Chapter 250 Governor of the Chinese West India Company (3)
connection: close
The next day, Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong's father came to the palace together to meet Shang Yi, and expressed their agreement to go to India to establish China's West India Company.
It turned out that after Zheng Chenggong withdrew from the palace yesterday, he returned to the inn and told his father about Shang Yi's request. After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong was also very moved because Zheng Zhilong is not old now, less than fifty years old, although
After experiencing life and death, he became much less concerned about fame and fortune, but after all, he was unwilling to die of old age under Lin Quan.
Moreover, in terms of ocean awareness and understanding of overseas countries, Zheng Zhilong's insights are still above Zheng Chenggong. When Zheng Chenggong entered the palace to meet Shang Yi during the day, Zheng Zhilong also took a day at the exhibitions of various European countries held in Nanjing.
Zheng Zhilong himself has a considerable understanding of the world of the sea, and because he did things for the Dutch East India Company in Batavia in his early years, he also speaks Dutch and can communicate directly with people from all over the country.
As a result, this day's experience evoked many of Zheng Zhilong's past events, making him recall his adventures in the sea, slashing waves, and traveling between countries in Southeast Asia. At the same time, he admired Shang Yi.
No, after all, after dominating the sea, I had already begun to follow the rules without realizing it, and lost my initial pioneering and enterprising spirit. Compared with Shang Yi's practice of sending a fleet to Europe, it is indeed worse.
It was too far away. Therefore, I didn't realize that I had set sail again and struggled with the stormy waves. I even started the idea of going overseas to start a career.
Shang Yi's request was just in line with Zheng Zhilong's idea, and he could take this opportunity to start a career overseas. Although Zheng Zhilong had never been to India, he also knew that India's important geographical strategic trading position in the east-west exchanges
, and it can also get full support from the country, so the father and son discussed it overnight and finally decided to agree to Shang Yi's request.
After receiving the reply from Zheng's father, Shang Yi was also very happy and immediately asked Zheng Chenggong to come up with a plan, how many personnel, warships, supplies, etc. were needed.
In fact, yesterday, Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong and his son discussed overnight and had already drawn up a preliminary plan. Now Zheng Chenggong has more than 3,000 remaining troops. There are about 100 ships of various sizes and sizes, and a total of more than 500 artillery pieces.
There are more than 1,200 muskets. Such personnel were of course sufficient in the early days of the founding of the Chinese West India Company.
Zheng Chenggong planned to divide the group into two parts, one part went to India to choose a site to establish a stronghold, and the other part stayed in China to form a semicolon, pay the responsibility for the subsequent supply of materials and commodities, and transport goods from India.
If possible, it is best to establish a semicolon in Luzon. In India, Zheng Chenggong also plans to go in two steps, first in about ten, send a small fleet as the advance, first
When you arrive in India, choose the site of the Chinese West India Company and initially establish a stronghold in China. Of course, there are several alternatives to the site selection site. Then Zheng Chenggong personally led a large group of people to India to officially establish the company.
The initial support needed by the empire was Western-style warships. Although Zheng Chenggong now has nearly a hundred warships, there are not many large ships with more than a thousand materials, and they are all Chinese-style lucky ship styles. Although the lucky hull is large,
Stable, with a large cargo capacity, but not as fast and flexible as Western warships, and in terms of assembling artillery, it is not as good as Western warships. This time, it is hard to say that there will be no battles in the middle of the journey, so prepare several Western warships
Of course, it is necessary for ships.
The second is to be able to communicate with the UK and have a certain understanding of the situation in India. This is also very important, because this time I went to India, I had a lot of dealings with the UK, and there were still many places that needed British people. Therefore, there are personnel in this area. Zheng Chenggong also knew that during this round trip to Europe, the fleet stayed in Europe for a long time, and had also conducted some tests on India. It is best to have a visit to Europe from the mission to Europe. A few people were drawn from the group.
After listening to Zheng Chenggong's speech, Shang Yi was also very satisfied. It seemed that he had found the right person this time. Zheng Chenggong had really had some colonization before he collapsed. Although this was just a preliminary plan and it was not very important. It is meticulous, but all the considerations are Guan Jian’s comparison issues.
However, there is another thing that Zheng Chenggong did not expect. Shang Yi said: "Ming Yan, have you ever thought about how much money is needed to build a stronghold in India this time, and where does this money come from?"
Zheng Chenggong was also stunned. How much does it cost to build a stronghold in India? It is cost-effective. Of course, I can't answer it at once, but where the money comes from, but Zheng Chenggong got it. It's not that it should be from the treasury. Do you want to withdraw money? What does Shang Yi mean by asking this?
Shang Yi looked at Zheng Chenggong's appearance and saw his suspicion. Therefore, he smiled and said, "Ming Yan, I think so. Since it is called West India Company, it is completely based on the company's operating style. If the government does not contribute capital or participate in the company's operations, it only provides the company with all the help and support it needs."
Seeing that Zheng Chenggong was still confused, Shang Yi further explained: "In other words, you formed this West India Company by yourself, and the government did not participate and would not contribute capital. Of course, in this way, the funds for the establishment of the company were funded. You need to raise it yourself. If you can't take out this fund, you can induce other businessmen to participate in the investment and shareholding. I can also invest in the shares in my personal capacity, and then all shareholders will set up a company and manage the company's affairs. , the composition of the company, the arrangement of personnel, and how to operate and make money are all decided by the company. The government cannot interfere, and the company only needs to pay taxes normally, and the benefits of other income can be distributed according to the amount of shares invested by the individual. In this way, the company will always be your own. Don’t worry about waiting for the company’s interests to be better, and the government will take it for itself. However, the government can provide the company with the help it needs to be played."
Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong then understood, but they had to admit that Shang Yi's operating method was indeed more in line with their own interests, because if the Chinese West India Company was established under the name of the government, then Zheng Chenggong would be quite So an official appointed by the government, theoretically speaking, the government can replace Zheng Chenggong at any time and send others to manage the West India Company. According to Shang Yi's method, the government does not participate in the operation of the company, and the company will always be a sensible person. All, and as long as Zheng Chenggong's work satisfies the board of directors, he can always do it.
However, Zheng Chenggong immediately thought of another question and said: "Master, what kind of help can the government provide to the company? If the company encounters attacks from other countries overseas, or intercepts such as pirates in the middle of the process, can the government send troops to help?"
Shang Yi nodded and said, "West India Company can set up its own security forces to protect the company's security, or find mercenaries. Generally, it can be dealt with; if the government really needs the help of the army, You can apply to the government and discuss it by Congress. Of course, I can also directly send my guard troops, which does not require parliamentary approval. Of course, the military expenditure for the dispatch of troops, as well as the supply of food and supplies, will be paid by the West India Company on its own. Once the government needs to send a fleet, the cost of the fleet and the salary of the crew and soldiers will be paid by the company. In addition, the government can entrust the title of Governor of the West Company, so that the company can also use the government's name, When handling related matters, if there are any other things that require the government to negotiate, the government can also provide relevant assistance.”
In fact, this model basically copied the operation model of the British East India Company, which is basically a semi-official and semi-business organization. The country does not participate in the operation of the company, but only provides the company with necessary needs in some diplomatic, military and other matters. The support of the company can give considerable privileges and give the East India Company’s personnel the title of government civil servant to protect the interests of the company. The East India Company reflects its importance to the country in the form of paying taxes to the country, and at the same time, it is very important to the country. A group of MPs were supported in Parliament to safeguard the interests of the East India Company.
For example, in another time and space, in 1615, King James I of Britain sent an envoy to meet Jahanjill, the emperor of the Mughal Empire of India at that time, and through diplomatic means, Britain obtained the legal right to reside in India. The Opium War that took place two hundred years later was actually caused by the interests of the British East India Company, and the members in Parliament issued a proposal to Congress, and finally decided to use force against China to open the door to China.
However, this operating model is in line with the historical development direction and can also promote the development of the capitalist economy. For Shang Yi, the government should indeed participate less in business activities and leave these things to professionals. The country is just responsible for the company. This method is actually the most appropriate. In fact, this operation mode has been used before, such as in a silk factory, which is basically the operation of this model, although the government He participated in the shares, but did not participate in the operation and management of the silk factory.
Relatively speaking, Zheng Zhilong has more knowledge about the East India companies in European countries than Zheng Chenggong, and he also believes that this method is better. Although Zheng Zhilong does not want the country to participate in the operation of the company, he also knows that he has established a station in India this time. Point, it is impossible to do without the support of the country.
After all, Zheng Zhilong started his career at sea. He knew that China has repeatedly setbacks overseas for more than a hundred years. The main reason is that it lacks the support of the country. When Zheng Zhilong was able to dominate the sea, he was also recruiting the Ming Dynasty to receive amnesty. After the support of the government, it was gradually obtained. Moreover, at that time, Zheng Zhilong only obtained the personal support of Guangdong Governor Xiong Wencan. If he could get the support from the whole country, he would of course have a greater advantage at sea. Therefore, Zheng Zhilong also believed that the country was appropriate. It is also necessary to participate in the company.
After reaching a unified opinion in general principles, Shang Yi also asked Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong to go back and come up with a detailed plan. At the same time, he formally issued an order to grant Zheng Chenggong the Governor of the China West India Company.q!.