freeallnovels Chapter 32 Zhang 3's Persuasion
Chapter 32 Zhang 3's Persuasion
Therefore, when several familiar and equally worried Chinese merchants met privately, Manager Chen revealed his idea of selling his property and taking his family by boat to Batavia to escape the disaster.
This idea immediately gained the support of many people, but some hesitated: their family business was here, the boat tickets were expensive, Batavia was a place they didn't know well, and were the Dutch easy to get along with?
No one could answer this question. In their eyes, the Dutch and the Spanish were birds of a feather, the pot calling the kettle black.
In the end, the group parted on bad terms. Manager Chen returned home drunk and talked about the matter with his family, sighing deeply. Zhang San, who happened to get up in the middle of the night, overheard this and couldn't help but feel anxious.
Building an intelligence network within Manila is no easy task. Relying solely on local thugs and ruffians is wishful thinking; it requires locals with certain assets to act as inside agents.
Manager Chen is the most likely channel he has contacted so far to obtain valuable information and has the ability to send that information out.
He had to gain Manager Chen's deeper trust and convince him that running away was not the best option, and might even be more dangerous, while helping the Ming army in the north to achieve victory was the fundamental way to preserve himself and even find a way out for the future.
Therefore, after the shop closed that evening, Zhang San did not go back to the backyard to rest as usual, but instead knocked on the door of Manager Chen's inner room.
"Master, there are some things I'm not sure if I should say." Zhang San stood at the door, his tone respectful, but his eyes held a calmness unlike anything he had ever shown before.
Manager Chen was looking at the account books with a troubled expression when he heard this. He looked up, somewhat surprised, and said, "Ah San, come in. What is it?"
Zhang San entered the house, carefully closed the door, and said in a low voice, "Master, the other day I overheard you and your wife discussing going to sea to avoid disaster, and I have some different thoughts."
Shopkeeper Chen frowned, displeased that he had been eavesdropping on his conversation, but he didn't react immediately and gave him a chance to continue: "Tell me what you have to say."
"Master, I believe that heading south to Batavia at this time may not be an easy journey," Zhang San said slowly. "Firstly, the sea route is treacherous and the cost of the boat is expensive. Moreover, I have heard that the Dutch also exploit and restrict the Chinese, so it may not be much better than this place."
Secondly, the Governor's Office is now keeping a close eye on the Chinese. A large-scale sale of assets and mass relocation of families would inevitably arouse suspicion. If they were accused of aiding the enemy or fleeing in fear of war, disaster might strike before they even boarded the ship.
Manager Chen frowned; what Zhang San said was exactly his biggest concern.
"Then what do you suggest we do? Should we just sit here and wait to die?" he asked.
"I wouldn't dare," Zhang San bowed slightly, lowering his voice even further. "Master, you must have heard about what happened in the north. The Franks suffered a defeat and are rushing to retaliate. But think about it, why are they in such a hurry? You could even say they're desperate enough to do something rash?"
Before Manager Chen could answer, he continued, "Because they're afraid! Afraid that the Ming army in the north will gain a foothold, afraid that more natives will defect, afraid that this fire will be impossible to extinguish! What does this show? It shows that the forces in the north are much stronger than the Portuguese claim!"
Manager Chen's eyes flickered, but he did not interrupt.
"I dare to guess that what the master and the gentlemen are worried about is whether the north can withstand the Frankish counterattack, and... if the north is defeated, we will be implicated."
Zhang San raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Manager Chen: "But what if... the north can win? Look at this time, wasn't the Frankish army almost completely annihilated by the royal army?"
"So what?" Manager Chen's voice was hoarse.
"That would be a complete upheaval." Zhang San's tone was resolute: "Master, think about it. What did the Francois rely on to run rampant in Luzon? It's true that they had powerful ships and cannons, but it was even more because we Chinese and natives were a disorganized mess, daring not to speak out against their anger. They thought we were easy to bully, which is why they dared to raise their butcher's knives time and time again!"
He leaned closer, his voice low but sharp, each word like a hammer blow to Manager Chen's heart: "Now, the Ming army has arrived, and not only have they arrived, they've won a decisive victory, annihilating the Frankish army. What does this show? It shows that the Franks are not invincible! It shows that we Chinese, we 'swine' whom they despise, can also rout them if we unite and have a strong leader!"
Manager Chen's breathing became rapid. Zhang San's words were like wildfire, igniting the humiliation and resentment that had been suppressed in his heart for many years.
He recalled the horrific events his elders had recounted, the arrogance of the Spanish tax collectors, and his own more than twenty years of walking on thin ice...
"But..." He still had doubts, his voice trembling, "Can the royal army in the north hold out? The Franks suffered a loss this time, and next time they will probably come in full force! Although Batavia is also the territory of the red devils, at least... at least we can avoid the swords right in front of us for the time being."
"Master!" Zhang San's tone became even more earnest, even tinged with anxiety. "Do you think you can escape the war by fleeing to Batavia? Are the Dutch all saints? Haven't they done enough killing and arson when they fought the Spanish for territory?"
Over there, you'll be like a rootless duckweed, at the mercy of others! But here, you have a shop, connections, and a foundation! More importantly—”
He took a deep breath and finally threw out his most crucial bargaining chip: "His Highness the Regent Prince, who led the Ming army to land on the island, is determined to expel the Western barbarians and liberate the Chinese in Luzon. His Highness once said that all those who assist the royal army are meritorious officials, and will be rewarded according to their merits in the future, without any shortfall!"
"Master, by helping the royal army, you are not merely avoiding disaster, but also securing a future for your descendants—a future where they can truly stand tall and live with dignity! Isn't this a hundred or a thousand times better than fleeing to a foreign land, living under someone else's roof, and having to be subservient to others?"
Manager Chen was shaken; Zhang San's last words had truly touched the deepest desire in his heart.
Merchants value profit, but they value the legacy of their descendants even more. Who wants to be a second- or even third-class citizen forever? Who doesn't hope their descendants can live with dignity and be free from humiliation?
He stared intently at Zhang San, as if trying to discern the true extent of this unassuming fellow's secrets and resolve.
"Who...who are you? How do you know so much about the north? And who is this Crown Prince Regent?"
Although he had heard that the army occupying Lin Jiayan called itself the Ming army, he did not know who the leader of this "Ming army" was, and he had never heard of the so-called Crown Prince Regent before.
Zhang San knew it was time to confront them. He took a half step back, straightened his clothes, and his expression turned serious.
"My lord, please be aware that I, Zhang San, am no ordinary wanderer. I am actually a lowly soldier under the command of His Highness the Prince of Lu, the Regent of the Great Ming Dynasty, who was ordered to infiltrate Manila as the eyes and ears of the army."
The great victory at Snake Kiss Gorge was achieved through His Highness's strategic planning and the united efforts of our soldiers! His Highness is wise and mighty, loves his soldiers like his own children, and is deeply compassionate towards the suffering of overseas Chinese. He has vowed to drive out the Western barbarians and restore peace and order to our land!
He paused, looking at Manager Chen's surprised and uncertain expression, and continued, "I am of lowly status and should not be telling you such a secret, but seeing that you are concerned about your country and your family and are worried and uneasy, and I cannot bear to see you and your family flee south in panic with no future in sight, I have dared to speak frankly."
If you, sir, believe in me and are willing to lend a helping hand to the royal army, it will be for the sake of countless Chinese in Luzon, and for your own sake and that of your descendants, to find a true path to survival! If you, sir, do not believe me, or are unwilling to take the risk, I will resign and leave tomorrow, without any further involvement. These words I spoke tonight have entered your ears, and heaven and earth bear witness!
After speaking, he stood quietly, awaiting Manager Chen's decision. The room was eerily quiet, save for the two men's heavy breathing and the faint crackling of the oil lamp.