The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 114 Let's Become a Vassal State of the Ming Dynasty
After listening to Joseph II's explanation, Liu Quanzhi felt somewhat resistant to this transaction plan.

If the Ming Dynasty interferes in the transaction between the Habsburgs and the Palatinate, it will be trapped in the chaotic map of the Holy Roman Empire.

Unlike some countries in later generations, traditional officials of the Ming Dynasty had no interest in interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

Especially in mainland Europe, there are no real benefits and a lot of troubles.

But Liu Quanzhi knew that His Royal Highness the King of Wu was very interested in interfering in the affairs of other countries, especially European affairs.

His Royal Highness Prince Wu might be very happy about this situation of actively inviting the Ming Dynasty to intervene.

Liu Quanzhi couldn't understand, but he could only cooperate as much as possible, at least not to cause trouble:

“The Ming Dynasty…just wants to gain a trading window and has no interest in the affairs of the European continent.

“Moreover, the cost for the Ming army to come all the way to Europe to help you fight is very high.

"You need to form an alliance with Ming and directly participate in the war, so it is not enough to set aside a piece of land as a port."

The Holy Roman Emperor, Habsburg monarch, Joseph II, asked directly:

"What conditions does the Ming Dynasty need to support us in completing this deal?

"What we can trade is the Netherlands.

“And the remainder was to be exchanged for the Palatinate for Bavaria, which he owned.

"If too much land is transferred to Ming, the Palatinate may not be willing to continue the transaction."

Liu Quanzhi thought for a while and said:
"Is it possible that the Marquis of Palatinate you mentioned can directly become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty?

“That way you can continue to do the full deal.

“Then, the Ming used a small area on the coast to build a port on the edge of the territory that already belonged to the Marquis of the Palatinate.

“The port is directly governed by the Ming Dynasty, and the ruling power of other places still belongs to the Marquis of the Palatinate.

“However, as a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, the Palatinate cannot restrict the Ming people from freely residing and operating within its territory.

“Of course, the Ming court will also help the Marquis of Palatinate to complete the comprehensive integration and transformation of the local areas and make him a true vassal monarch.

“Rather than a feudal lord who actually has no control over the local area.

"The Ming Dynasty's goods will be distributed in his territory, which will also attract merchants from most of Europe to trade and generate considerable profits."

Ming officials of Liu Quanzhi's era often had this kind of thinking when solving diplomatic problems.

When in doubt, they would establish a vassal state that would pay tribute.

When Liu Quanzhi proposed this plan, both Joseph II and Louis XVI were a little surprised.

This plan may seem feasible. Now Europeans all know that there are a large number of vassal states of all sizes within and outside the Ming Dynasty.

The vassal states of the Ming Dynasty had a much lower level of autonomy than the Holy Roman Empire, but they were indeed highly independent feudal lords.

They can make their own laws and handle the affairs of their fiefdoms, but they cannot conduct diplomacy on their own or prohibit Ming residents from migrating and doing business.

They are similar to the feudal lords in medieval Europe, but their political structure is very similar to the central court, and their local management capabilities are much higher than those of European lords.

For traditional European monarchs at that time, this level of vassal relationship was not unacceptable.

European monarchs continued to retain their rule and were able to obtain protection from the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty obtained direct management rights.

If the Ming Dynasty originally came here to do business, this plan seems to kill two birds with one stone.

But Europeans feel that this plan has a huge problem.

Louis XVI couldn't help but remind Liu Quanzhi:

"The Palatinate is the Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, a subject of the Holy Roman Emperor, and is eligible to become the Holy Roman Emperor.

"To make him a vassal of the Ming Dynasty would mean breaking away from the Holy Roman Empire."

Liu Quanzhi hesitated for a few seconds:

“Excuse me for being blunt, but the Holy Roman Empire in Europe is really just an empty shell.

"Isn't His Majesty Joseph now His Majesty the Holy Roman Emperor?

"Besides, hasn't the Habsburg family been the Holy Roman Emperor for hundreds of years?

"That Prussia and Saxony are also your Majesty's subjects in theory, but they are always against your Majesty, right?

“He doesn’t act like a subject at all.

"Your Majesty, why don't you manage your existing territory well and accumulate hard power to truly unify the empire.

"Instead of continuing to struggle with an empty shell."

What Liu Quanzhi said was a bit blunt and exaggerated, something that European monarchs and ministers could not express, and it was also a problem that they were not aware of.

However, Joseph's current mentality is indeed somewhat similar to what Liu Quanzhi said.

He just didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire and was concentrating on integrating his own Habsburg territory.

So Joseph said with emotion at this time:
"What Minister Liu said makes sense. It is for this purpose that I decided to trade the Netherlands.

“I can accept the Palatinate and the Netherlands seceding from the empire, but I also need to convince the Elector Palatinate to accept the plan.

"If he is willing to pay homage to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, can he be given the title of King? Not just Duke."

Liu Quanzhi thought for a moment and said:
“This matter can only be decided by Your Majesty, but I think it shouldn’t be a big problem.

"The Ming Dynasty was not very sensitive to the titles of foreign vassal states. Many former vassal states had the title of king.
"Your Majesty Joseph had better make up his mind and discuss it with His Excellency the Margrave of the Palatinate.

“Then we will arrange a team of representatives to go to North America to discuss with our King Wu.

“Our Emperor has authorized all overseas affairs to His Royal Highness Prince Wu.

“As long as His Royal Highness Prince Wu can accept it, there will basically be no problem.

"I will also visit other countries to discuss territorial swaps and other issues.

"His Majesty Joseph and the Marquis of the Palatinate must also make a decision as soon as possible."

Both Joseph II and Louis XVI realized that this Ming minister was trying to compare prices.

It is another way to lower the transaction price, but it is also true.

The other two potential trading partners are Hanover and Sicily, which have already been identified.

For Louis XVI, Spain was his cousin and the Habsburgs were his brother-in-law.

Sicily is far away from France and has less influence on France, but it also does not benefit France.

The Netherlands is closer and will affect France, but it can also bring benefits.

Louis XVI was also quite conflicted.

But at this point, it's almost time to end today's meeting.

Louis XVI prepared a grand welcome banquet and invited the nobles of Paris and Versailles to attend.

The members of the Ming Dynasty delegation naturally became the center of the banquet.

Liu Quanzhi told some interesting stories about the Ming Dynasty in Latin, which aroused cheers from the nobles.

Joseph II had no interest in the excitement at the banquet. He was now fully concerned about the future development of his country.

Joseph's second wife died when he was twenty-six, and after that Joseph never considered getting married again, nor did he keep mistresses like other monarchs.

Joseph went directly to the Elector Palatinate (Karl Philipp Theodor von der Palatinate).

The two found a quiet room at the banquet to discuss the issue, and then went directly to Liu Quanzhi, who had already spoken, and proposed a new compromise plan.

Establish a new independent kingdom in the Southern Netherlands and make it a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.

However, the original territory of the Palatinate continued to remain within the Holy Roman Empire, and thus retained the right of inheritance to the territories of other related states within the Holy Roman Empire.

Liu Quanzhi felt a little helpless after hearing this:
"The situation of one servant having two masters may be very common in Europe, but it is very sensitive in Ming Dynasty.

"Decisions at this level are no longer something that I, a junior official at the Honglu Temple, can decide.

"So your Majesties, Your Excellency the Marquis, please arrange for representatives to go to North America for talks."

Joseph II and the Elector Palatinate had no choice but to accept this statement and go back to Louis XVI to borrow a small naval fleet.

Escorted Joseph II's Deputy First Minister Philipp Graf von Kobenzl to North America.

After the banquet, Liu Quanzhi made an appointment with Louis XVI and asked the doctors of the Ming Dynasty to prepare special equipment to demonstrate the ability of allicin to kill tuberculosis bacteria.

At the same time, we are preparing to actually verify the treatment effect on tuberculosis.

Liu Quan and his entourage were arranged to stay in a high-end guest room in the Versailles Palace apartment.

Ten days later, the verification of Louis XVI and Liu Quanzhi was completed.

Using staining and microscopes, doctors in Liu Quanzhi's team demonstrated several common pathogenic bacteria, including the most dreaded Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

And allicin was used to directly kill these bacteria.

At the same time, the spread of symptoms of three tuberculosis patients was controlled through direct administration of the drug.

One patient with milder symptoms seemed to recover directly.

After Louis XVI and his wife and Joseph II confirmed the news, they were all extremely shocked and could not help but admire it.

"This is truly a miracle drug. There is finally a cure for a horrible disease like tuberculosis."

"Although the damage cannot be restored, as long as the medicine is taken regularly, the symptoms can be avoided directly, right?"

"We hope that Daming can arrange for doctors to stay in the palace and provide services to the royal family, no matter how high the cost!"

Liu Quanzhi could see the desire and urgency of these three European monarchs for this drug:
“I’m very sorry, but the extraction technology of this drug is not yet ready for external promotion.

“The equipment used in the refining process is not very easy to produce, so it can only be temporarily supplied to the Ming imperial family, the military, and officials.

“Providing treatment to members of the French royal family is something His Royal Highness the King of Wu has already offered to show his sincerity.

"Because we can't supply drugs to everyone, we have to adopt an invitation system."

Liu Quanzhi was telling lies in all seriousness.

The extraction of allicin itself is not difficult and it has no obvious defects except that it is not resistant to storage.

But you can’t tell the truth to your customers like this.

Otherwise, it would not reflect the preciousness of this medicine, nor the sincerity of His Royal Highness the King of Wu.

Liu Quanzhi spoke extremely seriously, and Louis XVI and the other two accepted it directly.

After all, this is a real miracle drug. If the extraction method is too simple, they will instinctively doubt its authenticity.

Then pray that after the Ming Dynasty completes the transaction with the Habsburgs, it will be able to establish a hospital in the Southern Netherlands.

It only takes two or three days to get from Paris to the Southern Netherlands, so even if you get sick, you will still have time to get treatment.

It is troublesome to go to America for treatment. It will take at least six weeks to get there.

Louis XVI then arranged for his Foreign Minister Gravier to accompany Habsburg's Deputy Chief Minister Kobenzl to North America.

Liu Quanzhi stayed in France for a month, delivered the second batch of commodity loans to France, and then led the delegation to the Netherlands.

The current Netherlands is fully called the United Republic of the Netherlands. Although it is called a republic in name, it is not the typical civilian republic of later generations.

The rulers and parliamentarians of the Netherlands are all hereditary aristocrats, which is an oligarchic aristocratic commercial republic system popular in medieval Europe.

At this time, the Netherlands had no legal capital, and the de facto capital and center of power was in The Hague.

Liu Quan's delegation received a grand and warm welcome in The Hague.

The Netherlands was on the decline at this time, and the Dutch East India Company was on the verge of bankruptcy, but it had not yet collapsed.

All it would take is one more war, not too big, to break the existing cover-up and balance, and the country could collapse quickly.

The Dutch hereditary ruler, Prince William V of Orange, and all the hereditary parliamentarians knew the power of the Ming Dynasty.

In particular, they knew that the Ming Dynasty could seize Ceylon and Cape Town at any time.

Therefore, they had to be as careful as possible in dealing with the Ming Dynasty and organize as grand a welcoming ceremony as possible in The Hague.

The Dutch people generally support the independence of North America. Now they believe that the Ming Dynasty helped North America achieve independence, so they are particularly enthusiastic.

Although it seems that both the official and private sectors are very harmonious, in fact, a revolution may break out in the Netherlands at any time.

After the welcome banquet, the two sides held a brief talk.

Liu Quanzhi proposed a proposal to the Dutch King William V and all the parliamentarians that shocked them:
"I wonder if you have ever considered making the Netherlands a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Jianxuan knew the current situation of the Netherlands, so he did not discuss land transactions with them, and directly prepared to try to take over vassal states.

If we could take over the entire Netherlands, there would naturally be no need to attack Ceylon and Cape Town one after another.

Of course, if we cannot take over the vassal states, we can only rob them directly.

To be honest, William V was a little tempted, but he didn't dare to agree directly:

"Minister, we are an independent country in the Netherlands. We have achieved our precious independence through our own efforts and will no longer become a vassal of another country."

Liu Quanzhi pointed out the current situation in the Netherlands very ruthlessly:

“If the Netherlands is willing to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, it can naturally continue to use the commercial ports and lands of Suriname, Cape Town, and Ceylon.

"With the protection of the Ming Dynasty, other countries dare not covet it.

"Otherwise, having just lost most of their colonies, will the hungry British take action against the Netherlands?

“You should know how much you are worth now.

"According to my understanding, Britain was prepared to declare war on you directly because you supported America.

"It's just that we were surrounded and beaten by the Ming Dynasty, France, and Spain, and we had no time to take care of them.

"Now the war between Britain and Ming is over, and a peace treaty has been signed.

“Now Britain and Ming Dynasty may even become allies because of the territory exchange agreement.

"Without the interference of the Ming Dynasty, how about letting the vicious British fight against you Dutch alone?
"What will you have left by then?
“And to tell you the truth, our Highness King Wu is very interested in both Ceylon and Cape.

"Because it is an important shipping node for Ming Dynasty to reach the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

“So there are only two destinies for the Netherlands.

"You will become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty and open up the Cape, Ceylon, Suriname and other colonies to the Ming Dynasty. You can also continue to operate and use them.

"Or simply lose these lands in the next war."

Liu Quanzhi began to blackmail.

Liu Quanzhi did not say who the Netherlands would fight its next war with.

It could be Britain, it could be the Ming Dynasty, or it could be both Britain and the Ming Dynasty.

Britain wanted to join Ming in fighting the Netherlands because the King of England could see that Ming was interested in the Dutch colonies.

The Ming Dynasty could also see that Britain was equally interested in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands would not be able to withstand an attack from either Britain or the Ming Dynasty.

The Netherlands was really terrible at that time.

In history, when the British were fighting against France, Spain and the United States, they also took the opportunity to beat the Netherlands and even gained the upper hand.

The final result of that historical war was that France, Spain, and the United States all won and gained territory, but the Netherlands was the only one that ceded land.

Zhu Jianxuan felt that the Ming Dynasty could now beat the Netherlands on its own, without even having to find teammates specifically.

Just to prevent the Netherlands from finding allies to help him resist the Ming Dynasty.

France now has commercial cooperation with the Ming Dynasty and will not stand on the side of the Netherlands at this time.

If Spain, the Habsburgs, and Britain wanted to trade with the Ming Dynasty, they could not stand on the side of the Netherlands.

At the same time, the Netherlands is in Europe, and it is not convenient for the Ming Dynasty to attack directly, so it is better to find an ally in Europe.

When the Ming Dynasty was trying to seize colonies, they would directly strike at its homeland, forcing it to surrender and cede land as soon as possible.

The Netherlands would either lose all of its overseas colonies or become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.

In Zhu Jianxuan's view, for the entire Netherlands, the most advantageous option is to directly become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.

But after all, the Netherlands has been independent for two hundred years and has formed its own national identity.

They may not necessarily accept the option that is actually the most advantageous.

Historically, Napoleon occupied the Netherlands and established a puppet state to rule it.

(End of this chapter)