In the late afternoon, Liu Tan returned to Guli City from Victory City with more than ten followers. He brought Zhang Yanling an invitation from King Krishna of the Kala Kingdom.
In the castle hall, Zhang Yanling frowned and fell into deep thought after listening to Liu Tan's report.
After a long while, Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "General Liu, what do you think of this matter?"
Liu Tan bowed and said: "My lord, I think there is something fishy about this matter. I don't know if it's my delusion, but I always feel that the king of Nagara is making a show. I feel there is some fraud involved."
"Why do you see it?" Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
"It's just an intuition. When I was captured by the glorious prince and was about to be abused by him, the king suddenly appeared. It was as if he had been waiting to stop him." Liu Tan pondered.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence. This doesn't mean anything." Zhang Yanling said.
"After entering the palace for discussion, the king was very cordial and didn't care about the previous conflict at all. He didn't even mention it. He also said a lot of bad things about the Folangji people. He said that they were oppressed by the Folangji people. , have long been dissatisfied with them. However, as far as we know, they are fighting fiercely with the Folangji people. In the battle of Guli City, their Jialuo soldiers also assisted the Folangji people in attacking us. This statement seems a bit false. ." Liu Tan said again.
Zhang Yanling said: "Perhaps they have no choice. The Folangji people asked them to help, how dare they not help? By not mentioning the previous conflict, isn't it just the intention of reconciliation?"
Liu Tan was speechless. He smacked his lips and said, "What do you mean, sir, there is nothing fishy in this? Do they really want to meet and make friends with us?"
Zhang Yanling was silent for a moment and sighed softly: "I would rather believe that they think this way. I also hope that they sincerely want to make peace with me, the Ming Dynasty. However, we don't know them well, so we cannot completely trust them."
Liu Tan nodded and said: "Bizhi thinks the same way, we can't believe them. We can't go to Delhi City. Who knows what they are thinking? If he is really sincere, he should come to Guli City to discuss with us. Bizhi will order someone right now. Send them a letter telling them that your father-in-law will not go to Delhi for the appointment."
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and said: "No, Delhi City is still going. Even if there is fraud, we will go. If we don't go, we will give up the opportunity to negotiate, and they will have reason not to cooperate. We have to stand here To gain a foothold, we must reach a treaty with the Garo Kingdom. Otherwise, Guri and Goa will be two isolated ports. It is unacceptable that trade cannot be carried out and normal trade activities cannot be carried out in the Gara Kingdom."
Liu Tan asked: "Is this place so important?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "General Liu, this is not only a hub connecting the East and the West, but the South Asian continent is also a vast material production area. The land here is fertile, the climate is suitable, and the output is plentiful. It is a fertile land. Moreover, the entire South Asia The mainland has a large population and a large market, making it an excellent place for dumping goods. If our Ming Dynasty wants to develop commerce and conduct overseas trade, it needs a huge market like the Indian mainland to dump our goods. Our goods can continue to flow. Only by selling it can you continue to accumulate wealth and become rich and powerful."
Liu Tan seemed to understand.
Zhang Yanling put his hands behind his hands and looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the hall, and said in a deep voice: "All the countries in Nanyang combined are not as rich in population and materials as this continent. Not to mention the vast market here. Besides, if you can't gain a foothold here, you can't Establish a trade channel with the West. More importantly, the South Asian continent is so fertile and vast that it will be the source of large-scale production of low-priced basic materials. Grain, cotton, sugar cane, fruits, and wood are all specialties here. We take these from here The basic production materials we sell to them are high-value things such as ceramics, tea leaves, and silk. We turn the grains and sugar they produce into cakes and sell them to them at a higher price, and we spin their cotton into cloth and sell it to them into clothes. We can make their logs into boat furniture and sell them to them. We can carve the ivory here into exquisite objects and sell them to them. When these basic supplies are in our hands, their value will be doubled. Our Ming Dynasty will become more and more prosperous. , people’s lives will get better and better. The support for all this requires a huge market and land like the one here in South Asia. Do you understand?”
This was the first time that Liu Tan heard Zhang Yanling explain to him the purpose of the Armada's expedition. It was also the first time that he heard Zhang Yanling's ideas about the future. Although these things had been discussed internally before, the people who led the war had no idea about these things.
Basically, I don't want to use my brain too much. I just follow the government and do what I want. I have never thought about it in detail.
After hearing these words today, Liu Tan, who has a calm personality, also became excited.
"Can we understand the humble position this way? In the end, I, Ming, are like the master, and the people in these places are like servants. They do the rough and heavy work, and we only do the light and profitable work. They can also survive, but we
They will be better. We will build more warships, cannons, and advanced weapons. That way, we can be their masters forever," Liu Tan said.
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "General Liu has good understanding ability, maybe he can understand it this way."
Liu Tan smacked his lips and said, "Isn't that a bit cruel?"
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "It is indeed cruel, but doesn't General Liu think that this is the way the world is? Just like the Folangji people came to our great Ming Dynasty to show off their power. Just like the soldiers of the Jialuo Kingdom followed the Folangji people to attack us.
Do you hope that Ming Dynasty will one day become a place colonized by these people? Do you hope that your wife, children, parents will be hungry and cold, crying and homeless?"
Liu Tan said: "Understanding the humble position, you cannot be benevolent as a woman. That is ridiculous and will make the people of our Ming Dynasty suffer."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said with a smile: "That's it. Besides, this is just a stage. If one day, my Ming Dynasty is strong enough to be proud of the world, and there will be no rival in the world. At that time, all those who are ready to take action will not dare to do anything without permission.
.At that time, it would not be impossible to establish a new order and show kindness to other countries so that their people can live a better life.
It's possible. When Ming Dynasty becomes the maker of the rules of the world and the maintainer of order, everyone can be protected by Ming Dynasty. By then, the world will be unified and happy, of course it will be better. But a beautiful vision requires
Start from the most cruel and bloody place. As is the case with many things, beauty is always born out of ugliness."
Liu Tan breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and said: "I have learned a lesson from my humble position."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Am I going too far? Let's talk about going to Delhi. No matter whether the Jiaro people are sincere friends or harbor evil intentions, you will only know when you go there. I would rather believe it.
They know dignity and can understand the situation. As a king, he will not understand the situation and threats he faces, and he will not be disadvantageous to me."
Liu Tan said solemnly: "What if he doesn't want to show his dignity?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Then help him look good. If you give him face, you don't have to give him face."
Liu Tan nodded and said: "I understand the humble position. However, there are still more than ten days. Mr. Wang and the others are fighting in Goa and will not be able to come back in time. General Chen will take the warship north to go to other countries as envoys. We don't have many troops on hand. Can you?
Go and inform them to postpone the meeting?"
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said: "No need, time is too tight. Immediately send people to catch up with Chen Shiyi and others, ask him to stop traveling to other countries, and immediately rush to the east coast where the city of Delhi is to meet him. Select a hundred personal guards to accompany him. Let's pass
We will set off for the city of Delhi in two days. For a journey of more than three hundred miles, three days should be enough."
"I obey my duty." Liu Tan said with cupped hands, turned and left.
Zhang Yanling sat on the chair and pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice and ordered the bodyguard: "Ask Huo Shijian to come see me."