Chapter 987 Troubles

By the next day, the disturbance caused by the Ming Dynasty's mission was still prevalent throughout Amsterdam. People rushed to discuss the entire mission, their clothes, their speech and movements, and everything about the Ming Empire.

In the early morning, as the owner of the bakery, Carl De Magers pushed open his wooden door and set up his stall as usual.

His bakery is one of the largest in Amsterdam, employing two chefs and six waiters, working from morning to night, and receiving countless customers every day.

What made him most proud was the window-sized piece of glass, which cost him thirty guilders, and allowed him to see delicious soft bread from outside the door.

This is the best way to attract nobles.

As for the free people, it would be nice if they could come in and buy some brown bread.

He wiped it carefully with a towel, sighing from time to time, cherishing it very much.

"Damn it, Thomas, you lazy idiot. If you were half as diligent as a donkey in a mill, I would have opened a branch long ago."

At this moment, Karl De Magers saw his son driving a donkey cart with two bags of wheat flour on it.

This wheat is also produced in their own mill.

Thomas complained: "Dad, I got up earlier than the donkey, just to feed him and grind wheat. I am not diligent at all."

"Bah, those girls were happy last night, don't think I don't know."

Karl cursed: "Although we are businessmen, our ancestors were also from noble families. How can we find such a woman?"

"Whenever you seduce a noble lady, you can be happy, but if you can't keep it, you can also defraud her of some money!"

Thomas rolled his eyes at him, unloaded the wheat, and drove away in the donkey cart.

However, he still turned around and said to his father: "Dad, when I was happy yesterday, I heard those women say that the stock market has been particularly hot recently."

"Spices, silk, and the East India Company may all have a sharp rise!"

Hearing this, Karl rolled his eyes and immediately reacted: "Yes, Mingren is here. These companies are destined to skyrocket. This is a good opportunity to make a fortune."

He quickly turned around and brought out a bag of silver coins from the shop, containing at least twenty or thirty Dutch guilders.

"You guard the store and wait until a few guys arrive before leaving." Karl ordered hurriedly, and then with lightning speed, he twisted his butt and walked towards the stock exchange.

"I know why you are talking so much." Thomas wanted to slap himself.

As early as the Middle Ages, the Netherlands was the food center of Europe. At that time, the Arab Empire conquered North Africa and the development of gold mines required a large amount of food.

The Netherlands concentrated European grain and then transported it to Gibraltar in Spain (an Arab colony at this time) and then to North Africa, thereby earning the first pot of gold.

When Spain became a colonial power, most of the large amounts of gold and silver mined went into the pockets of the Dutch.

So in 1602, Amsterdam established the world's first joint-stock company, the East India Company.

In 1613, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange was established, establishing the Netherlands as the financial center of Europe.

From 1780 to 1785, in order to retaliate against the Netherlands for supporting North America, Britain launched the Fourth War against the Netherlands and transferred the European financial center to London.

This was Britain's greatest compensation after losing North America.

Therefore, the so-called independence of the United States is basically one versus three from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and North America.

How much is a colony worth? It's not as important as a financial center.

Therefore, Britain was very decisive in giving up North America.

The stock exchange occupies a small area and can only accommodate more than a thousand people. The wooden building cannot withstand the hustle and bustle inside.

As soon as I arrived at the door, there was already a long queue of people who wanted to trade.

Five windows are totally not enough.

The stock price written in chalk on the black wooden board changes almost instantly.

Many people are eager to buy the stock price, which is constantly bidding.

Karl looked at the East India Company's share price, which reached fifty guilders per share.

(One pound equals ten guilders)

You know, a middle-class tutor in Amsterdam only earns three hundred guilders a year, which is his two months' salary.

In the first two days, the East India Company only had ten guilders.

"God, this is my net profit for the week."

Karl muttered, then twisted his fat butt and squeezed into the team.

Next to the queue, several security guards watched carefully. The queue is when thieves are most rampant.

"Sir, which stock do you want to buy?"

There were no stockbrokers at this time, just sales and scribes.

"East India Company, I want to buy shares of the East India Company."

"Sorry sir, everyone in the East India Company is asking for it. If you insist on buying it, it must be higher than the market price."

The man glanced at the blackboard and suggested: "You can give fifty-five guilders."

"Okay." Carl gritted his teeth and said, "I want ten shares. If anyone wants to sell them, you can go to Carl's bakery and find me."

After leaving his address, he was about to leave, but when he saw the crowded crowd, he immediately changed his mind.

Looking at this situation, one share of East India Company stock was hard to come by, and no one wanted to sell it.

"I have 20 Indian company shares at eighty guilders per share. Please help me sell them."

"Sir, do you want to sell it? I can give it to you directly."

At this time, a well-dressed man behind him had a surprise smile on his face.

"Of course -" Karl also smiled.

Witnessed by the stock proceeds, the two reached a deal and paid a certain percentage of the transaction fee.

A large bag of Dutch guilders made him overjoyed.

He turned around and deposited it into the Bank of Amsterdam not far away.

The investors who had been wanting to buy all laughed at him for being a fool.

Karl was proud of himself: "A bunch of fools, they are safe in their pockets. Now that people come to the Netherlands, they can do business in the Netherlands in the blink of an eye."

"By then, won't the East India Company's profits be greatly reduced?"

On the way back, with a large sum of Dutch guilders in hand, he wanted to go to a clothing store to make a piece of clothing to reward himself.

As soon as I stepped into the store, I saw several strange clothes.

It's loose and doesn't look like clothes at all, worse than a skirt.

"This is?" Karl was confused.

"Sir, this is the Ming-style robe that is popular in Amsterdam recently. Look at the material. One piece can be as good as two pieces of ordinary clothes."

The tailor introduced it with a smile, like a cunning fox: "Even though it looks baggy, in the Ming Dynasty, it was actually the clothes of the nobles."

"Think about it, how can ordinary people dare to use the fabrics of two clothes to make one?"

"That's true." Karl thought.

"Look at this waist and these legs, they can definitely cover up all the shortcomings..."

Unknowingly, the bakery owner, who thought he was from a noble family, left with a Ming-style robe.

After the old tailor left, he turned around hurriedly and shouted behind him: "Mal, you idiot, hurry up and make Oriental robes. Make a few more. We are almost sold out."

At the same time, everything about the Ming Dynasty was sought after by the entire Amsterdam public.

Marco Polo's Travels, which had been snapped up in the past, was sold out again.

Several sailors who had been to the East India Company spoke freely about their experiences; missionaries gathered together to discuss missionary work.

As for the nobles and merchants, they were constantly communicating on how to expand business contacts with the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, the East India Company, which monopolized the entire Asian trade, was not only sought after, but also criticized by many nobles.

When the East India Company was established, there were not many stocks in circulation, and many nobles did not get started. When they wanted to get started, they had no chance.

A monopoly will naturally be attacked by others.

At this time, the Prince of Orange's Palace.

The 16-year-old William III also heard about this.

The aristocratic young men around him were constantly discussing Eastern rumors and novel stories.

"As a result, the Netherlands' finances will probably reach a higher level in a few years."

A certain prince supporter sighed.

William III's eyes couldn't help but dim a bit.

Even though he is still young, power has already eroded his brain and has been inseparable from him since he was a child.

With the ancestral power gone, a group of nobles who support the Orange family are naturally unwilling to accept it. This is a considerable force.
To be continued...