Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 256 The Poor Kingdom of Siam.

If they plot to take over the Borneo Islands, they will inevitably have to break off relations with the Dutch East Indies, which will further affect the situation in the South Pacific region.

To be cautious

King Zheng Guohui of Chu does not want to act rashly in the next two years. He must lay a solid foundation and attract more Chinese immigrants.

He had a ruler in mind, thinking that it would cost at least 500 million yuan. According to the current immigration resettlement speed, it would take at least three years.

Thinking

Then the sound of rings and pendants was heard in the corridor, and Queen Zheng Li, surrounded by a group of beautiful women, walked out with a dignified look, neither hurried nor slow, and with great grace.

Even though they have been together for three years, Zheng Guohui was still dazzled by the queen's graceful and elegant temperament at this moment. His heartstrings were instantly touched, and even his eyes became eager.

"Queen, come...sit here." Zheng Guohui pointed to the treasure couch beside him.

It's not time for dinner yet, so it's a good time to sit down and chat for a while to kill time.

Perhaps it was because women are naturally alert. When Queen Zheng Li came over, she opened her mouth and said four words silently without making any sound.

Zheng Guohui knew that it was "don't even think about it" and couldn't help feeling discouraged.

A faint and elegant fragrance wafted from her surroundings, and Queen Zheng Li sat down quietly. Her every move revealed her elegance, but she kept some distance from King Zheng Guohui of Chu.

Since she became pregnant, Queen Zheng Li has not slept with King Zheng Guohui of Chu.

Even if it was already late in the queen's bedroom, she would still push King Zheng Guohui of Chu to leave, or call a concubine to accompany His Majesty.

At this moment, Queen Zheng Li's beautiful face was covered with a halo of motherhood. She was wearing a thin and loose embroidered robe, but her slightly bulging belly could still be seen.

At this time, Queen Zheng Li was very satisfied with the baby in her womb.

"Your Majesty, please don't feel wronged. Just in the blink of an eye, didn't you already summon Miaohua to sleep with you? Wouldn't it be happy to have a beautiful woman by your side every day?" After all, she was a woman, so Queen Zheng Li's words still carried a hint of sourness.

Miaohua has been the queen's personal maid since she was a child. The little ones grew up together and their relationship is no less than that of real sisters. They can talk about anything.

How could Miaohua not report such a big thing as sleeping with the emperor?

King Zheng Guohui of Chu was not embarrassed at all. After a few dry laughs, he said, "Your Majesty, you should know what I mean. If you..."

"Your Majesty, I just saw that You seemed to be considering something. I am afraid that I would interrupt Your Majesty's thoughts if I came here rashly." When Queen Zheng Li saw King Chu Zheng Guohui open his mouth, she knew what he was going to say and quickly changed the subject.

She was the queen who was the mother of the harem. She spoke in a strict and orderly manner and would not talk about her private affairs in public and lose her status in front of the royal concubines and servants.

If that were the case, I would rather die of shame.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu knew the queen's strict temperament. It would be perfect if such a stunning beauty could be more charming.

Even if the concubines in the palace were plump or thin, he would not even glance at them.

Pity!
King Zheng Guohui of Chu smacked his lips in regret and turned around to see the queen's beautiful big eyes, which were so clear that they seemed to be able to hear people's hearts, looking at him with a hint of shyness.

It seems to say;

If Your Majesty says these shameful words, I will not live either. Please respect me, Your Majesty.

Just a glance and both parties knew what was in their minds.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu laughed dryly again and followed up on the Queen's question.
"Your Majesty is right. I have learned through secret channels that Kalimantan is rich in resources and is strategically located, known as the crossroads of the South Seas.

If you can't get such a precious place, wouldn't it make you worry all the time? "

After hearing what King Zheng Guohui of Chu said, Queen Zheng Li couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her beautiful face was like a blooming flower, and her eyes were much brighter.

What is stunning?

That's right. Queen Zheng Li naturally knew the lethality of her beautiful face, which was also the basis of her pride and confidence.

Seeing that King Zheng Guohui of Chu was obviously stunned for a moment, he gave him a reproachful look and said softly;
"Your Majesty is a peerless hero, lying on the lap of a beauty when drunk and holding the power of the world when awake. Naturally, you have great ambitions.

I’m afraid that if those red-haired foreigners knew about this, and someone was thinking about their island every day, they would be so worried that they couldn’t sleep, right?

To seize someone else's inheritance is like killing their parents.

I am only a concubine in the inner palace, and it is not my place to discuss state affairs. I just think that the Chu State has just stabilized, so shouldn't we take a long-term view before launching a war?

When she said this, her eyebrows slightly frowned, obviously a little worried.

Queen Zheng Li has lived in the deep palace for a long time, but she is not oblivious to what is happening outside.

In the South Seas, the bustling exchanges between royal families of various countries, the love-hate relationships, the dramas of seizing the throne and the dramas of you taking over and I taking over have greatly enriched the leisure time of the royal court.

Queen Zheng Li knew a lot about this Dutch white man called "red-haired barbarian". She also knew that Britain and the Netherlands had once shared the same ruler and both believed in Protestantism. The royal marriage was very close and one move could affect the whole body.

free time
The royal court would also invite Father Wehorst to the palace to talk about the complicated history of Europe, the tangled royal family disputes, love and hate, the wars and evolution of European kingdoms, and interesting religious stories, which deeply attracted the royal family members.

The main thing is that Queen Zheng Li likes to listen to it. It is much more interesting than those family gossips.

Seeing the queen's frowning brows, she had a unique charm.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu could not help but recite a poem, "The cloud-like clothes are lightly scented, the makeup is new, and the colorful carriage slowly passes through Tianjin..."

"As we meet in the jade tent, the night draws to a close, the enchanting red and the bleak black give rise to a look of sorrow." Queen Zheng Li immediately followed up with the next line, then questioned, "Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with me being concerned about state affairs?"

She was born into the Li family, a noble family in northern Anhui. Her family has been a scholarly family for generations and she is well versed in the classics, history, and literature.

If it were a boy, he would definitely be another Jinshi to join the Li family.

Look at the five Jinshi in the Li family, each of them is extraordinary.

It could truly be said that the Li family had the God of Literature descending from heaven. Needless to say, their upbringing was among the best in the country. Passing the Juren (Juren) exam was a sham, while passing the Jinshi (Jinshi) exam was standard practice.

Seeing the queen's question, King Zheng Guohui of Chu smiled and explained;
“My Queen, I have absolutely no such intention.

The Kalimantan issue was originally planned to happen three to five years later. I will do it after I have established a firm foothold.

As the saying goes: Those who do not plan for eternity are not qualified to plan for the present. Those who do not plan for the overall situation are not qualified to plan for a specific area.

For future matters, we need to plan and make moves today.

What I am considering is how to use subtle and silent methods to pry open this chess game and find the right opportunity to make a move."

After hearing Zheng Guohui's explanation, Queen Zheng Li breathed a sigh of relief, staring at Zheng Guohui with her big eyes and said seriously;

"Your Majesty is young and mature, and my father and second uncle both speak highly of you, calling you a genius rarely seen among millions.

I didn't believe it at first, but now I can only admire it!"

This light compliment melted into the heart of King Zheng Guohui of Chu like honey, bringing a satisfied smile to his face. He grasped the queen's fair, tender hand and said, "Queen, where else can I find this? From now on, you will understand how powerful I am. I will build a vast kingdom for the Chu State, dominate the South Seas, and make the barbarians afraid to even look at me."

"Okay, His Majesty knows how powerful you are." Queen Zheng Li said perfunctorily like coaxing a child, and wanted to pull her hand away, but King Chu Zheng Guohui held it tightly in his hand.

Then, I got another unique look of contempt.

"Your Majesty, the Queen, dinner is ready. Please enjoy."

"Okay, let's go right away." King Zheng Guohui of Chu held the queen's fair little hand, and the two of them walked into the dome-shaped small restaurant in an intimate manner. They usually had their meals here.

The meals of the royal family of Chu were not luxurious. The standard lunch consisted of twelve dishes and two soups, and the dinner consisted of sixteen dishes and four soups, with a combination of meat and vegetables, as well as fruits, flowers and red wine.

What is different from the Chinese mainland is that the dining table has more cheese and toast, and there are often some main dishes such as grilled tomahawk steak, French foie gras, roasted whole lamb, as well as some side dishes such as caviar, yogurt, and Yangzhou pickles. It is truly a fusion of Chinese and Western food.

Among them, grilled steak and roasted whole lamb are the favorites of King Zheng Guohui of Chu. He likes the feeling of eating meat with big mouthfuls and drinking some wine the most.

It depends on my mood and preference, sometimes it’s white wine, sometimes it’s yellow wine, sometimes it’s red wine, and I always have to pair it with food.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu and the queen sat opposite each other, illuminated by a pair of bright candlesticks inlaid with gold and jade and shaped like nine-headed dragons. The dazzling array of dishes and the unique flower arrangements whetted people's appetites.

The two drank a bowl of ginseng and antler soup before the meal. The main dish in front of King Zheng Guohui of Chu was a plate of grilled tomahawk steak, which was crispy on the inside and tender on the outside. It weighed three pounds and was sprinkled with black pepper, fine salt, and a little chili powder.

Queen Zheng Li had a light diet. The plate in front of her only contained a few green vegetables stewed with crab roe. She usually ate a little bit of each dish, but the portion was very small.

Just drink a small glass of beauty-enhancing and appetite-stimulating dry red wine, and you'll be fine.

Sitting at the dining table, he mainly chatted with King Zheng Guohui of Chu, who was eating heartily, about all sorts of things and talked about topics of interest.

"Your Majesty, I understand that you have dispatched two fleets to various countries to sign trade treaties. This is a great benefit for the kingdom!"

"Oh... the queen also cares." King Zheng Guohui of Chu fiercely tore off a large piece of juicy roast beef and put it in his mouth, chewing it happily.

When he heard the queen asking about this, he raised his head, picked up the big crystal glass filled with red wine beside him, saluted the queen from a distance, and drank a sip.

Queen Zheng Li gracefully put down her chopsticks, held the high-footed crystal cup in her two slender hands, and took a sip.

There was only a thin layer of red wine at the bottom of her glass. She took a sip, but didn't finish it at all.

Just the act of drinking is so elegant and picturesque.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu turned his head slightly, and Qiao Yue hurriedly walked forward with a hot towel, gently wiped the oil stains from the corners of his majesty's mouth, and then picked up a small piece of dragon fruit and fed it into his mouth.

After chewing the food in his mouth for a few times and swallowing it, King Zheng Guohui of Chu said:
"It's going well, isn't it? The Chu warships had a brilliant record of slaughtering people in Lake Ikeda last time. All the small countries in Southeast Asia are looking at them with awe. Who dares to say a word of dissent?
Even the Kingdom of Siam, which dominated the Indochina Peninsula, was courteous and followed the precedents of European and American powers to sign a reciprocal trade treaty.

Opening up the market of the Kingdom of Siam, even if it opens up most of the market in Indochina,

The reciprocal tariff will not exceed 3%. In the future, Chu's industrial products can be dumped in the market in the entire Southeast Asia and South Asia, and no one else will think of it.

Our Chu State has developed a comprehensive industrial system. Leveraging the markets of Northern China and Indochina, it will become increasingly prosperous. The future is promising!"

Queen Zheng Li listened with fascination. This beautiful woman was just trapped in a female body. She was not lacking in vision and knowledge. In addition, she controlled a large amount of royal assets. She immediately became interested and asked;

"Your Majesty, in this case, I will give more money to Nanfeng Hall, and the Royal Nanyang Shipping Company should also be able to order some large iron ships."

"Queen, it doesn't necessarily have to be the Royal Nanyang Shipping Company. You could also support several other shipping companies. The key to financial investment is to spread risk and not put all your eggs in one basket."

"Your Majesty, are you saying that the Royal Nanyang Shipping Company is not doing well?"

"That's not true. If we invest in just one shipping company, it will think it has the royal family's backing. Over time, it will act recklessly and become too powerful to be controlled."

"I understand. It is very likely. Oh, no, it will definitely be like this."

“A single flower does not make spring; a garden full of flowers makes spring. Shipping companies must not only grow stronger, but also engage in beneficial competition and return to their original form.” King Zheng Guohui of Chu said meaningfully, then grabbed the tomahawk steak and started to chew it in big mouthfuls.

Queen Zheng Li's big, watery eyes seemed to be filled with thought. She had really listened to His Majesty's words and was preparing to sort out the royal assets.

Not only in the shipping industry, but also in the banking industry, mining industry, light and heavy industries and commercial enterprises invested by the royal family, the financial investment policy mentioned by Your Majesty should be followed.

Well, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

The more Queen Zheng Li thought about it, the more it made sense. She made up her mind and turned to look at King Chu Zheng Guohui, who had already finished the huge tomahawk steak.

With the gentle service of Qiao Yue and Qiao Xing, he washed his hands with tea water and his face with a hot towel, then turned around and started to deal with a huge baked king crab with duck egg yolk.

Seeing such a good appetite, Queen Zheng Li smiled sweetly, then quickly stretched out her slender jade fingers to cover her mouth, maintaining a dignified demeanor.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu was unaware of this. He ran between the front and back palaces every day, and often inspected factories and mines. Except for the times when he took a carriage, he relied entirely on his two feet.

In addition, he practiced martial arts every morning and was as strong as a bull, so his appetite was naturally not bad.

The white crab meat on the plate is wrapped with fragrant baked duck egg yolk. You don’t need to peel the shell to eat it. It tastes tender and delicious, and the crab roe is extremely delicious.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu nodded repeatedly as he ate, tapping the plate with his chopsticks and saying, "Queen, you should try it too. The crab meat is well cooked, much better than boiling it directly."

"Your Majesty has ordered me to do so. I dare not disobey." Queen Zheng Li could not bear to reject the kindness of King Zheng Guohui of Chu, so she readily took a small amount from the plate.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu curled his lips when he saw this. That little bit of crab meat was not even enough for one chopstick tip. The queen was really eating cat food.

The Kingdom of Siam mentioned by the two was the overlord of Indochina at that time. Its territory covered two-thirds of Myanmar in later generations, including the suzerainty of Cambodia, Laos, Annan, Tokyo, Cochinchina and Khmer, occupying almost three-quarters of Indochina.

To the east of the Indochina Peninsula is the long and narrow Kingdom of Vietnam, to the west is the long and narrow Kingdom of Burma, and the part in between is all the territory of the Kingdom of Siam.

However, the arrival of European powers broke the pattern of the Kingdom of Siam unifying Indochina.

In the mid-19th century, Britain and France engaged in a fierce competition in the Indochina Peninsula. Britain controlled many local states in Myanmar and the Malay Peninsula, while France gradually seized sovereignty over Annam and Laos from the Qing Dynasty and Siam.

In the future, the French will continue to encroach, extending northward to Annam, Tokyo, and Cochinchina, depriving the Kingdom of Siam of its territory step by step and expanding the French Saigon Governor's Office.

At this time, the Kingdom of Siam was forced to sign unequal treaties with world powers such as Britain and France.

In 1855, the second Anglo-Siamese Treaty was signed.

In 1856, the Franco-Siamese Treaty was signed.

Later, the United States, Germany, Russia, and Chu came one after another. Following the precedents of Britain and France, they signed unilateral and unequal preferential trade treaties and forcibly opened the market of the Kingdom of Siam.

On November 1867, 11, the sailing fleet led by Lieutenant General Huo Haisheng, a naval commander of the Chu State, arrived at the Kingdom of Siam. They used force overtly and covertly to coerce the Kingdom of Siam into signing the Bangkok Chu-Siam Treaty, enjoying the same preferential trade treatment as the European and American powers.

Treaty provisions;

The State of Chu enjoyed consular jurisdiction in Siam, tariffs on goods between the two countries could not exceed 3%, citizens of the two countries could freely enter Siam, warships could freely enter the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and go directly to Bangkok, etc., which was almost a unilateral relaxation of the control by the Kingdom of Siam.

However, the treaty did not mention anything about market tariffs within Chu, exchanges between citizens of the two countries, and the treatment of merchants. This was also the consistent practice of the great powers.

King Rama V of Siam has now become numb from being ravaged. He resisted a little the first and second times, but by the fifth, sixth, and seventh times, he basically had no energy to resist.

According to the secret report from Admiral Huo Haisheng, the overall attitude of the Kingdom of Siam was acceptable. Although there were some twists and turns, it 100% implemented the Chu State's intention of trade.

As for the other indigenous kingdoms, none of them were capable of fighting.

Another long-distance fleet visited Dutch Batavia and the indigenous kingdoms of Java, including the Kingdom of Bali at the easternmost end of the island, and signed similar trade treaties, but the process was unremarkable.

At this point, the rainy negotiations between the State of Chu and the countries in Southeast Asia came to an end.

The export trade tax with Southeast Asian countries is basically between 1% and 3%, a symbolic amount.

Trade with the British Channel Governorate, the French Saigon Governorate, and the Dutch East Indies Governorate, in accordance with the previously signed reciprocal trade treaties, was basically subject to a tax rate of 16% to 17%.

As for the trade with the northern Shenzhou continent, it was disguised as foreign merchants and enjoyed the preferential trade treatment given to foreign merchants by the court, which goes without saying.

(End of this chapter)