozens of cannons are arrayed in formation. The ship is thick and heavy, so it is not afraid of cannon fire. It has a deep draft and a huge carrying capacity. It can not only carry cargo on ocean voyages, but also fight naval battles and attack fortifications."

The barbarians possess such a powerful weapon, far beyond the capabilities of our Ming navy. Their naval strength far exceeds our previous assessment. If Your Majesty rashly sends troops, a crushing defeat is inevitable.

Wang Shihe nodded:

"It seems tomorrow's negotiations won't go very smoothly!"

After leaving the port, as instructed by the ship owner, the two arrived at a settlement called "Balian" on the shore. The densely packed Chinese-style wooden houses stretched out in a row, which was the place where Chinese people living and working in this area lived.

Merchants could be seen carrying goods back and forth, and blacksmith shops, silk shops, and rice shops were all doing brisk business.

Wang Shihe asked the interpreter beside him:

"Why are there so many Ming Dynasty citizens here?"

The interpreter replied:

"Since Yuegang opened to the sea, countless Ming Dynasty refugees went to Southeast Asia to make a living. Foreign merchants brought large quantities of goods and silver from who knows where, so these merchants came here to trade with the foreigners. Over time, more and more Ming people gathered here..."

As they continued deeper into the Eighth Company settlement, many Chinese people noticed the Ming Dynasty official robes worn by the two men and felt a sense of kinship in their eyes.

However, upon seeing the Spanish soldiers patrolling nearby, he could only lower his head hastily and dare not approach them to speak. This restrained demeanor made Wang Shi feel heartbroken, and at the same time, he felt even more absurd about this trip.

The two then found a restaurant to stay at, and the next day, guided by an interpreter, they arrived at the Spanish Governor's Palace in Manila.

Inside the Spanish Governor's Palace, Pedro de Acuña, the Spanish Governor-General of Luzon, sat at the head of the long table.

He was about fifty years old, with a burly build, wearing a dark governor's uniform with medals pinned to his chest. His face was stern, and his gray-blue eyes scrutinized the two men before him.

"Wang Shihe, Magistrate of Haicheng County of the Great Ming Dynasty, pays his respects to His Excellency the Governor-General." Wang Shihe bowed in the Ming Dynasty etiquette, then gestured to the interpreter to present the document from the Wanli Emperor:

"I have come across the ocean on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty for one purpose: I have heard that the island of Luzon under your rule is rich in gold, and I have come here to investigate. I have no intention of causing any trouble, and I hope that you will be accommodating."

Acunia took the document, listened to the interpreter finish translating, tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, and her eyes grew increasingly gloomy.

In his view, the Ming Dynasty had a vast territory and abundant resources, so why would it send officials across the ocean for a vague and illusory gold mine?

He suppressed his doubts, feigning calmness, and asked coldly through the interpreter:

"Luzon is under the jurisdiction of His Majesty the King. There has never been any talk of a gold mine. You two have traveled across the ocean to explore for minerals. Do you have any clear evidence?"

If the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty insists on exploring our territory, it would be extremely unreasonable.

"Your Excellency, you are mistaken."

Wang Shihe's stubbornness, typical of a civil official, kicked in.

"As the saying goes, 'Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the land, all people are subjects of the king.' Since the Son of Heaven of our Great Ming is the Son of Heaven, no matter where the vassal states are located or how large their territories are, they must all actively cooperate."

Moreover, this mission by the Ming Dynasty is merely an exploration, not an invasion of your territory; how can it be considered unreasonable?

Upon hearing Wang Shihe's words, Yu Yicheng, who was accompanying him, broke out in a cold sweat. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. If you're not behaving properly when you're doing things on someone else's turf, does Magistrate Wang really think that you don't kill envoys in war?

Yu Yicheng quickly signaled with his eyes, but Wang Shihe seemed to be enjoying the feeling and continued to speak to himself:

"Our Great Ming Emperor, by the mandate of Heaven, reigns supreme over all lands. His civil administration benefits the Chinese people, and his military prowess awes the barbarians. During his more than thirty years on the throne, the government was efficient and the people were harmonious. The country was prosperous and the people were at peace. The granaries were full, and the people lived in happiness."

It is already an honor that Your Excellency has sent us to inquire. This time it is merely an inquiry; next time, I fear it will be an imperial decree.