Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 620 Difficult Negotiations (Part 7)
After the torrential rain, Nanping enjoyed several consecutive sunny days.

The warm sunshine brought a rare touch of warmth to the small town in this early winter season.

However, inside the negotiation venue, the atmosphere did not become completely brighter due to the improved weather; instead, it entered a more subtle and mentally taxing stage of negotiation.

However, Baron Cruz's "private" meeting with Xavi in ​​the rain seemed to break a crack in the stalemate, causing the Spanish delegation's stance to soften subtly in the subsequent negotiations.

Perhaps their fighting spirit had been worn down by the protracted tug-of-war, or perhaps Xavi's vision of "trade to save the country" had indeed touched upon the Marquis of Mendoza's deep-seated concerns about the kingdom's finances, the Spanish began to show an unprecedented willingness to compromise on the two core issues of market opening and port access.

Correspondingly, the Xinhua delegation also demonstrated a certain degree of pragmatism and flexibility.

Under the direction of chief negotiator Chen Rui and the specific execution by Xavi and others, Xinhua made surprising concessions on several terms that were arguably "humiliating" for Spain.

This "exchange" is not a one-sided concession, but a shrewd strategic adjustment that makes the seemingly parallel goals of both sides slowly and steadily move towards a balance point that is acceptable to both.

The most striking and symbolic aspect is the evolution of the territorial clause.

"Regarding territorial demarcation..." During a meeting, Harvey, speaking on behalf of Xinhua, said, "After careful consideration, we have decided to adjust our previous demands, namely, to abandon our sovereignty claims over the coastal areas west of Mount Sierra Madre."

A slight commotion arose in the hall, and the Spanish delegates exchanged incredulous glances.

West of the Sierra Madre del Bois lies the core coastal area of ​​the Viceroyalty of Mexico. Although most of the area has limited development, a small population, and unimportant economic benefits, it serves as a natural barrier and gateway from the Mexican interior to the Pacific Ocean.

If it were occupied by the new Chinese, it would be tantamount to placing a sharp dagger permanently against the soft underbelly of the Spanish American Empire.

Harvey gestured to an assistant to bring a map, which he unfolded and slid his finger across the familiar west coast of Mexico, finally stopping at a river that runs north to south.

"We propose that the 'Red River' (now the Colorado River) be used as the boundary. To the west of this river, extending to the ocean and including the entire Baja California peninsula, sovereignty should belong to the Republic of New South Wales. To the east of this river, the vast inland land extending to the Atlantic coast, should remain under the control of your Kingdom of Spain."

Upon hearing the proposal, the Spaniards initially breathed a sigh of relief, but then found themselves in a new dilemma.

The California region west of the Red River had virtually no colonial settlements, except for the previously established San Diego mission station. Moreover, according to the expedition's report, it consisted of dense forests, desolate deserts, rugged coastlines, and seemingly worthless peninsulas.

There were no legendary seven golden cities, no easily exploitable silver mines, and a lack of large tracts of known fertile land suitable for large-scale colonization.

In the eyes of the Marquis of Mendoza, exchanging this "barren land" for the preservation of the wealthy and strategically important western coastal corridor was an acceptable deal.

However, the principles of the dignity of the Kingdom of Spain and the integrity of its territory prevented them from agreeing immediately.

The delegation debated this issue for an entire day, carefully considering every place name in the border description, the ownership of river forks, and even the future status of the already reformed Native American tribes.

But what truly sent chills down the spines of the Spanish was the map that Xavi had unfolded.

It was not the typical European map of the Americas, full of imagination and blank spaces, but a map with slightly rough strokes, yet the direction of the mountains and the outline of the coast were quite accurate.

The Chishui River is clearly depicted, its winding course and even the snow-capped mountains (the Rocky Mountains) it points upstream are clearly visible.

Even more disturbing is that the map's depiction of northern Mexico and the Atlantic coast is so detailed and geographically accurate that it seems to surpass even the treasures in the Royal Geographical Museum of Spain, which are considered state secrets.

"This...where did they get this map?" Marquis Mendoza couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his eyes fixed on the map.

Spain had been colonizing the Americas for over a century and a half and considered itself to know this "New World" inside and out.

However, their understanding of the North American interior was mostly based on coastal explorations and vague information passed down orally from Native Americans, far from reaching such a systematic and precise level.

And the new Chinese, this emerging force that has been established on the northwest coast for less than twenty years, have their exploration teams and explorers already silently traversed the western half of this continent?

This instilled a deep-seated fear in the Spanish people—the depth and breadth of the new Chinese people's understanding of this land may have already surpassed that of Spain, which considers itself their master!
Perhaps to further appease the Spanish, or perhaps as a strategic show of weakness, Xavi inadvertently revealed in an informal discussion about future relations: "Please rest assured, the total population of Xinhua is currently less than 600,000, and even including the indigenous tribes that have submitted, the total population does not exceed 800,000."

"The existing territory is sufficient for us to expand and develop for generations. We have neither the capacity nor the urgent ambition to covet more territory."

The subtext of these words is clear: we are still small in size, we are content to farm, and we will not pose a real threat to your vast American empire, much less seize more territory.

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Mendoza's tense expression seemed to ease somewhat.

However, the speaker may not have meant it, but the listener may have taken it to heart.

When these words reached Baron Cruz's ears, they stirred up even greater waves in his heart.

Three years ago, when he arrived in Mexico as the chief inspector appointed by His Majesty the King, he heard the governor report that the population of Xinhua was about 300,000.

Despite the potential for delays and inaccuracies in the information, the idea that "the population doubled in just three years" crept into his mind like a venomous snake.

Despite Spain's 150 years of operation in the Americas, continuous immigration, and the constant reproduction of generations, the Hispanic population is only about 700,000. Even when including enslaved people and people of various mixed races, the total number barely exceeds two million.

In less than twenty years since its founding, Xinhua has achieved such a large-scale population gathering and growth!
If this trend continues, how many people will they have in ten years, twenty years, or a hundred years?
one million?

Two million?
even more?

By then, will this territory they claim is "enough" be able to restrain this quietly rising behemoth?

What lies hidden beneath the words "unintentional expansion"—is it genuine satisfaction, or a dormant, waiting-for-the-time burst of power once it has been fully accumulated?
A deep and unavoidable anxiety about the future, like dark clouds outside the window, once again enveloped Cruz's mind. However, the difficulties of reality outweighed his long-term worries.

Faced with the map presented by the new Chinese and their "reasonable" territorial demands, and confronted with the precarious domestic finances and the bottomless drain of resources on the European battlefield, the Spanish delegation, after a day of symbolic insistence and repeated haggling over details, finally accepted the proposal to use the Chishui River as the boundary.

After all, exchanging a vast but "useless" desert for the preservation of the wealthy core of Mexico and absolute sovereignty over the Isthmus of Panama was undoubtedly a worthwhile deal in the eyes of the Madrid court.

In the following days, after a fierce debate between the two sides, repeated polishing of the wording of the terms, and countless recesses for consultation, the marathon-like negotiations finally came to an end on December 11.

Negotiators from both sides finalized a preliminary agreement entitled the "Nanping Peace Treaty" in a meeting hall in Nanping that had witnessed countless clashes.

Article 1, Termination of the State of War and Financial Arrangements:
1. From the date of the formal exchange of instruments of ratification of this treaty, all hostilities between the Kingdom of Spain and the New Continent shall be permanently ceased.

2. The Kingdom of Spain agrees to pay the New Continent a total of 300,000 Spanish silver pesos as compensation for ending the state of war and related expenses.

3. The aforementioned funds will be transferred in the form of New Zealand-made weapons, ammunition, and military supplies of equivalent value. The specific types, specifications, delivery time, and location shall be separately agreed upon and implemented by military personnel authorized by both parties within thirty days after the entry into force of this treaty.

Article Two, Territorial Division of the Americas:

1. The Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of New Zealand jointly confirm that the center line of the main channel of the Chishui River, extending northward to the snow-capped mountains (i.e., the Rocky Mountains) where the river originates, is the boundary. All sovereignty, rights and interests of all land, islands and associated waters (collectively referred to as the California Territory) to the west and north of this boundary are permanently ceded to the Republic of New Zealand.

2. Sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Xuan Gui Islands (known as the Las Encanadas Islands by the Spanish government) located in the Pacific Ocean west of Quito (i.e., Ecuador) are also ceded to and belong to the New Continent.

3. Both parties pledge to respect and safeguard each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty within the aforementioned demarcation boundaries.

Article 3, Trade and Navigation:
1. The Kingdom of Spain promises to open, to a limited extent, designated ports of its American territories to merchant ships and goods of the Republic of China in the Americas (see Annex 1 for a list of specific ports).

2. In the initial year, the total value of goods permitted to enter the Republic of China in New South Wales shall not exceed 1.5 million pesos. If the annual trade volume approaches or exceeds this limit, both parties shall immediately consult to seek a mutually acceptable solution.

3. The Republic of China in New South Wales, based on the principle of reciprocity, also opens its designated Pacific coastal ports (see Annex II for the list) to Spanish merchant ships and grants them corresponding trade facilitation.

4. Both parties' merchant ships must apply for and obtain permission in advance when entering the other party's designated port, and must not be equipped with or carry any offensive weapons, and must comply with local port regulations.

Article 4, Property Disposal and Prisoner of War Repatriation:
1. The Republic of New South Wales promises that, after the treaty comes into effect, it will gradually return any captured Spanish military equipment (such as artillery, standard firearms, etc.) that can still be clearly identified and are well preserved.

2. Regarding civilian materials involved in the war, due to the complexity of the situation and the loss of many records, both parties agree to establish a joint asset appraisal committee to be responsible for investigation, registration and appropriate handling of the matter.

3. All military personnel captured during the war shall be returned unconditionally as soon as possible, and the Republic of New Continent China waives any ransom demands for the aforementioned personnel.

4. The repatriation of non-combatants and affected civilians shall be based on the principle of voluntariness, with the individuals deciding whether to stay or leave. Neither government shall coerce or obstruct the repatriation in any way, and shall provide necessary facilities.

Article 5, Non-interference and Regional Security:
1. The Republic of New South Wales guarantees to cease and prohibit any individual or organization under its jurisdiction from providing military support to any Indian tribe or resistance force within the Spanish American Territories.

2. The Kingdom of Spain also guarantees that it will fully respect the special status and rights enjoyed by the Republic of China in the Guaymía Autonomous Region of the Azuero Peninsula and the Araucan-controlled area in southern Chile, and will not interfere in their internal affairs.

Article 6, Right of Passage and Cooperation:

1. Both parties agree to jointly fund and organize manpower to repair and maintain the main highways of the Isthmus of Panama. Merchants and civilians of the Republic of New South Wales have the right to use the highways for peaceful purposes of passage and trade, provided that the agreed toll is paid and security checks are conducted.

2. Vessels of the Republic of China in New Zealand enjoy the right of free navigation through the Strait of Magellan to the Atlantic Ocean. Vessels must register with the Spanish authorities and obtain a passage permit at the designated port of Callao or other mutually agreed ports before entering the strait.

3. As an important force in the Pacific, the Republic of New Continent China has an obligation to cooperate with the Kingdom of Spain to jointly safeguard the safety of major Pacific shipping routes and combat piracy and all forces that endanger navigation and trade.

This preliminary agreement is not perfect for either party; it bears the mark of compromise.

Marquis Mendoza put down his quill, exchanged a silent glance with Baron Cruz, and a bitter smile, a mixture of weariness and helplessness, twitched at the corners of his mouth.

He knew that when the ceasefire agreement reached Madrid, it would cause a huge uproar in the court and parliament, and there would be no shortage of voices accusing him and Cruz of betraying the country and tarnishing Spain's glory.

They ceded land to the Kingdom of Spain in name only, and more importantly, opened the American market—albeit to a limited extent and with trade quotas set—breaking the Spanish government's more than 100-year trade monopoly over the American colonies.

What angered the Madrid court nobility even more was that the agreement effectively recognized Xinhua's equal status with the Kingdom of Spain in the Pacific region.

However, in his heart, the other side of the scale was heavier—the great crisis of the American colonies was resolved, and the precious Peruvian silver fleet could finally sail safely back to the homeland to support the precarious war in Europe and the royal finances on the verge of bankruptcy.

Even that hidden trade route, which could bring re-export profits, can be considered a glimmer of light in the darkness.

For Xinhua, the war, which lasted for two years and eight months, has finally come to an end.

They gained long-awaited, though limited, but significant market access, finding a stable export market for the country's growing industrial production capacity.

What's particularly valuable is that this market is right next to Xinhua.

More importantly, the end of the war finally freed up Xinhua to devote most of its energy to internal affairs—to the increasingly large-scale transoceanic migration, to the expansion and development of vast new territories, and to all the infrastructure construction that would solidify the foundation of national strength.

Meanwhile, on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, that homeland of China is engulfed in turmoil and uncertainty. Now, Xinhua can finally calmly turn its attention back to that region, to pay attention to, and even intervene in, the impending historical changes.

Peace arrived just as both sides had been eagerly anticipating it.

The sea breeze of the New Continent seemed to carry a touch of new life.
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Volume Three Completed
(End of this chapter)