A tortuous war
Throughout their lives, Yinreng and Shujia seemed to constantly struggle against insurmountable obstacles on the road to seemingly promising aspirations. Those beautiful prospects seemed so good, they were worth devoting a lifetime to. However, on the road to every beautiful princess's castle, there was always a dragon standing in the way, preventing anyone from roaming the princess's beauty. Sometimes, there was more than one dragon.
This time was no exception. Want to find a way out? Okay, first give the court officials an explanation.
Compared to Yinreng, Shujia faced much less pressure—she didn't have to face the court directly. Often, the monarch's ideas and those of the courtiers were diametrically opposed. It wasn't necessarily about who was right or wrong; it was simply a matter of differing perspectives. Similarly, due to their different positions, understanding between them was difficult.
Yinreng knew that these people had no ill intentions, but he could not help but think that they were short-sighted. The ministers thought that Yinreng was a competent emperor, but they could not help but think that he was ambitious.
From the perspective of court officials, it is better to have less trouble than more. You, the emperor, know the situation of the country very well. Not only is there a shortage of food and clothing, but there are also numerous loopholes. It is too late for everyone to find ways to make up for it, and you are causing trouble again!
From Yinreng's perspective, it is the time to find a way out, but you are still complacent, not seeking to make achievements but to avoid mistakes. You really have no vision!
The two then engaged in a heated debate over the issue of Nian Gengyao.
The court officials were quite careful with their words during court proceedings, secretly drawing comparisons to Emperor Yang of Sui. That emperor's conquest of the useless Goryeo ruined his great empire. To most officials, Luzon was like being "thrown off to Java." What good was it?!
As for Nian Gengyao's claim that the region was rich in resources, or that the court needed to uphold justice, many were briefly moved by the latter argument, but after considering the current national situation, they restrained the thought. Instead, they said, "Nian Gengyao is just making up excuses to cover up his mistakes." They insisted that Nian Gengyao was using the banner of justice to exonerate himself.
Yinreng was in a dilemma. The emperor's arbitrary decision-making was effective most of the time, but he also had to be careful about the methods and approaches. He could go to war with the scholars of the world, but he couldn't be too harsh on the officials who served him.
Every day, Shujia listened to Yinreng recount the ministers' remarks, then refuted them in front of her. The main problem was that his language bordered on insults, which would damage the emperor's image and chill the ministers' hearts in the court. He felt uncomfortable not scolding them, so he had to hide behind his wife and badmouth them. Alas, for an emperor to this extent, he was considered a good emperor.
"What's that 'If one travels a thousand miles to pursue profit, he will surely become a general!' It's this 'profit' that I lack right now!" This was another argument Yinreng received today. He couldn't complain freely in the Qianqing Palace, so he went to the Kunning Palace to grumble. After mumbling a few times, he added, "If it truly is a benefit that will last for generations, then a general will surely become a general."
Uh, this kind of blatant self-interest, this kind of thinking that doesn't treat ministers as dry food, really can't be said in the court, and absolutely not a single word can be leaked. If it is revealed, it will be a disaster, and his position will be in jeopardy. There are many things that can be thought and done, but they must not be said.
Even if it was done and it became an established fact, she would have to find another legitimate explanation. Shujia silently took note of this.
Many people wanted to bring Nian Gengyao back, not to mention dismissing him from his post and investigating him, but at least put him in cold storage for a while. However, Yinreng was unwilling to do so. Because the promotion, demotion, appointment and dismissal of governors and governors-general were too high, only the emperor had the power to do so. Even the Ministry of Personnel had only the power to arbitrarily discuss matters but not to make decisions.
Yinreng played a trick, openly arguing with the court officials, secretly issuing an order to Nian Gengyao. I have to fight with those people for you, you have to do me honor!
For Yinreng, Southeast Asia was a promising prospect, indeed, and indeed, it was far overseas. If it succeeded, there would be great benefits, but if it failed, there would be no negative impact on the mainland, right? As long as Nian Gengyao managed Guangdong and Guangxi well, he could do whatever he wanted with the outside world. He would just cast his net and try his luck.
Hearing Yinreng say this, Shujia knew that this was the best he could do. It wasn't that he wasn't tempted, but he also had to consider the facts. There was widespread opposition from the court, many of whom were his right-hand men, so he had no choice but to make a superficial compromise. In his heart, he was probably not as resolute as he had been at the beginning.
It's said that those who don't plan for the future will inevitably have immediate worries, but the ancients also said, "If you can't even clean your own house, how can you clean up the world?" The near and far always influence each other and complement each other, and neither can be easily neglected.
Shujia thought for a moment and said, "It's a good idea to let Nian Gengyao do what's best for him. He's the governor-general, and he has the responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the country. Not to mention the red-haired raiders, there are also pirates along the coast. It's only natural to prepare for war."
Neither the emperor nor the empress wanted to confront the court officials directly. If they were to defeat them, who would be responsible for the various new policies being implemented? They took a roundabout approach, wrangling with people in the capital while continuing to work in Guangdong.
His calculations were sound, and Nian Gengyao had done a remarkable job in Southeast Asia. He actually secured a large area there and presented it to the emperor. It was said that these large plantations were producing a bountiful harvest. Naturally, he was reprimanded by the court officials. Yinreng was also criticized, saying, "Emperor, you can't speak for Nian Gengyao just because you accepted his favors. It's unbecoming of you to do so."
The court officials were left to waffle, after all, the benefits were tangible. Nian Gengyao's order to ship all rice from Luzon back to China, except for food rations, was a brilliant move. He also appointed several Chinese to manage local affairs. Governor Nian had driven the Red Hairs away, but it was impossible for him to personally manage the situation. Even if he sent someone, no one would be willing to stay permanently.
He thought everything would go smoothly, but he didn't expect that he would encounter new troubles.
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Many things, even if the central government has support, still rely on the execution of the people below. Nian Gengyao was undoubtedly a man of great execution. Although he had various shortcomings in his character, he was able to fully utilize his abilities under the protection of those above him.
Just talking about this "surprise attack" alone, it is quite remarkable. To endure for several years is not something that ordinary people can do. But Nian Gengyao was able to do it. He kept his troops in place, watching the Red Hair quietly pull people away from his territory, suppressing all news and focusing on expanding his army and preparing for war.
The Governor-General had his own armed forces, but they were not particularly numerous, their combat effectiveness was uncertain, and most of them were land forces. The fact that he was able to organize a navy under such adverse conditions and achieve such success was a testament to his ability.
Nian Gengyao fought a brilliant battle with a calculated plan, and he was so proud of his achievements that he ignored the complaints in the court. As a Jinshi (Jinshi) scholar, he had many peers and teachers who wrote to him, asking him to be restrained and to pay attention to his influence. Many of them were sincere and earnest, but he just smiled and ignored them all. His father, brother, and son also wrote to him. After reading the letters from his father and brother, he would reply, "I understand, but I have to take responsibility for the emperor's work." After opening the letter from his son, he rolled up his sleeves and wrote back, scolding his son profusely!
Nian Gengyao was in high spirits and had the emperor's secret decree in his hand. How could he listen to other people's words so easily?
He is indeed very proud of himself!
One of the reasons why his officials opposed his conquest of Luzon was that it was too far away and difficult to govern. The Ming Dynasty had also launched an expedition to conquer this place, but ultimately failed to do so.
If the courtiers had a globe and a tape measure, they could measure whether it was closer to this place from China or from Europe.
At that time, the Suez Canal had not yet been opened. The nearest route to reach here was to go around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, through the Indian Ocean, and pass Singapore. The journey was long, definitely much farther than Guangzhou and Qiongzhou!
European influence in Asia had not yet fully expanded. For example, in India, many countries only established trading posts, and the number of colonists in Asia was not large. European weaponry was superior to that of many indigenous peoples, and they could conquer them simply by setting up a few cannons on their doorsteps. Therefore, the number of Europeans in Asia was relatively small.
In the minds of the colonists, they didn't need so many people. With their military strength, these people were enough to control the situation. They also adopted methods such as using indigenous people to govern indigenous people and provoking conflicts between different indigenous peoples to strengthen control, which always went smoothly.
The two biggest losses the Dutch East India Company suffered were in Japan and China. In Japan, they provoked the Japanese, who simply closed their doors to the outside world. In China, Taiwan was recovered by Zheng Chenggong.
That's all. The Dutch are very relieved.
It’s too early to be relieved!
Nian Gengyao had ample resources, though few could be mobilized for the expedition. However, he still had an advantage over the Dutch who remained behind. He also launched a surprise attack. He offered large profits to some of the fence-sitters, not financially but in terms of reputation. Recognition as a Chinese citizen was an extraordinary allure for those who had left their homeland.
It can be said that Nian Gengyao’s victory was not entirely based on his strength.
After his victory, the Dutch were not foolish and quickly escaped. As mentioned earlier, the voyage was long. If they encountered bad weather, they would be lucky to return to Europe within a few months. Those with less luck would fall into the sea and become food for the fish.
After finally returning home and reporting the bad news, the Dutch East India Company was in an uproar! Most of the East India Company's shareholders knew nothing about Asia. What they knew about Asia was mostly that it was a place of luxury goods and that the land currently held 20% of their profits.
This place cannot be lost!
In Europe, the Netherlands felt threatened by Britain's growing ascendancy. The British East India Company was also rapidly developing. If the Netherlands lost power, they could easily be exploited by Britain, potentially losing Asia and ultimately suppressing the entire world. Everyone knows the British love playing dirty tricks. They wouldn't be British if they didn't take advantage of others' misfortunes. Damn! The Spanish Armada was destroyed by their surprise attack.
Things became simpler. It wasn't a question of whether to seek redemption, but rather a matter of securing one-fifth of the profits. Now all they had to discuss was how to prepare. There was no need to even report to the government. The Dutch East India Company held government shares and was already authorized to declare war on behalf of the nation.
Preparing for war was no easy task. Even for the financially powerful East India Company, it took time, not only to purchase arms but also to prepare personnel. Then came the long voyage. By the time their men reached their former colony, a year had already passed.
At this time, Nian Gengyao still thought that the Dutch had been completely defeated by him.
War comes without warning.
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When two countries go to war, they always have to find a pretext, even if it's a war of aggression. The Dutch launched a surprise attack while simultaneously issuing a letter of challenge.
Upon receiving the declaration of war, Nian Gengyao felt a little nervous. Since it was a letter from the Dutch government, he was not allowed to open it, so he could only send someone to "escort" the Dutch envoy all the way to Beijing.
It's not a crime to provoke a border conflict without authorization, and it's okay to be complained to, as long as you have enough merit to offset it and have brought enough benefits to the court. The problem is, they come to slap you in the face. They roll up their sleeves and fight you. In the eyes of the court, they are certainly not good people, and you are also a troublemaker.
Thinking of the previous impeachments, even though Nian Gengyao was determined, he couldn't sleep well for several days.
What Nian Gengyao didn't expect was that God sent him a helper, and this helper was the East India Company itself.
The East India Company had an extreme sense of superiority and pride, believing that the local natives were barbarians. They felt that sending them an official letter was putting them on an equal footing and that they were being very gentlemanly. As was their custom, the letter was written with relatively elegant rhetoric.
The actual content is not beautiful at all!
First, they blamed China for all the mistakes (well, the truth is that no one did a good enough job), and then they put forward their own demands, which were to punish the murderer, demand trade and various preferential policies... What was even more excessive was that they demanded that China recognize their rule over the Luzon area.
It’s going to kill me!
If it was just a request to withdraw the troops and execute Nian Gengyao, there would probably be room for negotiation. If it was also about allowing trade, it would not be impossible to talk about it. But he should never have mentioned a very sensitive issue at the court - the suzerain.
Even though that place is of little use, it is nominally our vassal state and hasn't paid tribute to us for many years, but it's still ours!
Nian Gengyao deserves to be punished, and these Dutch people are no good either! Nian, you should go and make meritorious contributions while you are guilty!
When Shujia heard the news, she was preparing her daughter's dowry. Wu Yunzhu was already a grown woman, and her marriage was just around the corner. The specific person she would marry was still undecided. It wasn't that she couldn't find a husband, but she was overwhelmed by the choices. She was afraid of disappointing her daughter with any of them.
The news was brought by Yinreng himself: "You are such a small country, how dare you, how dare you..." The old man was so angry that he laughed.
He had consulted missionaries and examined the maps they had brought. The Netherlands' land area was no larger than a large Chinese province. In terms of wealth, the two countries were vastly different. The court officials weren't averse to teaching such an arrogant nation a lesson, in large part because... it was simply too small!
"Huh?" Shujia was stunned. The Anglo-French coalition forces were gone, replaced by the Dutch?
What surprised her even more was that even though the army hadn't been completely rotten yet, with the Demon King Nian at its helm, it didn't gain any advantage! The prepared East India Company demonstrated its strength, forcing Nian Gengyao's navy to retreat to a corner, unable to defeat the enemy.
At this point... the Industrial Revolution hadn't even begun, had it? I clearly remember the Industrial Revolution ending right around the time the First Opium War began. It must have been dozens or even hundreds of years too early, right? And they still couldn't win?!
What surprised her even more was yet to come: the country that was supposed to have started the Opium War was also involved, and they... actually expressed that they were on the side of the imperial court.
This is weird!
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