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On the 23rd day of February 23, the 23rd year of Wucheng in China (March 17, 1721 in the Western calendar), in the suffocating heat of the air, several European gentlemen in formal clothes sat in the meeting room of the Governor's Palace of the Bombay District of the British East India Company, as if they did not feel that their clothes were wet with sweat.

"Gentlemen," said Sir Croft Roots, then Governor of Bombay, addressed the participants in an artificial wind created by Indian servants. "I have summoned you here to inform you of a few things, first, the navy of the Chinese Empire has established a fortress and a port on the island of Hormuz, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf."

The whisper immediately rang out, but Governor Roots ignored it and continued: "Second, after many observations by the company's merchant fleet, it has now been confirmed that the Huaxia Empire had established two fortresses and relay ports in the southern part of the Great Moon Island as early as this time last year, and in addition, we have also learned that the Huaxia Empire purchased Pemba Island from the natives for a thousand pounds. ”

The sound in the room suddenly increased countless times.

That's right, the Muscat controlled the major trading ports in Northeast Africa, the Portuguese controlled the waters of Mozambique, the French controlled the Little Moon (Comoros) Islands and the Masqueline Islands, the Dutch controlled South Africa, and now China has established a foothold off the coast of Madagascar and Tanganyika, so it can be said that the British East India Company has been squeezed out of the East African trading circle.

From the perspective of the company's main business, the loss of the East African market is not a big problem, but the fatal thing is that India's shipping routes to and from the mainland have been completely controlled by other countries, so it is difficult for the British East India Company to ensure that the interests of the company's shareholders will not be harmed in the event of confrontation with other countries.

"We can't sit idly by any longer." Some of the participants burst into shouting. "Zanzibar must be seized at once and a port must be established to the north of the island of the Great Moon to ensure the safety of the shipping routes to England."

"Your Excellency, are you ready to go to war with the Chinese?" Opponents were immediately denied. "No, never."

Yes, what did the British East India Company do a long time ago, and now that the Chinese Empire has just taken control of southern Madagascar and the waters off Tanganyika, the British East India Company can't wait to intervene in the nearby area, which is obviously a provocation. Of course, if it is France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and other European countries, it doesn't matter if they provoke or something, even if they break out a war because of this, they are not afraid of breaking out, and if they fail, they will only lose one or two strongholds, but the native fleet of the Chinese Empire is around India, and once it annoys the other party, I am afraid that the British East India Company will completely lose India, and finally be forced to declare bankruptcy and implement restructuring like the Dutch United East India Company.

It's just that the rational people are always a minority, but more people have their own opinions for one reason or another: "Big Moon Island is vast, similar to India, and it is impossible for the Chinese to monopolize it." ”

"It's not advisable to let the company establish a foothold on Big Moon Island." A gentleman named Steve stood up and retorted. "Huaxia's colonization of Big Moon Island is a state-backed military operation, and we don't care if we can get reasonable benefits, but we are accountable to the board of directors and all shareholders."

Someone crooked his mouth disapprovingly: "Isn't there a little resource on Big Moon Island?" ”

Steve cross-examined, "Mr. Rudsbury, please tell me, how to open up the island's resources?" ”

Madagascar is not a wild place, but with the island's tribes in conflict and unification wars on the rise, it is already difficult to trade, let alone mine deep into the primeval jungle.

"Mr. Steve, maybe you're right, but we have to look the long term." Lutzbury replied-for-tat. "We must not lead to an unpredictable outcome in the future of the company because of a temporary loss."

"Mr. Rudesbury," Breittings, Steve's friend, retorted. "You don't seem to realize that even if the company controls the northern part of the Great Moon Island, our route to and from England is still under the control of the Huaxia Navy."

Seeing that Ludsberry was still preparing for battle, Sir Roots coughed lightly: "Gentlemen, can you please discuss it later?" There's a third piece of news I haven't announced to you. ”

When the voice was quiet, Sir Roots took out a document and said: "The Foreign Secretary of China has submitted a statement to all European companies in India, calling for an open door and equal opportunity foreign policy in India. ”

Open doors? Opportunity? The people in the congregation looked at each other, not knowing what kind of medicine was being sold by Huaxia.

"The door is open," Sir Roots explained. "According to my personal understanding, it should mean that the ports of Mumbai, Surat, Mangaluru, Cochin, Madras, Vizagapatnam, Kolkata and other ports owned by the company are fully open to Chinese merchants." The noise in the room rose again, and Sir Roots grabbed the gavel and slammed it on the table. "Gentlemen, please be quiet and listen to me." The sound of the hammer finally woke up the participants. "As for equality of opportunity, it should mean that in the above-mentioned ports, Chinese merchants enjoy the same privileges as companies."

"The demands of the Chinese Empire must not be accepted." Sir Roots's voice landed on the ground, and Roysbury immediately screamed. "This is a trick of the Chinese to seize the company's rights and interests in India, which is unacceptable, even if it causes a war, we must clearly oppose it, and we will not hesitate to fight."

Brettings, who had just opposed Rudsbury, also jumped up and shouted: "For the good of the company, go to war with the Chinese!" ”

"Excuse me, sir, I just heard you say that the Chinese Empire has submitted the same document to all European companies operating in India." Amid the clamor of a declaration of war, Steve asked His Excellency the Governor with a frown. "Is that so?"

Soon, Sir Roots gave a positive answer: "Mr. Steve, you heard it right, that's what the Chinese do." ”

Steve continued: "So does this open-door policy allow companies to trade in ports in India with French, Portuguese, Danish and Chinese?" ”

Originally, Huaxia had only one Chittagong town in India as a trading base with Bengal in the northeast and the large and small Pantai countries, and its power did not penetrate all parts of India at all, but after defeating the Dutch, Huaxia acquired three ports from the United East India Company in accordance with the peace treaty, including Plicutt and Sadras on the east coast of India, and Klanganore on the southern Malabar coast, thus gaining the necessary foothold in India's second largest 6.

"Mr. Steve, your understanding is not on a business trip." Sir Roots actually had a smile on his face. "The Chinese do arrange it this way, all European and Chinese Indian ports are open to other countries, and the port authorities have the right to collect reasonable taxes."

The room was noisy again, but the direction of public opinion was diametrically opposite: "Great, that is, whoever has more ships will get more profits, but can it really be achieved?" ”

"The Chinese Empire can transfer thousands of warships from the mainland anytime and anywhere, and has an overwhelming advantage in the waters of South Asia, and if it does not accept the demands of the Chinese, then for the country, the only possibility is to be forced to leave India." Roots is obviously confident in the implementation of China's open door policy, but he cautiously expressed concern about the outcome of the open door policy. "But we should note that the Chinese Empire has the largest merchant fleet, and once the open door policy is fully implemented, the amount of goods we get from India may drop sharply."

Sir Roots's judgment is well-founded, for the time being, India's cotton, linen products, precious stones, diamonds, and rice are the most important imports for China, and these overlap with the needs of Europe, and the emergence of the ubiquitous Chinese merchants will certainly affect the quantity and quality of goods exported to Europe.

"If there is such a sharp decline in general goods, then the prices of Indian goods in Europe will skyrocket." Rudsbury said. "We have to be prepared to deal with it, and this is a great opportunity."

"It is indeed a rare opportunity, but we must ask China to expand its exports as much as possible to meet the needs of European goods." Breittings offered his opinion. "In addition, can the company ask the Chinese Empire to expand the open-door policy of Ceylon and the East Indies." Ceylon had previously been a Portuguese and Dutch treaty, and the British East India Company now had only one trading post in Bengkulu in the East Indies, so for British merchants, it was all about how to open the markets of both places. "In addition, can Hormuz be included in the open door area as well?"

Someone shouted: "Then Pemba, Mozambique, and the Moon Islands should also fully implement the opening of the door." ”

But some people are worried: "Equal opportunities, then Chinese goods will impact the market and cause losses to the company." ”

"Open doors are OK, but equal opportunity policies cannot be implemented." Steve said flatly. "It is necessary to ensure that the interests of those who open the ports take precedence."

A large number of echoes suddenly appeared on the side: "That's right, the company's market and procurement must be guaranteed." ”

"For the sake of the interests of the company and shareholders, the company will try its best to fight with Huaxia Empire." Sir Roots replied with a wry smile. "But there is no guarantee that the company will be able to convince Huaxia Empire to accept our demands."

Everyone was silent, yes, how to persuade the Huaxia side, in case they couldn't be convinced, whether they refused to join or were forced to obey?

"Gentlemen," said Sir Darlington, who had not spoken, with a solemn expression. "Do companies have to survive under the coercion of the Chinese? No, whether it is an open door or an equal opportunity, the ultimate beneficiary is the Chinese Empire, not the company. Sir Darlington paused and continued. Now is the time to think about how we can ensure the interests of our individuals, companies and shareholders in front of the Chinese for a long time."