"Admiral Anthony Van Diemen, Governor-General of the East India Company of the United Provinces of Netherlands..."
Outside the Wenhua Hall of the Forbidden City in Nanjing, the voice of the roll call rang out. They were speaking in Chinese, but Van Diemen could vaguely make out a few words. For example, "Netherlands", such as "Anthony Van Diemen", so he knew that he was inviting himself in.
"Anthony," Tang Ruowang accompanied Van Diemen. He was the interpreter for today's meeting, so he said to Van Diemen in French, "please come in with me... I think you will learn from the crown prince." Get some terms that satisfy the board of directors.”
Anthony Van Diemen smiled and nodded, expressing his gratitude, and then followed a chamberlain and strode into the Wenhua Hall.
The light in the Wenhua Hall was a bit dim, but Van Diemen could still see clearly the Chinese Crown Prince sitting behind a desk with a smile on his face. He is very young and energetic yet calm.
What surprised Van Diemen even more was that there was no expression of curiosity on the face of the young ruler of the Central Dynasty.
Are there frequent Westerners in his court? To the point where you are not surprised?
Even if he has met many Westerners, he should be curious about the affairs of the Dutch Red Barbarian Country, right?
No, the eunuch seemed to have mentioned "The Netherlands" just now... Didn't the Chinese always call the Netherlands the "Red Barbarian Country"?
Zhu Cixiang was also looking at Van Diemen. He was a European who was tanned red by the scorching sun on the sea. He was tall, had a slender face, and his eyes were bright and determined.
"Kneel down!" Tang Ruowang's voice suddenly sounded in Fan Diemen's ears.
Van Diemen quickly knelt down on one knee - Zhu Cihong had not discussed the etiquette of audience with Van Diemen's delegation. It didn't matter to him whether to kneel or lie down, kowtow or bow.
Moreover, he did not regard the United Provincial Republic of the Netherlands as a vassal state. It would be enough to have equal exchanges between the two countries.
"Sit down." Zhu Cixiang gestured for Fan Diemen to sit down on a chair, and then said to Tang Ruowang, "Mr. Tang, you can sit down too."
Although Fan Diemen couldn't understand what Zhu Cixiang said, he understood what it meant by looking at the gestures, so he sat down gracefully.
On the other side, Tang Ruowang also sat down on a chair.
There is also a small table next to Zhu Cihong's throne, which is used by officials who record and draft edicts. Xu Guangqi's grandson, Xu Ermo, graduated from the Nanjing Military Academy and joined the army as a military officer. Now he was summoned to the Cultural Hall and sat down behind the small table, then picked up his brush and prepared to record.
"Governor Dimen," Zhu Cixiang said, "Today's talks will be in Chinese and French. Is there any problem?"
He spoke very slowly. When he said something, Tang Ruowang translated it into French.
"No problem." Van Diemen nodded.
Zhu Cixiang pointed at Xu Ermo, who was taking notes next to him, and said: "The main content of the talks will be recorded in Chinese and French as a memorandum. If a treaty can be reached, the text of the treaty will also be in Chinese and French." Write separately.”
"Okay." Van Diemen nodded again.
Zhu Cixiang looked at Van Diemen and continued: "Governor Diemen, before the formal talks begin, I would like to first understand the nature of the East India Company... Are you an independent country? Or are you a company? A commercial firm? Or a firm authorized by the Federal Republic of the Netherlands to conduct military and diplomatic activities in the East on behalf of the country?"
This question went beyond Van Diemen's expectation - His Royal Highness the Ming Dynasty's understanding of the East India Company and the Dutch Republic was probably beyond his original imagination!
Van Diemen frowned and was thinking about how to deceive the other party when Zhu Cihong said again: "Governor Diemen, our country will send a diplomatic mission to the Europa continent in the near future, and the mission will visit Amsterdam. Visit the Parliament of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. The mission will then ask the Netherlands Parliament in person about the nature of the East India Company, and will also hand a copy of the memorandum of today's meeting to the Netherlands Parliament and the East India Company's seventeen-member board of directors. ...I think Governor Dimen is an honest and trustworthy businessman, not a liar who deceives people in the name of the country, right?”
It’s hard to deceive... Van Diemen thought to himself: I can’t beat him, and I can’t deceive him either. How do I do this business?
Van Diemen answered truthfully: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the East India Company is authorized by the Parliament of the United Provinces of the Netherlands to perform state functions and represent the territory from the Cape of Good Hope in the east to the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America in the west. A commercial company that conducts military and diplomatic activities and holds a trade monopoly in the Federal Republic of the Netherlands..."
Zhu Cixiang said: "I hope to get a written explanation and the East India Company's articles of association."
"No problem," said Van Diemen, "we can provide it."
"Then," Zhu Cihong said, "I will first assume that the East India Company can represent the United Provincial Republic of the Netherlands."
Van Diemen replied firmly: "Of course we can represent it!"
Zhu Cixiang nodded: "Okay... In other words, in 1640 AD, you signed a trade treaty on behalf of the United Provinces of the Netherlands with Zheng Zhilong, the Ming Dynasty's Fujian general?"
"No, no, no..." Van Diemen shook his head quickly, "The treaty of 1640 was just a commercial contract between the East India Company and General Zheng Zhilong."
Zhu Cixiang nodded and thought thoughtfully: "According to this contract, East India Company's merchant ships are not allowed to directly enter any port owned by the Ming Dynasty for trade. All Ming Dynasty goods needed by the East India Company will be purchased by Zheng Zhilong. In addition, All East India Company merchant ships passing through the waters near Fujian must pay a shipping tax of 3,000 taels of silver to Zheng Zhilong every year... Are these payments still being honored?"
"Still fulfilling..." Van Diemen stood up, bowed to Zhu Cixiang, and then said, "His Royal Highness, this is an unfair clause. It is not only detrimental to the East India Company's free trade, but also It is also very detrimental to the overseas trade of the Ming Empire! On behalf of the East India Company, I implore His Highness to abolish these unfair terms and hinder free trade."
Zhu Cixiang looked at Van Diemen and frowned slightly: "Governor, since your East India Company is a commercial company, it should have the contractual spirit of a merchant! Now that a contract has been signed, it should be strictly performed. Even if you want to change it , it should also be negotiated rather than asking me to issue an edict."
What... the spirit of contract? Van Diemen is really confused. What does the Ming Crown Prince mean?
Zhu Cixiang smiled: "In the past, the Ming Dynasty was closed to the country and did not allow Western merchants to enter the Yangtze River Estuary for trade. However, you have been trying to break through our restrictions, posing a threat to the stability of our coastal areas. Therefore, the treaty signed by Zheng Zhilong and you is very appropriate. of.
But now, I have decided to open up the country's trade and open the Shanghai Commercial Port at the intersection of the Northern and Southern Oceans and the Yangtze River, which will allow all foreign merchants to freely enter and exit trade and settle permanently. Businessmen from the United Provinces of the Netherlands are of course among all overseas businessmen, so the business contract signed between you and Zheng Zhilong must be revised. Zheng Zhilong’s losses should be compensated accordingly. "
"Then how should we compensate Zheng Zhilong?" Fan Diemen asked quickly.
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said, "This issue should be discussed between you and Zheng Zhilong... After all, what you two have reached is a business agreement, not an agreement between two countries. I can only broker it, Zheng Zhilong cannot be forced to agree to modified conditions that are unfavorable to him."
Why is it so convoluted? Fan Diemen was almost stunned by Zhu Cixiang! Is this really the crown prince of the Central Dynasty? Why does he have the air of a cunning Amsterdam banker?
