On May 11, the 26th year of Chongzhen, King John IV finally met Li Zhi in Tianjin.
Li Zhi met the King of Portugal in the three halls of Prince Qi's Mansion. In the palaces of this era, there were no sofas placed equally on both sides of the hall. Li Zhi sat on the throne. But in any case, Li Zhi did not let the guests from Europe
My friend was standing, but three chairs were placed in front of His Highness.
John IV was not dissatisfied with the fact that Li Zhi was in the chief position. After confirming that he could sit and talk to Li Zhi, he was even a little happy and felt like he was being treated politely. Sitting on the chair, the Portuguese king was obviously
Feeling good.
These days, Joao IV was really frightened by the strength of one town and nine provinces. Now he even felt a sense of awe towards Li Zhi, and he was slightly nervous while sitting in the three halls.
Alves and Raphael were also very nervous, because they now understood that they were not meeting an ordinary king, but the powerful King of Qi in a town and nine provinces that shocked them. Every little detail of this meeting
All may affect the rise and fall of Portugal.
Li Zhi thought for a while and then said first: "So, dear King of Portugal, what is the purpose of your visit to one town and nine provinces?"
When the King of Portugal heard this inquiry, he raised his head and looked at Li Zhi.
The Li Zhi he saw was a man in his thirties, who looked very young. From Li Zhi's eyes, Joao IV saw the vigorous vitality.
Before seeing the strength of one town and nine provinces, João IV's purpose was very clear, he came to ask for benefits. The Portuguese helped Li Zhi attract the firepower of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. According to European rules, Li Zhi made a huge profit.
Plant should share some benefits with its ally Portugal.
However, after meeting with Shimazu Mitsuhisa and seeing the strength of one town and nine provinces, João IV did not dare to make this request. Shimazu Mitsuhisa made it very clear that Portugal could not become an ally to get along with Li Zhiping.
, can only become a vassal state that obeys Li Zhi's orders. However, the vassal state has no right to make demands for interests from the suzerain state.
For the vassal state, the only thing that can be done is to passively wait for the suzerain state to arrange the distribution of benefits, just like a subject does to the master.
John IV stood up, bowed to Li Zhi, and said: "Great King Qi, we came from far away Europe to one town and nine provinces, mainly because we want to understand the strength of Qi."
Li Zhi smiled and asked: "So after you have stayed in one town and nine provinces for a few days, what do you think of our strength in one town and nine provinces?"
John IV replied: "Qi is very advanced, very advanced. Frankly speaking, one town and nine provinces exceed our imagination, which makes us understand how advanced a civilization can be. From the inside to the outside, one town
All nine provinces are very advanced."
Li Zhi nodded and said nothing.
Seeing that Li Zhi had stopped talking, John IV did not dare to say more and sat down again.
Rafael was very dissatisfied when he saw that the King of Portugal had completely lost the confidence to negotiate. He sat in his chair and thought for a long time, and finally couldn't help but stand up.
"Great King Qi, on behalf of the people of Portugal, we have to make a request to you."
Li Zhi looked at young Raphael.
Raphael said loudly: "The Portuguese people have bravely fought against the invasions of the Dutch and the British in Europe over the years, and defeated the attacks of these two European powers countless times."
"Of course, the Portuguese people are defending their country and doing what they should do. But from another perspective, the Portuguese also attracted the firepower of the Dutch and British for King Qi, and brought these two powerful countries together.
The fleet and main force were all delayed in Europe. It was precisely because the Dutch and British had all withdrawn from the Far East that King Qi's expansion in Southeast Asia was so smooth."
Hearing Raphael's words, Li Zhi smiled.
When John IV saw Li Zhi's smile, he immediately felt that what Raphael said was wrong - even if there were no Portuguese to support the British and Dutch, I am afraid that Li Zhi would still be able to win Southeast Asia.
Raphael did not pay attention to Li Zhi's expression, but still said loudly: "Your Highness, King Qi, in Portugal, we killed 43,000 soldiers, and 110,000 more were injured, leaving permanent disabilities. King Qi
Your Highness, Portugal suffered heavy losses in this war, and we have to ask you for some reasonable distribution of benefits on behalf of the Portuguese people."
Li Zhi looked at Raphael and said nothing.
He quickly lost interest in this young man who was full of energy. After all, he was just a deputy foreign minister and Li Zhi could completely ignore him.
Li Zhi did not answer Raphael's topic, but turned to Joao IV and asked: "His Royal Highness the King of Portugal, what do you think of what Shimazu Mitsuhisa said?"
King Joao IV was stunned, stood up and said: "Frankly speaking, we were very dissatisfied with General Shimadzu's suggestion at the beginning."
"But after fully understanding the strength of One Town and Nine Provinces, we began to seriously consider his suggestions."
King Joao IV took a breath and asked: "Your Highness, King Qi, I have to ask carefully, if we become a vassal state with one town and nine provinces like the Japanese princes, what do we need to do? What is the final outcome?"
"
Li Zhi smiled, waved his hand, and asked the attendant next to him to open a map of Europe.
Li Zhi said: "Portugal is a small country, a small piece of land in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. More than ten years ago, Portugal was annexed by Spain. It was Joao IV who was able to get rid of Spanish rule through war.
, making Portugal an independent kingdom."
"What I need you to do, Joao IV, is to turn Portugal into a bridgehead for one town and nine provinces in Europe. Portugal will contain our European enemies, collect European intelligence, and act as our scouts. Of course, we will continue to
Provide advanced weapons to Portugal."
"As for the ending..."
Li Zhi smiled and began to draw a pie: "I promise to make you, Joao IV, the consul of the entire Iberian Peninsula and manage the entire Spain and Portugal. Maybe you will no longer be the king by then, but I guarantee that you can get
As much power and status as a king. If you do well, your jurisdiction can even extend to Italy!"
After a pause, Li Zhi added: "By then, Portugal's nobles at all levels will be reused and become an important grassroots force in the rule of Europe."
Hearing Li Zhi's words, Raphael's face turned pale. He didn't know whether Li Zhi was bragging or if he really had a plan to distribute distant Europe as a reward to John IV.
If Europe was conquered by Li Zhi, what would be the future of white people? Become a colony with nine provinces in one town? Become second-class citizens under the rule of the Han people?
However, John IV was attracted by the prospects described by Li Zhi, ruling Spain and Italy? That was a great cause that he had never dared to imagine before!
His eyes were bright and he said eloquently: "Your Majesty, the great King of Qi, after careful consideration, all our nobles in Portugal are willing to become retinues of one town and nine provinces and fight for the cause of King Qi."
