The end of the Ming Dynasty swept the world

Chapter 416 I want to change something
In the middle of the 16th century, the Portuguese leased Macau from the Ming Empire at a super cabbage price of 500 taels of silver per year.

After they made Macau their base, Portugal's East Asian trade became easier.

Their fleet sold the spices produced in Southeast Asia to China, and then bought raw silk, porcelain, tea, etc. from China and sold them to Europe. Therefore, the Portuguese made huge profits from the Chinese trade.

The Dutch quickly envied the money Portugal made in China trade, and they also wanted to participate in China trade.

Around 1601, the Dutch East India Company went to Guangzhou several times hoping to start trade, but they were all rejected by the Ming Dynasty at that time because they had no tribute relationship.

Because of the inability to carry out formal trade, the Dutch East India Company could only carry out smuggling trade in private, and even attacked Portugal traveling to and from Guangzhou, and Spanish ships robbed goods, becoming like pirates.

But they knew that this kind of thing couldn't be done for a long time. If they wanted to make a lot of money, they had to find a stronghold in the East Asian waters, so they quickly took a fancy to Macau, which was occupied by Portugal.

In 1622, the Dutch East India Company sent a fleet of 12 ships, equipped with 60 cannons and 1000 soldiers, under the command of the Dutch Admiral Reisson, and set off on June 6, heading straight for Macau.

6月21日，荷舰抵澳门海面。当时澳门守备力量仅50名火枪兵，100多名能执武器的土生人和3座配备不全的炮台。

The Dutch army launched an attack at dawn on June 6. The offensive went smoothly at first, but the Portuguese refused to retreat and strongly resisted. They killed the Dutch commander on the spot and the Dutch army was defeated.In the end, the Dutch lost more than 24 people and failed.

After the Dutch failed to attack Macau, they retreated to the waters of Taiwan and occupied Penghu again (they occupied it in 1602, but were driven away by the Ming Dynasty.)
But in 1624, Nan Juyi served as the governor of Fujian and expelled the Dutch from Penghu again.

After the Dutch were expelled, they set their sights on the remote Taiwan. Since only a few aboriginals lived in Taiwan at that time, the Dutch easily invaded and occupied Taiwan.

In 1624, the Dutch built a fortress in Dayuan (now Tainan City) in the coastal area of ​​southwest Taiwan, and named it Zeelandia City (Anping City), and used it as a trade base with China, with 2000 troops stationed there.

After 1635, that is, next year, after their trade stabilized, they began to conquer the residents of the island with all their strength, and established a feudal relationship in which the Dutch were the lords and the aborigines were vassals.

The Dutch Taiwan governor currently stationed here is called Putesman. He was defeated by Zheng Zhilong in the naval battle of Liuluo Bay in October last year. signal of peace.

After the battle, Zheng Zhilong proposed to Putesman that he wanted to do business here in the future and buy flags every year.

Putesman temporarily delayed on the grounds of returning home to report.

A few years later, the new chief, Lang Billi, brought a ship to fight again. He was defeated by Zheng Zhilong again, and finally recognized Zheng Zhilong's status as the overlord of the sea. The Dutch also had to buy flags honestly to conduct transactions. It costs a few 10 taels of silver.

When Ding Yi's boat approached the alley, someone was already waiting for them at the pier in the distance.

This is their good friend, Lieutenant Colonel Pirot of the Dutch Navy.

The last time Ding Yi saw him, he was still a colonel, but he had become a lieutenant colonel because of the Battle of Luowan.

After Ding Yi and Ruan Siqing disembarked, Pilut embraced them warmly.

In the past two years, every time Ruan Siqing went to Fuguang, he would come to Taiwan, exchange raw silk and tea for their sugar, and then sell it to Japan.

The Dutch attach great importance to sugar sales. Historically, until 1636, they exported more than 1 catties of high-quality white sugar and more than 11 catties of brown sugar to Japan every year.

With the help of Ruan Siqing in the past two years, they exported 3 jin of white sugar to Japan last year, and 15 jin of brown sugar.

In the original history of 1645, Taiwan exported 150 million catties of sugar every year, making huge profits and bringing a lot of silver and gold coins to the East India Company.

"General Ding, long time no see." The on-site interpreter helped Pilut speak with a smile.

Ding Yi laughed loudly: "Mr. Pilut, I miss you so much."

Pilut patted him on the shoulder, saying that he was the same, let's go, sit on the island, and if he wants to, Latin will go up and sit for a while.

The two talked while walking, but before they could say a few words, Ding Yi changed his tone and looked angry. He mentioned that he was besieged in Quanzhou and almost died. Only after seeing Zheng Zhilong's son did he run out.

Pilut's face changed drastically. Taiwan has not received the news yet, but when Ding Yi said it, he became serious.

"Wait, I'll take you to see Putesman."

Putesman quickly received Ding Yi, and he also attached great importance to Ding Yi.

Because they had been teaming up with Liu Xiang before, but were defeated by Zheng Zhilong later, they urgently needed to find a stronger teammate in Ming Dynasty.

But Ding Yi has a higher official position than Zheng Zhilong, and his men are also strong and strong. The only shortcoming is that the boat is not big enough and not powerful enough.

That's what they value.

On the same day, Putesman entertained Ding Yi and his party with a very honorable dinner and let them stay overnight.

At the same time, they sent a boat to Quanzhou overnight to inquire about news.

In the early morning of the next day, Putesman received definite news that a great war broke out in Quanzhou City, and Zheng Zhihu led troops to encircle and suppress Jin Xizuo, but was killed instead.

After Zheng Zhilong came back, he arrested Hou Jin Xizuo and executed him immediately.

However, according to gossip, Zheng Zhihu's siege was not a spy, but a Ming general, but no one in Quanzhou dared to speak nonsense outside.

The Dutch also have business partners in Quanzhou, and people who are similar in details, and it is hard to find out some details.

Putesman was overjoyed, and was more determined to win over Ding Yi and fight against Zheng Zhilong.

The next day, the two parties had dinner again.

Ding Yi deliberately said that Taiwan is a so-so place, because the population is too small, which is not conducive to development, and it is not easy to live with Zheng Zhilong, an enemy, on the side.

Putesman also said that when we first came, it was very hard. We tried various methods to relocate Ming people here, and we also had to appease the local indigenous Gaoshan people. Those savages were very disobedient.

Ding Yi said that such barbarians should be taught a lesson with cannons and muskets. He also said that Ming people are easier to train than natives, and more Ming people should be immigrated.

Putesman was even more delighted, and felt that what Ding Yi said was too correct.

Both parties were interested in strengthening cooperation, and an agreement was quickly reached.

Dongjiang Town provides at least [-] catties of raw silk, [-] pieces of silk weaving products and [-] catties of tea to the Dutch side every year.

The Dutch side provided Dongjiang Town with at least 24 catties of white sugar, [-] catties of brown sugar, and ten [-]-pound European ship guns every year.

If the value of the two parties is not equal, silver will be added.

On the whole, according to this amount, the Dutch side has to give Ding Yi some money.

Dan Ding Yi estimated that they would use more sugar instead.

Taiwan’s sugar, Japan and North Korea can all be sold at high prices. In the Ming Dynasty, the profit was not high, but in Japan, the profit was quite high, so Ding Yi was not afraid of making too much.

After the meeting, Ding Yi met with Putesman alone.

Putesman is in his 40s, and Ding Yi asked, "How long can the general stay here?"

Putesman said in a deep voice: "This time I lost the battle, and I think I will be transferred back to China, but you can rest assured that the East India Company is the one that is cooperating with you, not me, and the agreement will always be valid."

Ding Yi asked again: "At the general's age, I'm afraid he will retire soon after returning."

Putesman's face darkened. It is true that he has no hope in the company, but this time he signed a contract with Ding Yi, and he should be able to go back and work for another year or two without asking for Zheng Zhilong's order.

Ding Yi asked three times, how much money can the general get every year when he goes back now?
Putesman was very surprised by his question, but he answered it anyway. If he didn't retire, he would probably be able to get more than 200 taels of silver.

This amount of money is not too much in Europe, of course, life can be lived.

So Ding Yi said: "I want to exchange 5 taels of silver for something. I wonder if the general can do it?"

"With these 5 taels of silver, the general should not have to worry about the rest of his life, even traveling around the world is enough."

"Fifty thousand?" Putesman turned pale with shock.

He stared at Ding Yi for a long time, then looked at the translator, and finally said tremblingly: "What do you want?"

Ding Yi waved his hand, motioning for the interpreter to leave.

The translator looked at Putesman, who nodded quickly, and the translator had to leave.

Ding Yi smiled slightly, picked up the pen and paper from his desk, and started to draw slowly.

(End of this chapter)