In the study room of the Palace of Qianqing, as usual, Emperor Hongzhi left the cabinet minister, the six ministers, and the governor of the fifth army Zhang Mao to stay to discuss national affairs after the morning dynasty.
"Your Majesty, news came yesterday that my Ming Dynasty's fleet to support Spain in Europe is about to arrive in Europe. The fleet has carried out many pirate operations on the east coast of Africa and in the Atlantic waters, dealing a heavy blow to European pirates."
"However, according to the news coming back from Europe, Spain seems to be almost unable to withstand it. Britain, France, and Portugal are attacking Spain at the same time. Their king has sent a letter asking for help to our Ming Dynasty."
Zhang Mao held a memorial in his hand and reported to Emperor Hongzhi.
The war in Europe is now in full swing. Because they are dissatisfied with the "Penglai Agreement" signed between the Spanish and the Ming Dynasty, and are also jealous of Spain's exclusive trade rights with the Ming Dynasty, France, Britain, and Portugal also jointly sent troops to attack Spain.
This war has lasted for nearly a year. The two sides fought from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel, and even reached the Spanish colony on the Golden Island. On land, the border between France and Spain has reached Within the borders of Spain.
Spain was very powerful at this time. Not only was it a powerful sea force, but it was also quite powerful on land. Relying on sea trade with the Ming Dynasty, it gained huge profits and wealth. It was also a one-on-one fight. It's been more than a year.
But after all, it is difficult for two fists to defeat four hands, not to mention that they are fighting three countries at the same time. The French on land have always been a military power on land in Europe. As for the British pirates, although their strength is not good, pirates are disgusting. , the Portuguese are very ambitious and their maritime strength will not be worse than that of Spain.
The battle between the two sides also made Spain very uncomfortable, and now it is almost unable to hold on.
"Well, let's proceed as planned."
"Spain still needs to help. Without the Spaniards to support us, there will be no peace in these colonial strongholds on the east coast of Golden Continent."
Emperor Hongzhi nodded slightly, thought about it and said.
"Yes~"
Zhang Mao nodded immediately.
Supporting Spain was a strategy that had been formulated at the beginning of the year. Spain recognized Ming's sovereignty over Golden Continent, and Ming also recognized Spain as Ming's only trading partner in Europe.
The two sides also worked together to clear out the colonial strongholds of European countries on the east coast of the Golden Continent, ensuring that Ming Dynasty would monopolize the Golden Continent, so it was helpful to help, and a chaotic Europe was more in line with Ming's interests.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Ottoman Empire sent a mission to our country, requesting that we demarcate the territory of the Khazar Sea (Caspian Sea) with our country. At the same time, we also requested that our country must stop contact with Persia and the Mamluk Kingdom of Egypt."
"In addition, the Ottoman Empire also requires trade with our Ming Dynasty, hoping to obtain our Ming Dynasty's exclusive trade rights with Europe."
After Zhang Mao finished talking about the Spanish people in Europe, Zhang Sheng, the Minister of Rites, stood up again and said.
Recently, the Ottoman Empire's mission arrived in the Ming Dynasty's capital and handed over to the Ming Empire a letter written by the Ottoman Emperor to Emperor Hongzhi. At the same time, they also formally made their demands to the Ming Empire.
"Delimiting the territory of the Khazar Sea?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he frowned slightly. Xiao Jing was very careful and immediately ordered someone to spread out a map of Central Asia.
"Your Majesty, this is the Khazar Sea. Its northeastern side belongs to the Kazakh Khanate, and its due east is the Hezhong area that belongs to our Ming Dynasty. This year, our Ming Dynasty will attack the Kazakh Khanate, Shaibani Khanate, Timur
The Khanate carried out military strikes and also captured the vast area in the southern part of the Khazar Sea, and the farthest border area was already bordering the Ottoman Empire."
Opening the map, Zhang Sheng came to the side of the map, pointed at the area on the map and started explaining.
"The Khazar Sea, isn't this the Caspian Sea?"
Liu Jin looked at the map and recognized it at once. This sea was the Caspian Sea. However, it was not called the Caspian Sea during this period, but the Khazar Sea. Caspian Sea is the English name, and Khazar Sea is the Turkic name.
"I didn't expect that the Ming Dynasty actually borders the Ottoman Empire. This territory is big enough!"
Then Liu Jin couldn't help but laugh again. It stands to reason that the Ming Dynasty and the Ottoman Empire are thousands of miles apart. Unexpectedly, the Ming Dynasty continued to expand westward and unknowingly bordered the Ottoman Empire. Although now looking at it, this border
The local area is still very small, just a small part of the southern part of the Caspian Sea, but it is still connected.
You must know that the Ottoman Empire was a large empire spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa. Although most of the territory of later generations was in Asia, they insisted on saying that they were European countries.
This means that on land, the Ming Dynasty is actually close to opening up trade routes to Europe.
"Here~"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the map and nodded slightly. Khazarhai didn't know, but the Hezhong area still knew. After thinking about it, he asked again: "Where is the Mamluk Kingdom?"
"Your Majesty is here. The Mamluk Kingdom belongs to Africa. It is in the northeastern corner of Africa. Unlike South Africa, the people who rule here are Middle Eastern Arabs. They are white people and are not Kunlun slaves."
Zhang Sheng pointed to a corner of the map and said, as the Minister of Rites, he still needs to understand the situation of each country, because today's Ming Dynasty has too many countries to communicate with.
In addition to our old neighbors Korea, Japan, Siam, Sulu, Malacca, Burma, Chenla, etc. in Southeast Asia, the Lodi Dynasty in India, the Safavid Empire in Persia, and the Mamluks in the Middle East
The kingdoms all have contacts with the Ming Dynasty, and from time to time, kings of some countries send envoys to the Ming Dynasty.
"This Ottoman Empire is so arrogant~"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the map, pondered for a while and then said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, their envoys are extremely arrogant and speak in a very arrogant and domineering tone. They even threatened that if our Ming Dynasty cannot agree to their request, they will have a good fight with our Ming Dynasty."
Zhang Sheng nodded quickly and said.
To be honest, he disliked these people from the Ottoman Empire very much. They had arrogant attitudes, arrogant demeanor, arrogant and arrogant looks, and seemed to be the best in the world.
"Why do they ask us, the Ming Dynasty, to cut off all contacts with the Kingdom of Persia and the Mamluks?"
Emperor Hongzhi didn't mean to be angry at all. Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty no longer needs to fear any enemies. Many powerful enemies that were once arrogant have been defeated by the Ming Dynasty. Although the Ottoman Empire has not yet competed with them, Emperor Hongzhi still has nothing to fear.
Something to worry about.
"I don't know this~"
When Zhang Sheng heard this, he thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Your Majesty~"
At this time, Liu Jin thought for a while and stood up and said: "The Ottoman Empire is a powerful empire established by the Turks. It is very powerful and has a very strong desire for external expansion."
"They are old enemies with the Persians. Their hatred has lasted for hundreds or thousands of years. The Ottoman Empire is currently strong and is expanding eastward. It wants to defeat and annex the Persians. At the same time, they are also constantly moving to the Middle East.
Expanded and wanted to annex the Mamluk Kingdom of Egypt."
"The trade exchanges between the Ming Dynasty and Persia and the Mamluk Kingdom also increased the power of these two countries, which was detrimental to the expansion of the Ottoman Empire."
"In addition, the Ottoman Empire should be jealous of the trade profits with our Ming Dynasty, so it asked our Ming Dynasty to stop trade with these two countries and hand over the exclusive rights of trade to the Ottoman Empire."
Liu Jin had long been paying attention to the Ottoman Empire. It was considered one of the most powerful empires on earth in this era. It relied on its own efforts to fight against the entire Christian world in Europe. From here alone, you can know how powerful the Ottoman Empire was.
At this time, the Ottoman Empire not only defeated Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe on land, but also on the sea, the Ottoman Empire's navy and pirates were rampant in the Mediterranean, often plundering Italians.
It can be said that the Ottoman Empire was powerful, powerful, and had a strong desire to expand. In more than ten or twenty years, when Suleiman becomes emperor, the Ottoman Empire will be even stronger.
The reason why Europeans sought a sea route to the East was largely because the Ottoman Empire monopolized the Silk Road on land and blocked the exchanges between the East and the West.
"That's it~"
When Emperor Hongzhi and the ministers heard this, they immediately understood. As for Zhang Sheng, he secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead. He, the Minister of Rites, had not done enough.
"My Ming Dynasty can interact with whomever I like. Does this Ottoman Empire think that my Ming Dynasty is easy to mess with?"
Zhang Mao was so angry that his beard was blowing, and he said very domineeringly.
"That's right, we really think our Ming Dynasty is easy to mess with."
"It actually requires our Ming Dynasty not to trade with other countries, but also to hand over exclusive trading rights to the Ottoman Empire. It's a beautiful idea."
Li Dongyang also said angrily.
It has been a long time since any country dared to speak to Ming Dynasty like this. You must know that no matter which country comes to Ming Dynasty now, it is respectful to Ming Dynasty and does not dare to offend Ming Dynasty in the slightest.
Many small countries even cried out to become vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, because in this way they would not have to worry about being attacked by the Ming Dynasty's private colonial groups and colonial trading houses, and they could also enjoy many benefits. However, the Ming Dynasty did not
He would take over vassal states at will.
Many small countries in Southeast Asia rejected the Ming Dynasty at first, but now they are full of regret.