Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 866 What I Learned (Part [-])

May 1651, 5, sunny, Jamestown.

This colonial city established by the Virginia Company in 1607 has experienced more than 1611 years of ups and downs, and has almost become the most successful example of England's colonization in North America.For the first few years, the city's colonists lived with hunger, disease (too much work and too much heat), and frequent raids by the Powhatan Indians.Jamestown came close to destruction several times during that time, but luckily survived, and with reinforcements from the Virginia Company in 1614, the English colonists finally defeated the Powhatans, allowing them to sign the peace agreement.

Tobacco cultivation was introduced to Virginia in 1618, and this unexpected success allowed the colony to flourish.The tobacco trade with the British mainland and other countries in Western Europe has brought more and more British immigrants and businessmen to the entire Virginia colony, so that in 1644, the number of British people in the Virginia colony has exceeded 1646.After defeating the Indians of the Powhatan League in [-] and making them no longer a threat, the number of Englishmen in Virginia increased day by day.Farmers who were tired of the continuous civil wars, Puritans who were oppressed by religion, and businessmen who could not bear the extortion of both sides of the war poured into Virginia, which was advertised as "extremely rich" by interested people, making the development of this British colony on the fast track.

However, in addition to these positive factors, it is not without some negative things.For example, it is now 1651, but most of the profits from tobacco transportation and sales in Virginia (and even the entire Chesapeake Bay area) are controlled by Dutch merchants.They took advantage of the opportunity of the British Civil War to wedge into this market. At that time, the British parliamentary army and the royal army were fighting fiercely. Both sides had little interest in developing business, and even many ships were requisitioned by both sides. The dwindling number of ships arriving at the port of Jamestown, to the detriment of Virginia tobacco planters, apparently provided a godsend opportunity for Dutch intervention.

In the last decade, although most of the British people in the entire Virginia colony firmly believed in mercantilism, when faced with the threat of survival and starvation, these planters still had to accept the Dutch offer to sell tobacco Sell ​​to them for profit, and at the same time buy industrial products, slaves, and indentured slaves from the Old World from the Dutch, otherwise it will be difficult for them to persist in the Virginia colony.In fact, throughout the 40s, not only the colonies near the Chesapeake Bay, but also many colonies in New England passed legislation to relax restrictions on the entry of Dutch merchant ships, because it was related to whether their entire colony could develop and grow.

Of course, we are also very clear that the Dutch West India Company is not a good man or woman from top to bottom, they are a group of vampires who are extremely profit-seeking.The foreign trade of the British colonies was controlled by them, and those British guys naturally paid a high price: since the tobacco was sold to the Dutch, the trade income naturally had nothing to do with the British merchants; Revenues from the Continent to transport manufactured goods and slaves to the colonies for sale, as well as freight revenues between the two places, were also gone.

In the end, all these revenue losses will eventually be reflected in the reduction of the British government's fiscal revenue, because a large part of the government's revenue comes from these big businessmen supported by the state. They have no money, and naturally there is less funding for the government. up.In addition, the British government also lost the import and export duties of tobacco and industrial products when they passed through the local ports, because whether the industrial products of the Old Continent were sold to the American Continent, or the special products of the American colonies were shipped back to the Old Continent, according to the regulations, they had to be shipped to the Old Continent. Ports such as London, Bristol, Liverpool pay import or export duties.Now that these businesses are taken care of by the Dutch merchant ships, the British government will naturally not be able to get a single hair.

"The Dutch captains never sourced their wares in England. They only sourced handicrafts in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, and even North Germany, which was badly needed by the colonies. This dealt a blow to England's industry. My uncle was in Bristol Opened a weaving workshop, since the Dutch took over the trade between Virginia and New England, his income has been greatly reduced. Once he was drunk, he once yelled at me, saying that no matter which one wins the parliament or the royal party, As long as someone is willing to kill the Dutch and regain their dominant business position in North America for them, then he is willing to donate a quarter of his family property..." Inside the Jamestown Wharf Tavern, Mr. George Hampton from New England was on the side While drinking the French wine brought by the Dutch businessman, he said to Gao Wengang who was recently sent to Europe as Mo San's assistant.

Gao Wengang is the eldest son of Gao Mo, a veteran of diplomacy and foreign trade. He has received strict education supervised by his father since he was a child. He is proficient in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and other languages. He is still learning Turkish. With some understanding of economics, trade and diplomacy, it can be said to be erudite.This time I was sent to Europe, and I served as Mo San’s assistant in the early stage, and I may have to do an internship at a commercial station later, thinking that I will accumulate valuable experience in hosting a certain aspect of work in the future.

He arrived in Jamestown this time on an east coast ship.This flute-shaped transport ship departing from Dongfang Port belongs to the South Sea Transportation Company. After quietly transporting a batch of supplies to the waters near Tobago Island, it sailed into the Chesapeake Bay following the monsoon and ocean currents. Jamestown, to repair a mast that had been blown off during the voyage, and also to maintain the bottom of the ship.Thanks to the British who relaxed the restrictions on foreign ships entering the port ten years ago, this flute-shaped ship can be repaired and maintained in a timely manner.

While taking a nap at the tavern on the pier, Gao Wengang himself met Mr. George Hampton from New England, who had met Gao Wengang a few times before.This gentleman and his good friend John Hill also own cotton and tobacco plantations in Virginia, so it is normal to appear here this season.Mr. George Hampton obviously didn't like the Dutch, so much so that he couldn't help complaining to Gao Wengang just after he saw two heavy-loaded Dutch transport ships docking in the port.

Gao Wengang smiled at Mr. Hampton's complaints, and said nothing, but he said quietly in his heart: The Dutch West India Company has also purchased a lot of industrial products from the east coast to sell to the North American continent. From a standpoint, the Dutchman is really a good friend and a good partner-but this cannot be said to this slightly drunk Englishman.

"Hehe, isn't it? The Dutch are really annoying. They are always on the east coast, and they always pick and choose every product, and they don't discuss it. Sometimes they are frightened by their advantages in business channels. Our country's Merchants or companies will also compromise with them so that they can sell more products, and the Dutch will make a lot of money.” After following Hampton’s words for a while, Gao Wengang changed the subject again, using a side-talking Way carefully asked: "Mr. Hampton, I heard that because of the Dutchman, a large number of sailors in your country are facing unemployment - or they have been unemployed for a long time, so, can you help me?" Let me know if anyone is willing to work on the east coast. For experienced sailors, our China East Coast Republic has never been stingy with giving them the best treatment. Of course, we will also pay you some fees for this..."

"Don't think about it as soon as possible, Gao..." George Hampton glanced at Gao Wengang, and said in a complicated tone: "I have dealt with your father many times, and I know your purpose very well. Before that, maybe I would be happy to introduce you to some of these sailors. These young men have all traveled the ocean, and many of them have rich sea experience, but life is generally not very satisfactory. This is a mutually beneficial thing. But now things have changed..."

"Yes, the situation has changed!" At this point, George Hampton's mood suddenly became a little higher, and he was seen shaking the glass produced in North Germany, and said in a slightly mysterious tone : "I heard that some bigwigs in London have been discussing the establishment of a new trade regulation since several months ago, and set out to fix it in the form of law. I am not very clear about the specific terms, but at least there is a little It is clear that from now on, the days of the Dutch are coming to an end! Because the bigwigs have been planning to take back the spillover economic rights from the Dutch, and the parliament and the top government are also supportive of this- —The current financial situation of the government is too bad, and new sources of finance must be sought, otherwise it will gradually become unsustainable.”

"At that time, maybe only English ships will be allowed to carry goods between the mainland and the North American colonies. Let those damn Dutchmen go to hell! They have been sucking our blood, most of the coast of England The herrings are all taken by the Dutch, and their larger fishing boats are even ramming our fishermen's boats, which causes several tragedies of drowning every year. Why do we even eat herring from English waters? Pay the Dutch? Why does every bolt of cotton cloth we export have to go to Holland first? Why is the Chesapeake and New England's foreign trade controlled by the Dutch? Absurd, residents of Jamestown Wanting to buy a bolt of woolen cloth from my homeland only to find that the market is full of Dutch goods! This is terrible! This situation must be changed, otherwise Britain has no future! The first step in the rise of England is to break the Dutch The shackles imposed on us!"

Gao Wengang was silent about Mr. Hampton's words, he could smell a trace of war from it, which made him unwilling to stay here any longer. On June 6, the merchant ship on the east coast, which had been repaired and maintained, bought a little tobacco from the Dutchman's fingers with some difficulty—thanks to Mr. Hampton's blessing, and then quickly pulled anchor and set sail, leaving Jamestown.

(End of this chapter)