When Gu Baichuan saw this, he quickly admonished: "My lord, there are no new troops here. If you go to Xiangshan County, if you encounter the Portuguese going crazy, you may be in danger. My subordinates suggest that you should stay in Guangzhou and let Xiangshan County.
Order to continue negotiations?”
After hearing this, Zhong Jinwei shook his head. He replied to Gu Baichuan: "The magistrate of Xiangshan County has already gone to negotiate. Since they have denied that there is no such thing, they will definitely deny it again. Only if I go there in person, this matter
Only then will things come to an end."
"Sir, if you don't let the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi go, his official position is high enough, maybe the Portuguese will hand him over..."
Yu Changjian was also worried about Zhong Jinwei's safety and suggested an alternative plan.
But before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhong Jinwei: "What will happen if the Portuguese do not surrender? Once a fight breaks out, no one knows how to start a firearms war better than me and how to minimize the losses."
As soon as Zhong Jinwei said this, no one tried to persuade him. Because the Duke said this, no one could refute him.
Therefore, Zhong Jinwei rushed to Xiangshan County that day.
In fact, there is another stupid way to win with minimal losses when conflicting with the Portuguese in Macau. That is to besiege the city, which directly cuts off the food and drink expenses of the Portuguese in Macau. The Ming Dynasty will definitely win in the end. This
This trick was used by officials of the Ming Dynasty. But it took too long, so no one mentioned it.
As soon as the magistrate of Xiangshan County heard that the imperial envoy Xing Guogong came to his jurisdiction to deal with the matter in person, he quickly organized his yamen and waited for Zhong Jinwei's arrival.
He originally thought that when Duke Xingguo came to accuse the Portuguese, he would definitely bring a large army. But when he greeted Duke Xingguo, he found that there were only a few dozen people, and they were basically just Duke Xingguo's original guards.
The magistrate of Xiangshan County waited for Zhong Jinwei to sit down in his yamen, and then he quickly dissuaded him and said: "My lord, you are going into a dangerous place personally, for fear of danger. I think it would be better for my lord to send a large army to accompany you, or you can go back to Guangzhou.
Is the official going to negotiate again?"
Zhong Jinwei shook his head and smiled and said to the Xiangshan County Magistrate: "To deal with the mere Portuguese, there is no need to use a large army. That would be too disrespectful to them."
The magistrate of Xiangshan County was even more worried when he saw that the Duke was so contemptuous of the Portuguese in Macao. However, he had already tried to persuade the Duke, but the Duke did not listen. If something happened to the Duke in his jurisdiction, he would definitely bear the responsibility.
Thinking of this, the Xiangshan County Magistrate became even more worried, and unconsciously showed this worry on his face.
When Zhong Jinwei saw him, he said to him: "Go to Macau again and tell the Portuguese. If they don't hand over the smugglers and the Portuguese who sheltered the smugglers, I will think that all the Portuguese in Macau have participated in sheltering smuggling."
They will be responsible for the consequences."
When the Xiangshan County Magistrate heard this, he was shocked and said: "My lord, the last time I asked them to hand over only the smugglers, they were already denied. Now they are asked to hand over the Portuguese who sheltered the smugglers. I am afraid they will not agree."
?”
"You don't have to worry about this. Just tell them that if they don't hand over the person by tomorrow noon, there is no need to hand over the person again." Zhong Jinwei's face turned serious and he ordered the Xiangshan County Magistrate.
Seeing that the Duke insisted, the Xiangshan County Magistrate had no choice but to obey the order and go to Macau again.
Zhong Jinwei saw that he was listless and worried when he walked out of the Yamen, so he stopped him again and said to him: "Portugal is just a small European country, living thousands of miles away in our country, the Ming Dynasty. What they are plotting against me is
It’s just money from Ming Dynasty’s trade. Now for the sake of a little smuggling benefit, you won’t really break up with me, Ming Dynasty. Even if you break up with me, so what, this is my Ming Dynasty’s place. You have to have confidence, understand?”
When the Xiangshan County Magistrate heard this, he gave up. Anyway, the Duke did not listen to the advice. This matter must be done according to the Duke's wishes anyway. Simply follow the Duke's wishes. If a fight really breaks out, escort him in time.
That's it for the Duke to leave.
With this idea in mind, the Xiangshan County Magistrate no longer worried, straightened his chest, and left the office.
Watching him leave, Gu Baichuan, who was beside Zhong Jinwei, suggested again: "My lord, why don't you bring in more troops from nearby?"
Zhong Jinwei shook his head and said to Gu Baichuan with a smile: "It's okay. There are already government officials from Xiangshan County in front of us. There is a situation. To deal with the Portuguese in Macau, there is no need to call in the army. We just need to let them understand our attitude. There is no need.
Just discuss it."
Zhong Jinwei was still so confident that Gu Baichuan and others had no choice but to give up their ideas and wait for the progress of the matter.
The magistrate of Xiangshan County had been there for about two hours and had not returned, which made Gu Baichuan and others start to worry again. What if the Portuguese directly detained the magistrate of Xiangshan County and considered it a threat? Or on the one hand, they were perfunctory.
What should I do if the magistrate of Xiangshan County, while dispatching troops and generals, goes straight to the county government office to capture the Duke?
Gu Baichuan and others were concerned about protecting Zhong Jinwei's safety, and the more they thought about it, the more worried they became. Finally, Gu Baichuan couldn't bear it any longer and was ready to remonstrate with the Duke again.
Before admonishing him, he first went out of the Houya and inspected the county government's protection situation. After he had a good idea, he went to the Houya to find Duke Xingguo.
Unexpectedly, before he reached the back office, he heard hurried footsteps outside. A guard saw him and quickly reported to him: "At the stall, the Xiangshan County Magistrate is back with someone in custody?"
"What? Taking someone into custody?" Gu Baichuan asked in surprise when he heard this.
The guard smiled and nodded: "Yes, there are not only people with Ming complexion like me, but also Portuguese people."
"Okay, you ask them to wait in the lobby, and I will report to the Duke." Gu Baichuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly ordered the guards, then turned around and left for the back office.
When he arrived at the back office, he found that the Duke was drinking tea leisurely. Gu Baichuan was extremely impressed. Things turned out just as the Duke expected.
"My lord, the Xiangshan County magistrate has returned with the smugglers and the Portuguese who protected the smugglers to pay the order. They are waiting in the lobby now." Gu Baichuan reported with clasped fists in admiration.
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he was not too busy. He still drank the tea in his cup, then stood up and said to Gu Baichuan and others: "Let's go to the lobby."
As soon as Duke Xingguo came out of the back office, the Xiangshan County magistrate and a Portuguese man traveling with him knelt down to greet him.
When Zhong Jinwei sat in the seat where the Xiangshan County Magistrate originally sat, the Xiangshan County Magistrate quickly reported: "The lower official has brought back the smugglers and the Portuguese who protected the smugglers, and the Portuguese Governor of Macau, Mascara, has accompanied him.
I come here to plead guilty."
As soon as the Xiangshan County Magistrate finished speaking, a white man next to him quickly said in not very fluent Chinese: "The little Governor of Macao, Ma Shijialu, paid homage to the Imperial Envoy and wished the Duke good health and all the best!"