"The decline of the Portuguese Empire and the Francis Empire proves that simple plundering may bring short-lived prosperity, but it will inevitably lead to decay in the end. The strength of the Netherlands meant that the benefits of trade were far greater than the benefits of simply plundering gold and silver. The Kingdom of Angloland apparently saw this pattern as well, so you have been operating in the Mughal Empire for decades under the name of the East India Company, and although it is already very powerful, you have not yet taken possession of the country. For you know that trade brings vital profits, and not as the Portuguese and the Franc do, which seem to rob countless gold and silver, but in fact go into decline. ”

In the fourteenth year of Chongkang, on the twentieth night of the first lunar month, in the Wanghai Restaurant, Jia Cong faced three Angolents invited from Tianzhu by Gao Liliang, a Français tooth man.

One of them, also a Baron of the Anglalands, was named Charles Gray.

He was an old man with a bald forehead and a high nose.

looked at Jia Cong, who was talking eloquently, and when they heard what he said, the three of them couldn't help but look at each other.

They could not have imagined that in the far East, in this strong, rich, yet closed and backward country, there would be a young man who knew so much about the West.

He was so young, yet so calm and wise.

Baron Grey paused, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I admit that your remarks are wonderful, but can you explain again that Portuguese, Franco, and the Netherlands are all small countries, so why is it that the former two have plundered so much gold and silver wealth, but they are not as beneficial as the Netherlands for trade?" ”

In fact, Jia Cong could roughly understand Baron Gray's English, but he still looked at Gao Liliang and waited for him to translate.

After the big-nosed Gao Liliang repeated the words, Jia Cong bowed slightly, and then smiled: "Gold and silver, after all, is just a currency. They don't mean anything in themselves, except to look good. The value of money lies in circulation and in facilitating the exchange of goods, which is the ultimate mission of gold and silver in today's world. The goods they exchange for are the real wealth. The Portuguese and the Franc did not see through this, but plundered a large amount of gold, silver and precious stones back to their homeland, but the total number of goods in their country must be too large, and the increase in currency is too much, which inevitably makes the price of goods begin to rise, which is a real disaster for ordinary people, which is the reason for their decline. The Netherlands, on the other hand, plundered less and traded more, opening up countless trade routes for the people of the country, turning the people's labor force into wealth, and bringing back abundant goods from all over the world for the cheap enjoyment of the country. That's why they're so strong. ”

Hearing this, Baron Gray's faces were extremely solemn, and they looked at Jia Cong with more and more scrutiny, and asked, "Since the Netherlands are so powerful, why did Your Excellency choose us and Portuguese?" ”

Jia Cong still smiled and said: "Because the Netherlands is too small, the widow is a small people, and the land, population and domestic resources greatly limit their sustainability and stamina. Coupled with their loose political system, without a strong center of power, they can't compete with their opponents...... There is no doubt that it will be gradually replaced by the Angoland and Française teeth. But it cannot be denied that their model is worth learning from all countries, that is, the benefits of commerce and trade are greater than plunder! ”

Baron Gray clasped his hands in front of him, covering the bridge of his nose and half of his face, leaving only a bare forehead and a pair of eagle-like eyes to look at Jia Cong, and said, "Of course we are willing to start trade with your country, this is our original intention and mission. But haven't you already settled with the Portuguese? Why did you come to us again? ”

When Gao Liliang translated with Jia Cong, he was full of resentment.

He still wants to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune again, all his previous savings have been swallowed up by the sea......

Jia Cong smiled, "I have heard that the Portuguese people are too stubborn, and if they knew how to be flexible, they would not have ended up where they are today, so I have reservations about whether Miss Capet can convince the family." Moreover, many of their production technologies are lagging behind, and the quality of their goods is not very good. So, I can't put all my hopes in them.

This is the reason why I very much welcome you to come to Daqian to open factories and seek common interests. I think that if you bring enough goods back to the Anglolands, it will not only make you rich, but also strengthen your country. As the current earl and future duke of Daqian, I will guarantee your interests. I hope that you will be able to establish diplomatic relations with your country, exchange information and respect each other's customs and beliefs. ”

Hearing this, Baron Gray couldn't help but smile after looking at Jia Cong for a while: "I now understand why you were able to convince that clever angel of the Capet family, you are one of the few enlightened people we have seen in the East. He was also the first Oriental to value business so much. ”

Jia Cong smiled and said, "There will be more and more in the future." ”

Baron Gray nodded, and said, "It's just that I still don't understand, why does Your Excellency want some advanced weapons manufacturing technology and warship construction technology?" Do you still need sailors for seafaring? If we give this to you, what good will it do us? ”

Jia Cong shook his head and smiled: "Your Excellency, frankly speaking, because we also want to go out and take our great merchandise, sell them all over the world, and then exchange them for the commodities we need." However, you don't have to worry about competition at all, because this world is too big for any country to occupy alone. The Netherlands is the best example of this, it is so greedy that it seems to be strong now, but in fact it has reached the point of being on the verge of going downhill. If we can form a strategic alliance with the Anglomeries, then we will be in the East and the West will be able to complement each other's interests, and the benefits of cooperation will far outweigh competition. Even, if there was a war in the Anglolands in the West, the Great Cadres were willing to send reinforcements to support them. But only if we have reciprocal power. At present, the strength of the cadres is only enough to protect themselves.

Besides, Your Excellency the Baron does not have to worry about revealing your secrets. In fact, we have already obtained quite a few of the technologies from the Portura de Ho Mirror, and there will be many more. And if the Anglo-Territories don't need our friendship, then we have to look for the Netherlands, the Franco, the Portuguese and even the Français.

Although I prefer the commercial practices of the Anglos to the colonial and aggressive behaviour of these countries, such alliances are always consensual. ”

During this time period, the Anglolands had not yet fully spread their fangs and occupied the colonies.

In fact, in the previous life, Britain did business in India for more than 100 years before occupying India as a colony after the outbreak of the Opium War.

Previously, the East India Company was only responsible for commerce.

Therefore, Jia Cong's excuse is easy to win the trust of the three Baron Gray.

The three of them looked at each other and nodded, and then Baron Gray looked at Jia Cong and smiled: "Personally, we are very willing to do business with Your Excellency. If you need spices, gums, fabrics, tweeds, etc., we can sign a trade agreement in no time. But...... What Your Excellency wants, even us, can't decide right away. I will rush back to Angoland to see His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister, and to convey your request. I think they'll say yes. After all, the friendship of a superpower of more than ten thousand people, Anglo has no reason to refuse. ”

When Jia Cong heard this, he sighed and said with a smile: "Then it's ...... Waiting for good news. I would like to ask you to pass on some small gifts to your Majesty the King on my behalf. ”

As he spoke, Zhan Peng led someone to send six wooden boxes.

Three boxes are of ornate silk, while the other three are of fine porcelain.

Baron Grey smiled, "Magnificent silk and fine porcelain have long been popular throughout the continent of Europa, and the ladies of London are proud to have silk and porcelain. And such bright silk and fine porcelain, even I saw it for the first time......"

After that, the old baron looked at the two companions beside him, and after making eye contact, he shrugged his shoulders at Jia Cong and smiled: "Thank you very much for your generosity and sincerity, in order to express your gratitude and our sincerity, please accept our return gift." We have a surplus of firearms production facilities in Calcutta, and if you don't dislike it, please accept our gift. ”

When Jia Cong heard this, the smile on his face deepened a lot, nodded, and said, "Thank you." If convenient, please bring firearms production equipment"

Behind him, Zhan Peng quietly gave Guo Yun a look.

Then, Guo Yun silently pinched him behind his back, making Zhanpeng's face instantly pale.

This was his own request, because he couldn't help laughing out loud because he was afraid of being happy, and it ruined Jia Cong's big thing!

……

Yangzhou Mansion, Yanzheng Yamen.

The cold wind from the north finally blew to this world-class prosperous place, and the cold wind made people palpitate.

Don't say that outside, even the people in the inner house can faintly feel the collapse of the sky.

Daiyu has already begun to let people pack their luggage, prepare local products, and pack all the belongings of the Lin family that they don't need at the moment.

There are so many things, I've been packing for three or four days, and I'm only halfway there.

is also because she is too careful and refuses to leave even a pot of flowers......

I don't know if the successor Salt Patrol Yushi will laugh at the Lin family's stinginess after he moves in.

After all, when ordinary officials leave office, most of the furniture in the official office is to be reserved for future generations.

Daiyu sat quietly on the concubine couch in the boudoir, and Ren Zijuan took Xiaoba to be busy around.

She doesn't have many other things, only too many books and too heavy, fortunately there is Xiaoba, otherwise only Zijuan would have to be tired and ruined.

Although Jia Cong will come back in a few days and will take her back to Beijing, Daiyu does not have much joy in her heart.

According to her original plan, they might stay in Yangzhou for two years, or three years, or even longer......

However, she didn't expect that she would take her father into Beijing so soon......

I'm not afraid of anything else, but ......

How should she face her......

Thinking of this, a gloomy color appeared in Daiyu's eyes.

When he was sad, suddenly a red rooster appeared in front of him.

The gloomy color in Daiyu's eyes instantly froze, shattered, and replaced with the color of fire-breathing light, she gritted her teeth angrily and said, "Little Jiao'er, you are dead again!" ”

has already found the law, and as soon as he grabbed it to the side, he caught a soft female doll, and when he pulled it, he fell down on the concubine's couch.

Xiao Jiao'er held the red egg in one hand, and giggled and said to forgive: "Good girl, I don't dare anymore, I don't dare anymore!" ”

Daiyu said angrily: "It's been a few times, every time I don't care about you, you bully me, this time I won't spare you!" ”

As he spoke, he picked up a wild duck feather duster from the side, hesitated, but still hardened his heart, and twitched Xiao Jiao'er twice on the buttocks, and then went to observe her expression.

Seeing that Xiaojiao'er was still giggling, Daiyu was annoyed, and twitched twice harder, shocking her hands and hurting.

Then I saw that Xiaojiaoer finally stopped laughing, but she was still holding a red chicken and handed it to Daiyu, just when Daiyu was really angry and decided to let Xiaoba do it, she heard Xiaojiaoer's big eyes full of seriousness, and said in a rustling voice: "Girl, you just eat red chickens, I can't remember what happened before entering the house, just remember that Xiaoxiao said that if I was born before I was born, my mother could eat two red chickens, maybe she would not die." Eat, girl, eat......"

When Daiyu heard this, she looked at Xiao Jiao'er's bright big eyes, the duster in her hand fell to the ground, two tears fell, and she hugged Xiao Jiao'er hard......

……