1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3658

Realizing that he was going to be a tool, Dong Shangyi immediately got into the role and expressed to Qian Tiandun his willingness to purchase the gems produced in Ceylon at a reasonable price.

How much profit can be made from reselling these gems is not Dong Shangyi's current focus, but to consolidate the cooperative relationship with the special warfare division through this trade.

Besides, since Fu Ruifeng seems to be able to make a profit from it, then the trading companies in Fujian can certainly do it as well. It is just a matter of making more or less profit.

Qian Tiandun was also very satisfied with Dong Shangyi's knowledge and interest. He could feel Fujian's sincerity in trying every possible means to promote cooperation, and the assistance that the other party could provide in shipbuilding, immigration, trade, shipping, etc. was exactly the resource that the special warfare division urgently needed.

After reaching an agreement, there is no need to rush to discuss the specific details of the transaction. Given Qian Tiandun's status, he will not bargain with Dong Shangyi in person, and relevant people will follow up.

Dong Shangyi had prepared many cooperation projects when he came, but this gem trade was completely out of his plan. It can be said to be an unexpected surprise.

He suddenly thought of another thing. Portugal and the Netherlands arrived in Ceylon earlier than Hai Han, and large-scale armed conflicts broke out there. It seemed that they were mostly fighting for control of the gem trade on the island.

However, after the Special Operations Division arrived here, Hai Han became a new player in Ceylon's gem trade, and the Dutch seemed to have been driven out. With the completion of the Hambantota Port, even the Portuguese's voice here will be gradually reduced, and the gem trade will gradually become a resource controlled exclusively by the Special Operations Division.

Dong Shangyi relaxed and boldly asked about the future expansion plan of the special warfare division. He knew that with Qian Tiandun's behavior, he would definitely not stop at a small place like Ceylon Island, and there must be follow-up plans.

Qian Tiandun wanted to test him, so he pointed to the huge Indian Ocean map on the wall and asked, "In your opinion, where should the special warfare division be stationed next to have the most strategic value?"

Dong Shangyi also noticed Qian Tiandun's intention. After carefully examining the sea map, he solemnly replied, "I think that according to the general's idea of ​​controlling the sea area by route, the next stop should be here!"

After Dong Shangyi finished speaking, he pointed to a place on the map. Qian Tiandun nodded slightly to show his agreement.

The place Dong Shangyi pointed out was a coast on the west side of the Indian Ocean, more than 6,000 miles west of Ceylon. To be precise, this coast was the easternmost tip of the African continent.

Qian Tiandun then gestured for him to express his opinion.

Dong Shangyi said: "The geographical situation between this place and Ceylon is just like that between Ceylon and Phuket. To the north is a huge bay relying on the mainland, and to the south is a boundless ocean. The general said before that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I think as long as a route is established between these two places, the development methods of Ceylon and Phuket can be replicated, and at the same time, the bay area to the north of the route can be influenced."

Gao Qiaonan, who was watching from the sidelines, suddenly interrupted and said, "There is a vast continent next to Ceylon Island. Why would you go to a place thousands of miles away?"

Dong Shangyi thought about this very clearly and explained immediately: "The special warfare division chose Ceylon Island instead of the triangular land next to it. In addition to the gem resources on the island, there must be other reasons... I dare to guess that the general does not want to conflict with the local country." Qian Tiandun shook his head slightly, indicating that his guess was not correct.

Dong Shangyi asked again: "Perhaps the Westerners have already established a colony there, and the general is afraid of this?"

Qian Tiandun smiled and said, "They do have several colonies in the area, but they are not enough to intimidate me."

Dong Shangyi gave up guessing and said, "I am stupid, please enlighten me, General."

Qian Tiandun said: "In fact, the two reasons you just mentioned are not without reason, but they are not the fundamental reasons for my decision. The reason why I did not march into the neighboring continent is actually very simple. I simply look down on this place."

"Ah?" Dong Shangyi guessed many possibilities in his mind, but he never thought that Qian Tiandun would give such an outrageous reason.

Qian Tiandun said: "Although this triangular continent has vast land, it does not have many valuable products, and the natives are lazy and difficult to discipline. If we establish a colonial outpost there, I am afraid that not only will we not be able to utilize the local manpower, but we will be burdened by it and affect the combat effectiveness of the special warfare division."

Dong Shangyi couldn't help but wonder how bad the natives of this place must be to make Qian Tiandun avoid them and even have no interest in developing the local area.

It is not true that Qian Tiandun had no interest in occupying the Indian Peninsula. After the Special Operations Division gained a foothold in Ceylon, Qian Tiandun also considered whether to follow the example of Western countries and establish a colony on the coastline of the Indian Peninsula.

But later, the indigenous laborers sent by Portugal to Hambantota made Qian Tiandun realize that the Indians of this era were of the same lineage as the Indians of the time and space he was in before he traveled through time, and were even more primitive and vulgar because they had lost a few hundred years of civilization evolution.

If he had to rely on such a group of people to build overseas colonies, Qian Tiandun thought he would be angry to death. He seemed to understand why European countries such as Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain had settled in the Indian Peninsula for a long time but had never been able to make a good name for themselves.

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So in Qian Tiandun's opinion, it would be better to save the trouble of struggling in the Indian Peninsula and directly cross the Arabian Sea to advance into the Middle East.

Although most of the Arabian Peninsula, located in the northwest of the Indian Ocean, is desert, Qian Tiandun, as a time traveler, is well aware of the endless wealth hidden under the desert. Controlling the Arabian Peninsula is far more strategically valuable than the Indian Peninsula. It can ensure that Hai Han will have a stable energy supply for hundreds of years to come and take the lead in entering the true industrial age.

Moreover, the location of the Arabian Peninsula is the key area connecting Europe and Asia. Even though ships from Europe to Asia now have to go around Africa, as long as Hai Han can control the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea between the Arabian Peninsula and the African continent, it will only be a matter of time before a canal connecting the Mediterranean is opened.

Qian Tiandun might not see the day when the canal is open to navigation, but he knows that he can see the Hai Han bicolor flag flying on the edge of the Mediterranean during his lifetime.

The prerequisite is that the special operations division must expand fast enough. While it can still move, it must bring these areas along the way under Hai Han’s control and establish real sea control between the Strait of Malacca and the Mediterranean.