Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2419 New Trade Agreement
Now that the Dutch East India Company is in the high plane, it is more dependent on the precious metal supplements brought by the domestic trade in Asia than in the old time and space.On the one hand, they took the bulk commodities and industrial products of Australia and Song Dynasty and secretly grabbed business in Japan and Australia and Song Dynasty; The scale of Song Industry has been reduced twice on their Asia-Europe routes.To put it simply, it is to take advantage of Australia and Song Dynasty, dismantle Australia and Song Dynasty, and benefit the third party.

Of course, the Senate is not a good man or woman. After receiving the report from the Japanese Senator Hira, the Ministry of Colonial Trade adopted corresponding countermeasures. First, the raw silk delivered in Guangzhou adopted a quota system.The high-quality raw silk from Zhejiang produced by Zhao Yingong's Hangzhou Phoenix Silk Industry Group is first satisfied with China Merchants' trade with Japan, and then it is VOC's turn to purchase.

Then the Ministry of Colonial Trade took a second move. In a new round of trade negotiations that began in 1635, VOC was required to hand over Kaohsiung’s Zeelandia City—in exchange, the Senate allowed VOC to set up an unarmed trading post in Kaohsiung. VOC staff and other Europeans and Asians who have settled in Zeelandia can continue to live, do business and work in Kaohsiung as expatriates.Merchant ships visiting the VOC can carry weapons, but cannot garrison troops in Kaohsiung.

Perhaps the city of Zeelandia was too symbolic for the VOC, a demand that sparked fierce debate in Batavia, with most of the Batavian VOC's councilors insisting that this costly fortune be preserved. The first fortress in the Far East built.However, some commentators pointed out that under the current situation, it is completely unprofitable for the company to continue to maintain the Zeelandia Castle.First of all, in terms of force, the company is simply not capable of defending the castle.

Secondly, the company built Zeelandia at the beginning to obtain Chinese goods nearby. Now through the Australians, the company’s merchant ships can easily obtain various Chinese goods from Guangzhou, Lingao, and Kaohsiung. The existence of Zeelandia City has become very meaningful. small.

If, for the sake of fame, they have to turn against the Australians, VOC will only end up with a loss of people and money.

Probably because the discussion about whether face is important or business is too long, so there were two accidents mentioned by Wang Kai: one was that the patrol boat of the coast guard sank the VOC agency ship; Returning pirates rob VOC agency ships.

"These unfortunate things are of course accidental, but we also have to admit that the trade on the China-Japan route cannot withstand the competition between our two sides. I think it should be clarified whether Japan is within the scope of the treaty."

De Lantron sighed, with an expression of "it's still here after all", but he still maintained his professionalism and tried his best to argue: "I must emphasize that the closure of trade with Japan will have an extremely adverse impact on our side, and at the same time It will also affect our purchases from your side..."

"I'm afraid there is no room for negotiation on this matter, but if you have other plans to offset the adverse effects, we are open." Fatty Wang interrupted the Dutchman's defense. He wanted to see that the new Governor of Batavia, Are you mentally prepared for this?

"Uh, we hope that you can increase the purchase of rubber and develop rubber refining technology from us. Of course, we will still face difficulties for several years, and we hope that you can provide some loans."

Sure enough, he was prepared. Fatty Wang felt that the level of the new governor was not bad. In fact, the Senate had prepared a more "intimate" plan for them.Of course, the Senate knows the stinginess of VOC shareholders, and also knows that VOC employees are hard at work carrying out "high-frequency" transactions in the Asian domestic trade in order to collect the payment for the Asia-Europe route.Perhaps, the inherent impression that the Dutch are miserly and shrewd in people's eyes was forced out by their superiors.

"Mr. De Lantron, we are going to propose a more favorable plan in the trade negotiations in 1636: a targeted loan equivalent to your annual purchase of goods in Australia and Song Dynasty, with favorable interest. The condition is that you are not allowed to sell ceramics in Japan , raw silk fabrics, and cane sugar—any origin is not allowed, and other commodities, you can sell freely, regardless of origin.”

This is equivalent to Australians establishing monopoly rights in silk, sugar and ceramics in Japan. The stuff of VOC's dreams.But De Lantron knew that this piece of fat was beyond the company's turn.All he can do is bargain as much as possible.

He immediately became interested in the "loan" in the new terms,

"Really?" Delantron's eyes widened. "Uh, I mean, what's the interest?"

"The annual interest rate is 20%, but it must be mortgaged by the ship or land. In addition, I will give you another discount: Zeelandia City can be used as a price to offset the interest you paid on the loan - the principal is not included."

"I believe we can reach an agreement, I am confident of it, but I still need some time to get the authorization, our new governor is a..."

"A person worthy of respect." Wang Kai helped him finish the conversation. "As for the occasion on which the governor's letter will be read, I think that since we have resolved the misunderstanding of the trade terms and the impact of unexpected events, you can go and discuss the details of etiquette with my colleagues in the foreign affairs department. With you as excellent I think Mr. Dimen must have expected this happy result." Fatty Wang even wanted to ask him: How many versions of the letter did you bring?
"Of course, the Honorable Governor is a man of vision, and he has anticipated your generosity." De Lantron looked a little excited, obviously, he was not as far-sighted as his superior.He can imagine that with the annual "credit" goods, they can earn principal by selling goods from Australia and Song Dynasty in Asia, buy goods from other regions and ship them back to Europe, or buy goods from Australia and Song Dynasty at a lower capital cost. Industrial products and bulk commodities are shipped back to Europe, which solves the financial problem that has plagued the company for many years at once.But his governor may find the hidden dangers: once they get used to this comfort zone, their entire trading system will be based on Australian Song commodities and the Australian Song currency as the benchmark.This is more dangerous than relying on Japanese precious metals. After all, the Japanese do not have a comprehensive understanding of the Dutch trading system, while the Australians know everything about the Dutch and hold their eggs at the same time.

However, Fatty Wang believes that Governor Dimen will not give up such a generous immediate benefit. As for how he reduces the risk, that is his own business.In the history of old time and space, VOC's foresight is far inferior to that of BEIC.So achievements and longevity are far less than the latter.

"In that case, I will wait for your good news."

"Then I won't bother you any more. I heard that Mr. Wang Yuan is going to work in a new department. I think he will be troubled by other things. We are also looking forward to more cooperation with Ausong Nanyang Company." Delantron said as he got up , "I hope to start negotiations with your company to open a business station in Sanya soon..."

"Well, you can send someone here. We will have to deal with each other in the future, but instead, I am going to visit. Please take care of me." Wang Kai also stood up and shook hands with the Dutchman.

"Where there is, it must be. The names of Wang Yuanlao and Zhou Yuanlao are also very famous in Batavia, and the whole company is willing to cooperate with your work!" De Lantron learned a lot of old-fashioned polite words, using Also more and more skilled.

After seeing off the Dutchman in a complicated mood, Fatty Wang wanted to call in Boss Gu who had been waiting for a long time.Just as he was about to open the door, he ran into veteran Shi Jiantao who pushed the door in.

Mr. Shi Yuan, who was in charge of the Hong Kong shipyard, was a busy man, and Wang Kai stayed in Hong Kong for several days to meet him.Because his shipbuilding plan must have the support of the Hong Kong shipyard to make any sense, otherwise it is just empty talk.

At this meeting in Hong Kong, his proposal to build a clipper ship was approved by Shi Jiantao with both hands.Mr. Shi is already bored with the current constant construction of T-series transport ships.You have to come up with some new tricks to challenge yourself.

It's one thing to reach consensus, it's another to start implementing it.Fortunately, the Second Five-Year Plan of the Hong Kong Shipyard includes a [-]-ton dock.Once the dock is completed, there will be exactly one more vacancy in the Hong Kong shipyard.

Seeing that the dock was about to be completed, the Planning Institute still hadn't issued the construction task book for Wang Kai's clipper ship, which made Shi Jiantao anxious.If the formalities are not completed after completion, the dock's schedule will have to wait again.

He also simply stopped sending telegrams and ran directly from Hong Kong to Lingao.

"How about it, Fatty Wang, do you have the money to build the flying shear boat you've been thinking about so much this time?" Elder Shi asked straight to the point.

"Not so fast. Although the new company has certain financial autonomy, it needs money everywhere. As for ships, there are still a bunch of old antiques from Southeast Asian companies available, so we have to wait."

"Then what to do, this dock will be completed soon! If you don't build here, the boats on my list will not wait for anyone. I have to make it clear first, it's not that I won't help, and if there is a dock that is vacant, at least It will take half a year. You might have to wait a year for a thousand-ton ship."

"Don't worry, the demand is real, it's just that people haven't expected it yet. And we have other ways. I'm going to discuss it with Shopkeeper Gu outside."

"Why, should we also use private capital?"

"Yes. Nanyang Company's equity is going to be subdivided according to the project. Then, a ship these days is considered a small project."

"You're making full use of the policy! But it's hard to say that the cutting-edge ships with such good performance will be used by the natives."

"This is the benefit of subdivision. We only give dividend rights, not property rights. The operation is also an employee of a state-owned company, or even a student of the Naval Academy. In the past two days, Staff Officer Wang has also asked us to discuss this matter in detail. The Navy Talent reserves are needed, and the experience of seafarers needs to be improved. Their philosophy is: rather than letting equipment wait for people, it is better for people to wait for equipment.”

(End of this chapter)