Chapter 181: Expelling the Barbarians

The Chongzhen Emperor still clearly remembered that in the second year of Chongzhen, a Supervising Secretary of the Office of Rites had submitted a memorial attacking the recruitment of Macao troops, accusing the Portuguese of using whether or not to send troops as leverage.

In fact, at that time the court had already fulfilled its part of the agreed protocol first, disbursing over sixty thousand taels in two installments in the seventh month, and continuing to supply grain and rice as well, all for the purchase of firearms and the hiring of the foreign musketeer company — yet the Portuguese had not fulfilled their side of the agreement, and instead demanded another three hundred taels per man in settlement money, along with many other unreasonable demands.

The current Chongzhen Emperor also had an impression of this incident in his mind; it had ultimately fizzled out without resolution, which truly set no good precedent and would give people the illusion of weakness.

And sure enough, feeling that the Great Ming was beset by internal troubles and external threats, these long-haired Portuguese barbarians had now come back with designs of profiting from the chaos.

The more you need them, the more they open their lion's mouths. With people of this petty-merchant mentality, negotiating with them is useless. If you don't move, fine — but once you do, you must beat them into submission.

Although the court's naval forces were currently weak and not yet capable of launching a large-scale national war, there was nevertheless one man of this era who was more than enough to beat the barbarians until they cried for their mothers and fathers.

After reading the memorials submitted by the Grand Secretariat, the Chongzhen Emperor decided to make full use of his resources and his identity as Emperor of the Great Ming. With a "bang," he hurled the memorial to the ground and flew into a rage, saying: "These actions of the Portuguese show they have no regard for the Great Ming whatsoever — they are provoking discord between our two nations. This kind of behavior must never be encouraged."

Originally, the Chongzhen Emperor had wanted to directly call them the long-haired barbarians, but on second thought, seeing Johann Adam Schall von Bell and the others standing below staring wide-eyed, he decided to save them some face.

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly seemed to think of something, and turning his head, asked: "Is Zheng Zhilong still under amnesty?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Zheng Zhilong accepted the pacification offer in the seventh month of the first year of the reign from Xiong Wencan, then Governor of Fujian, and became Admiral of Coastal Defense. In the seventh year of the reign, Zheng Zhilong led our dynasty's naval forces to completely annihilate the great pirate Liu Xiang at Humen, and has now risen to Commissioner-in-Chief of Fujian Coastal Defense, holding great power and high position." Wei Zaode quickly stepped forward, and at the end deliberately added four words, intending to remind him.

The Chongzhen Emperor heard those four words and clearly took note of Wei Zaode's meaning. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, but finally continued:

"Let the Directorate of Ceremonial draft the edict: promote Zheng Zhilong to Governor-General of Fujian Coastal Defense, confer upon him the honorary title of Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Five Military Commissions, and grant him full authority to handle this matter. Make sure he has a good talk with the Portuguese in Macao!"

"Furthermore, when Li Fengxiang goes to deliver the edict this time, remind Zheng Zhilong — tell him, if the soft approach doesn't work, then use force. Even if he has to take the navy there, he must seize back for me everything needed for firearms!"

"These Portuguese in Macao have usurped the magpie's nest, showing no gratitude whatsoever for the kindness and benefits the Great Ming has bestowed upon them. How is this ungrateful behavior any different from the Jianzhou barbarians? Tell Zheng Zhilong — if he beats the Portuguese into submission for me, how could I be stingy with rewards and honors!"

"I simply refuse to believe that these paltry barbarians would dare to brandish their blades above the Great Ming's head — are they tired of living!"

The Emperor's wrath shook the court; all the officials trembled in fear, prostrating themselves prostrate in the hall, including Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode, Second Grand Secretary Jiang Dejing, and Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang, Bi Maoliang, and others.

The next day, the court's resolution regarding the Macao matter was disseminated, conveyed to the realm through both newspapers and official documents. Within half a month, the entire capital region had heard of it.

"Have you heard? The court is going to take military action against those long-haired freaks!"

"Who hasn't heard? Today's papers devote much space to this matter. After more than ten years, this is truly satisfying!"

"Who says otherwise? Back then, Governor-General Wang of the Two Guangs died at the hands of these barbarians for the sake of our Great Ming. By acting thus, His Majesty has truly vented the anger of the whole realm!"

In a tavern in the capital, travelers and guests from all directions gathered daily to chat about everything under the sun. In times past, the content of their conversations ranged far and wide — from major matters of state like the Jianzhou barbarians and the roving bandits seizing cities and territory, and factional strife at court, down to private salt in Shandong, the tea-horse trade in Shanxi and the Nine Borders, and all manner of private dealings and local conditions — everything was covered.

All across the country, the agencies and secret agents of the Three Depots and One Guard were scattered like stars, serving like diligent satellites orbiting the Emperor. Whenever they discovered any news unfavorable to the court or the Emperor, it would ultimately converge upon the imperial desk in the Warm Pavilion.

Such places of constant coming and going were the best spots for gathering intelligence and gauging public sentiment. According to regulations, the Three Depots and One Guard maintained permanent listening posts at every teahouse, tavern, and inn in the capital, with three reports daily being mandatory.

Since a few days ago, the subject of most people's conversations had shifted from the marriage of Princess Changping and Zhang Huangyan in the fifth month to the imminent war between the Great Ming and Portugal.

This was the first conflict between the Great Ming and another internationally recognized state since the Wanli-era aid to Korea. Unlike the Great Ming's prolonged wars against the Jianzhou barbarians and the roving bandits — regimes not recognized by the world — if this were mishandled, it would erupt into a true national war.

The national war between Han and the Xiongnu had been fought for over a hundred and thirty years, only turning around in the time of Emperor Wu of Han, finally ending with the Xiongnu's complete defeat and flight westward.

History tells us that once a war between nations erupts, unless one side submits and acknowledges vassalage, it will be a fight to the death.

"The court taking this path — it's a risky gambit!" Suddenly, a storyteller said with a worried expression.

At his words, the surrounding drinkers and travelers immediately grew interested and crowded around.

"How so?"

"You're nothing but a damned storyteller — what do you know about matters of state? Spouting nonsense here — watch out or I'll haul you off to the authorities! The current Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture is an upright and impartial official!" At this, a fat man blustered loudly.

"Exactly!"

No sooner had the fat man finished speaking than another man with dark skin slammed his fist on the table and shouted: "What's all this yelling? What's all this yelling? Let him finish his words! I want to hear what good things he has to say!"

"Me, spouting nonsense?" The storyteller, hearing this, immediately grew angry. Stepping one foot onto the table, he gestured wildly and said: "Let me tell you — our Great Ming is unstable within, with roving bandits everywhere! Outside, we've been fighting the Jianzhou barbarians for decades without a decisive victory. The Eastern Sea barbarians and the Koreans are watching from across the shore, eager to make their move. If we open another war with the old barbarians, aren't we jumping into a fire pit ourselves?"

"Don't you all agree this is the logic?"

After the storyteller finished his shout, those around each fell into thought, then nodded one after another, all feeling he made sense.

In the current situation, the Great Ming could not afford to collapse. If the Great Ming collapsed, their little families would basically be finished too. Just at this moment, the dark-skinned man from before snorted coldly and said: "I thought you were going to say something remarkable, but it turns out it's all a pile of bullshit!"

The storyteller glared at the man, and the man glared right back without yielding, even rolling up his sleeve to reveal the solid muscles on his shoulder and flexing them — the meaning was self-evident.

Seeing the scholar intimidated into silence, the man stood up and said:

"This is why I say His Majesty sending the agencies to smash the Donglin Academy — I say, that move was absolutely damn right! Scholars ruin the nation! The barbarians are squatting on your head taking a shit, and you still want to endure?! Endure until when — the year of the monkey? If we don't fight back, won't the Great Ming become the laughingstock of the world!"

"This brother speaks well — that's the right track! His Majesty wants to fight, then tomorrow I'll enlist!" After the man finished, another young man stepped forward, looked at him, and said: "I've long found these long-haired freaks objectionable. It's time they learned the might of us Han people!"