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Chapter 1295 Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the United Provinces. As the largest port city in the Netherlands, it has undergone tremendous changes in the past two decades. Most of the original wooden docks have now been replaced with stone ones, which are not only flat and beautiful, but also more conducive to large sailing ships docking and unloading.

The uneven lengths of the cargo booms and the rows of masts on the shore echoed each other, as if walking into a bare forest. Four-wheeled carriages rolled back and forth on the stone road, and the horseshoes made a rhythmic clicking sound.

All kinds of people gathered on the decks, on the crossbeams, on the docks, and in front of the shops, speaking a variety of languages, but they were all talking about one thing: the quantity and price of the goods.

Ever since the news that the Ming Empire invaded the New World and that European countries were going to form an alliance to launch an eastward expedition spread, the prices of spices, sugar, sugarcane wine, muslin, silk, porcelain, tea, steel farm tools, cocoa powder, medicines and mechanical products in the market have been rising.

As the news was confirmed, the Dutch East India Company was expelled, and prices changed every day. Many shippers no longer shipped goods casually, hoping to make the maximum profit with the goods in the warehouse. After all, it would be unlikely to import large quantities of goods from Asia in the future.

"Your Excellency Governor, we are home!"

A three-masted sailing ship of not large tonnage but very special shape was sailing slowly on the Amstel River. Looking at the turn not far away, a middle-aged man with a bald beard and nothing on his head shouted excitedly.

"William, don't call me Governor anymore. I have already resigned." The tall and thin man leaning against the mast a few steps away said quietly.

"Mr. Cohen, the company has been so unfair to you. Look at this place. What was it like 20 years ago and what is it like now? Without your connections in Manila, those carriages and machinery would never have been sold here. You should be the hero of this city, cheered by the people!"

The hairy boiled egg was very concerned about this statement, pointing at everything on the shore and expressing his opinions without any scruples. Although his words were a bit exaggerated, they were not completely untrue.

At least one-third of the credit for Amsterdam's rapid rise to become a new trade center in Europe should be attributed to the Indian branch of the East India Company. The former Governor of Batavia has resigned and returned home, but unfortunately there is no welcoming crowd or high honors, only this sailing ship and seven followers accompanying him.

"That's the company's carriage. It seems they haven't forgotten me. Send the luggage home and tell Vivian and the children that I'm back and I won't leave again. Settle them down and try not to wander around. This is not Batavia, especially now. Anyone with an Asian face may be mistaken for a spy."

Cohen did not take the boatswain's complaint to heart. From the perspective of an employee and an employer, the East India Company did not treat him unfairly. At least it compensated him financially and guaranteed the identities of the seven Batavia natives.

As for the position, if it weren't for the damn war, I believe the company wouldn't be so heartless. And the final decision on whether to stay or go is still in the hands of the Council. At least the Council didn't forget about me and sent a carriage to pick me up.

"Hey, Governor, how many more days will it take for the port of Batavia to open? Look, my boys are almost starving. They are all good sailors and can sail around the Cape of Good Hope with their eyes closed!"

As soon as the ship approached the East India Company's dock, a howl came from below. Someone had recognized Cohen and was asking about the situation in Batavia Port.

The former pearl of spices no longer allowed European ships to dock, and the thousands of Europeans living in Batavia were leaving as quickly as possible. If they missed the deadline, they would be captured by the Ming Empire army and forced to do hard labor. Most Europeans did not know why this was happening, and European countries certainly would not tell the truth, and the Ming Empire would definitely be blamed.

But merchants are much harder to fool than farmers. Most of them don't believe those nonsense, but they have nowhere to find the correct answers. Governor Cohen, who has always provided convenience for merchants, should be the person most likely to give an answer.

"I'm glad to see you all here. If I were still the Governor of Batavia, I would definitely speak frankly. Unfortunately, I'm no longer the Governor. I don't know more than you do. I'm sorry. But I'm willing to help you inquire at the headquarters, so please don't get in the way!"

However, Cohen could not answer the question that sounded easy at all. It was not that he had no comment, but that he really did not know. Since saying goodbye to the Ming Emperor, this friendship also came to an end.

Faced with the covetous Ming Empire Navy, the Dutch and Europeans in Batavia had no choice but to purchase goods quickly within the deadline, try to fill the ship, then bid farewell to their local homes and friends they had spent a long time with, and set off with their families.

It is said that the Portuguese Governor of Goa was unwilling to leave in disgrace, so he contacted local tribes and tried to resist with force, but the city was breached in half a day. More than 800 Portuguese were taken prisoner, including the Governor, and no one was released. All of them became hard labor prisoners, with a minimum sentence of five years.

Similar incidents were not isolated on the Indian peninsula, but the results were the same: anyone who received an imperial edict from the Ming emperor but did not intend to carry it out would be forcibly expelled by the Ming navy.

It was not until this time that everyone realized that the Ming Navy, which had once dominated Asia, had been very friendly and polite. Now its true colors were revealed, and it was completely unreasonable and heartless.

When this news was reported back to Europe, it immediately triggered anti-Ming sentiment. Various countries successively launched a number of acts of vandalism and destruction against Ming merchants and institutions, resulting in casualties.

Previously, Ming merchants belonged to the protected class in all European countries except Spain. Whoever had a relationship with them would have the opportunity to obtain better and cheaper sources of goods.

Ming Dynasty commercial institutions represented by the Sun and Moon Bank were active in Europe, investing in many local chambers of commerce, participating in many investment projects, and having close relations with local nobles.

However, overnight, the trading partners and business clients who once shared what they had with each other became enemies who were wary of each other and even hated each other. Cohen was eager to know when things would change.

"Dear Cohen, welcome home!" The carriage soon arrived at the headquarters of the East India Company. A man wearing a silk top hat came out, opened the door personally and gave Cohen a warm hug.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Rainier. Is there something urgent that brings you to the headquarters? You know, I haven't even gone home yet!"

Cohen also responded with the same enthusiasm. This man, Rainier Bauer, was a representative of the 17-member Council and a wealthy man in Amsterdam. He was recommended by his father, the elder Bauer, to join the East India Company as a commercial representative. The two families had a good personal relationship.

(End of this chapter)