Only then did Alexandra realize that Shang Yi was not in a good mood, and she couldn't help but feel a little strange, saying: "My dear, what's wrong with you? You don't seem to be very happy."
Shang Yi gave a bitter smile and said: "Taiwan has been regarded as China's land since 1,500 years ago. Now not only can I not recover all Taiwan, but I have to waste so much thought and have to fight with the invaders."
Do you think I can be happy if I don't cooperate with you?"
Alexandra was stunned for a moment, looking at him as if she was meeting Shang Yi for the first time. At this time, Shang Yi said again: "My strength is still not strong enough, otherwise I wouldn't be so scrupulous, but
I will directly notify the Dutch and order them to leave Taiwan." After a pause, he seemed to be saying to Alexandra, and also seemed to be talking to himself: "In two years, at most three years, I will definitely take the Netherlands to Taiwan.
The people will be driven out of Taiwan and Taiwan will be fully returned to the hands of the Chinese."
Alexandra laid her head on Shang Yi's chest and said, "My dear, I know now that you are not only an excellent general, but you also have a noble heart. I believe you can do it."
Shang Yi also put his arm around her waist, kissed her on the face, and said: "Thank you, Yani. Don't worry, as long as we can open up the trade routes in Manila now, I think in about five years,
I will be strong enough to attack Manila. After capturing Manila, I can hold the Spanish-Asia trade line hostage and negotiate terms with Philip IV. This is the greatest help I can do for you."
Alexandra was also excited. She looked up at Shang Yi and said, "My dear, you have done enough for me. It is my greatest honor to meet you when my family encounters such a major misfortune."
I am so lucky. Until this moment, I believed that God must have not given up on my family, so he sent you to me."
Shang Yi blinked and said with a smile: "Yani, you know, I don't believe in God."
Alexandra also smiled and said: "Shang, sometimes you are indeed a very annoying person."
The Dutch were indeed worthy of the title of "Sea Coachman". Two days later, the clipper returned to Keelung Port again. Shang Yi also knew that the time was ripe for negotiations with the Dutch. So Shang Yi immediately ordered to summon the Dutch envoy.
, started negotiations.
Although at the beginning of the negotiation, both sides deliberately raised the price. Shang Yi asked the Dutch to completely withdraw from Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, while the Dutch demanded that they cut off all overseas trade of Shang Yi. But Shang Yi knew that the Dutch
trump card, and the Dutch also
Thinking that they had Shang Yi's trump card, after testing each other for a few rounds, the two sides quickly got back on track and reached a unanimous agreement. The agreement between the two parties was divided into two aspects. One was about the power of both parties in Taiwan.
, and the second is about trade between the two parties.
The agreement regarding Taiwan is:
1. The spheres of influence of both sides in Taiwan will maintain the status quo. Shang Yi occupies the northeastern part of Taiwan, including Keelung, Tamsui, Xiaoliuqiu, Yilan and other places. The Netherlands 1 occupies the southwestern part of Taiwan, including Da Yuan, Penghu, Madou, Huweilong,
Dagou (i.e. Kaohsiung City). The rest of the area is a public area, and both parties are free to carry out reclamation, mining, recruitment, and missionary work for indigenous people. However, they are not allowed to encroach on the other party's development area.
Second, both parties can arbitrarily incorporate indigenous residents in public areas, except for Chinese residents. The Dutch are not allowed to incorporate Chinese settlements in public areas. If the Chinese in areas controlled by the Dutch want to move to areas controlled by the merchant army, the Dutch will
Not to be stopped.
Third, once Taiwan is invaded by foreign forces, both sides are obliged to jointly defend Taiwan, and Zhejiang and Batavia are also obliged to reinforce their troops.
The agreement regarding trade between the two parties is:
1. Shang Yi opened Ningbo Prefecture in Zhejiang Province as a trading port to the Netherlands. Merchant ships from other countries were prohibited from docking at Ningbo Port. However, merchant ships from other countries could trade with Shang Yi at other ports, and the Netherlands could establish commercial offices in Ningbo.
But the Dutch Embassy workers
The number of workers must not exceed forty. They must abide by Chinese laws and are prohibited from carrying any gunpowder weapons. If they violate Chinese laws, Shang Yi has the right to arrest, interrogate and punish them in accordance with the law. The Netherlands can appeal through normal channels, but has no right to do so.
Interfere with Shang Yi's law enforcement.
2. Dutch merchant ships trading in Ningbo will abide by Shang Yi's regulations and pay tariffs, but the tax imposed by Shang Yi on Dutch merchant ships shall not exceed half of that of other countries. At the same time, twelve kinds of commodities will be supplied by Shang Yi's designated trading houses.
, but the price is guaranteed to be equivalent to the market price. For non-designated goods, the Netherlands can conduct commercial trade with other firms.
Third, the Netherlands will open routes from Zhejiang to the Philippines and Manila and allow Shang Yi's fleet to sail for trade, but Shang Yi cannot participate in trade with Japan and Batavia.
Although the two sides basically recognized the status quo of Taiwan being jointly occupied by both sides in the agreement on Taiwan, the terms that demarcated public areas and protected the Chinese in Taiwan actually left a lot of hidden dangers. As long as the strength of the two sides is balanced,
Break, you can always find excuses to create disputes and provoke wars. Although this is what Shang Yi needs, the Netherlands also thinks it is good. To put it bluntly, both sides actually want to occupy it alone, and are not willing to stay with each other for a long time.
jointly own Taiwan.
Of course, Shang Yi knows the details of the Netherlands, because the Netherlands is a small country with a population of only more than two million. There are so many colonies around the world, and the financial capacity in Asia is indeed limited. Even if he wants to strengthen his control of Asia
investment, but the Netherlands is too far away from Asia, it is difficult to increase troops, and the geographical advantage is far less than that of the merchant army. Moreover, the Netherlands is still fighting the Thirty Years War in Europe. After the Thirty Years War is over, it will face the British again.
competition, so the longer it takes, the more detrimental it will actually be to the Netherlands.
At present, the trade agreement between the two parties is beneficial to both sides. The Netherlands has gained the opportunity to trade directly with China without having to re-export through Taiwan. It can also set up business offices in cities in mainland China, and it also enjoys customs tax benefits.
Very favorable conditions. Although there are still many restrictions, it is already a very big breakthrough. This is a dream that the Spaniards have dreamed of for nearly two hundred years, but the Netherlands has realized it all at once.
In fact, opening trade alleys is a mutually beneficial thing. Especially at present, when Shang Yi's maritime power is weak, attracting merchant ships from other countries to trade with his own port can increase customs revenue on the one hand, and also increase customs revenue on the other.
It can expand export trade and prosper the social economy. What's more, Shang Yi also obtained the right to pass a trade route.
In the business circle between China and East Asia and Southeast Asia, there are three main routes, namely China-Japan including North Korea, China-Manila including the Philippines, and China-Batavia. These three routes are currently operated by Zheng Zhilong Group and Dutch control, although according to the agreement, Shang Yi did not obtain the trade route to Japan and Batavia, but Shang Yi was originally poor, and obtained the trade route with Manila, which is considered a very big breakthrough. And Manila It is also the first overseas target that Shang Yi will conquer in the future.
Therefore, judging from the trade agreement, Shang Yi is not at a disadvantage. As for the passage rights of the other two routes, as long as his maritime strength expands, he will naturally succeed. Any agreement or treaty, to put it bluntly, must have strength. Guaranteed.
Shang Yi's biggest problem now is that he needs time to expand his maritime power. Even if he is only given a year to do so, he will be much more confident and will not be so cowardly as he is now. To put it bluntly, Shang Yi is now facing The biggest threat to Yi is the Zheng Zhilong Group. Although Shang Yi has not yet clashed with Zheng Zhilong, as long as Shang Yi does not give up developing overseas trade, a conflict with Zheng Zhilong will happen sooner or later. Therefore, at this stage, Shang Yi also has to fight with Zheng Zhilong. Only by uniting the Dutch can we neutralize Zheng Zhilong's threat.
The conquest of Manila is of course not only to help Alexandra, but also to ensure that China will participate in the world's great navigation competition in the future. In Shang Yi's plan, the entire East Asia and Southeast Asia will become China's maritime sphere of influence. .Therefore, only by occupying Manila first can we further send troops to Bali and Batavia, and still control the Strait of Malacca and the entire Southeast Asia region. Only by reaching this step can China keep up with the general trend of the world and participate in world competition. .Of course, this ambitious goal will also start from obtaining trade and navigation rights to Manila.
After the agreement was drawn up, Lin Jia and Harus immediately sent the draft agreement back to the officials by speedboat and gave it to De Laodian for review. Two days later, De Laodian also rushed to Keelung in person to formally initial the agreement with Shang Yi. .
The reason why it is said to be initialed is because De Laodian still had to send the agreement to Batavia for confirmation by the Governor of Batavia, and then sent it to the East India Company. Only after it was approved by the company's parliament could it be considered a formal agreement. This is also a troublesome part of a democratic country. However, Dreddian also repeatedly assured Shang Yi that this agreement would definitely be approved by the company's parliament, because it achieved direct trade with China, which the Dutch East India Company had always dreamed of. It can be said that De Laodian has made great contributions to the Dutch East India Company by being able to do this. As long as the trade volume increases significantly, promotion will be just around the corner. In the future, he will become the governor of Batavia. It's not impossible.
However, it would take at least three or four months to go back and forth. Shang Yi could not wait that long in Taiwan, so he decided to return to Zhejiang first and wait for the Dutch East India Company to recognize the agreement before returning to Zhejiang to formally sign the contract. Lao Dian naturally agreed, and at the same time he sent Linga, Harus and Younus back to Zhejiang with Shang Yi, and inspected the location for establishing a commercial center in Ningbo Prefecture.