1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 402 Dutch business thinking ([-])

December 1641, 4, Batavia.

"Since the newly established Hanzhou stronghold will not be self-sufficient in the next year, we must also prepare a budget expenditure of at least [-] to [-] dong. The restoration of the Kupang stronghold will require an additional investment of about [-] dong... ..." Predrag Pulton, Batavia's financial officer, was holding a property statement and reporting to Governor Anthony Van Dyman.

"Mr. Pulton, please wait a moment." Governor Daiman interrupted Predrag Pulton's report, "I have a question here, Kupang is a place we have been operating for decades, why restore it? Various facilities, need to spend so much money?"

"My lord, Kupang was completely destroyed by the Hanzhou people, and the main defense facilities were dismantled by them. All the cannons on the pier fort and the city wall were also taken away by the Hanzhou people. They threw and sank many Bricks and some fishing boats need to be cleaned and salvaged to dredge the port. In addition, there are pensions for those mercenaries and staff who died in battle. In order to ensure the safety of Kupang in the future, our various facilities must be rebuilt more perfect than before. It's better for our defense."

"Okay, okay, I understand." Governor Daiman couldn't help stretching out his hand, pressed the throbbing temple on his forehead, and said through gritted teeth: "Just tell me how much extra expenses we expect to spend this year."

"Hmm..." Predrag Poulton looked down at the report on the table, and finally said with a wry smile: "This year, we expect to spend an additional 400,000 to 500,000 dong. And we must ensure that, We won't be involved in a new armed conflict or any other major change until the end of the year."

"Then how much can our income increase on the basis of last year?" Governor Daiman asked carefully.

"The situation doesn't seem to be very optimistic." Predrag Pulton said with a bitter face: "In terms of the spice trade, the Portuguese in Ceylon shipped a huge amount of nutmeg and pepper back to Europe, which greatly impacted us. Trade profits. In addition, our trade volume to Japan and North Korea has dropped a lot compared to previous years. The official Nicholas of the Ming Dynasty obviously did not abide by the trade share agreement signed with our East India Company, and the entire Japanese market was blocked. He has almost monopolized more than [-]%."

"Our trade volume with the Ming Dynasty seems to have encountered a bottleneck period. Because various civilian riots are taking place in this huge country, the order in the entire north has become chaotic. In the southern region of the Ming Kingdom, disasters frequently occur, and even some The region has also been affected by civilian riots, so the demand for our East India Company's goods has become somewhat weak. However, the only bright spots are the Annan, Siam and Indian markets, and their trade volume has increased significantly, which is very good fills the gap we have in other regions."

After hearing this, Governor Daiman felt a little disappointed. The cost has increased significantly, but the corresponding trade profit has not seen the expected significant increase. Then, when he reports the business situation to the European headquarters early next year, he may have to face the board members again. Questioned.Last year, he received a scathing letter of inquiry over the company's weaker-than-expected profit growth.

However, Governor Dayman still insisted at this time that the various countermeasures he had taken in the past two years had no problems at all, and they were laying the foundation for the long-term development of the East India Company.All the difficulties encountered so far are temporary. As long as they survive this difficult period, the East India Company will definitely resume a substantial increase in trade profits.

However, he is now facing a difficult choice, that is whether the long-prepared Malacca Raiders should enter the stage of real attack.In the past two years, the Dutch East India Company has continuously sent armed merchant ships to harass Hokeng (today’s Macau) and Goa, as well as the waterways of the Strait of Malacca, making it impossible for the Portuguese’s two strongholds of Malacca and Jishuiwan to obtain sufficient supplies and personnel. , At the same time, it also caused the two places to lack sufficient trade income, causing the financial resources of the two places to be exhausted day by day.

The indirect information obtained from the people of Aceh and Johor shows that the two Portuguese strongholds controlling the channel of the Strait of Malacca are currently in a relatively weak stage.Moreover, after long-term communication and coordination with the Aceh people and Johor, the Dutch East India Company has reached a cooperation agreement to jointly deal with the Portuguese.

The Dutch East India Company promised to Sultan Abdul Jali of Johor that after they captured Malacca, they would open all trade channels to the Kingdom of Johor, and they would resolutely not take the initiative to go deep into the territory of the Kingdom of Johor to preach and recruit believers. The trade ban on some artillery will be lifted for them.

As for the Kingdom of Aceh, the Dutch East India Company will continue to provide a considerable number of muskets and artillery to support the country's King Sawadin Sultan to continue to suppress the rebellion of several other brothers, and promise not to get involved in Rapid Water Bay again.

The current offensive against the Portuguese stronghold in Malacca can be described as everything is ready and only the east wind is owed.As long as there is sufficient financial support, organize a large-scale fleet, carry more than a thousand mercenaries and native servants, and have the support of the army of the Kingdom of Johor on land. They will conquer the city of Malacca and complete the control of the Straits of Malacca by the East India Company. The long-cherished wish of the channel should be realized.

However, if they want to attack Malacca, they will have to spend a huge amount of money. Wouldn't this add another glaring and large expenditure to the company's ugly financial data this year.

But if Malacca is not attacked, who knows if there will be such a good opportunity in the future.The ruling foundation of Sawadin Sultan in Aceh was not solid, and he might be kicked out by his brothers at some point.

And Johor Sultan Abdul Jali is over [-] years old, and I heard that he is not in good health. If he dies suddenly in the next few years, will there be any turmoil in his country that will affect the policy of jointly attacking Malacca? Something happened.

Judging from the business thinking of a professional manager, Governor Daiman paid a high price to capture Malacca, which seems a bit thankless.His term as Governor of Batavia was more than five years old and could be recalled to mainland Europe at any moment.If it takes a huge risk to take down Malacca and expel the Portuguese, it may be possible to make wedding clothes for others.However, because of his tenure, the operating profit of the East India Company has declined for three consecutive years, and he has a negative reputation for poor management.

"Mr. Pulton, do you have any good suggestions that can allow the company to obtain a large amount of capital gains in the short term to make up for our excessive additional expenses?" Governor Dayman asked expectantly.

"...Yes." Batavia's finance officer, Predrag Poulton, hesitated for a moment, and said with twinkling eyes: "However, this method of obtaining funds may not be very honorable."

"You mean..." Governor Dayman realized the subtext in Predrag Poulton's words, "In order to make up for our property expenses, we might as well temporarily abandon the honor of civilized people. Mr. Poulton, you have the right recommended targets for

"We have a trading station in Palembang (now Palembang City, Indonesia). I heard from the governor there that the Sultan Kingdom of Palembang is rich, and its royal city has countless wealth, and its city defense is relatively rough... said Predrag Poulton, with a strange look in his eyes.

Governor Daiman was stunned upon hearing this.

In order to fight against the Aceh Sultan and Jambi Sultan in the north, the Palembang Sultan Kingdom has always been friendly with the East India Company and signed several cooperative business agreements, which made the East India Company almost monopolize the Sultan Kingdom’s production including pepper. Trading rights for most high-net-worth commodities.It would indeed be a little "honor" for the Dutch East India Company, which claims to be a civilized world, to attack this former friendly partner and rob their royal city.

"In your estimation, how much armed force we need to dispatch, and how much money will it cost?"

Predrag Pulton licked his lips, with an inexplicable smile on his face. Governor Daiman was obviously tempted. In order to achieve the company's profit growth target, even former partners can sacrifice of.

"Your Excellency, you need to consult our Batavia Navy Commander about this issue. As for the funds that will be spent, I roughly estimate that it should not be a lot, but our benefits will be huge." Predrag Poole Dun said with a smile.
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Major Manfred Eigen, Commander of the Dutch East India Company Squadron, held up a binoculars and watched the two small boats quickly rowing into the port of Dili. The merchant ship went in pursuit.He knew that even if the Dutch armed merchant ships could drive there, they might not be able to capture the two small boats of tens of tons.Maybe, they have already been picked up by the Hanzhou people on the shore, and quickly dragged the boat ashore.

Maybe it was because the blockade was too long, and the Dutch armed merchant ships that were constantly coming in rotation seemed a little slack, and they didn't pay much attention to intercepting some small boats.In addition, they also knew in their hearts that the blockade of Dili Port had no effect at all.The Hanzhou people here, after several times of large-scale support, presumably have no shortage of general military supplies.Moreover, the number of people fishing from them to the sea has decreased significantly, which shows that they have no shortage of food.The Dutch have reason to believe that the Hanzhou people in Dili City should be self-sufficient and may have grown a lot of food and vegetables.

What is even more speechless is that Dili City is a newly occupied land in Hanzhou, and there is no commercial export or import here. What effect do you think blocking it can have?Many captains slandered in private that sending ships here from time to time was just a symbolic blockade of Dili Port, which was a waste of resources and time.

However, in view of the fact that the Dutch East India Company suffered a lot of losses here, perhaps it was to take a gamble, or perhaps to add some troubles to the Hanzhou people, the East India Company's ships followed the instructions of the Navy Command, and some of the armed forces sailing in groups Merchant ships would stop at the port of Dili for a few days as they passed through Timor Island, prowling in front of the port in a demonstrative manner.

As for bombarding Dili Port and showing off its force, the Dutch would think that would be too stupid and uneconomical.In the East Indies, the strength of the Dutch sea power is beyond doubt.But the problem is that when they fought with Hanzhou, they hardly had a few decent naval battles.The Hanzhou people will only hide all their ships in a hidden port somewhere to avoid a head-on confrontation with the Dutch.But when the Dutch were not paying attention, they attacked the East India Company's trading strongholds and passing ships everywhere.

At present, in this war between the East India Company and the Hanzhou people, it is obvious that some sacrifices are not directly proportional to the benefits.Even if we defeat Hanzhou, what can we gain from them?

Major Manfred Eigen looked at the deserted Dili Port in the distance, lost in thought.

(End of this chapter)