Of course, Amsterdam does not want the company's more than 100 years of hard work to be so viciously torn away by a Chinese tycoon, and even a trend of turning against customers.
But they have to accept this fact.
As far as the most fundamental way of human beings to decide affairs is concerned, if the Republic does not attack decisively, the company will be powerless against Zhao Xuening.
In this sea of spices and gold, the company's military power cannot defeat Zhao Xuening's military power.
The company tried its best and dispatched eight warships and 47 armed merchant ships to launch a decisive battle with Zhao Xuening in the waters of Borneo, but unfortunately it was defeated and Zhao Xuening won.
This guy not only had his own armed fleet, but also used his many years of connections within the company to instigate more than half of the company's armed forces to betray Batavia and turn to him.
As a result, the company's armed forces collapsed and the battle was finally defeated. The balance of power between the two sides has been directly tilted.
If there was not the existence of the Federal Republic of the Netherlands behind the company, what would be the current situation?
Probably the capital of Lanfang Republic will be Batavia, not the port city.
When the ultimate method is ineffective, all they can do is compromise.
As for the high-ranking officials and nobles of the United Provinces Republic, as for the capitalists who are good at talking about business rather than talking about life and death, they cannot go all out. How can they make money if they go all out?
This prosperous and fertile sea area once brought endless wealth to the company and the Netherlands. Even now, even if so much has been shamelessly taken away by Zhao Xuening, as long as the company still exists, the profits will still exist, and it will still be possible. To make money, Amsterdam could not accept the consequences of losing the spice sea.
Moreover, Amsterdam believes that as far as Zhao Xuening's own thoughts are concerned, he is still willing to continue to maintain the current state rather than completely expel the forces of the Netherlands.
After all, Zhao Xuening was once a member of the Dutch East India Company. His wife was from the Netherlands, and his newly born son also had Dutch blood.
This experience and his family composition determined that he was naturally more willing to cooperate with the Dutch than with the crude, despicable and shameless British.
If Amsterdam decides to fight Zhao Xuening for life and death, the happiest person will definitely not be the Dutch or Zhao Xuening, but the British guys who are eyeing him.
When they fight desperately on both sides, the British will definitely hide behind, wait until they are exhausted, and then rush out to annex them together and dominate the entire East Indies.
Amsterdam would not do such a stupid thing, and neither would the smart Zhao Xuening.
[So when Zhao Xuening launched a counterattack and came to Batavia, he chose to reject the British proposal to attack Batavia, sent a letter to the city, and then withdrew his troops, without launching an attack on Batavia. of onslaught.
At that time, people believed that in that situation, Batavia had no help. In a month at most, Zhao Xuening would be able to capture Batavia, hang up the company's top executives for barbecue, and completely annex the entire East India. The company becomes the king of this sea.
But Zhao Xuening did not do this. Therefore, Zhao Xuening did not think that the total expulsion of the Dutch forces was a good thing for him. He believed that he did not have the strength to fully control the sea of spices and gold. At the same time, he did not believe that British guy. 】
Amsterdam came to this conclusion through various intelligence.
Therefore, after a period of quarrels and careful consideration, the Supreme Consul William V finalized the conclusion-sent Cornley to the East Indies to replace Governor Petrus, who could no longer gain the trust of the government and the company, and have full authority to negotiate with Zhao Xuening.
They have decided that the company will represent the Republic. While initially recognizing the national power established by Zhao Xuening, they will discuss with him how to share the enviable profits in this sea area in the future.
Whether it's spices, gold, or the precious medicine to treat malaria, everyone must negotiate a reliable process and a set of rules.
If you can fight, that's because you are powerful. We can't fight you in this sea area, so we admit it.
But light energy is not enough. No matter how chaotic and disorderly it is, it will eventually have its rules. The company needs a rule, a rule that everyone can recognize, and at the same time, the company needs to determine whether Zhao Xuening is What do you think of British people?
Under the current situation, Amsterdam can allow a Chinese tycoon with two intentions to cooperate with them, but cannot tolerate a lackey from London showing off his power in front of them.
If Zhao Xuening is persuaded by the British and wants to completely expel the Dutch forces, then Amsterdam will be forced to make a final decision - to withstand huge pressure and launch an Eastern expedition.
Although the strength of the Netherlands is not as strong as before, the first three wars with the British can be said to be evenly matched. The British did not gain much benefit, so the Dutch do not think that they will lose to the British. , I don’t think that after I go all out, I won’t be able to defeat even a newly established small emerging country.
What the company cannot do, the Republic can only do.
Before this, although Zhao Xuening had never publicly admitted cooperation with the British, he had not publicly rejected the British. The trade exchanges between the two parties were not hidden, and there was even cooperation in arms and military.
Although Zhao Xuening himself stands out within the company because of his naval battle record with the British, he is too brave and good at fighting, and has won many armed conflicts with the British, making the British in this area very afraid of Zhao Xuening.
In this era when the company's power is not as strong as before, the years when Zhao Xuening rose were also a period when the business interests of the Netherlands were greatly guaranteed.
He has indeed made great achievements in protecting the interests of the company.
However, after Zhao Xuening became successful, he hired retired officers from the British fleet to serve his armed forces. There are also rumors that Zhao Xuening admired the shipbuilding and naval warfare techniques of the British very much. He had many British friends and had good military training. The fact that it is learning more from Britain also worries Amsterdam.
All in all, Cornley's task is a daunting one.
At this critical time when the storm is about to come, he must get an exact guarantee from Zhao Xuening to ensure that the Netherlands has a minimum share of interests in the spice sea. If Zhao Xuening can give a guarantee, then the Netherlands will give it to his country. to acknowledge.
If you have any future cooperation or ideas, you can discuss them at the table.
Of course, if Zhao Xuening's Lanfang Republic can be won over to declare war on the British and open up the Eastern battlefield, Zhao Xuening can use the power title of the Netherlands to completely expel the British forces in the spice sea and cut off the trade between the British and the Qing Empire. route, that must be what Amsterdam most wants to see.
"Amsterdam has great expectations for this mission. In the face of the established facts, there is not much we can negotiate. Nonetheless, Amsterdam also hopes that Lanfang can act from the standpoint of the Netherlands. "
Cornley sighed and said slowly: "If this goal can be achieved, this diplomacy will be a brilliant and victorious diplomacy. The company's previous losses can be made up for by the British, and Amsterdam will be very happy."
Hearing this, Julian was silent for a moment, and then pushed up his glasses.
"In this case, do you need to consider the possible actions of the British? What we expect may not be what the British expect. The United States has the support of France. The British's operations in North America are very problematic. Once North America is lost, , the British will definitely pay more attention to the spice sea."
"Of course, if we come, the British will definitely send people here. How could those country bumpkins who only have eyes for gold and spices miss such a good diplomatic opportunity?"
Cornley scanned the port, and his eyes stopped on a ship flying the flag of the British East India Company. His disgust could not be controlled on the surface.
Time passed slowly, and Cornley and his party finally boarded the pier successfully.
At the pier where guests were greeted, Cornley saw at a glance that Chen Qilong, the first foreign minister of the Lanfang Republic, was shaking hands and chatting happily with the British guy he hated most, and was surrounded by a circle of representatives of all forces. Like stars holding the moon, Chen Qilong was surrounded in the middle.
A few months ago, when he fell ill in Batavia, it was Chen Qilong who came to Batavia with medicine to treat malaria. The two met and talked.
This Chinese man is tall and strong. He looks like a powerful oriental man, but unexpectedly he is a cultural man who can speak fluent French. It is said that he is a confidant who has followed Zhao Xuening for more than ten years and has Zhao Xuening's trust.
Today, he was wearing a formal dress and had a solemn appearance. When he stood there and said nothing, he seemed to be a senior official who was not angry and had no authority.
Cornley took a deep breath, walked forward quickly, and directly interrupted the conversation between Chen Qilong and the British man.
"Dear Mr. Chen, long time no see."
Cornley showed a decent and gentle smile, attracting Chen Qilong's attention. He quickly stepped forward, cleverly separated Chen Qilong and the British man, and took Chen Qilong's hand by the way, allowing himself to occupy Chen Qilong's entire line of sight. .
"You came to Batavia in person to give me key medicines to help me overcome my illness. I will keep this kindness in my heart and will never forget it for a moment."
Cornley tightened his handshake, as if trying to attract Chen Qilong's entire attention.
