1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 492 New Trade Agreement

Although he was very unwilling, Thomas did not get any bargain for the stopover project along the coast of the Indochina Peninsula. After all, there was still no way for Tao Donglai to make concessions on behalf of Haihan.And Tao Donglai's bottom line is also very clear. If the Portuguese want to stop, they can only build within the scope of the Haihan Concession, and the ownership and governance rights belong to Haihan, and Portugal can only enjoy it locally as the user. Perks for docking ships for resupply.

If this kind of agreement, which is no different from humiliating power and humiliating the country, is returned to Macau, Thomas estimates that the council will immediately consider whether the post of diplomatic envoy should be replaced by someone else.Whether in public or private, Thomas couldn't accept such a result. If he couldn't get some benefits from Tao Dong here that would be beneficial to himself, he would definitely not let it go.

"Mr. Tao, we have always responded to your request for help in the most timely and friendly manner. This time, at your request, we have brought dozens of experienced fighters to Sanya. I hope they can Contribute to the growth of the Haihan militia. But for our kindness, you don't seem to have a corresponding return, and I have to say that this is really disappointing." Tomes shrugged exaggeratedly Said: "I think the cooperative relationship between our two parties should be to help each other, not tear each other down. Are you right Mr. Tao?"

Tao Donglai was also prepared for this, and nodded when he heard the words: "We will naturally keep in mind the help you have provided us. How about this, on behalf of Haihan, I will also make a concession!"

Tao Donglai opened the drawer of his desk, took out a document and handed it to Thomas: "This is our draft plan for this year's bilateral trade. Mr. Thomas may wish to take a look first."

Thomas took it with some doubts and opened it. It was a document written in Portuguese, and he didn't have any difficulty reading it.After Thomas looked carefully for a while, his eyes lit up.

Compared with the previous year's trade agreement, this newly drafted document has a large number of new trade content.Not only has the volume of trade in porcelain, silk, and handicrafts been increased, but many of the things that the Portuguese have always wanted to buy are also included in this document.For example, the 12-pound Haihan Army Cannon, several special spices in limited supply, and the Haihan Telescope in the distance.Anything that you take out will definitely become a hot commodity in the market, and this time the Haihan people have prepared more than twenty new trading items, which makes Thomas wonder whether Tao Donglai has taken the wrong medicine.

Not only that, the new agreement will also open the two ports of Hong Kong and Changhua, which are under construction, to Portuguese merchant ships, and the four ports in the south of Annan, which are under planning, will also open their doors to them—it’s just that these four ports don’t know what It will be completed and put into use at that time, and it is still in the stage of castles in the air.

The contents of the first few pages were almost all good news, which finally improved Thomas's gloomy mood.However, based on his knowledge of the Haihan people, he believed that the Haihan people would not be stupid enough to make such a unilaterally beneficial trade agreement for Portugal, so he did not express his attitude in a hurry, but continued to look down patiently.

When he turned to the last two pages, Thomas finally saw the benefits that the Haihan people wanted to obtain—opening the seaport of Malacca for Haihan ships to dock, allowing Haihan ships to supply and trade locally, and to go to the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Malacca.In addition, Haihan also hoped that Portuguese businessmen could hire a group of educated craftsmen from European countries, regardless of the industry, as long as they had a good skill.

Thomas didn't have any fears about hiring people. Portugal even provided Haihan with mercenaries. What's the problem with hiring some craftsmen?Looking at the occupations listed by the Haihan people, there was no particularly sensitive content, so Thomas put them aside and began to think about another condition proposed by the Haihan people.

From previous conversations, Thomas has already felt the determination of the Haihan people to try to go south from the sea. It is almost inevitable that they will enter the southern waters in the future, and the docking point of the Haihan sailing ship in the southern waters is bound to give priority to Portugal. Ports under human control.

But Thomas always felt that something was wrong. Haihan people always like to find places to build ports on their own. Why did they ask to use Portuguese ports this time?Their seagoing ships frequently enter and leave the Pearl River Estuary, and they never mentioned using Macau as a port of call at the beginning?

"How is it? Is Mr. Thomas still satisfied with the new agreement we proposed?" Before Thomas could figure it out, Tao Donglai had already started to ask him for his opinion.

"I am very happy to see the newly added transaction content." Thomas retracted his thoughts and replied: "I am very glad that the Executive Committee can add these goods to the transaction list, which will definitely help increase our trade scale And the scope of cooperation. I think the Macau Council will also be happy to see such a situation.”

"Then, does Mr. Thomas have any comments on our request for the use of the port?" Tao Donglai continued to ask.

In fact, that's the whole point of the new trade agreement.Adding new trading content is something that has been determined long ago. Most of these products have already had newer products, or the production capacity has been increased, and they can start supplying to the western market now.The part that the Executive Committee is concerned with is mainly the southward expansion of the maritime control zone.

After assisting Annan to complete the domestic unification, Haihan has become Annan's protector, and Haihan also has unimpeded power on Annan's coastline.However, in the eyes of the Executive Committee, the Indochina Peninsula is only a springboard. His destination is the access channel to the Indian Ocean further south.If Haihan wants to form a maritime monopoly in the Far East, then controlling the main throats in the south is the goal that must be achieved.

Just like controlling the Pearl River estuary to control Guangdong's shipping, the Executive Committee hopes to control the only way for maritime exchanges between the East and the West by controlling the access to and from the Indian Ocean.The actual benefits that this goal can bring to Haihan after the achievement of this goal cannot be calculated clearly with gold and silver at the moment, so the executive committee will always spare no effort in investing in the development of the navy and shipping.

Now that the South China Sea has just settled down, the Executive Committee believes that the time has come to go south to the Malacca region to establish a stronghold, so it has added relevant content to the new trade agreement with Portugal.

In order to prevent the Portuguese from being dissatisfied with the relevant requirements, the Executive Committee whitewashed the content of the agreement a little, adding many contents that seemed to be quite attractive to Portuguese businessmen-after all, the management of the Macau Council has absolutely Most of them are businessmen, and this intuitive benefit should be more attractive to them.

Thomas hesitated for a long time this time before saying: "The Malacca area, or the area you are used to calling Malacca, the jurisdiction of its port is not completely in the hands of the Macau Council, and that area is administratively belonged to Goa. The governor’s jurisdiction, so the agreement you signed with the Macau Council may not be recognized by the local managers. I’m not trying to shirk responsibility, but I just hope that you can recognize the problems that may arise in the middle.”

“That place is about as far from Goa as it is from Macau. In fact, we don’t care which jurisdiction the place belongs to. We just need a guarantee of reasonable and legal access to the local port, and the Macau Council can just guarantee our actions.” Tao Donglai explained patiently: "This is a piece of cake for the council, and it won't do any harm. Mr. Thomas, please remember one thing. Our ships entering the Indian Ocean will be affected by this. It is not your country's merchant ships, but your competitors, the Spaniards, the Dutch, and their merchants will feel the pressure, which is actually a good thing for you."

Is it a good thing?When Thomas heard what Tao Donglai said, he was a little undecided for a while.Given the advantages of the Haihan people in navigation, any sea area they enter will have a certain impact on other sea forces in the relevant area. However, in this area, the impact on the Portuguese should be relatively small. After all, It is still a trade partnership with Haihan, and it has many common interests.

Thomas didn't think about it for a long time this time, and replied: "As for your opinion, I will write to the board of directors, and the board of directors will make a decision.

"It's fair." Tao Donglai stood up and held out his hand to Thomas: "I hope that in the new year, we can continue to maintain a pleasant cooperative relationship!"

Thomas returned to Sanya Port from Fort Victory, just in time to see the huge warship turning around in Sanya Port again. Many laborers on the dock on the shore put down their work and shouted loudly to the ship. The warship waved in greeting, which was completely different from the scene Thomas saw the people hiding from the army in Daming territory.These people are not afraid of the powerful force of the Haihan militia, because they know for sure that every soldier in this army is from their side. The purpose of this army is to protect the executive committee and the people under its rule. It is not like guarding a high imperial power like the Ming army.Thomas believes that this difference is the main reason why the Sea Han Vigilante enjoys popular support in the local area.

After Thomas returned to his residence, he turned on the lights that night to draft a letter to the Macau Council.Early the next morning, Thomas, with red eyes, asked his entourage to send the letter sealed with wax to the pier, and the Portuguese merchant ship that set off to return to Macau that day delivered the letter to the council.

Twenty days later, a reply letter from Macau was delivered to Thomas.After discussion, the Macau Council agreed in principle to the content of the new trade agreement proposed by Haihan. In addition to proposing amendments to the trading volume and payment method of several of these in-demand commodities, it is not clear about Haihan’s request to use the port of Malacca. No objection was raised.This is actually within Thomas' expectations—the board members are all money-minded guys, and they must value the attractive benefits offered by the Haihan people. No one cares what kind of impact it will have on the local area.

On the same day that Thomas received the Macau Council, Yu Xiaobao returned to Victory Port from Hong Kong by cargo ship. He had already received the admission notice personally issued by the executive committee, and he was going to participate in the multi-department joint event in Victory Fort. Studying in the advanced training class for young cadres.

As soon as Yu Xiaobao got off the boat, he found a familiar face among the crowd on the pier.

"Fu Li!" Yu Xiaobao looked at Fu Li in a police uniform, and couldn't believe that this former Li nationality boy had now become a cadre of the Police Department.Compared with the last time we met, Fu Li was obviously less childish and more capable, and his head had also grown a lot, which seemed to have surpassed Yu Xiaobao who was originally a little taller.

Fu Li grabbed Yu Xiaobao's shoulder and said with a smile, "Let me wait! I thought you wouldn't be here today!"

"You know I'm coming back today?" Yu Xiaobao asked in surprise.

"After the boat you took left, your father sent a telegram to the trusteeship committee, informing me to pick you up here." Fu Li picked up Yu Xiaobao's luggage without any hassle: "Let's go, I'll take you to see See your new home!"

Yu Dashan was the first group of people in Guihuamin to buy welfare housing in Shengli Port. The area he bought at that time has now been nicknamed a "cadre community" by the local people. Almost everyone living in Nali All are naturalized civilian cadres, almost equivalent to a status symbol.However, Yu Xiaobao did not come back during this period, so it was indeed the first time he saw his new home.

"This place is only half a mile away from the Fort Victory Railway Station. It is very convenient to commute to and from get off work. There is a police station next to it, which is very safe. You see, it is very close to the Shengli Port business district from here. It's very convenient." Along the way, Fu Li kept introducing the surrounding environment to Yu Xiaobao.

"It's been a long time since I came back, it's completely changed!" Looking at the surrounding environment, Yu Xiaobao not only sighed, "What I saw in Guangzhou two years ago is still the same now, but the last time I came back to see Victory Harbor is a completely different place from now!"

"Not only has the environment changed, but there are also more and more people!" Fu Li also said with emotion: "When you went to Guangzhou, there were only 3000 to [-] people here. Now the population of this place is more than that of Yacheng. The southern part of Qiongzhou Island The most densely populated area is here."

For the welfare housing, Yu Xiaobao didn't have much feeling. The place he lived in Guangzhou was larger than this welfare housing, and the living facilities were quite complete. The house is much better.

(End of this chapter)