Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1572 Helpless Choice

Since Van Riebeek became the governor of the Dutch South African colony, Haimer Dejan returned to Amsterdam, and successively served as an Amsterdam city councilor, a Dutch provincial councilor, and a member of the three-level parliament. The Dutch East India Company rewarded him for his hard work in South Africa for several years-of course the prize was paid for by the United Provincial Government.

Generally speaking, Haimer De Young is not an aggressive character. During those years in South Africa, although his relationship with the people on the east coast was not particularly harmonious, and there were some disputes and frictions between the two sides, the overall relationship between the two sides The mood is peaceful and not too tense.However, after Van Riebeck, who historically pioneered the Cape Town colony, became the governor of Dutch South Africa, the relationship between the riverside region and it became much more tense. Of course, this may also be related to the complicated local situation, but the two term The differences in the governor's personal character and governance style are also true.

As a member of Parliament pushed up by the Dutch East India Company, Governor Haimer Dejan's political stance is undoubtedly on the side of the Republicans, and he has indeed been in various parliaments all year round and has become more and more powerful in recent years. The members of the Orange faction fought in the arena, which made many pro-Orange faction land aristocrats gnash their teeth - Haimer De Young had to do this. If he is a member of the common people, he must have the consciousness of being used as a gun, otherwise everything he currently owns will disappear in smoke.You know, like the big capitalist Tripp family betting between the Republicans and the Oranges, De Young asked himself that he was not qualified to do so.

In the second half of last year, because more than 2 elite French troops were stationed in the Southern Netherlands, which is close to the United Provinces, the threat of France gradually began to hang over the hearts of the Dutch.Out of practical considerations, not only are many ignorant citizens turned to support the Orange faction under the instigation of caring people-although they do not have the right to vote, the change of public opinion is still a great benefit to the Prince of Orange. Because this means the general trend - even many small and medium-sized businessmen active in the Amsterdam market have begun to consider whether it is appropriate to continue to let the Republicans who are extremely hostile to the United Kingdom be in power, especially when the two Anglo-Dutch naval battles brought them This is all the more so when huge trade losses are accompanied by huge taxes.

Therefore, after being thrown out by the republicans for a thunderbolt on a bill related to the allocation of militias in Amsterdam, Heimer Dejan, who was removed from the titles of city councilor, provincial councilor and member of the third-level parliament, resigned in despair and stayed at home to avoid the limelight Until this time, it was "picked up" by the old owner of the Dutch East India Company again, and came to the east bank as a messenger, and together with Conrad van Boiningen, the ambassador of the United Provinces to the east bank, discussed some important matters with the people on the east bank. Negotiations——As a giant enterprise in the United Provinces, the three-level parliament is of course obliged to solve its problems, so Haimer De Young was also authorized by Speaker DeWitt for this trip.

To be honest, using a former colonial governor as a special envoy is high enough, and people on the east coast were a little surprised. Therefore, Mo San, a member of the current executive committee and in charge of the foreign affairs and trade department, also personally came forward to communicate with the two An afternoon of talks was held, and the views of both parties were fully exchanged.

This meeting is in the living room on the second floor of the embassy of the United Provinces on the East Coast. Van Boyningen, De Young, and Tripp Jr. are sitting in the bright living room with gas lamps, drinking green tea , while talking about things in the afternoon.

"Minister Mo San told me that recently they have received a lot of complaints and complaints from their Far East colonies, complaining that the East India Company violated the trade agreement signed with the people on the East Coast, and bypassed them without authorization to start trade with the Qing Dynasty, because this seriously damaged the Their interests. People on the east bank pointed out that allowing us to trade raw silk, green tea and porcelain with Fujian Wang Zhengshi is the limit they can tolerate. But Batavia has always turned a deaf ear to this. They almost every summer Ships will be dispatched to conduct illegal trade along the coast of the Qing Dynasty. The types of trade products involve Nanyang specialties, arms, raw silk, tea and porcelain, and the amount is huge..." Van Boyningen picked up a cup of green tea-by the way, this is also the Dutch East India The Wuyi green tea purchased by the company from Fujian is as high as 4000 barrels per year, half of which are sold to Europe and half to the East Bank. I have protested to Batavia many times, but the gentlemen of the East India Company always promised well, and then continued to do business with the Chinese people, and they also argued that this was the personal behavior of their merchants, and that they had nothing to do with the company. Nothing, they're hard to control."

"So people on the east coast are angry because of this?" Marco Tripp asked with concern.As a family that has made a fortune in the United Provinces for many years, the Tripp family invested in the Dutch East India Company as a matter of course. Therefore, as the agent of the family, Tripp Jr. is actually a related party, so he also has a full say on this occasion .

"Of course the people on the East Coast were very angry. They not only lodged a solemn protest to Batavia, but also wrote a letter to the 17-member committee in Amsterdam, demanding that the East India Company immediately abide by the previous agreement, otherwise they will take all measures Necessary means to protect their own interests, including 'fighting against piracy' in the Arabian Sea and even India." Governor Haimer De Young immediately explained: "The gentlemen of the 17-member committee attach great importance to this, and now every month There are ships departing from the United Provinces to Batavia, and there may be as many as dozens of company ships sailing in the Atlantic Ocean and the West Indian Ocean at the same time. The annual shipwreck and pirate robbery have added a lot of bad debts to the company. People like to take this bad debt to the next level, and the people on the east coast have now issued a substantial threat, you know, this time it is no longer a joke. I am here to solve the problem."

"What countermeasures might the East Coasters take?" Marco Tripp asked immediately.Haimer de Young's words made him feel a little uncomfortable. The United Provinces had just won the naval battle with the English and mediated the war between the proud kingdom of France and the kingdom of Spain, the guardian of the Catholic Church. Its reputation was at its peak. At that time, Marco, who had been doing business with his elders in Sweden, Italy and other places since he was a boy, did not receive awe or fear from others wherever he went, but now he finds that as powerful as the United Provinces, there are also some weaknesses. This knowledge made him a little unhappy.

"A lot!" Haimer De Young shook his head and said: "During the conversation this afternoon, Mr. Mo San, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the East Coast, hinted that if the East India Company did not modify their policies, they might also tear up the agreement with us. Agreement, to enter the Malabar coast of India and the Coromandel coast in a large scale. If the situation still does not improve, then they may enter the East Indies and try to start trade with the local natives. You know, the East India Company has just caught up After leaving the British and monopolizing the lucrative spice trade, I don’t want the people on the east coast to intervene at this time. Don’t doubt, gentlemen, the people on the east coast have this ability, and their fleet stationed on Xinhua Island speaks for itself. More What's more, they can also intercept our round-trip ships in South Africa, Cape Verde, Trinidad and other places..."

"The chains on his body are already so tight..." Marco Tripp was silent after hearing this.

In fact, ever since he knew that the people on the east coast might resort to intercepting ships, he knew that the East India Company was probably ready to compromise.Because even if the 17-member committee of the Amsterdam headquarters does not compromise, Batavia will probably make a compromise in substance, because a considerable proportion of the cargo carried by the ships returning to Amsterdam from the East Indies is the company's local senior staff. Once the ship is intercepted by the people on the east coast, the personal losses of these senior directors or managers will be very huge-Little Tripp vaguely remembers that he once served as the governor of Ambon Island, the East Indies Gerald Demer, a member of the committee, chairman of the Batavia Judicial Committee, and a monthly salary of 350 guilders, once transported private property worth 1652 guilders and 1654 guilders to Amsterdam through company ships in 165750 and 57100, which caused huge controversy. criticism, and there are many similar examples - this is the main reason why they will compromise.

After all, interests determine everything!When the benefits brought by the trade with the Qing Dynasty to the company and individuals are far from enough to pay for the possible losses caused by the interception of the warships on the east coast, these shrewd people who are interested in money will immediately do what is most in line with their own interests. choose.Only in this way, the East India Company's books may not look very good in the short term. After all, the profit provided by the trade with the Qing Dynasty is already very high, exceeding 300 million dong per year, which is extremely amazing, and it is not so easy to give up!

"If we cut off trade with the Qing people, what will happen to the situation in the Far East? Will the regime established by the Tatars fail? I remember that Batavia sent more than a hundred mercenary officers or soldiers to the Qing Dynasty. In service, there are also many gun-making craftsmen recruited in Hamburg and Rostock, I wonder if there is no follow-up personnel and weapons input, can the huge military machine of the Qing Dynasty be able to operate effectively.” Marko Terry P asked again.

"This is not something we should care about, Marko." Van Boyningen finally spoke. He put down his teacup, looked at De Young and Little Tripp, and said: "It seems that the end of the trade with the Qing Dynasty is a last resort. It has nothing to do with us whether the Tatar regime will fail or not. We must withdraw there, just as we withdrew from the Red Sea and Persian trade circles back then. Although it is bitter, we must accept the reality. The situation in the United Provinces is very bad now. Wonderful, the French hold a grudge against us, and the domestic public opinion is also boiling abnormally. The members of the Orange faction are frequently active, advocating the re-establishment of the ruling post in the Netherlands, so that the Orange family can return to the center of power. Compared with the far away in the East These are the ones that deserve our attention. Not to mention, now we are asking the people on the east bank to produce muskets and cannons as soon as possible, so as to arm our militia and allies. Even, according to the meaning of the country, if If possible, the three-level parliament will sign a secret alliance treaty with the government of the people on the east coast. That is, once the United Provinces and the Kingdom of France enter the war, the three-level parliament hopes that the people on the east coast will also participate and dispatch the fleet and army to attack the overseas colonies of the French. , just like the alliance treaty they signed with the Spaniards. Therefore, under such a background, the people on the east bank are irreversible, otherwise it will cause a series of unnecessary troubles. Between the Qing Dynasty and the east bank, the two If we choose one, we have no choice but to choose the east bank.”

The three of them sighed when they heard the words.The French can only be blamed for being too aggressive. The national security of the United Provinces has been seriously threatened. Otherwise, why would the people on the east coast be so arrogant?Now they can only fulfill their wishes. According to the people on the east coast, let’s spend money to eliminate the disaster at that time-give up the trade income of more than 300 million guilders per year in exchange for the people on the east coast to stand on their side against France. It is more in line with the interests of the United Provinces.As for when to reopen the trade with the Qing Dynasty, it can only depend on the situation. Maybe it will be possible to do business secretly again in a few years, maybe it will never have a chance, who can say for sure.

In fact, if the Tartar court in Beijing knew all this, it would probably be very angry and then silent.When they were still intriguing and fighting with all kinds of people in mainland China, the yellow-clothed thief in their eyes had already exchanged interests with the Dutch red hair on a global scale.And the little Emperor Kangxi, who has a high self-esteem and regards himself as the son of heaven, is just a pawn that can be sacrificed at any time, isn't it?At least in the face of the threat of foreign invasion, the Dutch resolutely abandoned the Beijing court and turned to try their best to win the support of the people on the east coast.

As for the Manchu Qing court, which lost the support of the Netherlands, although the ongoing military reforms would not come to an abrupt end, it was probably unavoidable to be negatively affected to a certain extent.This seems to have a certain effect on rebalancing the current situation in mainland China, and this is probably one of the goals of the people on the east coast, but they don't know how big this effect is.But no matter what, the people on the east bank have to work hard. It is impossible to watch the Qing Dynasty dispatch a large army to defeat Nanming, and then form an arc-shaped encirclement of Dashun. In that case, the situation in China will be completely out of control.

(End of this chapter)