The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 41 If you want to take something, you must give it first

"Minister Nidom, Mr. Reback." Fu Hengrong, the right minister in charge of foreign affairs in Southeast Asia and Central and South China, said with a smile after greeting the visiting Dutch: "After many discussions and studies, our cabinet government has decided Special status will be given to several cities such as Batavia, Cirebon, Ambon, Palembang (Palembang), and Malacca. Your East India Company can deploy affairs officers to form a joint alliance with the personnel stationed by our Ministry of State Affairs. As for local governments, in addition to the military defense, foreign affairs, customs taxation, and final judicial authority in these cities, we will not make major changes to the existing models of administration, civil affairs, commerce, and residents' lives in the above-mentioned jurisdictions, and enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and the central government will not interfere too much.”

Upon hearing this, Jan van Riebeeck, director of the East India Company and senior special representative, turned to look at Minister Maurice Needham who was holding a tea cup, but saw that he did not even raise his head, as if he was attracted by the refreshing aroma of tea. Intoxicated, he pecked at it gently.

"So, does your government have a clear reply to our East India Company's previous proposal to continue to maintain the exclusive trade monopoly on spices?" Jan van Riebeeck knew that the Qi government had "taken back" Batavia and other East Indies. The decision to establish a colonial stronghold in the archipelago was irreversible, so he tentatively inquired about the spice trade monopoly.

Although spices accounted for less than 2000% of the East India Company's trade share, it was still a business worth [-] million guilders, so it couldn't be taken away just because it was given, right?

Since more than 50 years ago, the situation of Dutch East India trade has undergone significant changes.As time went on, the share of pepper and spices in the East India Company's imports continued to decline.For example, pepper's share of sales in 1715 and 1720 dropped sharply to 3%. Together with high-grade spices, which accounted for 8%, spice sales accounted for only one-tenth of total sales.Recalling that one of the biggest purposes of the Portuguese coming to the Sea of ​​Asia 200 years ago was to obtain pepper, some high-grade spices are equivalent to gold, it seems like another world ago.

So why has the value of pepper and spices become so low?Is it because Europeans don’t use pepper and spices?
事实并非如此。即便是到了18世纪20年代，荷兰东印度公司也还在继续稳定地进口一定数量的胡椒和香料到欧洲。1710年到1715年的胡椒进口额每年大概是500-550万荷兰盾，1715年到1720年增长到580万荷兰盾左右。根据年份的不同，多少会有一些变化，胡椒等香料的进口量基本上还是在缓慢增加。

Nonetheless, the reason why pepper imports became less noticeable was that the Dutch East India Company's total imports increased more than those of pepper.Compared with the total import volume of more than 17 million guilders in the 60s, the total import volume in 9 was as high as 1720 million guilders.During this period, the unit price of pepper imports remained almost unchanged.In other words, higher-priced commodities other than spices, specifically Qi's industrial products, steel, furs, precision instruments, sucrose, textiles, tea, porcelain, as well as new commodities such as coffee, palm oil, and cocoa Imports increased significantly, which led to an increase in total imports.From this perspective, the importance of peppers and spices with stable prices has declined a lot.

However, with the steady growth of Europe's population, it is an indisputable fact that the demand for pepper and spices has not increased significantly.

What is the reason?

One definite reason is that people in Europe are using less spices.Starting from the 17th century to the 80s, perhaps Europeans felt that spices were no longer valuable, and the use of spices in restaurants everywhere could no longer flaunt their social status.From this period onwards, European aristocrats and upper-class people began to like dishes made from high-priced and scarce ingredients that were native to the New World or were difficult to obtain, as a way to highlight their status.

In Europe from the 17th to 18th centuries, generally speaking, the reduction in meat consumption was also one of the reasons for the sluggish growth in demand for spices.The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but what is certain is that in much of Europe, people ate more meat and were taller in the 15th century.

In addition, there is another reason. After the 18th century, with the spread of medical knowledge in Qi and spread to Europe, the body balance theory composed of four major elements that has been popular since ancient times has come to an end. This may also affect spices. Growth in imports.In short, in the past 20 years, spices have gradually lost their value as medicines and become "spice" used only to make food condiments.

However, the best news for the Dutch is that it is impossible to cultivate and harvest spices in northwest Europe with a cold climate. During this period, the commodity value was still high, allowing the Dutch to rely on their monopoly on the spice trade. Make a lot of money.

Nowadays, the people of Qi, who regard the entire East Indies as their core interest circle, want to "take back" the various colonial points occupied by the Dutch East India Company, thereby achieving their absolute control over the area.

Facing the extremely powerful Qi State, the Dutch East India Company did not dare to have any thoughts of conflict or resistance, but they still hoped to retain their monopoly on the spice trade and enhance their voice in European trade affairs.

Your country, Qi, can earn tens of millions of dong in trade profits every year just by re-exporting tea from the mainland. You don't care about the income from spices, three melons and two dates, right?
Fu Hengrong couldn't help but smile meaningfully when he heard Jan van Riebeeck mention the issue of exclusive (monopoly) rights in the spice trade.

"As for the granting of exclusive rights to the spice trade in the Nanyang region, our Qi State Cabinet Government still prefers to maintain the status quo. After all, your East India Company has maintained a traditional friendship with our Qi State for decades, and our Emperor and the Cabinet Government are committed to continuing to maintain this relationship. The friendly and close economic and trade relations between the two sides are also extremely cherished."

"Thank you very much for your government's decision." Upon hearing this, Jan van Riebeeck was immediately overjoyed. If it weren't for his identity and status, he would have wanted to step forward and hug the Qi diplomat tightly. The second-in-command, "Our East India Company will always be our Qi's closest partner. We have been, are, and will be in the future!" "However, our Qi government has always advocated free trade and has not restricted certain restrictive and exclusive products. trade practices and express deep concern."

"Huh?" Jan van Riebeeck couldn't help but be stunned after hearing this.

What does this mean?
"Advocate for free trade"?
"Expressing deep concern about certain restrictive and exclusionary trade practices"?
These words seem to have a negative attitude towards our East India Company's monopoly on the spice trade.

What about traditional friendship?
Where has the value your Majesty the Emperor and your Cabinet Government placed on our East India Company gone?
Minister Maurice Needham's hand holding the tea cup stopped in mid-air, and after a while, he gently placed the tea cup on the small table next to him, his deep eyes showing a bit of solemnity.

"Haha..." Fu Hengrong smiled and said softly: "Of course, some trade practices are traditions and practices that have lasted for decades. If they suddenly change, it may cause drastic changes in the entire trade market. So, let's work together. The Chinese government will also give a certain period of time to slowly change some inappropriate trade practices."

"Then...how long will the period of this transformation be?" Jan Van Riebeeck's face looked a little ugly.

A small mosquito is still meat, and an ant's legs are still legs no matter how thin they are.How could Qi merchants watch helplessly as the Dutch continued to monopolize the spice business at their doorstep?

Perhaps, they really took a fancy to the Dutch spice business, which has been monopolized for nearly a hundred years!
"It may be three years, five years, or it may be eight or ten years." Fu Hengrong said: "If there are difficulties in implementing certain changes in trade behavior, you might as well give more time to slowly adapt. Of course, this The issue falls within the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry, and it is not convenient for me as a diplomat to comment on it."

"If the East India Company exchanges certain rights and interests, can it exchange for longer exclusive rights to the spice trade?" Minister Maurice Needham asked.

"Of course." Fu Hengrong nodded and said: "If the exchange rights are attractive enough, we in Qi are not stingy people."

Minister Maurice Needham nodded knowingly, said nothing, reached out to pick up the tea cup, and continued to taste it slowly.

When Jan Van Riebeeck heard the two people's cryptic diplomatic rhetoric, he was puzzled at first, but after thinking for a moment, his face immediately became even more ugly.

Cape Town!

"The people of Qi still want our East India Company's Cape Town!"

After leaving the Qi Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, on the way back, Jan van Riebeeck sat leaning against the wall of the carriage, with a look of helplessness and bitterness on his face.

"Does your East India Company have any other options?" Minister Maurice Needham asked softly: "Across Europe, there are countless countries and adventurous companies that covet your East India Company's Eastern trade. In the eyes of the people of Qi, your The status and role are not irreplaceable. The Portuguese, French, Venetians, Genoese, and English are all jealous of the extremely high profits your East India Company has gained from Eastern trade. Once they see your East India Company After being abandoned by Qi State, they will inevitably rush forward in droves, scrambling to please Qi State. Mr. Rebeck, there is a very philosophical saying in Eastern civilization. If you want to get something, you must first pay. ...What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)