The roll of yellow paper was a document sent by the Helandong India Company from Taiwan three days ago requesting trade and exchange of trade with the Ming Dynasty.

In the past, their trade with Daming passed through Zheng Zhilong's hands, and not only was they deprived of a large amount of "handling fees", but also the amount of trade and the types of commodities traded also depended on Zheng's face.

Now that Zheng Zhilong has committed treason and fled to Jiangbei, the Helan people dream of being able to do business with the Ming Dynasty freely from now on, and even monopolize the maritime trade between the Ming Dynasty and Europe and Japan.

The so-called document requesting trade and mutual market on Zhu Linmi's desk was actually a self-righteous clause put forward by the Helan people, just waiting for the Ming Auxiliary King to sign and seal.

Because Zheng Zhilong took away the main fleet of the Ming Dynasty, the Helan people did not take the Taizheng Imperial Court seriously at all. According to their usual habits, if the Taizheng Dynasty, which did not have a strong fleet, could not satisfy them, then their warships would begin to harass the Ming coast.

Zhu Linmiao naturally knew very well what the Helan people wanted to do, so he ignored them all the time.

But at this time, when he saw the paperwork, he immediately thought that he could use these foreigners to solve the problem of grain and rice.

He couldn't find a source of food in the land of Huaxia, so he continued to look outside!

Taiwan's fertile land is itself a big granary. Further south, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia have a suitable climate and have been high grain producers since ancient times.

The Ming profiteers were able to manipulate the grain market in Fujing, but had no influence over the price of grain in Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries.

It's just that Daming's fleet is controlled by Zheng Zhilong all the year round, and he can't even form a decent caravan, otherwise he brought silk and porcelain to Southeast Asia for a turn, and the grain was not pulled back by boat?

Now the only way to do this is to rely on the fleets of these Europeans.

He immediately instructed Shi Lin: "Let the Ministry of Rites summon that Helan envoy to see me, and move quickly." ”

"Yes!"

Shi Lin immediately drove his horse away, and after half an hour, he took Li Guangchun, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and Bertman, the envoy of the Landong India Company, back to the palace.

Nabertman waited for three days at the post house of the Ministry of Rites, and when he saw him summoned by the Ming Auxiliary Prince, he thought that the other party was going to agree to their request and sign a trade agreement.

Therefore, when he entered the main hall of the palace, he only bowed slightly and nodded, and then beckoned his assistant to take out the agreement that had been prepared.

Shi Lin saw Zhu Linmiao only drinking tea with his eyes down, and immediately said in a deep voice to Bertman and the people behind him: "His Royal Highness the Auxiliary King is above, kneel down!" ”

When the Helan people heard this, they turned their heads and saw that the majestic guards around him were all pressing their hands on the hilt of their swords, glaring at him with "bad intentions".

He immediately remembered that it was rumored that the auxiliary king in front of him had repeatedly killed the northern barbarians on the battlefield and killed tens of thousands of enemy troops, and immediately felt a chill rise from his heels to the top of his head, and hurriedly leaned down and knelt down, and saluted respectfully again, "Meet His Royal Highness the auxiliary king." ”

"Well, get up." Only then did Zhu Linmiao glance sideways at him, "There is a good deal for you to come here for your East India Company." ”

"Your Highness," said Bertman, who was also a veteran negotiator, quickly calmed down and said in a vinegary voice, "I think we should sign a trade agreement first."

"As you saw the other day, the Dutch Far East Fleet will provide your empire with the security of the shipping lanes, and no pirate will dare to attack you. And the East India Company will pay you an annual trade tax of 200,000 taels of silver.

"And you only need to agree to our free trade in Yuegang, and act as an agent for the trade between Daming and Europa and Japan.

"Look, that's the best deal......"

"Really?" Zhu Linmiao smiled coldly, "Two hundred thousand taels? That's a lot. How much tax did you pay Zheng Zhilong before? ”

Berthman was stunned for a moment, and almost blurted out "a few million taels".

"Do you still want to monopolize the Ming trade with Europe and Japan? The tone is not small, I am afraid that this annual trade income of tens of millions of taels, even the British will go crazy. Zhu Linwei immediately remembered that there didn't seem to be a Chinese name for Britain at this time, so she added, "England." ”

Berthman was stunned again, no one in the Ming Dynasty knew where Britain was, let alone that Britain and the Netherlands were fighting for hegemony at sea, but listening to what the auxiliary king said, he seemed to know Britain very well.

"Oh, you don't have to move out of the ...... Oh, the British come, they don't have much power in the Far East. "Actually, I want you to understand that you can only sign this trade agreement." The Ming no longer has a sailor, and you can't protect your trading fleet. ”

In fact, what he said was not entirely unreasonable, this era belonged to the era of piracy, and without a strong fleet escort, merchant ships were almost robbed when they went out.

"You don't have to worry about that." Zhu Linmiao glanced at the yellow thick paper roll on the case, "You are joking with this agreement, I have no plans to sign a trade agreement with Helan for the time being." ”

Berthman stared at him with a threatening gaze, "Your Highness, you probably didn't hear clearly, you have lost the water master!" And Helan's huge fleet is in the east. ”

Dongfan is the name of Taiwan in the Ming Dynasty.

"Threaten me?" Zhu Linmiao put down the teacup and said with a smile, "I really don't have many warships in my hand, there are more than ten big ships in the Yangtze River." But if I were to unite with the Ezeites and attack the fleet of the Dutch East India Company, what are your chances of victory?

"Oh, by the way, the Franc Robot must be happy to join in the encirclement of you."

Bertman was stunned again, and Lan had to put a lot of effort into competing with Spain for the Far East. If the Ming Dynasty fully supports Spain, they will definitely fight to the death with Helan at all costs for the sake of this tens of millions of taels of maritime trade. Portugal and Spain are from the same source, so it's no surprise that they are stepping in at this time.

"I'll just get to the point." Zhu Linmiao said indifferently, "You cooperated with Zheng Zhilong, the national thief of the Ming Dynasty, I should interrupt trade with you and hand over all the trade with Europe to the Francophiles." ”

"This, you can't do that!" Bertman was anxious, if he lost trade with the Ming Dynasty, the East India Company's losses would be incalculable, "and Lan and the Ming have a long-term trade cooperation ......"

"There's a deal right now that is good for you and me." Zhu Linmiao interrupted him and said, "If you can satisfy me, we will talk about the trade agreement." ”

Berthman sighed and said, "What deal?" ”

"I need food, rice, beans, potatoes and even sugar cane, and 10,000 stone will arrive in Yuegang in ten days. After that, another 20,000 stones were shipped in half a month. ”

"Twenty-five days and 30,000 stone of grain? How is this possible?! ”

"I'm sure you'll be able to do it." Zhu Lin took a sip of tea and said, "I can pay with fairy stone powder or Longnan steel." ”

"Fairy stone powder?! Longnan Steel ?!! Bertman's eyes lit up immediately.