Hearing Wei Qingmu's question, Bruce Van Diemen sighed again!

How could the situation in Europe not affect the East India Company? The Dutch East India Company was said to be a commercial institution and a joint-stock company, but in fact it was still backed by the big tree of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Now the Republic is in turmoil, and the East India Company

Of course I was panicking!

Moreover, the East India Company is a listed company! As early as 1602, the shares of the East India Company were traded on the Amsterdam stock market, and they have been trading for more than 60 years now.

During these 60 years, the company's shares changed hands and dispersed repeatedly, and almost all Amsterdam businessmen were shareholders of the company.

This means that the Ming Emperor, who owned 20% of the shares of the East India Company, could purchase the shares of the East India Company on the Amsterdam stock market, and finally achieve the goal of becoming the company's controlling shareholder.

Considering the upcoming war in the Spanish Netherlands and the difficult situation that the United Provinces of the Netherlands will face, the East India Company's shares are likely to be sold off in large quantities by shareholders.

Therefore, it is very likely that this valuable joint-stock company will be controlled by the Ming Emperor in the future.

"Mr. Dimen, what are you worried about?" Wei Qingmu asked with a smile, "Just tell me!"

Bruce Van Diemen smiled bitterly: "It's not that I'm worried about anything, but the board of directors hopes to split the company into two parts: the East India Trading Company and the Indian Trading Company. The former is responsible for the trade in the Strait of Malacca and the areas east of it, including the Strait of Malacca and the

The latter is responsible for the trade between the area east of it and Europe, and the latter is responsible for trade in the Indian Ocean."

In fact, the real purpose of the Dutch in splitting up the East India Company was to prevent the Ming Emperor from interfering with their robbery business with the Dashun Empire.

The Ming Emperor and the Dashun Emperor's grandson became accomplices in robbing India because of the East India Company. This was a bit ridiculous, and even the Dutch, who were all about business, found it unreliable.

"That's right." Wei Qingmu thought for a while, "That's okay, but the private placement of 20 shares is a bit small. After all, your East India Company lost the war!"

"snort!"

Bruce Van Diemen snorted, but nodded.

It is a fact that we lost!

It is a reality that we can no longer fight!

The United Provinces of the Netherlands now need to concentrate on coping with the changes in Europe, and are unable to compete with the Ming Empire in the East.

Wei Qingmu smiled and said: "How about His Majesty the Emperor not asking for 30 more?"

"No, this is too much!" Bruce Van Diemen said, "The maximum number is 22."

"Haha," Wei Qingmu smiled and shook his head, "Bruce, I think you still don't understand that His Majesty the Emperor's participation in the India Company as a shareholder is actually to protect the East India Company! With the Ming Emperor as a shareholder, this company will transform from a Nid

Lan's company became an international company!

This means that when the Republic of the Netherlands goes to war with Britain or France, the Ming Empire and other neutral countries can intervene to ensure the normal operation of the company."

"A maximum of 25, and no further pursuit of additional shares in the company is allowed," Bruce Van Diemen said. "This is the bottom line for the board of directors. Moreover, the emperor can only appoint one director to the company."

"Okay, just 25, there is no problem in appointing a director." Wei Qingmu said, "But we have another requirement, that is, the East India Company's headquarters in the East must be moved to Temasek Island."

Although there will be a "free city" on Temasek Island, the owner of this city is undoubtedly the Celestial Empire, and Zhu Cixiang has many ways to make this free city obey his will.

Therefore, once the foundation of the Dutch East India Company was moved from Batavia to Temasek, it was equivalent to entering Zhu Cihong's control!

Its comprehensive fall, oh, it should be comprehensive internationalization, is a matter of time.

In addition, Temasek City, which welcomed the East India Company's settlement, will surely grow rapidly and become the second largest city in Shanghai in the near future.

"So," asked Bruce Van Diemen, "who owns Batavia?"

"Batavia is of course the property of the East India Company!" Wei Qingmu said with certainty. "The company fully possesses the administrative and judicial power of the city and can continue to have land troops in Batavia.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty will not interfere with the East India Company’s actions on Java Island, nor will it seek vassal states or colonies on Java Island!”

What this means is that the East India Company can continue to happily do whatever it wants on the island of Java, and the Great Tomorrow will not interfere. Anyway, the East India Company will become a large "international" company sooner or later, so it is still unreasonable for it to control the island of Java.

Not bad.

"What about the company's interests in the Maguru Islands and the Banda Islands?" Bruce Van Diemen asked again.

The Maguru Islands and the Banda Islands are the so-called Spice Islands and are the East India Company's most important source of profits in the area east of Malacca.

"It is still owned by the East India Company," Wei Qingmu said. "These two islands are also owned by the company, and the Ming court will not interfere."

Bruce Van Diemen nodded, "Then who will His Majesty the Emperor appoint as the director of the company?"

Wei Qingmu pointed at himself with a smile, "Xia Guan will serve as a director of the company."

Bruce Van Diemen smiled and said: "Then I wish us a happy cooperation!"

The meeting between Bruce and Wei Qingmu ended here. After leaving the Ming Dynasty Embassy, ​​he did not go to the seat of the East India Company's board of directors, but went straight to the official residence of John DeWitt, Speaker of the Grand Council.

"25" After listening to Bruce Van Diemen's report, John DeWitt still sighed, "He is still the company's largest shareholder! Bruce, how do you think he will take the company away from us?"

"Take it away?" Bruce Van Diemen was stunned, "Your Majesty the Speaker, do you think we will eventually lose the East India Company?"

DeWitt, who has a pointed nose and chin, looked a little melancholy, "Isn't it possible? You don't think he would be willing to be a major shareholder without much decision-making power, do you?"

"Grand Chancellor" Bruce Van Diemen also frowned, "I think he will take further action when we finally conflict with France!"

DeWitt was silent.

Bruce Van Diemen whispered: "Unless we can rebuild the Army soon,"

"We don't need a strong army," DeWitt shook his head. "Because our strength is limited, it is impossible to maintain a strong army and navy at the same time. Moreover, the Grand Council will allocate funds to build a series of forts on the border between us and the Netherlands.

Fortresses, these fortresses will be equipped with 18-pound cannons, and all cannons will be equipped with explosive shells. Relying on these fortresses, our land security is guaranteed."

After hearing the words of the Grand Chancellor, Bruce Van Diemen was startled, "Grand Chancellor, are we ready to accept the prospect of the Spanish Netherlands being occupied by France?"

DeWitt sighed and said: "After all, little Cromwell is not as good as his father. He is not very interested in the affairs of the European continent. Now he only thinks about his colonies in the New World and the elimination of the Spanish asylum."

Maybe after the Royalists in the Spanish Netherlands are eliminated, he will intervene, but before that, he will just wait and see what happens.

As for Sweden, I don’t think they dare to have a heavy-casualty battle with the army established by Prince Condé for Louis XIV, right? Their difficulties are similar to ours, both of which are too small a population.”

"What about Austria?" Bruce Van Diemen said, "They seem to have recovered a bit. In 1664, they even had a tie with the Ottoman Empire."

"We can't count on it," De Wit said. "The empire has become a piece of scattered sand. Austria can't stand alone, and it is restrained by the Ottomans. So we can only make plans to become neighbors with the French, and then take it one step at a time!"
Chapter completed!