On the Bund in Shanghai, tall buildings of Chinese style, a combination of Chinese and Western styles, and Western styles are lined up row upon row. One building is more majestic than the other, and each one is more gorgeous than the other. It seems that everyone who comes to this metropolis, which is called the center of East Asia's industrial, commercial and shipping industry, knows the financial resources of the owners of these high-rise buildings. And the background is so strong!
Matt Solko, the governor of the Dutch East India Company, who disembarked from the newly built passenger terminal on the Wusong River, looked up at the newly built five-story building opposite the Mancini Tea Shop and felt a little emotional. This city did not exist more than 20 years ago, but now it has become the fastest growing city in East Asia and even the world, and perhaps the most attractive city for talents and capital!
Amsterdam, the most prosperous capital and trade center in Europe, is not inferior in any way to Shanghai. But every Dutch businessman who was astute enough knew that Amsterdam was at its peak and could fall from its heights at any time.
Because there are only three to four million Dutch people behind Amsterdam, and around it there are big cities such as London and Brussels that will replace Amsterdam's status at any time.
There are 200 million people behind Shanghai, and its status is irreplaceable... Yingtianfu, Suzhoufu, and Yangzhoufu are not seaport cities. Quanzhou Prefecture and Guangzhou Prefecture are too "remote", far away from Jiangnan, the economic center of the Ming Dynasty, and not close to the golden waterway of the Yangtze River. At the same time, they are far away from Yingtian Prefecture, the capital of the empire. If they develop too much, they may be difficult to control.
Therefore, Shanghai’s take-off is completely predictable and certain!
A businessman of Matt Solko's level certainly knows to place his main investment in a predictable and certain future. So he bought a lot of real estate in this city early, and planned to retire in Shanghai and take care of his assets after resigning as the governor of the East India Company... But this determination is now tied up by Louis XIV because of the Netherlands. French tanks are becoming a bit uncertain!
It's not that Shanghai can't develop, but whether the property of Matt Solko, a Dutchman, will be confiscated as enemy property.
"Mr. Governor! Are you going to Maoming Street or the East India Company Building?"
Matt Solko's secretary Anthony had already hired a carriage for him, and also directed several coolies on the pier to carry the salutes for Mr. Governor, and carried all the salutes of Mr. Governor onto the carriage. Finally, he walked over to the truly dazed Governor and asked questions in Dutch.
Matt Solko has a very beautiful house on Maoming Street.
The East India Company Building in Shanghai is located on the Bund Street. It was built seven or eight years ago and is very magnificent.
"Better go to the Mancini Tea House building," Matt Solko said, looking at the building opposite. "I need to see Mr. Lombardi immediately!"
Lombardi is an Italian businessman and the head coach of Mancini Tea Company. He originally held an important position in the East India Company and had a good relationship with Matt Solko. After he switched jobs to the Mancini Tea Shop, he became the liaison between Matt Solko and Mary Mancini.
Although he knew that Mary Mancini's pillow style would not have much effect at this moment, he still had to take this approach.
At least through Mary Mancini, the Ming Dynasty can know that at least for now, the Ming Dynasty cannot squeeze out the Dutch East India Company. Because that would cause the British East India Company to become the monopoly of East-West trade!
Monopolistic trade is not a good thing for both consumers and suppliers!
…
"Mr. Governor, I need to remind you that the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company are not the only ones on the current East-West trade route. The Australian and New Zealand Company, managed by the Portuguese in Macau, also occupies a certain share! So the British East India Company There is no possibility of Indian companies monopolizing trade.”
Lombardi, who has a Germanic face and blond hair, spoke slowly and elegantly in French, his brows furrowed tightly, and he looked worried.
Matt Solko's heart sank, "ANZ is just a small company and there is no way it can compete with the British."
"But the British will let it exist!" Lombardi said, "As long as it exists, the British East India Company will not be a monopoly."
Matt Solko understood that Lombardi was right, was silent for a moment, and then asked in a low voice: "Is there nothing Mrs. Mancini can do?"
"This..." Lombardi frowned even more tightly, "I don't think you don't know the origin of Mrs. Mancini, right? She is a symbol of friendship between Ming and France! In the current situation, she must Be extremely careful.”
"Oh my God!" Matt Solko whispered, "What am I going to do?"
Lombardi raised his brows slightly and said, "Of course, there are ways!"
"Is there any other way?" Matt Solko looked at Lombardi, "My friend, if you and Mrs. Mancini can help the East India Company tide over the difficulties, the company will definitely satisfy you, very satisfied! "
Lombardi seemed to have heard the satisfactory reply and smiled: "Mr. Governor, first of all, on behalf of Mrs. Mancini, I would like to thank you for your generosity.
Secondly, I would like to remind you that if the Dutch East India Company wants to survive in such a difficult and complicated situation, it cannot rely solely on Mrs. Mancini’s pillow wind! The company must have core competitiveness that is difficult to replace by others, and this core competitiveness must be difficult to replace and can bring huge benefits to the Ming Empire! "
"What you mean by core competitiveness is..." Matsolko frowned tightly. The East India Company had many core competitiveness, but he really couldn't think of one that could serve the Ming Empire. It brings huge benefits and is difficult to replace.
"Mr. Governor," Lombardi said, "as far as I know, there is a big deal before your Dutch East India Company... It depends on whether you are willing to do it or not?"
"The big deal you're talking about is..." Matt Solko seemed to have thought of something, and his old face wrinkled up.
"A continent...maybe a huge island!" Lombardi said. "It definitely exists, but it is not easy to reach and difficult to fully explore. And your Dutch East India Company has been there long ago, maybe More than once. Am I right?”
"Is the Ming Dynasty preparing to explore the southern continent?" Matsolco looked at Lombardi and asked.
"It's not preparation, it's already started!" Lombardi said, "otherwise, why do you think the ANZ Company would set up a trading station on Timor Island and send Malacca-type galleys there?"
The so-called Malacca-type galley is a type of artillery warship designed specifically for windless or light wind areas that was designed after the Malacca Great War.
This type of warship has a deadweight of only about 660 tons, has a gun deck and a long oar deck, and has three mainmasts that can hang soft sails.
Because of its long oar deck, this type of warship has poor seaworthiness and poor endurance. It cannot be used for ocean operations and operations in high sea state areas, but it is still very suitable for exploring the northern part of the southern continent.
Lombardi continued: "As far as I know, Australia and New Zealand received the contract to explore the Southern Continent two years ago and successfully organized an expedition, which departed from Timor and arrived after 10 days of sailing at sea. Southern Continent.”
"But they didn't find anything valuable in the northern part of the Southern Continent," Matsolko smiled slightly, "Am I right?"
Lombardi nodded and said with a smile: "Isn't this an opportunity for your East India Company? In terms of navigation, exploration and development of unknown areas, you are better than the Australia and New Zealand Company, the British East India Company, the First Party Trading Company and the Sand Ship Gang. Commercial banks are more competitive!”
"And the British East India Company?" Matt Solko was stunned. "They will also participate in the exploration of the southern continent?"
Lombardi laughed: "I think you know, monopolies are bad for consumers!"
