Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2001 New Chapter

Sheng Dehong finally stayed in the Republic of Genoa for about half a month.

Celebrities in Genoa expressed that they would consider investing more in the east coast to enhance the friendship between the two countries.The east bank provides shelter for Genoa, and Genoa will naturally reciprocate. Isn't that the so-called mutual benefit?They have already decided that the Pampa Plain is being vigorously developed in the east coast, and at the same time, they are infiltrating and reclaiming Chaco. This is where they come in handy.

At the same time, they also expect that these investments will give them rich returns in the future.Carrying out investment in such a fast-growing economy with unlimited potential on the east coast is what this country with extremely strong capital strength has been doing.This time, they just want to step up their efforts and invest more manpower and material resources in the past. They won't lose money anyway, right?

Sheng Dehong appreciated the knowledge and interest of the Genoese people very much.Together with the Venetians, they gave loans to the people on the east bank together, making Gao Wengang's long-planned acquisition of the dominance of the currency reform of the Ottoman Empire come true, and made a great contribution.This time, they promised to increase investment in the East Coast natives and overseas colonies (it was initially agreed to increase investment in Huaiyuan Island and Port of Mobile, by opening up wasteland to build plantations), and it was not in vain that the East Coast people gave them the guarantee of national independence.

On December 1687, 12, Sheng Dehong left this beautiful city on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after finishing some business affairs at the business station. He took a boat to Ceuta - an outpost city of the Kingdom of Spain in North Africa - and Finally got here before the end of the month.

Ceuta was originally a city ruled by the Portuguese, and it was once one of the last glories of this Atlantic-facing kingdom in North Africa (the kings all died here, and the results were just a few poor enclaves), but in the 60s and Spain ceded this place to them when they signed the independence agreement, so the five-arch crown flag was lowered and the Spanish cross flag was raised. King Carlos II became the new owner of Ceuta, and it has been almost 20 years.

To be honest, the Spaniards have basically had no rules for the governance of Ceuta Port in the past 20 years.Except for a few Spanish fishermen who came to settle in Ceuta, there was no other population inflow here. Occasionally, some good pirates or bankrupt businessmen came here to live in seclusion, but the number was too small and disproportionate.The vast majority of the population here are the descendants of the Portuguese conquerors and the Green Christians who originally lived here—basically all Berbers.

In recent years, due to the rapid development of the trade relationship with Morocco, some businessmen from the east coast have also come here to live permanently after being approved by the Kingdom of Spain. There are more than two hundred people in total, including sales, finance, logistics, Talents in warehousing, maintenance, security and other aspects.Most of these people are employed by private individuals, which is quite different from the commercial workers in the southern Cape Verde Islands, which are mostly state-owned enterprises (South China Sea Transportation Company).

In the first half of last year (1686), Gao Wengang, East Coast Plenipotentiary Envoy to Europe, ordered the establishment of a state-run commercial station in Ceuta Port, which was mainly engaged in the sale of bulk commodities such as steel bars, hardware products, and silk fabrics. The nearby Berbers import goods such as horses, grain, dried fruits, spices, dyes, cheese, seafood, etc. The scale is not large or small, and the net profit in a year is even less than 3 yuan, which is pitiful.

But such a small business site, which only earns tens of thousands of yuan a year, is currently crowded with more than [-] staff members of various countries.Among them are business personnel, diplomats, intelligence personnel, and some military personnel. They work together and work together to support this large-scale business station.

Sheng Dehong came here to lead the staff of the business station a little surprised, especially the intelligence officials under his direct control, all of them were in a state of anxiety, fearing that they would be reprimanded if they found out something wrong.Fortunately, Sheng Dehong didn't do what they thought. He just routinely asked about their work situation in the past year, and then didn't comment much, and then brought the topic to the importance of this business station.

Sheng Dehong pointed out that Ceuta Port is the throat between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and its geographical location is extremely important.The Spaniards had such a difficult time, and they also built forts and barracks here, which shows that everyone knows the importance of Ceuta Port.In view of the friendly relationship between the East Coast Republic of China and the Kingdom of Spain, the people of the East Coast can freely live and do business in Ceuta Port, and at the same time hold their own religious ceremonies, with no restrictions on life.Therefore, with such good conditions, people on the east coast must not give up, but must do everything possible to expand their influence in this city, penetrate into all aspects of life, and prepare for the future when something happens to the Kingdom of Spain .

Sheng Dehong even reminded the intelligence officials in a cryptic tone that the powerful East Coast Navy is also very interested in the Spanish Kingdom's enclave in North Africa and wants to obtain the right to berth here.Their current main base of activity, the Eastern Cape Verde Islands, is still a little far away from the Mediterranean Sea, and the nearby mainland is mostly a barren and arid area, and there is not much to do.Therefore, the Navy desperately wanted a place closer to the Mediterranean Sea—preferably closer to Spain and Italy—so that it could intervene nearby.

Considering that it is more sensitive to move the fleet into European countries, it is likely to cause unnecessary disputes and affect commercial interests. Therefore, the Navy still hopes to use Ceuta Port as a base for them to dock for supplies and repair ships. I just don’t know what the Kingdom of Spain thinks that's it.

But it doesn't matter, people on the east coast can afford to wait!The Kingdom of Spain is located in a place where there are constant disputes in the European continent. Next to it is the Kingdom of France, which has an army of hundreds of thousands and an equally large fleet. The probability of being involved in various conflicts is not low.People on the east coast don’t even need to do anything, and it is possible to obtain a series of privileges in the port of Ceuta, even sovereignty, from the battered Spanish royal family—as long as the people on the east coast can withstand the pressure, they will give the Kingdom of Spain the right price, then nothing is impossible.

Since the first day they were stationed here, several intelligence personnel at the Ceuta Merchant Station had some vague guesses.This time Sheng Dehong spoke directly to them, which undoubtedly confirmed their conjecture, so everyone was very excited, and at the same time felt a little emotional: Once upon a time, people from the east coast did not have any fixed foothold when they went to Europe to do business. Looting can only be considered unlucky—especially those flute-shaped transport ships powered by sails, many of which have been captured by pirates over the past few decades—now they are trying to find a way to deal with such a key city as Ceuta after they have entered the Kingdom of Portugal. The establishment of supply and maintenance bases in the throats will really have a more powerful influence on the Mediterranean Sea. In the future, we can use this as the core to do many "big things" and seek greater benefits for the East China Republic.

After chatting with the intelligence staff at the Ceuta Commercial Station about the next work arrangement, Sheng Dehong hurriedly left the Ceuta Port by boat and arrived at the Port of Cadiz, where the East Coast Plenipotentiary Envoy to Europe is located.At this time, Special Envoy Gao Wengang was still dealing with affairs in Ottoman Turkey and had not yet returned, but some news from the Black Sea had already been transmitted through the fast liaison ship on call at any time.As the highest intelligence official in Europe, Sheng Dehong has the right to read all intelligence documents, even including the highest level of confidentiality.

Among these pieces of information, the news about the war situation in Croatia and Russia naturally attracted his attention the most.Sheng Dehong learned from these intelligences that the Black Sea detachment led by Lieutenant Colonel Mao Jun had successfully arrived at the lower reaches of the Volga River without a major battle, and met Oirat Mongol Durbert here. Ministry of herdsmen.

The chiefs of Duerbert’s tribe didn’t intend to take the people from the east bank to find Ayuqi Khan at the beginning, but after Mr. Mao bribed them with a lot of money (they were all things from Maozi nobles and businessmen who robbed them along the way), they reluctantly agreed to the east bank However, Mr. Mao was only allowed to take dozens of riders there. Mr. Mao agreed to this request and went happily.

Ayuqi Khan finally found time to meet Mao Jun and his party.The two sides discussed behind closed doors for a long time, but there were not many constructive results.Although Ayuqi Khan is more farsighted, he admits that the Russian Empire has put more and more pressure on them over the years, and they only have more than 7 accounts, and their strength is a bit weak, but they say that they are nomadic in the lower reaches of the Volga River. It has been more than 100 years, and now it is the fourth generation, so it is difficult to just leave.Unless you let them feel the extremely serious security threat, just like when they were nomads in the Western Regions, they encountered the threat of annexation by the rising Choros tribe (that is, Junggar Mongolia), which also belonged to Oirat Mongolia, otherwise it is difficult for them to have enough The impetus for westward migration.

Ayuchi Khan was not some uninformed barbarian. They had been operating in the Volga River area for so long, and they were not ignorant of the situation in the lower reaches of the Don River and the Caucasus area.He knew that it had always been the focus of contention between the Russians, the Crimean Tatars, and the Turks, and there would definitely be constant wars in the future.In addition, there are also some vulgar savages living in the local area-yes, yes, the Turghuts with a decent level of civilization also despise those savages-they probably went there because of the land, pastures, Due to the water source factor, disputes continued, which caused trouble for themselves for no reason.

Therefore, Ayuqi Khan believes that unless they get a "condition that cannot be refused", they will not easily nomad to the lower reaches of the Don River and the North Caucasus.As for what is an "undeniable condition", hehe, Ayu Qihan, an old and cunning guy, also gave a general introduction to Lieutenant Colonel Mao Jun. It is nothing more than a large amount of money, materials and weapons assistance, as well as security guarantees, land grants, etc.By the way, they still have no guarantee that they will not return to their lair in the lower reaches of the Volga River again. This depends on Ayuqi Khan's own decision.

Lieutenant Colonel Mao Jun couldn't decide on this, so he could only report it in writing, and Gao Wengang and the local executive committee made the decision.But in any case, their foray was not fruitless. At least they found out the specific location of the Mongols. At the same time, they also learned that Ayuqi Khan was not an ignorant person, and the real threat to Russia was also very clear. Then That's easy!As long as the prices of the two sides are negotiated in the future, it is not ruled out that the Don River and the North Caucasus will usher in a new chapter.

(End of this chapter)