Chapter 305 Talking about business in business

Regarding the Western forces that appear in South Vietnam, the Executive Committee has already set the tone for response - in the Indochina Peninsula, especially the east coast where the Crossing Group intends to establish a stronghold, other large-scale Western forces cannot be allowed to exist. South Vietnam

This area is the only way for the Cross-Trade Group to reach the Malacca Strait shipping route in the future. Controlling this area will basically control nearly one-half of the sea routes for Western powers to Northeast Asia from the sea, which will have a great influence on the future development of the Cross-Trade Group.

It is of great strategic significance.

At the beginning of the year, the Executive Committee decided to send troops to Annan to provide military assistance to the Zheng regime. One of the important reasons was that it learned that the Nguyen family in South Vietnam was supported by Western forces. Without this incident, the Executive Committee would probably sit back and watch as North and South Vietnam slowly and leisurely

The fight will continue, but now that Western forces have begun to intervene in this regional struggle, the Executive Committee will naturally not sit idly by and respond in a more radical way than its opponents hiding behind the scenes. It will directly roll up its sleeves and go to the battlefield.

This decision of the Executive Committee somewhat felt like it was rushed. The training time of the North Vietnamese troops was too short, and their combat effectiveness was doubtful. Moreover, the North Vietnamese army was retreating steadily on the battlefield, which did not leave the Executive Committee much time to respond.

If the Executive Committee did not choose to send troops at that time and allowed the situation to develop, the North Vietnamese regime would be in danger. This would be an unacceptable situation for the Crossing Group. After all, the Crossing Group had invested a large amount of materials and manpower in North Vietnam in the early stage, and the North Vietnamese regime would have been in danger.

The collapse of the company means that all of this work will most likely be in vain.

In addition to the military risks, the Executive Committee's decision to participate in the war at that time also lurked political crises. Compared with the Western forces that have been struggling at sea for hundreds of years and have occupied a large number of colonies around the world, the current time travel

The group is still relatively lacking in maritime strength. If it has a choice, the executive committee does not want to directly confront the Western forces at this time. If there is a serious fight, the group's major companies, mainly Fuchuan and Guangzhou Shipbuilding, will

A Chinese sailing ship cannot be pulled out to compete with the Galenic armed merchant ships of the West.

Although the expeditionary force failed to intercept and kill the foreign military advisers in the South Vietnamese camp during the battle for the Yangtze River in Hengshan, based on various information obtained afterwards, it can be inferred that the forces behind the South Vietnamese regime were most likely the Portuguese. These fears

The Portuguese, who were in peace and stability, caused a lot of trouble after entering Asia, and they were very enthusiastic about arms trading. They even did such dirty things as selling the cannons from sunken British ships to the Ming Dynasty. It is difficult to speculate that they would do so because of this.

What was the reaction to the defeat in South Vietnam?

After research, the Executive Committee believes that the possibility of the Portuguese directly falling out with the Crossing Group is extremely low, because their closest stronghold to Victory Port is Macau, and Macau, which was co-ruled by the Ming Dynasty, was not strong enough to attack Victory Port.

It is even more unrealistic to mobilize troops and ships from Manchuria, which is thousands of miles away. In this era, the supplies required for large-scale cross-sea operations are not something that a small colony can afford.

A cross-sea operation with a thousand-person scale like the Crossing Group organization, which is only more than a hundred nautical miles away from the base camp, has already been launched. It took nearly a month to prepare for the trip. If the Portuguese are really ready to take action against Victory Port, it will take at least half a year.

The preparation period of time, and the Executive Committee believed that this period of time was enough for Victory Port to train a group of navies with basic combat capabilities.

Compared with the attack on Victory Port, the Executive Committee is more worried about the fact that the route from Victory Port to Guangzhou is used by the Portuguese as a place of revenge. At present, this route is still the most important material input channel through the group. Every month

There are already more than 30 ships heading to Victory Port from the Pearl River coast. Although this number is still extremely shabby from the perspective of future generations, considering that it has been less than a year since the opening of Victory Port, it can attract so many mainlands.

It is not easy for merchants to visit. This waterway is also regarded by the Executive Committee as one of the lifelines of the group. For this reason, the Military and Police Department has already planned to set up a maritime base at the Pearl River Estuary to ensure this waterway.

safe and smooth.

However, Macau, a node located on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, is a threshold that cannot be bypassed. If the Portuguese want to cause trouble at the Pearl River Estuary, the Crossing Group does not have a good way to deal with it. Even if the shipyard has launched several warships

ships, but the military and police departments do not dare to casually send these ships to fight in sea areas thousands of miles away without supply points. In short, if it is a land battle or amphibious operation, the crossing group is not really afraid of the Portuguese, but if a war breaks out

On the sea, the advantage of the Portuguese in sailing is still more obvious.

Of course, the outbreak of war is actually just an extreme situation. Although the Portuguese operations in South Vietnam were hit, it actually did not cause very direct losses to them. If the outbreak of war is driven by interests, then

At present, there are not enough interests to push the Portuguese to launch a war with uncertain prospects.

Before the battle in Annan broke out, the Crossing Group had actually intended to contact the Portuguese in Macau and planned to purchase through them some items that could not be purchased in the Ming Dynasty - such as canvas from the Indian Peninsula.

Cotton cultivation appeared in the Indus Valley Civilization as early as BC, and the island cotton introduced to the Guangdong and Guangxi regions via Southeast Asia came from India. The cotton textile industry has always been one of the important specialties of the Indian Peninsula. In order to monopolize the trade from India to Europe

Maritime spice trade routes, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama chose Goa as his foothold in 1498 and began to establish a colony there. In 1510, Portuguese fleet commander Albuquerque led troops and sailors to defeat the local Punjab king and occupied Goa.

He conquered the city of Goa and declared sovereignty over Goa, adding it to the many overseas colonies under Portugal's name.

When other Western powers came to India in the 16th century, most of the Portuguese territories were divided between the British and the Dutch. Goa soon became Portugal's most important overseas territory, and even had armed conflicts with India over sovereignty issues until

In the 1970s, after the "April 25 Revolution", Portugal recognized India's sovereignty over Goa.

As an important stronghold of the Portuguese in Asia, almost all the canvas required by the Portuguese fleet comes from Goa. However, the Executive Committee has never been particularly satisfied with the canvas fabrics produced in Daming, and still hopes to buy some from its Western counterparts.

Fabrics with a tougher texture. However, after the incident in Annan, the Executive Committee suspended its work with the Portuguese. It was unexpected that the Portuguese in Macau could act so quickly after learning about the war in Annan.

After clearing my mind, I took the initiative to come to the door for discussion.

However, Enrique did not show any obvious attitude in his words. Tao Donglai was not sure whether he was here to ask questions or if he had other motives, so he could only say vaguely: "About Annan."

During the war, we had no intention of participating in the dispute between the North and the South. We were only retaliating for our merchant ships that were plundered by the South Vietnamese navy. Of course, given that we have always maintained relatively close business contacts with the North Vietnamese regime, we did indeed participate in this civil war.

We have chosen to support the Zheng family in North Vietnam, but we do not want the North and the South to use force to resolve political differences."

Although Enrique is considered to be a "China expert" and can listen and speak Chinese, Tao Donglai's diplomatic remarks still left him a little confused. He had obviously joined the war, but he said he was not doing it for North Vietnam.

If you have clearly chosen to support one side of the war, why are you saying anything against force?

Tao Donglai continued: "If our information is correct, the person who supports the Nguyen family in South Vietnam and provides them with weapons and military training should be your country?"

Enrique did not deny Tao Donglai's speculation, but readily admitted: "Chinese merchants have a lot of business in Hoi An Port in the south. If the Nguyen family fails in this civil war, it means that our merchants

We will suffer huge losses as a result."

"So you want to persuade us to leave Annan and not interfere in the civil war in Annan?" Since Tao Dong came to see the other party and made his position clear, he no longer continued to hide it, but directly asked the other party about the purpose of his visit.

"Although I did have such an intention when I came here, looking at it now, I don't think I am confident enough to convince you." Enrique said: "Before coming to Guangzhou, I had heard a lot about Hainan.

Regarding the Han affairs, after coming to Guangzhou, I was also surprised by some of your practices. In my opinion, although you look the same as the people of the Ming Dynasty, your work style is very different. You are not like the people of the Ming Dynasty who pursue orthodoxy in everything.

Saving face is more like what we Westerners do, everything is based on actual interests."

"No, no, no, our approaches are different." Tao Donglai immediately shook his head and denied Enrique's point of view: "As you said, we do have similarities in pursuing interests, but our starting points are completely different.

It’s different. You just want to satisfy your own selfish desires and do everything possible to exploit everyone, even your own people. Our purpose is to let more people make money, live a better life, and accept

All those who are willing to join our camp, whether they are Ming Dynasty or Annan, can become our partners. But in your eyes, they are just piles of gold and silver waiting for you to move home."

"According to what you said, Mr. Tao, then we can also become trading partners?" Enrique asked with a sarcastic face. He had seen many people who were boastful, but he had never seen such serious nonsense as Tao Donglai.

The guy from Badao is bringing everyone together to make money? How can anyone believe this kind of nonsense that he blows off casually?

"Of course." Tao Donglai's answer made the expression on Enrique's face freeze for a moment: "Mr. Enrique, we Haihan people are also businessmen. In business, the conflict we had in Annan is not

It means we cannot cooperate in other aspects. I have a point of view, I wonder if you can agree with it."

Enrique regained his composure, nodded and said, "Mr. Tao, please speak."

"The civil war in Annan must ultimately be resolved by the Annan people themselves. Neither we nor you can send a large number of troops to directly influence the war in Annan. When we were in Annan, we may not have met each other, but

Why can't we become trading partners outside Annan? We Haihan people don't have trouble with money. I wonder if businessmen in your country find it too troublesome to make money?" After Tao Dong finished these words, he

He looked at Enrique silently, waiting for his answer.

Enrique did sense something from Tao Donglai's words. First, the Haihan people did not seem to intend to have a head-on conflict with us on the Annan battlefield; second, the Haihan people had plans to conduct trade activities with us. Compared to

The topic of how to make money from the casualties of those South Asian monkeys on the distant Annan battlefield obviously has greater appeal.

Enrique asked cautiously: "I wonder if Mr. Tao has any trade suggestions?"

Tao Donglai smiled and said: "As for trade, I think we will definitely have many common topics to talk about."

Most of the materials purchased by the Portuguese in the Ming Dynasty were silk fabrics, ceramics, cane sugar, etc. Although these materials have not yet been produced on the territory of the Crossing Group, Tao Donglai is confident that the trading location of these goods will be

Gradually move to Victory Port.

Although the Portuguese established a settlement in Macau, the place was governed by both parties, and the Ming Dynasty still had a seat of government. Therefore, if the Portuguese wanted to purchase Ming products, most of the time they could only go through formal channels, although the transaction locations were all in

Daming, but this kind of transaction will undoubtedly be regarded as export trade by the Shipping Department and taxed, which will lead to an increase in the cost of goods in disguise. And Shengli Port, which has used the "duty-free port" as its biggest selling point since the opening of the port,

Just in time to avoid this link.

If the trading place between the Portuguese and the Ming Dynasty merchants was changed to Port of Victory instead of Guangzhou, both parties to the transaction could save a lot of taxes. In comparison, the five-six-day voyage from Guangzhou to Port of Victory was

The transportation cost was actually a small amount. The Portuguese businessmen coming from the direction of Malacca were able to save a long voyage because of this, and no longer had to risk all the unknown risks at sea to sail directly from Hoi'an in South Vietnam to Guangzhou in the Ming Dynasty.

Several commodities that the Portuguese purchase the most are currently on the list of development projects of "Qiong Lianfa". The sucrose with the fastest yield is expected to be harvested in the second half of the year. Silk fabrics, a project with slower yields,

The Executive Committee also optimistically estimates that it will not take more than five years. By then, when Hainan Island begins to produce these local products, the Portuguese may no longer have much interest in Guangzhou.

Of course, it will still take a lot of effort to convince the Portuguese to accept such an arrangement. After all, from a certain perspective, the two sides are still in a subtle state of hostility, and it will not be possible to quickly switch roles from opponent mode.

For example, the Portuguese, who have invested a lot of resources in South Vietnam, may not agree with the reconciliation with Haihan. Moreover, this Enrique is just a special envoy sent by the Portuguese, and he may not have participated in the decision-making.

How far power can be achieved depends on God's arrangements.

That afternoon, Schneider, who had temporarily ended the "Qiong Lianfa" symposium, also joined the offensive against Enrique. Schneider's appearance greatly relieved Tao Donglai's pressure. At least he could speak seven-mature Portuguese.

Communicate more directly with Enrique and avoid various misunderstandings caused by improper expression and understanding in Chinese.

Enrique was obviously also surprised that the business manager of the Haihan people was actually a person with a tall nose and deep eyes who could speak Portuguese. This also gave him a sense of intimacy in his heart. After all, in the far east, he could meet people who spoke the same language.

It's an extremely rare thing.

As a bystander, Li Nai once again observed the rhetorical skills of the Haihan executive committee members at close range. Although Schneider could not understand most of Schneider's words mixed with foreign languages, this did not prevent him from noticing that Enli

Ke's expression gradually became relaxed from the initially wary one. If it hadn't been for Li Nai's personal introduction, he would have even doubted whether these three guys had known each other somewhere before.

Enrique left the Guangdong Office in the same afternoon as quietly as he came. He would rush to Macau overnight to report the results of this meeting to the local chamber of commerce. The amount of information obtained from the Guangdong Office this time was too large.

Big, the time on the road should allow him to digest it well.

On the same day, the preparatory symposium for "Qiong Lianfa" finally came to an end. A total of 13 shareholders, including Haihan, initialed the preparatory agreement for "Qiong Lianfa" in the Guangdong Guangdong Office. What happened on this day

The incident was recorded in the history textbooks of later generations as "a memorable meeting in the history of Haihan business", "creating a new business model", etc., along with the other twelve shareholders who founded "Qiong Lianfa".

He was evaluated as "a wise man among the businessmen of the Ming Dynasty" and "a pioneer of the commercial revolution". After the Guangdong Office became a historical and cultural memorial hall, there was even a room marked as "the signing site of the first preparatory meeting of Qiongzhou United Development Company". Everyone at that time

The participants would never have imagined that the meeting they held here purely for money would actually become an object of commemoration for future generations.

Of course, the actual situation is not as grand as recorded in historical data. In fact, most of the last two days of the meeting were spent in disputes and even abuses among shareholders. After confirming "Qiong Lianfa"

After the prospect of making money, shareholders began to verbally compete for the unsold equity, and Schneider had to stop the meeting several times to persuade. No matter in any era, rich and willful people are very difficult to control, and it is even more troublesome than this.

What happens is that a large group of rich and willful people gather together.
Chapter completed!