April 26, 1642, Batavia Port.

Cornelis van der Lin, the governor of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia, led a group of colonial officials on the dock to say goodbye to some important figures who had returned to Europe.

Among the important personnel who left was Senard Calamet, the former senior commercial counselor of the East India Company who had been a prisoner of Hanzhou for two years. He may have suffered great physical and mental "trauma", and his previous position had been replaced by the Dutch.

He was replaced by Fred Upton, who was appointed separately from the mainland. The former senior commercial counselor felt somewhat frustrated and reluctantly chose to return to Europe.

Sean Ludweder, the eldest son of Ludweder, who was once the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company and is now the United Provinces Senator, has gained a lot. Through the "special cargo" transaction with Hanzhou, his ship

Several large boxes were filled with gold and silver coins, worth more than 400,000 guilders. These were only half of the payment for the "special goods", but the remaining half would not be paid to him until next year.

However, Sean Ludwig was already very satisfied and took this huge sum of money back to Europe, plus a shipload of spices, Ming Dynasty porcelain, silk, and some enamel crafts (cloisonné) made in Hanzhou.

, will definitely make the Ludwig family become a wealthy family in Amsterdam again.

Those Hanzhou people are still more discerning and "know things". They know that only by possessing professional skills and professional craftsmen can they achieve self-sufficiency and even develop sustainably and healthily. Oh, by the way, those Hanzhou people are also officially

A country was established - Qi. Their king was very young,

They are also very courageous. Because of this, they can sell the various "goods" they collect from Europe at a good price. Moreover, they promise that if they bring any advanced or novel technologies from Europe, they can improve production efficiency.

They will definitely spend a lot of money to buy the machines and tools.

"Dear Sean, are you satisfied with this journey to the East?" Governor Cornelis Van Der Lin said a simple farewell to Senard Calamet, and came to Sean Ludwig's house.

In front of him, he said with a smile.

"Governor Delin, thank you very much for your kind care for me these past few months." Sean Ludwig said respectfully: "This trip to the East Indies, if it weren't for your care, I think I would be

It has been difficult to survive these six months. Here, please accept the most sincere thanks from me and the Ludweide family."

"Dear Sean, you are too polite." Governor Delin said: "Congressman Ludweder is the person I respect the most, but it is a pity that I never had the opportunity to visit him when I was in the United Provinces. When you return to Amsterdam, please

Be sure to send my greetings to your father."

"My Lord Governor, I will definitely bring your greetings to my father." Sean Ludwig said: "My father once told me that your ability in business is well-known in every province.

. He believes that you are the most suitable candidate for the East India Company's governorship in Batavia. Under your leadership, the East India Company's various economic indicators will soon recover and create greater benefits in the near future.

operating data.”

"I feel honored that Senator Ludweder recognized me personally!" Governor Delin waved his hand modestly and said: "I only hope to do my best to fully activate the commercial activities in the entire East Indies.

And then create more profits for the company. In addition to the strong support of the local board of directors, all this must also receive policy support from the government of the Federal Provincial Republic. At this point, Senator Ludwig can definitely help us Badawi

Promote effective initiatives and support for the Asian colonial cause.”

Sean Ludwig nodded and said that after returning to Amsterdam, he would submit Governor Dring's suggestions to his father, urging the federal provincial government to open a more relaxed colonial policy to the East India and extend the East India Company's monopoly to the greatest extent.

Deadline. Of course, other companies in the province that covet Eastern trade will also have corresponding policy restrictions and exclusions.

You must know that during this period, the Dutch East India Company's monopoly trade practices in the Far East not only had to face competition from external forces such as the Portuguese, English, and Spanish, but also the covetousness of many domestic trading companies in the Netherlands. And the East India Company

In order to try to monopolize the Eastern trade and spice trade for a long time, the company has been sparing no effort to attack many domestic and foreign competitors. At the same time, it has transferred part of the company's shares to the federal provincial government, and has no reservations about various domestic and foreign affairs of the federal provincial government.

provide material and financial support.

In order to help the federal provincial government win the Spanish invasion war, the East India Company successively provided financial support of millions of guilders to the federal provincial government, and also delivered dozens of the company's armed merchant ships to the navy for free during the war.

This kind of contribution also resulted in the federal provincial government authorizing the East India Company to continue to monopolize Eastern trade and further expand its autonomy in the Far East. It can form more local colonial management agencies and have the power to declare war on local countries and governments.

Some government functions such as contracting.

However, the East India Company still did not dare to take it lightly and continued to buy more allies and supporters in the political and business circles. As an emerging politician, Senator Ludweder was naturally a figure that the East India Company tried its best to win over.

"What kind of business does Mr. Ludwig Jr. do with Hanzhou?" Governor Delin casually asked Fred Upton, the senior commercial counselor beside him, looking at the merchant ships leaving the port one after another.

"His housekeeper said that he sold some woolen fabrics and glass mirrors to Hanzhou." Fred Upton said: "But we don't really know what else is there specifically. They came from Europe.

That ship has never been unloaded at the dock."

"Fabric and glass mirrors?" Governor Delin frowned, "But I saw Mr. Ludwig Jr. carrying at least four or five boxes of coins to the ship, estimated to be more than 300,000 guilders. Their cloth and mirrors can

Selling it for so much money?”

"Maybe." Fred Upton shrugged and said with a smile: "Maybe those Han Chinese people have never seen a glass mirror and were defrauded of a large sum of money by Mr. Ludwig Jr. We in East India

The company might as well bring more luxury goods such as glass mirrors from Europe in the future. Maybe the young king of Hanzhou likes to hunt for novelties very much and is willing to enjoy them."

Governor Delin nodded. Young people may always be attracted by all kinds of strange things. Hanzhou is barren and can only produce some basic materials such as food and iron. If all kinds of luxury items from European palaces are transported,

When we go to Hanzhou, we might be able to decorate the young king's simple palace.

"When it comes to Hanzhou, I suddenly remembered that they seem to have a very fast boat. Your commercial department must find a way to introduce its manufacturing technology. This will help us to timely transmit news between various trading stations in the East Indies.

It's very useful, um, together with their materials that can strengthen buildings, it's best to get them," Governor Delin said.

"Sir Governor, these two things are so important, the Hanzhou people should keep them strictly confidential." Fred Upton was stunned, "If we rashly...obtain these two products in some unethical way

Will this method lead to another confrontation between us and Hanzhou?"

"Then we should do it more cleverly, so that we can obtain the Hanzhou people's know-how and prevent them from having attacks." Governor Delin said: "In addition, I believe that the Hanzhou people will not lose one or two specialties.

If you have technology, you can fall out with us. After all, the war has only lasted three years. Although we have suffered a lot of losses, they should also know that the strength of our East India Company's maritime power does not mean that they build a few more warships.

Can compete."

While he was talking, he suddenly saw an armed merchant ship coming back from the harbor. It looked a little embarrassed, as if it had been through a battle, and there were signs of fire on the sides and sails of the ship.

Governor Delin looked stern. Which local force attacked the East India Company's merchant ships?

"My Lord Governor, the Melkek is returning from Makassar." Navy Commander Colonel Duckman Barek quickly rushed back to the Governor's Palace in the city and reported to Governor Delin that the ship had returned with injuries.

Armed merchant ships, "it brought news of the remaining Portuguese in Malacca. The Gowa Sultanate there provided safe haven to the Portuguese who fled to Makassar. It is estimated that as many as three hundred to four hundred Portuguese sojourns

At Makassar Port, a temporary camp has been initially established."

"Was the Melkek damaged by the Portuguese, or by the Gowa Sultanate?" Governor Delin's face darkened.

"None of these, Lord Governor." Colonel Duckman Barek had a strange look on his face, "The Melkek was attacked by dozens of small boats from the Kingdom of Mataram when it was passing through Surabaya.

Attack."

"The Kingdom of Mataram?" Governor Delin was a little surprised. "In the war with Mataram a year ago, didn't your navy destroy most of their maritime power?...Have they recovered again?"

"Yes, Lord Governor." Colonel Barek said with a wry smile: "After all, the Kingdom of Mataram has a large population, and their ships are only small galleys, which are relatively easy to build."

"The Kingdom of Mataram..." Governor Delin said softly.

"In the past year, the Kingdom of Mataram has not harassed or attacked its strongholds near Batavia, but it has also rejected the peace negotiation representatives we sent. They have shown very deep hostility towards our East India Company."

Colonel Barek reminded in a low voice.

"A year ago, we severely defeated the army of the Kingdom of Mataram under the city of Batavia. So, what has the Kingdom of Mataram been doing in the following year?" Governor Delin asked.

"The Kingdom of Mataram withdrew most of the troops that had confronted us and retracted their armed forces to the inland areas." Colonel Barek said: "They turned to develop to the east of Java Island. They should have been fighting with us recently.

The Kingdom of Brambang Sultan went on a campaign and tried to annex this country."

"Didn't we take corresponding measures?" Governor Delin asked.

"In the past two years, we have to deal with the war with Hanzhou, as well as the constant threats and persecution from Nicholas of the Ming Dynasty in Formosa and Japan. At the same time, we have to prepare to capture the Portuguese stronghold of Malacca. Therefore,

Governor Daiman did not intervene too much in the war between the natives on Java Island." Colonel Barek said.

"But our Batavia is on the island of Java!" Governor Delin sighed: "If the entire Java Island is unified by the Kingdom of Mataram, it will be a huge disaster for our East India Company."

When Colonel Barrack heard this, he immediately fell silent. As a subordinate, he could not comment at will on the different foreign policies of the two governors.

"I remember that a few months ago, the Cirebon Sultan Kingdom, not far from Batavia, came to us to try to buy artillery and muskets. Are they also facing threats from the Mataram Kingdom?" Governor Delin turned to ask.

Senior Commercial Counselor Fred Upton.

"Yes, the Cirebon Sultan Kingdom once sent people to Batavia to purchase artillery and muskets." Fred Upton nodded and said: "But the company adheres to the consistent principle of reducing the flow of firearms into the Turkish Kingdom.

Their request was refused. We simply sold them a large number of iron swords and spears."

"But as far as I know, during the three years of our war with Hanzhou, the Kingdom of Matalan obtained a large number of weapons, especially a large number of artillery and muskets." Governor Delin said seriously: "They

In addition to fighting us, the purpose of holding these weapons is probably to expand the sphere of influence on the island, and even to ambitiously unify the island of Java. Gentlemen, we cannot allow it to continue to develop and must take drastic measures.

, to prevent the further expansion of the power of the Kingdom of Mataram.”

"Send our representatives to the Sultan Kingdom of Cirebon and the Sultan Kingdom of Brambang and tell them that in order to stop the hegemony of the Kingdom of Mataram, our East India Company will provide necessary assistance and supplies to them.

It’s not limited to muskets and artillery. We can even sign an alliance with them and jointly send troops to counter the aggression of the Kingdom of Mataram.”

"Send someone to inform our representative in Qi in Hanzhou and ask him to reiterate our special rights and interests to the entire East Indies to the Qi government, requiring them to strictly abide by the peace agreement and strictly prohibit the flow of any weapons into the various kingdoms of the East Indies."

"Our East India Company's future strategic plan for Java Island is to completely control the coastal points of the entire island, and at the same time, we must try our best to avoid the rise and expansion of the power of any kingdom." Governor Delin solemnly said: "In the future, Java Island will be

We run the entire East Indies home base!”

"My Lord Governor, what should we do with the remnants of the Portuguese who fled to Makassar?" Colonel Barek asked.

"Stop it for the time being." Governor Delin thought for a while and said: "It's just a few hundred exiles. As long as we control the Strait of Malacca and the Spice Islands, they will not be able to grow even if they have the protection of the local native kingdom.
Chapter completed!