At the 1710 summit, William III, after consulting Zhu Cihong, formally proposed to the European Emperor Louis XIV to exchange the Netherlands for French Britain.
People in the Netherlands increasingly feel that if Louis XIV joins forces with Leopold, the Netherlands will inevitably be attacked from the east and west, and their lives will become increasingly difficult.
If it could be switched to French Britain, it would be equivalent to the Netherlands gaining most of the British island and almost enjoying the geographical conditions of the previous Britain.
Louis XIV also wanted to eat up the entire lowlands, so that French power would naturally extend to northern Germany, in preparation for further expansion of the country to the east in the future.
It was just that he had to return to his homeland to negotiate with his ministers and could not make an immediate decision at the summit. However, Louis XIV immediately expressed his strong interest in the proposal and did not refuse it.
There were two powerful neighbors who were very unhappy with William III. If possible, he would rather exchange territory with Karl, whose country was often in a state of freezing weather.
If the Netherlands wants to develop its navy, it must estimate how France feels.
The Netherlands wants to improve its army strength, but no matter how much it improves, it cannot defeat France, which has an absolute population advantage.
This is what made William III the most depressed. When he thought about it at the end, he really recalled the advice given to him by the Emperor of the Ming Empire many years ago.
Move as soon as possible. If you move too late, your neighbor to the west may take action...
What prompted William III to make this decision was Louis XIV's acquisition of the Rhineland.
This was France's reward for sending troops, which, although reasonable, was very dangerous for the Netherlands.
Maybe in a few decades, the Netherlands’ neighbors to the east, south, and west will all be France!
If Louis XIV did not agree to this proposal, William III also planned to exchange the Netherlands and Dutch Britain for French India.
In short, Europe, especially the mainland, has been strategically threatened by France.
Although it is not too serious at the moment, as the head of state of the Netherlands, you must take precautions.
Zhu Cixiang supported William III's proposal and welcomed the Dutch to move to India and have a good friction with the third brother and third sister-in-law...
When William III acquires the Bay of Bengal, wouldn't he be able to send people to take a look at the center of the Earth's axis at any time? How convenient!
In Europe today, not counting the Ming Dynasty, there are only three major powers: France, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.
The Netherlands, Sweden, Venice, Denmark, Switzerland, and even Poland have all become spectators.
Sweden and Venice decided without hesitation to embrace the Ming Empire to prevent their own interests from being infringed upon by those three great powers.
The Netherlands has always lived in the dream of the "Sea Coachman" in the past, unable to figure out its own strength and positioning in the real world.
It thought it could be on an equal footing with the Ming Empire in terms of trade, but as a result, the French and Ottoman fleets got involved, and maritime trade was divided into three.
After the huge iron-clad steam merchant ships of Persia, Kimchi, Japan, Siam, and even the Ming Empire were launched, the Dutch share of the total maritime trade plummeted.
From nearly half at the peak, it has dropped to less than 15% now.
As the number of new merchant ships surges, the Netherlands' share of maritime trade will continue to decline.
The Netherlands has a small population and almost zero resources and depth. Once its pillar industries are in recession, it will directly lead to a rapid decline in national strength.
Although France has been involved in the Second European War for more than ten years, France's national power is still rising.
The Netherlands did not intervene in this protracted war, but its national power continued to decline.
Assuming that the national power of the Ming Empire was one hundred, France would only have 15%, and the Netherlands would have at most 5%, and maybe only 3%, and that's it.
The total population of the Ming Empire reached 400 million, the number of slaves was about 50 million, and the annual income (excluding food) was 1.3 billion silver coins.
The total population of France is about 50 million, the number of slaves is 15 million, and the annual income (excluding food) is 70 million silver coins.
The total population of the Netherlands is 12 million, the number of slaves is less than 5 million, and the annual income is only about 30 million silver coins.
If you still can’t tell from this comparison, here are three references.
First, the New Inca Empire had a total population of nearly 50 million, about 5 million slaves, and an annual income of 150 million silver coins.
Second, the Ottoman Empire had a total population of about 50 million, with nearly 10 million slaves, and an annual income of about 30 million.
Third, the Kingdom of Sweden has a total population of about 6 million, with less than 1 million slaves and an annual income of less than 10 million.
It can be clearly seen that France's annual income cannot match that of the New Inca Empire, which is good at mining.
France's purchasing power was actually inferior to that of the Ottoman Empire, because in many cases, trade between the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Empire could be traded in hard currency such as refined oil, without the need to pay real money.
Zhu Cixiang believes that including barter trade, the actual annual income of the Ottoman Empire is slightly higher than that of France, which should be equivalent to an annual income of about 90 million silver coins.
There are almost no black slaves in Sweden, all are white slaves, and they are Rakshasa people.
Considering that its population is only half that of the Netherlands and its annual income is one-third of that, it is actually enough.
Part of Sweden's income was bartered through canned goods, wood, furs and other local specialties in exchange for various goods from the Ming Empire.
Ranking according to the total annual income including the barter part, it is the Ming Empire > the New Inca Empire > the Ottoman Empire > the French Empire > the Kingdom of the Netherlands > the Kingdom of Sweden.
Ranked according to comprehensive national strength, France can still firmly occupy the second place with its technological level first in Europe and second in the world, as well as its impressive industrial production capacity.
The most important thing is that France occupies good places like Western Europe, which are suitable for agricultural development. Louis XIV does not have to worry about famine at all.
Of course, the New Inca Empire and the Ottoman Empire also had their own granaries.
The former has the area of the Plains of La Plata, and the latter also has Asia Minor.
The key is that these two companies have developed to where they are now only because of Zhu Cixiang's support.
Without the comprehensive support of the Ming Empire, sooner or later it would turn into a puddle of mud...
At the summit, Louis XIV also tested how Ming Dynasty would react if the French army attacked Portugal, which had moved to South America.
Zhu Cixiang said that this matter had nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty, thinking: I am too lazy to send troops.
After France was defeated, Louis XIV could use this land to exchange for weapons and technology with himself, which would be much more cost-effective than directly sending troops to Brazil.
With the end of the Second European War, a large number of French soldiers returned to the homeland. Louis XIV wanted to continue to use the residual enthusiasm of these veterans and exchange some benefits for himself...
In the eyes of Louis XIV, the Portuguese did not deserve this well-located land.
Don’t they also have land in Africa?
Then just go and live a good life!
Louis XIV planned to exchange Portugal for at least four level-7 ironclads and related technology, as well as two level-8 ironclads under construction, and to fully forgive previous loans and interest.
Four level seven ironclad ships are worth 1.4 billion silver coins, and the relevant construction technology is given away for free. Two level eight ironclad ships are worth 1.4 billion silver coins.
The total principal and interest amount is 550 million silver coins, and the total transaction amount is as high as 3.35 billion silver coins. Although it can be discounted by 20, it is still nearly 2.7 billion silver coins.
This can be regarded as a record for the history of transactions between Ming Dynasty and France. If inflation is taken into account, it is still acceptable.
In fact, the Amazon rainforest area in northern Brazil does not have much use value. The real area before it is the central and southern regions of Brazil.
There are not only huge iron mines there, but also farming and grazing. It is a rare and good place.
Since Poirot was also concerned about sending troops, the three parties reached an agreement.
The French army is responsible for the area north of 20 degrees south latitude, and Poirot can capture the area south of it.
After the French army captured the area, the Ming Empire delivered four seventh-level ironclads (kings) to Fafa at a rate of two every five years.
In 1725 and 1732, each received an eighth-level ironclad (Scharnhorst).
When France delivered the area to the Ming Empire and signed relevant agreements, the Ming Empire canceled all debts previously owed by France.
Zhu Cixiang had no intention of bargaining with Louis XIV, because he had already drawn up a shipbuilding plan for the next sixty years.
Even if the French Navy has two Scharnhorsts, four Kings, and six Blüchers, the number and combat effectiveness of its battleships are only less than one-fifth of the Ming fleet.
The reason is that aircraft carriers are never mentioned in the comparison of naval power of various countries published in newspapers and magazines!
After the emergence of the carrier-based version of the "Black-footed Albatross," aircraft carriers are the weapon that determines the outcome of naval battles.
By 1732, the Ming Navy would have at least twelve "King" aircraft carriers.
Even if each aircraft carrier only carries twelve "Black-footed Albatross", the entire aircraft carrier battle group can dispatch as many as 144 aircraft.
It is actually not too difficult for carrier-based aircraft units to cooperate with the main fleet to destroy more than a dozen French Navy capital ships, not to mention that the Ming Navy also has many light aircraft carriers.
For the French army, it was not difficult to capture Brazil. In addition to defending the city, the Portuguese army was no match for the French army in field battles.
After seeing that Karl XI successfully obtained a level six ironclad ship, William III even wanted to follow the same pattern and obtain a level seven ironclad ship.
If level seven is not possible, level six ironclads can be used, but they must be paid in installments, and it must be a ten-year loan model, preferably with low interest or even no interest.
Zhu Cixiang also had a way to deal with such a shameless old friend.
The second-hand level six ironclad ship is worth 200 million silver coins, with a ten-year low interest rate of 5%, and the annual interest is 10 million.
Counting the principal, the total principal and interest repayment is 300 million silver coins, and the Netherlands needs to pay 30 million every year.
For William III, this was an absolutely unbearable amount.
It's easy to lower it, just use beautiful women to offset it.
Fifty thousand beauties between the ages of 16 and 22, with a height of over 1.65 meters and a weight of no more than 120 pounds.
Even if each person can recharge two hundred silver coins per year, it is not a bad deal!
Moreover, Zhu Cixiang did not intend to completely possess these beauties and wait until ten years later to return them to William III!
In other words, the ownership of a second-hand level six ironclad ship is exchanged for the ten-year right to use these beauties!
William III thought it was too expensive because the country's population was too small.
If it were to be replaced by a seventh-level ironclad ship, I might still consider it...
Tier 7 ironclad?
Beautiful thought!
That’s not the price!
In the end, the two sides agreed to exchange a ten-year-old level six ironclad ship (Blücher) for the ten-year right to use 20,000 beautiful Dutch girls.
If the fragrant jade is damaged during use, the Ming Dynasty will compensate each person at the standard of two thousand silver coins. If it is disabled, you can get compensation from two hundred to one thousand silver coins.
If it is a baby, the price of a baby boy is the same as that of a baby girl, which is two hundred silver coins per baby. The Ming Dynasty will provide all the related expenses such as food, clothing, housing and transportation here.
Any Dutch family that provides a beautiful woman will receive an immediate compensation of one hundred silver coins.
The number of 20,000 Dutch young ladies is not too much, but it is much better than using black people or some indigenous people to get through the work.
And throughout the ages, if there is a first time, there will be a second time.
Zhu Cixiang also plans to use most of them as prizes for officers and soldiers at various overseas naval bases. Anyone who has no serious demerits can participate...
Some naval generals always complain on behalf of their subordinates that the level of logistics in providing women is really unflattering.
Well, now, the Ocean Horse is here, and it is still a young and beautiful breed. Everyone should be satisfied, right?
As for the principal of 200 million silver coins, William III actually couldn't afford it.
Zhu Cixiang said understandingly that the other party only needed to repay the loan at the standard of five million silver coins per year.
The repayment period is twenty years and the total amount is 100 million silver coins.
The premise is that after the first batch of girls expires, two more batches of girls with the same number and the same conditions will be provided...
William III could not but be moved by this request.
After all, if these girls stay in the country, even if they work day and night for ten years, they will not be able to create wealth worth 100 million silver coins for the country!
Besides, when you come to the Ming Empire, you will not have to worry about food and clothing. For a girl from a poor background, this is indeed a good place to go.
Zhu Cixiang even thought about getting married and was willing to stay forever. Ming Dynasty could give William III 500 silver coins and the beauty's family 500 silver coins.
If William III felt that this method was feasible, after 1724, he could use the same method to obtain a twenty-year-old seventh-level ironclad ship.
It doesn’t matter if you feel you can’t accept it, you can go to Louis XIV. The European Emperor will send you 100,000 well-armed strong men. Once you come, you won’t leave...
If someone shyly comes to you to ask for benefits, then you must accept the conditions you set.
If you want to get benefits, you must abide by the Zhu style trading rules formulated by Zhu Cixi!
Money, resources, women, there has to be one thing you can do with, right?
If you want to take advantage of nothing, then you have to get away as far as you can!
Zhu Cihong would not propose the same conditions to Poirot, otherwise he would be disgusted to death.
So far, the advisory team stationed in Lima has never experienced any harassment of local indigenous women.
Military discipline is on the one hand, but on the other hand, indigenous women are really...
The wives and concubines of the advisory group are either from the mainland, or they are fair-skinned and beautiful Ocean horses.
If she is really an indigenous woman, she must be the precious daughter of a royal family or noble.
