From Chief to Ball

Amsterdam exempts tariffs on trade ships of the Republic, and the Nanyang Trading Company guarantees that it will only dock and trade in Amsterdam within five years.Similarly, the Dutch privateers were not allowed to attack and plunder the fleet of the Nanyang Trading Company of the Republic. After approaching Europe, the Dutch fleet had the responsibility to protect the fleet of the Nanyang Trading Company.

Agree to conduct credit transactions in Amsterdam, and can open a Pacific route, and only trade cotton cloth and handicraft products with Dutch trading posts in the Spice Islands area.Without permission, Dutch ships were not allowed to trade in the republic or in immigration places, and the Dutch India Company was obliged to prevent the establishment of the Dutch "East" India Company.When necessary, the Dutch Indian Company can use the fleet and soldiers of the Republic of Nanyang Trading Company in the form of employment, private, and not involving the diplomatic level of the country, and pay corresponding remuneration.

This is just some bottom line, or just the surface of the bargain.

Some things are easy, fledgling Indian companies will be very happy as long as the spices are not used, and it seems that they can also use leverage to hit Portugal and the United Kingdom.And Chen Jian would not be interested in this kind of thing that has 20 years of profit at most but offends a group of countries to kill and win wild things, but he can pretend to be interested.

Some things are just a sham.

Such as the arms trade and mercenaries.The former is just a formality, whether it is signed or not, as long as it is profitable, it cannot be stopped at all.The latter kind of mercenary, there is no such form in the country, and it is impossible to have such a possibility. Instead of working their lives, it is better to go to the Great Desolate City to cultivate.But you can frighten Spain, who doesn't know the truth, as a condition for negotiating with Spain, because mercenaries are very popular here.

Some are inevitable in the republic of commercial capital oligarchy.Tariffs are not too difficult to talk about in a country where commercial capital occupies an absolute advantage and the handicraft industry does not make a sound, and it has a network of relationships and smuggling channels targeting other countries, as well as stable air routes and lower shipping costs.

Chapter 36 Staffing

Negotiations with the Dutch can be expected, they just take a lot of time.

After counting the days, I can stay in The Hague for up to three months.The direction of the wind does not wait for anyone, except for the time spent on the road and some scheduled plans, if it is delayed for too long, the best time to go around the Cape of Good Hope and cross the Indian Ocean will be missed.

Time waits for no one. It will take at least a year to negotiate with the Spaniards on your own if you want to get familiar with various languages, etiquette, customs, and the time to go back and forth by boat and horseback.

The dissemination of news requires a process. This process cannot be achieved in an instant like the information age. This is the limitation of this era.

While arguing with the Dutch, another group of people was quietly preparing to go to Spain, and the leader was not Chen Jian.

Negotiations with Spain have nothing to do with the rest of the country, but mainly the interests of the industrial and commercial classes in the southern coastal counties, especially the interests of the Nanyang Trading Company.

The contradiction between the two countries is the greatest. The two governorships of the Southern Islands and Spanish America are too close to the Republic, and the Spaniards are bound to be vigilant.

But now that Spain is about to go bankrupt, and it has just finished three battles in Europe, it is the weakest time, and the negotiations can achieve the greatest results at this time.

Looking at the delegation of more than 20 people, Chen Jian said with a smile: "I have to say, your trip is full of dangers. You see, I was too scared to go."

A young official from the Ministry of Rites who named the hot air balloon Fei Tianqiu nonsense in front of Qi people also laughed and said, "In the final analysis, they are too close to us. Originally, the Ministry of Rites was the most stable and leisurely official position, but Mr. Chen made it into a mess." However, in the negotiations with the Netherlands, Mr. Chen can represent nothing more than interests and trade. The negotiations with Spain can only stand on the sidelines of the Ministry of Rites. This is the only country that may pose a threat to us, otherwise we What's the use?"

Speaking of this, the young official said again: "I still want to imitate the people who talked like arrows and even splattered five steps when Hou Boguo was full of people. It's a pity that I don't understand the language, but it's a bit troublesome."

Chen Jian shook his head and said, "It's nothing to worry about. It's not just a short time for you to be there. One word, delay, delay for two to three years, I guess you can also master their language."

"What kind of delay?"

"They definitely want to sign a treaty with us and let us admit that the large tracts of land from the oil port to the south belong to them. This issue is stubborn. Who knows if there are gold and silver mines or gold and silver mines in the land that they do not control in the south? Is it fertile soil?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites paused and said, "I know that. I'm just anxious about this matter, isn't it pointless?"

"It makes sense. We can't be the enemy of everyone. Since the world is no longer our own, we need to follow certain rules. These rules don't exist yet, but we can be participants in the formulation of these rules, so we need to follow them for the future. Make a plan. The rules only work if we lead the way and abide by the rules we helped set."

"Then does this rule have something to do with the colonial occupation of territorial seas and high seas that you talked with these people here? We always need a tone."

Chen Jian nodded and said: "Yes, that's it. The Spaniards are already deeply entrenched in the south of us, but what about other places? This requires everyone to sit down and discuss an acceptable condition. It is useful in times of peace. In a fight, even if you win, sometimes you have to be reasonable. It’s just that there is a reason for winning, and there is a reason for losing. When several countries in the world that can speak have participated in a certain system, this system Spain also I have to admit that we may have to fight, but the method of sitting down and wrangling after the fight must be our participation."

The official from the Ministry of Rituals smiled wryly and said: "This is a bit late. I don't think there will be a random fight. This kind of thing can only be used to satisfy one's appetite."

"So, I didn't plan to let them accept it, but our high-profile must be sung first. Anyway, Spain has no ability to beat us, and we can't have the thought and ability to beat them for the time being. It's 20 years."

"What about ten or twenty years from now?"

"Once the situation changes, the system after the melee will be established. And this treaty system must involve us. How do countries communicate with each other? Does the security of missions need to be guaranteed? What kind of relationship is there between countries? We may not be the protagonists of this new system on land, but we must be the protagonists at sea and in those barren lands."

Chen Jian laughed and said, "Actually, it's not just you. After I'm gone, some people here will talk about these seemingly irrelevant things, changing batches for ten, 20, or even 30 years. It seems meaningless to fight for some things." things, but when the meaninglessness at this time becomes meaningful, these sacrifices are worthwhile."

The official from the Ministry of Rites sighed and said: "According to what you said, there is actually no difference between our going and not going? Mr. Chen, my heart is full of enthusiasm, but when you say this, it suddenly feels like death. Yu Guoyu As far as the family is concerned, ten or 20 years is a blink of an eye, but for a person, it is a bit boring to spend half of his life doing something that has no hope at all and the meaning may not be revealed until after death."

Chen Jian jokingly said: "With Hou Boguo's surrender one by one decades ago, your Ministry of Rites has become dispensable. I just helped you find an opportunity to increase your status. You are called Xie Yi." Self-respect. Without other countries, you have no status."

This is the truth, and the young officials of the Ministry of Rites laughed.

Chen Jian waved his hand and said: "No kidding, this matter is far away, and it is not something you can settle. But besides this matter, there are other issues of interest, which is the most important thing. If you can achieve a few things , I dare not say anything else after I go back, at least in the coastal counties, it must be famous far and wide.”

Turning around, he took out a letter from the table, handed it over, and said, "This is a letter I wrote from many people, each with a sentence and I secretly changed some words. The things in it should be written by a Spaniard. acceptable."

"what did you say?"

"Sign the "Anti-Piracy Convention." Within the scope of the Republic, the Spanish Islands, and the Governor-General, we firmly oppose any form of piracy. All pirates wanted by Spain are recognized by the Republic and can help to arrest them. Dock."

"Will other countries have any objections?"

"It doesn't matter what they say. And it's only valid in the archipelago and our coast. When we and the Spaniards have the same attitude towards pirates, the pirates in this area will soon disappear. We don't rely on pirates to build a country, as long as we can legally Trade and smuggling, any pirate is our enemy."

"What about the rest of the countries?"

"If other countries can trade with Spain, they will also fight against piracy. Now they can't, so there will be a large number of official pirates. The problem is that we don't want other countries to get involved in the trade of the Spanish Viceroy. What do you care about their opinions? Besides, so what if you sign it? As long as the Dutch can trade with us, they don’t care about what happens there. We can’t reach out to Europe, and it’s useless to reach out. Apart from selling guns and cannons, or giving some loans so that they don't have money to buy guns, you can do whatever you like."

Chen Jianxin said that in another year, Spain will be overwhelmed by the Dutch fleet in Gibraltar, and it is the time when the coastal defenses of the archipelago and the governorate are at their weakest.

Don't take advantage of this time to sing a high-profile and control the sea area there, I'm afraid it will be more troublesome in the future, and besides, Britain, Holland, France and other countries will not have much interest there for the time being, at most they will not sign the "Anti-Piracy Convention" now, but But absolutely in no mood to protest.

The biggest problem there is privateers.

Privateers are pirates?Or a prisoner of war?Chen Jian's attitude towards this is very firm, and all privateer piracy in the areas stipulated in the treaty will be regarded as pirates.The main fleets of these major seafaring countries may set foot there, and it is estimated that at most it will be a protest, just to practice their skills.

If the Spaniards are willing, the Republic can of course selflessly help Spain patrol the coast and archipelago of the Viceroyalty, and even assist in anti-smuggling, without the need for Spain to send money and troops to help them in a spirit of internationalism.But it is estimated that they will not be so stupid.

After the official of the Ministry of Rites asked the whole story, he asked: "This should be our condition, and it is definitely impossible to give it first. Then what do we want? How long will this condition be delayed?"

"It's very simple. The legal trade at Holy Friday Port. With Holy Friday Port as the transshipment port, it doesn't matter what kind of monopoly trade they organize internally. We only need a trade right to Holy Friday Port. In addition, we need even one ship. Go to the governor's district for direct trade opportunities, even if you give money."

"Give money? Bribe?"

"It's not a bribe. It's a royal charter. I've written down the price limit, and you can look at it later."

"Just a boat?"

"One ship is enough. One legal one can have a hundred illegal ones."

Chen Jian paused, and then said: "This is our request, and it is also in line with the "Anti-Piracy Convention." Smuggling can only be done by us, and others can't do it. They are suspected of being pirates. If the strength of the fleet Strong enough, if you see a suspicious ship, directly order the ship to stop for inspection. If you don’t stop, you will be suspected of being a pirate. This is not something that can be achieved overnight, five years, ten years or even 20 years, take your time. But you must open this hole.”

Officials from the Ministry of Rituals thought that this should not be a difficult task, but Chen Jian knew that it would be extremely difficult. Once this opening was opened, the Spanish archipelago and the two major governorships would be completely reduced to dumping grounds.

"Your biggest reliance is that the Spaniards can't figure out our strength now. The efficiency of news dissemination is very slow. I am making a big fanfare here. The Spaniards are worried that we will really support the Netherlands and may cut off their colonies. and the route here."

"The Spaniards won't go to war with us, will they?"

Chen Jian thought about the tragedy of Spain after the Battle of Gibraltar and the reality that the royal family was poor and about to go bankrupt. He laughed and said, "It's good to fight. Those people from the army and navy may have to burn incense for the Spanish royal family. Wait. You guys are done talking, and the forts and fortresses at Ziyou Port have also been built, so what are you afraid of?"

After speaking, he encouraged: "You can talk boldly. You can make up your mind on some irrelevant matters, but you must delay the matter that needs to be delayed. When the news is passed back to the country, the council and the king will make a decision, but the trade I can still decide what to do, after all, this is my authority."

Chapter 37 Staffing