Goa is south of Bombay and was the richest region in ancient India because it was an important maritime trade port - of course, it is only India in a geographical sense.
Since the fall of the Vijayanagar state, Goa has been in a state of ownerlessness for a long time and was occupied by Portugal in the fifth year of Zhengde.
The leader of the Portuguese fleet that occupied Goa was none other than the great navigator Vasco da Gama. After landing, they burned, killed and looted, used guns and cannons to show their authority, and also planted poles in Goa to declare Portuguese sovereignty.
Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal and boasted about the wealth of Goa, which contained countless treasures and was rich in spices and silk.
The Portuguese nobles instantly saw green light and sent an official fleet to India, established the Portuguese Governor of India, and also brought missionaries holding Bibles. In the past ten years, heretics were often burned to death in Goa, and Catholicism continued to spread here.
Expansion of power.
Moreover, Portugal also brought in civilians and forced local women to intermarry in order to increase the proportion of Portuguese people. Then they opened schools and implemented cultural expansion. This led to Goa being the province with the highest literacy rate in India hundreds of years later.
To be honest, the Portuguese colonial rule in Goa was much more civilized than the British rule in India... Compared to the British, Portugal was almost saintly in its benevolence.
Duarte de Menezes is of Portuguese royal descent.
In other words, only nobles with royal blood can be sent to India by the King of Portugal to serve as governors. It is impossible for Vasco da Gama to be the governor, not even a noble, because to be named a Portuguese noble, you must also have royal blood!
How did Vasco da Gama become a Portuguese noble?
Just last year, the great navigator Magellan turned against his employer and commanded a fleet to defeat the Kingdom of Castile (the predecessor of Spain). Well, Magellan's fleet overturned the Spanish fleet in the Spanish colonies and used force to regain what he deserved
Benefit.
King Carlos I was forced to agree to Magellan's continued funding of his voyage around the world, and also gave him many benefits.
Just this year, Magellan was assassinated before his voyage. After the assassination failed, the King of Spain said that the Portuguese had done it, and Magellan could only believe that it was Portugal who wanted to kill him.
Vasco da Gama, who had been a wealthy man in Portugal for more than ten years, was immediately inspired by Magellan. He went directly to the King of Portugal and said that if he didn't take him seriously, he would learn Magellan's tricks and lead a fleet.
Take away the Portuguese colony of Goa.
The King of Portugal was really frightened and immediately made Vasco da Gama Count of Vidigala, making him the first Portuguese nobleman without royal blood.
Vasco da Gama was not satisfied yet and wanted to be the Governor-General of India, just waiting for the current Governor-General Duarte to cause trouble.
When he heard that Chinese envoys had arrived in Goa, Duarte ignored them immediately.
After this guy became the governor, he only knew about corruption and enjoyment, collecting taxes like crazy to make money, and sending fleets to rob other countries' merchant ships. In Duarte's eyes, China was just like that, and he even ordered the construction of a colonial stronghold in Guangzhou!
It's already underway, and it's located in Tuen Mun (the western part of the New Territories, Hong Kong).
This spring, another group of Portuguese fleets built a simple fortress in Tuen Mun, and also planned to build forts and trenches. Because the location was too remote, Guangdong officials only realized it after a few months. At this time, they were thinking about how to deal with it.
.
Again, this new governor is mentally retarded and actually wants to colonize China by force!
Zhan Ruoshui waited for four days, and finally someone came to notify him, asking him to go see the Governor immediately.
As Deputy Qianhu and the captain of the bird ship, Ning Botao personally protected Zhan Ruoshui this time. He led a few soldiers, gathered behind Zhan Ruoshui, and strode into the Western-style castle.
As soon as Duarte saw them, he roared instantly: "Release the Portuguese soldiers immediately and return the Portuguese ships immediately, otherwise we will wait for war!"
Well, not only Zhan Ruoshui, but also the Portuguese officials in Malacca were kept in the dark by the governor for several days, and finally reported the military information about the failed naval battle. As soon as this guy heard that his ship had been robbed, he hurriedly summoned Zhan Ruoshui.
and directly intimidated them with force.
After Zhan Ruoshui heard the translation, he sneered and said: "Your warships fired cannons in the Ming Dynasty's waters without authorization, and they also attacked the Ming Dynasty's ships. Due to emotions and reasons, the Ming Dynasty had reasons to fight back. The entire annihilation of your army was entirely at your own fault. If
If you want to start a war, you can accompany me. The Ming Dynasty has a land of thousands of miles, hundreds of millions of people, millions of troops, and thousands of warships!"
"What's the population?" Duarte was a little confused.
Zhan Ruoshui said casually: "The number of people in the Ming Dynasty has already exceeded 100 million. How many people in your small country of Folangjizuo'er can survive? Even if you exchange one hundred people for one, you can kill your country of Folangji completely."
!”
Duarte was furious and pointed at Zhan Ruoshui's nose: "How dare you threaten and deceive me? Is there any country in the world with a population of over 100 million? Just wait for a war!"
Zhan Ruoshui sneered and said: "If your country doesn't give an explanation, the Ming fleet will come to ask for an explanation."
"Tell this guy to get out immediately!" Duarte shouted.
Zhan Ruoshui was arbitrarily expelled from the castle, and Duarte called his brother, the commander-in-chief of the Portuguese Indian Fleet: "Berio, immediately lead all fleets to seize Guangzhou, China!"
The Malacca Fleet was also under the control of Berio, and building a colonial stronghold in Tuen Mun, Guangzhou was his revised plan. Because according to the governor's weird idea, he wanted to directly occupy Guangzhou City, the captains of the Malacca Fleet complained one after another, saying that the occupation
Guangzhou is no less difficult than capturing the capital of Castile (Spain).
Berio advised: "Brother, China is too big to colonize directly, let alone capture big cities. We are already taking huge risks by building castles on the outskirts of Guangdong. Attacking Guangzhou is equivalent to sending soldiers to death."
"The arrogant Ottomans have not been defeated by us, so what does China mean?" Duarte sneered.
Berio wanted to rip off his brother's head and kick it into the Indian Ocean like a football. He explained with difficulty: "Even to defeat the Ottomans, we spent many years and taught the Persians how to make cannons and guns, with the help of the Persians.
Only then did they win. And China is more powerful than the Ottomans. China has too many people, and just Guangzhou has a terrifying population. How can such a country be conquered by force?"
Duarte scolded: "You loser!"
Berio was also angry and immediately yelled back: "You are a waste! You can do nothing but make money and play with women. I really don't know why the king sent you to be the governor!"
Duarte said angrily: "If I am not the governor, can you be the commander of the Indian fleet?"
Berio was actually speechless and said depressedly: "Anyway, I won't order an attack on China. If you want to attack you, go do it yourself!"
"Then I will remove you from your post!" Duarte scolded.
The governor actually removed his brother, replaced him with a temporary commander, and led the Indian fleet to China, while Zhan Ruoshui was detained in Goa.
The Indian fleet had nearly a hundred warships in total, and it stopped moving after arriving in Malacca—you are not a fool, who would die in vain?
Duarte urged him again and again, so the Portuguese fleet simply purchased goods in Malacca and went to Guangzhou to happily do business. The temporary commander and the captains joined forces and made a lot of money in Guangzhou. When they returned, they reported to the governor and told them that
Encountering strong waves at sea, the fleet returned before reaching Guangzhou.
As for the money earned from business, they naturally divided it among them, and they all treated the governor as a fool.
Ning Botao quietly slipped away from Goa, bribed Portuguese sailors, hid in a warehouse and returned to Malacca, then boarded a Chinese merchant ship to Hangzhou. By the time he returned, Zhu Houzhao had already watched the Qiantang Tide and planned to take Wang Yuan with him.
Back to Beijing.
"What, the Fo Langji people dare to detain the envoy?" Wang Yuan couldn't believe it.
Ning Botao explained: "That Governor Fo Langji is unreasonable at all. He keeps saying that he wants to go to war."
Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Then let's fight! Don't stop me, Erlang. They are just barbarians from a foreign country, but they are actually stroking the beards of the tigers of the Ming Dynasty. Which one is intolerable?"
Wang Yuan said: "Your Majesty..."
"No persuasion!" Zhu Houzhao interrupted.
Wang Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "I want to say that your majesty should not lead the expedition in person, otherwise I will stop your majesty even if I die."
Zhu Houzhao asked: "How did you know that I wanted to conquer it myself?"
Wang Yuan muttered: "I also know that your Majesty's anger is fake, that he wants to go on a personal expedition is real, and that he wants to take a ship to go overseas is even more real."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Zhu Houzhao laughed wildly: "Erlang knows me too!"
Wang Yuan said: "Your Majesty really cannot go to sea, otherwise I will resign immediately. This is not a false resignation, but I will not return to the court after resigning, because I really can't bear it, and I don't want to return to the capital and be scolded by hundreds of officials."
Zhang Yong and Jiang Bin were also unsure, and they all advised: "Your Majesty, the sea is dangerous and unpredictable, and you really can't conquer it yourself."
"I must go?" Zhu Houzhao lost his temper again.
Wang Yuan suddenly knelt down and said, "I beg you to resign!"
Zhang Yong and Jiang Bin knelt down and said, "I also ask to resign."
"Then you stay in Hangzhou and wait for news of my triumphant return," Zhu Houzhao said to Manzheng and Ning Botao, "General Manchu soldiers and Ning Qianhu, you will follow me to conquer Manlajia!"
When he was full, Ning Botao immediately knelt down and said, "I beg you to resign."
Search all over the Ming Dynasty, who dares to take the emperor to sea? Don't risk your life!
Even Jiang Bin, who had encouraged the emperor to march north several times, was afraid that the emperor would encounter a shipwreck, let alone other civil and military officials.
Zhu Houzhao wanted to lead the expedition in person this time, so he had no choice but to row his own boat.
After losing his temper for several days, Zhu Houzhao finally compromised: "That's it, that's all, you go and fight. I'll go back to Beijing directly. I'm so boring. I don't even have a chance to go overseas!"
Jiang Bin smiled and said: "Your Majesty, on the way back to Beijing, I have arranged something fun in Yangzhou."
"Where can there be fun in Yangzhou overseas? I won't go, I won't go!" Zhu Houzhao felt panicked.
Zhang Yong also came to coax: "Your Majesty, the famous actors in Yangzhou are more famous than Suzhou."
Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "I said I won't go and will go back to Beijing directly!"