nucmednet Chapter 183 Negotiation
Chapter 183 Negotiation
??
With this in mind, Zheng Zhilong remained calm. He chatted with the other person in a relaxed manner, thinking that it would be best if the other person brought up the matter first, so that he could take the initiative.
Liu Ye did not disappoint him, taking the initiative to steer the conversation to the main topic, but the content was beyond his expectations.
"I have come here today to discuss an important matter with General Fei Hong..."
"General Feihong is just a popular compliment; General Liu Ye, please just call me by my name," Zheng Zhilong "humbly" corrected the other party's form of address.
Liu Ye, of course, wouldn't be foolish enough to actually call him by his name: "General Zheng's fleet numbers in the thousands, with tens of thousands of men and horses, well-trained and well-supplied. I dare ask, who in the Fujian area dares to provoke the general?"
The only suitable candidate was Liu Xiang, though the Dutch could also be considered a potential rival. Zheng Zhilong, not understanding his intentions, pondered for a moment and did not answer immediately.
Liu Ye continued, "General Zheng is naturally well aware of this. I've also heard about it in Guangdong. It's nothing more than Liu Xiang and the Dutch."
"Oh?" Zheng Zhilong was slightly puzzled. It wasn't surprising that he knew Liu Xiang, but the Dutch seemed to have a good relationship with him on the surface. Where did he deduce that the Dutch were honest on the island of Dongfan? How could General Liu be so sure that the Dutch would oppose me?
Of course I know, it's in the history textbooks. Not only you, but your son will also be fighting the Dutch to the death in the future.
Of course, these were things he could only think in his mind and couldn't say aloud; he could only find an excuse to justify himself. Liu Ye analyzed with great seriousness: "Perhaps General Zheng doesn't know what the Dutch are called in Europe. The British, Portuguese, and Spanish all call them the 'Sea Coachmen'!"
Zheng Zhilong was genuinely unaware of this. Intrigued, he figured it wouldn't hurt to learn more about a potential rival: "They have such a nickname? What's the origin of it?"
"British merchant ships were equipped with cannons and constructed from sturdy wood, while Dutch merchant ships were almost entirely unarmed and made from ordinary wood, costing half the price. This reduced costs and freight, making them significantly more competitive than their British counterparts. However, this came at a price. Dutch merchants risked their lives on every voyage, facing almost no resistance against pirates. But upon their safe return, they earned more than their competitors. Even so, the Dutch were not satisfied. To maximize profits, they further improved ship design, creating a large hull and a small deck, making them resemble a heavily pregnant woman from a distance..."
"Why is that?" Zheng Zhilong asked, puzzled.
“In Europe, doing business requires paying taxes, and the tax rate for maritime merchants is based on the size of the deck. The wider the deck, the more tax they pay. These large-bellied ships have large cabins and small decks, so they can carry more cargo, pay less tax, and naturally earn more money per trip. Because of the Dutch business philosophy and this unique ship type, they are known as the ‘carriers of the sea’—a term that actually carries a derogatory connotation.”
Although the Ming Dynasty's commercial taxes were basically a joke, Zheng Zhilong could still understand the concept of tax evasion. Liu Ye's description vividly and realistically portrayed the Dutch people's greed and shamelessness, bringing a knowing smile to Zheng Zhilong's face.
Liu Ye continued, "The Dutch are businessmen at heart, and insatiable ones at that. They only care about profit, and only force can subdue them. Perhaps they are staying obediently on Dongfan Island right now, but that's only because they are intimidated by General Zheng's military power. If you show the slightest weakness, they will pounce on you without hesitation and stab you in the back. Their ultimate goal is to dominate the trade between the entire Ming Dynasty and Japan and Southeast Asia, not to hide in Dayuan and act like a submissive, subservient wife."
Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but praise, "General Liu's insight is profound, and his analysis is meticulous. I have no choice but to admire him. So, it seems the Dutch are destined to be my opponents, with no room for compromise?"
“That’s right. In General Zheng’s opinion, how much of a chance do you have of winning if Liu Xiang joins forces with the Dutch?” Liu Ye looked at Zheng Zhilong with a smile, and also gained a deeper understanding of Zheng Zhilong.
Zheng Zhilong hesitated. With Liu Xiang's men and the Dutch ships and cannons combined, it was hard to say how much of a chance they had. Even with the court's full support, it was probably a 50/50 chance. But he was unwilling to show weakness in front of Liu Ye and said, "Liu Xiang's men are just a rabble, and the Dutch have very few warships. What do I have to fear?" Unconsciously, he started using a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) tone again.
"Hehe." Liu Ye saw through his bluff. "Liu Xiang alone is naturally no match for General Zheng, but the Dutch are no pushovers. Their warships are among the best in Europe, but they have chosen to keep a low profile because they have too few of them. Once they join forces, with Liu Xiang providing ships and men, and the Dutch providing cannons, or even directly participating in the battle, it probably won't be as easy as General Zheng makes it out to be."
Zheng Zhilong frowned. In fact, he was also worried about the two sides joining forces. If it was just a single maritime force, he was not afraid of anyone—including the Qiongzhou Camp.
"As far as I know, the Dutch will soon send a new commander to Da Yuan, bringing new warships. His mission is to destroy the Ming Dynasty's coastal forces, force the court to agree to sever all trade with Western countries and trade only with the Dutch, and open trading ports—war between the Ming Dynasty and the Dutch is imminent." Liu Ye dropped another bombshell at the opportune moment. This wasn't something he made up; it was a historical fact.
If history remains unchanged, the Dutch East India Company will send Hans Putmans to serve as the governor of Taiwan in 1633, which is next year, to launch an attack on the Chinese coast with more than ten main warships, attempting to force the Ming government to agree to their demands—and it will be Zheng Zhilong himself who will fight on behalf of the Ming Dynasty.
Just as he expected, Zheng Zhilong was no longer calm: "Is this really true?"
If things go as the Dutch wish, the Zheng family will be the first to suffer. Zheng Zhilong has gone to great lengths to eliminate most of the forces along the Fujian coast, forcing the focus of trade with Japan to shift from Yuegang to Zhongzuosuo. Once the Dutch open the port to trade, Zhongzuosuo will be rendered powerless, and all his previous efforts will be in vain. More importantly, cutting off trade with Portugal and Spain and trading only with the Dutch means that the dominant force in trade with Japan will shift from Zheng Zhilong to the Dutch, and the Dutch will call the shots on this sea—something he absolutely cannot tolerate.
Zheng Zhilong stood up and paced back and forth. Regardless of whether Liu Ye's information was true or false, based on his understanding of the Dutch, this possibility was very high, and he had to take action to prepare for the impending war.