This move seriously stimulated Ming Dynasty's nerves.
During the war in 1624, the Dutch had to abandon Penghu and go to Taiwan with the permission of the Ming Dynasty.
From then on, Penghu became a transit point for trade between the Netherlands and the Ming Dynasty.
For this post-war negotiation, both the Ming and Dutch parties conveniently chose Penghu.
Zuo Hua followed Zheng Zhilong to Penghu, accompanied by Bapu Dewei, the captain of the Wenluo whom he captured.
Similarly, Zheng Zhilong also brought Dutch prisoners.
This is the basis for negotiations between the two parties.
The man dispatched by the Dutch side was Anthony van Diemen.
Hans Putmans was disgraced because of his defeat and did not want to face Zheng Zhilong at all.
"Mr. Zheng, this conflict is purely a misunderstanding. We just hope to gain trade rights with the Ming Dynasty, but you are trying to shirk the blame in every possible way. This is an unforgivable fraud!"
As soon as the negotiations began, Anthony Van Diemen took the lead and wanted to shift the responsibility for the war to the Ming Dynasty.
Zheng Zhilong refused to give in.
"Business is a matter of mutual consent. I have never seen anyone doing business with a cannon. Anthony, you must give me an explanation this time. Otherwise, I don't mind going to the boss to talk to you again."
Anthony Van Diemen was sweating on his brow.
"Mr. Zheng, don't think that once you win one game, you can keep winning. We have a more powerful fleet in Batavia. Do you have the confidence to face our full attack?"
Zheng Zhilong's intelligence capabilities are not weak.
"Can all your warships be mobilized? I wonder if you guys in Dazhan can wait until that day?"
There was a heated exchange of words between the two sides, and Anthony was completely passive.
There is no way, the situation on the battlefield is determined, and you cannot win benefits by just relying on words.
After the Battle of Liaoluo Bay, Zheng Zhilong was not idle and kept attacking the Dutch.
When the negotiations began, all the Dutch strongholds along the Fujian coast had been eliminated.
Obviously, Zheng Zhilong's statement about attacking Taiwan was not just an empty intimidation.
"Anthony, I believe the Spaniards will welcome me as a senior official."
Nowadays, the battles between the Spanish and the Dutch are all over the world, and there are frequent frictions between the two sides even in southern Taiwan.
If Zheng Zhilong goes out to attack the Dutch, the Spaniards on Taiwan Island will definitely join forces with him.
Just one Zheng Zhilong has already made Anthony feel a lot of pressure. If the Spaniard is added to the mix, Anthony knows that failure will be inevitable.
The purpose of this negotiation is, of course, to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
"Okay, Mr. Zheng, unnecessary disputes will only harm the interests of both of us. I think trade is what we are both interested in."
Now that the Dutch had relented, Zheng Zhilong immediately went straight in.
"If you want to trade, you must abide by my rules from now on."
Anthony asked.
"Can we get the goods we need?"
Zheng Zhilong gave the answer.
"As long as you abide by my Zheng family's rules, you can do good business there."
Anthony asked cautiously: "What are your rules?"
Zheng Zhilong showed his fangs.
"From now on, you Dutch merchant ships passing through this place must pay a tax of two thousand taels of silver every year."
"My God! Mr. Zheng, you are robbing!"
Hearing that Zheng Zhilong's asking price was so high, Anthony couldn't sit still.
But Zheng Zhilong won victory on the battlefield and paid such a high price, how could he give in?
"This is my Zheng family's rule. If the Dutch don't want to abide by it, then we can continue to fight."
Anthony was silent, thinking carefully in his mind.
In fact, he also knew that although a ship had to be handed over to Zheng Zhilong for two thousand taels every year, the Taiwan Strait trade route could actually create greater benefits.
The East India Company could not lose this trade channel no matter what.
Moreover, Zheng Zhilong sent back prisoners of war, which alone greatly reduced the losses of the East India Company.
This sincerity also allows them to explain things after they return.
"Okay, Mr. Zheng, you are really a vampire, but who makes you the winner?"
Zheng Zhilong didn't care about Anthony's ridicule.
What he cares more about is money.
After the negotiation between Zheng and the Dutch ended, Zuo Hua found an opportunity to meet with Anthony in private.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm from Shandong. Regarding trade, I think we have a lot to talk about."
Bapu Devi was also present and whispered in Anthony's ear for a long time.
As he listened, Anthony's eyes became brighter and brighter.
"Mr. Zuo, do you, Shandong, really allow us Dutch to land and trade?"
What the Dutch wanted most was to be able to enter the mainland of the Ming Dynasty to do business.
It's a pity that the Ming Dynasty pursued a no-sea policy and did not allow them to approach at all.
How much money can you make from smuggling alone?
Anthony had no idea that there was a place in Ming Dynasty that was open to them.
Zuo Hua smiled and nodded.
"As for trade, there should be equality between us. We can allow the Dutch to come to Shandong to do business. Similarly, the Dutch should also allow our Shandong merchant ships to go to Dazhang, to Batavia, and to any Dutch
A place of control, isn’t it?”
Anthony desperately calculated the benefits and losses.
"What products can we buy in Shandong?"
Zuo Hua is full of confidence.
"You will get everything you want in Shandong. Even what you need, our Shandong merchant ships can transport it to Batavia."
Shandong's open-minded trade attitude makes Anthony feel extremely comfortable.
This was the first time since he came to the Far East that he had common business topics with the locals.
"If your merchant ship wants to reach Batavia, it must pass through Zheng Zhilong's territory. The annual toll of two thousand taels of silver is not a small sum."
This guy was also full of bad intentions and began to sow discord between Shandong and Zheng Zhidong.
How did he know that what he said was exactly what Zuo Hua wanted.
"Mr. Dimen, I have always believed that setting up artificial obstacles on prosperous trade routes is an abhorrent disaster. Unobstructed trade routes are of great benefit to everyone, aren't they?"
Anthony Van Diemen's eyes flashed.
"Oh my god, Mr. Zuo, why did God let me get to know you so late? It turns out that there are still people in the far east who understand the true meaning of trade!"
Zuo Hua picked up the wine glass and said with a smile: "So we can become closer friends and work together to create a better trading environment. I believe Mr. Dimen has the same wish, right?"
Anthony heard something, and his words were very nervous.
"Aren't you Shandong afraid of the emperor's wrath?"
Zuo Hua looked at the undulating sea and laughed.
"In the Ming Dynasty, our status in Shandong is like the relationship between your Netherlands and Spain."
The right metaphor made Anthony understand it instantly.
For a moment, the two people's hearty laughter made the atmosphere extremely joyful.
