The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 326: Four Countries Intervene to Return the Island
On February 22, the second year of the Tianqi reign, at the western end of Tsushima Island, Asama Bay.

A Dutch thousand-ton warship named "Milige" was docked at the shore, and the red, white and blue tricolor flag on the three-masted soft sail reached into the sky, fluttering gently in the sea breeze.

Looking north from Qianmao Port, on the sea five miles away, dense masts are rising and falling with the wind and waves.

The four-nation combined fleet blocked the strait, like a huge piece of swaying seaweed, slowly entangling Tsushima Island controlled by the Kaihara Army.

There was a team of people standing on each side of the "Milizhi" ship. Although the theme of today was negotiation, both teams were fully armed and on guard against each other, and the situation was tense.

When the two strongest ground forces in the East and the West met for the first time, they both appeared as their own honor guards.

On both sides of the battleship deck, as if a 17th-century Chinese and Western military exhibition was underway, a dense display of various weapons:

Type 20 flintlock rifle, Type 21 flintlock pistol, chain mail, goose feather knife, spear, chest armor, cowhide smock (with sword shoulder strap and carbine strap), cowhide protective gloves, cavalry sword, saddle holster flintlock pistol, flintlock carbine, gunpowder bottle, British bowl helmet, cuirassier armor, rapier...
You can even see the Type 22 Tiger Crouching Gun and the British Royal Navy's mortars freshly produced by the Kaiyuan workshop.

The people who carry and use these weapons are also diverse, basically covering all major ethnic groups and races in the world.

In Kaiyuan: Ming people, Koreans, Mongols, Jurchens, and Japanese.

The mercenaries included: French, Spanish, Dutch, British, Japanese, and even black people.

The Kaiyuan soldiers in red mandarin duck battle jackets and the mercenaries in mixed attire looked at each other from a distance of ten meters. Both sides suspected that the other side was copying their weapons and equipment.

They are so similar.

Yuan Chonghuan, Zheng Zhilong and his entourage met with representatives of the four-nation merchant caravan in the cabin of the "Milizhi".

The two sides sat down at a long table, with Kaiyuan officials sitting on the left and directors of the British and Dutch East India Companies and representatives of the Spanish-French Chamber of Commerce sitting on the right.

Zheng Zhilong and a Japanese man opposite were responsible for translating between the two sides.

The two sides didn't exchange any pleasantries and went straight to the point.

Ruprecht Kohlen, director of the British East India Company, stated bluntly:

"Gentlemen, on behalf of the British East India Company, the Dutch East India Company, and all the directors and employees of the French and Spanish caravans, I extend my sincerest respects to your Marquis Ping Liao. I personally understand his series of military adventures in the Far East, but I do not support them. I implore you to immediately withdraw your troops from Kyushu, Japan, and restore the shogunate's ruling order as it existed before Genwa 7!"

Rupprecht spoke quickly, finishing the East India Company's demands in one breath. He looked up at Zheng Zhilong sitting opposite him and said to this familiar Catholic:

"Your Excellency Nicholas Gaspard, please send your greetings to Nicholas Zhaosun. King James I (King of England) admired the commercial order of free competition, which is also the truth that Britain constantly pursues. Any behavior that violates this spirit will be punished by the East India Company. Therefore, please allow me to reiterate that you must immediately withdraw from Kyushu Island, restore the shogunate's trade order, restore freedom and justice in the Far East, and in the name of the Lord, guarantee that such incidents will never happen again. May God bless you, Amen."

Zheng Zhilong translated simultaneously and quickly informed Yuan Chonghuan and his entourage of the British merchants' demands.

Yuan Chonghuan listened carefully to every word, and his expression grew heavier the more he listened.

Such conditions are obviously unacceptable.

When Zheng Zhilong finished explaining all the British demands, everyone was shocked. This time, the people of Kaiyuan were all sincere in their negotiations with the Red Haired Barbarians. Occupying Kyushu was the bottom line, and on this basis, many other things could be discussed.

I didn't expect the red-haired barbarians to have such an attitude.

Ma Shiying immediately became furious and pointed at the Englishman's big nose and cursed:
"You bunch of bastards! Why didn't you talk about fairness when you were killing innocent people in Java? I have never seen such shameless people!"

Yuan Chonghuan also said:
"If you want fairness, then the Marquis of Ping Liao led his army to Japan this time for two words: fairness! Openness, and damn fairness! The shogunate oppresses the people and makes them eat dirt. We are here only to save Japan. This is the ultimate fairness! You bunch of pirates, are you worthy enough to ask me for fairness!!"

Yuan Chonghuan spoke loudly and his saliva flew all over Recht's freckled face.

Yuan Chonghuan pointed at Zheng Yiguan who was still in a daze beside him and said loudly:
"Translate for the foreigners, what is fairness?"

Zheng Zhilong turned to the British representative and spoke a long string of English, which made the European gentlemen on the opposite side blush and turn pale.

One of the skills for successful negotiation is to overwhelm your opponent with your momentum. In addition to hitting the opponent directly, verbal threats and physical actions are also feasible.

This is also one of the reasons why leaders of major countries often swear during informal meetings.

Ma Shiying raised his middle finger to the British, a transnational language gesture he had just learned from the sailors.

"You idiot! You think you can scare me with a few junky ships? We have 30,000 soldiers in Jiuzhou. The Kaiyuan Army boasts sophisticated firearms and unparalleled combat power. We've never feared anyone! Marquis Ping Liao has ordered me to warn you: immediately withdraw all ships from the sea and end the blockade. Otherwise, you'll be declaring war on Kaiyuan!"

The Englishman shrugged his shoulders, touched his nose, and showed a disdainful expression.

He turned around and chatted with several directors, and greed gleamed in the eyes of a group of big-nosed men.

Ruprecht looked at everyone and sneered:
"Please forgive my ignorance of Marquis Ping Liao. He may be a humorous commander, or he may be as stubborn as your great emperor."

"However, as an adversary, I must remind you. In our world, decisive military power lies at sea, not on land. From what I've observed, your little pirate ships are barely adequate against the Japanese monkeys, but they're likely no match for European warships. Without your supplies, you can hold out for a week at most. Then, once the East India Company employees land on Kyushu Island, the entire war will be resolved."

A later representative of the Dutch East India Company added:
"We don't want to interfere too much in the war between Ming and Japanese monkeys, but you now want to take everything for yourself and damage the interests of various countries in Japan. This is of course impossible. So, no matter what, you must do as Sir Resit demands, immediately!"

The French businessman rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing his hairy arms, and slammed the wooden table, angrily saying:

"Pagans, this place does not belong to you, go back to your country!"

After listening to Zheng Zhilong's translation, Deng Changxiong immediately stood up and stared at the Frenchman across the table, saying loudly:

"Then we'll see who's better on the battlefield!"

Neither side was willing to make concessions, their demands were too far apart, and both sides were inclined to use force to resolve the issue, so the negotiations broke down.

(End of this chapter)