The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 26 Let me draw a map first

"Spice route?" Zhang Ni sneered, "That red-haired man doesn't even care about gold and silver. How could he go to the sea for some spices?"

There were more than 20 guests gathered in Gao Yin's living room. Zhang Ni's lie just now had attracted the entire audience. Even the female guest next door ended her discussion and gathered around the screen to listen to Zhang Ni's words.

Everyone was originally focused on Zhang Yi and didn't even notice Wang Wenlong in the corner. It wasn't until Gao Yin asked Wang Wenlong to speak and everyone exchanged words and Li Guoshu took the initiative to introduce everyone that they realized that this Wang Wenlong was the recent "The Scholars". The author of "External History".

In fact, everyone here is not completely ignorant of the Franji people. China had the concept of coastal defense for the first time in the Ming Dynasty. It was only a few decades ago. The whole process of the Ming Dynasty was almost due to various conflicts at sea. was forced to establish a coastal defense system step by step.

Nearly 30 years ago, the Spanish colonists defeated King Suleiman of Luzon Island and established the Manila Colony, which caused great chaos in the Western Ocean. Lin Afeng, a pirate of the Ming Dynasty who traveled across the Eastern and Western Oceans, took the opportunity to invade Luzon, but was defeated by Spain and the Ming Dynasty. United defeated.

Although the two parties did not sign any alliance contract, the substantial cooperation also allowed people familiar with maritime trade in the Ming Dynasty to have some understanding of the Spanish government.

Some of the large merchants here often traveled to the West, and even knew that the Spanish colonial authority was established in Manila and had a wide range of control.

But that's it. No one knows exactly why these Francois wanted to occupy Manila. Wang Wenlong suddenly spoke up and brought the spice trade into this conversation, which surprised everyone.

Xiong Qingbo, who had been discussing literature with Wang Wenlong just now, was also very interested in overseas affairs and couldn't help but ask: "Are those Franji people occupying Luzon just to buy spices?"

"This matter must be explained step by step," Wang Wenlong smiled and turned to Gao Yin and said, "Father-in-law, if I want to explain things about the West clearly, I need to draw some maps. Please give me a pen and I will draw and explain on the spot."

Gao Yin nodded and said to the boy wearing a red hat next to him: "Bring him a pen."

Soon the boy brought a big brush for Wang Wenlong. Wang Wenlong asked for another bowl of water. After dipping the brush full, he started painting directly on the ground.

The floor of Gao Yin's flower hall is covered with large floor tiles. These floor tiles are gold bricks fired from Suzhou. They are quite difficult to make. They are dark gray in color, absorbent and impermeable. If water falls on them, they will leave a mark. The remaining time can reach more than 10 minutes.

Wang Wenlong drew the map using a simple map drawing method taught by his teacher in middle school, expressing the shape of the continent into several triangles according to its general meaning.

With just a few strokes, Wang Wenlong quickly drew the appearance of Eurasia, Africa and parts of North and South America on the ground.

Then he took a pen and pointed out the location of the East Indies in southern Asia, focusing on the locations of Luzon and the Malacca Islands.

World maps already existed in this era. Except for places such as Oceania and Antarctica that have not yet been discovered, the general appearance of several other continents has also been described.

Many of the people present had navigation experience. After Wang Wenlong explained the locations of the Ming Dynasty, Luzon, Japan and other places, maritime merchants who were familiar with ocean routes quickly accepted this map.

The world map was not a big shock to the people of the Ming Dynasty. The world map that was closer to the correct map of later generations would also flow into the Ming Dynasty more than ten years later. Because it conformed to everyone's navigation practice, it was quickly accepted, and Spread naturally.

A group of maritime merchants were amazed at how clearly he marked the locations of the countries around the Ming Dynasty with just a few strokes of his pen.

Behind the screen, Li Guozhu's sister Li Guoxian tried hard to look through the screen at what was painted on the ground. However, the gauze of the screen did not transmit light well, so the little girl looked at it for a long time in vain.

Fortunately, Gao Yin's wife also had a curious look on her face. She simply told her maid: "Quickly copy the map you drew in front of me."

The little maid nodded and quickly ran out of the screen.After seeing Wang Wenlong draw this map and explain it a little, Zhang Ni already felt something bad in his heart. It seemed that Wang Wenlong was not a mediocre person.

But at this time, everyone was waiting to hear Wang Wenlong's continued explanation. If he made a mistake rashly, it would make him more confident, so he could only endure and wait to find ways to provoke Wang Wenlong.

Under the curious gaze of everyone, Wang Wenlong deliberately pointed out the location of the Iberian Peninsula where Spain and Portugal are located, and then circled the two countries Spain and Portugal, which are close to each other on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

"People here call this continent Europe. The Franj people we call are mainly from here, and Portugal and Spain are the two small countries in the west of Europe. Their combined land size is even that of our Ming Dynasty. I admit that even the Provincial Government and Envoys cannot compare with him."

Everyone here was quite curious about this overseas matter, and Long Guolu was the first to frown.

"How come Portugal is all territory surrounded by Spain?"

On the map, Portugal is surrounded by Spain on three sides, and the other side is the sea. It is completely in a dead place. Everyone here with a little historical knowledge can feel that the future of this country is bleak.

Wang Wenlong smiled and said: "Mr. Long is right. Portugal is a small country with poor people, and it is surrounded by Spain. Spain has repeatedly tried to annex the country for hundreds of years."

He said: "Although Portugal is a small country, they also have dynasties. 200 years ago, King Fernando of the Portuguese Empire passed away. He had no sons, and civil strife immediately broke out in the country. European countries can use women as kings. Fernando's daughter was already After marrying the King of Spain as queen, the large landowners with extensive land supported Ferland's daughter to inherit the throne and believed that Portugal should be annexed to Spain."

"The other group represents the maritime merchants. They support Fernando's concubine brother Prince João to inherit the throne and prevent Portugal from being exterminated."

Everyone frowned after hearing this. In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, even if the king has no heirs, he should still find a man with a close blood relationship among the clan to inherit the throne.

It is ridiculous to ask a woman to inherit the throne. Even if it is acceptable, this woman has actually married the king of an enemy country as the queen. Those landowners actually want to use this as an excuse to annex the country to other countries. In everyone's eyes, this is tantamount to betrayal. .

In an instant, everyone felt that those landlords were arrogant people, but they rarely supported the businessmen, thinking that although they were businessmen, they had loyal hearts after all.

Zhangzhou Governor Han Zhuo asked: "What happened next?"

"Prince Joao gathered a group of knights, fought several battles, and ousted the queen who was supported by the landowners from the throne and became the king of Portugal."

Everyone nodded when they heard this, thinking that although King João raised the army, it was not for trouble, but just to clear the emperor's side. It was a good man's doing.

The story started with a story about an overseas war, which instantly aroused everyone's interest. They all wanted to hear Wang Wenlong continue talking.

"But once King Joao takes the throne, he will face an extremely difficult situation."

Long Guolu couldn't help but ask: "Why is this?"

In the doubtful eyes of everyone, Wang Wenlong smiled and said: "Although João worked hard to govern after he ascended the throne, the country was small and the people were poor after all, and he only won the throne after fighting with the forces supported by Spain. Once he took the throne, the Spanish annexation ambitions fell Kong, how come you won’t impose big restrictions on Portugal?”

(End of this chapter)