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Chapter 648 Don’t take soft or hard advice

Chapter 648 Don’t take soft or hard advice
"Hehehe... I'm so unforgiving today that I don't have time to prepare. This is a necklace made in your hometown. Just consider it as a gift."

Being disliked has become the norm in the work of the Statistics Department, but Wang Datou really doesn't care at all. He slowly walked into this unequally decorated room, looked around first, and then slowly walked to the desk under two very unfriendly gazes, took out a small box made of shells from his arms, and opened it respectfully.

"...You know my hometown?" Looking at the golden cross in the box, Oyani had to put away some of her anger.

Only a very few people outside the palace knew his and Silva's true identities, and this plain-looking man was one of them, which showed the importance of his position.

"…I just came back from Macau. I heard from the Portuguese that a skilled Italian tailor will arrive on the ship soon. I would like to ask him to come here and make a few sets of dresses that fit you well as a real gift!"

Although the nature of the job is not very likable, how to please others is a compulsory course for employees of the Statistics Department. According to the emperor, the most difficult part of this job is not the calculations and schemes, but the ability to adjust oneself to mental torture.

The more you dislike someone, the more you try to please them; the more you hate someone, the more you try to get close to them; the more you like someone, the less you can express yourself. The better you do, the closer you are to schizophrenia, and after a long time, you will not be able to tell who you are.

"We are not familiar with each other..." Don't hit a smiling person. After Wang Datou's compliment, Oyani's anger instantly dissipated. But she was not a naive girl. She knew that this person was not simple. The more nice he said, the more trouble he might cause.

"We both serve His Majesty, so we are familiar with each other. As the saying goes, one does not visit you for no reason. I am disturbing you this time because I have an unreasonable request... Uh... Who is this?"

As long as the other party no longer has obvious hostility, Wang Datou's goal will be achieved. Of course, the skirt must be given as a reward for the other party's help. However, the specifics of the matter cannot be said now, because there is still a woman standing in the door.

"Her name is La Mei, and she was sent by the Emperor to be his assistant and secretary. She has a boss named Wang, who is always by the Emperor's side. You should be familiar with her, right?"

Speaking of La Mei's identity, Oyani showed a strange smile. Come on, let's get to know each other. Anyway, we are all spies of the emperor, let's see who is more powerful.

"…This morning a Portuguese merchant ship docked at Guangzhou Port. On board was a very special guest from the Batavia Trading House, a senior merchant."

It's a pity that neither Wang Datou nor Lamei had any emotional fluctuations because their identities were exposed. They just looked at each other and then acted as if nothing had happened. One started to explain his purpose, and the other took out a pen and notebook to take notes.

"...The Dutch want to have formal negotiations with the Ming Dynasty? They really know how to pick the time, but what does this have to do with me? I am not familiar with the Lowcountry language!" Upon hearing these words from the senior commercial clerk of the Batavia Trading Company, Oyani finally turned most of her energy to thinking and was no longer swayed by her emotions.

But after thinking about it, I didn't think it was necessary for Sun Moon Bank to participate in the negotiation between the Ming government and the Dutch, and the emperor didn't grant me this authority. Need a translator? That's even more impossible, I don't know much about the Lowland language, and I have never been to that area.

“It’s not a formal negotiation. It’s a useful attempt made by the Statistics Department in accordance with His Majesty’s intention. I want to talk to the Dutch privately first to see if it’s possible to conduct normal trade in the Port of Manila, which can also be regarded as creating conditions for future formal negotiations.

However, we encountered some problems during the negotiation. The Dutch attach great importance to the exclusive agency rights of certain products, and I cannot agree to these conditions. So I would like to ask you to take half a day out of your busy schedule to participate in the next negotiation and try your best to persuade the other party to give up the unrealistic demands. "Wang Datou described it very straightforwardly, with almost no concealment. He explained the purpose, process, content and requirements in the shortest sentence at one time, and then stared at the other party.

"...Why me?" Oyani was very surprised and shocked. The Ming Emperor dealt with the Spaniards cleanly and efficiently. He thought the Dutch would be the next target, but he didn't expect that he wanted to establish normal trade relations with them.

"Because in the Ming Dynasty, apart from His Majesty, only you, Madam, understand Europe best, are most intelligent and have the necessary knowledge, and have absolute advantages in eloquence and beauty!" At this time, Wang Datou was comparable to the most flattering and treacherous scoundrel in history. He flattered loudly and did not hesitate to praise her.

"Does it have to be except for your Emperor?" Oyani could hardly hold back the smile on her face. Her heart was swelling even more, and she actually wanted to make the other person the only one.

"Must!" Wang Datou answered affirmatively.

"No!" Oyani refused straightforwardly.

"Actually, I can write a petition to His Majesty, and you still have to go then." Seeing that being soft didn't work, Wang Datou pulled the corners of his mouth downwards and began to threaten him.

"Please go ahead! I'm just afraid that there isn't enough time. The Dutch have only sent a senior business representative. It's obvious that they don't trust you very much, let alone wait here for a month!" Oyani showed no sign of weakness. With a sneer, she picked up another cigar and lit it up.

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was indeed a brilliant man. Everything he invented was very practical. Tobacco had been around in Europe for half a century, but no one had thought of making it this way. Chewing it in your mouth was too crude, so rolling it up and lighting it was much better.

If it can be sold to Europe, it will probably be accepted by the nobility. This thing does have a calming effect, especially when you are emotionally unstable and irritable, lighting one and taking a few puffs can quickly calm your mind.

"The Statistics Department has the right to order anyone within the Ming Dynasty to provide necessary assistance!" Seeing that this plan was exposed again, Wang Datou could only frown and throw out his last move in a stern voice.

"I won't help you. You can arrest me and send me to the emperor, chop...behead me, or hang me on the city wall!" But Oyani remained unmoved. She looked at Lamei while speaking. The latter just rolled his eyes and continued to write furiously.

"Hehehe...Mrs. Silva is indeed as capable as any man. I, Zhu, am willing to admit that she is better than me. Let me put forward any conditions you have, and I will try my best to meet them."

A real man would rather break than bend. Wang Datou glared and bared his teeth, then stood up. Under Lamei's suspicious gaze, he suddenly grinned, and then bent his back, demonstrating what it means to be a real man who can bend and stretch.

(End of this chapter)

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