October 26, 1870, Havana.
Amid the rumbling salutes, the two warships "Friendship" and "Alliance" and two immigration ships sailed into the port of Havana
The sun and moon flag on the flagpole at the top of the warship is fluttering in the wind. This is the national flag of the Ming Dynasty.
It was designed by Zhu Xianhai in France. The sun and moon are for brightness, and the sun and moon should hang in the blue sky. It’s that simple. The national flag doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be easy to draw.
When the fleet entered the port, the dock workers watched the fleet. Since there were white people, black people, and some Chinese - there are hundreds of thousands of Chinese in Cuba, accounting for 10% of its population, although a considerable number of Chinese workers
They worked as coolies on the plantations, but there were still tens of thousands of freed Chinese laborers living in Havana. Many of them worked on the docks.
"This is the flag of Ming Dynasty!"
Although some of them still had braids, their eyes changed somewhat when they looked at the team.
But for these Chinese workers overseas, they don’t care about the Ming Dynasty or the Qing Dynasty! After all, they have been oppressed by foreigners in Cuba these years and have lived a life worse than horses.
They had hoped that the Qing Dynasty would stand up for them.
But what about dreaming?
How could the Qing Dynasty offend foreigners for them?
What about Ming Dynasty?
Will Daming stand up for them?
The answer is yes. While the Chinese workers looked at these two huge warships with complicated eyes, Lieutenant General Sorel and his party walked into the command cabin of the "Friendship". As governors, they had to first board the ship to pay tribute to the emperor.
.
However, what greeted Governor Soler and others were Zhu Xianhai's cold words.
"You must free the Chinese workers unconditionally!"
In an instant, the temperature in the cabin dropped several degrees. Without waiting for Lieutenant General Sorel to answer, Zhu Xianhai took out several photos. The Chinese workers in the photos were all wearing shackles.
“Our people signed contracts and came here to work, but they were enslaved and beaten, let alone like slaves, using shackles to restrict their freedom, forcing them to work, beating, mistreating, and imprisoning them. This is how you treat labor
way?"
Faced with the expected questioning of troops, Lieutenant General Soler responded quickly even though he felt a little unprepared.
"Your Majesty, I believe this is just an extremely rare incident. Even slaves in Cuba do not need to wear shackles!" "That's because they are slaves and are slaves from birth, while our people are free people, but you are driving them like slaves.
Even if they were abused, beaten, and imprisoned, they would have fled long ago. In fact, the Chinese workers who could not bear the abuse had participated in the escape from the beginning - together with the remaining Indians, together with the hidden Moriscos, and together with the black slaves
, and now in order to survive, many of them have joined the rebel army led by Baez, and Chinese workers in groups and camps are fighting for their freedom..."
"Your Majesty, Baez is a rebel!"
Lieutenant General Soler said loudly.
From the official Spanish position, there is no doubt that Baez, who led the rebel army, is a rebel.
"They can be rebels or insurrectionists!"
Zhu Xianhai answered straightforwardly.
"As for what kind of person you are, you can make up your mind, and so can we!"
Faced with such a naked power, Lieutenant General Soler was heartbroken. When had he ever been bullied like this? The Spaniard's pride made him immediately retort.
"Your Majesty, is this a threat?"
"No!"
Zhu Xianhai shook his head and said.
"This is reality!"
Looking at Lieutenant General Soler, Zhu Xianhai said.
"Now, I can discuss these things with you here. If you reject my goodwill, then my fleet and my army will speak for me. Please don't think that my goodwill is unlimited and my patience is also limited.
of!"
What is a threat?
This is a threat. A threat is to tell the other party directly - if you don't agree, I will deal with you!
This threat is the most direct and powerful!
"His Majesty……"
Faced with such a threat, Lieutenant General Soler was really at a loss. Although he had several plans in mind to deal with the problem of the Chinese workers, the other party did not follow common sense at all!
He even directly stated his attitude - accept it or get beaten.
Get beaten!
Even a few years ago, before the queen was ousted from the throne, Spain would definitely have been beaten when faced with such two warships. So what about now?
Thinking of the dilapidated wooden-hulled warships in the Bay of Havana, Lieutenant General Soler's heart sank, not to mention how heavy he was, knowing that there was no room for bargaining. After thinking for a moment, he said.
"Your Majesty, we need time to report this matter to Madrid, and then Madrid will make a decision. After all, this involves hundreds of thousands of people, and they have signed contracts with the plantation."
Lieutenant General Soler thought that such a concession would satisfy the other party, but his idea of delaying time immediately came to nothing.
"You have twenty-four hours!"
This is the ultimatum!
Zhu Xianhai didn't give him a chance to delay at all. He didn't have time to spend time with them. After all, Cuba was just passing by and there was another thing to do.
"I hope you can make a decision within twenty-four hours - whether to free the Chinese workers and abolish the inhumane slave sales contract!"
What about twenty-four hours later?
Of course the cannons are firing and blasting his mother!
In fact, in terms of his inner thoughts, Zhu Xianhai hoped that the Spaniards would be prouder and tougher and reject this request directly. Then the fleet took the opportunity to bombard Havana. Since he wanted to support the Chinese workers, he had to make some noise!
In fact, supporting Chinese workers can not only establish the orthodox image of Ming Dynasty in the eyes of countries around the world!
More importantly, the Ming Dynasty needs to let the world see that the Ming Dynasty and the Manchu Qing Dynasty are completely different.
The Ming Dynasty did not accept the tactics they used to deal with the Manchus!
The "treaty clearing" that measures China's material resources and the favor of its allies has long lost China's face. If Ming Dynasty wants to gain a foothold on the international stage, it must pick up the lost face of the "treaty clearing" bit by bit and protect its overseas Chinese.
This is the first step. There is no way. Westerners cannot tell who is a Ming person and who is a Qing person. In their eyes, they are all Chinese.
If you want to regain the lost face, you must use some tough methods. Talking about convincing people with virtue and subduing others without fighting are all nonsense.
For Westerners, what they have learned is nothing more than - might makes right. Only when you are beaten often and the pain is painful, will they get along well with you.
"His Majesty,"
Governor Solaire, who was clenching his fists with both hands and feeling extremely humiliated in his heart, although he instinctively wanted to refuse, he still chose reason.
"Your Majesty, please go back and seek the judge's opinion. After all, this involves many legal issues that need to be resolved."
When Soler finished speaking, Zhu Xianhai immediately agreed.
"Indeed, this matter does involve many legal issues. I believe that in the process of handling this incident, it is necessary for us to establish a special court with personnel from both sides to investigate the illegal imprisonment and abuse of Chinese workers by the plantation owners.
And be punished according to the law!”
Without waiting for Lieutenant General Soler to object, Zhu Xianhai said to Li Weiye on the side.
"Li Weiye, I appoint you as the judge of the joint court to investigate and handle this matter."
Although the appointment came out of the blue, Li Weiye said excitedly.
"I will definitely live up to His Majesty's great trust."
This... we haven't agreed yet! When Lieutenant General Soler was about to speak, Zhu Xianhai said to him.
"You don't have to worry about his professional level. He is a top student in the law department of Sciences Po in Paris. By the way, he was born on a plantation in Cuba, and his father was an indentured Chinese laborer!"
In an instant, Soler's face turned pale. Everyone knew what kind of appointment there was... He was clearly here for revenge!
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but for a moment, he saw a sneer flashing in the beautiful eyes of the mixed-race child...
As usual, Li Nianxiang was busy in his shop. After finally walking out of the plantation more than ten years ago, he relied on picking and selling daily groceries. He bought this grocery store and then put it in the plantation.
The woman he was in love with and his own child were ransomed and brought out. Not only did he take them out of the plantation, but he also sent his son to school and even went to France.
"Work hard for a few more years, and when Weiye comes back, I can marry him a wife and then..."
Just when he was looking forward to the future, someone suddenly ran over and shouted to him.
"Brother Li, Brother Li, hurry up, hurry up to the dock, our China, no, the Ming Dynasty's ship is coming..."
Like many people, after learning that Ming warships had arrived in Havana, Li Nianxiang also followed him to the dock. Even if some of them even had braids, to them, whether it was Ming or Qing
No matter. It’s all China.
"It's really a Chinese ship. Look, look, what's written on the bow?"
"friendship!"
When staring at the square characters on the bow, like many people, Li Nianxiang's eyes became a little hot and he almost shed tears.
In the past, they never dared to think that one day they would see Chinese ships here.
At this moment, someone else pointed at the people on the boat and said.
"Brother Li, look and see if that's Weiye."
"Isn't it just Weiye? How did he get on this ship? Isn't he studying in France?"
When Li Nianxiang was surprised that his son was actually on the boat, he saw an even more surprising scene. Those arrogant foreign officers were talking politely to him, and some even bowed to him.
This, what's going on.
Staring eagerly at the foreigners on the boat who were complimenting his son, Li Nianxiang was completely confused...
This chapter has been completed!