Xinshun 1730

Chapter 603 Production Monopoly Market Monopoly
What these figures represent, the group of urban oligarch regents who have been silenced by the tax increase knows very well.

The essence of many problems is economic problems.

Amsterdam grew from 5 people to 20 people in less than 20 years before the golden age came.Then, it stood still.In this warm era when the population surged even under the repressive rule of the Qing Dynasty, the population of Amsterdam has remained unchanged for 40 years, and even the urbanization level of the entire Netherlands has completely regressed. The Dutch economy must have a big problem.

When the British and French came to Amsterdam, they would be full of admiration when they saw such a prosperous city.

But now, even the Russians behind Peter the Great, who were like Grandma Liu who came to Amsterdam for an internship in the Grand View Garden, have the capital to laugh at Amsterdam.

Industries are dying, the fishing industry is being squeezed out, and citizens are complaining.

Business and finance, are lucrative but don't provide enough jobs.In the golden age, it was possible to say with a straight back that every vagrant and beggar in Amsterdam was lazy.

This sentence in the era of 1200% spice profits, the Netherlands was really qualified to say that if the gentlemen just leaked some excess profit soup, it would be enough for ordinary citizens to eat.

But now, saying this is completely unfounded. There are a lot of unemployed and poor people on the street, but it cannot be said that they are all lazy.

The real economy is sluggish, suppressed, and hollowed out, which may lead to a series of turmoil caused by raising taxes on all citizens.

Anthony Haim looked around at the group of silent oligarch regents, his tone gradually changed from anger to pleading.

"Gentlemen, this is not only my republic, but yours too. Tell me what you think."

A faint voice came from the silent crowd.

"Your Excellency, Great Speaker, maybe we can fulfill certain promises and give some financial support to Austria. But in private, we have to make it clear to France that we are doing this only because we want to fulfill the treaty."

"The French should be able to understand our difficulties, and the British will not be too harsh on us."

Speaker Anthony wanted to laugh, and simply dismissed this proposal. Is this bringing the relationship between countries into the thinking of commercial competition?

"Gentlemen, the result of neither side wanting to offend is often that both sides are offended."

"The British will think that we give too little, and the French will think that we give too much."

"Besides, gentlemen, you have to be soberly aware that even the Chinese envoy who came here knows about the restoration of Stuart, and that the landing of Catholics in Scotland is inevitable. If we don't fulfill the treaty, we may temporarily obtain Some benefits, but in the long run, it will inevitably be spurned by the whole of Europe and completely lose its international credibility."

"Also, you should also know the speech delivered by the Chinese special envoy at the pier: Diplomatic Credibility, and Integrity."

"You still don't understand what it means for the Chinese special envoy to send money to the old usurper."

"It doesn't just mean that China's flexible diplomatic attitude - their religion of ancestor worship and idol worship determines that they are not fanatical believers. So they can ban Catholicism in the country while maintaining good relations with France, and at the same time Funding the Catholic Restoration of England."

"It also means that this Marquis of China is announcing one thing to the whole of Europe: China on the far west coast of the Pacific Ocean can use their gold and silver, loans, and bonds to influence the situation in Europe."

"Diplomatic credibility will determine the attitude of the Eastern Empire in the future - his speech is very clear, he can understand wars for interests, but he cannot tolerate countries without diplomatic credibility. Wars will always end, allies And enemies are constantly changing because of interests, but diplomatic credibility is eternal."

"We have to take into account that 100 years ago, the East India Company invaded Taiwan, Zhoushan, and Penghu, which made Chinese officials treat us badly."

"The attitude of the people and businessmen he said seems to be very good to us, but there is one thing to consider: the Dashun Empire is not a Dutch-style republic dominated by oligarchs. Their businessmen have no status in the court. "

"If we show something like a breach of alliance or breach of contract, which damages our diplomatic credibility, competitors such as Britain and France have already slandered us, and the Marquis has witnessed our breach of treaty with his own eyes, what will happen? What about the impact?"

At this time, Dashun was no longer the empire that only left legends about Europe, but did not see its true face.

Through the three major events of the war against Russia, the war against Junggar, and the war against Japan, as well as the escort of Swedish prisoners and envoys to Europe, plus the fact that Liu Yu spent a little money to support the Indians and the Stuart dynasty, Europe had to Face up to a reality: the tentacles of this distant empire can reach to Europe, and these tentacles must not be ignored.

This is the focus of Anthony Heim's remarks, and diplomatic credibility must be considered.To maintain diplomatic credibility, it is necessary to fulfill the contract, expand the military and increase taxes.

In short, it is still laying the groundwork for tax increases.

However, the people present immediately seized the opportunity and pretended not to understand the point and foreshadowing of Anthony Heim's words.

On the contrary, with these words, the topic was guided from tax increase and military expansion to the issue of negotiations with China.

"Your Excellency, Great Speaker, can you tell me what is the purpose of the Dashun Empire's diplomatic mission visiting our Netherlands as the first stop?"

"Ordinarily, he should visit France first. But he bypassed France and came to Amsterdam first. Is it related to the East India Company?"

Many of the people here are shareholders of the East India Company.

The city of Amsterdam, which has 17 seats in the 8-member regiment of the East India Company, is unshakable.The East India Company can be said to be the pillar of Amsterdam, especially in the context of industrial decline, this kind of import trade is particularly important.

Dashun escorted the Swedish captives back to China before, and reached a cooperation agreement with Sweden by the way, which has seriously damaged the interests of many people.

After the news of the Sino-Swiss joint venture and the war against Japan came, the stock and investment market in Amsterdam experienced some shocks.

This matter was not something that the East India Company could cover up without paying the accounts, but it was carried out with such fanfare that everyone knew it well and couldn't hide it even if they wanted to.

After the letter from the Batavian government was sent back, it was in duplicate and not the same.

The shareholders and board of directors of the East India Company cannot be controlled by the provincial assembly, but the candidates for the governor are slightly controlled by the inter-provincial assembly.

Anthony Heim hesitated, but told the news to the oligarch regents present and asked them to keep it secret.

Secrecy is a tradition in Dutch politics.

The orthodox federal provincial parliament cannot keep secrets.A chaotic group of people, who could argue for a whole year in 1727, did not get anything done.

In the small circle that really holds power, secrecy has become a rigid need.Otherwise, the Netherlands is really doomed.

"The request of the Dashun Empire is very simple."

"Either, accept the status of tributary state, carry out exploration and cooperation trade, abolish the direct shipping trade in Amsterdam, and send merchant ships to Batavia from Dashun instead."

"Or, the customs agreement, Dashun's merchant ships can also sell goods in the Netherlands, and VOC can 'fairly compete' under the framework of the customs agreement."

The requirement sounds simple, and simplicity often means that it can be immediately judged whether to support or oppose.

The oligarchs in various cities were all startled, and after a while scolded Dashun for being "shameless".

A producer with a natural monopoly source of goods requires fair competition?How did the East India Company compete fairly with the merchants of Dashun in terms of porcelain silk tea?
For ocean routes, since Dashun can bring the official fleet here, how much more can the loss of cargo on the road cost than VOC?

Besides, even if the two sides send observers to each other and really achieve a completely fair competition, what will the essence of this matter evolve into?
Isn't it a mutated version of the Ostend tea event?
It's just a monopoly money-losing game.

Dashun's Europa Company and the Dutch East India Company exchanged money to see who was better than the other, and completely squeezed each other out of the market and completed a monopoly.

Then earn several times the profit of the original investment.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for VOC to rely on its own power to compare with Ostend Company and spend money on the tea of ​​noble drinks. Ordinary people who "decline their status" can also drink it. Does the board of directors have money and nowhere to spend it?

Because they know very well that killing Ostend's tea business, monopoly is huge profits.

In terms of spending money, the Dutch are not stupid. As long as Dashun officially ends, how can VOC spend 200 years eating the world's gold and silver without pulling out a little bit of gluttony?

What is the current financial situation of VOC? These people know some inside information to some extent, and they can't afford it.

Dashun desperately sold the tea at a loss. After selling for one year, VOC had to give up the tea business. Dashun could destroy VOC’s monopoly by spending money: VOC’s monopoly was not obtained through free competition. , obtained by administrative decree of the Dutch government.

Opening up reciprocal trade is equivalent to giving up administrative protection.

Without administrative protection, Dashun can not only spend Dashun’s money, but also raise capital in the Netherlands, and use Dutch bankers’ money to kill the Dutch East India Company—as long as the Dutch bankers are not stupid, they will know Dashun Europa Company or the Dutch East India Company, which one is more likely to win.

As for patriotism, if financial speculators were patriotic, they would not have provided loans to Spain one after another during the Spanish-Dutch war.

If VOC really wants to "compete fairly" with Dashun, lose its monopoly power, and go for a loan, it may only get 15% interest on the loan, or even higher, because it is generally not optimistic, and it is afraid that it will not be able to repay the money and become a bad debt.

And Dashun came to the Netherlands to take loans to win the Dutch East India Company, and may get a low interest rate of 6%.People are full of confidence, waiting for Dashun to monopolize the tea silk porcelain market, without worrying about not being able to pay back the money.

Even if the investment restrictions are relaxed, the Dutch who are waiting to buy shares in the Netherlands will be able to squeeze through the gate of the embassy.

A strong business atmosphere, coupled with the fact that commerce and finance are the foundation of the Republic of Seven Provinces, they have played the big game three times in stock and bubble speculation, and drumming and spreading flowers. How can they not understand this?
"Your Excellency, the conditions of reciprocal trade and fair competition are absolutely unacceptable. We are all aware of the consequences, which will mean that the East India Company will lose its de facto monopoly power, and even mean bankruptcy. The East India Company You should be very clear about what bankruptcy means to us and to the Republic!"

"China's characteristic products are a very stable source of profit for VOC, and the trade volume is expanding year by year. It is impossible for us to allow the equal trade he requested!"

"From a legal point of view, the rights of the East India Company should also be protected. Unless the federal-provincial conference unanimously passes and none of the provinces uses a veto, it is impossible to abolish the monopoly of the East India Company."

Anthony Haim shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Gentlemen, this is just why Liu Yu came to Amsterdam. But you haven't figured out why he came to Europa, first to Amsterdam instead of London, Paris, Petersburg ..."

"Why he came to the Netherlands and why he came to the Netherlands in the first place has a completely different meaning."

(End of this chapter)