Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 752 Travel to the Netherlands ([-])

Zheng Yong disembarked in Amsterdam.

Here is the heartland of the Netherlands, the financial center of Europe, with the world's largest shipbuilding base and old ship market, the largest grain trading market, metal trading market, livestock and dairy products trading market, the second largest salt products and fishery products trading A series of titles such as the market, one-third of the people in this city are foreigners or descendants of foreigners (mostly Italians), they are all financiers and their helpers, and they use money to control the flowing Golden port city.

At the beginning of the Age of Discovery, the whole of Holland, including Amsterdam, was poor, and even though the Dutch made a fortune by sailing and trading, their neighbors still could not change their prejudices.For example, an envoy of Louis XIV once described the Netherlands in this way: "A very small country, the coast is full of barren sand dunes; the domestic rivers are crisscrossed, and the coast and the banks of the rivers often suffer from floods. The natural riches of the country, the locally harvested wheat and other grains are not enough to feed one percent of the population."

The words of Louis XIV's envoy may be exaggerated, but the real situation may not be too far from it.The quality of the wheat produced here is very poor and the quantity is very small, which can only feed about a quarter of its residents; the country is low-lying, and the pastures are often flooded when it rains in winter, and then rely on windmills to pump away the accumulated rainwater in spring .All in all, it was a poor place, with no trees, no trellises, and not enough wheat to eat.

But the Dutch, relying on their adventurous and fighting spirit, seized the fleeting opportunity in the historical tide, won the favor of Italian and Jewish capitals, and then quickly replaced Antwerp, Genoa and other cities under Spanish control or influenced by them, Developed into the financial and economic center of Europe.

This year is already 1649, and Amsterdam has risen for nearly 80 years (counting when it replaced the commercial center of Antwerp), and now the city’s permanent population has already exceeded 15, perhaps close to [-].As for the merchants and their servants from various countries gathered here, the number is even more terrifying.Talent and money from all directions are gathered here, and these are undoubtedly the key to the prosperity of Amsterdam.

The place where Zheng Yong disembarked was Tethel, the outer port of Amsterdam.In fact, at the beginning, Tethyr Shoal was the place where merchants traded and met. However, in 1282, a terrible tsunami broke through the sandbar near Tethyr Shoal, and the influx of seawater formed the Zuiderzee. Amsterdam, still an inland village, gradually became a place where merchants traded.As Amsterdam became more and more prosperous, Tethyr Island gradually became its outer port, and countless ships anchored here every day, and then took barges to and from Amsterdam.

After years of development, Tethel Island has formed a rather large wharf area, where thousands of ships from various countries stay, either waiting for a favorable wind, or waiting for the pilot boat to lead them around the shoal, or waiting for the Dutch Authorities inspect the vessel.There are row upon row of shops and taverns everywhere on the island. Drunk sailors embrace heavily makeup prostitutes, gangsters with unkind eyes are searching for fat sheep, and hot-blooded youths who disagree with each other and draw swords to duel appear on the streets from time to time. In short, everything here looks messy, but you can't deny that it is full of vitality.

Zheng Yong is a senior diplomatic envoy of the Republic of the East Coast, but his main job on weekdays is to preside over the commercial stations in Riga and Danzig on the Baltic Sea coast.Of course, there is only one now. According to the information just received, the Danzig Commercial Station has been ordered to close within a time limit by the Kingdom of Poland, and the station manager Schneider has already started laying off employees and settling payment and debts.As for the land and buildings of the commercial hall, they can only be temporarily entrusted to the Valeglevsky family to take care of them. This thing is not easy to sell for a while.

Zheng Yong came to Tethyr Island today mainly to receive his ship—a second-hand old ship purchased in the name of Riga Merchant Station.Thanks to the person in charge (Captain Couette's youngest son Freli), this flute-shaped boat made of pine boards was bought quite cheaply, only 2000 ducats, which made Zheng Yong quite satisfied.After all, the Danzig trading station is now closed, and the income has dropped sharply. In addition, the new trading station in Arkhangelsk is also under construction.

"The owner of this ship was eager to get rid of it, so he found me directly, and did not go through a middleman, so he saved a lot of money. The net cargo of 105 Rusters is only 2000 Ducats, and it is honestly true. It's very cheap." Frery Couette took off his top hat and said to Zheng Yong who was wearing a black tunic suit.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Couette. Your father is an old friend of the people on the east coast, and the cooperation between us has always been very harmonious." Zheng Yong said his thanks in French, while gesturing his entourage to Fu Raleigh presented an acceptance bill issued by the Exchange Bank in Amsterdam worth five hundred guilders, the commission promised to him by the East Coasters.

Fraley generously accepted the income he deserved, and then kindly reminded: "Generally speaking, the reputation of the old ship market in Amsterdam is still very good, but I still recommend that you buy more scattered spare parts. .Even if you don’t need it now, you may need it in the future. After all, after you sail the ship to the Baltic Sea, the price of buying these things will increase by at least one-third to half.”

Fraley was telling the truth.Amsterdam is now the largest shipbuilding base in the world, and its famous Saldan Shipyard even claims: "As long as customers give two months' notice in advance, they can build a warship ready to sail every week." This kind of shipbuilding speed almost embarrasses the entire European shipbuilding industry, and even the people on the east coast of the New World may not be as fast as them (because the shipbuilding scale is small, many parts need to be temporarily rushed, unlike the Netherlands that has year-round stocking of finished products).

The Dutch are not only fast at building ships, but also very cheap.There are three reasons for this: one is that they use a lot of machine power in shipbuilding activities, such as mechanical saws, tree mast machines and so on.Now with the technology of hydraulic machinery packaged and sold on the east coast, coupled with their own research, the shipbuilding technology in the Netherlands is changing with each passing day. A large number of newly developed hydraulic and animal power machines have appeared in shipbuilding factories, and the principle of involute gears has also changed. It was thoroughly studied by Dutch scholars, and then widely used in industrial production, which further enhanced the industrial strength of the Netherlands and reduced production costs.

Second, the Dutch controlled the upstream and downstream of the shipbuilding industry chain.For example, ropes from Russia, asphalt and timber from Finland, masts from Norway, and leather from the Jutland Peninsula. In short, these businesses are all run by Dutch merchants. Raw materials with more favorable national prices.

Third, Dutch shipbuilding companies can more easily obtain sufficient, low-cost and high-quality bank credit, which is also of great significance for reducing the cost of shipbuilding companies, because not every shipyard is always in a state of sufficient funds.

The above three are the secrets of the Dutch selling their ships to the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and even the New World. Their cost advantage is really too great!Therefore, at this time, Fraley suggested that Zheng Yong and others take the opportunity to buy some cheap spare parts, which can be regarded as pertinent words.

Of course, Zheng Yong was kind, and he ordered one of his entourage to take a dozen or so Livonian sailors from Riga to the market to buy spare parts.Seeing that his suggestion was adopted, Fraley's smile became even brighter. He waved his hand, and behind him a young man with freckles but with a rapier on his waist came up.Fraley said a few words to the young man in Dutch, and then explained to Zheng Yong: "Let Marco go with you, he is familiar with many affairs on the island, and can help you arrange cargo. In addition Recently, the East India Company has been recruiting sailors on a large scale, and the manpower in Amsterdam has suddenly become tense. At this time, foreigners running around in the streets are dangerous. A group of German hillbillies have disappeared a few days ago. I guess they are now At that time, I was forced to board a transport ship to the East Indies, so let Marco follow you, he can help you solve some unnecessary troubles."

Zheng Yong was a little stunned when he heard Freley say that, and then he quickly made a decision to listen to Freley's suggestion, after all, he knew the situation here best.Moreover, as the agent of the East Coast people in Amsterdam, Fraley is also the most trusted person by the East Coast people.His father is an old friend of the East Coast people, and his elder brother has now joined the business dealings with the East Coast, and now he is also the agent of East Coast steel, medicine and knitted lace textiles here.

It is really not easy for these commodities from the east coast to squeeze into the Amsterdam market.The first is the improvement of the status of the East Coast Republic of China in Europe (stepping on the throne of Spain) and selling the face of the Dutch government in the peace talks with the Kingdom of Spain. In addition, they have formed a close trade cooperation with the Dutch West India Company with a strong background. Thanks to the partnership, and finally with the introduction and help of the Genoese, the East Coast talents squeezed into Amsterdam and successfully shipped their goods to Tethel Island, and then sold them through Dutch merchants.

This is really an amazing historic breakthrough for people on the east coast!At the same time, it is also a significant sign of the increase of comprehensive national strength and the improvement of diplomatic relations!

(End of this chapter)