Howard and Xiaohua Laishi finally calmed down a bit – because Master Hamisi wanted to target the Ming merchants, the entire Benghazi was razed to the ground, and the survivors of Benghazi all became laborers. Not only that, but Hamisi and his son, who caused all this, were dragged out of a cave and drowned in a dung pit.
Seeing that Xiaohua Laishi and Marshal were calmer, Howard couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief: "Listen, we still need to ask the Ming army for help. Now is not the time to offend the Ming people."
Xiaohua Laishi's expression was uncertain. After a long while, he snorted coldly: "Mr. Howard, if those short and stout people were instigated by the Ming people, would asking the Ming people for help be useful?"
Howard also snorted coldly: "Listen, the Ming army at the Jinan military base is far more terrifying than those short and stout people! Now it's just a war between us and the short and stout people. Even if we can't beat them, we can still hold them back. If we drag the Ming army into it..."
Xiaohua Laishi suddenly interrupted Howard's long speech: "Mr. Howard, you should know the Ming people's army. They have always boasted that they are the protector of the Ming civilians. If they don't care about the lives of the Ming people, then let them come. Anyway, the final result will not be any different – or, do you have confidence in holding back those short and stout people?"
Howard fell silent.
As Luo Hong, the leader of the Ming Dynasty's military base in Jinan, said: The people from the English East India Company were less like an army and more like desperate gamblers for money. Even though they knew that kidnapping Ming merchants would offend the Ming, and even face relentless pursuit by the Ming army, that was something for the future. What was more important at the moment was how to deal with those short and stout people who were like mad dogs.
After a long while, Howard shook his head weakly and sighed, "Then do as you say. It can't be worse than the current situation anyway."
However, as soon as Howard finished speaking, an attendant outside the door rushed in, walked up to Howard, and whispered: "Mr. Howard, the Ming commander from the Jinan military base has sent someone to pick up all the merchants in Sri Lanka."
Howard was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly at Xiaohua Laishi and said, "The facts prove you were right – the Ming people are asking to pick up all their merchants in Sri Lanka."
Xiaohua Laishi took a deep breath and said grimly, "Sri Lanka is still in our hands. It's up to us whether they can pick up those Ming merchants."
The attendant who brought the news frowned and said, "Mr. Xiaohua Laishi, I must remind you that the Ming people did not just send a messenger, but an entire fleet to pick up their merchants – eight warships plus a transport ship. This even exceeds the number of warships the Ming people have in Jinan."
Xiaohua Laishi was also stunned.
The military strength at the Jinan military base was not a secret. Even Xiaohua Laishi and his group in Sri Lanka knew that the Ming Dynasty only had two warships and one transport ship at the Jinan military base.
So, what about the six extra warships?
If they were transferred from the nearby Punna military base or the more distant Old Port military base...
Doesn't that just show that the Ming people have been planning operations against Sri Lanka for a long time?
The more Xiaohua Laishi thought about it, the angrier he became. Just as he was about to say something, Howard preempted him and asked the attendant, "Did they say anything else?"
The attendant said, "They said they are not interested in the conflict between England and Japan. Other than picking up the Ming merchants, they will not interfere in our affairs with those short and stout Japanese."
Howard nodded and sighed, "Go and tell the Ming people that I agree to them picking up those Ming merchants, on the condition that they do not interfere in our affairs with those short and stout people. Go."
After the attendant left, Howard turned to Xiaohua Laishi and Marshal and said, "Don't think about using the Ming merchants as a shield anymore."
Xiaohua Laishi became furious and stared at Howard fiercely, saying, "If you hadn't allowed them to pick up the Ming merchants, those Ming merchants would still be our shield!"
Howard also became furious and retorted, "Can you guarantee that you can definitely catch those Ming merchants? Hamisi also thought he could catch those Ming merchants in Benghazi, but what was the result? It was just those Ming merchants and their hired laborers who caused the entire Benghazi to fall into chaos. The Ming army at the Benghazi military base did nothing but bombard the city gates and then continuously arrest laborers!"
After being told this by Howard, Xiaohua Laishi and Marshal also lost their spirit.
In fact, Xiaohua Laishi knew in his heart that Ming merchants were not the same as English merchants. English merchants would unconsciously fear the East India Company, but those Ming merchants did not care about the East India Company at all. Even if he could catch those Ming merchants, he did not know what price he would have to pay.
The more Xiaohua Laishi thought about it, the angrier he became. With a "bang," he stood up, kicked over the stool behind him, and walked out, saying, "I'm going to gather those damned miners."
Howard did not pursue Xiaohua Laishi's impolite behavior, but said to Marshal, "There's no need to think about asking the Ming army for help anymore. Let's find a way to notify His Majesty King George III."
After Marshal nodded in agreement, Howard added in a low voice, "Prepare the fastest ship. If... if the situation really gets out of hand, we'll leave by boat immediately."
...
Just as Howard and Marshal were discussing making a run for it, Emperor Zhu was already pondering his next itinerary.
To put it bluntly, Emperor Zhu stayed at the Jinan military base for these few days entirely for his fleet to cooperate with the warships of the Jinan military base to pick up the Ming civilians from Sri Lanka.
As for the messy affairs between England and those short and stout people, in Emperor Zhu's opinion, they were not worth mentioning – whether it was the rose beef from England or those short and stout people from Japan, neither of them was good. It would be best if they fought each other to a mutual destruction, and even better if they all died.
After a secret calculation, Emperor Zhu simply smiled and instructed Zhu Jianying: "Alright, let England and the short and stout people deal with their own affairs. We two cannot waste all our time on this."
Zhu Jianying was startled, and then asked, "Are we not going to manage the affairs in Sri Lanka?"
Emperor Zhu nodded and said, "Otherwise? Let those short and stout people attack Sri Lanka, but it is to lure out the English army. When the English army arrives in Sri Lanka, it will be time for our Ming Dynasty to step in and make an example."
Zhu Jianying nodded and then asked, "Then where are we going next? To the Ottoman Empire?"
Emperor Zhu smiled and nodded, "Yes, to the Ottoman Empire. Don't look down on the Ottoman Empire just because it's small. The Ottoman Empire has no shortage of oil, and our Ming Dynasty's current oil supply largely depends on the Ottoman Empire."
Zhu Jianying suddenly didn't know what to say.
Did he look down on the Ottoman Empire?
No!
Isn't all this his own feeling?
Emperor Zhu continued, "By the way, I just remembered something. A few years ago, didn't the Ottoman Empire send people to our Ming Dynasty for the first time to participate in that sports event?"
Zhu Jianying nodded and said, "That's right. The Ottoman Empire participated in many events, but their best result was bringing back a bronze medal."
Emperor Zhu smiled and said, "I don't care what medals they won. What I'm talking about is their football – it is said, it is said that before their football team had a formal match with our Ming Dynasty football team, they specifically researched how to lose to our Ming Dynasty football team, but in the end, they still couldn't lose."
Zhu Jianying hummed, "My son also heard about this. It is said that the people in charge of the football competition were furious when they returned and slapped the members of their football team one by one."
At this point, Zhu Jianying couldn't help but sigh, "Our Ming Dynasty football team is really disappointing, actually being unable to defeat even the Ottoman Empire."
Emperor Zhu chuckled and said, "It's very simple for our Ming Dynasty football team to win – first allocate a spot to Antarctica, then allocate our Ming Dynasty football team to the Antarctic zone. At that time, as long as our Ming Dynasty football team draws with the penguins on the road, they can qualify. Next, they can set up home games in the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration or Benghazi to overheat those penguins – of course, how to draw with those penguins is also a problem."
Zhu Jianying fell silent again, because Zhu Jianying always felt that he couldn't keep up with his father's train of thought – they were talking about the Ottoman Empire, and how did he suddenly get to Antarctica penguins? And how did he get to the Ming Dynasty football team dropping the ball?
After thinking for a long time without any results, Zhu Jianying decided not to think about it anymore and brought the topic back to the Ottoman Empire: "Father, do you think we should give the Ottoman Empire a sweet date this time? Just slapping them around is not a solution, is it?"
Emperor Zhu, who was pondering how to legitimately establish an Antarctic football zone, was interrupted by Zhu Jianying's thoughts and reprimanded him with a displeased look: "What sweet date? Are your sweet dates picked up from the street? Listen to me, barbarians fear might but not virtue. Until you have them properly disciplined, don't think about any sweet dates."
"Besides, what kind of place is the Ottoman Empire? Do you still remember the dog that your third uncle sent, what was it called? Husky, that's pretty stupid, right? The Ottoman Empire is as stupid as that husky!"
"If you give them some face, they will think you are afraid of them, and they will treat you as a kafir who should go to hell. But if you give them a few hard slaps, they will obediently listen."
Zhu Jianying looked incredulous.
As the Crown Prince of the Ming Empire, Zhu Jianying was not unaware that the Ottoman Empire was rich in oil, nor was he unaware that the Ottoman Empire often did foolish things. However, Zhu Jianying never expected that the Ottoman Empire would also have the problem of being owing a beating!
Damn it, what's the difference between this and the legendary Great Qing?
Seeing Zhu Jianying's confused look, Emperor Zhu smiled and said, "Alright, when we get to the Ottoman Empire, there will be plenty of time for you to study it. Now, you think carefully, what should we do after teaching the Ottoman Empire a lesson?"
Zhu Jianying pondered for a moment and replied, "Naturally, it's to deal with England. Didn't you just say that we need to use England as a monkey to warn the chickens?"
Emperor Zhu smiled and nodded, asking, "Specifically?"
Zhu Jianying said with a blank look, "Of course, we should dispatch the military bases at Old Port and Punna to teach the English army a good lesson in Sri Lanka. Then, let the troops stationed in the Lanfang Provincial Administration move out and press towards New South Wales. When England proposes peace, we will demand that England cede New South Wales to us."
Emperor Zhu then laughed: "That's too superficial! I've told you long ago that between countries, it's not just about fighting. There are also human relations and circumstances to consider. If you only suppress England with military force, it's only a temporary solution and not a permanent one."
Zhu Jianying became even more confused.
Because apart from defeating England militarily, other means such as culture, economy, etc., were all being used by the Ming Dynasty, but judging from the current results, it seemed that no method could achieve a permanent effect?
Thinking of this, Zhu Jianying scratched his head and asked, "Then what do you think we should do?"
Emperor Zhu reached for the globe, gesturing on it, and said, "For our Ming Dynasty army to go and beat England, besides using Sri Lanka to lure the English army, we can only go through Mukdogosto, bypass the Cape of Good Hope, and take a big detour to reach England."
"If we build a canal here, we won't have to take the route through Mukdogosto to the Cape of Good Hope. We can directly pass through the West Kunlun Mountains and the Ottoman Empire, and it will be much more convenient to go to Ourolopa to beat people in the future."
Zhu Jianying shook his head and said, "Building a canal here requires a considerable number of laborers, and the cost is immense. Minister Liu would absolutely not approve such a large budget."
Emperor Zhu chuckled and said, "I'm not spending the Ming national treasury's money, so why would Old Moneybag Liu need to approve it?"
Zhu Jianying was startled and asked, "If it's not the Ming national treasury's money, then whose money is it?"
Emperor Zhu said, "Of course it's the money of England and the Ottoman Empire – otherwise, why do you think I chose England and the Ottoman Empire among all the European countries?"