On the Bund in Shanghai, many Chinese-style, Chinese-Western, and Western-style high-rise buildings are lined up row after row. One building is more grand than the other, and each one is more gorgeous than the other. It seems that everyone wants to come to this building.

People in this metropolis, which can be called the center of East Asia's industrial, commercial and shipping industry, all know how rich the financial resources and backgrounds of the owners of these high-rise buildings are!

Matt Solko, the governor of the Dutch East India Company, got off the ship from the newly built passenger terminal on the Wusong River. He looked up at the newly built five-story building opposite the Mancini Tea House and was filled with emotion. This building

The city did not exist more than 20 years ago, but now it has become the fastest growing city in East Asia and even the world, and perhaps the most attractive city for talent and capital!

Although Amsterdam, the most prosperous capital and trade center in Europe, is not inferior to Shanghai in any way, every Dutch businessman who is smart enough knows that Amsterdam is already at its peak, and it is too cold to stand up high and may fall at any time.

Because there are only three to four million Dutch people behind Amsterdam, and there are big cities around it such as London and Brussels that will replace Amsterdam at any time.

There are 200 million people behind Shanghai, and its status is irreplaceable... Yingtianfu, Suzhoufu, and Yangzhoufu are not seaport cities. Quanzhoufu and Guangzhoufu are too "remote" and far away from Jiangnan, the economic center of the Ming Dynasty.

It is not close to the golden waterway of the Yangtze River, and it is far away from Yingtianfu, the capital of the empire. If it develops too much, it may be difficult to control.

Therefore, Shanghai’s take-off is completely predictable and certain!

A businessman of Matt Solko's level certainly knows that he must place his main investment in a predictable and certain future. Therefore, he purchased many properties in this city early and planned to resign from the East India Company.

The governor later retired in Shanghai and took care of his assets... But this certainty has now become a bit uncertain because the Netherlands was tied to the French chariot by Louis XIV!

It's not that Shanghai can't develop, but whether the property of Matt Solko, a Dutchman, will be confiscated as enemy property.

"Mr. Governor! Are you going to Maoming Street or the East India Company Building?"

Matt Solko's secretary Anthony had already hired a carriage for him, and also directed several coolies on the pier to carry the salutes for Mr. Governor, and carried all the salutes of Mr. Governor onto the carriage. Finally, he walked to the Governor who was really in a daze.

Ask questions in Dutch.

Matt Solko has a very beautiful house on Maoming Street.

The East India Company Building in Shanghai is located on the Bund Street. It was built seven or eight years ago and is very magnificent.

"Let's go to the Mancini Tea House building," Matt Solko said, looking at the building opposite. "I need to see Mr. Lombardi immediately!"

Lombardi was an Italian businessman and the head coach of the Mancini Tea House. He originally held an important position in the East India Company and had a good relationship with Matt Solko. After he switched jobs to the Mancini Tea House, they became

Liaison between Matt Salko and Mary Mancini.

Although he knew that Mary Mancini's pillow style would not have much effect at this moment, he still had to take this approach.

At least through Mary Mancini, we can let the Ming Dynasty know that at least for now, the Ming Dynasty cannot squeeze out the Dutch East India Company. Because that will cause the British East India Company to become the monopoly of East-West trade!

Monopoly trade is not a good thing for consumers and suppliers!

…

"Mr. Governor, I need to remind you that there are more than two companies on the current East-West trade route: the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. The Australian and New Zealand Company, managed by the Portuguese in Macau, also occupies a certain share! So the British East India Company

There is no possibility of Indian companies monopolizing trade."

Lombardi, who had a Germanic face and blond hair, spoke slowly and elegantly in French, his brows furrowed tightly, and he looked worried.

Matt Solko's heart sank, "ANZ is just a small company and it is impossible to compete with the British."

"But the British will let it exist!" Lombardi said, "As long as it exists, the British East India Company will not be a monopoly."

Matt Solko understood that Lombardi was right, was silent for a moment, and then asked in a low voice: "Is there nothing Mrs. Mancini can do?"

"This..." Lombardi frowned even more tightly, "I don't think you don't know the origin of Mrs. Mancini, right? She is a symbol of friendship between Ming and France! In the current situation, she must

Be extremely careful.”

"Oh my God!" Matt Solko whispered, "What should I do?"

Lombardi raised his brows slightly and said, "Of course, there are ways!"

"Is there any other way?" Matt Solko looked at Lombardi, "My friend, if you and Mrs. Mancini can help the East India Company tide over the difficulties, the company will definitely satisfy you, very satisfied!

"

Lombardi seemed to have heard the satisfactory reply and smiled: "Mr. Governor, first of all, on behalf of Mrs. Mancini, I would like to thank you for your generosity.

Secondly, I would like to remind you that if the Dutch East India Company wants to survive in such a difficult and complicated situation, it cannot rely solely on Mrs. Mancini’s pillow skills! The company must have core competition that is difficult to be replaced by others.

Strength, and this core competitiveness must be difficult to replace and can bring huge benefits to the Ming Empire!"

"What do you mean by core competitiveness?" Matsolko frowned. The East India Company had many core competitivenesses, but he couldn't think of any that could bring huge benefits to the Ming Empire.

And it’s difficult to replace.

"Mr. Governor," Lombardi said, "as far as I know, there is a big deal before your Dutch East India Company. It depends on whether you are willing to do it or not?"

"The big deal you are talking about is..." Matt Solko seemed to have thought of something, and his old face wrinkled up.

"A continent...maybe a huge island!" Lombardi said, "It definitely exists, but it is not easy to reach, and it is difficult to fully explore. And your Dutch East India Company has been there long ago, maybe

More than once. Am I right?”

"Is the Ming Dynasty preparing to explore the southern continent?" Matt Solko looked at Lombardi and asked.

"It's not preparation, it's already started!" Lombardi said, "otherwise, why do you think the ANZ Company would set up a trading station on Timor Island and send Malacca-type galleys there?"

The so-called Malacca-type galley is a type of artillery warship designed after the Malacca Great War and is specially used in windless or light wind areas.

This type of warship has a deadweight of only about 660 tons, has a gun deck and a long oar deck, and has three mainmasts that can hang soft sails.

Because of its long oar deck, this type of warship has poor seaworthiness and poor endurance. It cannot be used for ocean operations and operations in high sea state areas, but it is still very suitable for exploring the northern part of the southern continent.

Lombardi continued: "As far as I know, Australia and New Zealand received the contract to explore the Southern Continent two years ago and successfully organized an expedition. It set off from Timor Island and arrived after 10 days of sailing at sea.

Southern Continent.”

"But they didn't find anything valuable in the northern part of the Southern Continent," Matsolko smiled slightly, "Am I right?"

Lombardi nodded and smiled: "Isn't this an opportunity for your East India Company? In terms of navigation, exploration and development of unknown areas, you are better than the Australia and New Zealand Company, the British East India Company, the First Party Trading Company and the Sand Ship Gang.

Commercial banks are more competitive!”

"And the British East India Company?" Matsolko was stunned, "They will also participate in the exploration of the southern continent?"
Chapter completed!