Modell's face changed slightly, and he knocked on the table, reminding Harlan to focus on the problem, and he said: "I'm not talking about shipbuilding technology, let alone whether it's beautiful or not, but that those are armed merchant ships and equipped with artillery.

During the conflict, my friends used to observe the battlefield on the peninsula, and their gunnery was very good, and I heard some Ming merchants say that the Oriental Trading Company started out to help the Ming Emperor destroy the English fleet, and I think that everything about that English fleet was inherited by the Eastern Trading Company.

Therefore, we can think of it as a skilled Europa armed merchant fleet, and not as just Chinese pirates using junk ships. ”

Harlan looked solemn and said, "You think this is a threat to the company?" ”

Obviously, this is indeed a threat. At this time, the Dutch East India Company had almost reached the peak of history, with an army of 10,000 people and a huge fleet and merchant fleet in the East.

The strongest ships under its name are those merchant ships called the Returning Galleons or East Indian Galleons, with a displacement of thousands of tons, even 2,000 tons, and generally have more than 40 guns, even in the European navy, they are the absolute main force.

But these large and powerful armed merchant ships were rarely used in conflicts in the East, and the main countries in the East were mainly small ships such as Ahat ships and sloops, which were at best temporarily converted and equipped with a few more guns.

According to the situation of the Oriental Trading Company mentioned by Moder, on the coast of the China Sea, the Dutch East India, and the Du Company did not have the advantage of troops and technology.

"Not yet, how to deal with the Eastern Trading Company is a matter for the Governor of Formosa and the Governor of Batavia to consider together, and it has nothing to do with you and me. I'm the current head of the merchant house, and you took over after you traveled to Edo to meet the shogun.

We want to consider the company's interests in Japan. Whether we were damaged by the Nagasaki Incident, or whether we can seize this opportunity to expand our interests. Moder reminded.

Harlan thought about it, and finally understood the deep meaning of Moder's words, the Oriental Trading Company had a Europa-standard ocean-going merchant fleet, which was an unsolvable problem for Japan, and among all Japan's current partners, only the Dutch East India and Du Company had this ability.

Obviously, there's room for trading.

Harlan smiled and said, "It seems that I'm going to prepare for the Edo Senate." ”

After November every year, when the Dutch fleet leaves Nagasaki, Japan, the Dutch merchant director in Nagasaki will sort out the information and gifts brought by his fleet, and follow the Japanese team to Edo by land, meet with the Tokugawa shogun, present gifts, and report the situation of other countries in the East, this activity is called the Edo Senate.

And in general, there were only three people in the Edo Senate, only the director of the merchant pavilion, the clerk and the doctor.

"Two adults, can you have dinner?" The Moorish servant asked softly at the door.

"The dinner is not called, Mr. Modell, you have not hidden anything from me, and I should repay it." Harlan smiled.

Modr nodded, the two had to carry out a work handover, Moder had to inform Harun of the situation in Japan so that he could take over the work, but Haroun also had to inform him of the situation in Batavia.

"Mr. Modell, you mentioned the Oriental Trading Company, a Chinese company that already has a reputation in Batavia. Governor Paul of Formosa reported to Batavia about the threat of commerce in the East.

Including its disobedience, which provided assistance to Spain in the process of conquest of the Spaniards last year. Sending fleets to trade with Manila on a large scale. Moreover, Paul also sent a rather meaningful news that Nikolai was going to deal with the Oriental Trading Company.

Paul himself wishes to take a tough stance against the Oriental Trading Company, and the Governor has entrusted me with this trip north to investigate the circumstances related to it, and I think that the Governor will inquire about you when you return to Batavia. Harlan said.

"And what should I prepare?" Modell asked sincerely.

"The background of the Oriental Trading Company," said Harun, "It was rumored that the Chinese company had a relationship with the governor of Guangdong Province in the Ming Kingdom, and some even said that Li Zhaoji was the governor's clerk.

The strength of the Eastern Trading Company, as Paul said, can be pacified by sending a detachment of a detachment and a land force of 500 men in Batavia.

Is the situation of the colonies run by the Oriental trading companies as rich as Paul suggests?

The relationship between the King of the Min Sea and the Oriental Trading Company, whether the two are really hostile, and if Nikolai wins, will he take the opportunity to land on Formosa Island and occupy Tamsui Island.

One thing you need to note is that Paul is a man who is shady and powerful, and if you want to show something in your return to the Doge, you must not cooperate with him, and gather information relatively independently. ”

Moder served as the director of the merchant museum in Nagasaki, Japan for many years, and the most contact was Paul of Formosa, and he naturally knew Paul's personality.

"Do you have any suggestions for these issues?" Modell's face was full of sincerity, and he asked, after all, Harlan came here and passed through Freshwater City.

"With my understanding of the Oriental Trading Company, it may not be that they will have direct competition with us, at least for now, it seems that the interests of the Zheng family that the Oriental Trading Company will hurt the most, if it were not for this, there would be no Nagasaki Incident.

Moreover, I think there is a lot of potential for our cooperation with Oriental Trading Company. In Tamsui, I traded with them on a small scale, not because Tamsui, like the small countries of the East Indies, could not absorb our goods and provide the goods we needed, but because I had very limited funds on hand.

In their warehouse, I saw a lot of raw silk and sugar, and they also valued our high-grade spices, such as cardamom and the like.

If trade is carried out, it will be beneficial to both sides, and I have also found out that this trading company is very influential in the Ming Kingdom. Maybe we can use him to open up trade with Ming.

More importantly, the business people I met from the Oriental Trading Company were very interested in trading with us, especially Liu, who was the largest merchant in Tamsui, and he said that at least one ship would be going to Batavia this year, and he wanted to leave with our returning fleet. Harlan said.

Moder was surprised, and at this time he figured out why Harlan did not make a clear statement after he had just introduced the origin of the Nagasaki incident. After all, cooperation with Japan will produce a lot of convenience, and now it seems that Harlan does not know the joints, but knows too clearly.

He had a hard time choosing between Japan and the Oriental trading company.

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the door, and Moder said, "It's time to eat." ”

"I'm sorry master." The voice of the servant sounded outside, and he said, "Your Excellency, the clerk, I have asked you to inform you that just now Lord B sent a messenger to tell you that you should go at once, and Lord Mufu will see you in the service.

And Lord Harun, Lord B has ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair. ”

The whole city of Okina is Dejima Otona, who is the Japanese official in charge of managing Dejima, although the official position is not high, but the Dutch never dare to refuse his arrangement, after all, the county official is not as good as the current management.

Harun was surprised: "Lord Metoko, shouldn't it be Nagasaki?" ”

"As far as I know, Toshishige Baba has an unshirkable responsibility for the Nagasaki Incident and has been detained. The administrator of Nagasaki was replaced by Metsuke from Edo, which means "supervisor". Moder said.

Harlan was helpless: "It's a good time for this Lord to choose, I don't know if he will serve us food." ”

"I'm sorry, Mr. Harlan, we should have eaten earlier," said Modell, apologetically. ”

The streets outside the Dejima gate are very prosperous, and they are full of hawkers.

He Bin was dressed in a short dress at this time, pushing a small cart, and the cart was loaded with several cage drawers, which were steamed buns from local Chinese, and in the basket on the side were rice balls wrapped in sea vegetables.

The weather was hot, and He Bin hid under a tree and fanned the wind with a hat.

"Saburo, give me four buns." A businessman handed two copper plates to He Bin and said.

This is a Japanese merchant from Edo, he is very fond of steamed buns, a Ming food, every day passing by here, when returning from the silk cutting Fu Nakama, he will buy a few for dinner, and the number of times, and this Masaburo is also familiar with it.

"No, sir." He Bin said in fluent Japanese, pointing to the rice balls in the basket: "There are only rice balls." ”

"Why not, what is this?" The merchant opened the small cage drawer in front of He Bin, saw the two buns inside, and asked, he was not polite, he reached out and grabbed it and was about to send it to his mouth.

"It fell to the ground." He Bin immediately stopped it and reached out to grab it.

The merchant was puzzled: "It looks clean, sell it to me." ”

"It's been on the ground, sir." He Bin pointed to the ground beside him, where there were several lumps of animal droppings.

The merchant immediately shook his head: "Saburo, leave me four tomorrow, no, six!" ”

"Yes sir." He Bin dealt with it carefully, acting like a vendor from a humble background.

He had set up a stall here on purpose, and he had set up a stall here since he saw the arrival of the Dutch fleet. This is the only way to get to the Nagasaki Shojo, and if the Dutch leave the island, they will definitely pass through here.

Smack.

There was a loud whip sound on the street, and He Bin immediately became vigilant, and saw a group of people coming from the direction of the island from a distance, including two sedan chairs. Many of the Japanese officials who came and went were in this pomp, until He Bin saw a few men in the team, and he recognized them as Japanese officials who were in and out of the island, and their positions were Dutch general words, that is, translators.

There are Dutch common words, indicating that there are important Dutch people in the sedan chair, He Bin picked up the small cage drawer, pretended to see the excitement, and when the team passed in front of him, he suddenly rushed to the sedan chair.

He Bin took advantage of the fact that people were not paying attention and ran over, and got the cage drawer and head into it, and Harlan inside panicked, and his hand couldn't help but touch his waist, but the weapon had already been taken away when he landed on the shore.

"My lord, try my buns, the food from the Ming Kingdom is very delicious." He Bin shouted in Japanese, interspersed with a Dutch phrase: "There is a secret letter in the bun." ”

Harun's face changed, and He Bin's head had been pulled out by the accompanying warriors, and it was a whip at him, He Bin was in pain, and hurriedly ran away.

"Are you alright, Mr. Harlan." The Dutch word came running and asked in a low voice.

"It's okay, it's just a passionate peddler." Harlan said he had just broken open the bun, and there was a folded note with a long string of words written in Dutch.

The team came to the office without saying a word, and Harlan and Moder walked side by side, and Harlan said: "Mr. Moder, someone sent me a letter just now, claiming to be He Bin, representing the Oriental Trading Company, and wants to discuss cooperation with our company. ”

"He Bin, isn't he dead?" Modell was surprised.

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