Chapter 549 The Price of Freedom

When he approached the gate of the Governor's yard again, John found that it was like a construction site, where workers could be found everywhere. Barbed wire and glass slags were installed on the wall, and some living facilities were being built in the yard. At the very bottom of the wall, a tall water tower was being built. John asked the guard who led the way, and the people told him that it was a water tower. The water flowed down from above through the pipes, which could solve the problem of domestic water. But for another question, John could not find the answer. How did the water go up?

When you approach the living room, everything here has changed a lot, adding many Ming elements, screens, chairs, vases, etc. These things are gifts given by the three families. There are also furniture made according to Chen Xie's intentions, such as mahogany sofas and coffee tables.

After coming in, John sat on the mahogany sofa with a cushion under his body, which was not so hard. The backrest was very comfortable and looked elegant. The tea and snacks sent by the maid were very delicious. It was better than enjoying life. The Ming people were definitely more than ten streets away from the Dutch.

After waiting for ten minutes, Chen Xie hurried in. John immediately stood up and said humbly: "Your Excellency, I am here to find out how to arrange where everyone will go in the future." I have to listen to this, can the negotiations be resumed?

"I don't think you can decide some things. This way, you and your people can voluntarily leave and go to the settlements of the Kariman Islands. Those places can be left for you for future development. We welcome those who stay voluntarily. By the way, send someone back to the Netherlands as soon as possible. I think you are also anxious when the negotiations will be restarted." Chen Xie gave a simple reply, and John was very relieved. But the next thing was not so pleasant.

To move, you have to have a boat. John carefully said: "Your Excellency, can you return some boats for our relocation?" When talking about this topic, Chen Xie immediately felt uncomfortable, and replied in a arrogant tone, "You can ask for a boat, but you have to pay. You can buy or rent it. Which boat you like? You have to go to the port to choose."

This is impossible to chat happily, and it's a big deal to ask for money. John knew that this guy's advantage was not easy to take, and even if he knelt on the ground and licked his leather shoes, he would not give up any benefits. At this time, he saw that he agreed to take half of his private property, and it seemed that he was not so generous. As expected, he took a group of Dutch people who were preparing to move to Borneo to ask the dock. The answer was almost the result of vomiting blood. Rent a boat (the seized Dutch merchant ship), the cheapest one was 5,000 gold coins. Selling a boat was even more expensive, and the cheapest one was 5,000 gold coins. Isn't this just robbing it openly? He planned to send someone to contact Borneo and let the boats come over there. One was that he couldn't leave here, and the other was that he didn't dare to come there. Three or two small fish, how dare he touch the fleet.

In the end, I had to pay for money, rent a boat to send the women and property away first, and then mobilize the people below to encourage everyone to go to the Kaliman Islands to continue their colonial career. But this matter is not so strong. Why? Why are ordinary Dutch people unwilling to leave? It is said that this place is now someone else's territory. We can't continue to treat other people high above. Now walking on the street with chins, that's Chinese.

This matter is not difficult to inquire, and the result will be released soon. The Military Control Commission issued a decree that as long as Dutch men who are willing to stay are healthy, have their own strengths and pass the assessment, they can get a job with a monthly salary of no less than twenty silver dollars. After working for one year and without bad records, they can obtain a green card from the Ming Dynasty and enjoy national treatment, and have no bad records for three years. They can be added to the Ming Dynasty nationality. What is this national treatment? No one knows what it is. But one thing is certain.

Once hired, the personal property will be completely saved. Otherwise, if you leave, the industry here will definitely not be saved. Another problem is that the surrendered soldiers are prisoners of war. They can get a job and have a good income immediately. If they want to leave, they have to pay a ransom of 100 gold coins. Who will pay this money? Who will pay? Banker Nadim is willing to provide loans. The problem is that this guy is just a scoundrel, and the interest rate is so high.

In this way, things are very simple. For ordinary people, why should I leave? The awesome sea coachman used to be, but now he doesn't know his mother who was beaten up. Why do I join in the fun? I have been with me for three years, become a Ming people, and continue to be a member of the higher nation. Why bother to follow the Kariman Islands? It's miserable to start from scratch. In the future, I won't be bullied by the Ming people when I run this route in the future.

The idea of ​​ordinary people is very simple. If you have a good income to support your family, try not to take risks. Even if most of the people who come here are adventurous people, it is normal to bow their heads in the face of reality? Especially those prisoners of war, they are enthusiastically asking for a job. Some people with families in the city can go home immediately after getting a job.

As for the units that recruit workers, there are many. The police station and the Urban Management Bureau of the Military Control Commission need a group of strong thugs. The most popular job is the Dutch people with families. After all, after obtaining this job, the family can also get a job doing miscellaneous work in the government department. The disadvantage of this job is that the minimum salary is 20 silver coins, and the family can definitely be fed and fed. Those who like high salaries can go to the fleet to find jobs. Many private fleets on the dock are recruiting sailors and providing guarantees. The worst salary for this job can also get thirty silver dollars per month. Those who are familiar with various navigation skills can get a maximum monthly salary of 100 silver coins depending on different positions. If you can get a captain's career, then congratulations, the annual salary is definitely no less than 2,000 silver coins.

Why do you get such a high salary? Just look at the income of the Royal Fleet in the Ming Dynasty. The travel fee for a trip to Batavia is 20,000 silver dollars, which is still the friendship price. Otherwise, they would be able to earn 50,000 silver dollars by ship by ship. If they were ambitious enough, they would drive the ship directly to Europe, which would be a great profit.

After Batavia changed hands, this trend had already emerged. Zhang Xun, the leader of the Royal Fleet, was discussing with the Zheng family fleet whether to set up a huge fleet and directly attack Europe. Otherwise, we will go to Batavia's route in the future. It is a perfect match for a trip of 70,000 to 80,000 yuan. There are a large number of European merchant ships waiting to receive goods on the dock.

There is a problem that must be solved when taking the route of Europe, that is, it needs to be escorted by a fleet. Otherwise, if the Ming fleet is in the past, who knows which navy will play a guest role in pirates? This is very popular in Europe. Whether it is Zhang Xun or Zheng Cai, they have done a lot of homework on these things. In fact, the most profitable business is to transport arms to Europe. The flintlock rifles produced by the Ming Dynasty are now sold in India. How can the flintlock rifles that have just appeared in Europe compare with the products of the mature technology of the Ming Dynasty, let alone steel, which is directly crushing.

However, arms transactions are not something that the public can do. Moreover, Chen Xie has not yet intended to expand it, it is just an attempt. After returning this time, he plans to clear all the inventory of smoothbore guns and make some money.

When cheers came from the dock, everyone in the city was alarmed. People in the city rushed to the dock to watch the fun. Then they found a fleet of ships. When they saw this fleet, the Chinese were naturally excited, and the Dutch were naturally sad. Knight's fleet was escorted here, and the fleet was eventually annihilated. Chen Xie was also very excited when he learned the news. It would be very troublesome to know that the existence of such a fleet would be hidden in that place. What if this guy was hiding in the place to fight guerrilla warfare with you? Do some robbery transactions at sea, sell some wonton noodles, etc. These are all skilled workers.

Only by destroying this fleet will the entire route be considered completely peaceful. The fleets of other countries do not have such a large scale. According to the Ming fleet's habit of walking together with ten or eight, ordinary pirates are no different from sending death.

Chen Xie went to the dock to welcome the return of the squadron. He naturally saw Shi Lisheng leading the appearance of two defeated generals. Seeing Chen Xie, Shi Lisheng stepped forward to salute and presented the two swords with both hands and said: "Report to the Lord of the Pavilion, Bei Zhi was ordered to escort and block the strait. The mission was completed. I will come and report it."

When Knight stood in front of Chen Xie, he couldn't help but be surprised by Chen Xie's height. This is a very common tall man in the Ming Dynasty. It is also in the southern coastal areas, and tall man is even rarer. As a defeated general, Knight could only lower his head and said, "Your Excellency, Knight salutes you! And hopes to get normal treatment."

Chen Xie replied to him in the arrogant tone of the winner: "You can choose to work in the prisoner's camp for five years or you can choose to deliver a ransom of 10,000 gold coins. No matter what choice you make, in the future, you will have to do some work in exchange for the food you must have every day."

Knight was timid and he had known this treatment for a long time. There are more than 500 soldiers working in Temasek, and he is in charge of three full meals a day. He eats well, but he doesn't have freedom. Only when he loses it, he knows how valuable it is.

At this time, someone stood up and spoke, bowed to Chen Xie, and whispered humbly: "Master, I can guarantee the ransom of General Nath. In this way, he can return to the Netherlands and explain the situation to the Dutch government to prevent the relationship between the two countries from further deteriorating." Chen Xie looked at Nadim calmly. The guy lowered his head lower, but he was smiling with a smug smile on his face. This move must be just right. The master has always wanted to contact Europe and even decided to let him go back next year. (To be continued, please search for astronomy, the novel is better and faster!

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Chapter completed!