The capital of the Sultanate of Johor, Batu Sawal.
The scenery here is still the same, but the mentality of Marco Gullit and John Tropp, who came back after many days, is very different.
The last time they came to Batu Sawal City, there was still a high-ranking Dutch gentleman who would make the entire Sultan Palace tremble with every stomp of his feet. Those Tian Meng Gong and Earth Meng Gong, seeing the two of them is like a mouse seeing a cat, how can they dare to show any dignity? But now, a Tianmenggong who is responsible for guarding the safety of the palace dares to look down on them, and even openly asks for bribes. How corrupt!
But the situation was so pressing that Marco Gullit had no choice but to give the other party a large bag of shield coins... After returning, he must ask Governor Campos for reimbursement! I have to repay him with at least a thousand guilders to relieve my hatred!
What is even more hateful is the Sultan Mahmud I of the Sultanate of Johor. In the past, when I heard that the masters of the Dutch East India Company came to visit, he would personally come out of the palace gate to greet him, and he would also be entertained by pretty girls with good wine and meat. But this time, not only did they not come to greet them, they also allowed Gurlitt and Tropp to bask in the sun outside the palace gate for an hour. Knowing that they had been thirsty and hot for two days and were about to suffer from heatstroke, they sent the Goddess of Heaven to lead them into the palace.
As for the good wine and meaty nymphets... they are all available! But instead of entertaining Gurlitt and Tropp, they entertained Qiu Rong, the admiral of the Ming Dynasty's Nanyang Fleet, and Su Zhandao, the imperial minister. Ma Mo I accompanied Qiu Rong and Su Zhandao to eat, drink and enjoy singing and dancing in the palace hall, while Gurlitt and Tropp had to wait outside the hall. Only when the people inside were enjoying themselves did they let the Tianmeng The duke led them in and fortunately gave them a seat. He did not ask them to stand or kneel, which would have been too humiliating.
"You two foreigners have heard this. In compliance with the imperial decree of the Emperor of Heaven, I, together with Admiral Qiu, led the land and sea army south to rescue the Malacca Sultanate and help the Malacca Sultanate regain the old capital of Malacca... This Malacca The city was taken away by you Dutch, right?"
Hearing Su Zhan Dao's question, Gurlit quickly stood up and explained: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! The city of Malacca was not captured by the Dutch from the Sultanate of Malacca, but by the Portuguese from the Sultanate of Malacca in 1511. What we captured has nothing to do with us Dutch. We, the Dutch, allied with the Johor Sultanate against Portugal in 1639, and jointly sent troops to defeat Portugal in 1641, and then captured the city of Malacca from the Portuguese."
"Really? Counselor Zheng, is he right?"
Qiu Rong stroked his beard and listened patiently to Gurlit's explanation in Chinese before turning to ask Zheng Kezang in a pretentious manner.
Zheng Kezang said with a smile: "Report to the army gate, what he said is correct or not."
"How do you say this?"
Zheng Kezang asked Gurlitt: "Grandpa Gurlitt, let me ask you when did Spain and Portugal merge into one country? And when did they become independent from Spain? Your Federal Republic of the Netherlands was once Spain. Part of Spain, when did they successfully become independent from Spain? From 1639 to 1641 AD, Portugal and the Netherlands were still legally part of Spain, right? King Philip IV of Spain was both the monarch of Portugal at that time Is he also the monarch of the Netherlands? If I remember correctly, your United Provinces Republic of the Netherlands only gained its fully independent status in the Treaty of Münster signed in 1648. Portugal only became fully independent in 1668. Gained independence from the rule of the King of Spain. In other words, between 1639 and 1641, the Netherlands and Portugal were actually one country!"
Can it still be calculated like this?
Marco Gullit and John Tropp didn't know what to say.
Although between 1639 and 1641, the Spanish recognized neither Dutch nor Portuguese independence. However, the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands, including the Netherlands, had long since broken away from Spanish control. Moreover, with the Twelve-Year Truce Agreement signed in 1609, Spain had de facto recognized the independence of the seven provinces in the northern Netherlands.
The Portuguese Lisbon Revolution occurred in 1640. By the time the Dutch East India Company captured the city of Malacca in 1641, all of Portugal had separated from Spain.
Therefore, the idea that the Netherlands and Portugal belong to the same country cannot be said to be unfounded, but it is also very far-fetched.
"This, this is just the Spanish view," Marco Gullit said, "We the Dutch and they the Portuguese don't think both sides belong to the same country."
"The key to the question is not what you think," Su Zhandao said with eyes wide open, "but what the Emperor of Heaven thinks? But who currently controls the city of Malacca?
The purpose of this imperial envoy was to help the Sultanate of Malacca regain its old capital. The old capital of the Malacca Sultanate is the city of Malacca. I will find whoever it is to take it back! "
Yes, the city of Malacca cannot be saved!
Gullit and Tropp both sighed in their hearts. This city of Malacca was a key point for the Dutch East India Company to control the Strait of Malacca. Once it was lost, the entire strait would be controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
"But we have an agreement with the Sultanate of Johor..." Gurlit protested in a low voice.
"The agreement between you does not count!" Su Zhandao said righteously, "Because the vassal state has no diplomacy... If your Dutch East India Company still hopes to lift sanctions, it should hand over the city of Malacca."
Mahmood I quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, vassal states have no right to sign treaties, so the treaties signed by the Johor Sultanate and the East India Company do not count!"
This is a repudiation!
Gurlitt and Tropp were so angry that their faces were blue.
There were a lot of treaties between the Dutch East India Company and the Sultanate of Johor!
And these treaties were not forced by the East India Company with a knife on the Sultan's neck... In fact, most of the treaties were made because the Sultan of Johor was too poor and borrowed money from the East India Company for various reasons. Or the arms were borrowed on credit and they still couldn't come out, so they had to sell some sovereignty.
Now it’s all gone? How is the money owed calculated?
"You can't count them all!" Su Zhandao added, "Things that do not involve the power of the Celestial Sect Master must continue to be fulfilled."
"But what is the power of the Celestial Sect Master?" Gulit asked.
"It's the Emperor of Heaven who has the final say!" Su Zhandao said.
What? Gurlitt was less willing.
Qiu Rong saw Gurlit's expression of reluctance, so he smiled and threw out a date: "Gu Taipan, as long as you hand over the city of Malacca honestly, I will report to the emperor to intercede on your behalf... The Holy One is Your Majesty, you will definitely be lenient and cancel the sanctions. As for the various agreements you have signed with the Sultanate of Malacca, the Sultanate of Banten, and other Southeast Asian kingdoms, your Majesty will also consider whether to abrogate them as appropriate."
"This..." Gullit was still hesitating.
John Tropp on the side saw that "Gu Taipan" was still hesitating, and quickly interjected: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, Governor Campos said that as long as the Emperor of Heaven can lift the sanctions, the East India Company is willing to help. The Great Tomorrow's service... can also help the Great Tomorrow to conquer the Annan Zheng clan.
The Western firearms used by Annan Zheng's troops were purchased with the help of our East India Company, and the artillery instructors were also ours. We, the East India Company, know the truth and falsehoods of the Annan Zheng family very well. "
Lord Zheng of Annan Kingdom is really crying to death this time. The Dutch sold their home after losing the war. It seems that they are planning to become a foreign leader and help the Great Tomorrow Soldiers clean up Annan Kingdom to atone for their sins!
"Hahahaha..." Qiu Rong looked up to the sky and laughed, "You are really good businessmen who operate with integrity." He turned to look at Ma Mo I, "Sultan, did you hear what he said?"
"I heard you, Your Majesty." Ma Mo I smiled apologetically, "From now on, the Kingdom of Johor... no, the Kingdom of Malacca will always have only one suzerain, the Ming Dynasty!"
"That's right!" Su Zhandao nodded, and then said to Gulit with a straight face: "Look, this is the way to be a minister. Who is your East India Company? Business is not business, the country is You are not a country, you are an official, you are not a bandit... Let’s say you are businessmen. You are occupying people’s cities and destroying people’s countries. Is that what businessmen should do?”
Both Gullit and Tropp are worried!
At this time, Qiu Rong said with a smile: "You said that the sea is not peaceful, so it is understandable to build some armed merchant ships. You want to circle a seaport to facilitate trading, and you want to set up a few plantations to grow spices. As long as Malacca I agreed with the king of Java Island, and there is nothing wrong with asking the Emperor of Heaven for permission.
But tell yourselves, is the territory you occupy now too big? Do you support too many mercenaries? Moreover, you have done so many things on the territory of the Great Tomorrow. When did you ask for an order from the Great Tomorrow?
In addition, you have also concluded various treaties involving royal power with the local states in Nanyang... Is this what a company should do? "
There's drama!
Gullit and Tropp are both smart people, and they immediately heard the undertones.
The intention of this Imperial Envoy Su was clear... that is to allow the Dutch East India Company to retain the commercial ports and ports in Malacca and Batavia, as well as the plantations on several spice islands.
Moreover, if the Emperor of Heaven can approve the Dutch East India Company to continue to own ports, harbours, and plantations, then he will not be nervous about the East India Company continuing to engage in East-West trade.
Although the East India Company had to hand over its excess territory other than ports, docks, and plantations, it certainly could no longer continue to lord it over a bunch of feudal states. But it was able to keep its core assets... In fact, these assets were the East India Company's main source of profit. As for the redundant territories and the company's control of the princely states, they actually had little profit. The reason why the East India Company wanted to control so many territories and princely states was actually to maintain order in the Southeast Asia region.
If the Ming Dynasty can establish a new order in Nanyang, the Dutch East India Company will not have to worry about it and just make money honestly...
Thinking of this, Chief Gurlitt immediately said to Qiu Rong and Su Zhandao: "Qiu Junmen, Mr. Su, our Dutch East India Company is willing to become a company that operates legally and pays taxes under the new order of the Great Tomorrow. As long as the Great Tomorrow The son is willing to allow the company to continue to engage in east-west trade, and the company is willing to hand over the land east of Malacca, including the Malacca area, except for ports, commercial ports, and plantations, to..."
to whom?
As he spoke, Gurlit glanced at Mamoud Sultan.
"Sultan," Su Zhandao also looked at Sudan and asked calmly, "To whom?"
"Of course..." Ma Mo wanted to say "return the property to its original owner", but when he saw the murderous guys Qiu Rong and Su Zhandao, he immediately said firmly: "Give it to tomorrow." son!"
That's pretty much it!
Su Zhandao laughed: "Sultan, go back and visit Guangzhou with Governor Kan of the Dutch East India Company... The emperor is in Guangzhou now, and you can ask him for land." He said again. Gurlitt said, "What kind of chartered trading company is your Dutch East India Company? Who granted this 'franchise'? Isn't it the Emperor of Heaven? East of Malacca is a territory of the Celestial Empire. Your business is so big, and there is a war." The ships also had mercenaries, and they also opened government offices in ports, docks, and plantations.
Should this rule... be set by the Emperor of Heaven for you? "
"It should, it should," Gullit nodded repeatedly, "We must listen to the emperor."
Tropp also said: "Our East India Company will also prepare a generous gift for the great emperor!"
Qiu Rong smiled and nodded: "Okay, okay... let's hit the road as soon as possible. It's better to choose a day than to hit it. Now that major events are happening in Malacca, I happen to have to return to Guangzhou to return my mission to the Holy One. By the way, Bring Governor Kan and Ma Sudan with you. Sudan, Gu Taipan, what do you think?"
As soon as Gutley and Tropp left, the peace negotiation representatives Sir Child and Qiongsenqiongtai sent by the fleets of Britain, France, Switzerland and Portugal gave in with a little "heart".
Their "heart" is some local specialties from the New World, and the golden goodies came to Batu Sawal City to "work".
I don’t know if it’s because Child and Qiongsen bring more sincerity than the Dutch, or because the four countries of Britain, France, Switzerland, and Portugal have not yet received the Chinese sanctions and can get better treatment.
In short, Qiu Rong and Su Zhandao were much more polite to them. The two of them personally went out of the palace gate with Mahmoud Sultan and invited them in.
In fact, it is not that Campos is too stingy, but that the Dutch ships have been sunk, and most of their "sincerity" has also been sunk, so naturally they cannot produce many good things.
The seven third-level ships from Britain, France, Switzerland, and Portugal were all still there, so they each collected their points and sent them to Qiu Rong and Su Zhandao, which were dazzling with golden light.
"Sir Cha, poor big class, are you too polite? We haven't done anything, so we don't get paid for our merits! Besides, I am the prince of the Ming Dynasty and a confidant of the emperor. Can I accept your gold?"
"That's right, I and Qiu Junmen are both upright officials, and we can't accept your gold. Take it away quickly!"
