golden scales

Overwater's courier was not well received in Batavia, as General Connerys van de Lijn was not happy with the work in Taiwan.

In fact, the gentlemen of the entire Batavia Council were not happy with Mr. Offwater's behavior in Taiwan.

Compared with the previous Taiwan chiefs, Ofwat did not defeat the Spaniards, or push the Dutch sphere of influence to the entire western part of Taiwan... such outstanding achievements.

On the contrary, it was during Oufwat's tenure that the aborigines in eastern Taiwan were completely separated from the Dutch rule, making it impossible for the Dutch to obtain any profits from eastern Taiwan.

The quality and quantity of buckskin produced in Eastern Taiwan cannot be ignored.In particular, the herd of deer near Zeelandia is gradually disappearing, and Batavia is even more worried about the loss of Eastern Taiwan.

"I really don't know why Anthony would trust this mediocre and greedy guy." General Lane re-patted Offwat's letter on the desktop, complaining to his friend, senior businessman, Kornrad Solomonsson.

The senior businessman over mid-year just twitched his lips, showing an appropriate look of contempt, and didn't make a direct judgment.He has been in the United Company for a long time. He once served as an assistant to the Japanese governor Cornelius van Nienrude. At that time, the company's business office was still located in Hirado.

With his qualifications, it is more than enough to go to Dejima to serve as the governor of Japan, or to go to Zeelandia as the governor of Formosa.There were rumors within the company that the gentlemen in Amsterdam also seemed to be advising the Viceroy General to give Kornrad a more prominent role.

Because of this relationship, Kornrad felt that it was not appropriate for him to comment on Mr. Offwater's work.

"This is a letter from an official." General Lane lightly tapped another letter on the table, and it looked more majestic and advanced just from the paper.

"What did he say?" Kornrad asked casually.

General Lane leaned back in his chair, gently twirling his well-trimmed mustache—it can draw a perfectly wavy line, which is the general's pride.

"An official said," Ryan sat up and squeezed out a heavy breath from his throat. "The crown prince of the Ming Dynasty hopes to be able to do business with European countries. The center will be opened in the near future. Here is the list of purchases and sales they sent."

"That's really good news." There was no joy in Kornrad's tone.If the Ming Empire was willing to open up its treaty ports, the role of Formosa would be limited to the origin of raw materials—only buckskin was still a bestseller there, especially in the Japanese market.

"I think so too." Ryan moved his stomach.Said: "It's just, my friend, don't you find it strange? The Ming Empire is willing to dispatch fifty warships and an army of nearly ten thousand people. The purpose is to drive us from Penghu to Dayuan. Now their crown prince is willing to open the left Wei... an island bigger than Gulangyu. Is this a miracle of God? I don't think God will watch over the edge of this world."

"God is everywhere." Kornrad still said casually: "They also offered the same conditions to the Portuguese and the Spaniards?"

"That's not true," said General Lane. "Obviously they're concerned about the massacre of the Chinese by the Spaniards in Luzon. Only us and the Portuguese in Macau were invited."

"God, it's been almost 50 years, these Chinese people really hold grudges." Kornrad's tone finally had ups and downs.

"Yes, I'm very glad that the previous governor lost to the Chinese." Ryan pouted, "But I still don't believe that a big closed country would be willing to do business without warning."

Kornrad turned his neck: "It's very simple. I am willing to lead a fleet to the center and left to have a chat with Nicholas. If this is a scam, our loss will not be too great. If the Ming Empire really We can’t lag behind the Portuguese. If necessary, I think attacking Macau again can also be considered.”

"You are always so insightful and wise." Ryan laughed and said, "Cunning Utrecht."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Dear Connors." Kornrad stood up, ready to leave.

"My dear friend," Lane said, walking around the table and sending Kornrad to the door, "I will stay for two years at most. Believe me, seventeen gentlemen understand the importance of a governor who is proficient in Asian affairs. I will use the Their reputations lead them to believe. Some are destined to be better suited than others."

"Thank you, my best friend." Kornrad bowed slightly and saluted this friend, who was also his boss.

He hadn't left Batavia for many years, and the work of the council and the courts made him easy and happy.There is plenty of oil and water, and I don't want to step on that disgusting deck again and breathe the smelly sea breeze.

But he is very clear that Ryan has been sitting in this position for three years, and it is time to return to the motherland with his family property of hundreds of thousands of dong to enjoy the blessings.If the next governor is not willing to see a senior businessman who is a threat to him.He had to consider his future position.

If the Ming Empire opens up to trade, then he is likely to become the chief of the Ming country's trade point; if the Ming Empire just set up a trap, his bravery is enough to allow him to gain a higher reputation in the Council, whether it is Japan or Formosa , can be chosen at will.As for the danger, I am afraid that it only exists in people's imagination. Even during the war, the Chinese did not kill Dutch prisoners.

Of course, the best and best position is the governor of Batavia.

Kornrad came out of the governor's mansion, first went home to change into cool clothes, and then went to meet friends, preparing to go to the center left when the south wind blows.He is not as timid as General Lane, and the experience of following Mr. Nien Rude has exercised his courage and whetted his appetite, so he decided to bring some personal goods to the Center Left Office to earn some travel expenses for himself.

"Where did Madam go? Paramon." Kornrad returned to his small building near the governor's residence, but he didn't see his wife, so he had to ask the servants at home loudly.

In broken Dutch, Paramon described the hostess' whereabouts, to attend a tea party of a Chinese businessman.

The joint company prohibits employees from participating in private business activities. This rule is written in the company's rules, and it would be too unwise to ignore it indifferently.Take Mr. Nien Rude, who has both good and bad reputations. When he was alive, he was a capable person in the eyes of the board of directors. He was favored by several generals and was even trained as a governor.

However, before his death, he transported his collection of nearly [-] guilders accumulated in Japan—only a part of the total property—to Batavia, and wanted to transfer it back to China...but it was all confiscated by the company for auction , into the coffers of the company, as the Court of Justice believes that the huge sums were obtained through illicit private trade.

Kornrad is well aware that the company is not joking about this.

However, as a Dutchman, it is undoubtedly foolish to travel half the world to this place that is extremely harmful to health, just for a salary.Moreover, with the salary paid by the company, it is not enough to maintain a decent appearance in Batavia.So the best way is to let the women come forward and let them handle private business issues, including lending money to Chinese businessmen and charging interest.

In order to allow their employees in the Far East to solve their living problems and serve the company better, the board of directors of the United Company once transported a ship of European women to the Far East at the request of Governor Jan Petersson Cohen, but they were not accepted by the local employees. accept. After the 30s, the board of directors had to make a decision not to transport European women, but to find marriage partners in Asia by the employees themselves.

Because everyone knows that with the size and population of the Netherlands, it is impossible to completely replace the locals and monopolize the East Indies.

The Batavian authorities then issued an order ordering various trade points to transport females of appropriate age.

These immature girls were sent to school to learn the truth - Dutch Protestant teachings - and good manners before marriage.Through such an education, they would become qualified Batavian housewives and mothers of "tropical aristocrats".

Kornrad's wife was such a bred woman.This is not in line with his status as a senior employee, because the Dutch do not like local wives, they prefer Japanese women of Western descent, or Japanese women.However, Mrs. Solomonsong has another identity that adds to her "pursuitability", that is: a widow.

Generally speaking, the employee of the United East India Company will leave a will: so that his family in the Netherlands can receive all the salaries that the company still needs to pay after his death, and at the same time leave the property he has accumulated in the East Indies to this country. side family.

This makes it popular to marry the widow of a colleague, because everyone knows the family background of the colleague.According to Dutch law, once married, the husband has the power to control his wife's wealth, so marrying a widow is an investment.

The return on investment may be high or low, but you will never lose money.

Kornrad earned 30 guilders through such a marriage—his wife was not only a widow, but a twice-widowed person.

Finally, when Mrs. Solomonsong, who had dark skin and a slightly concave nasal bone, came back, she brought back good news of 500 taels of silver.

Kornrad sat on the wicker chair on the balcony, blowing the sea breeze, and said easily: "If we want to do business with the Chinese, what should we sell to them?"

"China? There is everything there. You can only bring silver to buy their products." Mrs. Solomon Song said: "I heard that they have a very clear silver mirror. If it is as good as the legend, it must be worth it." A lot of money."

"I'm not willing to take a huge risk to find a legendary item," Cohen Ladd said, "talk to your Chinese friends, I need a list. Oh, yes, you know if Batavia has lost its soul A painter? I can introduce him to a good job, but he has to give me the salary of the first three months."

"There will be." Mrs. Solomon Pine giggled: "They are like lice, they are everywhere."

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