Nan Ming Sun Never Sets

Chapter 487 Nobles and Commoners

When Bai Mingxiu occupied Gibraltar, the Spaniards did not react much.It's not that they don't want to react, but that the five-nation coalition led by Qian Erlang and Menecis has already begun to march into Spain, and they can't control the small place of Gibraltar at all.

The Ming Navy was more thorough and directly used Gibraltar as its naval base. The original Ming ships were temporarily based in Lisbon, but now the entire team of the Global Fleet has been moved directly to Gibraltar.This is why this small place where not many people live has become somewhat densely populated.

Most of the merchant ships did not leave Lisbon. Yu Chenglong is starting to organize economic and trade activities, and will directly conduct transactions with related countries in Portugal.

Some naval officers and soldiers who were not on duty, and some crew members and staff who were not on duty in the fleet also came to Gibraltar and began to do engineering and construction work that they were already familiar with.They built mainly port facilities and various civil and commercial buildings.Many buildings are still relatively simple, many of which are simple wooden houses, but they are mainly functional, at least allowing Gibraltar to accommodate more people.

Bai Mingxiu also heard about Qian Erlang and Menecis winning the Battle of Pavia in Gibraltar, which was expected.He also learned that Spain sent envoys to Lisbon four times in a row to seek peace with the Five Nations Alliance, but Liang Haisheng rejected them all without exception.

Liang Haisheng was very insistent: "Before we enter Madrid, Ming Dynasty will not sign any treaty with Spain."

The Spaniards' negotiation at this time is nothing more than wanting to maintain the dignity of some countries and make themselves less compensated.If the Allied Forces of the Five Nations are really allowed to enter Spain and capture Madrid, then the Habsburg dynasty's rule over this country may come to an end.No king wants to be held captive, letting his enemies take what they want.Therefore, avoiding the expansion of the war to this extent is Spain's first goal.

The first goal of the Ming Dynasty is also very clear, that is, to break through Madrid, let the small Western Yi country that has desecrated the dignity of the Ming Dynasty suffer a bitter pill, and get everything it wants.

Qian Erlang did not receive any order from Bai Mingxiu to stop his march, so after preparations, Qian Erlang led the five-nation coalition with a total strength of more than 24000 soldiers and horses, directly crossed the small border town of Elvas, and entered the Spanish territory.Since the army led by John was completely annihilated in the Battle of Pavia, Spain's defense on the border was relatively empty, so Qian Erlang entered Spain without any trouble.

The Allied Forces of the Five Nations advanced triumphantly, and the Spanish people along the way were full of fear and did not dare to stop them.The small Spanish army is avoiding any frontal contact with the Allied Forces of the Five Nations, and only dares to launch some small-scale harassment operations, and such operations will not cause any real damage to the Allied Forces of the Five Nations.

Qian Erlang wasn't in a hurry either, so he led the troops forward at a relatively normal speed and protected his own supply line.

Before entering Spain, Qian Erlang recruited military officials from various countries and repeatedly emphasized: "We are fighting against Spain, and we are fighting a just war. Any infringement on ordinary Spanish people is not allowed."

Menezes frowned and questioned: "If the Spaniard's supplies are not requisitioned, then there will be too much pressure on our own supplies."

The French also said: "It is a customary thing to plunder the country where it is located. In fact, there is nothing special to care about."

Qian Erlang said solemnly: "Sorry, generals, I am the chief of the ground forces of the Five-Nation Alliance Command, and I set the rules."

A group of European officers were very puzzled, but they did not dare to react too openly to Qian Erlang's opinions.Although the Ming army did not have the largest number of troops, it was obvious that Ming was in charge now, and no one wanted to offend Ming.Several so-called alliances actually have a competitive relationship from some perspectives. If anyone alienates the Ming Dynasty, they may not get the benefits that the Ming Dynasty pays, such as new weapons and equipment, so everyone even dislikes the Ming Dynasty. We dare not openly oppose this approach.

But soon something happened that made them stunned. Qian Erlang said: "The Allied Forces of the Five Nations will collect relevant money and food from the lords and nobles we met along the way, and collect them according to their ability to bear. This sum Money and food are used as the diplomatic and friendly expenses they handed over to our five-nation coalition. If you want to talk about protection money, you can also pay this money. If you don’t cooperate with the Spanish king to deal with us, then we will guarantee their safety. If not, then I will Wouldn't mind uprooting his nobles and lands."

Almost all the European generals present were blown up and buzzed loudly.This is completely against common sense. They don't seem to take action against ordinary people, but specifically pick off big nobles to offend.European countries will basically give dignity to the nobles of other countries and will not do more harm.But this side is good, directly blackmailing these nobles, arresting people without giving money, or destroying their foundations.

"This kind of thing is definitely not easy for us Europeans to accept!"

Qian Erlang had a rascal expression on his face: "It's okay, I don't need you Europeans to accept it, this is our Daming's way of doing things."

Menezes tried to dissuade him: "General, the nobles are decent, and they are an important force for maintaining the kingdom. If you offend them, it may arouse Spain's greater will to resist."

Qian Erlang smiled: "Could I be afraid?"

Meneses was speechless. He added: "The common people are just vassals of the nobles and have no power. Moreover, we have invaded Spain. They will not have a good impression of us and bother to please us." Some people who have no power have no meaning."

This is the difference in typical cultural values. Under the influence of Bai Mingxiu, Ming Dynasty has clearly developed a people-oriented complex, believing that the people are the ultimate power of a country, and the so-called feudal ruling class is decadent and backward. s things.But in the eyes of Europeans, it is completely the opposite. Only nobles can represent a country, and those mud legs are not worth mentioning at all.

Qian Erlang's approach naturally has its own grounds. Daming first came under the banner of punishing Spain for massacring Chinese in Luzon, so letting them invade the Spaniards made his position unstable.Furthermore, from the perspective of looting property, it still depends on the big nobles how much money the common people can loot.

Menezes and the others had no way to persuade Qian Erlang, so they could only follow his wishes, but they still didn't care about it in their hearts.

(End of this chapter)