1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3677

Fighting is fighting, but it cannot delay profitable cross-border trade. This situation is rare. The most bizarre thing is that both sides have acquiesced to this practice and can even maintain the shady smuggling activities for a long time.

But Rui thought this was normal: "The Persians are very similar to us Portuguese. They are pure merchants who can clearly distinguish between business and war. The two are not in conflict."

Qian Tiandun and others looked at each other in surprise, thinking that these two countries were very bold.

Li Yuande couldn't help but ask: "Since both of your countries like the goods provided by each other, why don't you stop fighting and negotiate peace and do business properly?"

Rui looked at him as if he were a fool: "Cease-fire? Why stop-fire? Have you ever thought that war is also a business?"

Qian Tiandun had obviously figured out the key point and explained for Rui: "By maintaining the war and confrontation, Hormuz Island can continuously obtain military resources from the country, which is a considerable benefit. This is one of the benefits."

Li Yuande had actually thought of this just now, and nodded slightly to show his agreement.

Qian Tiandun continued, "Secondly, this place is in a state of war all year round. In order to ensure operational efficiency, the governor must have great autonomy and does not need to ask for instructions on everything. I think Lord Rui should enjoy this treatment."

"Third, as long as the state of war is maintained, it will be easier for the troops and generals stationed here to gain military merit. As for the actual number of enemy kills, can't we just report as much as we want?"

Li Yuande thought about it. Qian Tiandun said that this island had changed hands several times in the past hundred years, and the two countries had been fighting back and forth. Now it seems that there may be some kind of tacit understanding between the two sides. You occupy it once, and I take it back once, so this military merit will come!

After listening to the translation, Rui smiled and said, "I heard that General Qian has been stationed overseas with troops for many years. It seems that he knows the benefits of this!"

Rui did not deny Qian Tiandun's statement. It seems that even if it was not completely correct, the actual situation was almost the same.

Qian Tiandun just smiled and didn't respond directly. He continued to express his opinion: "Fourthly, as the saying goes, things are valuable because they are rare. In a state of war, the value of goods bought from enemy countries would be much higher than in peacetime. It should be reasonable to sell them back to China at several times the price, right?"

Li Yuande praised: "Great! I really learned something new today!"

Qian Tiandun smiled and said, "When you go back next time, ask your uncles and elders. This operation should not be unfamiliar to them."

Li Yuande was too young. When he was old enough to understand, his family had already boarded the Hai Han ship and used the Hai Han Trading Company's sign to the outside world. Therefore, he had not experienced the stage when Fu Ruifeng was engaged in smuggling trade between the Ming Dynasty and Hai Han.

Back when Hai Han was just founded, the Ming Dynasty was still superior in strength. At that time, Fu Ruifeng was engaged in smuggling business between the two countries, transporting immigrants and supplies to Hai Han, and then purchasing industrial products produced in Hai Han and selling them back to Ming Dynasty.

It was precisely because of this experience of making huge profits that Fu Ruifeng became the most powerful business in Guangdong and Guangxi. The Li family also gained the trust of the Hai Han Executive Committee and became Hai Han's agent in the southern part of the Ming Dynasty. Dong Shangyi was older than Li Yuande, so he felt this more deeply. Xu Xinsu, who was still the general in Fujian at the time, also relied on cross-border trade to support his relationship with Hai Han. He used this channel to accumulate wealth and expand his troops, and finally successfully captured Fujian.

During the period when the Dong and Li families were rising to power, the Ming Dynasty and Hai Han were also in a state of hostility, which has some similarities with the situation in the Persian Gulf.

The Portuguese Rui also knew something about the relationship between Hai Han and Ming Dynasty, and took the initiative to join the discussion: "I heard that your country and Ming Dynasty also fought wars and did business together in the early years. General Qian is your country's most famous general, so he should be familiar with this!"

Qian Tiandun smiled and said, "The situation over there is somewhat different. We share the same roots as the Ming Dynasty. The nature of the war is the change of dynasties, not the occupation and plunder of other countries overseas like your country does."

"When your country first arrived in Ming Dynasty, you occupied Macau at the mouth of the Pearl River, tempting Ming Dynasty with benefits while threatening with force, demanding that Ming Dynasty open its borders and allow you to engage in trade activities. This should be your country's standard practice for expanding territory overseas. If I'm not mistaken, this is probably also the case for Hormuz Island, right?"

Qian Tiandun's words were very straightforward, but instead of getting angry, Rui responded proudly, "We think this is the most efficient way to open up trade routes overseas. Look at the Dutch and Spanish. They all failed when dealing with the Ming Dynasty and your country, but we succeeded. This is enough to prove that our approach is the most correct!"

Gao Qiaonan, who had been following Qian Tiandun silently, suddenly said, "That's because you realized from the beginning that you are no match for us. Only cooperation can protect your assets in the South China Sea!"

Qian Tiandun smiled and immediately signaled the translator not to tell Rui what Gao Qiaonan said. Although he did not agree with Rui's point of view, he also felt that Gao Qiaonan's words were sarcastic and the other party might not be able to accept it.

Our own fleet still needs to complete supply and rest on Rui's territory, so there is really no need to offend the other party because of a verbal dispute.

In fact, what Takahashi Nan said was not false. In 1628, Hai Han sent troops to attack Hoi An City in southern Annam. That crushing battle made the Portuguese realize the strength of Hai Han’s military. Soon after, the Portuguese Council of Macau reached a cooperation agreement with the Hai Han Executive Committee, and the two countries began a thirty-year cooperation.

The Dutch and Spanish obviously did not react as quickly and decisively as the Portuguese, and thus suffered more. It was only after witnessing the Spanish defeat on Taiwan Island that the Dutch repented, gave up confrontation and chose cooperation, thus preserving their trade channels in East Asia.

However, Spain has no way out. Over the past twenty years, it has been driven southward by Hai Han and has almost lost its territories in the entire Western Pacific region.

After making such a horizontal comparison, Portugal's handling method is indeed the best among its European counterparts. No wonder Rui is so proud of it.

Due to the restrictions of the surrounding environment, the supplies on Hormuz Island are not abundant. Even though Persian merchants secretly provide supplies to the island, the prices of supplies here are still high.

The supply needs of the Hai Han fleet were a rare big deal for Hormuz Island. Although Rui talked about the friendship between the two countries, the price he quoted to Qian Tiandun was not cheap at all. Even the fresh water was charged by the barrel. It was definitely not what Rui said was the "internal price for our own people."