Empire Rising: Spain

This is not a trivial matter; it sacrifices the interests of the entire Lanfang Republic.

Wu Yongxiang’s expression changed for a long time, but he dared not show any dissatisfaction. A battle was raging in his mind, but in the end, he still couldn’t make up his mind: “I’m sorry, Your Majesty the King. But such conditions are not something I can decide. I will truthfully convey your request back to my country and ask our President to make a decision.”

Carlo nodded, unsurprised: “Of course, diplomat. Since you are in Spain, you are guests of Spain, and I will have the government arrange for your accommodation needs.

If your government has any response, I would be delighted to hear it.”

Led by Steward Luo Lun, Wu Yongxiang left the Madrid Royal Palace with a complex expression.

As a diplomatic representative of a small nation, the Spanish Government naturally would not give too much attention. However, since there were Carlo’s instructions, the government’s diplomatic department still arranged a quiet place for Wu Yongxiang and his entourage and provided them with a carriage for travel.

From the palace to the residence, Wu Yongxiang looked at Madrid City with a complex expression, envy almost spilling from his eyes.

In comparison to Madrid, the capital of the Lanfang Republic, Dongwanjin (Kun Dian), was indescribably dilapidated.

Although the small Lanfang Republic also has a population close to 4 million, neither its infrastructure nor its science and economy can compare with these European countries.

“Sigh! If we Han people had such technology, Lanfang would not be in its current state,” Wu Yongxiang sighed, his face very complex.

“Sir, we will eventually learn these foreigners’ gadgets. Once our weapons become as powerful as the foreigners’, we won’t have to fear either the Dutch or the Spaniards,” Wu Yongxiang’s attendant, who was also his confidante and subordinate, said at this time.

“Hopefully. Will these foreign gadgets be easily handed over to us? Alas, our great civilization, eventually ruined by the pigskins. The Ming dynasty’s cannons are vivid in memory, yet now the pigskins use weapons like swords and sticks—ridiculous! Laughable!” Wu Yongxiang sighed, ending the topic.

Although Wu Yongxiang used the excuse of contacting Lanfang domestically, in reality, there was no such method of contact?

Even for Spain and other European countries, contact with the East Indies Colony was troublesome enough, not to mention a small country like Lanfang with no diplomatic mission.

To speak of a contact method, there was—sending someone back to Lanfang and then coming back to Spain after confirming the news.

But this round trip requires several months, not only cumbersome but also potentially missing opportunities.

Lanfang has requests to others; if it causes Spain to wait for several months, even if cooperation could have been achieved initially, it is highly likely to fail.

Therefore, before Wu Yongxiang left the Lanfang Republic, he had already confirmed the specific content of cooperation with Spain, as well as concession areas, with Lanfang’s current Grand Commander Liu Asheng and other key personnel.

If Spain’s conditions are within the acceptable range for Lanfang, it’s naturally better to achieve cooperation sooner. But if Spain’s conditions are too harsh, exceeding Lanfang’s endurance, then these negotiations can only regretfully end.

Although the residence provided by Spain to Wu Yongxiang is not simple, he has not had a proper sleep these past few days.

There’s no choice; the mental pressure is too immense. Whenever Wu Yongxiang closes his eyes, it’s about the potential future problems the Lanfang Republic might face—either completely submitting to Spanish rule or being completely defeated and annihilated by the Dutch.

After being tormented for several days, Wu Yongxiang finally made his decision. In other words, the battle between the two little beings in his heart finally had a winner.

There’s no choice; for the Lanfang Republic, survival is currently most important.

Spaniards only want part of the Lanfang Republic’s sovereignty, only want Lanfang Republic to submit. But the Dutch want the complete annihilation of the Lanfang Republic; what they have set their sights on is not the Lanfang Republic, but the land reclaimed by the Lanfang Republic.

The Lanfang Republic has been established for nearly 100 years. During this time, its population expanded from around 100,000 initially to nearly 4 million—it’s quite a lot.

But the bad news is, the proportion of the actual main ethnic group Han people, more specifically Hakka, in Lanfang Republic, is not that high. Currently, Han people’s number exceeded just over 500,000, with the majority being local indigenous people submissive under Lanfang’s rule, also known as other ethnic groups.

This is also the reason Lanfang Republic must yield against the Dutch; after all, only 500,000 people are genuinely devoted; other populations wouldn’t fight with the Dutch to the death for Lanfang.

Because so many people continuously reclaimed land on this territory, Lanfang Republic-controlled land has quite fertile farmland and relatively prosperous economy.

Although it can’t match European countries, compared with nearby indigenous tribes, the Lanfang Republic is definitely a tempting chunk of meat, which is also why the Dutch targeted the Lanfang Republic.

Even the Brunei Empire, which once controlled this land, never had the importance the Lanfang Republic does. By controlling the 4 million population of the Lanfang Republic, it can significantly promote the development of Borneo Island, providing the Dutch a large granary on Borneo.

Because of the 500,000-strong Han population domestically, the Lanfang Republic actually has no choice.

Only Lanfang Republic can protect these 500,000 Han people. If Lanfang is annihilated by the Dutch, the situation awaiting these Han people might be worse than that of the local indigenous people.

The Lanfang Republic has existed on this land for nearly a hundred years; they naturally understand European attitudes and strategies towards the local indigenous.

Due to the diligence of Lanfang people, they have reclaimed large tracts of land, creating vast wealth. This wealth is not only targeted by European colonizers but also eyed by the local indigenous.

If the Lanfang Republic perishes, even if the Dutch don’t treat Lanfang people too harshly, the local indigenous will definitely launch a frenzy of revenge.

If only for the survival of these Han people, the Lanfang Republic must continue to exist.

As for having to submit under Spanish rule, the Lanfang Republic has long done so.

During the prosperous period of the Great Qing Dynasty, the Lanfang Republic declared itself a vassal state of the Great Qing Dynasty, always seeking the Great Qing Dynasty’s protection.

But the pigskins would never trust a Han republican country; no matter how much Lanfang Republic showed goodwill, they always treated it as a pirate group rather than a legitimate country.

Once, for survival, Lanfang Republic was also forced to submit under Dutch rule. Now it’s merely changing the ruler above, with such a change not being significant for Lanfang.

A little sacrifice to ensure the survival of the entire Lanfang, according to Wu Yongxiang, is worthwhile. Moreover, Lanfang doesn’t necessarily have to permanently submit to Spanish rule. If they can learn Spain’s powerful technology and weapons, Lanfang might control its destiny in the future.