1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 595 Indian Affairs ([-])
Cochin, located on the southwestern coast of India, facing the Arabian Sea, backed by the Kingdom of Cochin, the Portuguese stronghold is located on a large island off the coast of the mainland, surrounded by many small islands and several long and narrow peninsulas, the port conditions are extremely superior.

But Cochin is not the only important port in the region. It is under the pressure of Calicut (now Kozhikode, a port city in southwestern India) with stronger conditions and strength in the north.At that time, Calicut was undoubtedly the most important port on the west coast of India. In terms of financial resources, population and influence, it overwhelmed several surrounding port towns.

After the Portuguese came, they successively occupied several colonial strongholds on the east and west coasts of India. In 1510, the Portuguese fleet commander Albuquerque defeated the Sultan of Bijapur in the Battle of Goa and occupied the old city of Goa. , Immediately stationed troops here, built a castle, and used it as the headquarters of Portuguese India.Cochin, which is farther away, has been reduced to an ordinary Portuguese colonial stronghold.

In the early 17th century, the domineering Dutch also came to India.As a merchant nation, the Dutch have a very shrewd side.Any colonial stronghold established by the Portuguese must have huge economic benefits.This is the case in Ambon, Timor Island, Malacca, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).Then in India, as long as the Dutch continue to follow in the footsteps of the Portuguese and seize their strongholds, they can not only weaken the Portuguese colonial power, but also successfully inherit all their previous colonial interests.

As a result, the Dutch continued to grab the Portuguese, and the strongholds on the east coast of India, such as Mesulippodham, Brigade, and Tuticorin, were successively seized by the Dutch.In recent years, the Dutch have set their sights on the Portuguese colonial stronghold on the west coast of India, frequently attacking Portuguese ships traveling to and from the coast of India, and blocked Goa, the headquarters of Portuguese India, for nearly four years from 1641 to 1644. , so that no local armed merchant ship could leave Goa for the Portuguese mainland.All this made the Portuguese resentful and helpless.

With the loss of the city of Malacca, Portuguese India almost cut off trade with Haojing (today's Macau) near Daming, which dimmed the former pearl of oriental trade.

In response to the Dutch invasion, in addition to continuing to strengthen and consolidate the defenses of several important strongholds in India and Ceylon, the Portuguese kept asking for help from Europe.However, those in power in Lisbon want to fight for independence from the Spaniards, retain their current vested interests, and gather all their strength to resist the rule of the Spaniards, so they have no spare power to take care of these overseas territories.All of this made it difficult for Portuguese India to move forward. Facing the aggressive situation of the Dutch, they could only grit their teeth and hold on.

Two years ago, Philippe deo Mascare, the governor of Portugal in Goa, accepted the suggestion of the Portuguese in Makassar and sent envoys to follow the fleet of the Qiguo Indian Trading Company to the mainland of Hanzhou to seek further cooperation between the two sides. possibility.

The visit of the Portuguese received a positive response from the Hanzhou people. The Hanzhou people sold the required artillery, muskets, swords and spears, armor, and even armed merchant ships without any scruples.In exchange, the Portuguese could transport Indian cotton, saltpeter, indigo, pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon to Hanzhou.Of course, if the material value is insufficient, some young Indian female slaves can also be used to write off the trade balance between the two parties.

Although the Portuguese obtained enough weapons and equipment, they suffered from the failure of Europe to send corresponding reinforcements to defend many colonial strongholds in India, Ceylon and other places.Facing the Dutch offensive, the Portuguese needed to make some trade-offs, preparing to abandon some remote and less important colonial strongholds, in order to concentrate more manpower, stationed in Goa, Daman, Diu, and Calicut, etc. Coastal important place.

"So, the Portuguese want to sell that Cochin to our Indian trading company just to transfer the risk and lead the Dutch war to us?" Jiang Fubao, the shopkeeper of the trading company who came to India for this trade, blinked, "You Think we'd be foolish enough to pay big bucks for a Portuguese stronghold that's about to lose its hold?"

"I think our Indian trading company should seek a piece of land here and establish our own business station." Wei Linchuan, the representative in India, looked at Jiang Fubao expectantly, "Besides, didn't Master Bai, the big shopkeeper of our trading company, also say that recently Within two years, we will establish a foothold in India as a bridgehead for the business company to operate on the Indian mainland. I think this Cochin is a good choice."

"If the Dutch come over, do you want us to help the Portuguese fight?" Jiang Fubao shook his head and said, "Our Indian trading company is here to do business, not to fight with barbarians. If we lose People and ships, shopkeeper Bai is going to be annoying!"

"We occupy the land of Cochin, the Dutch shouldn't come to attack us, right?" Wei Linchuan said: "If so, wouldn't it lead to another war between Qi and the Dutch. They don't dare?"

"That's hard to say!" Jiang Fubao said: "When they came from the mainland of Hanzhou, the soldiers of the general staff seemed to be planning to deal with the Dutch. We might have to fight them again at some point. Our company is here in India. If you want no people, no boats, if you buy this piece of land, wouldn’t it be taken by the Dutch.”

"Master Jiang, I don't think we should reject the Portuguese." Wei Linchuan thought for a while, and then said: "When you return to Hanzhou, please ask for instructions. In case, the chief shopkeepers of our trading company want this Cochin Where is the stronghold?"

Jiang Fubao nodded, smiled wryly, and said, "You said these Western barbarians don't do business well, and they think about fighting and killing all day long, what are you doing?"

"Actually, these barbarians traveled tens of thousands of miles and came from their distant Europe just to make a fortune." Wei Linchuan said with a smile: "But they have nothing to sell to the local natives for money. Things are exchanged with the natives. Therefore, they can only rely on force to rob the natives of their things, and transport them to their European mainland for sale. What they did at the beginning was almost costless business!"

"Speaking of which, whether it's the Dutch or the Portuguese, they're just bandits!" Jiang Fubao said with emotion: "If it weren't for our Qi State's military power, maybe we would have ended up with the fate of those natives and let the barbarians plunder."

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On August 8, after leaving one armed merchant ship in Calicut, the other two armed merchant ships of the Qiguo Indian Trading Company set sail and headed north along the west coast of India to Goa, the ruling center of Portuguese India.It is said that the Portuguese there are richer and control more Indian states. Presumably, the demand for goods in Qi State is also greater.

"Dear Jiang, believe me, when you arrive in Goa, all your goods will be sold out in a very short time." Carlos Amera said with a smile: "And, in Goa, you can also purchase to any Indian specialty you want."

As a mixed-race Portuguese from Haojing (now Macau), Carlos Amera's position in the colonial government became important from the rapid development of trade between Portuguese India and Hanzhou in recent years.He is proficient in Chinese and has acquired some Chinese culture, so he was appointed by the colonial government of Portuguese India as a representative of Hanzhou affairs, and he was in charge of communicating and dialogue with Hanzhou businessmen.

In order to further strengthen economic, trade and political cooperation with Hanzhou, the Portuguese Governor in Calicut was ordered to specially invite businessmen from Hanzhou to Goa to meet the Governor of Portuguese India.

When Jiang Fubao received the invitation from the Portuguese, he could more or less guess what the other party was thinking.Facing the continuous advance of the Dutch, they not only want to sell the precarious Cochin to the Indian trading company, but also want to try their best to win over the Qi people to fight against the Dutch East India Company.It is not even ruled out that they will encourage Qi to engage in confrontation with the Dutch in Nanyang to reduce the pressure on their Portuguese India.

In this regard, Jiang Fubao did not dare to easily agree to any suggestion from the Portuguese. If he accidentally involved the business company in the disputes among these barbarians, it would be difficult to explain to the superiors.Therefore, during this trip to Goa, he made up his mind to do business, which would naturally be a joy for both parties.But if you want us to help you deal with the Dutch, then I can only prevaricate the other party by saying that I am not authorized.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Jiang Fubao and Carlos Amera were chatting about some anecdotes and customs of India in the cabin, when suddenly there was a muffled thunder.

"pirate?"

"Dutch?"

They are all people who are used to running on the sea, so they can naturally hear the muffled thunder. It must not be the sound of thunder, but the roar of artillery.The two quickly ran out of the cabin, looked for the sound, and looked northwest of the ship.

"Four armed merchant ships are fighting!" Fleet commander Jiang Genquan put down his binoculars and said, "One of them is clearly invincible, and it is heading towards us while fighting. I have ordered the crew on board to prepare for the battle."

"Can you tell the identities of the two parties?" Jiang Fubao asked nervously.

"I can't see it." Jiang Genquan said: "But both sides have naval guns, and they should be ships from Western barbarians."

"Oh, God! That's our Portuguese ship!" Carlos Amera borrowed Jiang Genquan's binoculars to observe carefully for a while, and said loudly: "The two ships coming ahead are our ships. Gentlemen, I I ask you to help them. Oh, at this time, they are obviously at a disadvantage."

Jiang Genquan heard the words, then looked at Jiang Fubao, waiting for his decision.

"Carlos, can you tell which ship is chasing? ... Is it Dutch?"

"No, not Dutch." Carlos Amera said angrily: "They are British!"

(End of this chapter)