Chapter 761 Struggle of Interests

If someone else lands on Taiwan Island, the Dutch will not be too panicked. For example, the Spanish have set up an armed stronghold and built a port at Jilong Port at the northern end of Taiwan Island in the past few years, but the Dutch know very well that the Spanish

The colonial capabilities of Spain are not much better than their own. To turn a coastal stronghold so far away from its Far East headquarters, Manila, into a real colony, the Spaniards would have to operate there for at least another ten years.

But if the force that landed on Taiwan Island were Haihan, the nature of the matter would be completely different. The Haihan people have long been famous for their infrastructure capabilities. Even those who have not set foot in the Haihan controlled area have mostly heard of those who have.

Colleagues in places such as Sanya Port and Ampuna Port have described the local scenes. Needless to say, Sanya is, after all, the home base of the Haihan people. Just based on its current title of "The First Port in the South China Sea", you can imagine that there are

How prosperous it is, but the Ambuna Islands have only been occupied by the Haihan people for more than a year, and the local conditions are already completely different from those during the Dutch occupation.

The Haihan people not only rebuilt the wharf and port facilities of Port Ambuna in a short period of time, but also built a large number of plantations on the island. The cultivated area is said to have been more than ten times that of the Dutch occupation period. Correspondingly,

What's more is that the steady stream of immigrants being transported to the local area has gradually cut off the Dutch's desire to take back the local area. Of course, the Dutch merchants who conducted slave trade with Haihan during this process undoubtedly contributed to this in disguise.

The process is accelerating. But when profit comes first, who wouldn't be tempted by free money?

If the Haihan people are allowed to establish a stronghold on the west coast of Taiwan Island, it is foreseeable that the Haihan colonies will quickly fill the gaps on the island like crazy growing vines, just like they did on Hainan Island before.

.And the East India Company, which only occupied the small area of ​​​​Damuan Port on the island, will definitely be compressed by the other party to shrink its living space smaller and smaller. Moreover, the landing place chosen by the Haihan people is in Taiyuan Port.

About two hundred miles to the north, this place faces Penghu across the sea to the left and right. Judging from the location, the connection between these two points can perfectly cut off the route from Damuan Port northward to the Northeast Asian waters.

The main purpose of the East India Company's establishment of a stronghold on the island of Taiwan was to open up the trade and colonial routes from Southeast Asia to Northeast Asia. If Haihan succeeded in colonizing the west coast of Taiwan Island, then the section of this route within the strait would be completely destroyed in the future.

Subject to the Haihan people, this trend is an unacceptable change for the East India Company. Even if the East India Company's power in Damuan Port is now unable to expel the Haihan people, it must do its best to protect its own interests.

Prevent the Haihan people from implementing their next plan.

Of course, after losing its advantage in force, the East India Company now has very few options. With Haihan's past behavior, it is obvious that he will not resort to verbal threats. The only more feasible method is,

It was for the East India Company to come up with certain conditions that Haihan was interested in in exchange for Haihan's restraint on establishing a colony on Taiwan Island.

Of course, just taking money won't work. Now everyone knows that Haihan is the most powerful tycoon in the South China Sea. Even the East India Company's financial resources may not be as strong as Haihan. If you want to directly induce people, it may be difficult to offer a way to make it happen.

The price that Haihan was interested in. Maybe Haihan would also offer a price in return and ask the East India Company to give up the Taiyuan Port. That would be embarrassing.

Since this road is not feasible, we can only find a way to suit them. As for the current needs and preferences of the Haihan people, it is not difficult to find out. It is nothing more than population. And it just so happens that the Dutch have certain Haihan qualities in this aspect.

Advantages that it has not yet possessed - such as trade relations with Ryukyu, Korea, Japan and other countries. Although the relationship between Japan and the East India Company is still in a stalemate, there are still some local daimyo who are willing to maintain private trading relations with the Dutch. Among them

It also includes human trade.

However, considering the policy risks, Taiyuan Port did not seek peace talks with Haihan under the official banner. Instead, they sent a maritime businessman like Philip as a representative to test Haihan's attitude first.

As the Dutch expected, the Haihan people showed great interest in importing people during the negotiations. However, when Philip mentioned using this as an exchange condition in exchange for the Haihan side's commitment not to attack Taiwan Island, the negotiations turned direct.

reached a deadlock.

Philip emphasized that the East India Company had sovereignty over the island of Taiwan, but this only earned him merciless ridicule from Li Dou. He had long seen through the paper tiger nature of the Dutch, who simply did not have enough strength to stop the sea.

Han's military action against Taiwan Island. In the matter of fighting for the ownership of Taiwan Island, the East India Company can obviously only be on the passive side at present. How much space they can get on Taiwan Island in the future depends largely on the sea.

It depends on the development speed of Han Dynasty.

"Dear Sir, in fact, we don't need to negotiate in such a tense manner. I suggest that we might as well find an exchange condition acceptable to both parties. After all, our purpose is to earn more benefits, isn't it?

"Philip couldn't withstand Li Dou's attack, so he could only quickly change the subject, hoping to calm down the atmosphere of the negotiation.

"You bring us the population, and we give you the goods you want. This kind of transaction is already fair. We don't accept any other conditions..." Li Dou said without giving in: "...especially about this island.

The issue of ownership! We will not recognize in any form the East India Company’s claim of occupying Taiwan Island, and at the same time retain the right to move freely on the island and nearby waters!”

"At least Damuan Port belongs to the control area of ​​our East India Company! You can't ignore the existence of the East India Company!" Even Ni Bodhisattva was a little angry. Philip had been robbed by Li Dou from the beginning until now, and finally couldn't hold back anymore.

He choked. But as soon as he said the words, he immediately regretted it - didn't this give the other party another excuse?

Sure enough, Li Dou lost no time in seizing Philip Huazhong's loophole again and immediately said: "Since only Damuan Port is the area controlled by the East India Company, what qualifications do you have to ask us not to set foot on this island? If you

We plan to use force to achieve this goal, please forgive me, we will definitely accompany you to the end!"

The blood that had rushed to the top of Philip's head cooled down instantly, and he remembered why he came here - how to save the victory of Taiyuan Port for the company when Haihan was about to make a move. If force was to be used, last year's battle had already proven that

Considering the war strength of the two sides, it would be extremely unwise for the East India Company to initiate a war. As a maritime merchant, Philip would never be able to bear the blame.

"No, no, no, I am here to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts." Philip's attitude quickly made a 180-degree turn: "After all, peace is hard-won, and we do not want to meet with you again.

The outcome we want is for both sides to seek a proper solution."

"Properly resolve it?" Li Dou looked at Phillip with a half-smile, while his mind was rapidly calculating the bottom line of the other party's negotiation.

Obviously, the Dutch side is not willing to completely break up over this matter, let alone use force to determine the outcome of Haihan. Its main direction of attack should be the exchange of interest-related conditions. As for the bottom line of negotiations, Li Dou believes that it should continue to maintain

The status of Taiyuan Port.

Just as Li Dou was about to speak, he saw the guard at the door making a gesture to him at an angle that Philip couldn't pay attention to. He suppressed the words on his lips again, stood up and said, "Please sit down for a moment, I have some urgent business to do right away."

deal with."

After Li Dou left the living room, the guard came up to him and reported in a low voice: "Chief Qian is here."

Now that Qian Tiandun had arrived, Li Dou could no longer make his own decisions. Soon he saw Qian Tiandun in another office who had just arrived from the militia training camp.

"I heard that the Dutch are here, are they here to negotiate terms with us?" Qian Tiandun asked straight to the point.

"Yes, the East India Company hopes to transfer the Nanyang method and let them provide us with the population we need in exchange for our promise not to attack Taiwan." Li Douyan briefly and comprehensively introduced the situation of the negotiations.

"Exchanging people for land? It's a good idea!" Qian Tiandun also saw through the Dutch's plan at a glance: "It's too good of a thought. Do you really think that we don't dare to touch Taiyuan Port?"

"Brother Qian, I think we can take advantage of the Dutch people's eagerness to keep Taiyu Port and let them organize immigration for us." Li Dou suggested: "I feel that the Dutch are willing to do anything for Taiyu Port now.

If necessary, we can completely use the immigrants they introduce to develop Taiwan Island."

"What immigration conditions did they set out to make you so excited?" Qian Tiandun immediately noticed something unusual. The scale of Haihan's introduction of immigrants from the north of the Ming Dynasty is gradually expanding, and the cost is quite low. If it weren't for the absolute

Given the good conditions, Li Dou probably wouldn't be so interested in other immigration plans.

"The conditions offered by the Dutch are really good..." Li Dou then relayed to Qian Tiandun the immigration policy he had heard from Philip earlier.

Although Qian Tiandun has always been calm, he became a little uncontrollably agitated after hearing the Dutch's conditions. If the Dutch can fulfill their promise, then the number of new immigrants Haihan will gain through this channel in one year will be enough.

Several towns have been built on the west coast of Taiwan Island. However, as the commander-in-chief of the Penghu base, he still maintained the necessary calmness: "When the Dutch offered such conditions, they would not have thought that such measures would actually dig their own graves."

?”

As a veteran colonialist, the Dutch can of course easily imagine that the purpose of Haihan's continuous introduction of immigrants is to expand the scale of colonization in the Far East, and this will inevitably compete with the development strategy of the East India Company, and even

Damuan Port is the first place to bear the brunt. However, it is really incredible that the Dutch actually offered to help Haihan introduce immigrants in exchange.

"Even if they drink poison to quench their thirst, they can only go on like this!" After Li Dou had direct contact with Philip, his view on this was more intuitive: "The Dutch want to preserve the island of Taiwan, but it's a pity that they don't.

With such ability, I think their bottom line in negotiations is to retain control of Damuan Port."

Qian Tiandun took off his military cap, slowly rubbed his shaved scalp until only the hair piles remained, and after a long time he said: "If they give up their claim to Taiwan Island, then we can talk to them about this deal.

Of course, the premise is that they have to do what they promised. Without immigration, there is no need to talk."

"If the ownership of Damuan Port is exchanged, will Sanya agree?" Li Dou asked with some uncertainty. Qian Tiandun currently has the decision-making power in all affairs in Penghu, including Taiwan.

, but his decision does not mean that the base camp will definitely agree with it. If the trick is really taken, when the executive committee investigates the responsibility, it will inevitably involve all relevant personnel.

"This right of ownership must block the Dutch in the transaction conditions." Qian Tiandun did not immediately answer Li Dou's question, but continued to explain his intention: "We will only admit the Dutch on the premise that they can complete the transaction conditions.

If the conditions for the ownership of Damuan Port cannot be met or the transaction is terminated, the corresponding exchange conditions will automatically be invalidated."

"So if they can no longer provide us with immigrants, we won't have to recognize their status in Taiyuan Port?" Li Dou's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood the trick hidden in Qian Tiandun's words.

Qian Tiandun nodded and said: "That's the truth. The Dutch just want to buy time to improve their defenses in Taiyuan Port, but how effective can the time delayed by this method be? The speed of our colonial construction

Isn't it several times faster than them? Even if they can complete the construction of Fort Relande within one or two years, they will still be at an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength comparison. And we use the same time to develop Taiwan Island, you can say one or two

What will the situation be like in the next year?”

"Although I can't imagine it now, it should be no problem for our new colony to crush the Dutch port of Damian." Li Dou replied with a knowing smile.

Due to their own resource shortage, the Dutch were unable to make full use of the channels to introduce immigrants. Therefore, the scale of the colony in Damuan Port developed extremely slowly. However, Haihan had a great advantage in this regard and had good supplies.

The security system and perfect immigration management system, as well as strong infrastructure and agricultural development capabilities, ensure that immigrants can be quickly transformed into productive forces after naturalization. The Dutch want to provide immigrants to Haihan in exchange for more development for their colonies

time, but the long-term consequences of doing so will only be an increasing gap in strength between the two sides.
Chapter completed!