Chapter 1375: Monopoly Is No Good! (Please Subscribe)

On the Bund in Shanghai, rows upon rows of high-rises stood in close array — Chinese-style, Sino-Western hybrid, and Western-style buildings, each more imposing than the last, each more magnificent than the last, as if determined to show every visitor to this metropolis, the commercial and shipping center of East Asia, just how formidable the wealth and backing of these towers' owners truly were.

Matsolker, Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, had just disembarked at the newly completed passenger wharf by the Wusong River. Looking up at the five-story building across the way that belonged to Mancini Tea House, he felt deeply moved. This city had not even existed twenty-odd years ago, yet now it had become the fastest-growing city in East Asia and perhaps the entire world — and perhaps also the one best able to attract talent and capital.

Amsterdam, Europe's most prosperous center of capital and trade, was by no means inferior to Shanghai. But every sufficiently shrewd Dutch merchant knew that Amsterdam was already at its peak — and that the higher one climbs, the colder it gets; it could topple at any moment.

For behind Amsterdam stood only three or four million Dutchmen, while all around it were great cities like London and Brussels, any of which might replace Amsterdam at any time.

But behind Shanghai stood two hundred million people, and its position was irreplaceable. Yingtian Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, and Yangzhou Prefecture were not seaports. Quanzhou Prefecture and Guangzhou Prefecture were too "remote," far from Jiangnan, the economic heart of the Ming, and not connected to the Yangtze, that golden waterway. They were also far from Yingtian Prefecture, the imperial capital — if they developed too rapidly, they might become difficult to control.

So Shanghai's takeoff was entirely predictable — it was certain.

A merchant of Matsolker's caliber naturally knew to put his main investments into a future that was predictable and certain. So he had bought up many properties in this city early on, and planned to retire in Shanghai after stepping down as Governor-General of the East India Company and look after his assets there. But now that certainty had become somewhat uncertain, because Holland had been yoked to France's war chariot by Louis XIV.

It was not that Shanghai would fail to develop, but rather whether the property of a Dutchman like Matsolker would be confiscated as enemy assets.

"Governor-General, sir! Will you be going to Maoming Street or to the East India Company building?"

Matsolker's secretary Anthony had already hired a carriage for him and was directing several coolies who carried luggage at the wharf to load the Governor-General's baggage onto the carriage. Only then did he walk over to the Governor-General, who was standing there in a daze, and ask in Dutch.

Matsolker owned a very fine residence on Maoming Street.

The East India Company building in Shanghai, on the other hand, stood on the Bund's main avenue. It had been built seven or eight years earlier and was extremely grand and magnificent.

"Better go to the Mancini Tea House building," Matsolker said, looking at the building across the way. "I need to see Signor Lombardi at once!"

Lombardi was an Italian merchant and the taipan of Mancini Tea House. He had previously held an important post in the East India Company and was on good terms with Matsolker. After he had jumped ship to Mancini Tea House, he had become the liaison between Matsolker and Marie Mancini.

Although he knew that Marie Mancini's pillow talk could not accomplish much at a moment like this, he still had to try that channel.

At the very least, through Marie Mancini he could let the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming know that, for the time being at least, the Ming could not squeeze the Dutch East India Company out of the game. Because that would make the British East India Company the monopolist of East-West trade!

Monopoly trade was no good thing for either consumers or suppliers!

……

"Governor-General, I must remind you that at present there are not only the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company on the East-West trade routes. The Australia-New Zealand Company, operated and managed by the Portuguese in Macao, also holds a certain share! So the possibility of the British East India Company monopolizing trade simply does not exist."

Lombardi, who had a Germanic face and a head of blond hair, spoke slowly in elegant French, his brows tightly knit, looking deeply preoccupied.

Matsolker's heart sank as well. "The Australia-New Zealand Company is only a small firm. It cannot possibly compete with the British."

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

Matsolker knew Lombardi was right. He fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Could it be that Madame Mancini is also at her wits' end?"

"Well…" Lombardi's brows knitted even tighter. "I imagine you are not unaware of Madame Mancini's background. She is a symbol of Ming-French friendship! In the present situation, she must be especially careful."

"Good heavens!" Matsolker said in a low voice. "Then what am I to do?"

Lombardi's brow relaxed slightly. "Of course, that is not to say there is no way."

"What way is there?" Matsolker looked at Lombardi. "My friend, if you and Madame Mancini can help the East India Company through this crisis, the Company will make it worth your while — very much worth your while!"

Lombardi seemed to have heard a satisfactory answer and smiled. "Governor-General, first allow me to thank you on behalf of Madame Mancini for your generosity.

Secondly, I would remind you that if the Dutch East India Company wishes to survive the present difficult and complicated circumstances, Madame Mancini's pillow talk alone will not suffice! The Company must possess a core competitiveness that is very difficult for others to replace — and this core competitiveness must also be hard to substitute, and must be capable of bringing enormous benefit to the Great Ming Empire!"

"This core competitiveness you speak of — you mean…" Matsolker's brows were tightly furrowed. The East India Company had many core competencies, but he truly could not think of one that could bring enormous benefit to the Great Ming Empire and was also hard to replace.

"Governor-General," Lombardi said, "as far as I know, there is a great piece of business right now before your Dutch East India Company. It only depends on whether you are willing to take it."

"This great piece of business you speak of is…" Matsolker seemed to have thought of something, and his aging face creased.

"A continent… perhaps an enormous island!" Lombardi said. "It certainly exists, but it is not easy to reach, and very difficult to explore thoroughly. And your Dutch East India Company has already been there — perhaps more than once. Am I right?"

"The Ming court is preparing to explore the southern continent?" Matsolker asked, looking at Lombardi.

"Not preparing — it has already begun!" Lombardi said. "Otherwise, why do you suppose the Australia-New Zealand Company has established a trading post on Timor and dispatched Malacca-type oared sailing ships there?"

The so-called Malacca-type oared sailing ship was a type of gun-armed warship designed after the great naval battle of Malacca, specifically for use in windless or light-wind regions.

This type of warship had a deadweight tonnage of only about 660 tons, with one gun deck and one long-oar deck, and three mainmasts capable of setting soft sails.

Because of the long-oar deck, this type of warship had poor seaworthiness and relatively poor endurance. It could not be used for ocean-going operations or combat in high-sea-state areas, but it was very well suited for exploring the northern reaches of the southern continent.

Lombardi continued, "As far as I know, the Australia-New Zealand Company obtained a contract to explore the southern continent two years ago, and successfully organized an expedition. Setting out from Timor, they reached the southern continent after ten days at sea."

"But they found nothing of value in the northern part of the southern continent," Matsolker said with a faint smile. "Am I not right?"

Lombardi nodded and smiled. "Is that not precisely your East India Company's opportunity? In navigation, exploration, and the development of unknown regions, you are more competitive than the Australia-New Zealand Company, the British East India Company, the Yiguan Party trading house, and the Sand Ship Guild trading house!"

"The British East India Company as well?" Matsolker was taken aback. "They will also take part in the exploration of the southern continent?"

Lombardi smiled. "I think you know — monopoly is bad for consumers!"

(End of Chapter)