I

A fleet of ocean-going ships returning from the east docked at the outer harbor of Amsterdam, and then transferred to the inner harbor wharf by ship.

Merchants from the Netherlands have already gathered here, and they will sell these goods to European countries.

The Dutch East India Company, founded 40 years ago, has more than 1,000 shareholders. Neither officials nor shareholders are allowed to interfere in the management of the company. It has a 76-member board of directors, but the real decision-making group is the "Meeting of Seventeen Gentlemen".

Seven provinces of the Netherlands, 8 in Amsterdam, 4 in Zeeland, and 1 each in other regions. Among the seventeen people are nobles, wealthy businessmen, officials and the like.

Their decisions are based on profits, because they must be accountable to shareholders, and they also have to take into account the market conditions on the stock exchange.

The form of governance is very democratic, everyone sits down and discusses.

But at the same time, they are extremely short-sighted. Everything is in line with short-term interests, and they don't need to consider long-term interests.

For example, in history, the Dutch chief in Taiwan judged very early on that Zheng Chenggong was going to attack the city of Zeelandia. After reporting upwards, Governor Batavia sent 12 warships for protection.

These warships were stationed for half a year, but Zheng Chenggong still didn't come.

Therefore, the Batavia command center calculated that the cost of stationing the fleet was too high, which was not in the interests of the East India Company. The governor of Batavia, despite the protests of Taiwan's chief executive, ordered 10 of the warships to return home, but Zheng Chenggong seized the opportunity when the troops were empty.

Another example is that during the Kangxi period, more and more Chinese merchants shipped goods to Batavia and sold them at a low price, which was cheaper than Dutch merchant ships buying goods in China (including transportation and damage). As a result, the East India Company withdrew its merchant ships, and no longer polluted the South China Sea, but only waited for the Chinese maritime merchants to ship goods in Java Island.

Even if the governor of Batavia is clear-headed, he can't make decisions in many cases.

There is also a council behind him, and there is a meeting to discuss everything. There is also a deputy called the director-general, who is responsible for managing the company's Eastern trade affairs. After everything has been discussed and reached, major events have to go back to the Netherlands to report that the "Seventeen People's Conference" has been approved.

Layers of checks and balances, interests first, the Dutch East India Company operates in this way, and often does incredible things.

It's like building a castle in northern Taiwan last year. When Zhao Han heard the news, he couldn't figure out what was going on.

In fact, it is very simple, because the "Seventeen People's Conference" and the "Batavia Council" concluded after discussions: the establishment of a trade point in the northern part of Taiwan Island can effectively increase the profits of the Japan-Dutch trade.

Amsterdam, inner harbour.

The commodity auction was held in the hall near the pier, and the auctioneer held up a hammer and shouted: "1000 pounds of Chinese tea, the starting price is 30 Dutch guilders per pound!"

4.2 Dutch guilders, roughly equal to one tael of silver.

A pound of tea leaves is less than a catty, and the starting price is 7 taels of silver. One can imagine how lucrative the profits are.

In the hands of Dutch nobles, the retail price of Chinese tea can reach up to 70 Dutch guilders, which means that a catty of tea is worth 16 taels of silver!

Historically, in order to compete with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands began to play dumping, and the price of tea fell to 2.5 guilders per pound. It fell from 70 dong to 2.5 dong. It's a real big sale. Since then, Chinese tea has only come to the homes of commoners in Europe. Before that, only nobles could afford to drink it.

"I will offer 31 shields!"

"31.5 shields!"

"31.8 shields!"

"..."

The auctioneer waved a hammer: "56.3 guilders once, 56.3 guilders twice...deal!"

Goods that can be transported thousands of miles from the East are all luxury goods. These things have nothing to do with European commoners, only the upper class can afford them, and only one boat comes back every year or two, so they must be auctioned to maximize the benefits.

Even, this time, the 3,000 pounds of tea were shipped back, and the tea auction alone was divided into several times.

The last tea auction, the auctioneer shouted: "300 pounds of Chinese court tea, the starting price is 50 Dutch guilders per pound!"

The so-called Chinese palace tea refers to tea with better quality. In Europe in the 17th century, the retail price of this thing reached as high as 100 guilders a pound.

The main profit commodity of the Dutch East India Company was originally Nanyang spices. But by now, spices have fallen out of favor. The tea market was developed by Dutch businessmen, and drinking tea was first popular among Dutch nobles in Europe.

Due to the scarcity of supply, the 300 pounds of "Chinese palace tea" was finally sold at a price of 80 dong per pound—not the retail price, but the wholesale price of local merchants.

Two hours after the auction, the staff brought the boxes, and the scene immediately became a sensation.

As long as it needs to be displayed at the auction venue, it must be a good thing that has never been seen before!

In the eyes of countless expectant eyes, the wooden box was opened first, and the fluffy grass appeared inside. The velvet grass was pulled apart, and a lacquer box appeared inside. The lacquer box was opened again, and there was cashmere inside again. The velvet grass was opened again, and there was an oiled paper bag inside. The oil-paper bag was opened, and there was a piece of porcelain lying there.

This packaging method was invented by Portuguese businessmen.

They buy valuables in lacquered boxes from China or Japan. I also felt that the lacquer box was also precious, so I added another layer of wooden boxes. Layers of packaging can not only protect the product, but also highlight the style when it is shipped to Europe.

"Chinese palace porcelain!" A native Dutch businessman exclaimed.

Anyway, European merchants like to call the goods of good quality "Chinese court".

The auctioneer said: "Peter Mundy's Travels in China was published last year and caused a sensation in the UK. Recently, someone translated it to the European continent. Mr. Peter Mundy, the Chinese rebel leader he met in Guangzhou, has now Crowned as the emperor of China. The emperor was very enlightened, and he allowed the export of items exclusively for the royal family. Gentlemen, this multicolored porcelain plate is exclusively for the Chinese imperial family. A few years ago, it was only allowed to be used by members of the royal family, but today, it is now I am in Amsterdam. You and I have witnessed this great history together! Here, I extend my highest regards to the great and enlightened Emperor of China. May the Lord bless His Majesty the Emperor of China!"

"May the Lord bless His Majesty the Emperor of China!" Hundreds of local Dutch businessmen prayed for Zhao Han together at the auction venue.

The more grand they are, the more expensive the multicolored porcelain can be sold.

The auctioneer smiled and said, "Gentlemen, now you can come up and enjoy it up close."

Local merchants in the Netherlands lined up to admire the porcelain, and kept giving out admiration.

These multicolored porcelains are top-grade, and they are sold very expensive in China. How could they not be treated politely in Europe?

For hundreds of years, blue and white porcelain was shipped to Europe, and Europeans called it "Clark porcelain". Those are completely high-end goods, and the Chinese common people can afford them, and the European nobles still treat them as treasures.

And the five-color porcelain in front of me has bright and vivid glazes, just like European oil paintings.

A local businessman suggested: "This porcelain plate is as beautiful as an oil painting. How about we name it 'Chinese Palace Five-color Oil Painting Porcelain'?"

"Good idea!" Many businessmen praised in succession.

After all the merchants had finished appreciating it, the auctioneer invited him back to his seat, and changed his words on the spot: "One piece of porcelain plate with five-color oil painting of the Chinese court, the starting price is 500 Dutch guilders!"

"I offer 600!"

"I pay 700!"

The price increase this time is really ruthless, a one hundred and one hundred increase. No matter how expensive you buy it, you won’t suffer a loss. If you sell it in France, England, and Italy, those nobles will definitely go crazy.

The East India Company shipped back 2,000 pieces of multicolored porcelain, but only 100 pieces were auctioned.

Rare things are more expensive, so keep them and sell them slowly. Anyway, it takes a year or two (one-way) to travel by boat, and there are plenty of time and opportunities to sell them.

After the auction of 200 pieces of porcelain was completed, the staff brought the wooden box again.

"Is there any better goods than multicolored porcelain?" The local merchants were all shocked.

This time the packaging is more exquisite and complex, with several layers of oiled paper packaging.

The auctioneer introduced: "This is also the grace of His Majesty the Emperor of China. It can only be used by the royal family, and only the emperor and queen can use it. Even princes and princesses are not allowed to wear it (ghost talk). Its name is 'cloud silk. '(Cloud brocade), it is as beautiful as the clouds in the sky, so noble, so gorgeous, so soft, so light... Gentlemen, I think it is blasphemy to take a second look. Only the most honorable gentlemen are entitled to touch it. And to make it into clothes, at least members of the European royal family can do it. Please come up and enjoy it, look at it quietly, don’t touch it, don’t cough, it’s a beautiful work of art.”

Local businessmen huddled together, standing on tiptoes in the back row to admire, and some even knelt on one knee to pray.

"Chinese court cloud silk, starting price... 3000 guilders per piece!"

This year's Amsterdam auction, the goods have not been sold yet, and it has caused a sensation in the whole of the Netherlands.

News about multicolored porcelain and Yunjin spread across the European continent and spread all the way to Italy. Immediately afterwards, even Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, and Russia in Northern Europe knew about it.

Of course, the top Chinese products will not be sold in Northern Europe. Those poor royal families... can't afford underwear after selling it.

It was still the pride of the French king who spent tens of thousands of taels of silver to buy brocade to make two clothes. One for myself and one for the queen, usually reluctant to wear it, only going out to meet people on formal occasions.

Last year and this year, the power minister Richelieu and Queen Mother Mary passed away one after another.

The one who paid for brocade to make clothes was King Louis XIII of France, and his queen was Princess Anne from Spain.

Just making dumplings with vinegar, in order to show off her brocade clothes, Queen Anne held court balls every now and then. She and the king appeared in gorgeous brocade costumes, and no matter how many times they met with the noble guests, they still gave them envious eyes. Ever since, every time the nobles attended the ball, there were people asking everywhere how to buy brocade.

The deeds of the Chinese emperor, along with the brocade and multicolored porcelain, spread wildly in the upper class of Europe.

Peter Mundy's China travel notes were quickly translated to the European continent, and not only became bedside reading materials for the nobles, but even the King of France personally wrote a letter to urge the manuscript... Update it soon!

That China travel book was written a few years ago, when Zhao Han had just conquered Guangdong.

Among the Dutch and Portuguese populations who had recently returned to Europe, Zhao Han was described more in line with the aesthetics of European aristocracy.

First of all, one must have a noble background, and common people are not allowed to rebel and become emperor.

Therefore, Zhao Han is a prince in distress, a descendant of the Chinese royal family four hundred years ago. At that time, China was called the State of Song, and it was overthrown by the terrible Tatars. It can be said that Europe turned pale when talking about Tatars, because the Mongol invasion brought the Black Death.

Doesn't this have a sense of intimacy and substitution?

The terrible Tatars not only invaded Europe, but also destroyed the dynasty of Zhao Han's ancestors.

After the Song royal family fell into disaster, they served as scholars for generations, and quietly learned about war knowledge, and have been trying to restore the country for hundreds of years. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty was fatuous and brutal, which led to the descendants of the Tatars (Manchu Qing) to invade again.

When the descendants of the Tatars wiped out the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Han, as a descendant of the former royal family, immediately led his servants and retinues to raise troops.

Finally, Zhao Han succeeded in restoring the country and drove the Tatars out of China.

What a perfect story of the return of the prince!

It is rumored that every time King Louis XIII of France, wearing brocade clothes and eating on a multicolored porcelain plate, would raise his glass and say, "Salute to the distant Chinese emperor. His enlightened generosity also allowed us to share the Chinese court. life (multicolored porcelain and cloud brocade)."

(Thanks to my wife for being the leader of two friends, Hui Ye and jly69, for the reward.)