1635 Han style rises again

December 1672, 8, Batavia.

In 1619, the Dutch destroyed Jakatra, a small port at the mouth of the Chilion River on the northwest coast of Java Island, and renamed it Batavia, officially opening the Dutch East India Company's local colonization. process.

After more than 50 years of development, it is not only the administrative center of the East India Company, but also the trade center and cargo distribution center of the entire East Indies and the world's largest slave trade market in the Indian Ocean.

Yes, in addition to monopolizing and controlling the main production areas of high-grade spices in the East Indies, the Dutch engaged in a lucrative spice trade, and they also wanted to sell the indigenous population of Southeast Asia.

The colonists were often unable to provide sufficient labor because the area was underpopulated, leaving a large portion of potentially productive land unused.The most effective way to solve this problem is naturally to increase the population through immigration, but apart from the Chinese who are "hardworking and capable, and love money like their lives", the Dutch can hardly find other free servants to rely on.

However, because of the strong rise of the Qi State and began to act as the protector of all Chinese in the Nanyang region, the Dutch stopped exploiting and squeezing the Chinese more than 20 years ago.

So, when there is a lack of free labor and the local residents cannot be trusted, what else can reassure the nervous Dutch people than slaves who are far away from their own country and are not used to or understand the customs of the surrounding peoples?
As of last year, the population of Batavia has grown to more than [-] people, with more than [-] Dutch and [-] Eurasian people, but there are more than [-] Chinese and more than [-] "Portuguese people". Blacks (Portuguese-Indian, Portuguese-African, Portuguese mixed with local Malays)", there were [-] Javanese locals, and as many as [-] slaves.

Most of these slaves were used as domestic servants, as well as for city cleaning, wharf transportation and many other coolies. Of course, a considerable number of slaves were used by the Chinese for plantation labor.

The death rate in Batavia has been very high over the past few decades, exacerbated by Dutch ideas in addition to environmental factors.They believed that disease was airborne, so doors and windows were kept closed, making every occupant feel like being baked in an oven.

They also insisted on wearing European fabrics and eating European food, which seemed out of place in a tropical city.

In addition, Batavia was originally situated on many small rivers, but in order to make it more like Amsterdam, the Dutch drove slaves to dig many canals, which became very effective sewage pipes for spreading diseases.

However, in the past ten years, due to the close contact and communication with Qi State, especially referring to the urban architectural layout of Qi State, the ditches and ponds in Batavia are either buried or buried like Qi State. The city was made into a dark tube model to reduce the transmission of malaria, and the scientific concept of epidemic prevention and hygiene was gradually accepted by the Dutch.

Today, although the living environment in Batavia cannot be compared with the clean and tidy cities in Qi, it has surpassed many European cities in terms of city appearance and cleanliness.

The Governor of the East India Company in Batavia, Gene Mattesek, stood on the balcony on the second floor, watching the increasingly prosperous city scene in the distance, but he was not as complacent as usual.

Half a month ago, a fast ship brought news from mainland Europe. In March, France declared war on the Netherlands. More than 3 troops entered the Spanish Netherlands, and soon crossed the Rhine River, brazenly invading the territory of the Republic.

Due to blind self-confidence, the Republic was caught off guard, and the French army was able to quickly occupy most of the Netherlands. Then, the French army divided [-] troops to attack Franche-Comté and the Southern Netherlands in Spain, launching a large-scale war. The great war of European expansion.

At the same time, the shameless British betrayed the Triangle Alliance and openly provoked the Dutch fleet in the English Channel, which opened the prelude to the third Anglo-Dutch war.

The Republic has encountered a joint attack from the enemy on land and sea, and the situation is extremely precarious and at stake.

Just now, I received news from Guangning (now Cilegon City in the northwest of Java Island, Indonesia) that a large French diplomatic mission has arrived there and is preparing to go to the capital of Qi to meet their Emperor.

After hearing about this incident, the East India Company became very nervous. If Qi changed its course and abandoned the Netherlands and became friends with France, then the entire East India Company would encounter a huge crisis, and even lose the entire eastern trade completely. risk.

Governor Mattesek immediately sent someone to invite Qi's representative in Batavia to come to the Governor's Mansion to find out the final attitude of the Qi people.

"Our country's foreign policy has not undergone fundamental changes for the time being, and your inter-provincial republic is still the most important and closest partner of our country." Lin Shaomin, the representative in Batavia, said with a smile: "Moreover, for To support you in fighting against the French invasion, our Qi cabinet has agreed to give you a loan of 300 million Hanzhou silver dollars from the Federal Republic of Provinces. As for the commercial cooperation with your East India Company, it remains the same as before, without any change.”

"Thank you very much for your support from the Qi Kingdom." Governor Matsek's tense heartstrings finally relaxed, with a bright smile on his face, "To express our gratitude to the East India Company, we will transfer the occupied The Monument Trade Base will be given to you Qi State for free."

After hearing this, Lin Shaomin couldn't help but take a deep look at Governor Matsek.

You know, in Jambi, the British trade base is adjacent to the Dutch base.

These Dutch people, under such circumstances, are still uneasy and kind, trying to provoke a conflict between us Qi people and the British.

However, with the current situation of our country of Qi, who else will be afraid of in this Nanyang region?
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September 9th, Hanzhou, Jianye.

Baron Theo Hernandez, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of France, was extremely shocked when he saw the countless ships moored in the port. This kind of prosperity cannot be compared with Marseille or Bordeaux. Compared with the trading ports of the Dutch such as Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam, they are not too far behind.

"This city, in the past 30 years, has been the temporary capital of Qi State, the most important political and economic center of the entire Hanzhou continent, and even the East Indies." Accompanied by the senior manager of the French East India Company Livier Giroud enthusiastically briefed the French ambassador.

"In this port, at any time, you can see ships sailing to China, Batavia, Luzon, Japan, North Korea, Malacca, Aceh, Maluku, Ceylon, Bangladesh, Calicut, Su Rat, Abbas, Suez and other countries and regions, and even ships sailing to our Europe. It can be said that as long as you think of places, there will be ships going there.”

"There are more than 10 people in this city, and businessmen and travelers from all over the world will come here. Among them are the maharajas from the East Indies and the Mughal Empire, and there are refugees from various countries escaping from war and famine. There are businessmen big and small, and there will naturally be warriors full of adventurous spirit... All of them came to this continent full of countless opportunities and hopes to realize their goals in life.”

"Basra, Muscat, Holms, and other ports on the Persian Gulf supplied their factories and inhabitants with pearls, raw silk, Karmenian wool (a fine wool of goats), dates, dried fruit, Rose water, herbs, honey..., oh, and slave girls."

"From Java, Malacca, Sumatra and the Spice Islands, merchants bring spices, ambergris, precious woods, grains..."

"From Madagascar, Mozambique and other ports on the east coast of Africa, there will be goods including ivory and medicinal materials..."

"The indigo, saltpeter, cotton, and female slaves produced in different places in India were continuously transported to Jianye Port."

"All merchants, on their return, fill their ships with tea, cotton cloth, sugar, china, perfume, woolen goods, clocks, ironware, hardware, machinery, soap and scented soap, and other corresponding manufactured goods, as well as ivory. , necklaces, jewelry and other luxury goods, as well as daily necessities such as canned food, oil, coffee, etc., there are so many, too numerous to count..."

"From this point of view, the commodities brought in by merchants from all over the world are almost all primary raw materials, and all the goods taken away are manufactured products and various high value-added products produced by the people of Qi." Theo El Nandes said thoughtfully.

"Yes, sir." Olivier Giroud nodded respectfully and said: "In the entire Indian Ocean region, Qi is the only country that can produce and provide a large amount of industrial products. They may be better than all of us expected. Central Capital is richer and more powerful.”

"Compared with France, which one is stronger or weaker?" Theo Hernandez asked suddenly.

"..." Olivier Giroud was taken aback when he heard the words, "Although Qi is relatively strong in the region and has a large navy, it certainly cannot be compared with our great French Kingdom."

"And how do they compare to the Netherlands?"

"If you count the population size and the vast territory, the strength of the Qi State is naturally much higher than that of the Netherlands." Olivier Giroud said: "However, the geographical location of the Qi State is far superior to that of the Netherlands. Yes, after all, this vast Hanzhou continent is solely occupied by the Qi family. Coupled with their impressive sea power, they can completely occupy an invincible position in the face of any powerful enemy."

"Therefore, we need to establish a long-term strategic partnership with this country, and through them, we will expand our French influence to the entire Eastern world." Theo Hernandez said: "Of course, this will also Greatly facilitate your East India Company's trade with the East."

"Yes, Mr. Ambassador. As you said, once France establishes a friendly and cooperative relationship with Qi, it will definitely promote the better development of our East India Company. Even if we cannot get involved in the Dutch spice business, but It is absolutely possible to make a lot of profits by relying on the entrepot trade in Hanzhou, India, and Persia, and contribute more funds to the kingdom and His Majesty."

The French East India Company is quite different from the Dutch and British East India Companies. It is a "state-owned enterprise". The company's activities are supervised by the chief executive appointed by the king. Acting, that is, in the company's working capital, the rewards from the king are much more than the shares subscribed by businessmen.

These institutional factors directly affect the nature and organization of the company. The French East India Company is completely dependent on the government in terms of finances. Support and funds have been relatively lacking.

Therefore, the overall operation of the French East India Company is far weaker than that of the British and Dutch East India Companies. The annual trade volume is less than 100 million francs, and the profit is only 10,000+ francs, which is not enough for Louis X Four to hold a few extravagant dance parties.

In the process of colonizing the Indian Ocean region, the French often came too late. When they found a trade or a port city, they had already been controlled by others before they started.Decades of colonial management have gone through untold hardships, but they haven't made much money, and they haven't made much land.

Oh, no, the French occupied at least one Bourbon Island (now Reunion), which can be regarded as a transit point in the Indian Ocean region, but they often face the dilemma of insufficient funds and unsustainable development.

Therefore, seeing the Netherlanders next door making a lot of money in Eastern trade, how could the French not feel jealous.

When Theo Hernandez set off from Paris to Hanzhou more than six months ago, the whole of France was ready for an all-out war, and began to sharpen their swords, trying to attack the Netherlands in one fell swoop and annex this piece of Europe The most affluent region on the continent.

As for how to choose a reason for war, everything is so absurd and ridiculous. The French Privy Council proposed this: Amsterdam cast a special medal with the pattern on it consisting of the head of the mayor Van Boynen and a radiant sun. , the former is above the latter, and the inscription "The sun stopped when it saw me" is engraved on the edge of the pattern.

This is obviously an insult to Louis XIV!
Because everyone knows the important influence of the symbolic pattern of the sun in the hearts of the French, and it is well known that the French people regard the sun emblem engraved with the inscription "above all" as the symbol of Louis XIV.

But the reality is that the medal as described by the French has never existed in their minds, and the Dutch did not cast it at all.

It is true that the three-level meeting of the Inter-Provincial Republic ordered the casting of a medal to record the glorious achievements of the Republic, but the inscription said, "Guardian of the law, defender of the faith, savior of the kings, Victorious Avenger, Arbiter of Europe".

However, Louis XIV has already raised the sword of the king, and more than [-] elite French troops are ready to go. Famous generals such as Grand Condé, Tourenne, and Butville have already stepped on their horses, full of ambition.War is imminent, and no country, no one will be able to stop it.

Do justifiable reasons for going to war matter?

You know, a hegemonic country in later generations holding a small bag of washing powder in front of people all over the world can be used as a reason to go to war, let alone the great "Sun King"?

Looking at the Netherlands, the commander-in-chief used to resist was just a frail young man with no war experience (later the Dutch ruler William III), with less than [-] uneven and low-quality soldiers. There are arsenals that have been stolen and sold by greedy Amsterdam merchants.

Therefore, the French are full of confidence and believe that they can completely conquer and occupy this small country in less than half a year, and take a solid step for France to dominate Europe.

If the Netherlands is annexed, then all its overseas assets, especially the most important eastern trade, will naturally be taken over by the French.And to achieve this goal, there is no way to bypass the Qi State located in the southern New World.

Therefore, although Louis XIV did not like this country very much, under the strong persuasion of his favorite minister-Secretary of State, Minister of State for the Navy and Auditor-General of Finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, he still sent a group of They sent a huge mission to Hanzhou mainland, preparing to establish formal diplomatic and commercial relations with the "Xiaoqiang" in this area.

As the plenipotentiary ambassador of France, Theo Hernandez was very confident that he could complete various diplomatic affairs assigned by Louis XIV.Although the General Representative of Qi State in Europe politely rejected a series of demands from the French last year: severing relations with the Netherlands, moving the General Representative Office to Paris, and stopping the payment of money and materials to the Dutch. Support, assist the French to develop Eastern trade, transfer trade bases...

However, as long as France attacked the Republic of the Netherlands with lightning force, annexed their territory, and established European hegemony, he believed that the people of Qi would change their minds soon.

Because no one can go against the will of the "Sun King".