Now that the Dutch East India Company is on the rise, it is more dependent on the precious metals brought by domestic trade in Asia than in the past. On the one hand, they are taking bulk commodities and industrial products from Australia and Song Dynasty to secretly grab business in Japan and Australia and Song Dynasty.
On the one hand, they rely on reselling Australian and Song industrial products to replenish bulk commodities in South Asia and transport them back to Europe. With two transactions, the scale of Australian and Song industrial has been reduced twice on their Asia-Europe routes. To put it simply, it is
The glory of Australia and Song Dynasty dismantled the power of Australia and Song Dynasty, which made it easier for third parties.
Of course, the Senate was not a believer. After receiving the report from the Japanese senator Taira, the Ministry of Colonial Trade took corresponding countermeasures. The first was to adopt a quota system for raw silk delivered in Guangzhou. Zhao Yingong's Hangzhou Phoenix Silk Industry Group produced
Zhejiang’s high-quality raw silk will be given priority to China Merchants Group’s trade with Japan, and then it will be VOC’s turn to purchase.
Then the Ministry of Colonial Trade took a second step, requiring the VOC to hand over the city of Relanja in Kaohsiung in a new round of trade negotiations that began in 1635. In exchange, the Senate allowed the VOC to set up an unarmed trading post in Kaohsiung.
VOC staff and other Europeans and Asians who have settled in Relanjia can continue to live, do business, and work in Kaohsiung as expatriates. Visiting VOC merchant ships can carry weapons, but cannot garrison troops in Kaohsiung.
Perhaps the city of Gerlandia is too symbolic for the VOC. This request sparked a fierce debate in Batavia. Most of the Batavia VOC commentators insisted on retaining this city that cost tens of millions of wealth to build.
The first fortress in the Far East was built. However, some commentators pointed out that under the current situation, it is completely unprofitable for the company to continue to maintain the Castle of Geranze. First of all, in terms of force, the company has no ability to defend the castle.
Secondly, the company originally built Relanja to obtain Chinese goods nearby. Now, through Australians, the company's merchant ships can very conveniently obtain various Chinese goods from Guangzhou, Lingao, and Kaohsiung. The significance of the existence of Relanja has become very important.
Smaller.
If VOC insists on falling out with the Australians for the sake of reputation, VOC will only end up losing both people and money.
Perhaps this discussion about whether face is more important or business is too long, so there were two accidents that Wang Kai talked about: one was that a coast guard patrol boat rammed and sank a VOC agent's ship; the other was a group of people who had defected to the Song Dynasty but were
Pirates who returned to their old ways robbed the VOC agent's ship.
"Of course these unfortunate things are accidental, but we must also admit that the trade on the China-Japan route cannot withstand the competition between us. I think it should be clear whether Japan is within the scope of the treaty."
Delantron sighed, with an expression of "I'm here after all", but still maintained his professionalism and tried his best to argue: "I must emphasize that the closure of trade with Japan will have an extremely negative impact on us. At the same time,
It will also affect our purchases from you..."
"I'm afraid this matter is non-negotiable, but if you have other plans to offset the adverse effects, we are open to it." Fatty Wang interrupted the Dutch's defense. He wanted to see what the new Governor of Batavia was like.
Are you mentally prepared for this matter?
"Well, we hope that you can increase the purchase of rubber and develop rubber refining technology from us. Of course, we will still face a difficult period for several years, and we hope that you can provide certain loans."
Sure enough, they were prepared. Fatty Wang felt that the new governor's level was not bad. In fact, the Senate had prepared a more "intimate" plan for them. Of course, the Senate knew about the stinginess of VOC's shareholders, and also knew that VOC's employees wanted to get Zia.
The payment for goods on the European route is diligently carried out in "high-frequency" transactions in Asian domestic trade. Perhaps the inherent impression of the Dutch as stingy and shrewd in people's eyes was forced out by their superiors.
"Mr. Delantron, we are ready 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 preferential interest. The condition is that you are not allowed to sell ceramics in Japan
, raw silk fabrics and cane sugar - not from any origin, but you can sell other commodities freely, regardless of origin."
This is equivalent to the Australians establishing franchises in silk, cane sugar and ceramics in Japan. Something that VOC dreams of. But Delantron knows that this piece of meat is out of the company's hands. What 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, how much is the interest?"
"The annual interest rate is 20%, but the ship or land must be used as collateral. In addition, I will give you another discount: the city of Relanja can be used to offset the interest you pay on the loan - the principal is in addition."
"I believe we can reach an agreement, I am confident about it, but I still need some time to get authorization. Our new governor is a..."
"A person worthy of respect." Wang Kai helped him pick up the conversation. "As for the occasion when the governor's letter will be read, I think that since we have resolved the misunderstanding on the terms of trade and the impact of the unexpected incident, you can go and
My colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Department discussed the details of etiquette. With an excellent subordinate like you, I think Mr. Dimen must have expected this happy result." Fatty Wang even wanted to ask him: How many versions did you bring?
Letter coming?
"Of course, the Honorable Governor is a far-sighted person, and he anticipated your generosity." Delantron looked a little excited. Obviously, he was not as far-sighted as his boss. He could think of,
For annual "credit" goods, they can earn principal by selling Australian and Song products in Asia, purchase goods from other regions and transport them back to Europe, or they can use lower capital costs to purchase Australian and Song industrial products and bulk commodity shipments.
Return to Europe and solve the financial problems that have plagued the company for many years at once. But his governor may discover the hidden danger: once they get used to this comfort zone, their entire trading system will be based on Australian and Song products.
Song currency is used as the benchmark. This is more dangerous than relying on Japanese precious metals. After all, the Japanese do not have a panoramic understanding of the Dutch trading system, while the Australians know the Dutch well and at the same time hold on to their eggs.
However, Fatty Wang believes that Governor Dimen will not give up such generous immediate benefits. As for how he reduces risks, that is his own business. In the history of old time and space, VOC's foresight is far less than that of BEIC. Therefore, its achievements and longevity
Far less than the latter.
"In that case, I'll be waiting for your good news."
"Then I won't bother you too much. I heard that Mr. Wang is going to work in a new department. I think he will be busy with necessary things. We are also looking forward to cooperating with Australia Song Nanyang Company." Delantron stood up as he spoke.
, "I hope to start negotiations with your company to open a business station in Sanya soon..."
"Well, you can send someone here. We will inevitably have to deal with each other in the future. However, I have to come to visit you. Please take care of me." Wang Kai also stood up and shook hands with the Dutchman.
"Wherever it goes, it will definitely happen. The names of Elder Wang and Elder Zhou are also very resounding in Batavia. The whole company is willing to cooperate with your work!" Delantron learned a lot of veteran-style polite words and used them.
I am becoming more and more proficient.
After seeing off the Dutchman who was 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 bumped into veteran Shi Jiantao who pushed the door in.
Shi Yuanlao, who was in charge of the Hong Kong shipyard, was a busy man. Wang Kai stayed in Hong Kong for several days to meet him. Because his shipbuilding plan must be supported by the Hong Kong shipyard, otherwise it would be empty talk.
At this meeting in Hong Kong, his proposal to build clipper ships was approved by Shi Jiantao. Mr. Shi was tired of the current monotonous construction of T-series transport ships. He wanted to challenge himself with some new tricks.
Reaching a consensus is one thing, but starting to implement it is another. Fortunately, the Hong Kong Shipyard's second five-year plan includes a 5,000-ton shipyard. Once this shipyard is completed, the Hong Kong Shipyard will have one more vacancy.
Seeing that the dock is about to be completed, the Planning Institute still has not issued the construction task statement for Wang Kai's clipper ship, which makes Shi Jiantao anxious. If the procedures are not completed after the completion, the schedule for the dock will have to wait again.
.
He simply stopped sending a telegram and ran directly from Hong Kong to Lingao.
"How about it, Fatty Wang? Do you have the money to build the clipper boat that you have been dreaming about this time?" Mr. Shi asked straight to the point.
"It's not that 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."
"What should we do? This dock will be completed soon! If you don't build it here, the boats on my list will not be waiting for anyone. I have to make it clear first. It's not that I won't help. If there is a dock that is free at least
It will take half a year. For a ship like yours, which weighs thousands of tons, you might have to wait for a year."
"Don't worry, the demand is real, but people haven't expected it yet. And we have other options. I'm just about to discuss it with Shopkeeper Gu outside."
"Why, do we also need to use private capital?"
"Yes. Nanyang Company's equity is going to be divided according to projects. So, a ship these days can be considered a small project."
"You are making full use of the policy! But it's hard to just give a cutting-edge ship with such good performance to the indigenous people."
"This is the benefit of subdivision. We only give dividend rights, not property rights, and the operators are employees of state-owned companies, or even cadets of the Naval Academy. In the past two days, Staff Officer Wang has also come to 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."