Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 619 Difficult Negotiations (Part Six)
December 5th, heavy rain.

Large raindrops pounded against the hotel windows, making a dull, continuous pattering sound that seemed endless.

Outside the window, the streetscape of the small town was blurred into a chaotic gray in the rain, as if the whole world was completely shrouded by this sudden winter rain.

Inside the hotel where the Spanish negotiating delegation was staying, the atmosphere seemed as somber as the weather outside the window.

Baron Cruz and Harvey sat facing each other, separated by a dark sandalwood tea table with a pot of hot water and two cups of tea on it.

Baron Cruz wore a well-tailored dark blue velvet coat with delicate silver embroidery on the collar and cuffs, the last vestige of decorum he could maintain for such a formal occasion.

However, the weariness on his face and the deep worry between his brows revealed his inner anxiety at this moment.

He unconsciously stroked the smooth, warm rim of the teacup with both hands, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the pale green liquid in the cup, with a few unfurled "leaves" floating on it. A trace of barely perceptible disgust and helplessness flashed across his eyes.

To be honest, Baron Cruz had little interest in tea, an oriental beverage.

It's worth noting that in the Kingdom of Spain, people prefer full-bodied wines, strong tequila, or rich cocoa drinks mixed with cane sugar.

In his view, this unfermented "leaf water," with its naturally bitter taste, is far inferior to beverages that bring direct sensory pleasure.

At this moment, he longed for a strong drink to dispel the double chill brought on by the gloomy weather and the thorny negotiations.

In stark contrast to his restlessness was Harvey sitting opposite him.

This senior Xinhua diplomat was wearing a dark gray, standard-style official uniform with a stand-up collar. The material was ordinary, but it was ironed very neatly.

He remained calm and unhurried, gently brushing away the non-existent tea foam from the surface of the water with the lid of his cup. He then sipped the tea slowly, his eyes half-closed, and even let out a barely audible sigh of satisfaction, appearing completely immersed in the enjoyment of the cup of tea.

Baron Cruz felt a complex mix of emotions as he watched Harvey's behavior.

It is said that this Spanish official, who is now the deputy minister of the Foreign Affairs Department of Xinhua, was just a lowly sailor nineteen years ago. He was captured in a conflict with the Chinese in Xinhua and then completely surrendered to them. He followed these pioneers from the East and worked hard to build and develop the land, eventually climbing to his current position.

If this person of such background were in Spain or in the Viceroyalty of Mexico, Baron Cruz, a hereditary nobleman with fiefs and servants, would not deign to sit at the same table with him, let alone engage in a secret consultation with him face to face that could determine the fate of the empire.

However, reality is often ironic.

The mighty and arrogant Kingdom of Spain now has to negotiate humiliating peace terms with this former sailor.

“Mr. Harvey…” Baron Cruz finally broke the silence, “Please forgive my bluntness… but I must confirm once again, do you… the Xinhua people, truly have the will to negotiate?”

He deliberately avoided the sharper word "sincerity" and replaced it with "willingness," but his eyes were fixed on Harvey, trying to find any trace of pretense on the other's face.

Harvey slowly put down his teacup, the bottom of the cup making a crisp clinking sound against the saucer.

He met Cruz's gaze with a smile that was somewhere between genuine and formulaic: "Your Excellency, if we lacked the necessary will, my colleagues and I would not be sitting here engaging in weeks of arduous negotiations with you."

"We yearn for peace, but only if it is based on reality and mutual benefit."

He paused, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a more candid tone: "Your Excellency, let's set aside those tedious diplomatic formalities and talk about some more practical issues."

“We are not unaware of the predicament your country faces on the European continent. The endless wars, the enormous military expenditures, and... the Dutch, the Portuguese, the Catalans, and the seemingly endless rebellions.”

He noticed that Cruz's lips twitched slightly, and knew that he had touched a nerve.

“Imagine,” Harvey’s voice was seductively low, “if Spanish merchant ships could not only bring back silver from the Americas, but also return to Europe laden with high-quality weapons, military supplies, and even luxury goods from the East.”

"This will not only support His Majesty's great undertakings in Europe, but will also bring an unexpected and substantial entrepot trade profit to your national treasury. This is far wiser than clinging to a trade monopoly system that is already riddled with holes."

Baron Cruz clenched his hands quietly on his knees.

Open markets, free movement...

These terms were seen by the Madrid court as nothing less than inviting trouble, a desecration and violation of Spain's century-long monopoly in the Americas.

But Harvey's other picture—the much-needed weapons, military supplies, and the tempting re-export profits—is like a glimmer of light in a dark predicament, alluring yet fraught with risk.

He knew the situation at home: the Flemish legions, the Italian fortresses, the Catalan rebellion... every day was devouring massive amounts of gold coins.

If Peruvian silver cannot set sail smoothly, the situation on the front lines next spring will be unimaginable.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anxiety and humiliation in his heart, and turned his gaze from the chaotic rain scene outside the window back to Harvina's calm face.

“Mr. Harvey…” His voice was low and cautious, “The trade prospects you described are indeed… enticing.”

"But you must understand, for the Castilian Council and His Majesty's advisors, 'openness' is an extremely sensitive and dangerous word. The Americas, which we have protected for generations, are not merely vast territories, but also an extension of our Catholic faith and a symbol of the supreme glory of our monarchy. To completely open up the market would be tantamount to..."

"Isn't this tantamount to deliberately digging a hole in what you consider a sturdy dam?" Harvey picked up the conversation, a knowing and even slightly mocking smile appearing on his lips. "Your Excellency, please forgive my bluntness, but the dam you are defending is already riddled with holes."

"Not only can our warships freely appear off the coasts of Mexico and Peru, but even your enemies, the Dutch and the French, are like sharks smelling blood, frequently entering and leaving your Atlantic ports and Caribbean islands, recklessly eroding the enormous economic interests that rightfully belong to the Spanish monarchy."

“Oh, Baron Cruz, don’t be so quick to deny it. Large-scale smuggling has long been an open secret throughout the Americas, and even some officials in the viceroyalties are involved and profiting from it.”

"His Majesty the King's trade monopoly policy, in the face of reality, is more like a paper wall. It can neither stop the greedy advances of other European powers nor stop the trend of free trade."

"This kind of stagnation will only cause Spain to continuously lose the wealth it could have acquired, and eventually exhaust the last lifeblood of the empire in its stagnation."

His speech was not fast, but it carried a sharp edge.

Baron Cruz's face paled slightly. He wanted to rebuke the other party for his rudeness and alarmist remarks, but the words stuck in his throat and could not be uttered.

Because what Harvey is stating is a cruel and unavoidable truth.

The vast Spanish Empire's control over the expansive coastline of the Americas had long since diminished; it was indeed like a wooden barrel with countless holes at the bottom, constantly leaking water.

“Your Excellency, symbols and faith cannot pay the army’s wages, nor can they forge guns,” Xavi continued, his gaze sharp, as if trying to pierce through Cruz’s feigned composure. “The battlefields of Europe are devouring countless gold coins every day. Your Excellency, you know better than I do the current state of the Madrid court’s treasury, and you know better than I do how vital silver from the Americas is to sustaining this war.”

"If the Peruvian treasure fleet doesn't set sail soon, next spring, your valiant soldiers in Brussels, the troops suppressing the rebellion in Catalonia, and the generals facing off against France on the front lines may face starvation and lack of pay..."

"Enough!" Cruz growled, slamming his right hand on the wooden table, causing the cup of cold tea to ripple.

He immediately realized his loss of composure, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions.

Harvey smiled and looked at him calmly, his eyes showing neither mockery nor the triumph of a victor, but rather an understanding bordering on pity.

That look in his eyes stung Cruz even more.

A brief silence fell over the reception room, broken only by the increasingly rapid patter of raindrops outside the window, like the beating of war drums. "...You," Cruz finally managed to squeeze out the words through gritted teeth, his voice low and hoarse, "what can you provide? Specifically, weapons, supplies...like what you just mentioned."

Harvey secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes.

Well, as long as you're interested in the specific conditions, then we can talk.

He picked up the purple clay teapot on the small table again and slowly refilled Cruz's cup of tea with boiling water. The refreshing aroma of tea filled the air once more, as if the fierce confrontation had never happened.

“Flintlock muskets!” Harvey began listing them off, his tone as calm as if he were reciting a routine inventory. “They are superior in accuracy and rate of fire to your current aging matchlock muskets; high-quality field artillery, along with matching ammunition, will greatly enhance your army’s firepower; large quantities of steel will allow you to forge sharper spears, swords, and sturdier armor; and also high-quality, competitively priced woolen fabrics and cloth, as well as portable, high-calorie canned goods…”

He paused briefly, observing Cruz's reaction, before emphasizing, "All these supplies can be imported into Spain via the Americas through stable trade routes to support your war needs."

"As for the price, please rest assured that it will be much cheaper than if your country organizes its own production or purchases from other parts of Europe. This is equivalent to indirectly expanding the scale of your military supplies when your own production capacity is insufficient."

“And what you need to give up…” Harvey spread his hands and made a simple gesture, “is just silver mined in the Americas, as well as various other minerals and agricultural products.”

"Much cheaper?" Cruz paused, staring intently at Harvey.

“Yes, all kinds of military supplies will be much cheaper!” Harvey replied confidently. “Yes, at least 10% to 20% cheaper. Just like the woolen fabrics produced by Xinhua, their prices can beat any European country.”

Upon hearing this, Cruz nodded slightly.

If Harvey's words are true, this could not only quickly alleviate the pressure of the shortage of military supplies at the front, but could even save a large amount of money from the already strained national treasury.

Accepting silver as payment directly hit the Spanish where it hurt – they had a steady supply of precious metals from the Americas, but they severely lacked the industrial capacity to convert those precious metals into military power.

“Not only that…” Harvey pressed on, his voice full of allure, “Oriental porcelain, silk, and lacquerware have always been highly sought-after luxury goods in European high society, and you must have heard of their enormous profits.”

"Besides the spice trade, these Eastern goods are the most profitable for the Dutch. Oh, by the way, the trans-Pacific trade that you Spanish people have been running for decades has already proven this point."

“However, hehe…” Harvey chuckled awkwardly at this point, “However, this trade route has been affected by some… well, interference.”

He cleverly avoided the obvious fact that the ship had been intercepted by our Xinhua Fleet.

"In addition to these traditional Eastern luxury goods, we can also provide the finest furs from North America, crystal-clear white sugar, sturdy and durable hardware tools, and a wide variety of increasingly diverse industrial manufactured goods..."

Harvey rattled off the details with ease, “Your Excellency, please imagine the enormous profits that would bring to the royal family and the merchants involved in the trade if the Spanish merchant fleet, while transporting military supplies back to Europe, could also be fully loaded with these extremely sought-after goods in the European market and safely sail back to Seville or Cádiz.”

"This far surpasses the old monopolistic trade model that you are currently struggling to maintain, which is riddled with loopholes and rife with smuggling. I believe that with this stable and substantial 'extra' entrepot trade revenue, it will be more than enough to support His Majesty the King's grand ambitions on the European continent and alleviate the Empire's financial crisis."

Harvey stood up, walked slowly to the window, and looked at the world outside, which was completely blurred by the rain.

"Your Excellency, times have changed. War and conquest are the old themes, while trade based on interests and common prosperity are the keynote of the future, and a more powerful force."

"Spain can choose to cling to its past glories and let its giant ship slowly sink on the reefs of reality; or it can choose to grasp the hand of wealth extended by Xinhua and board a new ship."

"What we want is not to replace Spain as the dominant power in the Americas, that is neither realistic nor our original intention. What we hope for is to establish a new order together with you, Spain, on both sides of this vast ocean."

"A new order based on real interests and mutual benefit, rather than illusory glory."

Cruz stared blankly at Harvey's retreating figure.

This former "lowly sailor" now seemed quite imposing in his eyes.

His words and his vision, though full of unconventional and subversive ideas, are logically rigorous and directly address Spain's deepest problems and pain points.

He subconsciously picked up the cup of warm green tea in front of him, which had been refilled, hesitated for a moment, and finally, as if he had made up his mind, brought it to his lips and took a small sip.

The slightly astringent taste was still there, but this time, he seemed to taste a faint aftertaste.

"So... what's the price?" Cruz put down his teacup and asked calmly, "Besides the market openness and free trade you've been emphasizing, what else do you want? The territorial claims you mentioned before, war reparations, ransoms for prisoners, and... Panama?"

The Isthmus of Panama, a vital passage connecting two oceans, was the absolute domain of the Spanish American Empire.

Any unreasonable demands regarding this place touch a nerve in Spain.

Furthermore, the significant territorial concessions were even more unacceptable.

Javi turned around and said calmly, "Your Excellency is a wise man. The art of negotiation lies in weighing and exchanging options. If Spain can demonstrate sufficient sincerity regarding markets and free trade..."

He paused, blinked, and said, “For example, recognizing our legitimate rights in the territories we currently control, allowing our Xinhua merchants to enjoy the same internal trade rights as Spanish merchants in Mexico and the Viceroyalty of Peru, and significantly reducing tariffs.”

"Then, we can renegotiate the amount of war reparations, and we can also make significant concessions on the scope of territorial cession. As for the right of passage over the Isthmus of Panama, we can temporarily set it aside, or seek only limited passage facilities under your supervision, rather than free passage."

Cruz remained silent.

Harvey's implication was clear: as long as their market opening conditions were met, the Chinese in New Zealand were willing to make concessions on other conditions such as territory, reparations, the Isthmus of Panama, and even freedom of navigation.

In other words, the new Chinese were attempting to build a new trade and economic order system dominated by them along the Pacific coast of North America and even in the wider Americas.

Faced with a grim domestic and international situation, Spain seems to have no choice but to find a position within this emerging new economic system where it can minimize its losses and perhaps even gain some tangible benefits.

Refusing means the war will continue, losses will increase further, and it may even mean losing everything.

Acceptance, while meaning a loss of dignity and a loosening of the traditional economic order, may preserve core interests and even provide a way out of the current fiscal predicament.

“Mr. Harvey…” Cruz had already made up his mind, and his voice regained the composure that was typical of a nobleman, “I will convey everything you have said today to the Marquis of Mendoza without reservation and exactly as it is.”

“I think Your Excellency the Marquis, as well as His Majesty the King and his advisors in Madrid, need to reassess the current situation and… the possibilities for the future.”

Harvey smiled with relief, raised his teacup, and gestured to Cruz: "For peace, and for our shared future...for our common interests and prosperity."

"Your Excellency, please believe that time will prove that an open world built on the principle of mutual benefit is far more beneficial and lasting for everyone than a closed world built on suspicion."

Cruz hesitated for a moment, but finally raised his teacup and gently clinked it against Harvey's.

"I will do my best to persuade the Marquis and then explain the pros and cons to Madrid." Cruz downed the bitter liquid in his glass in one gulp, as if he were drinking not tea, but a reality he had to swallow.

“I have faith in Your Excellency’s wisdom and foresight.” Harvey nodded with satisfaction and finished his tea. “Oh, look, the rain outside seems to be stopping soon… Hmm, perhaps that’s a good omen.”

Cruz also looked out the window.

Sure enough, the previously violent rain had subsided and turned into a light drizzle. A sliver of sunlight even stubbornly pierced through the thick clouds, casting a brief but bright spot of light on the wet windowpane.

The negotiations are far from over, but their direction seems to have quietly shifted from this moment on.
-
(End of this chapter)