After learning of the Governor Count Hoffmann's intentions, Sheng Yeyun's thoughts turned thousands of times in an instant, weighing the gains and losses.

After more than 4 years of rapid development, the patriarch Sheng Yeyun used the identity of "Jiabidan" to suppress dissidents, acquired mines and tea gardens, monopolized the market wharf, and increased his wealth more than ten times, becoming one of the top Chinese families in Batavia, and his business has reached Indochina Peninsula and Kolkata, India, and of course he is well aware of the current situation in the South Pacific.

After defeating the Dutch, Queensland, Australia, as a newly rising power, has gone to Africa to develop colonies, and its trade tentacles spread all over the South Seas, Europe and the United States, and it is a behemoth that cannot be ignored.

For the Sheng family, befriending or not offending the Queensland forces is the fundamental interest, which is related to the long-term plan and potential of the family's development.

All the things that have been done in the past can be excused as each his own master.

But after all, there is a ghost in his heart, the rapid development of Queensland makes Sheng Yeyun restless, he has also heard about the Earl of Queensland in Europe, and has studied the geographical location of Somalia and Guinea in detail, as an outstanding Chinese elite, he can better understand the deep meaning of Li Fushou Buzi.

Go pays attention to cloth, and the Earl of Queensland landed in two key places, which can be described as an important throat key place, and his gaze can be said to be extremely precise and ruthless.

This made Sheng Yeyun's heart feel jealous of Li Fushou by another level.

Needless to say, Somalia is geographically important, with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east, and is a gateway between Europe and Asia.

From here across the Gulf of Aden to the northeast can affect West Asia, north can affect Syria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, west across Ethiopia is Egypt, across the Suez Canal can enter the Mediterranean, it is simply at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, the importance cannot be overstated.

Guinea may seem unremarkable, but if you look closely, you'll find it a wonderful place.

From the perspective of Australia-Europe routes, from Australia to Chennai Port in India, from Chennai Port to Xi'an Town in the Horn of Africa, from Xi'an Town through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea to European destination ports, Chennai Port and Xi'an Town are two important supply places and transit ports for ocean routes from Australia to Europe, which are separated by more than ten days, which is not a secret, as long as you have the heart to inquire a little.

But look at it another way;

After the ocean-going freighter departs from Xi'an Town and enters the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, it does not continue to northern Europe, but turns south along the coast of North Africa to reach Guinea, which is exactly ten days.

After this break, the transatlantic route can be opened, sending goods directly to New York and the Great Lakes region on the east coast of the United States, which is a longer but more secure route from Australia to the east of the United States.

In this way, it is significant for Queensland to gain a foothold in West Africa on the Atlantic coast.

Wouldn't some say that the North African region is in a better location?

Then you have to see whose territory North Africa belongs to, it is the forbidden territory of the French, and it is the Libyan region that is like the mainland, and it is the white people of French descent who rule Libya, called "black feet".

Some people will say, then Libya is better located than Guinea, why can't it use French ports?

It is completely possible to use French ports, but cargo ships must pay high fees according to tonnage, there are entry fees for entering the port, berthing fees for berthing, water diversion fees for entering and leaving the port, and storage and transportation costs for storage and transportation.

For example, if you don't unload the cargo, and if you don't pay a high bribe fee, your ship will stay here for two or three months or half a year, and you can't pay half a cent.

There are a lot of twists and turns in the port terminal, and it is not as simple as just docking.

Moreover, the route from Australia to the east coast of the United States is not a matter of one ship or two ships, but a long-term operation of a high-volume route, and it is very important to have its own port.

Compare it to

A little more detour is not a problem, for the adult accustomed to drifting on the ocean, it is not a matter at all to spend an extra day, and the efficiency of the port will come back as soon as it is tight, and the cost saved is not a star and a half.

Take the Lloyz Canal, for example;

Tolls are very expensive, basically ten shillings per tonne of displacement, and about £2,500 for a 5,000-ton cargo ship passing through at a time, which is paid according to the ship's displacement, not according to the actual cargo.

That is to say, even if you load 3,000 tons of goods, you have to pay 5,000 tons, but if you load 8,000 tons of goods, you have to pay overloads, and how big the ships that pass through, experienced port officials will know at a glance that there is no bargain at all.

Sheng Yeyun couldn't figure it out if he wanted to break his head, how could the Europeans in such a good place let Li Fushou take it away, couldn't he be confused for a while?

He wanted to be reminded, but he didn't know who to tell him?

The British certainly can't, the French are said to have been to Xi'an, the Germans are not in the mood to care about anything beyond the Mediterranean, the Italians are only optimistic about Ethiopia and interested in other places.

Not to mention the Ottoman Empire, Egypt was invaded by the British, and he only protested a few times without a follow-up, not to mention the Somali region where birds don't.

Do you go and tell the Russian woolly bear that this Tsarist Russia, which is highly vigilant by all the European kingdoms, no country wants to see the influence of Tsarist Russia appear in Africa, and would rather give it to the Easterners than to the Russians.

At this time, the European kingdoms generally had a good impression of the Manchu Dynasty in the East, and the Anglo-French alliance invaded China until now, and the Manchus still pay war reparations on time every year, and there is nothing to say about credibility.

Moreover, the Eastern Dynasty has a long history, the people in the court are easy to talk to, they have enough respect for Europeans, and they are not silent when they are bullied by Tsarist Russia, what else can you hope for such a dynasty?

A slave like Sheng Yeyun has simply been kneeling for a long time, thinking that other people's kneecaps are as soft as his, and he doesn't dare to imagine that the Chinese can also occupy the African colonies.

This kind of person will also exist in later generations, and the so-called forest is big and there are all kinds of birds, which is not uncommon at all.

The Somali region is a vast desert and the Gobi Desert, there are only a few oases to meet the needs of human survival and reproduction, the land is barren, there are no minerals, and no indigenous kingdom has never been established.

Thinking about the prosperous era of the Han and Tang Dynasties, those who commit me will be punished even if they are far away.

Such a fierce iron and blood bones disappeared under the slave education of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and it was only in Queensland, an overseas paradise, that Chinese immigrants rediscovered the trace of blood in their genes, and those strong factors were completely stimulated.

"Your Excellency the Governor, I don't think this matter should be delayed, and it is more important to keep it strictly confidential and prevent information from leaking."

"Oh...... Tell me your reasoning. ”

"Ahem......"

Sheng Yeyun cleared his throat, saw that the Governor was listening carefully, a trace of indifferent disdain passed by his face, and said with a serious expression as if he was good for you;

"Keeping a secret is to prevent the Queenslanders from getting our hole cards, and we will never cherish them if we can easily get them, and if we directly throw the land of Borneo to the Queenslanders, this will only further fuel their ambitions, thinking that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is weak and easy to bully, and maybe they will hit the island of Sumatra, which is an important place related to the core interests of the Governorship of the Dutch East Indies, and then it will be bad."

This is what I said

Count Hoffman's face changed abruptly, and the temperature in the room dropped several degrees, and he was silent for a moment, and said in a dry tone; "The Earl of Queensland shouldn't be so greedy, right?"

He suddenly woke up, looked at Sheng Yeyun cautiously and said; "As a Dutch aristocrat, I don't understand the way of thinking of Orientals, but the heart of gratitude should be shared by everyone, are your words a little alarmist?"

"Your Excellency the Governor, although I am an Oriental, I despise the dregs of the Oriental culture in my heart, and greatly admire the fascinating technology and art of the West, so I do not take the liberty to say something heartfelt to the Governor."

"I'd love to believe you, dear Sheng, but it's really incredible."

"That's right, there is an old saying in the East called; Good medicine is bitter, and loyalty is against the ear. ”

Sheng Yeyun saw that the governor Count Hoffmann was suspicious, and hurriedly introduced this ancient oriental saying, and then chanted a poem "Sending Away Guests" by the Tang Dynasty Toad to show his intentions; "I was willing to offend and rode into Nanshen. If you obey the will of my emperor, you will have no courtier's heart. ”

It means that if you blindly follow the emperor's wishes, it is definitely not the true intention of an honest and loyal minister.

This is a metaphor for Governor Hoffmann to the emperor, and Sheng Yeyun is the official who was reprimanded for his loyal advice.

These words finally dispelled Governor Hoffman's doubts, and he said with a slight apology; "More than 1,000 years ago, the ancients were able to write such deafening verses, the ancient oriental civilization is really amazing, I want to apologize to you, what you said is very reasonable."

"Your Excellency Governor, I think it would be reckless and imprudent to hand over the remaining lands of Borneo to the Queenslanders, and you cannot expect to throw a piece of fat at the mad dog, and keep the two safe and sound after he has eaten them, and with a grateful heart. A dog is a dog after all, and having a stick in your hand when throwing out the meat is the way to solve the problem. ”

Sheng Yeyun's language was extremely vicious, and he finally won the favor of the ruler, and he said with a flattering smile on his face; "Even if it does, it will cost Queensland a lot of money, so it will make them sensible and maintain respect for the rules and respect for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is what we are trying for peace in the first place."

"Good, good, very well said, I appreciate your point of view." Count Hoffmann breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but applaud and laugh.

This is actually his inner thought, and it has not yet been discussed and approved in the Governor's Palace.

I believe that many people will agree with this proposal, especially the representatives of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Army who were severely beaten by Queensland, and they wish to stay as far away from these guys as possible.

Living next to each other makes them restless, for fear that one day they will come to the door again, which has become an indelible psychological shadow, how can it be said that they will forget it after sleeping?

"The matter is still in the works, and if the Governor's Office agrees on this, I hope that a delegation headed by you can be sent to Queensland to fight for the necessary benefits for us, both commercial and otherwise, as much as possible." Count Hoffmann finally made up his mind, the matter was very important, and he had to communicate with the Cabinet of the Kingdom when he returned, and obtain permission from His Majesty the King.

"As you wish, willing to serve you." Sheng Yeyun stroked his chest and performed a knightly courtesy.

"This is the biggest takeaway of my trip, to be honest, I like your exotic Oriental mansion very much, and I hope to have the opportunity to come back as a guest."

"Sheng will definitely be waiting for him."

Sheng Yeyun replied beautifully, he was able to go to Queensland as the leader of the Dutch delegation, and he was confident that he would fight for the best interests of his family.

As for the grievances between the two sides, Sheng Yeyun can judge his character from the past actions of Li Fushou, Earl of Queensland;

So-called; Those who achieve great things are not informal.

In the face of the peace and friendship between the Netherlands and Queensland, I believe that this Earl, who can be called a hero, knows how to choose.

Killing a person is pleasant, but it completely brings the originally harmonious relationship between the two parties to a dead end, and it is not the work of a wise man.

It's always your enemies who know you, and you can't be wrong about that.

Half an hour later

With a respectful expression as he saw off the Governor and Count Hoffmann and his party, Sheng Yeyun slowly straightened up, with a smile on his face.

It is none of his business for the Dutch to lose the land of Borneo, he is the Kapitan of Batavia, not the Kapitan of Borneo, there are no plantations and family interests involved in Borneo, so lose it!

The important thing is to be able to seek a tangible benefit for the Sheng family in this matter.

If he can go to Queensland as the leader of the delegation, Sheng Yeyun is confident that he will draw a big piece of cake for himself, and the benefits are moving!

There are so many things that Queensland can give, such as Queensland's kindness and acceptance of the Sheng family, this intangible thing is the most important, and from then on, the Sheng family can travel between Queensland and the Dutch, left and right.

Needless to say, economic benefits such as the franchise of wool manufactured goods in Java, the franchise of the Brisbane-Batavia route, the franchise of diesel engines, cane sugar, canned food, toffee, food additives, tractors, bicycles, rubber......

Each of these items contains huge profits, which is enough to make the Sheng family's wealth multiply a few more times and become an out-and-out Chinese tycoon in the Nanyang region.

The Dutch and the British colonization concept is completely different, in the Dutch colonized Java Island for more than 270 years, there is hardly any trace of modern industry, even oil extraction, grinding and weaving are using traditional technology, for industrial products have a natural demand.

The Dutch did not spread religion, did not spread the Dutch language, did not spread European culture, did not build roads, did not build railways, did not build public facilities, and plundered and colonized the place as a production place of primary raw materials and spices.

Therefore, the locals do not have a strong sense of belonging to the Netherlands.

In the city of Balavia, the Chinese community lives their traditional life and uses their own national language, as do the indigenous people.