Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 87 Anxiety and Indifference

"Why do you say that?" Long Huamin continued. "Matteo Ricci maintained a good relationship with the late emperor's eunuchs."

"There is a sequence here." Xu Guangqi raised his glass to toast Long Huamin.

"What do you mean?" Long Huamin asked after replying.

"The eunuchs' friendship with Matteo Ricci presupposes the Emperor's interest in him." Xu Guangqi filled his glass with wine, then smiled at Guo Jujing, who sat to his right, and added with a hint of emphasis, "It was because the Emperor had a favorable impression of the Jesuits that Matteo Ricci and others were treated to banquets and visits by high-ranking eunuchs."

Then, in Portuguese that everyone present could understand, he said, "Your Majesty's favor is the prerequisite for everything. Without it, nothing will happen."

Hearing this, Harald Brandt finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency Paul, I heard from President Niccolò Longobardi that His Majesty the Supreme Emperor wants to form a powerful musketry and artillery corps, so I hereby present to Your Majesty one hundred muskets, ten cannons, and..."

"I don't understand what you mean. I just said that the gift list has been submitted to the palace. Whether or not you can be summoned depends on your Majesty's mind. It's useless for you to tell me this." Xu Guangqi interrupted Harald Brandt's chatter.

Xu Guangqi spoke in Chinese, so the arms dealer didn't understand. Harald Brandt was stunned and looked at Long Huamin for help.

Xu Guangqi's unfriendly tone made Long Huamin sigh silently in his heart: Alas! Tang Ruowang was right. The senior officials of the Ming Dynasty really disdained to communicate with foreign maritime merchants.

"He doesn't know the rules. I apologize to you on his behalf."

"Please translate it for him." Xu Guangqi drank a glass of wine, as if his anger had not subsided yet.

In this way, Xu Guangqi and Harald Brandt began a conversation that looked very funny with Long Huamin as the translator.

"I understand that there was a recent victory on the northern border. Sir, will this affect the Supreme Emperor's willingness to build a firearms unit?" Harald Brandt felt the disdain from the senior official in front of him.

But doing business with the government is like begging someone to be your father, and many people want to "find a father" for themselves but have no way to do so. Therefore, the harsher Xu Guangqi's tone, the more respectful his attitude became.

"No, the imperial court needs a strong army. The northern border has been temporarily stabilized, but this does not mean the bandits have been completely eliminated. Large tracts of land in Jianzhou's mortal realm are still shamelessly occupied by the Jian slaves, and the people there are still suffering in dire straits, waiting for the imperial court's heavenly soldiers to rescue them." Xu Guangqi's every word was filled with concern for the country and heartache for the people. He knew clearly that the threat of bandits had not been completely eliminated, and strengthening defenses to stabilize the situation was only the beginning.

"This is too..." Arms dealers never cared about civilians in war zones. Harald Brandt was more concerned with how much gunpowder was burned and how many gun barrels were broken than how many people died. But he was no fool, and his thoughtless words of relief were cut off mid-sentence. Harald Brandt suppressed his joy into sadness: "This is such a pity."

"Tell me, how many cannons and muskets can you transport to our Celestial Empire every year?" Xu Guangqi was so perceptive that he almost immediately noticed Harald Brandt's changing mood, but he still suppressed his boiling anger and forced himself to nod.

Xu Guangqi's praise greatly encouraged Harald Brandt. He cheered up and said, "I don't want to be a middleman anymore. I hope to build a gun factory in Ming Dynasty. I can use local materials to produce guns and cannons. To this end, I earnestly ask the Lord to grant me a piece of land."

"Stop!" Xu Guangqi interrupted him again. "I don't have the authority to grant you anything, let alone land. All land under heaven belongs to the king, and only the emperor has this power."

"I made a mistake," Harald Brandt apologized hastily.

"In other words, you want to build a firearms factory on the land of my Ming Dynasty?" Xu Guangqi waved his hand, as if to put the matter behind him.

"Yes, Your Excellency," Harald Brandt nodded repeatedly. "Can you make guns and cannons?" Xu Guangqi asked.

"No." Harald Brandt said with a wry smile.

"You are not running a cannon factory. Are you hired as a supervisor?" Xu Guangqi frowned, looking impatient.

"Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Although I don't know how to build cannons, there are people in the Iberian Peninsula who can!" Harald Brandt quickly explained.

"Iberian Peninsula? Where is it?" This was the first time Xu Guangqi had heard of this geographical concept.

"It's Spain." said Long Huamin, who was translating.

"Do you have any connections there?" Xu Guangqi nodded and continued asking.

"I have a few acquaintances who are all skilled gunsmiths. They make cannons and guns for the King of Spain," Harald Brandt replied.

"Are they willing to abandon their country and homes, and cross the ocean to seek a living in the Ming Dynasty?"

"No problem. The Celestial Empire is a superior country respected by all the people in the world. It is their honor to come to the Ming Dynasty to see the majesty's majesty and be bathed in the royal rule." Although the wording was different, Harald Brandt still grasped the essence of flattery: the Ming Dynasty is the greatest country in the world, and the people of other countries will always yearn for it.

This is not entirely false. In the general perception of Europeans, China, far away in Asia, is like a paradise on earth. It has a vast territory, a stable society, gold everywhere, and no war.

This impression primarily stems from returning missionaries to Europe. These missionaries typically confined themselves to coastal areas, avoiding rural areas. Their gaze focused solely on prosperous areas of population and wealth. They were shortsighted, believing that Hangzhou, Wuxi, and Nanjing—the rice-rich, tax-rich regions along the Grand Canal—were all that the Ming Dynasty possessed.

"Hmm." Xu Guangqi did not comment on Harald Brandt's flattery. Instead, he continued to ask, "Will the King of Spain allow them to leave?"

"Sir, I have been a middleman for many years. Not only do I know gun technicians, I have also had a lot of dealings with the factory's chief officer and local officials." Harald Brandt grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"It seems that you are very rich?" Xu Guangqi understood what he meant: this middleman with no bottom line had already made the decision to abandon his motherland.

"He has quite a bit of wealth. Otherwise, he wouldn't have donated this representative seat," Harald Brandt replied respectfully.

"Okay. I understand." Xu Guangqi was very interested in this, but his face remained calm.

"Please report my situation to His Majesty the Supreme Emperor." Harald Brandt's face was full of flattery, forming a sharp contrast with Xu Guangqi's indifference. If Long Huamin hadn't strictly prohibited merchants from bribing officials alone, he would have almost paid the money.

"Let's talk later. Eat."

(End of this chapter)