Cornelius Lansing sneered: "Render to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's, and it is clear that God's is not owned by the Holy See."

Now these people in the Holy See can do it for those gold and silver coins, no matter how bottomless things are. Clearly, they have turned their backs on God, and they are the sinners who deserve to be burned at the stake! ”

Lansing's words immediately caused a large number of echoes.

For the top management of the East India Company, it doesn't matter whether they believe in God or turn their backs on God, what matters is the yellow and white gold and silver coins, these little cuties must not be snatched away by the Holy See, absolutely not.

Cohen tapped the table with his pipe again and smiled, "Very well, gentlemen, it looks like you've come to an agreement, doesn't it?" ”

After a pause, Cohen continued: "If the gentlemen have no other opinions, then I will go to Li of the Ming Empire to negotiate according to these conditions?" ”

Lan Xin shrugged his shoulders indifferently and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, as long as the Ming Empire will not cut off our supply of goods, all the remaining issues are easy to discuss."

I think that if they are willing to give us the exclusive right to trade in Fushou paste and muskets, it is not negotiable to give them a price increase. ”

Cohen shook his head and said, "Lansing, you're thinking too simply. First of all, it is impossible for the Ming Empire to give us exclusive trade rights.

Now the arms of the Ming Empire have been sold to the Holy Roman Empire, the Holy See, and our hands, so that everyone will wave the gold and silver coins in their hands and beg the Ming Empire to sell us the arms.

If we are given exclusive trading rights, their arms sales will be subject to us, and they will not be able to see this. ”

As he spoke, Cohen's face couldn't help but show a hint of sadness: "Gentlemen, the Ming Empire wants Europe to be chaotic, and it is best to keep it in chaos, we are just pawns in their layout." ”

Lansing's face still had that indifferent look: "Mr. Cohen, there is nothing in this world that cannot be settled by silver coins, even if you have a great sin, you can still buy indulgences and go to heaven."

In fact, the Ming Empire is heaven, so why should we go far and near? I believe that with your friendship with Mr. Li of the Ming Empire, it is not too difficult to help us get the household registration of the Ming Dynasty, at most it is a matter of how many silver coins we need to spend. ”

As soon as Lan Sin's words fell, the conference room, which was still a little noisy, suddenly fell silent.

Alfred Balfour frowned and said, "So, what do you mean is to give up the Netherlands?" We've grown up here since we were kids, and now all of a sudden we're going to give up? ”

Lansing said: "Give up, or die, I believe this is not a very difficult choice. In fact, I believe you have already seen that the Ming Empire does not want to see a unified Europe, and they prefer to let Europe continue to be chaotic.

In a short period of time, through the continuous trade support between us and the Ming Empire and the vassal states, we may not see anything, but after a while, the Netherlands will be dragged into the quagmire of war.

What can we do to stop this from happening? And even if there were, would the Dutch authorities listen to us? You know, now the Dutch authorities are also going to tear off a piece of meat from the British. ”

Cohen nodded, "What about the other gentlemen?" What are your opinions? ”

Balfour said: "Lansing, all of this is just a hypothesis now, and it can't be used as a reason to spend money to get the Ming household registration now, right?" You know, they always see us as savages. ”

Pointing to the exquisite cups on the table, and then pointing to the silk clothes on his body, Lan Xin sneered: "In front of the Ming Empire, what qualifications do we have to say that we are not barbarians? Perhaps, this is our opportunity to integrate into the Ming Dynasty and into the civilized world? ”

Standing up on the edge of the table, Lan Xin said lightly: "Gentlemen, I only said so much, and it was the last time I talked about this issue, sorry, I still have some things, so I left first." ”

After nodding to the others, Lan Xin left the conference room directly, and among the remaining sixteen people, many began to criticize Lan Xin's attitude and choice.

Cohen rubbed his brow and tapped the table twice before saying, "Alright, gentlemen, let's stop here for all the issues."

If, I mean, anybody agrees with Lansing's proposal, can come to me privately, and I'll figure it out.

Of course, no matter what the final result is, it will not delay our current transaction with the Ming Empire, and it will not affect our income, so let's dismiss the meeting. ”

When Cohen returned to his office, the muscles in his face twitched - Lansing had already taken out the little tea he had given him and brewed it......

After a moment of silence for the tea leaves that were almost equivalent to gold, Cohen shook his head, walked to his seat and sat down, and smiled, "How likely do you think it will be to succeed?" ”

Lan Xin gently blew the teacup like a Ming man, and his jerky movements caused Cohen to frown again: "Don't worry, taste this tea first, it's really a rare treasure." ”

Seeing that Cohen was still frowning and not speaking, Lan Sing continued: "Believe me, no one will go far away, especially when heaven is already close at hand.

And those people, who even dare to hang themselves with a rope, what is the big deal about selling the Dutch authorities? Taking advantage of the fact that we are still useful to the Ming Empire now, it is very likely that the conditions put forward will make the Ming Empire agree.

If we delay any longer, when we are really useless, I think we will lose even a chance to survive. ”

Cohen frowned and said, "But, will there be a place reserved for us in heaven?" ”

Lan Xin still smiled and said: "You have the most contact with that Li of the Ming Empire, I believe you should also have an evaluation in your heart."

There is no problem in this world that money can't solve, and if there is, it only means that you haven't paid enough money, even if it's a place in heaven - if you have enough money, God will personally take you to heaven. ”

Cohen said: "Hopefully, you know, the attitude of the Ming Empire is to let Europe continue to be chaotic, whether it is the Germanic barbarians of the Holy Roman Empire, or those priests of the Holy See, or these vassal states where we are, it is best if these three parties can end up at the same time." ”

Lan Xin shrugged his shoulders and said with a smile: "So, we have to sell more arms and Fushou paste for the Ming Empire, so that they can see the value of our existence." ”

After nodding, Cohen said, "Alright, Mr. Lansing, now you can leave my office, remember to ask your secretary to send me the tea fee, it only costs a hundred silver coins!" ”

With a pop, Lan Xin couldn't help but squirt out the tea in his mouth: "A hundred silver coins? Why don't you grab it? ”

Cohen lit his pipe and said meaningfully, "It's faster than grabbing, isn't it?" ”

After sending Lansing away, Cohen returned to his desk, smoking his pipe and falling into deep thought.

The East India Company had changed a bit, and it had become a stranger to everyone, and the people inside were divided into two factions, one in favor of the Ming Dynasty, and the other in favor of protecting the Netherlands.

The two sides are now fighting a little closely, and they both feel a little uncertain, so they have to test these gentlemen through Lansing.

As for the result of the temptation, even if Lan Xin didn't say it, he was clear in his heart, and the reason why he gave Lan Xin more opportunities to perform was just to take advantage of it.

Fatherland? What is that?

Cohen said that he didn't really care about the Netherlands—in fact, not many of the people present today, except for Lansing and himself, didn't seem to care, even the gentlemen who had shouted to defend the Netherlands.

If there is heaven in the world, it must be the Ming Dynasty, there is hope that you can enter heaven while you are alive, and who wants to wait until you die?

The biggest problem now is whether the Ming Empire can give itself the identity of these Ming people, and the rest of the problems are actually not big problems.

Before Cohen could figure out a clue, a knock on the door woke Cohen from his deep thought.

After lighting the pipe that was almost extinguished again, Cohen said in a deep voice, "Please come in!" ”

It was Billy Banks who pushed the door in, and as soon as he entered, Banks made his attitude clear: "Cohen, my old friend, I need your help now. ”

Cohen smiled, "Of course, for the sake of the women we used to go to find together, whether you want to borrow money or have any other requests, I will do my best to accommodate you." ”

Banks said with a smile: "Heaven in heaven belongs to God, heaven on earth belongs to the Ming Empire, I want to go to heaven when I live, instead of going through judgment after I die." ”

Cohen nodded and said, "Of course, I believe that there is no one who does not want to go to heaven alive, after all, it is unknown whether there will be heaven after death." ”

Banks said: "Then, please help me get some Ming household registration places." ”

After counting on his fingers for a long time, Banks continued: "One hundred and twenty-one places, I need fifty, including my wife, mistress, and my children. ”

Cohen shook his head and said, "One hundred taels of gold, not one hundred taels of silver, are you still sure that you need fifty places?" ”

With a pop, Banks stood up and exclaimed, "You only said a hundred taels just now, but you didn't say a hundred taels of gold!" ”

"Huh?" Cohen smiled, "Then did I say it's a hundred taels of silver?" Dear Banksy, I only said that it was one hundred taels, but in fact, whether it was gold or silver, it was the Ming Empire that had the final say, not me.

The reason why I bought a hundred taels of gold from you now is just in case, what if the price demanded by the Ming people is higher? ”

Waving his hand to signal Banks not to speak, Cohen continued: "You know, their Ming civilians have a piece of land since the day they were born, they don't have to pay any taxes, and all their income goes to themselves.

From the day they set out on the expedition, the children of the Ming civilians will be protected by millions of troops, protected by their emperor, and have the legal right to study, take exams, and be an official, all of which are written in their constitutions.

Walking down the street, when you have a conflict with a Ming civilian, there is no doubt that whether it is your fault or not, it will be your fault, because their government will be infinitely biased towards them, and this biased behavior will be encouraged by their Emperor Majesty.

Even if you are sailing on the oceans, as long as your merchant ship is flying the flag of the Ming Empire, believe me, no pirate will come to you for trouble.

Because that means that they will be subjected to the navy of the Ming Empire, as well as the pirates of the Ming Empire, endlessly hunted down from sea to land, until the pirates who offended the Ming people were piled into a pyramid along with their families.

And I lived in Ming for a while, do you know what they do at night? Studying, or going out to drink, or playing with women in the prostitution, were sacred and legal rights granted to them by their emperor through the constitution, as long as they returned home or found a place to live before eleven o'clock in the evening.

So they can party before 11 p.m., and as long as they have enough money in their pockets, they can do it every day.

Believe me, let alone 11 p.m., even in the Netherlands, when it's 8 p.m., do you dare to go out alone? ”

As he spoke, Cohen smiled with envy and self-deprecation: "Do you know, when I was walking alone on the streets of their capital at nine o'clock in the evening, I wished that I was born in the Ming Empire and grew up in the Ming Empire, even if it was a common person."

Because there is no need to worry about war, no need to worry about robbers, and no need to worry about any accidents, their government always has to maintain their security and power.

Of course, none of this includes me, nor you, nor all of us in the East India Company, because we don't have a Ming household registration, so we are regarded as barbarians by them, just like the Indians killed by the British.

Maybe one day in the future, when the Ming army comes to Europe, many Europeans will be killed as barbarians like the Indians, but no one can guarantee your safety.

Do you know what I felt when I heard that Cromwell had five regiments of troops? I felt funny! Yes, the Ming Empire in the Far East, in addition to their standing army of millions, also has a reserve army of several million, and their territory is several times that of the entire European continent!

Therefore, no matter what, I will find a way to get Daming's household registration for myself and my family, even if I am bankrupt and have nothing. ”

PS: Just returned to Shenyang and rushed out of this chapter.