Steel Dynasty - Chapter 1044

[Chapter 1035 Only profit]

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid this is a divorce plan by the British.”

In the imperial study, Cui Shangan presented the intelligence sent back from Nanyang to Xiao Ming, although now the news in the country is much faster due to the emergence of the telegraph. But when the General Staff received the thunderous battle report, half a month had passed since the unexpected incident. After all, there was a distance of three thousand miles from Indonesia to Guangzhou.

Xiao Ming snorted softly and threw the battle report on the table. He said: “I would rather believe that this matter happened than not. I have always been worried about the Netherlands. After all, the Netherlands has a small territory in Europe and its navy has declined. It is easy to compromise under the coercion of power.

“But if we go to war with the Dutch, our rubber trade may be interrupted.” Cui Shangan is worried. As rubber enters every node of the industry, the importance of rubber becomes more and more prominent.

Even the rubber trade with the Dutch over the years could not meet the current needs of the empire, so the price of rubber products in the empire remained high.

Xiao Ming became even more angry when he mentioned this. He said to Cui Shangan; “Don’t believe in any friendship between countries. The Dutch know this better than us. They make a lot of money in the rubber trade, and they treat us badly in terms of price.” I have no mercy at all. If I were worried that the industrial development of the empire would be shackled by rubber, I would have stopped this losing trade long ago. “

In contemporary times, a meal of rubber can be sold for about 15,000 yuan. In this era of rubber scarcity, the Dutch are even more shameless. , the Dutch sold each ton of rubber for one thousand dragon coins, almost reaching the ratio of one gram of gold to one gram of rubber.

Facing such a huge trade deficit, he has been dissatisfied for a long time, but now he has a solution, so he continued; “I have already thought of a solution to this problem. After the destruction of the Golden Horde, the grassland will be the asset of the empire. In the Tianshan Mountains There is a kind of grass nearby called rubber grass. If the rubber trade is interrupted, it can be temporarily replaced by rubber grass. In addition, the empire has been opening up rubber tree plantations in recent years. Now Hainan has a large rubber forest. Generally speaking, rubber has never It only takes six years from planting to collection, and now six years have passed, and it is time to collect it. In this way, with the addition of rubber grass, the empire’s own rubber can meet the empire’s current needs.”

“Cui Shangan. With an expression of surprise, he realized that he still knew too little.

Xiao Ming nodded and explained, “This kind of rubber grass is distributed in the Tianshan area. It grows vigorously like pasture and has a short cycle. It can be planted and rotated like pasture. It looks a bit like a dandelion. After the surrender of the Golden Tent, I have We arranged for some slaves to go to Tianshan to open up a rubber grass planting base. It is estimated that we will be able to see the harvest that year.”

Cui Shangan breathed a sigh of relief, and now all the worries in his heart disappeared. He said with a smile: “I have been blackmailed by the Dutch for many years, and now. The empire can finally breathe a sigh of relief. In this case, the empire does not need to be afraid of them. As long as the evidence is conclusive, we will completely drive the Dutch out of Asia. “

“Whether it is true or not, the Ryukyu garrison is now ordered to be on full alert. Once the Dutch are there. Any trouble will be eliminated immediately,” Xiao Ming said coldly.

Cui Shangan’s expression became serious and he said yes.

…

Relanja City.

Eric was pacing uneasily in the Governor’s Palace. The news that Newland City had been captured had reached here, which made him very uneasy.

Because while the Chinese Empire was spreading news of victory, rumors about mysterious letters found on Governor Newland were also flying everywhere.

Regarding this rumor, he could not tell whether it was done intentionally or if it was leaked intentionally.

“Governor Eric, we don’t have much time left. Although this is not what we want to see, we are Dutch and must obey the decision of Congress.”

Stephen looked at Eric, who arrived eighteen days ago He arrived at the city of Geranje and at the same time announced to him the new appointment given to him by the Congress.

“A bunch of lunatics, you don’t understand the horror of the Chinese Empire at all. The British and French are forcing us to die!” Eric was furious.

Stephen showed a helpless look and said: “Eric, as a Dutchman, you have to think about the safety of the Dutch nationals. If we continue to adhere to the policy of being close to the Chinese Empire, we will be blocked by the British at sea and on land. Will be attacked by France. Do you think we can resist the French attack? The profits from trade with the Chinese Empire are indeed huge, but the safety of the country is more important. Now is the time for you to make a decision. I am sure that they have found The letter must be about the political situation in the Netherlands. If we don’t take action, I’m afraid it will be too late.”

Eric’s expression kept changing. According to the Congress plan, they must first deal with the imperial soldiers in Jelanja City, and then gather together the soldiers in Manila and Malaysia. After the warships and soldiers attack Singapore and capture Malacca, British and French support will arrive to stop the westward advance of the Chinese Empire with Malacca as the boundary.

Stephen’s series of words made Eric sigh. He said: “Stephen, you have to understand the consequences of making this decision. The Netherlands will completely lose Manila, Indonesia and the trade routes in Asia.”

“The British and the French agreed to let Give us part of the colonial market in Africa and America to make up for our losses. Eric, think about it a little more. Asia is too far away from us, while Britain and France are too close to us.”

He turned around and looked at the bloody setting sun outside the window .

, Eric nodded slightly. He hesitated about this matter for a long time, and now it seemed that it was time for him to make a decision. After all, the content of this letter might expose them, and he could not bear this risk.

They must escape from the city of Relanja before the preparations for the Chinese Empire are complete.

“In this case, we will take action tonight. May God bless us to return to the Netherlands alive.” Eric looked determined. The Netherlands is his country, and his family is in Amsterdam. He cannot leave all this behind.

Stephen breathed a sigh of relief. He had underestimated Eric’s fear of the Chinese Empire when he first arrived, and now his mission was finally completed.

At this time, Eric looked at the imperial garrison outside the Governor’s Mansion and continued: “I’m afraid it’s impossible to evacuate from here intact, but our soldiers cannot sacrifice in vain. At least we have to get the Han-style rifles of the Chinese Empire. And machine guns.”

Stephen’s eyes seemed to be shining, “Yes, this will sell for a good price in Europe, Eric, and you will leave a mark in the history of the Netherlands.”

(End of this chapter. )