Ming Zuo

Chapter 688 Foreign Trade
In 1622, the Dutch occupied Penghu.

This move seriously stimulated Ming Chao's nerves.

During the war of 1624, the Dutch had to abandon Penghu and go to Taiwan with the permission of the Ming Dynasty.

Since then, Penghu has become a transit point for the trade between the Netherlands and the Ming Dynasty.

In this post-war negotiation, both Ming and He chose Penghu for convenience.

Zuo Hua followed Zheng Zhilong to Penghu, accompanied by the captain of the Wenluo, Bap Dewei, who he captured.

Similarly, Zheng Zhilong also brought Dutch prisoners.

This is the basis for negotiations between the two parties.

The Dutch side was dispatched by Anthony van Diemen.

Hans Putmans lost his face because of the defeat, and didn't want to face Zheng Zhilong at all.

"Mr. Zheng, this conflict is purely a misunderstanding. We just hope to get the right to trade with the Ming Dynasty, but you are trying to evade it. This is an unforgivable fraud!"

As soon as the negotiations came up, Anthony Van Diemen took the lead and wanted to shift the responsibility for the war to the Ming Dynasty.

Zheng Zhilong refused to budge.

"Business is all about what you want and what you want. I've never seen anyone doing business with people with cannons. Anthony, this time you have to give an explanation. Otherwise, I don't mind going to the officials to talk to you again."

Anthony van Diemen had sweat on his brow.

"Mr. Zheng, don't think that if you win one game, you can continue to win. We have a stronger fleet in Batavia. Do you have the confidence to face our full attack?"

Zheng Zhilong's intelligence ability is not weak.

"Can all your warships be mobilized? I wonder if those of you in Dayuan can wait until that day?"

The two sides had a lot of verbal exchanges, and Anthony was completely passive.

There is no way, the situation on the battlefield is determined, and you can't win benefits by talking alone.

After the Luowan naval battle, Zheng Zhilong was not idle, and kept attacking the Dutch.

When negotiations began, all Dutch strongholds along the coast of Fujian had been uprooted.

Obviously, Zheng Zhilong's statement of attacking Taiwan is not just a false threat.

"Anthony, I'm sure the Spaniards will welcome me to be a member."

Now the Spaniards and the Dutch are fighting all over the world, even in southern Taiwan, there are frequent frictions on both sides.

If Zheng Zhilong attacks the Dutch, the Spaniards on Taiwan Island will definitely join forces with him.

Just Zheng Zhilong alone has made Anthony feel a lot of pressure. If the Spaniard is added, Anthony knows that failure will be inevitable.

The purpose of this negotiation is, of course, to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

"Well, Mr. Zheng, meaningless disputes will only harm the interests of both of us. I think trade is what both of us are interested in."

Now that the Dutch were resigned, Zheng Zhilong immediately went straight in.

"If you want to trade, you must abide by my rules from now on."

Anthony asked.

"Then can we get the goods we need?"

Zheng Zhilong gave the answer.

"As long as you abide by my Zheng's rules, you can do business well there."

Anthony asked cautiously, "What are your rules?"

Zheng Zhilong bared his fangs.

"From now on, if your Dutch merchant ships pass by this place, you must pay a tax of two thousand taels of silver every year."

"My God! Mr. Zheng, you are robbery!"

Hearing that Zheng Zhilong's asking price was so high, Anthony couldn't sit still.

But Zheng Zhilong won the victory on the battlefield and paid such a high price, how could he give in?
"This is the rule of my Zheng family. If the Dutch don't want to abide by it, then let's continue fighting."

Anthony remained silent, thinking carefully in his heart.

In fact, he also knew that although a ship had to be handed over to Zheng Zhilong [-] taels a year, in fact, the trade route in the Taiwan Strait could create more benefits.

In any case, the East India Company cannot lose this trade channel.

Moreover, Zheng Zhilong sent back the prisoners of war, which alone greatly reduced the losses of the East India Company.

This sincerity also allowed them to explain something when they went back.

"Okay, Mr. Zheng, you are really a vampire, but who made you the winner?"

Zheng Zhilong didn't care about Anthony's ridicule.

He cares more about money.

After the negotiation between Zheng and the Dutchman was over, Zuo Hua found an opportunity to meet Anthony in private.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm from Shandong. I think we have a lot to talk about about trade."

Bapu Dewei was also present, whispering in Anthony's ear for a long time.

Listening, Anthony's eyes became brighter and brighter.

"Mr. Zuo, do you Shandong really allow us Dutch to land and trade?"

The most important thing for the Dutch is to enter the mainland of Ming Dynasty to do business.

It's a pity that Daming pursues a policy of banning the sea, and they are not allowed to approach at all.

How much money can you make by smuggling alone?
Anthony never expected that there was a place in Daming that opened its arms to them.

Zuo Hua smiled and nodded.

"With regard to trade, we should be equal. We can allow the Dutch to come to Shandong to do business. Similarly, the Dutch should allow our Shandong merchant ships to go to Dayuan, to Batavia, to any Dutch A place of control, no?"

Anthony desperately calculated the gains and losses.

"What commodities can we buy in Shandong?"

Zuo Hua is full of confidence.

"You will get everything you want in Shandong, even what you need, our merchant ships from Shandong can transport it to Batavia."

Shandong's enlightened trade attitude makes Anthony really comfortable.

This was the first time he had a common topic of business with the locals after he came to the Far East.

"If your merchant ships want to reach Batavia, they must pass through Zheng Zhilong's territory. The annual toll fee of two thousand taels of silver is not a small sum."

This guy was also full of bad things and started to provoke the relationship between Shandong and Zheng Zhidong.

How did he know that his words hit Zuo Hua's heart.

"Mr. Dimen, I have always believed that artificially setting up obstacles on the prosperous commercial road is an abhorrent disaster. An unimpeded commercial road is of great benefit to everyone, isn't it?"

Anthony van Diemen's eyes flashed.

"My God, Mr. Zuo, why did God let me know you so late? It turns out that in the far east, there are still people who understand the true meaning of trade!"

Zuo Hua picked up his wine glass and said with a smile: "So we can become closer friends and work together to create a better trading environment. I believe Mr. Dimen has the same wish, right?"

Anthony heard something, and his words were very tense.

"Aren't you Shandong afraid of the emperor's wrath?"

Zuo Hua looked at the undulating sea and laughed.

"In Daming, our Shandong's status is like your Netherlands' relationship with Spain."

The right analogy made Anthony understand it in seconds.

For a moment, the hearty laughter of the two made the atmosphere extremely joyful.

　安东尼·范·迪门（荷兰语：Antonio van Diemen，1593年出生于荷兰库伦博格，1645年4月19日逝世于巴达维亚）为任期自1636年至1645年间的荷属东印度总督，是巩固荷兰在远东殖民力量的奠基者。

　　
　
(End of this chapter)