1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 79

On the third day after arriving in Batavia, food, seeds, tools, copper, iron, lead and other materials have all been ordered.Next, there are all kinds of livestock, cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, geese, etc.

"I didn't expect that all the things I was used to seeing in Daming back then, but now I have to buy them all back to Hanzhou." Hu Wenjin ran for two days in a row and contacted countless merchants, which really made him dizzy.

"Why don't you just let the shopkeeper Zhou take care of it all, and you take the brothers to relax for a day?" Cao Xiong said with a smile, "Today, I just bought some livestock. When the time comes, you can find a dentist to check it out. If you want to, you can also We can't lose much money."

When Cao Xiong said this, Hu Wenjin was quite moved.Batavia, a bustling city, should have some fun.Seeing Cao Xiong nodding to him, he happily went to find his brothers.

"Dalu, are you going?" Cao Xiong turned his head and asked Qi Dalu.

"I won't go! I will follow you and protect you." Qi Dalu said in a muffled voice.

"Dalu, look at what you said, it seems that we can't protect Mr. Cao's safety!" Li Xiangqing beside him said angrily.

"I didn't say you couldn't protect Uncle!" Qi Dalu hastily distinguished, "I just...just don't think there's much to do in the city..."

Cao Xiong shook his head, and led everyone to the city hall.

Sure enough, a group of low-level employees of the East India Company at the city hall had prepared two agreements for Cao Xiong to sign.

One is a material support agreement, which briefly outlines the corresponding assistance in materials, armaments, and personnel.

The other is the guiding cooperation agreement. In the next five years, Cao Xiong's armed forces will dispatch ships and armed personnel to eliminate obstacles that may or have already existed that hinder the interests of the East India Company in accordance with the guidance of the East India Company.The specific obstacles will be designated by the East India Company in due course, and the facilities will be stopped to assist and support the actions of Cao Xiong's armed forces.

Cao Xiong was a little silly when he heard Tongyi's translation.

What is it?I don't understand why.

Cao Xiong stared at several employees of the East India Company, who also looked at him.How to hold a pen and not sign for a long time.Didn't Mr. Ludwild say that everything has been communicated in advance?

"Cao, is there any question?" One of the employees of the East India Company couldn't help asking.

"Can you explain it to me in plain language?" Cao Xiong had never seen such an agreement in Western terms.

The employees of the East India Company looked at each other, spread their hands, and looked at the interpreter together.

The interpreter was also stunned. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the states that signed the agreement with the East India Company, the merchants, or the armed forces like pirates. As long as I explain the contents of the agreement with the Dutch, they don’t even want me to come. Explain it and sign it.

Why is this one not taking the usual path today.In fact, it's only Qi Tian's constant talk to Cao Xiong about traitorous treaties, loss of power and humiliation, and contract traps.This made Lao Cao a little nervous, for fear of signing the contract of selling himself.

"The entire agreement, explained in plain language, is that in the next five years, you will follow the instructions of the Dutch lord to attack and conquer some land states and sea forces that are detrimental to the interests of the Dutch lord, such as Zheng Zhilong, the Portuguese, etc. .” The interpreter gave a straightforward explanation based on the consistent behavior of the Dutch.

"Oh, I understand now." As he spoke, Cao Xiong picked up a pen and wrote his name crookedly on the last page of the agreement.

Several employees of the East India Company immediately smiled and congratulated loudly.

Cao Xiong also showed a happy look, but he was a little flustered in his heart.Before coming to Batavia, Qi Tian once said that if the Dutch asked him to sign a very unacceptable cooperation agreement, in order to win the short development time, he would hold his nose and sign it.

As for whether it can be strictly complied with, there are two opinions.However, if you develop and grow stronger, you can find a reason and tear up this agreement.Because it is impossible to have a fair cooperation agreement between the strong and the weak, especially in this era where the weak prey on the strong.

Such a shameless suggestion, Cao Xiong thought over and over again, it seems that this is the only way to go.But he is still worried, the Dutch must have precautionary measures, and it is impossible for you, a weak person, to take advantage of it casually.

After the signing of the cooperation agreement, in the next few days, the Dutch will wait for the artillery and guns to support them to be shipped on board. Basically, the first contact with the Dutch official is over.You only need to purchase the materials on the list before returning to Hanzhou.

"Master Cao, it's not good!" Cao Xiong and others and several employees of the Dutch East India Company were saying goodbye when Feng Yaoxi, who was staying at the inn, hurried over, "Old Hu and the others were captured by Western soldiers!"

"What's going on? Tell me clearly!" At this moment, Cao Xiong didn't think that the Dutch were deliberately finding fault and taking hostages, which seemed meaningless.

"Second brother Qi took people to watch the fun at the market, and met Liu Xiang's former subordinate, Si Lai. After a few words of dispute, second brother Qi suddenly rushed up, beat Lai Si to the ground, and then started a group fight stand up."

"... When Lao Hu heard the news, he also rushed over. Unexpectedly, many Western soldiers and native soldiers came and surrounded them together! Then..."

"Liu Xiang's remnants are still dead?" Cao Xiong said with staring eyes, "Da Jiang has always been calm, those thieves must have said something to anger Da Jiang!"

"Uncle, let's go back to the boat and get weapons to save people?" Qi Dalu was a little anxious when he heard that his second brother had been arrested.

"There are only a few of us!" Cao Xiong pressed Qi Dalu, "Go, follow me to the city hall to find your way, sir!" Then he turned and went back to the city hall.

Connet Ludwig smiled with satisfaction. A group of Chinese businessmen headed by the Chinese Jiapitan Su Minggang and the Chinese business leader Lin Liuge knew everything about the tax increase plan proposed by the Batavian colonial agency. accept.

Originally, I thought I would spend more time and words preparing to persuade them patiently.Because the East India Company needs to fulfill last year's dividend promise and the federal government's apportionment of war funds, the funds in its account are running out.At the beginning of the month, it cost a lot to send warships and armed personnel to attack several strongholds in southern Borneo.

Therefore, the committee and the governor decided to increase taxes on Chinese businessmen in the city to deal with possible fiscal deficits and potential threats from the Far East.

Of course, it is not without complaints from the Chinese. There are less than 8000 of them, but they have to bear [-]% of Batavia's taxes.And those Javanese people have a total of [-] to [-] yuan, but they don't need to pay a single silver coin.

Ludwig could only smile wryly at this.These natives are lazy, stupid, and extremely treacherous.If the company's employees and mercenaries don't pick up the whip and beat them vigorously, it is impossible for them to take the initiative to do things.

These black and skinny natives can't even plant the land well. How can you expect them to create wealth and contribute silver coins to you?

Therefore, the Chinese are much cuter, hard-working, down-to-earth, hard-working, and more importantly, they are smart and good at doing business.If possible, Ludwild really hoped to throw all the natives of the East Indies into the sea, and replace them with Ming people to help them do things.He believed that the wealth created by the East India Company would explode.

"Mr. Ludwig, outside the meeting room, there is a Chinese named Chao looking for you. He said there is something urgent." A follower walked to Ludwig and said in a low voice.

Oh, here comes my hero, is he in trouble?
Ludwig stood up, and the Chinese businessman on the opposite side also stood up after seeing this.

"Okay, gentlemen. Now that we've all happily agreed on the tax increase, then, from next month onwards, I hope to see the tax money collected at the new rate enter into the Our municipal warehouse." Ludwig said seriously.

All the Chinese merchants hurriedly nodded and agreed, saying that they would strictly abide by the regulations of the Batavia City Hall and pay the tax in full.

Ludwig walked out of the meeting room first, followed by Su Minggang and Sixth Brother Lin.

"Dear Cao, are you in trouble?" Ludwild was actually a little happy when he saw Cao Xiong's worried face.

"That...Master Lu, my people were captured by your soldiers!" Cao Xiong directly explained his purpose.

"Oh? What's the situation?" Ludwig asked.

"Fight with someone."

"Haha..., it must be that your boys have stayed on the boat for too long?" Ludwild disagreed, as long as the Dutchman was not killed, it would not be a big deal, "Come on, come to my office and explain in detail. ...oh, did they win?"

Su Minggang stared at the senior Dutch official affectionately pulling Cao Xiong towards his office.What is the situation, this pirate leader is so close to the Dutch!
(End of this chapter)