Why did Portugal ask for help from the Great Ming Empire?

Portugal during this period was really miserable, they and Spain belong to the same peninsula, the same is the forerunner of the great maritime era, and there is a very close in-law relationship between the royal families of the two countries, originally, they should be in the same camp, but the Spanish King Philip III used the in-law inheritance relationship to annex Portugal, so that Portugal and Spain to the opposite.

Portugal was now free from Spanish rule, but they faced the wrath of Spain.

Although Spain has declined, but the thin dead camel is bigger than the horse, both in terms of volume and military, Spain is much stronger than Portugal, although Portugal took advantage of Spain and the anti-Habsburg alliance to occupy the Lisbon palace, forced the Spanish garrison, to obtain nominal independence, but Spain to go back to clean up them is still very simple.

They need to seek outside help.

In recent years, King João IV of Portugal has been seeking external help for so-called "resurrecting diplomacy".

He sent diplomatic envoys to Britain, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Rome, saying that Portugal was willing to join the Bourbon family group led by France and fight the Habsburg family group led by Spain.

For Portugal, Spain's enemies should accept Portugal as an ally, but for the anti-Habsburg powers, there is no interest in an alliance with Portugal, such a weak country can not help them deal with Spain, but need their help.

Moreover, Portugal has many colonial and commercial ports overseas, these are the fat coveted by the anti-Habsburg alliance forces, and if they are allied with Portugal, then these fats they cannot eat, this laborious thing who will do!

Therefore, Portugal's recovery diplomacy is very difficult and bitter, they basically take the hot face to put people's cold ass.

For example, France, João IV sent messengers to ask for an alliance with France, France ignored, he lowered his request, as long as France verbally recognized the alliance, France still ignored, and France also clearly put forward that Portugal and Spain would not be allowed to negotiate!

I will not ally with you, because I will rob your overseas colonies, and you will not be allowed to make an alliance with Spain, because I will rob your overseas colonies, this is the attitude of France!

Other countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and other countries are almost all this attitude, only Britain is willing to give Portugal a certain support, but they are lions, asking for huge returns.

If we are to help you with Spain, all your overseas colonies must be open to us, and the interests must be equal, that is the attitude of the British.

Their so-called equal share of interests was actually to obtain half the benefits of the colonies, and if the interests of the British merchants after the opening were added, the interests of most of their overseas colonies were taken by the British.

Moreover, the British also asked to open the port of Lisbon and allow them to enter and leave the navy freely, which is equivalent to holding Portugal in their hands and asking for it!

At this time, João IV was forced to the corner, the wolves Served, all wanted to take a few fat pieces from him, no one was willing to help him, so he was in a hurry to seek medical treatment, thinking of the hegemon of the Far East, the Daming Empire.

At this time, the Daming Empire was very strong, very strong, the emerging maritime overlords of the Netherlands were beaten to their teeth, and if they could get the help of the Daming Empire, then the Habsburgs and the anti-Habsburg alliance were clouds!

After listening to the description of the Da Ming Empire Army and Navy by the former Governor of Macau, João IV ordered Schweaver to fight for the support of the Daming Empire at all costs.

Here at all costs of course is forced to say it, as if not true, Schweaver is quite clear that the so-called at all costs is not really at all costs, the king's meaning is to let him do everything possible to win the support of the Ming Empire, can pay the price, but this price can not be greater than the British support, otherwise it is meaningless.

How much does it cost to get the support of the Empire?

Schweil had been thinking about this issue, unknowingly following Zhang Bin to the cabinet house.

Zhang Bin asked him to sit down in his guest seat and ordered people to go to the shiitake, so he smiled and asked, “Your country really wants to make an alliance with me?”

This is indisputable, but he can not show too eager, the more eager to show, the more he suffers, he is quite clear.

Schweil considered it, and nodded solemnly, “We, your majesty, the king, really want to make an alliance with Daming.”

Zhang Bin smiled again and asked, “What is the purpose of your alliance?”

Schweil hesitated, or vaguely said, “Of course, this is for the common good of both sides.”

Zhang Bin continued to say, “Your Excellency, Governor General, you should be clear that we are fully capable of defending our own interests and do not need to seek help through alliances.”

The meaning of this is obvious, you want to get help through the alliance, you just say, anyway, we do not need allies to help.

Schweil paused for a moment, and said, “Your Highness, you should know something about the situation in the European continent?”

Zhang Bin nodded faintly: "Know a little, now represented by Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburgs are vying for European hegemony and global colonial control over the European powers and the control of the global colonies, and you Portugal have just emerged from the Spanish rule, is this the case?"

Schweil heard that his face was heavy, and the duke knew the situation of the continent well, and it seemed that it was difficult to impress the duke without paying great benefits.

He hesitated, then gritted his teeth: "Yes, we have just been freed from Spanish rule, and Spain is not willing to let us become independent, and if they do their best to deal with us, we are not expected to resist, so our King's Majesty wants to seek the help of the Ming Empire."

Since the fool cannot be fooled, it is only the truth, and I hope that the duke's highness will not be too greedy, and if he is more greedy than the British duke's, he will not be able to talk about it.

Zhang Bin was not in a hurry to put forward the conditions, he continued to say faintly: "You do not go to the enemies of Spain to help, but not far away to come to our Ming to help, it must be people's proposed price is too high, or, people are not willing to help you at all?" 」

Schweil heard it, and his heart could not be clucked, troublesome, and the duke's highness knew almost the situation in Portugal, what to do?

Do you allow people to make conditionals?

He hesitated for a moment, and at last said with difficulty: "Your Royal Highness, you are right, this is the case."

Zhang Bin heard the words, can not help but show a bright smile, Portugal is indeed a serious illness to the doctor ah.

He knew that the Portuguese emissary had lost the initiative, and now the initiative is in his own hands, on the side of the Ming, as long as he is not very expensive, they will accept it!

PS: It is recommended to say "Hantu", preferring to laugh at the ancients, and not regret being a believer in the big man!Different three countries, different Han chamber relatives, interested readers and friends should not miss Oh.