Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2143 Three Fires ([-])

"Did Ambassador Courland take any action?" On May 1691, 5, in the administrative building of the Executive Committee of Dongfang County, Shao Yaoguang, who was newly elected chairman of the Executive Committee, asked his secretary while holding a cup of yerba mate.

Shao Yaoguang was elected as the chairman of the Executive Committee at the Founders Meeting at the beginning of the year.To be honest, his original target was the Prime Minister of the Government Affairs Council, because he had been acting Prime Minister of the Council since last year, and this plenary meeting was just to take off the role of acting prime minister and become a serious prime minister.However, before the election, due to the sudden illness of the original chairman candidate, he was unable to participate in the election. After a multi-party game, Shao Yaoguang was pushed to the chairman's throne, leading the big ship on the east coast to continue forward, and more importantly, , Safeguard the interests of the majority of parliamentarians.

Shao Yaoguang had no objection to this (isn't this nonsense), so he quickly took office and performed the duties of chairman.In order to avoid suspicion, he also transferred all the assets under his name to the newly established Jiangshan Asset Management Co., Ltd. for custody, and this professional company will take care of them to maintain and increase the value.

It is also a new regulation this year that government officials entrust operating assets before taking office.After all, the East Coast has developed for so many years, and society, economy, culture, and thought have all developed to a new stage. A large number of middle classes have begun to rise. After they have affluent food and clothing, they gradually become interested in politics.At this critical juncture, the Founders Council also began to restrain its edge, and adopted a series of measures to improve its image, so as to avoid any bad consequences.The custody of officials' assets is one of the measures, although the public has not questioned the previous non-custodial behavior.

Of course, the congressmen all understand that this so-called trusteeship is simply a cover-up.When a person has power, then he has value, even if he does not take the initiative to do anything, the assets under his name will grow irresistibly and rapidly.Don’t you see, in the 21st century, Bloomberg has been the mayor of New York for 12 years. Although he only promises to get a salary of one dollar a year, his assets under custody have still surged from $1 billion to $40 billion. Daodao no one can make it clear, but it seems unlikely that the professional managers who helped him manage his assets were too competent.

This is the future of the Internet.In this time and space on the east coast, the so-called managed assets are even more of a joke.But everyone knows that it is one thing to have a fig leaf, and another thing to not have a fig leaf. It is better than nothing, isn't it?

Another big move by the Founders Council is the splitting of assets.To be more precise, it is to spin off the famous Mr. 20% (East Shore Company) and turn it into more than ten so-called investment funds, asset management companies and other enterprises.These companies will take over the shares of many companies held by the East Coast Company, and then after detailed calculations, determine the proportion of cross-shareholdings to ensure the interests of each member of parliament.Of course, this is not only for the equal rights and interests of everyone, but also to make the equity very complicated, so that outsiders don't know what the actual control or interests of these companies are in the hands of.

As for others, such as charity for the poor, donations, etc., it is a way to further improve the image, and it will be implemented step by step in the future.In short, the key is that members of parliament must be good at hiding and packaging, and must firmly grasp the media, so as not to be too conspicuous.Otherwise, it's okay now, and it will be troublesome in the future.

Of course, the ruling class on the east coast, in this time and space at the end of the 17th century, had the best and most civilized eating habits on the planet, beating all the princes, nobles, capitalists and so on in the old continent.Moreover, they can really represent the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people on the east bank now, because they have been making the cake bigger. East Coast society is still very stable.But as the old saying goes, people who have no foresight must have near-term worries. Speaking of these, it is considered a rainy day. It is much better to take the initiative to reform than to be forced to reform. It is a very smart move.

Well, without further ado, let's turn our attention back to the Courland matter.The Courland ambassador whom Shao Yaoguang asked the secretary just now is Lukas Zweig, the commercial commissioner sent by the governor of New Courland Wagner to the east coast. He is proficient in Latvian and German. Of course, he is still learning Chinese.

Courland is a small country, and it is impossible to afford the overseas expenses of too many people. Therefore, many people stationed on the east coast have multiple roles. For example, the knight Zweig is now an ambassador and a business commissioner.This is a direct appointment from the capital Mitao, speaking of which his status is not much lower than that of Governor Wagner.

Ever since the people on the east coast learned that the Russians had approached Grand Duke Frederick and urged him to divorce his original wife and then marry a princess from Moscow, they immediately summoned Ambassador Zweig and asked him to explain the matter. .Poor Ambassador Zweig has lived on the east coast for a long time, and he is not very clear about local affairs, so he was immediately stunned by the question and didn't know how to answer it.However, having seen the powerful energy of the East Bank, he did not dare to be negligent, and immediately stated that this must be a misinformation, a rumor, the Grand Duke is a staunch ally of the East Bank, and such a thing cannot happen.

However, his mind was also muttering.Grand Duke Frederick is also 50 to [-] years old, and he has never had a son to inherit the throne, which has almost become his heart disease.This time the news of the marriage with Moscow came out, and Knight Zweig judged by himself, there is still a little credibility.But he was also very puzzled, there are so many noble ladies who are suitable to be duchesses, why should they get involved with vulgar Russians?Of course, this is just Zweig's own inner activities. He will definitely not talk about these things with people on the east coast, because it will easily anger them.

Zweig Knight's firm denial did not get the understanding of the East Coast people.In fact, the officials of the foreign affairs department on the east bank told him in a very firm tone that their sources of information were very reliable. Regardless of the final outcome of this matter, it was already a fact that the Russians had come to him.The official also told Knight Zweig that tomorrow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the East Coast will submit an official letter of credence, please Mr. Ambassador to put the relationship between the two countries at the top of the list, and immediately send the letter of credence back to China and hand it over to Frederick Grand Duke.He also emphasized that the East Coast Republic of China will not recognize the marriage between the Grand Duke and the Romanov family. The Grand Duke can find a German or a Polish, it does not matter, but he cannot marry a Russian.

After saying this, the diplomat left, leaving only Knight Zweig with a wry smile.The people from the east coast are really domineering. Grand Duke Frederick is also the king of a country after all, and he can't even decide his own marriage.Although Knight Zweig disapproved of the Grand Duke's marriage with Russia, he also couldn't stand the attitude of the people on the east coast.

However, as a professional diplomat, Knight Zweig understands that he cannot be swayed by boring emotions, and everything must proceed from the national interest.Therefore, he finally complied with the opinions of the people on the east bank, and planned to send a special envoy to bring him back to China as soon as he received the letter of credence.This matter really cannot be delayed. If the Grand Duke really married the Moscow side, he really couldn't imagine what the consequences would be.Perhaps New Courland will be occupied?Or independent?

In the next few days, Knight Zweig looked around for a ship, and at the same time selected two of his most trusted subordinates, boarded a merchant ship returning to Sweden from the east coast, and returned home.And his actions were naturally seen by the intelligence agencies on the east coast, and they were reported level by level. Therefore, when Shao Yaoguang asked about it, the secretary immediately replied: "Ambassador Zweig attaches great importance to this matter." , He has already sent someone back to the country, and I believe Grand Duke Frederick will know our determination on the east coast in a few months. He is a sensible person and should know how to do it."

"Well, that's good. Actually, this time, I don't think it's because Frederick wanted to do something. It may also be that the Russians took the initiative to come to the door. Maybe Frederick himself refused. Yes. But there are some things that we must stop in the bud. The money bag of the Principality of Courland is in our hands, and as long as they have a little brains, they will know what to do." Shao Yaoguang said softly.

"Chairman, the Principality of Courland has been under pressure from Sweden for a long time. The Archduke Frederick flirted with the Russians. He must have been a little anxious. Brandenburg-Prussia has risen rapidly in recent years. In 1675, it gave the Swedes an unforgettable experience. The disastrous defeat, forced to withdraw from the Oder River and the Elbe River, so that the Brandenburg region also obtained a key seaport. The Swedes lost such a large source of income, so naturally they have to find it elsewhere. Now it seems that they are We are targeting the Duchy of Courland, the richest country in Livonia." The secretary explained while helping his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"The Swedes really don't know how to live or die. There are only 300 million people in the country, and more than half of them are still in Germany. They have irreconcilable conflicts with Brandenburg-Prussia. In the Livonia region, they also have tense relations with the Poles, and their swords are always on the verge of breaking out. The relationship with the Russians is a little better, after all, they sent troops to carve up Poland together back then, hehe, but how do you know that the Russians won’t stab them in the back?” Shao Yaoguang took a sip of yerba mate tea, shook his head and said with a smile: “We The basic policy in Eastern Europe is to let the Russians have a bloody battle in the Black Sea area, and then force them to move westward with all their strength. Isn’t this westward movement aimed at confronting the Swedes? But no matter how they confront them, even if they The brain is like a dog's brain, but one thing is that the Principality of Courland cannot be affected. This is our protectorate. If the sovereignty of Courland is violated, we will reserve all rights to freedom of action. This must be made between Sweden and Russia knows, and I will also write a letter to the monarchs of the two countries after a while, and see if they will listen to them."

"Then, Courland..." the secretary asked cautiously.

"After submitting the credentials, they should be able to recognize the situation. However, let's work harder elsewhere. Well, I will write a letter to New Courland Wagner later, and you send someone to deliver it to me. In the past, New Courland was the main source of income for the Principality of Courland, and Grand Duke Frederick would not fail to listen to the voices of the colonies even if he was stupid." Shao Yaoguang said.

"Okay." The secretary nodded and responded.

"Courland is my first big thing after taking office, so let's leave it at that. In the afternoon, let's go to the Dingyuan training ground to see my second big thing." Shao Yaoguang put down the teacup in his hand and said.

(End of this chapter)