1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 936 Interest Exchange
On May 1677, 5, Anfeng City (now Cochin City in southwest India).

Under the guidance of a small boat, the merchant ship "Mariana" under the flag of Portuguese India slowly berthed at the berth on the south side of the pier.

"I would like to inform you that during the berthing of the ship, all personnel are not allowed to approach the warships on the north side of the dock. Otherwise, unnecessary misunderstandings will be caused, and there is a high possibility that they will be shot or arrested by the soldiers stationed on the ship. "After receiving the tip from the Portuguese, the port guide kindly reminded him.

"Oh, thank you very much for your reminder. During our stay, we will restrain all crew members and abide by all port management." Antonio Silva, the first officer of the Mariana, expressed his thanks with a smile.

"I bet those warships of the State of Qi are the legendary steamships that don't need to be driven by wind and can emit smoke." After the port guide left, the boatswain Diogo Dalot stepped on his feet and headed north to the pier look sideways.

"No, I guess those warships should be the treasure ships of the people of Qi." Ruben Dias, the second officer, showed a greedy look in his eyes. The Er Empire seized countless gold and silver materials. In addition, several princes of the Mughal Empire competed for the throne in exchange for the Mughal army captives and armaments in the hands of the Qi people. Tens of millions of rupees."

"Oh, God! Then the Qi people should have made a lot of money by launching this war." A senior sailor said enviously: "If I knew it, we should also join their side and launch a war against the Mughals." human war."

"Who would have thought that the mighty Mughal Empire was so vulnerable to the people of Qi. First, more than 15 troops of the Gujarat Army were defeated by the people of Qi, and then [-] troops of the Mughal Empire were defeated. The whole army was destroyed, and their emperor was slain in the field. Oh, God! What a marvelous result!"

"I think that after this war, the people of Qi will completely dominate the affairs of the entire Indian region. Thinking about it is really enviable. Such a vast and rich place has all the commercial interests, endless wealth, and hundreds of millions of people. , will be allowed to be plundered by the people of Qi."

"What about us Portuguese?" asked a sailor suddenly.

Everyone was stunned when they heard the words.

There was a time when the Portuguese and the people of Qi still got along very happily, as if they were strategic allies.Relying on the support of the people of Qi, the Portuguese not only withstood the pressing of the Dutch, but also made a lot of money as agents of Qi's products in India, Persia and Arabia.

Although, with the gradual expansion of Qi State's commercial power in India, the Portuguese's profit margins have been slightly squeezed, but the small life is also very nourishing, even compared with the means of living by barbaric plundering in the last century, the income obtained Earnings are higher.

In order to deal with the threat of the Dutch, and even more to show favor to the Qi people, their Portuguese Indian colonial government also returned the current Fort Cochin—of course, the Qi people have renamed it Anfeng Fort and transferred it to Qi at a low price. Chinese.

The powerful Qi people are also in the entire Indian Ocean region, giving their strategic partners the Portuguese the necessary safe haven, preventing the Dutch East India Company from continuing to crowd out and expel the Portuguese.

Never should, never should, in order to get rid of the control of the Spaniards and gain an independent status, the local gentlemen in Portugal took the initiative to catch up with the British, and married with them more than ten years ago (1661), and married Princess Catherine in the past, He gave Bombay and Tangier as a dowry to England.

But he didn't want to, this move made Qi Guo very unhappy.

In the early years, for unknown reasons, the people of Qi State took a fancy to Mumbai and several small islands attached to it, and always wanted to invest in the purchase.But at that time, the colonial government of Portuguese India was worried that the land would be too close to Goa, which would threaten the safety of the Portuguese, politely declined the acquisition request of the people of Qi, claiming that Mumbai was not for sale.

The Qi people did not insist on this, but instead went north and leased Jinmen Fort (now Karachi City) on the west edge of the Indus River Delta as their important trade base and sea base in the northwest region of the Mughal Empire.

However, without consulting the colonial government of Portuguese India, Portugal directly gifted Mumbai and several small islands to the British.Although the Portuguese Indian colonial government expressed its opposition and protest, it also explained to the Qi people.However, this kind of behavior still angered the people of Qi, thinking that it was a kind of humiliation for the people of Qi to transfer a stronghold that the Portuguese declared as not for sale to others.

Afterwards, the relationship between the Qi people and the Portuguese began to estrange, and then they began to fight fiercely with the Dutch, and even united to carve up the Portuguese Ceylon colony.

However, the people of Qi were more sympathetic than the Dutch, and they did not pursue and kill like the Dutch. After the Portuguese Indian colonial government lost several strongholds and commercial stations on the east coast of India, they dissuaded the Dutch in time. This allowed the Portuguese to continue to retain the three most important core strongholds of Goa, Daman, and Diu.

Five years ago, when the Ming government took back the Changshan Islands and Aniangxie Island controlled by the Qi State, it also took back the Oyster Mirror (now Macau) in the hands of the Portuguese, and stationed officials and soldiers. Only the Portuguese The people retained a commercial hall, and canceled all their trade privileges, requiring all Portuguese to conduct normal foreign trade under the management of the Daming City Shipping Department, and pay customs duties and local commercial taxes according to regulations.

It can be said that in the entire Far East region, the Portuguese, a heavyweight player who once dominated the maritime trade in the region, has gradually become an insignificant passer-by, always looking at the people of Qi, the Netherlands, the British, and Ming Dynasty. The eyes of the Chinese acted.

What is even more embarrassing is that the colonial government of Portuguese India heard from various sources that Qi State was going to take over the Kathiawa Peninsula from the Mughal Empire.This made all the Portuguese feel a little restless.

Gain, the most important stronghold in the Portuguese Indian colony-Diu Island, is next to the north side of the Kathiava Peninsula, separated by a narrow waterway.

A month ago, the Governor of Portuguese India sent a special envoy to Surat to meet with the commander of the Qi Expeditionary Force and tentatively inquire about the future of Diu Island.

However, the general of the Qi State did not give a positive response, saying that all affairs and plans related to the Kathiawa Peninsula need to be finalized by the local cabinet.As for the island of Diu, the status quo is maintained for the time being, and the trade between the Portuguese and the inland areas on the opposite bank is still carried out according to the previous practice.

Obviously, the people of Qi did not take the fear and caution of the Portuguese to heart at all, and almost ignored the existence of the Portuguese on Diu Island.Also, they can destroy the 10,000+ army of the Mughal Empire in one battle. This strength is enough to disdain the entire Indian Ocean region.

At that time, if the people of Qi feel that the Portuguese are an eyesore, they probably don't need to use force at all, and they will inform them directly. I believe that the Portuguese Indian colonial government will not dare to say a word, and can only pack up and leave honestly.

"Actually, I don't think we Portuguese need to be so pessimistic at all under the current situation." Ricardo Horta, the captain of the Mariana, said with a smile: "Because, in some places, the people of Qi also have When turning to us Portuguese."

"Oh, where will the people of Qi turn to us? Africa? Or Europe? No, no, no... In these two places, the people of Qi don't seem to ask us Portuguese for help. Captain Horta, the people of Qi will be there Where can we turn to the Portuguese?"

"America!" Captain Ricardo Horta said: "A few years ago, I met a Brazilian plantation owner in Lisbon. They will often sail to Brazil to trade with local merchants to buy necessary food, gunpowder, and other daily supplies. You must know that compared with our Portuguese, the strength of the Qi people in America is very weak. More importantly, they invaded the territory claimed by the Spaniards. Therefore, I think that in terms of American colonial affairs, we Portuguese can exchange interests with the people of Qi. Gentlemen, what do you think?"
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On May 5, Trijur, King City of Cochin (about 25 kilometers northeast of Cochin).

Tang Shengyuan, the chief treasurer of the Indian Trading Company in the Kingdom of Cochin, accompanied the King of Cochin, and while leading him to inspect the construction progress of the new palace, he explained patiently.

"Your Majesty, all the windows of the royal palace will be installed with transparent glass from Qi. At that time, Your Majesty can sit in front of the windows, drink fragrant tea, or taste strong coffee, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery..."

"Your Majesty, please follow me to the terrace on the fifth floor. The building materials of the entire palace are cement bricks, which are not only durable, but also raise the building height of this palace to nearly 30 meters. Coupled with the high terrain here, you can Let Your Majesty enjoy the wonderful experience of seeing all the small mountains when you go to the roof terrace in your spare time..."

"Your Majesty, please see below. In view of the hot summer, we purposely built a swimming pool for His Majesty behind the palace. In the sweaty weather, His Majesty soaked in the cool pool water with many princesses and beauties, and tasted all kinds of fine wines and fruits. , that is incomparably joyous and carefree..."

"..."

"Such a palace must have cost a lot of gold and silver?" King Varma VI of Cochin asked with some concern.

"By the end of this year, after the entire palace is completed, the total cost will exceed 40 Hanzhou silver dollars." Tang Shengyuan said with a smile: "Of course, this cost will be fully borne by our Indian trading company, and will not use any of His Majesty's hands." money."

"Oh, then... then there is the Laogui Trading Company." Varma VI immediately grinned after hearing this, imitating the etiquette of thanking people in Qi, and bowed his hands politely to Tang Shengyuan.

The entire Kingdom of Cochin, including politics, economy, military, and even diplomacy, has long been completely controlled by the Qi people. The royal family receives 15 Hanzhou silver dollars from the Qi people every year to maintain a daily luxurious life and enjoy peace and happiness. day.If 40 Hanzhou silver dollars were suddenly taken out, it would still be a bit painful for the royal family.

Three years ago, several princes and aristocratic children who returned from "studying abroad" in Qi State inadvertently mentioned the majesty and magnificence of Qi State Chang'an Taichu Palace, which attracted King Varma VI's envy and longing.

Immediately, he approached the big treasurer of the Indian trading company stationed in the kingdom, and tentatively proposed to renovate the old and dilapidated palace, and whether he could give the royal family a special sum for this.

Tang Shengyuan, the big shopkeeper of the Indian trading company, immediately said that as the king of a country, it is natural to have a magnificent palace in line with his status and status.That being the case, don't renovate that dilapidated palace, let us build you a more prosperous palace.

As the first stronghold of the Indian trading company, from the arrival of Qi State in the Kingdom of Cochin, whether it was forced to help or tried to obtain strong force protection, the entire Kingdom of Cochin was extremely "friendly" and "obedient", very Cooperate with Qi State's commercial forces to expand outwards accordingly.

Later, even domestic tariffs, diplomacy and military defense were all handed over to the people of Qi, and the Kingdom of Cochin was completely placed under the protection of Qi.As the power of the Qi State gradually grew, in the end, even local governance, people's tax payment and other livelihood matters were entrusted to the people of the Qi State, and the entire royal family was content to enjoy the annuities offered by the people of the Qi State.

In the view of Varma VI, this is the best choice for the Kingdom of Cochin.Otherwise, it might not be able to enjoy such favorable treatment if it is annexed by neighboring countries or other powerful overseas forces.

Don't you see, the Kingdom of Calicut in the north thought it had the Portuguese as its backing and tried to challenge the people of Qi, but it was attacked continuously from land and sea by Qi.In less than two years, it became a colony of the Qi people, and the entire royal family was exiled to an unknown island by the Qi people, and the kingdom's wealth was also looted.

Of course, in this war of conquest, due to the participation of thousands of Cochin servants, the Cochin royal family also obtained a large amount of gold, silver and jade, which once again filled the private treasury of Varma VI.

Seven years ago, King Qi ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. He specially appointed Varma VI as the king of Cochin County, hereditary, and made it clear in the decree that the emperor of Qi would guarantee the integrity of the Varma royal family if it was not a serious crime of treason or treason. Forever rich.

Therefore, although Varma VI knew that he was just a puppet of the Kingdom of Cochin, he was also happy to see all the treatment he could enjoy.

You must know that in just 20 years, the territory of the Kingdom of Cochin expanded to the north to the Bavari River in the Kingdom of Kannur, and to the south to the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland, Genyakumari (Cape Comorin), Incorporate the previous southwestern coastal states such as the Kingdom of Qiulong, the Kingdom of Calicut, and the Kingdom of Kannur into the territory, becoming a pivotal local force in southern India.

Envoys from the surrounding kingdoms of Mysore, Ramnad, Madurai, Kladinayak and other countries all gave him the highest respect when they met with Varma VI.

Although Varma VI didn't know that there is an idiom story about a fox pretending to be a tiger in Chinese culture, but as a puppet king, he can enjoy this kind of supreme courtesy and all kinds of luxurious life, which still makes him feel a great "happiness" ".

All of this is nothing more than an exchange of interests.The Varma royal family transferred the king's power and national interests to the Qi people. Correspondingly, they received the high respect and preferential treatment from the Qi people.

Could there be a better outcome for a small country like Cochin in the complex environment of the region?
(End of this chapter)