Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 391 Commerce and Diplomacy ([-])

After Julian left, Gao Mo walked into the study and wrote a report to the native.

Before writing this report, he hesitated for a long time and carefully sorted out his thoughts.First of all, judging from the information currently available, the French should be overwhelmed financially.Although they had just crushed Spain's elite Legion of Flanders at the Battle of Rocroi, the growing number of French troops and the ever-bigger war were about to drain the last silver coins in the French treasury.But the tragedy is that they haven't completely defeated the enemy, they can't end the war, so they desperately need the funds to continue the war.

So raising taxes at home is a necessity, and they're already doing it.In order to deal with the two powerful enemies of Spain and Austria at the same time, and to fund quasi-allies such as Sweden and the Royal Party of England, the new prime minister and Cardinal Mazarin has begun to levy large taxes in the country to maintain France's increasingly broad front.And this has undoubtedly led to complaints from all walks of life in France. Whether it is nobles, priests, middle-level and low-level bureaucrats, businessmen, or ordinary people, everyone has no favor with this rumored to be extremely greedy bishop. And ready to overthrow him at any time.

In addition to taxation at home, the French seem to be planning to engage in some lucrative businesses, such as cotton cloth, which has become more and more popular.When cotton cloth appeared on the market many years ago, people initially regarded it as a plaything from India; Some cotton plantations began to appear one after another, and people grew cotton, which was then spun into cloth and sold in the market.

As a substitute between expensive and fine wool and cheap and rough linen, cotton cloth gradually became popular among the increasingly wealthy French people after years of market cultivation.However, after the Dongan people introduced high-quality cotton cloth with better quality and lower price through machine spinning and weaving, the market finally ushered in explosive growth. The market's mess of native French cottons, Venetian cottons, Dutch cottons, and imported Indian cottons were squeezed out one by one.Afterwards, people from the east bank successively launched dyed cloth, printed cloth and later more exquisite second-generation dyed cloth, printed cloth and their derivatives such as gloves, burqas, cloaks, towels, etc., pushing the market enthusiasm to reached a higher peak.

So far, even though the sales scope of the East Coasters is limited to the six provinces in southern France, the annual sales of the East Coasters have approached 200 million yuan with the help of many smuggled products.This is an enviable number, so it is not surprising that people are eyeing it. The extremely greedy French Prime Minister Mazarin, as well as the nobles and priests who are attached to them, have long wanted to take it as their own.However, they did not dare to do anything before they completely defeated Spain. Finally, the smoke of Rocroix cleared. The French, who had defeated the number one hegemony in Europe, were full of ambition. With more than [-] troops, their self-confidence and national pride swelled dramatically. , they feel that they no longer need to buy cheap muskets, cannons, leather goods and sabers from the East Coast.So in order to feed such a huge army and a larger bureaucratic team in the country, they finally stopped hiding their greed and stretched their hands into the pockets of the people on the east coast.

"A big market with a population of 2000 million!" Gao Mo wrote and sighed, "It's a pity to lose it. It's just that the strength of the country is too weak now, and people don't treat you as an equal opponent at all. Let’s look at it. When you still have value to use, just leave it alone, and when you have no value to use, kick it away, and don’t even bother to talk nonsense with you, damn it!”

Thinking of this, Gao Mo slapped his palm on the table angrily, making a crisp sound.Constantine, the stationmaster of the Bordeaux station outside the door and former Xu Xin's secretary, came to have a look, and then backed out after finding nothing wrong.

After evacuating his anger for a while, Gao Mo drank two sips of tea, and then continued to write the report.

"Since we are unable to prevent the established policy of the French high-level, and cannot avoid taxation through other means, then I suggest that the country need to adjust the current export policy, that is, reduce the proportion of white cotton cloth, and increase the profit. Proportion, with huge profits to offset part of the tax loss. Of course, the total profit will always be calico, but we can't do anything about it at the moment. It is inevitable. What needs to be more vigilant is that this wave of taxation may only be the beginning, and various taxes on textiles on the east coast may be introduced one after another, and the Ministry of Trade should maintain a high degree of vigilance.”

"In addition, opening up new markets should be highly valued at this time. In 43, we made a huge profit of 48 yuan in the Ottoman Empire, which is too insignificant for a large empire with a population of more than 3000 million. Ministry of Trade The old anachronistic agreement with the British should be abandoned and the dumping of the Ottoman market should be intensified in order to maximize the influence of textiles on the east coast. I recommend that the Executive Committee carefully evaluate the feasibility of expanding the sale of cotton cloth in the Ottoman Empire, UK Currently deep in the civil war, I think it is difficult for them to accuse us of violating the trade agreement between the two parties. As the second largest exporter and the largest importer of our country, the Ottoman Empire is worthy of us. Capital operation."

After writing here, Gao Mo stopped writing and thought for a while.The British Civil War has gradually progressed to a critical moment, and the two sides have almost fought out their brains.It's a pity that most of the British navy is on the side of the capitalist parliamentary faction, so that the people on the east coast who tend to the royal party can't even do business with them to provide some support indirectly.But that's fine, intervening in other people's civil wars is a very taboo thing, especially the strength of the East Coast Republic is still very weak, it seems that it is better to strictly stick to neutrality, so as not to cause trouble to the upper body.

However, the agreement signed with the British colonial companies and trading companies a few years ago seems to be invalidated now. In the agreement to carve up the textile market, the amount of textiles that people on the east coast can sell in the Ottoman Empire was strictly limited.At that time, the people on the east coast were trying their best to develop the relatively wealthy French market, and they did not pay much attention to the Ottomans, whose purchasing power was much lower than that of France. Coupled with other factors, such as avoiding stimulating the Dutch, Venetians, etc., they agreed to the British people's proposal.But it's different now. People on the east coast are now facing the danger of losing the French market. If they strictly abide by the agreement reached with the British at this time, wouldn't they be tied their hands!

Therefore, it is imperative to expand textile sales in the Ottoman Empire!Regarding this matter, I believe that the friends of the East Coast people in the Ottoman Empire, such as the Hornician family, the Aleppo Pasha, the Egyptian Pasha, the Navy Pasha, and the Gregory family, the leader of the Suez Mamluks, will be happy to see it.Nowadays, the cooperation between the people on the east coast and the Ottoman Empire continues to deepen, such as cooperation in naval ships, army weapons, and population trade. This big business has brought the relationship between the two countries closer.If this development continues, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, the Ottomans will once again mention the construction of battleships to the people on the east coast.

"Of course, the in-depth cooperation with the Ottoman Empire will inevitably cause dissatisfaction with the Dutch, British, and Venetians who also have extensive interests in the Ottoman Empire. Especially the Venetians who have territorial disputes with the Ottoman Empire will definitely take more aggressive measures against the Ottoman Empire. China's policy. From this, it can be predicted that the sales of my country's textiles in the Tuscany market will inevitably be affected, and the move to collect immigrants from Italy will inevitably be more hindered. )’s reputation will inevitably continue to decline—although we don’t have much reputation to speak of at the moment. As for the negative impact of this, please carefully assess the executive committee members.”

It is really not easy for diplomatic work to affect the whole body!Gao Mo wrote the last full stop, leaned his head on the back of the chair, closed his eyes and thought.What should be written in my own report has already been written, and it depends on how the country makes choices.This incident is a test for the governing ability of the newly appointed members of the executive committee, and it is also a test for the new China East Coast Republic. Facing the huge risk of losing France, the hen that lays golden eggs, how can the people of the East Coast use Make the correct response as quickly as possible, and then find a solution to the problem. This is not something that everyone can deal with by sitting in the office and discussing a few words.

There is a huge amount of work to be done and a huge amount of resources to be used. Even if all this is done, it still depends on how God arranges it. At least for now, people on the east coast cannot fully control their own destiny.

The next day, after having a long conversation with Julian, Gaumo visited Bishop Loris, the Baron of Toulouse and other old friends of the people on the east coast in succession in the next few days, and then boarded a Spanish merchant ship , planning to go to Seville to visit the senior officials of the Spanish West Indian Academy.But the Spaniards rejected Gaomo's request for a visit. In desperation, Gaomo hurriedly boarded a French merchant ship hired by people from the east coast, and headed for the ancient city of Riga on the Baltic Sea coast.

On April 1644, 4, the merchant ship that Gamo and his party took docked at the port of Riga.After a brief discussion with Schneider, the person in charge of the Riga Commercial Station, who came over after hearing the news, Gao Mo took a large group of people and moved into the East Coast Commercial Building in the city.

(End of this chapter)