Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 198 The dawn of the end of the war ([-])

Baron Eduardo Montagu was quite surprised by Abraham's visit.

In fact, even if Abraham did not come to him, he had to find a way to find him in the past two days. There was no other reason, but several respected MPs were concerned about the long-standing dispute between the East India Company and the East Coasters. War has grown impatient.To make matters worse, the strongholds of many companies near the Gulf of Guinea were hit mercilessly, and the losses were extremely heavy.You must know that the shareholders of major domestic companies all participate in each other's shares. Maybe the Guyana Trading Merchant Company suffered a huge loss, but a certain shareholder of the East India Company gritted his teeth with heartache.

Therefore, the gentlemen of Congress have lost patience with this marathon war that is costly and has little effect.In the one and a half years since the war with the East Coasters, the alliance headed by the East India Company has consumed a huge sum of more than 500 pounds, and the total loss of various ships has exceeded ten ships. injured and in need of repair.The loss of personnel is even more terrifying, conservatively estimated to exceed [-] people.

Of course, the most painful loss, gentlemen, was the goods.The losses of tobacco, furs, black slaves, spices, gemstones, dyes, gold and other valuable goods added up to more than 12 pounds. Even if such a heavy loss is apportioned to many shareholders, it is an extremely considerable amount.

So, gentlemen of London can't sit still any longer.Mr. Green, who ran in series to deal with the people on the east coast, lost his reputation in the council of the East India Company. Many people questioned that he did this simply to avenge his nephew who died at the hands of the people on the east coast. In everyone's purse.

The sudden accusations and doubts made Mr. Nicholas Green extremely passive. Although he had a reputation of integrity and honesty in the London business and aristocratic circles for more than 20 years, he was still overwhelmed by the accusations against him, and finally had to feel sad. He resigned from his position as a council member of the East India Company Council, and devoted himself to participating in the daily operation of the Levant Company.

After Nicholas Green, the former staunch main fighter, resigned, the East India Company immediately convened a new board of directors. All the gentlemen spoke at the meeting, demanding that the company take immediate measures to decisively end this distant war with the people on the east coast. Endless war.

Under the strong request of all shareholders, the East India Company quickly operated with extremely high efficiency.In early October, they met with Morris Stone Tucker Company, Merchant Adventurer Company, Massachusetts Bay Company and other colonial or trading companies to discuss diplomatic measures with the people on the east coast.Except for the strong opposition of the Merchant Adventurer Company, the other companies agreed to immediately try to speed up the progress of the peace talks with the people on the east coast.

After the tone was set, the London side immediately began to consider sending two messengers to San Vicente in the New World on a clipper ship in the near future, the place where the people on the East Coast had contacted each other before, and prepared to convey the latest news from the London side to the two negotiators. Instructions, and empowered both of them with greater powers.

At the same time, the gentlemen of the company are also planning to send people to Bordeaux to communicate with the plenipotentiary representatives of the East Coast people there, to understand the bottom line of the other party, and try their best to make up for the differences between the two parties.In this regard, Sir Ryan Abraham, who has been in contact with representatives of the East Coast people for a long time, is undoubtedly authoritative. He has a deep understanding of the ideas and ways of thinking of the East Coast people, and should be able to provide assistance for the East India Company. Provide a basis for correct and reasonable judgments.

Considering Mr. Abraham's royal status, the special Baron Eduardo Montagu is the most suitable person to contact him.But his luck today is obviously very good, Mr. Abraham actually came to the door on his own initiative.

"Dear Mr. Abraham, I am honored to have you here. London has finally got rid of this annoying rainy weather today. Maybe we should go to the manor in the suburbs to have a drink." Eduardo went forward and said with a smile .Ryan Abraham is a die-hard royalist, and he is familiar with Archbishop William Lauder, and also has some friendship with his father.He was considered to be his senior, so he greeted him very warmly.

"I'm surprised to see you can still be so leisurely, Eduardo." Abraham smiled as he entered the door with a pipe in his mouth and said, "Maybe those people in the House of Lords didn't talk to you? It seems that you should return to your father as soon as possible Be around, stop fooling around with those radical young people, they obviously don't think of you as a real friend."

"What did you hear?" Eduardo automatically filtered out the first half of Abraham's sentence, and asked in surprise.

"On my way here, my servant Paul sent someone back from Bordeaux with the latest news." Speaking of this, Abraham took a puff of cigarette, paused, and then looked at Eduardo's handsome face, and said meaningfully : "This news may not be so pleasant. Especially you, Eduardo, I remember you invested two thousand pounds on the merchant ship 'Jewel' of the East India Company going to the East?"

"What's wrong with the 'Jewel'? Is there a storm?" Eduardo Montagu's breath suddenly became short of breath. The two thousand pounds are most of his current property.When the East India Company organized a trade fleet to head east, Eduardo was firmly optimistic about the business.Therefore, regardless of his wife's opposition, he took out most of his cash to find friends and trust relationships to invest on the "Gem" merchant ship, and went to the East to buy silk and sell it back to Europe.But hearing the meaning in Mr. Abraham's words, maybe the situation is not very good, and he suddenly became a little nervous.

Enjoying looking at Eduardo's tense, anxious, and uneasy expression, Abraham exhaled a puff of smoke rings, and then said slowly: "The naval fleet of the East Coast people suddenly attacked the East India Company's returning trade in the northwest ocean of the Cape of Good Hope. Flotilla, the East India Company lost four ships after a fierce battle. Two of them were merchant ships, and the 'Jewel' was one of the two that sank."

"God, it's not true!" Eduardo Montagu exclaimed. Although he didn't want to believe what the old man said, his reason told him that what he said was true.Because he didn't have to lie to himself, and the lie was easily exposed.

"No one can guess the will of God." Abraham patted Eduardo on the shoulder "sympathetically", and then said: "Eduardo, you are in your 30s this year, why are you still making such radical investments? Your father and your wife did not agree with you to invest such a huge amount of money in the illusory oriental trade so rashly. After all, the risks in it are too great. I think you should have a deep understanding of this by now. It's one o'clock."

Eduardo closed his eyes in pain, anger, remorse, sadness and other emotions burst out all at once.But he is also a person who has seen the big world several times, so he won't be overwhelmed by this bad news on the spot.Considering that there was an old fox in front of him, he reluctantly asked Abraham, "Mr. Abraham, is there anything you can do for me today?"

"Perhaps." Abraham went into the room and sat down on a chair, and then said: "The people on the East Coast want to end the war. What do you and the gentlemen behind you think about this?"

"It's impossible!" Eduardo Montagu subconsciously cried out loudly, and then he realized that his reaction was a bit excessive, but he still said through gritted teeth: "They are shameless pirates. After robbing our ship, they still How absurd to imagine that we can forgive them!"

"Please pay attention to your words, Eduardo!" Abraham reminded suddenly with a cold face, "Don't let anger cloud your mind, the attitude of the gentlemen of the East India Company is what you should consider more. The Cape of Good Hope is too close to the fleet of the East Coasters, and they can easily attack the maritime trade lines that the East India Company relies on for survival. Regarding this point, I think you and the gentlemen behind you are even better than me. more clearly."

Eduardo remained silent for a long time before he let out a long breath and said, "You are right, Mr. Abraham, I should not lose my calm easily. Although it is difficult, I have to admit that the East India Company is currently not very It may cost a lot of money to wage a full-scale war with the people on the east coast, which is not worth the loss. Moreover, Mr. Green, who is currently resolute in the war, has stepped down, and now the gentlemen are all thinking about a truce with the people on the east coast. If my news is correct, A courier will be heading to San Vicente in the near future."

"I'm glad to see the rational attitude of you gentlemen." Abraham said with joy or regret, "It seems that our goals are the same."

If both parties have the same goal, then things will be easy to handle.After Abraham and Eduardo chatted for a while, they left.And Eduardo Montagu calmed down his mind for a while, and then hurried to the mansions of several East India Company councilors he was familiar with, and exchanged the astonishing news he had just received with them.

The news was confirmed a few days later, and the East India Company's trading fleet returned to London after a few days of rest in Bordeaux.The news that they were attacked by the East Coasters spread throughout the East India Company overnight, and the two lost ships were loaded with nearly [-] pounds of valuable cargo.The council of the East India Company, who was extremely shocked, quickly convened the council. After discussing behind closed doors for a whole day, they finally decided to send two messengers to San Vicente immediately, formally requesting the negotiators there to communicate with the East India Company as soon as possible. The shore people reached a peace agreement.

(End of this chapter)