1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 1570 Guiding the maze
After receiving the author's guidance, Luo Hong finally had a clearer understanding of Haihan's official attitude.At least he has understood that the door to arms sales has not been completely closed. The Haihan people are not unwilling to sell, but they have to wait for a reasonable opportunity and bid.The most important thing is that Haihan hoped that the parties involved, that is, Mata Ram and the Netherlands, would realize this, so he implicitly expressed the official attitude through the newspaper media.

Since they all hinted at it, Luo Hong certainly couldn't remain indifferent to it.But the effect of pulling the gold outside the Fort Victory the day before yesterday was not ideal. Apart from the windfall of the news event, Haihan's senior management actually showed no interest in it.Moreover, this kind of tactic cannot be used repeatedly, and if it is done again, it may really anger the Haihan people.

"Mr. Xun, if you want to break this situation, what should you do?" Luo Hong also went to the doctor in a hurry, and he and his subordinates couldn't figure out a way, so he put his hope in a third-rate tabloid on the reporter.

"This..." How could Xun Pengcheng answer it well? He knew that his abilities were limited, and he was good at writing gossip articles and complaining about social events, but it was far from enough for him to think about national affairs.And with yesterday's lesson, how could he dare to express his views on the government's affairs at will, let alone the person he was talking to at this time was a Matalan man who was very concerned about by the Ministry of Security.

But Xun Pengcheng's hesitant reaction fell into Luo Hong's eyes, and he had a different understanding.After some explanations just now, he believes that Xun Pengcheng should be the real insider, and he may also have some understanding of the solution that Haihan officials did not come up with.If the other party can point him out again, this matter may be solved easily.

Thinking of this, Luo Hong signaled his subordinates to take a small wooden box on the floor, put it on the table, opened it, and pushed it in front of Xun Pengcheng: "Sir, please guide me!"

The bottom of the box was covered with cotton cloth, and two gold bricks were wrapped, each of which was at least five or six times larger than the gold coin just now.It can be seen that Luo Hong came prepared, not only prepared a meeting gift, but also secretly prepared a heavy gift, just waiting for such an opportunity to use it to smash people.

Xun Pengcheng glanced at it, and knew that the gold bricks in this box were the same shape as the two carts of gold bricks he saw outside Victory Fort yesterday.The value of such two gold bricks can really surpass the years of struggle in my current position.

want it?Of course Xun Pengcheng wanted it. With this money, he could immediately realize his dream of changing to a bigger house, and then find a place to contract a few hundred acres of land to build a plantation. In the next few decades, he can be a master and enjoy the blessings.But the problem was that Xun Pengcheng didn't know the answer Luo Hong wanted to know at all. Even if he knew, he might not dare to tell Luo Hong.As for making up any random explanations for the other party, Xun Peng Chengkong has the heart but not the guts. He doesn't want to be approached by the horse or the security department afterwards.

"This...you don't need it!" Xun Pengcheng swallowed hard, trying to refuse Luo Hong's request.

But in Luo Hong's view, Xun Pengcheng's unresolute attitude was deliberately pushing back and forth to hint to himself, and he was even more unwilling to give up at the moment. Xun Pengcheng had to come up with an explanation, otherwise he would stay here.

Xun Pengcheng not only wanted the money, but also worried that he would be arrested and imprisoned after the transaction with Ma Dalan was exposed. When he was in danger, Luo Hong's words finally made him make up his mind: "Mr. Blue country, but helping your country! If this is done, your country will have a higher prestige in the South China Sea, sir, it will benefit the people and contribute to the country!"

Xun Pengcheng, who has been lured a little bit confused by gold, thought, yes, since what I do is beneficial to the country, why should I shrink back?Perhaps it was because of the relief from the mental pressure, he turned his mind and really came up with a set of arguments.

According to Xun Pengcheng's understanding of the official attitude, he does believe that the official is more inclined to lift the previous ban in some way, but how to convince the two countries involved obviously requires very high-end operations.With Xun Pengcheng's social status, of course he couldn't think of how to achieve such a goal, but he gave Luo Hong a feasible idea.

After hearing this, Luo Hong nodded again and again, thinking that this move is indeed expected to change the attitude of Haihan officials. As for whether it will work, we will know when we try it later.Xun Pengcheng knew the rules, and he refused to accept the two gold bricks first, but only accepted the gold coin that he took out earlier.Luo Hong then made a promise that he would offer a gift of thanks after the matter was completed.

After finally sending Luo Hong and his party away, Xun Pengcheng went back to bed and lay down, but couldn't sleep anymore.He felt strangely flustered at this time. If Luo Hong didn't get things done and couldn't get the two gold bricks, it would be a small matter. If he was involved because of this, the Ministry of Security might have to add another one to him. The crime of "knowingly committing a crime".But if things come true, Luo Hong will definitely send someone to send gold bricks, and then he will be transformed into a rich man.The two unpredictable futures are like two ropes tied to him, constantly pulling his emotions in completely opposite directions.

But Luo Hong was full of excitement. He believed that Xun Pengcheng's advice represented Haihan's official attitude to a certain extent. At this time, he should strike while the iron is hot and hurry up to apply for a new negotiation with Haihan's senior officials.So after he came out of Xun Pengcheng's residence, he went straight to Victory Fort without even returning to the guest house.

"Luo Hong is here again?" Tao Donglai felt a little headache after hearing the news for a long time.Although there are quite a few foreign envoys and businessmen entering and leaving Victory Fort every day, it is really rare to see such a stalker like Luo Hong. It seems that if Haihan doesn't let go of his mouth, he will be in Victory Fort for a day.Although Tao Donglai has a preliminary idea of ​​​​handling the arms embargo, this matter needs to be coordinated with the departments of foreign affairs, commerce, and military industry before it can be implemented. Luo Hong has come to guard every day. It's a bit of a hassle.

But Tao Donglai didn't want to offend the other party either. After all, Mata Languo has a very strong desire to purchase arms, and it is a potential big customer for Haihan. He just needs to be careful and try to get as many exchange conditions as possible from the other party. , especially those related to geopolitics.

Although it was troublesome, Tao Donglai decided to meet Luo Hong again.He knew that the other party must have read today's new special issue before coming, and he also wanted to hear if the other party had grasped the spirit conveyed by the official Haihan.However, even if Tao Donglai was scheming, he never thought that this seemingly reckless general Ma Dalan would immediately think of going to the writer to explain his doubts after reading the newspaper.Although Xun Pengcheng's explanation was biased, it did help Luo Hong better understand Haihan's official intentions.

Tao Donglai was mentally prepared to a certain extent, but when he actually heard the solution proposed by Luo Hong, he still suspected that something was wrong with his ears, because Luo Hong's idea coincided with his plan. , hoping to win the opportunity to buy Haihan's arms through one-on-one bidding with the Dutch.

"...According to your country's method, bidding is undoubtedly the most reasonable solution. I know that the Dutch have always wanted to buy your country's weapons and equipment. Everyone competes fairly, and the highest bidder wins in the end, so that no one will gossip. Even if the Dutch lose, they will lose clearly, and there is no reason to resent your country."

According to Xun Pengcheng's suggestion, Luo Hong proposed his own solution to Tao Donglai.Of course, he also knows that this plan is not perfect. The geopolitical quid pro quo between Haihan and the Netherlands is not a problem that can be solved by money, but at least Matalam has enough sincerity to bear the burden of this purchase method. premium.

Seeing that Tao Donglai was silent, he continued: "If you are worried about the attitude of the Dutch, you can at least inform them of the situation first and see if they are willing to accept such an approach. If these cowards are on the battlefield Other places can only cowardly choose to avoid and not fight, then I suggest that your country really does not need to cooperate with them anymore, cowards are not worthy of being partners of Haihan country!"

This is of course a gamble. If the Dutch refuse, then no matter how sincere Luo Hong is, it may be difficult for the Haihan Executive Committee to take the initiative to tear up the agreement signed with the East India Company.But according to Xun Pengcheng's previous analysis, the Dutch also have a strong demand to buy arms, and the most important thing is that Haihan officials have the intention to open up arms sales, so this attempt has a certain possibility of success.

Tao Donglai had to admit that he had been a bit misjudged before. This Luo Hong was not a single-minded rough man, but rather thick and thin, and there was still something in his stomach.Regardless of whether Luo Hong said he figured it out on his own or some expert gave him an idea, this suggestion has indeed paved the way for Tao Donglai's plan, allowing Haihan to notify Holland with a very reasonable reason. people to participate in this auction.

"I will convey your proposal to the Dutch, but I cannot make any promises to you now. This is a national matter for either of us, so it must be handled carefully. I hope you can understand our arrangement, Luo Hong General." Tao Donglai replied very cautiously, and he did not let go of his mouth easily under the circumstances that there may still be variables.

But in Luo Hong's ears, these words were already a big concession compared to his previous attitude, at least he saw a glimmer of hope.

In the afternoon, Schneider paid a visit to the Minister of the Netherlands Su Keyi, and conveyed to him the proposal of the Matalam State, which is actually also the Haihan Executive Committee, that is, if both the Netherlands and Mataram have the intention to purchase Haihan military equipment , then Haihan will arrange a bidding to give the two countries a fair chance to compete.

Although this was indeed the opportunity that the East India Company had been waiting for for a long time, Su Keyi did not seize the initiative as he expected, and instead lost to his old rival Matalan in this link.This frustration made him so angry that he broke a whole set of expensive blue and white porcelain tea sets after Schneider left.

Su Keyi didn't like the solution proposed by the Matalan people. Although the East India Company was also very financially strong, and Governor Van Diemen had granted him the autonomy to act, he still believed that the nature of this kind of bidding was to kill the enemy. Thousands, eight hundred self-inflicted injuries, the only ones who have taken advantage of it are the Haihan people who sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.He really didn't understand what the Matalan envoy was thinking, that he would choose such a solution that was not conducive to the Matalan country.

Of course, Su Keyi really couldn't imagine that Luo Hong's plan came from the suggestion of tabloid reporter Xun Pengcheng, and the plan proposed by Xun Pengcheng was completely conceived subconsciously from the standpoint of Hai Han. It can't be Mata Lam.It's just that Luo Hong was so obsessed with buying weapons that he could beat Holland by the way. This kind of obsession prevented him from investigating who would be the biggest beneficiary like Su Keyi.

And this was not the thing that disturbed Su Keyi the most. He thought that the Haihan people might have other things to hide from him, for example, they had secretly negotiated some terms of exchange with the Matalan people.Haihan was able to quietly negotiate terms with the East India Company back then, and now he can naturally engage in this kind of black-box operation again—as long as the Matalan people can offer good enough terms.

Su Keyi knew that Haihan had a strong interest in the eastern and southern waters of the Sunda Islands, but he had never found an opportunity to establish a coastal supply point such as a colonial port in this area.The East India Company has also been strictly guarding against this, and does not leave Haihan any coast suitable for building a port within its own control area.But if the Matalan people foolishly agree to Haihan's request to build a port somewhere in order to buy arms, then the situation in this sea area will be even more unfavorable to the Netherlands in the future.

Similar situations were not without precedent in the past. In exchange for Haihan's support, An Nanguo designated four places on the coastline of his own country for Haihan to build ports. As a result, Haihan relied on these four colonial ports. In just a few years, it almost controlled the entire eastern coastline of the Indochina Peninsula, making it impossible for Western colonial countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands to participate in the struggle for maritime trade control in this area.Today, when merchant ships from other countries want to trade with Annan, they can only call at ports operated by Haihan people. All trade must be subject to Haihan's supervision, and there is no freedom of trade at all.

And this set of operating methods, Haihan later used it on Daming as a matter of course. Today, along the coastline of Daming from south to north, there are Haihan's colonial ports near key waterways and major trade areas, which almost cut off the Western countries. The possibility of colonization of these areas.If Matalan and Haihan staged such a show, then in a few years, the entire Sunda Islands waters would probably be reduced to Haihan's control area.

(End of this chapter)