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Chapter 1268 Disagreement
"I personally think that a full-scale confrontation with the Ming Empire is not a very smart idea. What do you think?"

After returning to the Beihuitongguan residence, the group tacitly did not disperse, but sat down in the main hall in unison. After the attendants put down the tea and snacks and left, the Prince of Orange spoke first.

Completely different from yesterday's ambiguous and vague attitude, he directly stated his attitude, and he spoke to the mayor of Amsterdam, and his meaning was very clear.

"My opinion is exactly the opposite. We should immediately mobilize the armies of various countries to launch an expedition. It would be foolish to miss this best opportunity. I have carefully asked those students today. From steam engines to generators, they are still in the experimental stage and have not been used on a large scale.

If we can get these things or researchers, the Republic can become truly powerful, not just defeating Spain and becoming independent, but becoming the center of Europe! "Faced with the prince's questioning, Cornelis did not retreat, but became more determined in his previous thoughts.

The reason is very good. Everyone wants good things, but the Ming Empire will not give them away for free, and will not even sell them. So we can only rob them. The Netherlands alone cannot defeat them, but it doesn't matter. We can unite most of the European countries to come together.

Now is a godsend opportunity. The traditional European powers are eager to defeat the Ming Empire to defend the New World and gain trade rights in Asian waters.

The Netherlands could use them as a helping hand, but would not tell them the truth. After they succeeded, they would divide the territory and demand compensation to seize market share. The Netherlands could be more generous on the surface, but secretly take away all the experimental results and scholars, and it would be best if the Royal Academy could be taken to the Netherlands.

"This is simply crazy! With all due respect, Mr. Cornelis, you may not understand the situation. The Dutch Republic is not facing the natives of the New World and the black African tribes, but a huge empire, larger than the whole of Europe!

The Ming Navy has at least a hundred main battleships and almost twice that many armed cargo ships. Their commanders and sailors train and fight all year round. As far as I know, they have never stopped for more than 20 years and are very experienced.

The naval battles at Enniao Port and the Giant Turtle Islands are the best example. Facing enemies that were several times their size, the Ming Navy won a great victory with almost no losses. Naval battles cannot be entirely based on quantity. When warships and naval guns are good enough, quality comes first.

Many years ago, the Ming Navy replaced its naval guns with new models. It is hard to see what they look like, but the shooting effect is no secret. The range and rate of fire are several times higher than those of European naval guns, and the power is huge. Coupled with the speed advantage of the warship, I can't think of how to deal with it to avoid being sunk.

By the way, the new sails that the company replaced are the sails used by the Ming Dynasty Navy warships that I got from Ming Dynasty merchants. They are just rough imitations, and many places are different, but they still have obvious effects. This is an indisputable fact, please take them into consideration before making a decision! "

During his tenure, Governor Cohen visited the capital many times and was received by the emperor many times. He not only visited the Royal Academy, but also had the honor of accompanying the emperor to inspect the Songjiang Shipyard.

That is the most important military shipyard of the Ming Dynasty Navy. Although its output is not as large as that of the Da Nang Shipyard, all new warships will be developed and trial-produced here.

Having served as the Governor of Batavia for so many years, he had come into contact with countless Ming Dynasty merchants, civilians, and officials, and witnessed countless things. In some aspects, he understood the Ming Dynasty better than some Ming people.

But the display today touched him no less than the Prince of Orange. These things had never been displayed before, and he had never even heard of them.

Seeing that Cornelis was still dreaming, Cohen could not help it. Even if the other party was his immediate superior, he had to fulfill his duty of reminder. Otherwise, it would not only be the Dutch East India Company that would suffer, but the entire Dutch Republic. With Emperor Jingyang's usual style of doing things, it was not excessive to bargain before the relationship broke out. He was particularly patient and allowed to give up some of the profits.

But once the war starts, they will change their attitude faster than turning the pages of a book. They will be as ruthless as they can be, shameless, ruthless and immoral as smoke. They will never stop easily until they get back all the money they invested plus at least several times the interest.

According to the intelligence collected in Batavia over the years, the Ming Empire has enormous war capabilities and potential. Even if all European countries are mobilized, the chance of winning is less than 50%.

Only a madman or a gambler would risk the company, the republic and the lives of tens of millions of people for a chance of winning of less than 50%.

"Governor Cohen, the information you provided is very important, and the company also attaches great importance to it. But don't forget one thing, you are an employee of the company, and everything you do during your tenure must be based on the interests of the company.

I represent the attitude of the Council of Seventeen. The East India Company cannot become a vassal of the Ming Empire and turn against all European monarchs. This is the bottom line!"

However, Cornelis did not regard this reminder as a goodwill gesture. Instead, he reiterated the attitude of the East India Company's senior management in a stern voice, which was a clear warning to Governor Cohen not to violate the responsibilities of a company employee and not to try to change the company's decision.

"Huh... In that case, please allow me to tender my resignation. I am sorry, Your Highness, Mr. Mayor, but I am not capable of protecting the interests of the company in Batavia and the Spice Islands, nor can I bring any sense of security to the people of the Republic living in Asia.

Before I leave, as an old employee who has served in East India for 19 years and lived in Asia for 19 years, I would like to give you a piece of advice:
Asia is no longer the same as it was 20 years ago. It is no longer the paradise for adventurers where a few sailing ships with hundreds of people can travel freely. The Ming emperor has been preparing for war for nearly 20 years, while Europe has been in civil war. Good night!

After hearing Cornelis' warning, Cohen still did not give up and turned his attention to the Prince of Orange. As long as he could get even a little bit of support, he would continue to fight and would not let these guys who were sitting in an office thousands of miles away reading reports decide the survival of the Republic.

Unfortunately, there was nothing but indifference in those gray-green eyes. It was obvious that the prince had compromised with the Republicans this time. Although the Orange family controlled the military power, the financial power was in the hands of the Republican nobles and businessmen, so they could not confront each other fiercely on certain issues.

But this time Cohen did not choose to remain silent. Instead, he stood up, touched his chest and nodded, and with a heavy heart he personally ruined this honorable, decent and deeply loved career.

And from now on, no other similar company would be willing to hire me, at least in Europe. The reputation of running away from the company at a critical moment is too deadly, but it is even more deadly to perish with the company.

I am not a noble, and no family will pay the ransom after the defeat. When I think of being a prisoner of the Ming Navy and being exiled to a mine to do hard labor until death, words like honor seem to be bullshit.

(End of this chapter)