Author: Zero Romance

Chapter 3139

If we count from 1631, when the Haihan army fought against the local Dutch colonial forces on Amborna Island in the South China Sea, the two sides have been dealing with each other for twenty-six years.

Although the two sides later established formal diplomatic relations, they remained at the level of trade cooperation. The Netherlands did not conclude a higher-level cooperation treaty with Heyhan like Portugal did.

There are many practical reasons for this, but neither side denies that this is probably because the initial contact between the two countries was not very friendly, and the resulting bad blood has not been properly resolved over the years.

The Dutch were bitter about the loss of Ambrosia, were unwilling to be controlled by Haihan in East Asia, and were even more dissatisfied with Haihan's alliance with rival Portugal.

Haihan has been focusing on conquering the northern mainland all year round and is not keen on establishing close ties with the Western world. Having a more reliable partner like Portugal is enough. If the Dutch do not take the initiative to improve relations, Haihan will naturally not do the same.

Will put a hot face on a cold butt.

Of course, Haihan does not exclude maintaining good relations with the Netherlands, and even intentionally retains the Dutch trade channels in East Asia. If not, the East India Company's commercial institutions in Tai Yuan Port in Taiwan and Nagasaki Port in Japan may not be able to do anything.

It has been operating peacefully until now.

Ning Qi and Schneider have both dealt with Su Keyi for a long time, but this was the first time they heard him make such a statement.

Schneider immediately asked: "Mr. Su, is this your personal intention or the East India Company's intention?"

The implication is that if improving the level of cooperation is just Su Keyi's personal will and not the official will, then there is no need to waste time on in-depth discussions. Although Su Keyi is capable, he is only an envoy after all, and the major affairs of the East India Company are not his turn.

A Chinese official made the decision.

Su Keyi responded calmly: "Don't worry, Mr. Shi, I didn't make this up, it was the intention of the East India Company's board of directors."

Schneider was still a little unsure: "Since it is the intention of the East India Company's board of directors, it stands to reason that there should be a formal diplomatic letter delivered to us, right?"

Su Keyi explained: "The idea of ​​the board of directors is that we will first discuss a general framework with your country. After confirming the intention, we will arrange for the board members to visit your country in person to discuss the details and sign a formal agreement."

"Not only that, the Dutch Parliament will also send diplomatic representatives to visit your country to discuss the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries."

"This is serious!" Schneider clicked his tongue repeatedly.

Since there are arrangements for members of the East India Company's board of directors and members of Parliament to visit Haihan, it is unlikely to be false.

You must know that over the years since the two sides established diplomatic relations, the highest-ranking Dutch official who visited Haihan is only the Governor of Batavia, but this status is still not qualified to be a member of the seventeen-member board of directors, let alone that he must be elected in the Netherlands.

A member of parliament has come out.

Due to the unique national nature of the Netherlands, the Governor of Batavia did not actually represent the Netherlands, but only the Dutch East India Company.

The current state power structure of the Netherlands is very different from other European countries. It is a military and diplomatic alliance composed of multiple provinces. Its official external name is the United Provinces Republic, rather than a traditional monarchy.

The diplomatic relations between Heihan and the Netherlands over the past two decades have essentially been dealing with the Dutch East India Company. But if the Dutch Parliament came forward to sign a formal diplomatic agreement with Heihan, the effectiveness and impact would obviously be very different.

.

However, the Netherlands' initiative to enhance diplomatic relations is not without conditions. The joint dispatch of troops to attack the Spaniards mentioned by Su Keyi just now should be considered one of the conditions.

Of course Ning Qi also thought of this and took over the conversation: "Establishing military cooperation with your country and attacking the Spanish in the areas you pointed out is one of the prerequisites for establishing formal diplomatic relations?"

Su Keyi neither denied nor admitted: "There is no such clear instruction in the order I received, but I think if both of us can reach such an intention, it will greatly help carry out subsequent diplomatic activities."

Ning Qi turned to look at Schneider. The two had worked together for many years and had a perfect understanding. Although they did not talk, they were exchanging opinions through their eyes and expressions.

Su Keyi did not urge it. From the reactions of the two senior Haihan officials just now, it can be seen that they attach great importance to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, even far more than the joint dispatch of troops that he proposed.

As for Yuan Qiuye, another senior official of Haihan, he is obviously not as sensitive to foreign affairs as these two. However, considering that his area of ​​responsibility is agriculture, it is not surprising that he is cautious about such topics.

This matter was extremely confidential, and Su Keyi didn't even tell his own son. If it weren't for the previous miscommunication, and it seemed that the discussion was about to be no longer possible, Su Keyi wouldn't have wanted to bring this issue up so early.

However, judging from the reactions of the two people, the results of this attempt seemed to be quite good. He also firmly believed that if he could facilitate this matter, it would be of great benefit to both countries.

Only then did Ning Qi continue to ask: "Mr. Su, when will the visit you just mentioned be scheduled?"

Su Keyi said: "If everything goes well, it is expected to be realized within this year, and it should not be later than next year at the latest. But I want to emphasize again that before that, we need to reach an intention on the direction of cooperation after the establishment of diplomatic relations. The big shots above do not want

I traveled thousands of miles, but in the end it was all in vain, I think you two can understand."

Whether formal diplomatic relations should be established with the Netherlands, the answer is of course yes. This will definitely help Haihan establish better connections with the Western world. Especially in recent years, when Portugal has become more and more dishonest, creating a

A competitor of equal strength is also a good check and balance.

However, Sukeyi's cooperation plan is a bit abrupt. Not to mention conservatives like Ning Qi, even the military that wants to promote external expansion may not agree with using the wild lands around the Banda Sea as a development area in the future.

direction.

Ning Qi could understand the Dutch's urgency to drive away the Spanish and recapture the Spice Islands, but Haihan's march into the area did not make much sense.

Even if you successfully occupy that sea area, you will still need to invest a lot of resources to build a colony.

If this is really the Dutch's default prerequisite for establishing diplomatic relations, then it may be more cost-effective for Heihan to maintain the status quo.

However, Ning Qi will definitely not refuse the matter in a hurry. Although there are some differences with the other party at the moment, since the other party takes the initiative to discuss the matter, there must be room for bargaining. This trip to Hangzhou will take at least two days to go back and forth.

In three months, there was plenty of time to deal with Su Keyi slowly.
Chapter completed!