1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 429 The Java Island Strategy of the East India Company

April 1642, 4, Batavia port.

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

Among the key personnel who left was Senard Karamet, a former senior commercial counselor of the East India Company who had been a prisoner of Hanzhou for two years. Fred Upton, who was appointed by the local government, made the former senior commercial counselor somewhat frustrated and chose to return to Europe.

However, Sean Ludwidd, who was once a senior commercial counselor of the East India Company and is now the eldest son of Ludwild, a member of the United Provinces Senate, has gained a lot.Through the "special cargo" transaction with Hanzhou, his ship was filled with several large boxes of gold and silver coins, worth more than 40 dong.And these are only half of the payment for "special goods", but the remaining half will not be paid to him until next year.

However, Sean Ludwig was already very satisfied, and brought this huge sum of money back to Europe, plus a boatload of spices, Ming Dynasty porcelain, silk, and some enamel crafts (cloisonné) made in Hanzhou , will surely make their Ludwild family once again the richest family in Amsterdam.

Those Hanzhou people are more foresighted, and they are more "knowledgeable" people. They know that they have professional skills and professional craftsmen to achieve self-sufficiency and even sustainable and healthy development.Oh, by the way, those Hanzhou people also formally established a country - Qi State.Their king is very young and very courageous, which is why the various "goods" they collected from Europe can be sold at a good price.And they promise that if they bring any advanced or novel technology from Europe, as well as machines and tools that can improve production efficiency, they will definitely spend a lot of money to buy them.

"Dear Sean, are you satisfied with this trip to the East?" Governor Cornelis van der Lin said goodbye to Senard Karamet, and came to Sean Ludwild's In front of him, he said with a smile.

"Governor De Lin, thank you very much for your kind care of me these past few months." Sean Ludwild said respectfully: "This trip to the East Indies, if it weren't for your photo-taking, I think I would have been It is very difficult to survive these six months of life. Here, please accept the most sincere thanks from me and the Ludwig family."

"Dear Sean, you are too polite." Governor Derlin said: "Member Ludwild is the person I respect the most. Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to visit him when I was in the province. When you return to Amsterdam, please Be sure to bring my regards to your father."

"Your Excellency, I will definitely bring your greetings to my father." Sean Ludwild said: "My father once told me that your business ability is well-known in every province. Yes. He believes that you are the most suitable candidate for the East India Company's governor in Batavia. Under your leadership, the East India Company's various economic indicators will recover quickly and create even more favorable results in the near future. operating data."

"It's a great honor for me to be affirmed by Congressman Ludwild!" Governor De Lin waved his hand modestly and said, "I just hope that I will do my best to fully activate the commercial activities of the entire East Indies, Then create more profits for the company. All of this, in addition to the strong support of the local board of directors, must also receive policy support from the federal government of the republic. effective initiatives and support for the sub-colonial cause.”

Sean Ludwig nodded and said that after returning to Amsterdam, he would submit the proposals of Governor Derlin to his father, prompting the federal government to open a more relaxed colonial policy to the East India and extend the East India Company's monopoly to the greatest extent. the term.Of course, corresponding policy restrictions and exclusions will also be made for other companies in the United Provinces that covet Eastern trade.

You must know that during this period, the Dutch East India Company’s monopoly trade in the Far East not only faced competition from external forces such as the Portuguese, English, and Spaniards, but also coveted by many domestic trading companies in the Netherlands.In order to try to monopolize the Eastern trade and spice trade for a long time, the East India Company has been sparing no effort to fight against many competitors at home and abroad. Unreserved material and financial support.

In order to help the federal-provincial government win the Spanish invasion war, the East India Company successively provided millions of guilders to the federal-provincial government, and also delivered dozens of armed merchant ships under the company to the navy for free during the war.This kind of dedication has also been exchanged for the federal government to authorize the East India Company to continue to monopolize the eastern trade, and further expand its autonomy in the Far East. It can form more local colonial management agencies, and has the ability 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 a rising politician, Congressman Ludwild was naturally a figure that the East India Company tried hard to win over.

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

"I heard from his housekeeper that he sold some wool and glass mirrors to Han Zhou." Fred Upton said, "But what else, we really don't know. They came from mainland Europe. That ship has never been unloaded at the dock."

"Woven and glass mirrors?" Governor Derling frowned, "But I saw that Mr. Ludwig transported at least four or five boxes of coins to the ship, estimated to be more than 30 guilders. Their wool and mirrors can be sold So much money?"

"Maybe." Fred Upton shrugged and said with a smile: "Maybe those Hanzhou people have never seen a glass mirror, and they were cheated a lot of money by Mr. Ludwig. We in East India In the future, the company might as well bring more luxury items such as glass mirrors from Europe, maybe the young king of Hanzhou is very fond of hunting novelties and is willing to enjoy them.”

Governor Delin nodded. Young people may always be attracted by all kinds of weird things. Hanzhou is barren and can only produce some basic materials such as grain and iron. When you go to Hanzhou, maybe you can decorate the simple palace of the young king.

"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 is very important for us to transmit news between various trading stations in the East Indies in time. It is very useful, um, together with their materials that can strengthen the building, it is best to get it." Governor Delin said.

"Governor, these two things are so important, the Hanzhou people should keep them strictly secret." Fred Upton was stunned, "If we rashly...obtain these two manufacturing methods in some immoral way method, will it bring our relationship with Hanzhou into confrontation again?"

"Then do it a little more cleverly, so that we can obtain the proprietary technology of the Hanzhou people, but also prevent them from attacking." Governor Delin said: "In addition, I believe that the Hanzhou people will not lose one or two expertise. If you have the technology, you can turn against us. After all, we have only fought for three years. Although we have lost a lot, they should also know that the strength of our East India Company's sea power is not because they build a few more warships. able to compete."

While talking, he suddenly saw an armed merchant ship sailing back from the harbor. It looked a little embarrassed, as if it had experienced a battle, and the ship's sides and sails had been burned.

Governor Delin's expression turned serious. Which local force attacked the merchant ships of the East India Company again?
"Your Excellency, the Melkek returned from Makassar." The naval commander, Colonel Dakman Barek, quickly rushed back to the Governor's Palace in the city, and reported to Governor Derling that the ship returned with injuries. Armed Merchant Ship Situation," which brought back news of the remnants of the Portuguese in Malacca. There the Gowa Sultanate provided safe haven for the Portuguese who had fled to Makassar. It is estimated that there were as many as three to four hundred Portuguese resident In Makassar Port, a temporary camp has been initially established."

"Did the Melkek be wounded by the Portuguese, or by the Gowa Sultanate?" Governor Delin's face darkened.

"Not at all, Your Excellency Governor." Colonel Dakman Barek had a strange look on his face, "The Melkek was attacked by dozens of small boats from the Kingdom of Mataland while passing through Surabaya. attack."

"The Kingdom of Mataland?" Governor Delin was a little surprised. "Didn't your navy destroy most of their sea power in the war with Mataland a year ago?...Have they recovered?"

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

"The Kingdom of Mataland..." Governor Delin read softly.

"In the past year, the Kingdom of Mataland has not harassed or attacked the strongholds near Batavia, but it has also rejected the peace negotiating representatives we sent. Their hostility towards our East India Company is very deep." Colonel Barek reminded in a low voice.

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

"The Kingdom of Mataland withdrew most of the troops that had confronted us and shrunk their armed forces to the inland areas." Colonel Barek said: "They turned to develop towards the east of Java Island. The Sultanate of Brambang is fighting to annex the country."

"Didn't we do something about it?" Governor Durling asked.

"In the past two years, we have to deal with the war with Hanzhou, and we have to deal with the constant threat and persecution of the Ming Dynasty official Nicholas in Formosa and Japan. At the same time, we have to prepare to attack the Portuguese stronghold in Malacca. Therefore, Governor Dayman 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 Mataland, it will be a huge disaster for our East India Company."

When Colonel Barek heard the words, he immediately fell silent. As a subordinate, he could not comment on the different foreign policies of the two previous governors.

"I remember that a few months ago, the Sultan Kingdom of Cirebon, not far from Batavia, came to us to try to buy artillery and guns. Are they also facing the threat of the Kingdom of Mataland?" Governor Delin turned his head and asked. Senior Commercial Counselor Fred Upton.

"Yes, the Sultan Kingdom of Cirebon sent people to Batavia to buy cannons and firearms." Fred Upton nodded and said, "But the company adheres to the consistent principle of reducing the flow of firearms into the native kingdom. Their request was denied. We just sold them a lot of iron swords and spears."

"But as far as I know, during the three years of our war with Hanzhou, the Kingdom of Mataland acquired a large number of weapons, especially a large number of artillery and muskets." Governor Delin said solemnly: "They In addition to fighting with us, holding these weapons is probably more for the purpose of expanding the sphere of influence on the island, and even ambitiously unifying Java Island. Gentlemen, we cannot let it continue to develop, we must take decisive measures , to prevent the further expansion of the power of the Kingdom of Mataland."

"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 their two countries. It is not limited to guns and artillery. We can even sign a covenant with them to jointly send troops to counter the aggression of the Kingdom of Mataram.”

"Send someone to notify our representative in Qi State in Hanzhou, and ask him to reaffirm our special rights to the entire East Indies to the Qi government, and ask them to strictly abide by the peace agreement and strictly prohibit any weapons from flowing into the 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 try to avoid the rise and expansion of any kingdom's power." Governor Delin said solemnly: "In the future, Java Island will be We run the base camp for the whole of the East Indies!"

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

"For now." Governor Delin said after a little thought, "It's just a few hundred exiles. As long as we control the channel of the Strait of Malacca and the Spice Islands, even if they have the protection of the local native kingdom, they will certainly not be able to grow up. "

(End of this chapter)