"If Dacheng and Daming get along friendly, Daming will naturally not use troops against Dacheng... If Daming wants to use troops against Dacheng, the 100,000 Ming army is on the border of Dacheng, and now is the best opportunity," Fang Fengnian would of course not make a promise to Dacheng A fool would betray the interests of the country, "but no one can guarantee the future. For example, Toungoo, once was the'unlevied country' appointed by Taizu, but Toungoo invaded Daming and invaded the big city of Daming's vassal state, can Daming still Let Dongyu do anything wrong?"
Puti chewed for a while, "But my Dacheng is a country friendly to Daming and will never invade Daming."
Fang Fengnianxin said that if Dacheng dares to invade Daming, it will be fine, and these negotiations will be omitted. "I just cite the example of Toungoo. Actually, the threat of Dacheng does not come from Daming. National teachers should not regard Daming as an enemy."
"Not Daming?" Puti calculated for a while, but there was no result.
"Xiyi, did the national teacher ever know that Xiyi has invaded the east, and the blue-eyed and red-haired Xiyis of Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands have established a large number of strongholds in the east. They have been invading the east. They are the big city. Enemy." Fang pointed out the direction to Puti every year.
"Xiyi?" Puti certainly knew that Portugal had invaded Toungoo, and was later driven away by Talon soldiers. They were not many in number and did not form a climate. In addition, Daming had already occupied the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. The front line of the confrontation between Xiyi, Puti chose to forget Xiyi, "My Minister, can Daming help Dacheng train an elite force of more than 10,000 people?"
"Da Ming can help Daecheng train soldiers, but what will Daecheng give Da Ming back to Da Ming?" Just a nominal suzerain, let Da Ming spend a lot of energy and silver, but also bear the obligation of guarantee. Fang estimates that if Puti can't change his mind. , I am afraid that today’s contract cannot be negotiated.
"Then what exactly does Daming want Dacheng to do?" Puti didn't understand. In the past, Daming took the initiative to undertake the obligation of guarantee for the vassal state, even if it was only for mediation between the two sides of the war.
"If Dacheng is a vassal state of Da Ming, he must pay tribute to Da Ming, 200,000 taels of silver per year. Only then will Da Ming be able to guarantee the safety of Da Ming. What does the national teacher think?" Fang Fengnian finally threw his first place. Copies of claims.
"Two hundred thousand? Mr. Minister, this is impossible. Dacheng simply doesn't have the ability to pay!" Puti exclaimed. He felt that Fang Fengnian was even more robber than a robber.
"If Dacheng can't show sincerity, then Daming can't guarantee the safety of Dacheng. The Chinese teacher thinks about what Dacheng can tribute." Fang Fengnian knows this condition that he has put forward, he will definitely scare Puti, and the more scared he is. The more fun.
"My Lord, what kind of sincerity does Daecheng have to show before Da Ming will accept Daecheng as a vassal state?" Puti couldn't hold back. Two hundred thousand taels of silver. That is Daecheng's tax for half a year, and it is absolutely impossible to give Da Ming, but If the contract cannot be reached, he will not be able to complete the mission of his mission to Da Ming this time. The key is that Da Ming is lying next to the couch in Dacheng, making Dacheng feel insecure.
"What kind of sincerity does the national teacher think Dacheng should contribute? What kind of sincerity does Dacheng represent the true sincerity of Dacheng and let the two countries continue to be friendly for generations?" Fang is not in a hurry, anyway, Daming has an absolute advantage and he has the initiative to negotiate. .
"Sincere?" Puti was puzzled, "Xiaguan Yuandao is an envoy to Daming, isn't it sincere?"
"This is indeed sincerity, but it is only the sincerity of the National Teacher and His Majesty the King of Ayutthaya. After decades or even hundreds of years, who can guarantee that Ayutthaya will have such sincerity?" Fang Fengnian did not wait for Puti to answer, "and such sincerity. , What good is it for Daming?"
"My lord, what kind of benefits does Da Ming need?" Puti estimated that Dacheng can get it, or that Da Ming can see it, it is still money, but Dacheng has too little money to satisfy Dan's appetite.
Fang Fengnian thought for a while, "Guo Shi, I think there are two ways to make Daming and Dacheng friendly for generations. I don't know if the Guo Shi agrees?"
"My Minister, please say it." If there is a way, Puti can't figure out Fang Fengnian's thoughts, or Da Ming's real needs.
"The first way is to imitate the last contract. Daming and Dacheng are usually the relationship between the suzerain and the vassal, but Daming does not need tribute from Dacheng, as long as the two sides communicate normally." Fang Fengnian first throws a bait.
Puti feels that it is not so simple. In the last contract, although Dacheng waited until Daming sent troops, Dacheng paid 300,000 shi for grain and 1.5 million taels of silver, and still owes Daming money, "If Dacheng After being invaded by a foreign enemy, do you need Da Ming's help?"
Fang Fengnian showed his white teeth, "Da Ming can provide all help, including sending troops directly, but Dacheng needs to pay all the expenses."
"All the expenses?" Puti was a little nervous, he didn't know how much all the expenses were.
"Of course, Daming paid the expenses entirely for Dacheng, so Dacheng should naturally bear it." Fang Fengnian said that it is not unreasonable. In diplomacy, he has always convinced people with reason.
"Your Excellency, how much is the total cost?" Puti had to consider Dacheng's ability to pay.
"If Daming sends an envoy to mediate in Dacheng, then the entanglement, accommodation, catering, salary during the mediation period, and rewards after successful mediation..."
Putty is anxious. Who knows what the standard set by Daming is for this salary and reward? "My Lord, is there a fixed number?"
Fang shook his head every year, “I’m not sure, who knows how long it will take to mediate? How many people are in the mission? What price does Daming have to pay in order to reach an agreement with the other party?”
"..." Puti was speechless.
Fang Fengnian didn’t care about Puti’s surprise and nervousness, “If Daming threatens the other side by force, or even sends troops directly to war, Dacheng needs to pay all the expenses for the deployment of the army, the soldiers’ food and salaries, the subsidies for going out, and the compensation for the casualties. The national division must be reminded that even if the soldiers of my Ming Dynasty do not go to war, they still have a salary, which is equivalent to the salary of an official. This also needs to be paid by Dacheng."
Puti was almost crying. This way of helping Dacheng, even if it can maintain the independence of the land, I am afraid that the tax will be empty, but Fang Fengnian is right. Daming is completely for Dacheng, so Dacheng should pay for it." Your Honor..."
Fang Fengnian continued to talk, "In addition, Daming has contributed so much to Dacheng and helped Dacheng solve such a big crisis. Dacheng has to do something... Daming has done so much, but it is all about helping Dacheng. Did not get the benefit of a penny."
"Your Excellency, Dacheng is just a small country. Once the cost is too high, Dacheng may not be able to pay." Puti is testing Fang every year to see if there is a possibility of reducing the cost.
"The words of the national division are very bad. Daming is not a country that likes to use swords and soldiers, but if you send troops for the safety of the big city, the cost will naturally be paid by the big city. As for whether the big city can afford it, it is still a matter of the big city. Oh, if I His Majesty agreed that Dacheng can repay it year by year, but interest must be added."
Puti had a black line on his face, "My Lord Minister, let's talk about the second way!"
"You don’t need to worry about the national teacher. In fact, the second way, as already mentioned below, is that Dacheng pays 200,000 taels of silver to Daming every year. Once Dacheng is invaded by foreign enemies or internal strife occurs, Daming will immediately send troops to help Dacheng solve all the problems. Question, but no longer charge any fees to Dacheng, because Dacheng has already paid."
Puti's face was dark, but it was not easy to happen. He just shook his head, "Two hundred thousand taels, Dacheng can't afford it. My Majesty King will never agree. I don't know how the Minister calculated the two hundred thousand taels. ?"
Fang Fengnian was surprised. He did just say two hundred thousand taels casually, "Daming wants to protect the safety of the big city, and he will station a soldier in the big city at ordinary times. The salary of these 30,000 soldiers is two hundred thousand taels. That's not enough. Including the usual supply of grain and grass and the distribution of firearms."
"The army is garrisoned in the big city?" Puti's eyeballs rolled around for a few times, and finally he didn't speak.
"If you don't garrison Dacheng, if Dacheng is invaded by foreign enemies, should it be transferred from the capital? Daming can afford it. I am afraid Dacheng can't afford it?" Fang every year wants to dispel Dacheng's worries. To Dacheng?"
"..."
"Da Ming really wants to achieve annexation. Does it need to be done in this way? To be disrespectful, the 100,000 Ming army was on the border of Dacheng. They destroyed Toungoo in a few months. They really wanted to attack Dacheng. How long does the national teacher think Dacheng can withstand? ?"
"..."
"Da Ming was stationed in the big city for the safety of the big city. The national teacher looked at it. Since the founding of the country, except for the repeated invasions of Da Ming by Dongyu and Jian slaves, has he ever destroyed the frontier vassal state?"
"The minister understands what the next official means. At this time, I will discuss it later, and the next official will go back and discuss it." Puti felt that the current Daming, from Zhu Youjian to Huang Xiaofu, to Li Tengfang, and to the present Fang every new year. Unlike the previous legend, doesn't Daming have a free lunch anymore
"Well, the national teacher will first go back to discuss and discuss. We negotiate the contract on an equal and voluntary basis. When the national teacher is satisfied, let's talk about it."
After four rounds of arduous negotiations, the two parties finally reached a contract. Strictly speaking, this is the first covenant signed by Daming. From then on, Daming and Dacheng are in alliance. The "Mingcheng Covenant" stipulates:
1. Daming and Dacheng are an alliance, and each has the obligation to maintain the security of each other. Once one of the alliances suffers an invasion by another country, the other must provide full assistance, including the use of force;
2. Dacheng pays 50,000 silver tributes to Daming every year. Daming trains an army of 10,000 people for Dacheng, and Daming sells firearms to equip the Dacheng army;
3. The two sides may station troops on each other’s land, but in addition to responding to foreign invasions, the stationed troops shall not exceed 20,000;
4. In the first three years of the signing of the covenant, Dacheng was temporarily exempted from paying tribute to Daming because it had to repay Daming’s military pension. The tribute will be implemented from the fourth year;
5. In order to strengthen the relationship between the two sides and enhance the mutual trust between the people of both sides, Chinese will be popularized in Ayutthaya and Confucianism will be promoted. The transition period is five years. After five years, Chinese will be the only official language in Ayutthaya and the only professor in various schools. language;
6. Both parties send permanent envoys to each other;
7. The validity period of the "Mingcheng Covenant" is ten years, and within half a year before the end of the validity period, the two parties will decide whether to extend it.
Puti was basically satisfied with this covenant, and Dacheng was assured of safety. Not only would Da Ming not invade Dacheng, but he would also try his best to ensure the safety of Dacheng when foreign enemies invaded. This is the most important achievement of his mission to Da Ming.
Although Dacheng had to pay 50,000 taels of silver to Ming Dynasty every year, Dacheng was guaranteed security and could disarm and save military pay. The actual loss of Dacheng was not large.
As for Ayutthaya to learn Chinese and promote Confucianism, Puti did not feel at a disadvantage. Once Ayutthaya communicates with the Ming Dynasty, the brotherhood will be more unbreakable. Moreover, the Buddhism that the people of Ayutthaya believe in is quite widespread in Ming Dynasty, so Ming did not force the city to ban Buddhism. It is to promote the Confucianism of Confucius in addition to Buddhism.
The most important thing is that Dacheng does not have the strength to fight against Da Ming. It should be acceptable for Dacheng to use this method to bring security to Dacheng.
Putty’s only dissatisfaction is that the muskets Ming sold to Dacheng were not the flintlocks used by the Ming army, but the old-fashioned arquebuses. However, Fang has repeatedly stated that the firearms used by the Ming army will never be sold to the outside world. , Puti can't help it.
Zhu Youjian is more satisfied with this covenant, which is the first covenant signed by Daming.
Ayutthaya’s tribute of fifty thousand taels of silver each year is just a stopgap measure to speed up the development of the Myanmar province. It is estimated that the next issue of the "Mingcheng Covenant" will be eliminated.
Zhu Youjian saw that the three goals of "garrison, Chinese language, and Confucianism" set by him were fully realized in this "Mingcheng Covenant". This will be a model for Daming to deal with relations with Asian countries. In the future, other Asian countries, If you want to get close to the big tree of Daming, it's very simple. The "Mingcheng Covenant" is right there.