I have to say that Yang Xiangguo was worried about the growth of the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants...

But the effect is obvious.

In fact, the first batch of merchant ships to the Americas in the Ming Dynasty can be said to be a smooth journey.

They were originally taking fully mature routes.

The Spanish merchant ships leading the way met with their rental land in Edo, and drove directly to the west coast of North America by the Kuroshima, then rode south along the coast with the California cold current, and finally arrived at Atapulco. The three ships carried a total of 1,800 tons of various commodities, the most of which were various textiles, especially linen, and iron, sugar and so on.

Cloth was an important export from the Ming Dynasty to the Americas.

The second is iron tools.

The main ones are daily necessities, such as iron pots and nails.

Then the three ships of cargo were exchanged for one million peso silver coins.

Some of these silver coins were purchased in Atapulco and then returned by the warm current of the North equator.

But he didn't leave Luzon.

They directly replenished supplies in Guam controlled by the Spanish, avoided Luzon and returned to Ryukyu by the Black Tide, and then returned to Zhoushan, the starting port. The total amount took less than a year.

The key is the entire ocean current.

Although the sailing distance reaches tens of thousands of miles, it does not need to wait for the essential north wind like going to Luzon. The whole journey to America is without wind and can move forward under the push of ocean currents. The dark tide is like a highway, allowing sailboats to cross the Pacific Ocean in one month. Although the North Equatorial warm current and California cold flow slow, it allows merchant ships to keep moving forward every day without wind.

When the wind comes, accelerate.

This result surprised several northern maritime merchant groups, which means that what they are most worried about is not only not the problem, but is more convenient than going to Luzon.

Then a new batch of merchant ships were ready to go immediately.

However, this news also aroused the vigilance of Nanyang Company.

After all, they were also very aware of the consequences of trade in direct trade between northern merchant ships.

Fortunately, Yang Xiangguo finally came forward at this time.

After many communications between Yang Xiangguo and His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty finally issued an imperial edict to clarify the scope of trade between North and South sea merchandises with imperial edicts. With Luzon Island as the boundary, Luzon and the west, including Nanyang Company to the south, and Nanyang Company to the east. However, all exported commodities must have a minimum price limit, and escorts on board should be sent to avoid price reduction competition and finally the barbarians should be cheaper. Similarly, northern sea merchandises must abide by the laws formulated by His Majesty the Emperor. For example, it is strictly forbidden to carry tea and reveal the main products of the Ming Dynasty such as porcelain and sugar. Violators will be punished. They will not be able to build such factories outside the Ming Dynasty. In short, all the rules set for Nanyang Company must be abide by.

This is acceptable.

After all, Northern Maritime Business is snatching business rather than destroying jobs.

In short, the conflict between the North and South maritime trade between the Ming Dynasty ended with the opening of the American route.

At this time, the war in Chittagong continued.

Although the losses were heavy, the Ming army still defended the port, and the navy firmly grasped the sea control power. The Mughal Empire increased its troops to Chittagong to 100,000, and the Ming army also increased its troops to 50,000. The two sides fought a continuous bloody battle around the port, and it turned into a sea of ​​blood.

At the same time, Li Chengliang also opened the passage to Ah Hong...

It's just that the losses are greater.

Twenty thousand local soldiers recruited from those chieftains were buried in the Hukang Valley, and they were not fighting. Ah Hong welcomed the Ming emperor, who was resisting the attack of the Mughal Empire. The Ming emperor could not have attacked Mughal from them in order to occupy their land. This can be said to be to save them. So Ah Hong even sent a large number of guides to lead the way for the Ming army, but even so, 20,000 local soldiers died, mainly because of the harsh environment, and they had to build a real road, at least they had to pass the cavalry road.

This method of using the natives at all is arousing the anger of the natives.

An anti-Ming uprising broke out in Zhaonan.

Fortunately, a new batch of Nanyang local soldiers who reinforced Chittagong arrived in Shalian, and Li Chengliang directly mobilized them. These local soldiers, mainly Siamese people, brought in great joy to bloody suppress the Ming Dynasty...

They can finally take revenge.

In the past, the Burmese people went to them to burn, kill, loot, but now they went to the Burmese people to burn, kill, loot.

The locals who were cruelly suppressed finally had no choice but to continue to build roads for Li Chengliang. After spending more than 20,000 local soldiers' lives, a road that could be used as a signpost for corpses. Finally, they went from Zhaonantong to Assam, and then from the chieftain soldiers recruited from Yunnan and Guizhou to pour into Ah Hong along this road.

The war between the Ming Dynasty and the Mughal Empire began at the same time on the north and south lines.

This helped Dayuan.

Originally, the Yarkand people were asking for help from the Mughal Empire.

The Mughal Emperor Jahan Dier, who was in a prosperous empire, was originally planning to send troops to rescue him. After all, they had close ties with Yarkand, but the Ming Dynasty's full-scale attack made him quickly change his position. Yarkand and the Ming Dynasty were not hostile, but the Yuan and the Ming Dynasty were enemies. If Yarkand helped Yarkand, the failure of the Yuan Dynasty would not threaten the Ming Dynasty. On the contrary, the Yuan Dynasty became bigger in the Western Regions and could directly threaten the Ming Dynasty. For this reason, Jahan Dier refused to rescue Yarkand and sent envoys to Tianxing Prefecture. Since he and the Emperor of Dayuan were both descendants of the Chagatai Khanate, the two sides were of course brothers.

Faith is not a problem.

The Mughal Empire didn't care much about this issue. It was the most important thing that everyone was from the Chagatai Khanate lineage.

brother!

Absolute brother.

Good brothers are in trouble. Faced with the exorcism, the bloodline of the Chagatai Khanate must work together. Therefore, even though the Dayuan destroyed Yarkand, it was enough to destroy Yarkand and then counterattack the Ming Dynasty.

The war has expanded like this.

And at this moment, the missing Yu Keqing actually appeared after more than three years of disappearance...

He was chased to the Malugu Islands.

There were several Sudans there, who had been trading with the Portuguese. After he went there, he was welcomed by these Sudans whose main business was exporting spices. Then he wandered there and finally met a Portuguese return ship that secretly went to collect spices.

And the captain is an acquaintance.

The latter told him that the Nanyang Company was searching him everywhere.

And the Maluku Islands are not safe either.

The Portuguese suggested that he go to Zhaonan to find Li Chengliang, throw the boat in Zhaonan, and take his men back by land, or go east to bypass the Nanyang islands, stick to the messy islands to replenish supplies, and then return to Ryukyu. However, such maritime merchants are willing to sacrifice their lives and wealth, so they dare not carry too much cargo when sailing on detours. After all, there is no ocean current and no knowing the wind direction. They are just betting that they must carry as much supply as possible. There is no problem to go to Zhaonan to find Li Chengliang. After all, Li Chengliang has an old friendship with their family, but the ship and cargo can only be cheaper, which is also something he can't stand.

In the end, the guy made up his mind and followed the Portuguese merchant ship, filled with spices, and some white sugar and silk on his ship, and then he went straight to Europe.

While his wife was crying at home, he was having a happy life in Europe.

Very happy.

A captain from the Ming Dynasty.

And he is also the son-in-law of a Duke of Ming Dynasty.

Kings of Spain and Portugal, Felipe III, Elizabeth, and Henry IV of France, all invited him as guests of honor. Even his crew members were enthusiastically welcomed in various ports, with cities and crowds watching mysterious guests from the East.

Then they traveled in Europe for nearly a year before they brought a bunch of national letters, even messengers, as well as the silver they earned and gifts given by nobles from various countries. They followed a Portuguese fleet to return to the Ming Dynasty. It can be said that they appeared in Malacca City with a arrogant look...

Yingtian.

"Your surname is Richelieu?"

Yang Feng looked at the imperial edict and letter of the country in his hand with uncertainty.

In front of him was a young man in his early twenties, an envoy of Henry IV, and he had already met His Majesty the Emperor. In order to show off his country, His Majesty the Emperor specially ordered these envoys to go to Yingtian to see the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

That's why Yang Feng is a little uncertain about this name.

The imperial edict is transliteration.

It is definitely not used to use these three words, but actually translated into four words.

The letter of Henry IV is indeed Richelieu in French, but his full name. Prime Minister Yang only knows Richelieu's surname, so he must have Virtue. He doesn't know it any further, but it shouldn't be wrong. His surname is the fief, his father is the Marquis of Richelieu, and he is only the second generation, so it is either Richelieu or his brother...

"Your Excellency, that's right."

The young messenger said with a respectful look on his face.

"Are you a noble or a priest?"

Yang Feng asked.

"Prince, if it weren't for this mission, maybe I'd already become a bishop in a certain diocese at this moment."

The latter said.

"Biography of Lu Song?"

Yang Feng said.

"Well, the Prime Minister also knows Lu Song?"

The latter said in surprise.

"I know everything. I also know that your father was Henry III's favorite minister. When Henry III was assassinated, your father was present. It was only when your father and his old ministers supported Henry IV that he was able to inherit the throne of Henry III."

Yang Feng said.

Richelieu's father ran away because of his duel in his hometown. Henry III was still the king of Poland at that time, so he became the favorite minister of the latter. Henry III was boring to be a king in Poland. After all, the king of Poland was indeed boring. He gave up the Polish throne and returned to France to be king, and then took Richelieu's father with him. So this was the true descendant of the Dragon Minister, and Lu Song was originally from his territory.

The bishop must be his or his brother.

The young Richelieu looked at the prime minister of the Ming Empire with awe.

It is said that the prime minister has great power.

There are even rumors that it is likely to usurp the throne.

But Richelieu's opinion was obviously because the people on the Ming Dynasty had no knowledge, so the power of the Prime Minister was nothing. What kind of ministers who dared not go to war with the king were ministers? Our French ministers all went to England to be kings while being ministers in France! And they have been a lot of generations.

It's so rare and strange!

"I've always been interested in you, so I'll learn as much about you as possible through the Spanish, the Portuguese, the Dutch and even the British!"

Yang Feng stood there teasing the blue macaw in front of him.
To be continued...