Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1317

"This is the fine wine from their Ottoman island of Cyprus, the best wine in the Mediterranean. Cyprus was the territory of the Republic of Venice 70 years ago, and was later occupied by the Turks. Unfortunately, it will take at least a month for the Venetian merchants to send ships here time, or they would be more than happy to subsidize us against the Barbary pirates, who have a sworn feud with the Turks."

The three-party coalition forces held a celebration banquet in the occupied Fort Penon, and the Earl of Stratford toasted with the Fourth Fleet Captain Sun Xu in person.

"I know the Republic of Venice, which is a country where merchants are supreme. It was once extremely glorious." Li Jinde regained his spirit, and also raised his wine glass to participate in their conversation.

"Before the great voyage, the Venetian merchants and Genoese merchants in the Renaissance area monopolized the trade in the entire Mediterranean and the Levant. They were extremely rich and had an advanced state budget review system. Banks, the whole country is expanding outwards for commercial activities. Their local population is only more than 10, and their colonization on various islands in the Mediterranean Sea has a population of only more than 100 million, which can block the Ottoman Empire with a population of 3000 million for more than 100 years It’s already not easy, if they and the Knights of Malta hadn’t blocked the Ottoman Empire’s offensive, perhaps the Ottoman Empire’s troops would have landed in Italy and Spain long ago.” Earl Stratford said.

"But their core population is too small, only more than 10 core population. A plague that broke out in northern Italy a few years ago killed tens of thousands of them. There are not enough people to maintain peace. They fight We had to hire our sailors and Dutchmen when we had to." Sir Greenville also came over and said.

Contacting the Western countries, Li Jinde and the others gradually realized that the Western countries seem to be very keen on the sea, but their own population is very small!

Venetian merchants criss-crossed the Mediterranean, with a native population of just over 10. The Portuguese opened up a sea route from the west to the east, establishing colonies from Africa to Asia along the way, with a native population of 100 million.

The vastness of the ocean makes these countries with a lack of core population prosperous in the early stage, but the follow-up is weak.Opening up the sea requires a large population to support it, otherwise the huge cost of maintaining the navigation route will cause the national machine to collapse when it encounters a strong enemy.

If the native population of Venice increased by 10 times, maybe they could establish a powerful country to dominate the Mediterranean a few hundred years ago.In the same way, if the population of the Portuguese increased by 10 times, maybe they could establish the first empire on which the sun never sets in human history in the 16th century.

However, there is no if, because the European continent is divided, and the population of a single country is hardly mentioned, and the population of few countries can reach more than 1000 million.

Sun Xu, Sun Chuanting, Zheng Zhibao and the others heard that the Republic of Venice had lost a lot of territory under the attack of the Ottoman Empire. They couldn't help but rejoice that China had a population of over [-] million and its human resources were unimaginably rich.

The small-scale peasant economy that emphasizes agriculture and suppresses business allows the government to encourage births, so the population is staggering, but there are no troubles in these small countries.

"The merchants of Venice and Genoa have now changed their national policy. They find that the country is sparsely populated and cannot afford the trade risks in the Atlantic Ocean and the East Indies, so their merchants and banks invest heavily in our sea trade in Britain, the Netherlands, and Spain. , the Spanish royal family owes a lot of debt to the Genoese merchants." Earl Strafant had a better understanding of the mystery and said to everyone.

"If we're dealing with the Ottoman Empire, the Merchant of Venice seems like a worthwhile draw?"

Sun Xu, Sun Chuanting and other military officers were moved.

Venetian merchants have money and ships, but their population is sparse, which makes it possible for them to cooperate.

"It's great that you can come back alive. My daughter won't lose her husband." Sir Greenville raised his glass and talked with Li Jinde alone.

"Did the news of my disappearance come back to the capital?" Li Jinde couldn't help feeling a little worried when he thought of Sarina and his daughter.

If the news of his disappearance reaches the capital, how sad the people in the capital tens of thousands of miles away will be.

"After you disappeared, your merchant entrusted the British merchant ship that went to the east to buy spices to convey the matter, and asked for instructions from the capital. Maybe my daughter will also receive the news." Sir Greenville also thought of this One point, I can't help but feel a little worried.

"I think I will return to the capital after this matter is over... The business here is already on the right track. The ships of Western companies can sail back and forth every two years. The sailing route can be said to be fixed. The factory has also started work. Even without me, I can function on my own." Li Jinde came to Europe for a while, and he had the intention of returning to his homeland.

He is not worried about the property of Western companies in the City of London. The operation of the company depends on the management system. Without one of his directors, he only needs to replace him with one of the local directors.

"That's fine. If the king doesn't have an appointment, I also want to go to the east again." Sir Greenville wanted to see his daughter and granddaughter for a long time, and he also wanted to go to the east.

In his opinion, the capital in the east is bigger and cleaner than London, and it is not a grievance for his daughter to stay there.

However, as a British nobleman, if he is not employed in Britain for a long time, his influence will inevitably be weakened.

"I plan to put all the 10 taels of silver I got into a Western company to expand the company's production capacity." Li Jinde accidentally received a claim for 10 taels of silver from the pirates, and wanted to throw all the funds into the factory.

"Don't worry about the money. As long as you are alive, you can live a good life with my wife and I in the big manor in Britain. If I can't go to the east, I will pay you a sum of money to bring to my daughter." Green Sir Weir didn't care about Li Jinde's disposal of the money.

The two of them are now a combination of a big businessman and a big squire, and they can be said to be quite a wealthy family, as long as they are fine.

"My lords, should we return to London after staying in Algiers for three days?" After making up his mind to return to his homeland, Li Jinde, who had been enslaved for more than half a year, couldn't wait.

People from the British Royal Navy and the Knights of the Hospital all looked at the officers of the Kyushu Army. They have now become the leaders of the coalition forces.

Sun Xu, Sun Chuanting and other officers looked at each other, and the commander Sun Xu said hesitantly: "After we rescued Li Jinde, we should retreat according to the plan, but we think..."

(End of this chapter)