Governor Matsolko was dubious about what Wei Qingmu said.
The reason why I half-believe it is because the Dutch East India Company played a big role in Ming Dynasty’s foreign trade and colonial development activities!
The Dutch East India Company now has more than 200 merchant ships with a carrying capacity of more than 300 tons running the Central European route. Not to mention the value of the goods exported through them every year, but as much as 50,000 tons of Java rice are transported to the Ming Dynasty through them.
There were many merchant ships from other countries that would stop at Batavia Port on their way from Europe to China, and then load one to two hundred tons of rice to offset the Ming Dynasty's tariffs.
Therefore, the amount of rice transported from Batavia to Daming every year should be more than 100,000 tons, and most of this rice is produced by Chinese businessmen farms around Batavia.
If Batavia was destroyed in the war, the East India Company's merchant ships would also withdraw from East Asia. Then the amount of rice imported by Ming Dynasty every year will be reduced by 100,000 tons... This amount accounts for about 10% of Ming Dynasty's annual grain import.
Of course, one hundred thousand tons of rice cannot defeat today’s Celestial Empire. Although the population of the Ming Dynasty has not grown slowly in recent years, it is likely to be close to 180 million. However, with the gradual recovery of grain production in the Central Plains and Northeast China, supply is still relatively loose.
But the Dutch East India Company now also uses about 100 merchant ships on the trans-Pacific route!
This share is quite high, not 10%, but nearly one-third!
Without them, the number of immigrants and goods exported to the Americas by the Ming Dynasty would have been reduced by at least one-third. This impact would be a bit big...
In addition, if these armed merchant ships and other warships of the Dutch East India Company don't get out of the way, but turn to piracy and attack Ming merchant ships everywhere in the Pacific, then the Ming Dynasty's food imports and the number of immigrants to the Americas will probably face a huge crisis. dropped significantly.
But the Dutch East India Company was not a country after all! It could not long-term support a war that was unlikely to generate revenue and would also be costly.
The Dutch East India Company was a company that made money for shareholders. Its purpose was not to rule Batavia and the Strait of Malacca for the Dutch Republic, but to make money for shareholders in Amsterdam.
The two major sources of profit for the Dutch East India Company were the China-Europe trade and the spice trade.
Once these two major sources of profit were lost, the continued existence of the Dutch East India Company would be a problem, let alone long-term maritime privateering operations.
Moreover, losing Batavia and the Spice Islands does not mean that the Dutch East India Company can no longer make profits for shareholders... and this depends on the will of the Emperor of Heaven!
So Amsterdam's shareholders are likely to choose to compromise after the company's defeat...
And this is why Matt Solko is "semi-doubtful" about Wei Qingmu's words.
But no matter how dubious he was, Matsolko could not resolutely close the door to compromise with the Chinese Empire, but he could not kneel down to the Chinese Empire right away... If he didn't work hard, the shareholders of Amsterdam He will not give in, and he, the governor of Batavia, will not give in!
"Mr. Consul," Matsolko said thoughtfully, "our East India Company's dominant position in the Strait of Malacca is the result of decades of continuous efforts... For this position, I don't know how many companies My predecessors died in a foreign country. As the current governor of Batavia, I have the responsibility to protect the company’s position in Malacca and do my best!”
Wei Qingmu smiled and nodded: "Aren't you always working hard? The emperor of our dynasty appreciates your perseverance for the benefit of the company very much. So he looks forward to working with you in the future, in the Strait of Malacca After becoming a golden waterway that everyone can navigate freely, cooperation can continue.
If the shareholders in Amsterdam are misunderstood about your achievements in Batavia, His Majesty the Emperor wishes to hire you as his advisor... The emperor of tomorrow is willing to pay you double the salary offered by the East India Company! "
This is quite interesting. Before the war started, they started poaching players at high prices, and directly poached the opponent's coach...
"Mr. Consul," Matsolko's face had darkened, "What are you talking about? Are you trying to persuade a gentleman who believes in God to betray the company he works for?"
"Of course not!" Wei Qingmu also had a serious look on his face, "We, the Ming Dynasty, are a country of noble gentlemen. We read the books of sages and follow the principles of heaven. How could we do such shameful things? Besides, with your status as governor, and talents, if His Majesty really wants to win over you, why should he give a Marquis and another one million taels of silver?"
you do not say! Matt Solko nodded in agreement: There are not so many benefits, how could I rebel... No, it is impossible for me to rebel, I am a respected Dutch gentleman!
Wei Qingmu added: "Since you are a gentleman, and I, the Emperor Ming, am a gentleman. So this time it is a battle between gentlemen and gentlemen... Do you agree?"
Of course Matt Solko agreed. He nodded: "Yes, this is the fight between gentlemen and gentlemen!"
"Then should there be some rules for the fight between gentlemen and gentlemen?" Wei Qingmu asked again.
"What rules?"
"For example, freedom of trade, protecting the safety of expatriates on both sides, for example... Let's work together to find a way to maintain the normal operation of the intercontinental exchange system!" Wei Qingmu said, "And for example, maintaining peace and tranquility in Batavia... ....The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty said: The Ming Dynasty has no ambitions for Batavia. Even if it achieves victory on sea and land, it will not occupy Batavia.
The city of Batavia will always belong to the Dutch East India Company! "
Zhu Cixi really never thought about snatching Batavia away from the Dutch East India Company... A gentleman will not take away what others like!
In fact, what Emperor Zhu wanted was the Dutch East India Company itself - if Louis XIV really quickly captured the Spanish Netherlands after the death of Philip IV and threatened the Dutch Republic. Then it is very necessary to secretly control the Dutch East India Company and provide certain support to the Dutch Republic through the Dutch East India Company.
The Netherlands and the Spanish Netherlands are both extremely fat territories! If France is unified, how will the Spanish Succession War be fought?
If Spain is swallowed up by France... then the United States of New Zealand will be in really big trouble!
"That's all?" Matsolko rolled his eyes and was thinking over and over in his mind.
This Wei Qingmu should not falsely preach the imperial edict.
It is also possible that the Ming Dynasty does not plan to attack Java Island for the time being... The situation in the Strait of Malacca is very complicated!
Even if the Ming Dynasty could quickly conquer it by force, it would take a lot of time to completely consume it.
Before digesting the Strait of Malacca, the Ming Empire should be dormant for a while... and keeping Batavia and the Spice Islands could force the Dutch East India Company to surrender and compromise.
Wei Qingmu looked at Matt Solko who was lost in thought, and then asked, "If you have any other conditions, just ask!"
At this time, Matt Solko suddenly showed a very gentlemanly smile, "Mr. Consul, I really thought of something... Since we Dutch are gentlemen, and you Chinese are gentlemen. Then let's have a game. Through a battle between gentlemen and gentlemen, the ownership of the Strait of Malacca will be determined!”
"A battle between gentlemen and gentlemen?" Wei Qingmu asked, "How to fight?"
Matt Solko smiled and said: "Of course we will agree on a time and place, and then both sides will bring out their strongest lineups and fighting spirit for a decisive battle!"
Why does it sound like a gang fight in Batavia?
Wei Qingmu thought for a while and asked: "Where does the governor want to start the war? Is it on the Malacca Peninsula?"
"No, no," Matsolko said, "let's not disturb those peace-loving Tianfang believers... let's start a war on the sea! The time will be set in the autumn of 1664, and the location will be decided by you. Let’s decide!”
