The Portuguese have seen the situation very clearly through cooperation in recent years, and it is good to develop colonies on their own, but the amount of money required to invest is huge, the construction period is very long, and there are still various uncertain variables in between, and the operational efficiency is far less efficient than following in the footsteps of Haihan. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 infoIn the past, the Portuguese had to trade in Northeast Asia from Macao, risking their way through Dutch- and Spanish-controlled waters, and dealing with local pirate merchants at the port of Shuangyu in Zhoushan, which was not an easy task.

However, after the Haihan people opened up the sea route from Liangguang to Zhejiang last year, the Portuguese only needed to build trading houses in the areas controlled by the Haihan, and they could easily enjoy the benefits of trade. Moreover, the safety hazards on this entire route have basically been cleaned up by the Haihan people in advance, and going to Zhoushan from Macao is no longer an "adventurous journey" in the mouth of businessmen. Although the Portuguese did not have their own colonies along this route, they had to admit that the infrastructure projects in the Haihan-controlled areas were very good, far exceeding the level they could achieve, and the establishment of trading posts in the Haihan-controlled areas was far better than developing their own colonies, and the Portuguese did not need to worry about local security problems.

In addition, in the past, Portugal wanted to trade with the Ming Dynasty, and there were always all kinds of barriers, and only a few Ming merchants were willing to sell goods to them, and the quantity and variety have always been very limited, and there was no room to even pick and choose. Although the procurement process needs to go through the intermediary of the Haihan people, it is inevitable that a fee will be scraped away, but the types of goods that can be selected are greatly increased than before, and there is Haihan in the middle guarantee, whether it is the delivery of goods or the settlement of payment, it is much more convenient and reliable than before.

This time, Thomas heard the news that there would be investment projects in several ports controlled by Haihan on the route from Guangdong to Zhejiang, and immediately took the initiative to contact Schneider. Thomas knew that there had been Ming merchants stationed in these ports before this, but Western maritime merchants like them had not been able to get permission from Haihan, and now after waiting for more than half a year, they finally waited for good news, so naturally they had to be ahead of the curve to be worthy of his position as consul general in Sanya.

"Mr. Schneider, we hope to obtain the right to settle in Zhoushan Dinghai Port, and it would be best if we could carve out an exclusive wharf for Portuguese businessmen in the area. Thomas succinctly addressed Schneider with his own request. Compared with Fuguang and Guangzhou, which have already obtained trade opportunities, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions further north are the markets that Portugal needs to win urgently, and the Dinghai Port of Zhoushan, located off the coast of Hangzhou Bay, is undoubtedly an excellent place for maritime trade in this region.

"Exclusive wharf, like Sanya Port, no problem!" Schneider said with a smile: "But the construction funds have to be paid for by yourself, and we can organize the construction on your behalf." ”

Thomas was also refreshed, and did not ask the price at all, but immediately agreed: "Then it is decided." ”

Schneider added unhurriedly: "In addition, the personnel, shipping schedules, routes, types and quantities of goods transported in and out of the local area need to be reported to the local port authority." Accounts must also be settled through the channels of Haihan Bank. ”

Thomas calculated in his heart, and nodded his head to accept it all. These conditions were a bit harsh, and would have kept the Portuguese merchants under the control of the Haihan, but they were worth the effort compared to the gains they could get from the local trade.

"But we also have a small condition. Thomas responded: "We want you to be able to control the Dutch trade in the Haihan colony, at least with appropriate restrictions on the kinds of goods they can purchase." ”

Schneider smiled noncommittally: "You guys are thinking very far!"

The Dutch have basically agreed to Haihan's conditions in the trade negotiations on Ambuna Island, and are ready to join the future South China Sea Trade Alliance, which means that Dutch merchant ships will also appear in the port of Sanya, Kaohsiung and even Dinghai Port in the early stage of development, while the Portuguese will continue to face face-to-face trade competition from the Dutch. If you want to gain the upper hand in the competition, the most effective way is naturally to gain the first opportunity through the assistance of Haihan. As long as the Haihan people say a word, the Portuguese can easily defeat their competitors with their trade policy tilt.

Thomas is unabashedly observant: "The Dutch are competing with us for the European market, and the more goods they bring back from the Far East, the less profit margin they leave us." As a loyal ally of Haihan, we hope that you will stand firmly by our side at times like these. ”

Schneider smiled: "It's not that this matter is non-negotiable, but in the spirit of cooperation, shouldn't you also come up with a little quid pro quo?"

Thomas suddenly felt like he was being stared at by a wild beast, as if he had become the prey of the other man's eyes. Although it is not yet possible to think of what the quid pro quo Schneider is referring to will be, Thomas vaguely feels as if he has been calculated.

"And what does Mr. Schneider suggest?" Thomas decided to ask directly.

"Our conditions are simple, the right of navigation in the Strait of Malacca. Schneider's reply was just as simple and straightforward.

Thomas coughed dryly and said: "In fact, the navigation rights of the Strait of Malacca are not completely in our hands, I believe Mr. Schneider also understands this, and besides, our two families are allies, and if the Haihan ships want to pass through the Strait of Malacca, our side will naturally not have any opinions." ”

"I think you've misunderstood me. Schneider explained: "What we want is not permission for Haihan ships to pass through the Strait of Malacca, but control of the right of navigation through the Strait." In other words, we hope that in the future, it will be up to Haihan to decide which ships will be able to pass through the strait. ”

After hearing this, Thomas couldn't help but change color on his face and said: "With all due respect, your proposal is a bit excessive! China has been building forts in the Strait of Malacca, stationing armed ships, and maintaining the safety of local maritime shipping for a hundred years, and has never intended to transfer local jurisdiction to other countries!"

"Mr. Thomas, don't get excited, listen to me speak clearly. Schneider explained unhurriedly: "We do not want to expel you from the Strait of Malacca, your existing territory in the area is still valid, and you can do the same in the future as you did maritime trade in the past, and there will be no obvious damage to your interests." But for the control of the local sea area, it is better for Haihan to make the decision. ”

Thomas said in his heart, this is all stepped on his face, and told me not to get excited, you might as well not persuade me. It has been more than 120 years since the Portuguese captured the city of Malacca in 1511 when Albuquerque, the second governor of Portuguese India, has been in possession of Malacca, during which time the Portuguese have not fully controlled both sides of the Strait of Malacca, but the basic control of the sea has indeed been firmly in their hands. Even the Dutch tried to intervene in the region by force on several occasions, but the Portuguese were successfully kept out. Now that you are going to let me give up control of the Strait of Malacca, how can you agree?

It is worth mentioning that it was also from this period that the Ming Dynasty completely lost its influence in the South China Sea. It was only nine years after the Portuguese captured Malacca that the envoy of the prince of Malacca sent a letter of help to the Ming Rites, and it was only at this time that the Ming court knew that such a situation had occurred in the South China Sea. However, in the face of the fall of Malacca, the Ming court was not aware of the long-term damage to itself, and the subsequent response was quite weak - Portugal was not allowed to pay tribute, and his colleagues detained all the Portuguese envoys to China in Canton as hostages for the other party to return Malacca territory.

This incompetence and short-sightedness was mainly due to the fact that the Ming Dynasty did not deploy any military force in Southeast Asia, and the so-called tributary system was only a pale letter of political commitment. Two-thirds of the Ming Dynasty's vassals were in Southeast Asia, but after the arrival of Western colonizers, these vassals were forced to dissociate themselves from the Ming Dynasty one after another, losing this huge strategic buffer zone in just a hundred years.

However, after Haihan came to this time and space, he took the control of the South China Sea as the first priority of his outward expansion, and in the seventh year after the crossing, Haihan finally set up his own stronghold near the Strait of Malacca, which is not easy to come by, but it has also shown that Haihan is determined to control this area.

At the previous meeting on Ambuna Island, the Haihan consciously downplayed the impact of its own foothold at the eastern end of the Strait of Malacca, and the attention of the participants was basically focused on the series of trade regimes introduced by the Haihan, without specific consultations on the issue of navigation and jurisdiction in the Strait of Malacca. This time, the Portuguese took the initiative to come to the door to discuss the terms of cooperation, and Schneider thought that this was a better opportunity for a showdown, so he decisively brought the topic to this.

Before this, Schneider also expected the reaction of the Portuguese when he heard about this, and Thomas did not immediately scold, which was already a good performance. Of course, from his now gloomy face, you can also see what kind of attitude the Portuguese have towards this matter.

"Mr. Schneider, I must tell you for the record that this condition you have put forward cannot be met. We will not relinquish control of the Straits of Malacca. Thomas tried to restrain his emotions and expressed his dissatisfaction with Schneider's terms.

"Don't talk about being so dead, many things and plans can never keep up with the rapid changes. Schneider was not in a hurry, and still said slowly: "I think you should take a long-term view, not just focus on the present, long-term interests are the part you should pay attention to." Mr. Thomas, please think about how much you have gained by occupying Malacca in the past, how much you have gained by controlling the Straits of Malacca now, and whether this situation will continue in the future?"

If the Portuguese have gained the most in Malacca, I am afraid it was when they captured the city of Malacca hundreds of years ago. At that time, two-thirds of the wealth of the Kingdom of Malacca was concentrated in the city, and after the fall of the city, almost all of this wealth fell into the pockets of the Portuguese. It was because of this that the Portuguese had enough motivation and financial resources to continue their eastward journey, and arrived in the Daming Sea a few years later.

But for the next 100 years, the Portuguese controlled this important trade gateway between the East and the West, but they did not make much direct profit. Although the Dutch had to enter the South China Sea from outside Sumatra around the Sunda Strait, this only increased the Dutch time and transportation costs, and did not receive even a single actual benefit from the Dutch, but rather spent a lot of money on the struggle for control of the Strait of Malacca.

And the same located in the Strait of Malacca, Johor, Aceh is not idle, these two countries and Portugal when they are no less than the Dutch, although repeated defeats, less wins and more losses, but for Portugal after all, it is a trouble that cannot be shaken off. With the strength of Portugal, it can only defeat their offensive, but it does not have the ability to destroy the country, and the armed conflict in the Strait of Malacca will not stop for the foreseeable period in the future.

As for the future, when Haihan has already set foot in the Strait of Malacca, Thomas really doesn't dare to say big things. The combat effectiveness of the Haihan armed forces has been well known to everyone, and they are invincible everywhere they go, and the Portuguese have already suffered great losses in the battle of Hoi An Castle in Annam. In the past few years, the Haihan army has fought in the south and the north, and the growth rate is far faster than that of the Portuguese semi-professional armament, and the gap in strength has long been much larger than that of the year. If the two sides face each other again today, I am afraid that the outcome of the battle will be even more miserable than back then.

If we take 10,000 steps back, even if the Haihan people do not take the initiative, will Portugal now have the ability to drive away the Haihan people who have already been stationed on Star Island and started to build docks? If they turn a blind eye to them, then Thomas dares to say that in at most, in half a year, the local area will begin to officially operate and become the Haihan's forward base in the Strait of Malacca. When the armed sailing ships of the Haihan cruising the sea outside Malacca, the Portuguese reacted with great weakness, either verbally in protest or by pretending not to see it.

Thomas actually knew his own disadvantages in his heart, but he couldn't get him to agree to the conditions of the Haihan people. The reason is very simple, if he takes this matter down, then it is he Thomas who needs to bear the blame for the aftermath of the liquidation. This responsibility is too great for Thomas to carry and not be able to carry this cauldron.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Schneider, but your offer of a quid pro quo is too harsh for me to accept. After considering the pros and cons, Thomas rejected Schneider's proposal. (To be continued.) )