1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 802

On March 1665, 3, Amsterdam, the representative office of the State of Qi in the Republic of the United Provinces.

The relationship between the Netherlands and England has been very tense since two years ago, and it is almost in a state of daggers.

In 1663, England formed a colonial company called the "Royal African Company" and began to attack the Dutch colony on the west coast of Africa, and occupied it in August 1664, forcibly snatching a huge amount of ivory and slaves from the Dutch. and gold trade.

In April 1664, a British naval expedition occupied the Netherlands in New Amsterdam in North America, and renamed it New York after Charles II's younger brother, the Duke of York.

In August 1664, Dutch Admiral De Knight (also translated as De Ruyter) led a fleet to recover the former Dutch West African stronghold occupied by Britain, then crossed the Atlantic Ocean and attacked the British Caribbean Islands. .

On February 1665, 2, the unbearable Netherlands officially declared war on Britain, and the Second Anglo-Dutch War broke out.However, although war had been declared, the navies of the two countries did not immediately enter the battle. Because it was winter and the weather conditions were not conducive to naval battles, both sides were gearing up and waiting for spring to give each other a heavy blow.

In the month after the Anglo-Dutch declaration of war, Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple in Qi State, Peng Zhonghui, the general representative to Europe and the representative to the Netherlands, successively received more than ten Dutch parliamentarians and several directors of the East India Company.They hinted in their words that they hoped that Qi would stand on the side of the Dutch as they did during the first Anglo-Dutch war more than ten years ago, and form a joint fleet again to jointly attack the British colonial forces in India.

In return, the Dutch East India Company will increase the purchase of industrial products produced by Qi State, especially the cotton cloth and sugar that Qi State has been trying to sell to them.

However, Peng Zhonghui tactfully rejected the Dutch suggestion that Qi Guo roll up his sleeves and beat Britain together.However, as a friendly country with close business ties with each other, Qi is willing to provide the Netherlands with military and civilian materials within its capacity, such as artillery, steel, ship materials, canned food, sugar, alcohol, cotton cloth, etc., can be supplied in unlimited quantities. But it does not include postage, you need to pick it up yourself.

In addition, Qi State in India will also provide necessary logistical supplies for the Dutch East India Company to attack British merchant ships and strongholds, and open various strongholds and trading stations under its control.

Qi's response surprised the Dutch.Didn't it mean that they have always been at odds with the British?For more than ten years, not only in the East Indies, but also in the Indian region, they have always been tit-for-tat with the British, wishing to completely squeeze the British out of Asia.Their colonial company in India even pulled
Their naval fleet fought an open fire with the British, causing the British to suffer heavy losses.

I thought that after we formally declare war with the British, they will follow our pace. Although they will not rashly declare war on Britain, they can cooperate with us in the Far East and work with the Dutch East India Company to fight against the British in Asia. commercial power.

But I don't think that this stunned southern New World country actually chose to remain neutral on the surface and not to participate in the war between our inter-provincial republic and the United Kingdom.Instead, they took advantage of the convenience of the war to sell their industrial products to our federal republic.

The Qi State in the Hanzhou Continent is not as simple as it appears on the surface!They have considerable political wisdom and calm diplomatic determination. They did not rush into a war that has nothing to do with him based on their previous likes and dislikes.Given time, this country may gradually affect the situation in our European continent from dominating the East Indies at some point in the future.

Moreover, this country attaches great importance to talents and technology. In less than two years, they have successively recruited more than 300 scholars, craftsmen and entertainers in various industries from Europe and our inter-provincial republic with favorable treatment, and through the East India Company When they returned to Asia, they took them back to their native Hanzhou on the way.

In addition, after declaring war on the United Kingdom, the people of Qi applied to the Ministry of the Navy of the United Provinces to allow more than a dozen naval officers accompanying their mission to join the naval fleet as trainees, so that they could observe and learn the whole process of the upcoming war with the United Kingdom. A large-scale naval battle broke out.

"Who do you think will win this war?" Peng Zhonghui stood on the balcony on the second floor of the mansion, looking at the most prosperous city in Europe, row upon row of houses and commercial institutions, bustling streets, and shadowy shadows on the canal in the distance. Sailboats, and the countless shipyards along the Amstel.

"The strengths of the two are similar. Both have more than a hundred large and medium-sized combat ships, and the quality of combat officers and soldiers is also evenly matched. The victory or defeat should be divided between fifty and five." Dong Shili thought for a while, then frowned and said, "At that time, it will depend on who is more lucky in the actual battle between the two companies, or whoever makes fewer mistakes may be able to win the final victory."

"But deep down we all hope that the Netherlands can win." Peng Zhonghui said: "According to our country's future strategic plan, an island country like the United Kingdom, which is isolated overseas, naturally has an advantage in the ocean. Because they can Just like our country of Qi, we only need to invest most of the domestic resources in the construction of the navy to be invincible. Our king seems to have always been afraid of the United Kingdom, and there are many future strategic plans. It's specific to the UK."

"Your Majesty's foresight is far inferior to mine." Dong Shili nodded and said, "It seems that a few years ago, Your Majesty knew that the Netherlands was about to break out of war with England again. Therefore, our Qi State squeezed and expelled the Portuguese from the East India Company." When they were in power, they adopted an attitude of acquiescence and connivance, in order to strengthen the strength of the Dutch and expand their monopoly in the trade of spices, so as to increase their profitability.... What the king meant was that he wanted Dong Indian companies provided more financial support to their country and navy when the Anglo-Dutch war broke out."

"Correspondingly, in India, we are trying our best to suppress the commercial power of the British, that is, to reduce the financial support provided by the British East India Company to the British government and navy in disguise." Peng Zhonghui couldn't help smiling when he heard this, "If the Dutch If people can't win, then what we have done in Southeast Asia and India will be in vain."

"The outcome of the war is unpredictable until the end." Dong Shili said: "Wars between European powers like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, especially large-scale naval battles, take into account the comprehensive strength of each country. It is said that more than ten years ago, when the Dutch possessed the sea power that surpassed Europe, they were once forced into a panic by the United Kingdom and suffered serious losses. Although, in the past decade or so, the Netherlands has tried their best Developing the navy, but the British are definitely not idle. This war is estimated to last for several years, and whoever can't hold it in the end will take the initiative to seek peace."

"Yes, I hope that the Dutch can persist until the end and win the war. If this is the case, there is a high probability that the UK and the Netherlands will be weakened to a certain extent. Hehe, I don't know which European country will be cheaper in the end."

"The European country that will be cheaper in the end, we may not know yet. But we have a piece of bad news from the UK." Dong Shili had a gloating expression on his face, "A large-scale plague broke out in London, the capital of the British. It is said that It has begun to spread throughout the city. . . . Their king is gone!"

"The outbreak of a plague is not bad news. It is said that a plague breaks out in Europe every ten or twenty years. It is estimated that the plague in London, England, may have extremely limited impact on the war. " Peng Zhonghui said disapprovingly.

In other words, the environment in various European countries during this period was extremely bad. Almost all cities were full of sewage and feces everywhere.Especially on rainy days, it is impossible to settle down in the streets and alleys.Moreover, the hygienic habits of many urban residents are also very bad. Littering is a common phenomenon, and it is not uncommon to defecate indiscriminately.

Judging from Qi State's medical and epidemic prevention theoretical knowledge, this kind of environment is extremely easy to breed various diseases.With regard to these performances of the Europeans, why do you look down on our Qi country and think that our Qi country is a small barbarian country in a remote place.

"Mr. Ambassador, there are some guests outside the residence." A Dutch employee came to the door of the room, knocked on the door politely, and reported to Peng Zhonghui.

"Oh, the councilors of the province of Holland, and the municipal officials of Amsterdam?"

"Neither, Mr. Ambassador." There was a strange expression on the employee's face. "They are two Englishmen. Sir, do you need to see them?"

"The English?" Peng Zhonghui was also full of curiosity, and couldn't help but look at Dong Shili, "The English want to see us? What do they want to do?"

Over the past year, the Mission to Europe has successively visited France, Spain, Portugal, Shinra, Poland-Lithuania Federation, Denmark-Norway United Kingdom, as well as Brandenburg, Prussia, Luxembourg, Hesse and many other small states. , but only did not go to England.

Unexpectedly, when the war between England and the Netherlands broke out, there would be Englishmen in Amsterdam, and even came to visit the representative office of Qi State in the Netherlands.Could it be that they still want to bring Qi to their side to deal with the Dutch East India Company together in Southeast Asia and India?

"Mr. Ambassador, on behalf of the directors of the British East India Company, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to you." Hora Harrison, director of the British East India Company, took off his hat, nodded to Peng Zhonghui and said, "I'm sorry, without an appointment. Your Majesty, come to visit rashly. I hope that our arrival will not cause you any trouble."

"Come from afar, we are guests. But, to be honest, we are a little surprised by your arrival, but we are not troubled at all." Peng Zhonghui politely invited the two Britons to sit down, and ordered an employee to give them a seat. The guests pour tea.

"Well, every time I drink this magical tea from the East, I will be full of sincere praise for it." Harrison took a sip of the tea lightly, then smiled and said to Peng Zhonghui: "You may not know Well, this magical tea drink has gradually expanded from our English royal family to more and more aristocratic circles, and has triggered the tea drinking fashion of our British upper class."

"Really?" Peng Zhonghui asked with great interest: "Then, the sales of this tea must be huge in your UK?"

"Yes, Mr. Ambassador. According to the estimation of our British East India Company, the sales volume of tea will grow rapidly at a rate of 30% every year. It is estimated that in the next ten years, our tea consumption in the UK will reach more than 50 pounds. Oh, God, what an astonishing statistic!" Harrison said with a smile: "But it's a pity that most of the way we bought tea before came from the Dutch East India Company, which made them earn a lot of money for nothing. money."

"Mr. Ambassador, I heard that your Hanzhou controls the vast majority of Daming's tea exports, and your Hanzhou can also supply a large amount of high-quality tea. I don't know if we can conduct a certain level of trade cooperation in this regard. ?”

"Our country of Qi is willing to carry out normal trade with any country in Europe under fair and just conditions." Peng Zhonghui nodded and said: "If you need a large amount of tea, our domestic traders are naturally very willing to supply you. Satisfy the trade needs of both you and us."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador. We are very willing to start trade with you in Hanzhou, and we are also willing to buy tea from your traders. This is beneficial to both of us." Harrison said with a smile on his face. Smiling, but complaining in your heart, you Hanzhou have never really fulfilled the principle of fairness and justice. For more than ten years, in the Indian region, we have continuously suppressed and excluded our British East India Company, and even invited professional naval warships to attack our merchant ships. , Proper domineering behavior.

In the mansion, Peng Zhonghui chatted with two representatives of the British East India Company about trade cooperation in Asia, and then exchanged some views on the situation in European countries.As for the war between Britain and the Netherlands, and Qi's position, both sides seem to be deliberately avoiding it.

In the evening, the British politely declined Peng Zhonghui's dinner invitation and took his leave politely.

"What do you mean by the British?" Dong Shili frowned as he watched the British board the carriage and drive towards the east of the city.

"What do you mean?" Peng Zhonghui smiled, shook his head and said, "The British East India Company is afraid that we will join hands with the Dutch to attack them again. Therefore, they expressed that they would increase the purchase of our tea, so as to engage in commercial cooperation with us." Deep binding."

"Even if we don't attack them, with the strength of the Dutch in India and Ceylon, we can easily deal with them."

"If there is one less opponent like us, the British should at least be easier to deal with." Peng Zhonghui said thoughtfully: "Don't forget, the Portuguese married a princess to the King of England, and the relationship between the two is already quite close. .At that time, in the Indian region, maybe the two of them will cooperate against the Dutch."
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"Sir, will the Hanzhou people join forces with the Dutch again to deal with us?"

On the carriage, Elton Raymond looked at the smile on Harrison's face and couldn't help asking.

"This war is a war between us Europeans. There is no reason for the Han Chinese to participate, so they will not join forces with the Dutch to deal with us." Hora Harrison said meaningfully: "And, I believe , Hanzhou people also don’t want the Dutch to rapidly expand their power in India. They must be very happy to see us fighting the Dutch to the death, and they can take the opportunity to snatch our business.”

"In this case, why should we increase the purchase of tea and other commodities in their hands, just to make them profit?"

"Because, during our war with the Netherlands, we need to temporarily stabilize them so that they can relax their vigilance. The Hanzhou people have always maintained a vague hostility towards us, and they are very aggressive. None of us There is no guarantee that when our East India Company is fighting fiercely with the Dutch in the Indian region, they will suddenly come out and take the final fruits of victory. So, sometimes we have to learn to show weakness, especially when we are not strong enough, we must To have the attitude and behavior of the weak, to make them think that we must cling to them, submit to them, and obey them."

"I understand, sir." Elton Raymond nodded, and said rather unwillingly: "The Han Chinese clearly occupy a geographical advantage in India, and our strength there is indeed very weak. The most important thing Yes, the shareholders of our East India Company need to obtain continuous profits and continuous operating dividends. In the Indian region, we really do not need to engage in armed confrontation with the Hanzhou people."

"You are wrong, Raymond." Harrison said with a solemn expression: "We are in the Indian region, and sooner or later there will be conflicts with the Han Chinese. Perhaps, after our war with the Dutch is over, there may be armed conflicts immediately." confrontation."

"Huh?" Elton Raymond couldn't help being stunned when he heard this, "Why?"

"Last month, news came from India that Mumbai, the royal territory, was captured by local Indians." Harrison said with a wry smile: "We have reason to believe that there must be Hanzhou people among them. So , The dignity of our King of England has been trampled on by the Han people! How do you think the king will deal with this situation after learning about it?"

(End of this chapter)