Empire Rising: Spain

“Representative of the Lanfang Republic?” Carlo was taken aback and looked towards the steward, Loren, who had reported the news.

“Yes, Your Majesty, it is precisely the Lanfang Republic you instructed us about earlier.” Steward Loren nodded, confirming once again.

In fact, such a small Asian nation theoretically shouldn’t have drawn the attention of the King of Spain, Carlo.

But due to the strategic plans concerning Lanfang Republic and Spain in Kalimantan, and Carlo’s prior instructions, when Lanfang Republic truly dispatched an envoy to Spain, the guards reported layer by layer until it reached Steward Loren.

“Lanfang.” Carlo turned his gaze towards the map of the East Indies hanging in the office, where the name of the Lanfang Republic was marked on Borneo and circled for emphasis.

In later generations, this overseas republic founded by the Chinese received much praise, and Carlo had some fondness for it too.

However, this did not mean Carlo would go against the interests of Spain and the Royal Family to assist Lanfang, but rather make decisions that would benefit Spain and the Royal Family.

For Spain, the existence of the Lanfang Republic was still quite necessary. With Lanfang Republic distracting the Dutch, Spain’s annexation of the Brunei Sultanate could proceed more smoothly.

Indeed, Spain could, like the British, remain uninvolved and support the Lanfang Republic to become its proxy to counter the Dutch.

The advantages of doing so were apparent. Spain did not need to engage in war, thus avoiding casualties. Providing weapons to the Lanfang Republic could also yield some revenue, especially as the unwanted weapons from Spain’s military reforms needed a market.

During this period, European countries had entered the era of breech-loading rifles, making it difficult to sell muzzleloaders anywhere but to colonial troops.

Rather than that, it was better to sell them at a low price to the Lanfang Republic to cause the Dutch trouble and muddy the waters in Kalimantan as much as possible.

“Let him in.” Carlo waved his hand, signaling Steward Loren to bring in the representative of the Lanfang Republic.

Not long after, a yellow-skinned man, dressed distinctly differently from East Asians, entered under the guidance of Steward Loren.

“Wu Yongxiang, diplomatic representative of the Lanfang Republic, pays respects to His Majesty King Carlo of Spain!” The Lanfang Republic’s diplomatic representative, named Wu Yongxiang, greeted Carlo with great respect, introducing himself at the same time.

“Spanish? You speak Spanish?” Carlo was somewhat surprised that this diplomatic representative was proficient in Spanish.

However, Carlo had no intention of showing off by speaking Chinese, as speaking the opponent’s language in diplomatic settings was akin to yielding. In Spain, Spanish must be spoken; Carlo was mindful not to forget his place despite his past identity.

“Yes, esteemed King. You know, proficiency in foreign languages is a basic skill for diplomats. I am somewhat familiar with Dutch, Spanish, English, and French. Please forgive my inadequate proficiency.” Wu Yongxiang, the diplomatic representative of the Lanfang Republic, first nodded in response to Carlo’s inquiry, then explained.

“You are remarkable, Mr. Diplomat. Mastering so many languages reflects your ability.” Carlo nodded, acknowledging the diplomat’s linguistic skills, and proceeded to express his query: “The Lanfang Republic is far away on Borneo, why dispatch an envoy to Spain from such a great distance?”

Wu Yongxiang nervously swallowed, cautiously organizing his speech, then stated in Spanish, word by word: “Esteemed King, the President sent me to propose a friendly treaty with your nation, aiming to establish an eternal alliance.”

The full name of the Lanfang Republic was the Lanfang Grand Commander Republic, with the head of state known as the Grand Commander or Great Tang Chief, implying the leader of overseas Chinese.

Since there was no direct translation in Spanish, Wu Yongxiang used a similar term, “President,” for translation.

How to translate the head of state title was not important; what mattered was Wu Yongxiang’s mission, which was to forge an alliance treaty with the Kingdom of Spain to help the Lanfang Republic continue its survival.

Indeed, it was to continue surviving.

This overseas Chinese-established republic actually had a rather glorious history. At its zenith, the Lanfang Republic ruled over most of West Kalimantan.

But with the colonial invasion by the British and Dutch, the Lanfang Republic’s territory was continually encroached upon, eventually leaving it with just a small part of western Borneo, approximately only tens of thousands of square kilometers.

If it weren’t for the cleverness of successive Lanfang Republic Grand Commanders who skillfully used the name of that large East Asian nation, claiming themselves as a vassal state of the Great Qing Dynasty, the Lanfang Republic might have long been exterminated by the Dutch.

Of course, such a title was destined not to last long. For the so-called Great Qing Dynasty had already been in decline, headed toward a humiliating history.

Moreover, the composition of the Lanfang Republic destined that this nation would not receive support from the Qing Dynasty.

The Lanfang Republic was a republic composed of Han Chinese, whereas the Great Qing Dynasty was a feudal imperialist state under minority rule, fundamentally different from one another.