Now that the Dutch East India Company is at a high level, it is more dependent on the supply of precious metals brought by domestic trade in Asia than in the past. On the one hand, they took bulk commodities and industrial products from Australia and Song Dynasty and secretly grabbed business in Japan and Australia and Song Dynasty. On the other hand, they relied on reselling industrial products from Australia and Song Dynasty to replenish bulk commodities in South Asia and shipped them back to Europe. After two transactions, Australia and Song Dynasty The scale of Song Industry has been reduced twice on their Asia-Europe routes. To put it simply, it is to take advantage of Australia and Song Dynasty, tear down Australia and Song Dynasty, and benefit third parties.
Of course, the Senate was not a believer. After receiving the report from Japan's Taira Senator, the Ministry of Colonial Trade took corresponding countermeasures. The first was to adopt a quota system for raw silk delivered in Guangzhou. The high-quality raw silk from Zhejiang produced by Zhao Yingong's Hangzhou Phoenix Silk Industry Group will be given priority by China Merchants Group for 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 they 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 conditions, it is completely unprofitable for the company to continue to maintain the Castle of Geranze. First of all, in terms of force, the company simply does not have the ability to defend this 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 the city 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 lengthy, 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 Pirates who returned to their old business 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."
As expected, 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 is aware of the stinginess of VOC shareholders, and also knows that VOC employees are diligently conducting "high-frequency" transactions in Asian domestic trade in order to collect payment for the Asia-Europe routes. Perhaps the inherent impression that the Dutch are 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 was equivalent to the Australians establishing franchises in silk, sugar and ceramics in Japan. The stuff VOC dreams about. But Delantron knew that this fat piece of meat was no longer available to the company. What he could do was bargain as much as possible.
He was immediately 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'm 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 now that we have resolved the misunderstanding on the terms of trade and the impact of the unexpected event, you can go and discuss the details of etiquette with my colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Department. With someone as good as you His subordinates, I think Mr. Dimen must have expected this happy result." Fatty Wang even wanted to ask him: How many versions of the letter did you bring?
"Of course, the respected Governor is a visionary, and he anticipated your generosity." Delantron looked a little excited. Obviously, he was not as far-sighted as his boss. He could imagine that with the annual "credit" goods, they could earn principal by selling Australian and Song products in Asia, buy goods from other regions and ship them back to Europe, and they could also use lower capital costs to buy Australian and Song goods. Industrial products and bulk commodities are shipped back to Europe, solving the financial problem that has plagued the company for many years in one go. But his governor may discover a hidden danger: once they get used to this comfort zone, their entire trading system will be based on Australian and Song products and Australian and Song currencies. 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 vision was far less than that of BEIC. So the achievements and longevity are 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 will have to come to visit. 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 elder-style polite words and used them. I am becoming more and more proficient.
After sending away 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 open.
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 see him. Because his shipbuilding plan must be supported by Hong Kong shipyards, otherwise it will be empty talk.
At this meeting in Hong Kong, his proposal to build a clipper ship was approved by Shi Jiantao. Mr. Shi is already bored with the constant construction of T-series transport ships. You have to come up with something new to challenge yourself.
Reaching consensus is one thing, but implementing it is another. Fortunately, the Hong Kong Shipyard's Second Five-Year Plan includes a 5,000-ton shipyard. Once this dock is completed, there will be just one more vacancy in the Hong Kong shipyard.
Seeing that the dock was about to be completed, the Planning Institute still had not issued a construction task statement for Wang Kai's clipper ship, which made Shi Jiantao anxious. If the procedures are not completed after completion, the dock will have to wait again.
He simply stopped sending a telegram and ran directly from Hong Kong to Lingao.
"How's it going, Fatty Wang? Do you have the money to build the clipper ship you've 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 is about to be completed! If you don't build it here, the boats on my list won't wait for anyone. I have to make it clear first. It's not that I won't help. If there is another 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 planned 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 is hard to just give the indigenous people use of a cutting-edge ship with such good performance."
"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.”
