1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 843 Mission from England

December 1669, 7, Batavia.

"Hanzhou people want to hire a large number of our transport merchant ships?" Gene Mattesek, governor of Batavia of the Dutch East India Company, was a little surprised when he heard the report from the company's senior commercial counselor, Victor Flores. "As far as I know, since eight years ago, the Hanzhou people have gradually reduced their dependence on our East India Company's transport merchant ships. After so many years of development, they should have no less than six to seven hundred large and medium-sized transport ships. Merchant ships. So, I’m curious why Han Chau wants to hire our East India Company’s ships.”

"Hanzhou is going to take advantage of the unification war that broke out in the Ming Dynasty to snatch a wave of refugees." Flores said with a smile: "They seem to have an extraordinary persistence and willfulness in having a larger population. For this reason, Their government has just issued special national bonds of 300 million Hanzhou silver dollars in the country."

"They probably want to move in more people in order to fill up the barren and vast Hanzhou continent." Governor Matsek said: "Perhaps, they are also making the necessary population reserves for occupying the entire East Indies in the future. .Oh, greedy Hanzhou people!...By the way, how many people do they have now?"

"Han Chau will do a detailed census every five years. Four years ago, they released a population figure of more than 340 million. Now, it is estimated to have exceeded 460 million. Oh, God, what an unbelievable number , More than 30 years ago, the entire Hanzhou continent was uninhabited, except for the stupid natives, there were countless marsupials. At this rate of development, I estimate that in another 30 years, the population of Hanzhou is likely to surpass that of France."

"Oh, God!" Governor Matt Sek couldn't help but exclaimed: "If Hanzhou is like France, it also has a population of 2000 million. Then, with their expansion ambitions, not only the entire East Indies will be completely occupied by them, but also the vast I am afraid that the Indian Ocean will be completely controlled by them. In the east, another powerful empire will be born... However, fortunately, they are far away from the European continent and will not pose a serious threat to our federal republic."

"Yes, the powerful France has gradually become the biggest threat to our federal republic." Flores said: "Louis XIV has been pursuing the so-called natural borders of France, and his eyes are full of concern for the entire Netherlands." The color of greed in the region. Today, they will attack Spain, and tomorrow they may launch an invasion of our Federal Republic."

"Fortunately, we united Britain and Sweden to stop the French's ambitions in time. Otherwise, after they occupied the Spanish Netherlands, they would definitely not be able to contain their greed and invade our Inter-Provincial Republic. "

In 1665, after the death of King Philip IV of Spain, his son Charles II succeeded to the Spanish throne.However, he is weak and sickly, and has few directors.Two years later, on the pretext that his wife was the sister of the current King of Spain, Louis XIV claimed the right of succession to the Spanish throne, in order to ask Spain for the Spanish Netherlands as the inheritance of Philip IV.This request was rejected by Spain.France then took the opportunity to declare war on Spain.

"Your Excellency!" An officer knocked on the door and entered the room. "Three British merchant ships requested to enter the port. They claimed that they were sent by their king and were going to Hanzhou for a visit. They needed to stop in Batavia for a short rest."

"Lord Macmillan." Seeing that Macmillan was staring curiously at the Chinese on the road, Simon Stevens, the senior manager of the British East India Company in Batavia, introduced him respectfully: "The Chinese are in Batavia. The city is the second largest ethnic group after the local natives. The number may range from 8000 to [-]. They are under the dual management of Dutch and Hanzhou. Well, to be precise, the Chinese here Although they are under the jurisdiction of the Dutch East India Company, they are also protected by Hanzhou. Therefore, their political and economic status is relatively high, and they have a certain right to speak and manage in Batavia."

You are affectionate, I am interested, and they all have a common enemy, so Britain and France began to flirt with each other.

Viscount Maurice Macmillan, the British special envoy to the Far East, was sitting in a luxurious carriage provided by the Dutch, watching the streets on both sides through the glass windows.

Due to insufficient preparation for war, Louis XIV was forced to accept the request of the Netherlands and agreed to negotiate peace with Spain under the threat of several enemies.

At that time, the head of the Dutch government, the businessman-turned-Speaker John de Witt (the most powerful figure in Europe at the time), worried that the expansion of French territory into the Spanish Netherlands would pose a direct threat to the national security of the Netherlands.You must know that the Spanish Netherlands has always been a buffer zone between France and the Netherlands, which is very important to the Netherlands' own security.Therefore, de Witt used both soft and hard tactics to unite Britain and Sweden to form the "Triangle Alliance", demanding that France end the war with Spain in 1668, conclude a peace treaty, and return a large number of occupied territories, otherwise the "Triangle Alliance" would declare war on France .

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Therefore, Governor Mattesek dared to say such very confident words.

"For His Majesty's honor, our East India Company is willing to lose some trade profits." Steven said slyly: "But I believe that Your Majesty will not let his subjects lose their own interests in vain."

"Lord Macmillan, the close relationship between the Hanzhou people and the Dutch people may be far beyond our imagination." Simon Steven said: "They not only carry out in-depth and extensive cooperation in the economic field, but even In terms of military affairs, we also have very close cooperation. When we had a war with the Netherlanders a few years ago, Hanzhou provided a large amount of high-quality artillery and steel to the Netherlanders. They are still in India, providing The Germans provided weapons, ammunition, and necessary logistical supplies, allowing the Dutch to easily block and attack our East India Company’s trading stations and merchant ships. I have to admit that Hanzhou has indeed been in the past ten years. Against us Englishmen."

"I'm curious, Hanzhou is so strong in India, why they tolerate the Dutch continue to occupy this very rich city that is close in front of us." Viscount McMillan asked with interest: "According to You East India Company reported that Mumbai, the royal territory of His Majesty the King in India, was taken away by the Hanzhou people through despicable means. Mumbai and its affiliated islands are not only barren, but also far inferior in terms of population and commerce. Batavia. Could it be that they are only targeting us English people?"

There are people with European faces in the city, as well as black, thin and wretched local natives, but more people with oriental faces.

The Netherlands successfully pushed back the mighty France through military and economic threats.In addition, defeating the United Kingdom a year ago forced it to take the initiative to seek peace, relaxed the requirements of the "Navigation Regulations", and gave the Netherlands a substantial economic benefit transfer.All of this has made the Netherlands' prestige in Europe reach its peak, and it has become the most powerful arbiter in Europe.

At the beginning of the war, Spain's national strength had been greatly weakened in the 30-year European War and the Dutch War of Independence, while France's national strength was greatly weakened after the administration of Cardinal Richelieu, Mazarin and the "Sun King" Louis XIV. It's booming.Louis XIV tried in vain to realize the "natural border" of France, and had long coveted the Spanish Netherlands occupied by the Habsburg dynasty.

"Your Excellency, given that Hanzhou is buying and hoarding a large amount of grain, it will inevitably cause a shortage of grain supply in the region. For this reason, our East India Company should respond early and purchase some grain from Banten and Mataram as an emergency reserve." After chatting about the situation in Europe for a while, and feeling the greatness of the Netherlands, Flores turned the topic to the economic affairs of the region.

And Louis XIV, who felt betrayed by his former allies, was also dissatisfied with the Netherlands because of the loss of the inheritance war, and decided to launch a war against it.In order to dismantle the "Triangle Alliance" led by the Netherlands, after signing a treaty with Spain, France began tentatively contacting the United Kingdom.

Surprisingly, the municipal streets of Batavia are actually cleaner and tidy than most cities in Europe. There is no common sight of feces and urine in European cities on the ground, and there are not too many beggars and unemployed in the city. refugees.

"Will the East India Company be willing to lose some commercial profits for the honor of His Majesty the King?" Viscount McMillan asked with a smile.

By the end of last year, the trade volume of the Dutch East India Company had exceeded 500 million Dutch guilders, accounting for almost 120% of the entire world trade volume.It currently has more than 8000 transport ships, nearly 6000 large armed merchant ships, more than 40.00 company employees and nearly [-] private armed forces.The company's stock dividends have maintained a yield of [-]% for a long time.It can be said that the Dutch East India is the richest and most powerful joint-stock company in the world.

"Governor, I think Hanzhou will only have more and more influence on the East Indies in the future." Flores said with a wry smile: "Perhaps, our East India Company will also become Hanzhou in the near future." part of economic affairs."

"That may not always be the case." Steven said carefully: "The reason why the Dutch maintain such a close relationship with the Hanzhou people is nothing more than the deep bondage of economic interests. And we England can also have a commercial relationship with the Hanzhou people." For more in-depth cooperation. The Hanzhou people control the source of special oriental commodities such as tea, porcelain, and silk. And we, England, can completely replace the Netherlands and become their Hanzhou trade agents in Europe. You know , England is currently the largest tea consumption market in Europe. In addition, Hanzhou also produces a large amount of high-quality and cheap cotton cloth. Of course, compared with Indian cotton cloth, there will be a certain distance between the cotton cloth of the Hanzhou people. Cost disadvantage. But it is not impossible for us to increase the purchase of cotton cloth produced by them, but we will lose some trade profits."

"Flores, you are very thoughtful." Governor Matsek nodded and said: "As the company's senior commercial counselor, I will now grant you full authority to be responsible for Batavia and our various businesses in the East Indies. Grain storage work at the station stronghold. Oh, damn it, any change in the economic affairs of Hanzhou now will cause a violent shock to our East India Company."

"Perhaps." Governor Matsek shrugged his shoulders. "Even so, our East India Company must be the most important link in the future economic affairs of Hanzhou."

However, when France had just occupied a large area of ​​territory and was planning to go northeast to capture all of the Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), it was stabbed in the face by its former close ally, the Netherlands.

"Then, our trip to Hanzhou will probably fail to achieve the set goals?" Viscount McMillan asked.

Batavia is worthy of being the most eye-catching pearl in the East Indies. Whether it is population size or commercial prosperity, it far surpasses the colonial strongholds established by other European countries in the East.On both sides of the street, there are many shops and shops, and countless businessmen and customers come and go among them.

In other words, after King Charles II lost to the Netherlands in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, although he was forced to turn around and conclude an alliance with the Netherlands in 1668, he went to put pressure on France, forcing France to spit out part of the occupied Spanish Netherlands. territory.However, due to the defeat in the war, Charles II felt that his prestige and reputation had been severely hit. For this reason, he has always been resentful and eager for revenge.

In 1667, after France declared war on Spain, the French army captured Flanders and Luxembourg in the Spanish Netherlands all the way. Armies at war.After that, more than [-] troops were sent to encroach on Frans-Comté, and it was postponed to Lorraine.The French occupied most of the Netherlands within three months and conquered Frans-Comté in less than three weeks.This war won him twelve places including Lille and opened the door to Holland.

"The British are going to visit Hanzhou?" Governor Matt Sek looked at Flores with a look of surprise on his face. "Are they going to reconcile with the Hanzhou people and establish formal diplomatic relations?"

During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the British East India Company, which was nearly bankrupted by the Dutch East India Company, offered to Charles II that the best way to weaken the strength of the Dutch was to attack their overseas trade.The Dutch East India Company was the largest beneficiary of the Dutch government. It not only provided a large amount of supplies and money to the Dutch government during the war, but also contributed its armed merchant ships and sailors to the Dutch Navy.

For this reason, the British East India Company suggested that in the event of another war with the Netherlands, the British Navy, in addition to continuing to implement the combat plan of blockade and attacking the coastal areas of the Netherlands to prohibit the import of their overseas goods and materials, had better be in the Far East. Find an enemy for the Dutch East India Company, who can cut off their trade source and completely abolish the Dutch East India Company.

In the Far East, the only country that could pose a fatal threat to the Dutch East India Company was the Hanzhou New World country.

Under the strong initiative of the British East India Company, King Charles II of England decided to send a diplomatic mission to make formal contact with Hanzhou.Expect to establish formal diplomatic and commercial relations with this regionally influential eastern power, as we did when we visited the Mughal Empire more than 60 years ago.

(End of this chapter)