Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 923 Eastern Company and Western Company (Part [-])

"We have reached a preliminary cooperation intention with the diplomatic mission. If the king of the other party agrees, we expect to export products to the West in one or two years, and build factories and warehouses locally. In order to protect the safety of our goods, Before the eradication of pirates, the merchant ships going to Europe must be organized and protected by armed merchant ships and even warships."

Inside Li Jinde's house, officials from the Kyushu Army were discussing with him about trade with Europe.Regardless of whether there is an agreement with Britain, it is certain for merchants to enter Europe, but Britain can provide ports and markets, which can save a lot of time and energy.

"The local pirates seem to be very powerful. I think the number of armed merchant ships and warships we send out should not be too small, otherwise they will become targets of pirates." Li Jinde was most worried about this when he thought of the pirates in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

"We will investigate the strength and distribution of pirates in the Western Ocean. It will be a matter of time before they are wiped out. Before that, our number of warships and artillery is sufficient to deal with it. There are no enemies in the Southern Ocean and Eastern Ocean. Our ships can form a group. The fleet went to the Western Ocean to escort our merchant ships. As far as we know, the relationship between Britain, Spain and the Netherlands is very delicate. The relationship between De Lan began to become less harmonious." The official of the Kyushu Army said.

"You mean we also want to prevent the war between several of their countries from destroying our merchant ships?" Li Jinde asked.

"Yes, our best idea is to station a fleet in the city of London or other ports to protect the safety of our merchant ships and merchants. This is the most contentious point between the two sides. The British envoy does not want us to station troops in Britain. But Just relying on their British Royal Navy can't guarantee our safety at all." Kyushu Army officials mentioned the focus of the stalemate in the negotiations between the two sides.

Chu Yun even wanted to garrison troops near the city of London, controlling the city of London like controlling Edo city.However, Sir Greenville and others realized the seriousness of the garrison, and they still refused to agree to this condition.

"Will this treaty be reached in the end..." Li Jinde was a little worried. Even he felt that Chu Yun's conditions were a bit harsh, and it was difficult for anyone to accept the deployment of other countries' fleets at the gate of his own country.

"As long as the money is in place, it shouldn't be a problem. We can also reach an alliance to help them guard against the warships of Spain and the Netherlands. In the end, they should compromise. If they let us choose to cooperate with the Spaniards or the Netherlands , This is their loss." The Kyushu Army official said.

"It turns out that we are actually threatening them and asking them to weigh the pros and cons. Once they find that the benefits of our garrison outweigh the disadvantages, then they will most likely agree to our request." Li Jinde understood Chu Yun's intention.

On the one hand, it is to give them some sweetness, and on the other hand, it is also a threat. If Britain does not choose to cooperate with the Kyushu Army, then there are countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, and even Franz.

"The next one or two years we will prepare. During this time, we will select and train a group of workers, manufacture machines, and prepare to build a factory in Britain. In addition to production workers, chefs, teachers, and doctors must be selected together. In order to quickly form a Chinatown in the local area." The official of the Kyushu Army said, "You will participate in this whole process, which may delay your usual business, but it may not be an opportunity for you to make a fortune."

"I shall serve as the leader of the army!" Li Jinde was in awe.

It is a huge challenge for Li Jinde to go across the ocean to build factories and open up markets, whether it is for achievement or wealth-this is also an unprecedented honor!
"Our household department plans to set up a western trading company to manage and guide our businessmen's activities in the West." This official is from the household department.

"Is this western company the same as the Far East Trading Company?" Li Jinde had heard about the famous Far East Trading Company.

The Far East Trading Company was established to trade with Japan and Korea.

"The Far East Trading Company is going to change its name recently."

"Oh?"

"Koryo and Dongying are still very close to us compared to the Western Ocean, so we have to change the name to 'Oriental Trading Company' instead of 'Far Eastern Trading Company'. It is said that in the future, Eastern Trading Company will expand its business to a country called America. The place."

"America? What kind of place is that?!" Li Jinde exclaimed.

"Treasurer Li, this is the topographic map of the world drawn by our Academy of Sciences. These two places are called America. The upper one is North America and the lower one is South America. There are many indigenous peoples in these two vast lands, but they They were enslaved by Western colonists and helped them work.” The household officials took out a folded map with the seven continents drawn on it.

"This... is the whole world!"

Li Jinde was shocked when he saw the complete map of the seven continents.For the first time, he saw which continents were on the planet he was on, and where China was located.

"Isn't it amazing? The area of ​​any of these two continents is as large as our current territory of China. It is said that there are gold mines here and silver mines here. The number of them is shocking. That's why the Spanish Empire became A big empire in the Western Ocean, in fact their population is not large. The two continents are separated by an ocean, the Pacific Ocean.” The officials of the Ministry of Finance pointed to the west coast of North America and the west coast of South America.

"That is to say, I went through this route when I went to the West. My God, this world is too big!" Li Jinde's fingers passed the southeast coast, Southeast Asia, India, the Cape of Good Hope, the Gulf of Guinea, and North Africa, and he became more and more shocked. He spanned almost half the world.

"There is also this place, which is rich in mineral resources and suitable for the development of aquaculture." The official of the household department pointed to a continent in the South Pacific, "We have already had an expedition team occupy this continent with only indigenous people. In the Stone Age, our expedition team should have conquered them a long time ago. According to the time, the first group of them will come back, and we will send another group to replace them."

"What is this continent called?" Li Jinde asked.

"Oceania."

(End of this chapter)