No one would have thought that a banquet for a baby girl who had just completed the moon would alarm almost all the forces in this Nanzhong region, of course, the Lao Kingdom that was raped by Li Shouhan and Zheng Jiawolf Bèi. Needless to say, the Zheng family, who were in the stage of adultery, the king of Taungoo and Arakan in Burma, the king of Ayutthaya in Siam, the Spanish governor in Luzon, the Portuguese who had just been expelled from Salian, and the Dutch with tulips as the symbol, all sent heavy gifts to the baby girl and sent special envoys to congratulate her.

For no other reason, her father was the commander of the political and military forces that are now important in the area, and the owner of a powerful and wealthy economic group.

Vladimir. Ilyich has a very incisive discussion on this matter in "The Eastern Empire".

After some maneuvering with the guys who are good at social reception in the ceremonial room and the Han Yuan firm, the purpose of these guests was soon clear.

"Sure enough, the world is bustling, all for profit, the world is bustling, all for profit!" Shouhan fiddled with a Ceylon lapis lazuli, teasing Erya'er who was lying on the Nanzhu crib wrapped with copper wires, Erya'er's small eyes looked at the beautiful stones in the hands of the person in front of him from time to time, and the corners of his mouth showed a babbling sound.

"Girl, you say, how should Dad deal with this group of guys?" Shouhan picked up another ruby from his hand to tease his daughter.

"My daughter has only been around for just over a month, and she doesn't even recognize anyone, but you are here to ask about these military affairs, where can she understand?" Yan Mei'er, who had just breastfed Erya'er, put down the chicken soup bowl in her hand, and glanced at Shouhan with some dissatisfaction.

"Huh! I started from a doll, the child is small today, small tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. It's all grown up little by little! ”

After playing with his daughter for a while, Shouhan was "bombed" out of the room by Yan Mei'er and came to the study, where several right-hand men had been waiting for a long time.

What was discussed at the meeting was not known at the time, and it can only be inferred from the autobiography, chronology, and correspondence of the relevant people many years later, so the letters of Father Alfonso, who was a representative of Western countries in Ha Tinh at that time, are particularly important.

"I don't know if these damned lowlanders used Satan's magic on the glass dressing mirror that General Lee's daughter had given to General Lee's daughter, and according to one of my disciples who served in the General's Palace, when the general saw the mirror, he stood still, and after a while, he circled around the mirror a few times, muttering to himself, 'Damn it, damn it!' How did I forget about this thing?! ’”

"Then the general left behind the Cheng family, who seemed to be the first allies to be met, the representatives of the quasi-vassal King of Ayutthaya, and the representatives of the two local powers in Burma, who, on the basis of his own position and security, were eager to seek protection from General Li and buy the standard armaments of General Lee's here, and met and talked merrily with that damned lowlander, the fellow of the Dutch East India Company, Van Basten!"

The tall, lanky Bassten, whose surname reminds him of the star he played for at AC Milan, is not the kind of person with developed limbs and a simple mind.

"Your Governor, in the midst of the armed conflict between your mighty and invincible army and the Siamese army, and out of respect and friendship for you and your army, the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have taken a strictly neutral attitude, unlike those damned pigs of the Spanish Empire, who try to stop your conquest with their own strength. But your invincible army crushed them like a beetle. ”

While touting others, he bragged about his wisdom without leaving a trace, and Basten was also a good player here.

He described Wang Bao's battle with Siam Wo Lo Weng, and the Dutch found countless reasons to stay in Ayutthaya and prevaricate their behavior of not going to Nakhon Ratchasima, as their admiration and friendship for Governor Li Shouhan. Sure enough, it's a good means!

"When the general's army passed through Ayutthaya, the senior management of our East India Company also witnessed the general's military might, and it was indeed no less than Charlemagne's back then! We are glad that there is such a powerful armed force as the General in this area. ”

"We hope that the Dutch East India Company will be able to cooperate with General Lee in commercial conduct; Jointly pursue business interests. At the same time, in order to ensure that our commercial interests are not violated, we are prepared to cooperate with General Lee to launch a campaign against the pirate ships that exist in the waters of this area, such as the Portuguese in the waters of Chittagong and the Arakan region, and at the same time to uproot their entrenched nests and work towards the establishment of a fair and just trade order. ”

Listening to what he said, Shouhan couldn't help but feel an urge to applaud warmly after listening to the translated words from the interpreter. Translating Basten's words into the vernacular means, "Dude, when you fought the Siamese, we secretly pulled the Siamese back and helped you." We have also seen your team in secret, and it is really very good, we think we can't eat you, and I heard that there are a lot of good things on your territory, so let's discuss it, how about a common plan to make a fortune? However, in order to ensure that our fortune is not disturbed, I wonder if we should kill the Portuguese who I don't like to look at together? "To be able to say such a shameless purpose is so high-sounding, and the Shouhan is ashamed.

"No problem, as long as your company can pay enough for the goods and meet our requirements, the trade door of Nanzhong will be open for your company."

"But I don't know, what kind of goods do you want to buy, and what is the price? In what currency can we pay for, or, in what kind of goods of the same value that we are interested in? ”

"Sir Charles of England is my business partner, and we have had many pleasant collaborations, and he has recommended to me the general's porcelain production, which has caused great waves in The Hague and in Amsterdam, and when I came to congratulate your little princess, several of my friends wrote to me in the hope of getting your porcelain here, especially the statue of the Virgin, and I hope to have this happiness."

Shouhan nodded, he said Charlie, who was the first Englishman to discover the commercial value of bone china, oh, lily porcelain, I didn't expect this guy to be a knight. It's a pity that this Sir Charles has no money and can't buy too much porcelain, and he can only watch those porcelains being bought by others.

"All Charlie has obtained from me is the exclusive sales rights in the English region, if your company is interested and has the strength, I can hand over the exclusive sales rights of the entire European continent to your company." Shouhan felt that it seemed that a good opportunity was in front of him, but the next words made him and everyone present stunned!

"Why should it be handed over to my company? I feel that it is your best choice to hand over the exclusive sale rights of lily porcelain on the European continent to the general. My family and I also have enough money to pay, and if the number of goods provided by the General exceeds my ability to pay, I can temporarily have the East India Company pay for our trade. ”

I see! It turns out that Europeans are not, as they are boasted about, only have the interests of the company, and do not consider personal gains and losses at all?! Shouhan was stunned for a long time before he remembered that in the Western cultural system, it seems that individualism and personal interest are not a derogatory term.

Moreover, in the history of the Dutch East India Company, it seems that there are many cases of corruption, bribery, embezzlement, and damage to public and private interests, which is why the Dutch East India Company was finally swept into the dustbin of history.

"Moreover, my family has its own seats and friends in the Council of Seventeen, and we will take precautions in the bud against actions that may harm our common interests!"

The so-called 17-member committee, for its own interests, intrigues with each other, and it is not uncommon to dismantle the platform and dig up the wall.

"Yes!"

Shouhan made a final decision. Why did imperialism buy off Chinese traitors to obtain huge benefits, and now, why should a Dutch traitor be sent to the door to be a traitor?

"My brother, I don't know what kind of goods you want to bring back this time, and how much do you need to bring?"

Shouhan is completely a profiteer's face.

"If there is enough supply, I hope to be able to take away at least 1,000 sets of cutlery, 1,200 sets of tea sets, and that beautiful statue of the Virgin, and I will carry as many as I want. Because we were trading for the first time, the price was as good as Charlie's, and I brought enough gold on board to pay for the cargo. ”

Well? You messenger who has come to congratulate my daughter, where did you get so much gold on the ship? There must be something strange about this!

"I have finished my business negotiations with you, and I am now entrusted and authorized by the board of directors of the East India Company of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to conduct business negotiations with you." Van Basten looked upright, as if he was not the one who was digging into the wall for personal gain.

"In view of the present situation in Europe, and for our just cause, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of England support the Kingdom of Denmark in its holy war against the criminal Habsburgs. Therefore, a large number of military equipment was transferred to the European continent, and in order to prevent us from being attacked by those criminal warmongers, damned slave traders, cowardly Portuguese without perfect weapons, the company decided to purchase from you cannons, gunpowder, and those fine swords and armor. ”

"These?"

"How much are you going to want?"

"Without compromising your strategic security and defense, the East India Company wants to be as much as possible."

"Well, in my armament warehouse, there are some artillery pieces that are not equipped with troops, both large and small calibers, the number is about two hundred, and there are also some supporting ammunition, the number is not very clear. I need to ask my quartermaster to give me a detailed number. As for swords, spears, and armor, there are them in the storehouse. However, it is necessary to pay for it in one hand and deliver it in the other. You know, I also have my own difficulties, there are few people in the land, and it costs money everywhere, in addition to clearing the wasteland, what to build roads and bridges, open ditches, build ports, build water conservancy, everywhere has to employ people, you have to spend a lot of money to hire people! ”

"This? As to the payment method, General, can we negotiate that my accompanying ships will first carry away the porcelain of our trade, and return at once after they have arrived in Batavia, and then I will be able to pay you all the money for the military purchases. ”

There must be a big secret here!

After thinking about it for a while, Shouhan laughed in his heart, this guy really played a good calculation: first used the company's money for him to buy arms, paid for his porcelain business, and then, transported the porcelain to the Dutch's headquarters in Java, Batavia, and got rid of a part of it, and after taking cash, he came back to pay for the military purchases, which was really a good means! However, this kind of trick of taking advantage of the time difference in public funds for private use seems to have been played by us for a long time!

Seeing that Shouhan was silent for a long time, our Mr. Basten felt a chill in his heart, as if he saw the white statues of the Virgin turned into tinkling gold coins, and then, these gold coins suddenly turned into winged little angels under the halo of the Virgin, flew to the Virgin, and then, proudly, looked at himself helplessly kneeling on the ground.

No!

Mr. Basten let out a cry in the depths of his heart!

"Lord Governor, is there a shortage of labor in your realm? We at the East India Company can provide you with a large number of blacks and Javanese as your slaves, and how about doing those heavy physical labors, and each strong slave can be as long as 500 Chinese coins? ”

While nervously discussing business with Shouhan, trying to make up for the so-called shortage of labor that Governor Lee had just spurned, Mr. Basten groped in his pocket.

I don't know if it's because the pockets of the tweed embroidered dress on his body are too deep, when he lifts the embroidered linen handkerchief. When he was about to wipe the sweat from the top of his head, something fell to the ground.

"Don't move!" The two soldiers shouted, one stepped forward and quickly blocked in front of the guard, the other pulled out the saber at his waist and pressed the bright blade against Basten's neck, a trace of blood slowly flowed out of Mr. Basten's somewhat loose skin texture, and quietly flowed to the body of the Jedi Knife, and a beautiful and terrifying flower bloomed on the very smooth polished knife.

"My lord." Mo Yu picked up the thing that fell out of Basten's pocket from the ground. "This is it."

A small wallet made of cowhide, judging from the feel, this wallet is very valuable, tanned by the cobbler very soft, slightly ochre yellow wallet surface, you can see beautiful patterns and family crests.

Shouhan glanced at Basten very unceremoniously, "When these people come again in the future, they can't just check whether they have brought dangerous items such as knives and guns!" He taught Mo Yu a lesson, and opened the wallet, he planned to see if there were any love letters, nude photos and other things in it, to satisfy his low-level taste.

However, it was very disappointing for him.

A thin booklet, the quality of the printing and the quality of the paper are very average in Shouhan's opinion, even very rough, "This shouldn't be the ** that is popular in Europe in this era, right?" In the Netherlands, it's legal to smoke marijuana! Shouhan is going to examine this work with a critical eye, and if he can, he is going to put it into practice with the two Meishan sisters tonight with a learning attitude.

However, after opening it, Shouhan was greatly disappointed, and immediately, he was so excited that he almost jumped up!

This turned out to be a logarithmic table, damn, how did I forget the damn Napier! With this plus trigonometric functions, not to mention the star board, even the sextant is not a problem! Wrong! There is also artillery, and the shooting skills of artillery can also be improved by a big piece! What indirect aiming, ranging, benchmark guns, etc., can be done!

"What is this?" Shouhan still had a stiff face. He raised the booklet in his hand.

"This, it's a little hobby of mine!" Basten wiped the sweat from the top of his head, although the knife of the soldier was far away from his neck, but he personally experienced the sophistication of Ha Jing's military equipment, and he vowed never to experience it again!

"This is a copy of the latest work of an English mathematician sent to me by Sir Charles, which I have been studying lately, and I have found it very interesting, so I have taken it with me at any time, not wanting to disturb the adults today."

"Basten never dreamed of what a great achievement his hobby would bring to our family!" Many years later, the Van Basten family commented on his adventure.

It just so happened that General Li was also a mathematics enthusiast at that time, and after seeing such works, the two quickly turned from business partners to mutual enthusiasts, and Mr. Basten generously gave General Li his collection of works by various Western mathematicians to read and print. And General Li also generously forgave Mr. Basten the temporary difficulties encountered in the allocation of funds, and only put forward a small additional condition, that is, if there is the latest mathematical work, it must be obtained for him as soon as possible. And, as a wealthy monarch, he generously extended an invitation, 'Come to my realm!' As long as you come up with new results, whether it's mathematical, physical, chemical. ’”

A month later, Mr. Basten departed for Batavia in high spirits, and in his briefcase was a contract between the Basten family and the Li family, which provided for the exclusive right to trade in lily porcelain on the European continent, and an agreement between the Han Yuan firm and the East India Company of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to commence a comprehensive trade between the two sides, covering sugar, rattan, and rice, Dutch medicinal herbs, Batavia's spices, pepper, amber, linen, cotton, copper, tin, and lead, raw silk, silk, ceramics, and gold. Japan's silver tael.

Oh, and a supplementary agreement to the contract also stipulated that the East India Company should provide the South Central authorities with no less than 10,000 permanent laborers each year, limited to young and middle-aged men, and not to use old men, women, and children.

In addition, the two sides agreed on the issue of joint efforts to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean.

The East India Company solemnly acknowledged that Manraka and its affiliated islands were part of the sacred and inviolable territory of the Ming Dynasty.

The South China military authorities promised to guarantee the safety of the East India Company's ships, personnel, goods, and property from Manchuria to the waters east of Canton.

In the cabin, all kinds of old miscellaneous artillery pieces eliminated by the South Chinese Army, such as bowl-mouth guns and six-pounder copper cannons, were neatly placed after maintenance, wiped and oiled, and flashed with a faint metallic light in the dim light.

5,000 words, how did everyone have a holiday? Continue to click on the collection recommendation to reward and evaluate the like, let's wait!

For mobile phone users, please read it on m.biquge.info.