1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 417 Policy Adjustments of the East India Company
December 1641, 9, Batavia.

The former governor of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia, Antoine van Daiman, bid farewell to the middle and high-level officials of the colonial authorities who came to see him off. He looked back at the city of Batavia in the distance again, and sighed slightly in his heart. With a sigh of relief, he turned his head and boarded the armed merchant ship bound for Europe.This convoy of twelve armed merchant ships will pass through Palembang and Ceylon successively, deliver supplies and personnel to the two places, and then go to India to refill all the ships with local goods, and then cross the Indian Ocean , through the Arabian Sea, along the coastline of Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, into the Atlantic Ocean, and finally return to the mainland of the Netherlands. It will take about five to six months.

Anthony van Daiman was not very optimistic about the new governor Cornelis van der Lin's proposal to use commercial means to resolve disputes with Hanzhou, Zheng Zhilong, and even the surrounding Tubang kingdoms.In Europe, the Netherlands can monopolize and control the commercial lifelines of many countries and regions by virtue of its superior financial means and sea transportation power, but the premise of this operation is that European countries are some civilized forces with basic economic order and contracts Spirit.

But if you want to graft the successful European business model to the East Indies, or even the entire Far East, you may encounter a very prominent problem, that is, some countries and regions do not have suitable economic soil, and their political and economic environments are not Unstable, even incoherent.

You want a group of savages to abide by business norms and economic contracts with you. Don’t be funny, those monkey-like natives, do you know what a contract is?Only when you hold a sword and musket, drive an armed merchant ship, and put the cannon at their door, will they understand what the economic order we advocated by the Netherlands looks like!

As for Hanzhou, it can also be regarded as a civilized society, but if the economic penetration operation is not good, it may not only fail to control their economic lifeline, but it will strengthen their economic strength and further enhance their force.

But all of this is a collective resolution made by the local board of directors, and Daiman cannot change this. Of course, he has resigned as the governor of Batavia, and all affairs here have no connection with him.He was just a little emotional and a little bit reluctant.I have worked here for more than five years, and I have put in countless hard work, and I am quite sad when I leave suddenly.
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"Major Tasman, as a person who has experienced the exploration of the New Netherlands continent, or the Hanzhou continent, how do you evaluate this continent?" The new governor Cornelis Van der Lin summoned the commander of the Batavia Navy Colonel Duckman Barek and Major Abel Tasman and other relevant naval personnel asked about some basic information about Hanzhou and prepared to make corresponding strategies accordingly.

"Your Excellency, I started to explore the Hanzhou Continent in July last year, which lasted for more than five months. During this period, we drove along the coastline of the Hanzhou Continent, and constantly sent people to log in to check the situation on the land. "Major Abel Tasman said: "However, the situation on land is very unsatisfactory, and it can even be said to be very bad. This continent is very barren, especially in its west, where there are dry lands and endless deserts everywhere. , except for a little woodland and grassland along the coast.”

"However, when our exploration fleet traveled to the southwest of Hanzhou, we found that the environment there was relatively good. The terrain was flat, with forests and grasslands, and the land was very suitable for farming. As for the inland areas, it was mainly limited to ours. Due to lack of time and manpower, we did not go deep. Oh, we are still in the southeast of the mainland and found a relatively large island with a relatively ideal environment. After passing this island, all the way to the east is an endless ocean.”

"Because we need to constantly send people to land to investigate the situation, it took a lot of time, which also consumed our few supplies on board. Therefore, in mid-November last year, we could only decide to return and did not go east. Driving. But I believe that there should be an unknown continent to the east, or countless islands. Governor, I suggest that we need to explore again. It is best to try to reach the island in the southeast of Hanzhou Driving south and heading north along the southeast coast of Hanzhou, perhaps, we can find out the complete situation of this continent."

In the original historical time and space, in 1642, Abel Tasman explored along the west coast of the Australian mainland, not only discovered the southwest and the entire southern part of Australia, but also discovered a densely forested land, Tasmania, It was named "Van Dyman Land (or Van Die Man Land)" after the Governor of Batavia at that time, and along the way to the east, the two north and south islands of New Zealand were discovered one after another, and it was named "Staten Land". ’, and Tonga and Fiji further east.

But this time, because the Batavian authorities needed him to carefully investigate the actual situation of the land and find a suitable landing place for building a stronghold, his exploration activities took a little longer, and did not Sail further east, including New Zealand.

"Major Tasman, your exploration operation will be a great discovery in the future." Governor Derlin praised: "You gave us the East India Company to understand this continent, and provided detailed data and complete information. Then , I want you to evaluate objectively, is it necessary for our East India Company to colonize this continent? Or, will our colonization of this continent generate certain benefits? "

"Your Excellency, generally speaking, this continent is very desolate and barren. Of course, there are still some trees and grasslands on the coastal land. But after going deep into the interior, we did not find any minerals and resources worth using. Local The residents are small and dark natives, poor and hostile. Such a place cannot provide the valuable trade opportunities that our East India Company is looking for." Major Abel Tasman said cautiously.

"Since that continent has no economic value, why do Hanzhou people occupy it? Moreover, I heard that they are still continuing to develop to the east of this continent, and their number is also increasing at a terrible rate." Governor Delin asked: "How do they make money on this continent?"

"..." Major Abel Tasman was at a loss for words, and looked at his superior, Colonel Dachman Barek, in embarrassment. The exploration of this continent was only a preliminary investigation of its basic situation. It was impossible for them to go too far into the interior. , but based on his preliminary judgment, the Hanzhou Continent is indeed relatively barren and desolate, and the population is very sparse.Of course, it is impossible for the Dutch East India Company to obtain any benefits from such a place.

"Your Excellency, I can explain to you a little bit about how the Hanzhou people obtained income from that continent." Colonel Dakman Barek said: "The Hanzhou people landed in the northern part of the mainland six years ago. , and established a stronghold. They then continued to transport many hungry people from the Ming Dynasty, cultivated land, planted food, built factories, and slowly developed to what they are now. But at the beginning, they had nothing, just relying on their At the beginning, they robbed the Spanish silver ships and purchased all the supplies they needed in Batavia and the Ming Dynasty. Only in this way could they stand firm in the first few years of landing. The earliest batch of Hanzhou People used to be pirates from the Ming country, and they came to this continent just to get a place to live."

"You mean, the Hanzhou people are on that continent just for shelter and survival?" Governor Delin keenly grasped the key words in Colonel Duckman Barek's words.

"They should have this purpose at the beginning." Colonel Dachman Barek considered his words, "A few years ago, they were still relatively dependent and submissive to us, and almost all their supplies came from Batavia. Procurement. Most of the people who were transported back from the Ming Dynasty were starving people who could not survive. In Hanzhou, they seemed to only need to open up wasteland and farm land to fill their stomachs and build factories that could meet their production and living needs. , everything seems very satisfied."

"Do you think Hanzhou can be completely self-sufficient at present?"

"Governor, I think that apart from the basic food and common daily consumer goods that Hanzhou can meet its own needs, other kinds of materials may still need to be imported from outside." Colonel Dakman Barek said: " The information brought back by our trading fleet from the Ming Dynasty shows that the people of Hanzhou will buy all kinds of production and living materials in the Ming Dynasty market every year."

"Then, gentlemen, let us assume that if in Batavia, our East India Company opens all the commodity markets to Hanzhou, with our superior sea transportation capacity and mature business means, is it possible to bring Hanzhou to China?" Will all the territories we occupy be included in the unified market order led by our East India Company?" Governor During asked seriously.

"If Batavia can purchase any goods that the Hanzhou people need, then they will be very happy. After all, the distance to the Ming Dynasty is very long, and they come from India, Ceylon, Persia, Ottoman, and even us in Europe. The Hanzhou people cannot easily obtain the goods.” Colonel Dakman Barek said: “But I doubt whether the Hanzhou people have enough ability to pay. As Major Tasman said, Hanzhou is barren and desolate , what can they exchange with us except food and wood?"

"Because of the barrenness of Hanzhou, our open trade policy can control them more effectively." Governor Delin said with a smile: "As long as Hanzhou has enough population, there will always be a way to produce something we are interested in and share with them." We exchange. Even the insignificant grain and timber they produce can be collected and quickly transferred to other places in need. Isn’t this what our East India Company is best at?”

"Didn't Han Zhou take the initiative to offer us an olive branch last year? Now, it's time for us to make a reasonable response to this."

(End of this chapter)