It's just that the order reached the capital again, and the four envoys found Li Yan, who was in charge of the negotiations, and asked Li Yan to enjoy the same tariff-free treatment as the Ming Empire.

Kluivert and the other four were completely dumbfounded, and could only look at Gao Hongtu on the side.

Gao Hongtu smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Special Envoys, you are inevitably too much, our emperor is already very generous in allowing the four countries to enter Dongying for free trade, and now you still have to get an inch and want to be tariff-free?" ”

"Lord Gao, in order to be able to get the right to free trade in Dongying, our four countries have already promised to give five million taels of silver as compensation for the war launched by the Ming Empire, shouldn't we enjoy the same treatment as your country in Dongying?"

Kluivert said in a deep voice.

The other three envoys also had unkind faces, it was too much, we have already unconditionally agreed to the conditions of the Ming Empire, and you are still pinching us on tariffs, which is too much!

"Mr. Four Envoys,"

Gao Hongtu replied lightly, "There is no way, this Dongying decree was promulgated by the Qingshan Shogunate, not our Ming Dynasty, if you are not satisfied, you should also go to the Qingshan Shogunate of Dongying, what does it have to do with my Ming Dynasty?" I'm sorry, but I have an important business, and I missed ......"

Gao Hongtu is not a fuel-efficient lamp, otherwise, he would not be placed in the Ministry of Rites to deal with the relationship with the West, to deal with foreign affairs, the means are also very sophisticated, the most important thing is that the officials at this time, do not want the officials of the late Qing Dynasty, the backbone of the officials of the late Qing Dynasty has been discounted, and they can't afford to listen to the waist pole, even if the means are good, there is no use; But in this era, maybe the officials were still afraid of the Manchurian monarchs, but now the Manchurian monarchs and ministers have been destroyed, as for these foreigners, it's a joke, your country is 20,000 miles away, we just slaughtered you, what can you do? Can the Ming Dynasty still be destroyed? Even if I lend you 100,000 people, you will not be able to do it!

Gao Hongtu turned around to leave, but Kluivert hurriedly stopped: "Lord Gao, slow, slow!" We have something to say slowly, this, you see, doesn't the Ming Empire now have a strong influence on the Qingshan Shogunate in Dongying? At this time, we still need to ask the imperial court to help us, otherwise, this tariff of up to 15 percent, the silver taels involved is not a small amount, it will be millions of taels every year, and please ask Lord Gao to help, as long as we can also enjoy zero tariffs, we will definitely not let you help in vain......"

Gao Hongtu's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice: "Okay, this official will help you once, but only the emperor and Lord Li have the right to decide this matter At this time, this official can only make an appointment with Lord Li again for you, I hope you will seize the opportunity, it doesn't matter if you give the official benefits or not, but if you want to get what you want, then you must meet the conditions of our Ming Imperial Court......

As soon as the four of them heard it, they understood, they couldn't understand such a thing, so what kind of envoys did they have? But if you can become an envoy, you must have a good brain, Gao Hongtu's meaning is obvious, conditions, if you want to get benefits, you must have enough conditions to exchange.

Kluivert said in a deep voice: "Lord Gao, please also make an appointment with Master Li for us, as long as the conditions are not too excessive, we are naturally willing to agree to this matter!" ”

In the turn of the day, Li Yan came to the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites again, this time over, Kluivert and the others are no longer so loud, it is clear that if they want to get benefits now, then they have to follow the methods of the Ming Empire, otherwise, then they will fight, and in the end, they will lose both, and no one will get benefits, the Ming Dynasty has a population of tens of thousands, and the annual income exceeds 30 million taels of silver, a veritable behemoth, as far as their strength in the East and South Seas is concerned, they really can't afford it, and they can't afford it!

"Lord Li, please help in this matter, please help your country, the tariff of 15 percent is too high, in the Tokugawa Iemitsu era, the tariff was only 6 percent, and now it has been increased by more than half all at once, and the profit of our Western merchants will exceed 1 million taels ......of silver every year."

Garcia on the side laughed.

Li Yan looked at Garcia with a smile and asked, "Mr. Garcia, what does this official ask to meet your requirements?" Are we good on diplomatic relations? Or is it that we have poor relations with the Aoyama shogunate? Why should I be generous to others to help you? You must know that the Aoyama shogunate is our ally, you Spain, you Portugal, you England, including the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are not our allies, but the two sides are still fighting in the east, so it is necessary for this official to help you? Anyway, now that Dongying has been opened to all countries, if you can't make money, then it's no wonder that our Ming Empire only complains that your business hasn't been done yet......"

Garcia's face was stunned, there was no way, it was reasonable, no one would help the Ming Empire......

James said in a deep voice: "Lord Li, the so-called bustle in the world is all for profit, the world is bustling, all for profit, the direct relationship between countries is nothing more than because of the word interest, even if you help us in the West, the damage is only the interests of Dongying, and the interests of your country are not harmed, isn't it?" What's more, in order to be able to reach an agreement, we are willing to make concessions on some things and compensate the Ming Empire for the ......"

Li Yan nodded and laughed: "Mr. James, you are an understanding person, however, if you want Dongying not to levy tariffs, it is impossible, there are no tariffs to collect, what does the Aoyama Shogunate eat?" What to drink? However, this official can be said to move the Inspector of Dongying, Lord Cha, to exert pressure on the Aoyama Shogunate to appropriately reduce trade tariffs, well, six points, reduce six points, and ensure that within twenty years, it will not be increased, however, Western countries, how to repay our Ming Empire? ”

"Master Li, what conditions do you have, just put it forward......"

Li Yan said with a smile: "It's very simple, just one condition, all the goods of the Ming Empire enter and leave the Strait of Malacca, and you are not allowed to collect customs duties at the ports controlled by your four countries!" ”

The faces of several people changed suddenly, just kidding! The total value of goods imported into Japan by the four Western countries every year does not exceed 10 million taels of silver, even if the relevant taxes hinder, the profits lost by the Western countries every year are only one million taels of silver, but not to mention the four countries, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the value of the goods entering the Kingdom of the Netherlands from the Ming Empire every year is more than 10 million taels of silver, and even at most it can reach 20 million taels! After all, Amsterdam is the largest seaport on the European continent! Once the tariffs are lifted, the loss will be more than that......

(End of chapter)