From Chief to Ball

"Let me tell you, if you don't want to continue to invest in the dividends, you might as well hire people to come to the islands we control to buy land for reclamation, plant sugar cane, pepper, etc., and earn a lot of money a year. That is also a matter for generations to come. As long as there is Money, can’t you go there?”

One person sighed and said, "It's just the money... If there is no backing tree, I will not feel at ease after all. Didn't some people go to Luzon to make a living back then, and in the end, they were killed and their heads rolled?"

Chen Jian pointed to the guns on the sailors beside him and said, "Money can buy guns, but if someone kills you, you just want to kill them? Overseas affairs are no different from the Chinese Empire. If you have money and guns, ships and cannons, this island will say It belongs to the company, so who can do anything? If there are natural disasters and tens of thousands of immigrants, what is there to be afraid of?"

Everyone shook their heads, still uneasy, their ideas cannot be reversed in a day or two, and Chen Jian didn't force it, but just slowly lured this group of people.

While speaking, we arrived at the port, and saw several European sailing ships from a long distance, all of which had lowered their flags, and we didn't know which country they belonged to.

There is also a Chinese-style cargo ship on the port, which seems to be carrying sugar as ballast, and a group of people are waiting on the shore to greet them.

After docking at the port, one person hurried to Chen Jianjian, and Chen Jian asked, "What happened to those ships?"

"Mr. Chen, a British ship and several Dutch ships. Something happened to Banda Island in the south. The Dutch were attacked when the local princes were discussing trade. More than 40 Dutch people were killed by the locals. The Dutch A British ship was seized, and the British were said to be behind the scenes. The British envoys went to our shop in Pattani, asked Mr. Chen to help make adjustments, made a guarantee, and asked the Dutch to return the ship.”

The shareholders who disembarked with Chen Jian couldn't quite understand the weird language with a blunt tone in the north. Occasionally some words could be understood, but they couldn't understand what they meant when they were connected together.

As soon as Chen Jian heard this, he said: "Since it is a matter of trade, it is a shareholder of the trading company. Let someone who can speak Hokkien come and translate it."

The man understood what it meant as soon as he heard it, and ran back to call Lin Zigui.Chen Jian turned his head and said to the few shareholders who were puzzled but curious: "It's nothing, just ask me to mediate the conflicts between some Hongyi. This is also a matter of the company, and you will have to deal with them in the future. Since you are shareholders , I must not hide it from you, I will call an interpreter to come over."

The minority shareholders hurriedly said, "No need."

"How can it not be necessary? As a company, it must be open to shareholders. Besides, any decisions in the future need to be voted on by shareholders. This is our company, not my personal company."

Saying this, Lin Zigui also ran over and translated it in Hokkien.

Chen Jian asked again: "What do the Dutch mean? They came here to arrest people?"

"No. The Dutch India Company has now been reorganized, and a full-fledged governor of India has been appointed to take charge of the affairs here. The governor sent someone to tell Mr. Chen that he has officially taken office. This is the request of the Amsterdam board of directors, and there are other things to discuss There is also a ship that went to Hirado, Japan to open a business house, encountered some wind and waves, and is repairing the mast. There are also a group of shipbuilders hired by our organization in Europe and some interns we hired to participate in the war in the Dutch Navy. Came with the Holland India ship. See when we'll meet them?"

"I'm here with the shareholders of the company. I can't do it today. What are the arrangements in the city?"

"There will be a meeting the day after tomorrow to discuss next year's budget and the trade in aboriginal buckskins."

"That's it, tell them, I'll see them tomorrow afternoon. Are the food and fresh water for the second batch of fleet returning home ready?"

"almost."

"That's fine, let's do this first. I'll accompany these people around Wangbei City."

After those people left, the faces of these shareholders or shareholder representatives changed slightly, and they said that this kind of courtesy had never happened before.

Furthermore, there was a problem among those red barbarians, and instead of coming to the heaven to ask the emperor to adjudicate, they came here instead, which is really unexpected.

Chen Jian said a few more words, and took these people in a carriage to look at the bastion and fort of Wangbei City, which had been basically completed, and then visited the sulfur salt acid-alkali workshop system and the glass workshop that were being installed. There are large rice fields, sugar cane fields, windmill sugar mills, and a simple arena where the aboriginal athletics competition was held not long ago.

In the arena, a group of people are receiving military training, and these shareholders are extremely relieved.

Brainwashed and bewitched by Chen Jian these days, they felt that these guns could protect their investment.

Chen Jian pointed to the guns and said, "The Chinese Empire has its own system, so let's not mention that for now. But overseas, it is the truth that is only within the range of the guns. For you, it is good to buy land or invest. Well, you have to understand a little bit."

Everyone looked at Chen Jian, but Chen Jian made a fool of himself and said, "Before I answer this, I still have one thing I don't understand. What is the rule of three generations?"

I don't understand why Chen Jian said this suddenly, but he explained everything one by one.

Chen Jian laughed and said: "You are the most humble among the four peoples. None of you have any fame. What does the rule of the three generations of scholars have to do with you? What should the rule of the three generations look like in the eyes of businessmen? Let me tell you , Private property is inviolable and capital command guns. Look at you, you don’t even know how to dream your own dreams.”

A few people smiled awkwardly, thinking that this joke was quite good, and secretly pondering in their hearts, if it is purely from the perspective of a businessman, private property is inviolable and capital commands guns, isn't it the three generations that the four people should think about the most? rule?

Whether it is a small country with few people or Yao, Shun and Yutang, it seems that they are far away from the dream country of their own class. Is it possible that they really have to think about it and make a dream of their own?

Chapter 1 Arrangements before leaving ([-])

The country is the product of the irreconcilable contradictions of various classes.Merge everyone's dreams of the rule of three generations and make compromises with each other, that's all.Every class has to dare to dream of its own three-generation rule, and then it can spontaneously think about what the country is instead of being on the verge of subjugation.Don't dare to dream, how to reconcile and how to compromise.

Chen Jian made it a joke and asked the businessman to try to have a dream.A banquet was held in the evening, and some wine was toasted to make it easier for them to fall asleep and dream.

The next afternoon, Chen Jian went to meet with the representative of the first governor of the Dutch India Company.

The leader was a 24-year-old young man, tall, who might have been instructed by the company or to please Chen Jian deliberately. He knew that Chen Jian could speak Dutch, but he still communicated with Chen Jian in the language of the Republic.

"Dear Governor Mr. Chen, I would like to send you my greetings on behalf of Peter Bosh, the first Governor of the Netherlands India Company. I am the plenipotentiary representative of the Governor General, the company's financial accountant Peter Senkun. At the same time bring you the Federal Republic of Greetings from Mr. Grotius, Attorney General of the Provinces of the Netherlands."

It is estimated that these words have been practiced for a long time, and the words are still very smooth. Chen Jian also greeted and looked at this young man in his 20s, thinking that he became the first governor's confidant at such a young age. , can be regarded as a character.

After the guests and hosts sat down, Kun first explained: "I came here first to convey a message. The Federal Republic defeated the Spanish fleet in Gibraltar and signed a truce with Spain. Ten years from now, our company will cooperate with Spain. There will be no formal conflict with Portugal. The governor commissioned me to tell Mr. Chen, and also hope that Mr. Chen can send someone to Banda to negotiate with the governor. At the same time, the consul and the attorney general hope that Mr. Chen can return to China sooner."

"what happened?"

"The envoy of your country said that before Mr. Chen's fleet returns to the country and makes clear what he has seen and heard at the national council of your country, it is not easy to sign treaties with other countries. And Mr. Chen knows everything about the United Provinces Republic, and The situation in Europe, so I hope you can return to your country as soon as possible."

Peterson Kun explained: "We signed a ten-year truce with Spain, but we had some conflicts with the British on issues of international law, and the British had many conflicts with us in the Spice Islands. Ten years The truce agreement will soon pass, and the consul must know your country's attitude in order to make a decision."

"What about it?"

"Mr. Chen, you must have heard about the tragedy at Banda Island. Although there is no evidence, it was obviously instigated by the British behind the scenes. Now the company's spice trade is threatened by the British, and the strongholds in the Spice Islands are all The Inter-Provincial Republics and the Company have been snatched from the Portuguese and the Spaniards bit by bit, and the English have not contributed here but enjoyed the fruits."

Chen Jian nodded, cursing in his heart that when I left The Hague, there were still a group of English companies and Scottish companies in Morris' army even after the British withdrew, not to mention the time when the Armada encountered the Irish Kamikaze.As expected, the trading company only recognizes money but does not appreciate it, and the United Provinces is completely controlled by capital, saying anything is not as good as profit.

"Mr. Chen, before I set off, the British had already had some disputes with us at the seminar on international law. There were many disagreements on the details of colonies, territorial waters, and freedom of navigation, which were related to the British Spice Islands. Whether the trade is legal. This is not only a company issue, but also a legal issue. The British do not recognize the contract we signed with the locals, thinking that it is an unequal treaty and is invalid. You know, international law without your republic If you don’t participate, it cannot be called international law, and it is also ineffective, so the participating countries urgently need your country to express its position on the debate on international law..."

"At the same time, because of the existence of Spain and the assassination of the king by Catholics in France, the Inter-Provincial Republic has been seriously threatened. The Consul hopes to uphold the justice of the real international law, but must consider the future of the Inter-Provincial Republic. The relationship with Britain is not considered. Of course, if your country can intervene and sign some treaties with the Federal Republic, then the consul will not have to consider the views of the British, and the company's spice trade in Asia can also be freed."

Chen Jian was stunned for a moment, and carefully asked about the situation in Europe. After Petersonkun finished speaking, he didn't comment, and said for a while: "I would have returned to China within a year. The British hope that I can mediate the situation between you two. For relations in the Spice Islands area, at least return their seized ships, after all, there is no evidence that the tragedy was instigated by the British behind the scenes."

"Of course this can be considered. This matter is not important. Governor Bosh pays more attention to the relationship with you. Now Jakarta, a vassal state of Banten, asks Governor Bosh for help, and hopes that Governor Bosh will support Jakarta's independence from Banten's evil rule. , the company is also considering building a business there. The Governor hopes that Mr. Chen can provide a loan to buy some cannons and some guns or cotton cloth and handicrafts of the Ming Empire as materials for building a business and fortress there. The next batch of ships transporting precious metals will be repaid, or repaid in the bank in Amsterdam. At the same time, I hope that Mr. Chen will tell the maritime merchants of the Ming Empire that they can go to Jakarta for trade. We will give no less than Manila s price."

It seems that Peter Xunkun is not clear about the news that Chen Jian organized the Ming Dynasty Marine Merchant to establish a joint-stock company in Fujian. Chen Jian thought that there is no need to convey that I am the leader of the Ming Dynasty Marine Merchant Group, but he said: "I will convey the news. Where are you How is the spice trade going?"

"Not well. The people of Banda are extremely cunning and shameless. We saved them from the Portuguese menace, and now they turn to the British to rebel against our trade. Their attitude towards trade is also the same. Makes the company very upset that they will never sell nutmeg from their hands unless they have sold five times as much nutmeg, or even let it rot. We are not Portuguese, and have nothing to do with their morals or their souls Interest, the company never preaches, only for profit, even this still can't satisfy those greedy Banda people."

Chen Jianxin said nonsense, what profit is there for nutmeg?Cardamom what profit?If people don’t sell cardamom first, will you still want other people’s cardamom if you buy nutmeg directly?The people on the island are counting on this thing to exchange for rice and cotton cloth to survive.

Today's situation is not normal. Banten's palace coup has taken place, and Jakarta hopes to become independent from the Dutch.The Netherlands has now found a better potential ally of the republic that can influence the situation in Europe. It no longer needs to look at the faces of the British. The most important vote is in the hands of Chen Jian.

If Chen Jian can guarantee the signing of a series of treaties between the Republic and the Netherlands, the Dutch will go to London to tell the King of England what international law is, what unequal treaties and equal treaties are, and the Asian companies will immediately go to war when the news reaches them. .

The Dutch had just finished the Battle of Gibraltar, and their aura was at its peak. What they were worried about was the Spanish attack that ended after the ten-year truce, and the French queen regent who seemed to be pro-Spain with an ambiguous attitude... If there is no Republic as a crap stick, They can only continue to maintain good relations with the British, even at the expense of part of their interests, in order to gain an ally in the war ten years later.

Chen Jian can control not many soldiers in Taiwan, but 1000 soldiers and a fleet in his hands are enough to affect the situation in the entire Spice Islands, as long as he wants.Now countries are not standing firm here. Ten years from now, people and ships will not be enough, but now they will be enough to mediate.

Seeing that Chen Jian didn't answer immediately, Peterson Kun continued: "Mr. Chen, there are great contradictions between your country and Spain, such as the conflict in the Indies. independent from the tyrannical rule of our country. We both have a common enemy."

"In Asia, Mr. Chen is not interested in the spice trade, and we will not get involved in Mr. Chen's trade. We can cooperate. The British Indian Company is an independent individual participating, and its competitiveness is not as good as the committee of the Federal Republic. British people also have a very shallow understanding of economics. They don’t realize that if they can’t monopolize spices and reduce the production of spices, sooner or later the European spice market will oversupply, leading to a sharp drop in prices. In front of the British. Everything they do now, sooner or later, the profits of the spice trade will plummet and they will not even be able to earn back the cost. It can be seen that they are short-sighted. The British do not consider the contribution of the Federal Republic in the Spice Islands and the relationship with Spain and Portugal The sacrifices they have made in the struggle show their shamelessness."

"A company with independent shareholders, a company whose employees are self-defeating, a short-sighted company, and a shameless company has no future."