Marin never dared to underestimate the great seafaring potential of the Dutch, and the original history also proves that the Dutch have a terrible history in navigation. According to historical records, during the heyday of the Dutch, 15,000 merchant ships sailed around the world. And now prosperous Venice, there are only more than 3,000 merchant ships.

Moreover, the merchant ships of the two countries are also very different. Venetian merchant ships only had to sail on the Mediterranean Sea, where there were little wind and waves, and they did not need to be built very big, and they were galleys. The merchant ships of the Dutch were mostly large merchant ships capable of sailing in the Atlantic.

It is said that in the 17th century, Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, had hundreds of shipyards, and the whole country could start building hundreds of ships at the same time. According to the calculation that a shipyard can only start one or two large ships at the same time, it is estimated that there are one or two hundred shipyards in the Netherlands at that time.

Of course, that was during the heyday of the Netherlands in the 17th century. As it stands, it's certainly not that much. After all, the North Sea and Baltic markets were still in the hands of the Hanseatic League. Without that much demand, there wouldn't be so many shipyards in the Netherlands. What's more, there is not enough timber for shipbuilding in the Netherlands. In its heyday, much of the wood used in Dutch shipbuilding came from the forests of Norway and Sweden. But now, Norway's forest resources are being used by Marin, and there is nothing to do with the Dutch. Therefore, Marin is very pleading, for what reason did the Dutch suddenly embark on a great voyage.

Right away, Kleiman gave the answer:

"It's the French who support it!"

"What?" Marin almost thought he had misheard. Surprised, he asked:

"The Habsburgs and France are mortal enemies, how can France support the Netherlands in the Great Voyage?"

Kleiman nodded and said:

"That's right, but Your Highness, you overlooked one thing......"

"What's the matter?" Marin asked curiously.

"The French navy was crippled by England, and even the merchant ships along the French coast, as long as they flew the French flag, would be attacked by English 'pirates'......" In fact, the so-called "English pirates" were ordered by the English government to disguise the merchant ships. The aim was to suppress the French seafaring industry with all its might, so that they would not threaten England itself.

Marin suddenly understood:

"Do you mean that France is now inconvenient to develop its own shipping industry, so it borrows the hands of the Dutch to engage in shipping?"

Kleiman nodded:

"Yes, France has a lot of goods to export, such as wine, and other agricultural products. But now the French themselves do not have ships to transport goods, and the French are not willing to hire British ships and ships from our North Sea countries. Therefore, the Dutch ship became their best choice. ”

"It is precisely because of the huge demand for the transportation of goods by sea in a large country like France that the shipping industry in Amsterdam in the Netherlands has suddenly developed. According to information from my brother Kohler, there are now 30 shipyards in Amsterdam, and more than 50 large merchant ships can be built every year. These merchant ships were used by several Dutch trading houses to help the French transport goods. ”

"I see, the English wiped out most of the French merchant ships, but they did not expect to indirectly achieve the Dutch...... By the way, does His Royal Highness Philip know about the Dutch merchant ships helping the French to transport goods? ”

Kleiman shook his head:

"His Royal Highness Philippe did not know that His Highness was in Ghent and his main attention was on the woollen industry in Flanders. And the matter of transporting goods for the French seems to have been done by the wealthy Dutch merchants in Amsterdam themselves. It is said that Louis XII gave many benefits to the group of merchants in private, which stimulated the group of merchants in Amsterdam to be willing to work for France. And all this, His Royal Highness Philip does not seem to know. ”

Ghent is located in the southern part of the Netherlands, in what is later Belgium. Amsterdam, on the other hand, is located in the northern part of the later Dutch region. Philip didn't know that the small movements of the merchants in Amsterdam in the north were normal. Unlike Marin, because the North Sea Chamber of Commerce had spies in Paris, he found out about these inside information.

King Louis XII of France played this hand beautifully, because the Netherlands belonged to the territory of the Habsburgs. And the Habsburgs, like England, were enemies of France. Speaking of which, England and the Habsburgs should be regarded as allies belonging to the same "anti-French alliance". Therefore, Dutch merchant ships flying the Dutch flag passed through the English Channel, and the English would not attack them. Therefore, Louis XII's private enlisting of a group of Amsterdam merchants to help France transport goods is very beautiful. Moreover, Louis XII is said to have sent a number of sailors to the Dutch merchant ships. It was clear that he intended to use Dutch merchant ships to train sailors. As for what to do with training sailors? Needless to say? Definitely against England. After all, France's covetousness for England never let go......

Not only that, but these Dutch merchant ships actually competed with the North Sea Shipping Company for business, and actually began to carry goods from West Friesland. You must know that West Friesland is a transit through the North Sea State of Marin, and it belongs to the sphere of influence of the North Sea Shipping Company. These inflated Dutch merchant shipowners have clearly crossed the line. But it was precisely because of this that Kleiman was alarmed. Then I asked the spies of the Beihai Chamber of Commerce to help me check, and I found out so many problems.

……

"In that case, let's make a move! We must suppress this group of Amsterdam annihilators! Marin said seriously.

Neither from the point of view of a blow to French foreign trade, nor from the point of view of preventing future "sea coachmen", Marin could not allow that group of shipowners in Amsterdam to rise. Therefore, while they are just rising and fledgling, it is a good time to suppress them.

"Your Highness, please command!" Kleiman is colored. After a few years of training, the once unobtrusive little skin monkey seems to have made great progress. It is said that this kid is not much of a bragging right now. That is, the mouth is not as weak as it was a few years ago. After all, people always grow up. Perhaps, you can put the burden on him......

Marin thought for a moment and ordered:

"First, send someone to inform His Royal Highness Philip, and say that the group of merchants in Amsterdam are eating inside and out, helping the French to make money! As long as the news is delivered, His Royal Highness Philip will also help us punish those annihilators! ”

Because most of the territory of the Duchy of Burgundy (later the Burgundy region of France) was seized by the French, the Habsburgs and France had a deep hatred. Not to mention, the resistance army in western Switzerland is now completely supported by the French.

Therefore, if the handsome king Philip knew that the group of shipowners in Amsterdam were doing things for the French, he would definitely not let them go. After all, being an enemy is a big sin. If a group of great nobles had done this, Philip might have taken care of it. But just a bunch of wealthy Amsterdam businessmen...... Marin felt that Philip might take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune...... For example, raiding a house or something......

However, Marin also intends to get a piece of the pie. Of course, not to participate in the raid, but to covet the 30 shipyards in Amsterdam. Philip raided the merchants' homes, and the shipyards and even merchant ships in the names of those merchants might be put up for auction. Marin, on the other hand, plans to take advantage of the opportunity to eat those shipyards and merchant ships at a low price. Because, if he does not eat these shipyards, he may cheapen others and add a competitor for nothing. Therefore, it is better to eat these benefits yourself.

Then Marin gave a second order:

"Second, send someone to inform the English side. When they saw a Dutch merchant ship, they intercepted and inspected it, and when they found the French sailors on board, they were all executed or captured as slaves. If it is found to be French goods, all will be confiscated! ”

This move can be regarded as choking the lifeblood of the French. Of course, only a heavy blow was dealt to the intentions of the French to train sailors and deliver goods with the help of Dutch ships. After all, sea transport is not possible, and the French can also choose land transport. Of course, land transportation is expensive and the profits are low......

In addition to these two initiatives, Marin also recruited Kohler and asked him to send spies to Amsterdam to gather intelligence. Avoid the Habsburgs from slipping through the cracks. This time, Marin intends to take this opportunity to deal a heavy blow to the Dutch shipping industry and avoid the rise and development of the Dutch maritime industry......

Moreover, because Marin was hiding behind the scenes this time and stabbing him. Neither the Dutch owners nor the French knew that Marin was the one who made it bad. Because, on the surface, it was the hand of the handsome king Philip......

However, Marin is also thinking about a question - the Dutch shipowner has fallen, who will the French work with next? After all, the French certainly have a shipping demand......