Father of France

Chapter 168 Coman is an amateur
The world’s three major rice trading centers are New Delhi in British India, Saigon in French Indochina, and Bangkok in Thailand.

It is easy to see that the rice trade is supported by the countries of the Indochina Peninsula.

As for the rice trading center in New Delhi, its relationship with India isn't as significant as one might imagine. While India also grows rice and its production is not low, Indians consume a large quantity of it. The New Delhi Rice Trading Center is jointly supported by India and Myanmar.

Britain and France each controlled one of the rice trading centers, the other being Bangkok. Bangkok's status as a rice trading center was also related to the colonial powers. British representative John Pauling signed the Treaty of Pauling with the former Thai government.

This treaty broke the royal family's absolute control over foreign trade, allowing private merchants to freely engage in the rice trade.

Since it was an unequal treaty imposed by imperialism, it couldn't be that simple. The treaty stipulated that the export tariff on rice was fixed at three percent, making Thai rice highly price-competitive in the international market.

Stimulated by the treaty, Thailand's rice exports surged from negligible in the mid-19th century to over one million tons annually in the 20th century, making it one of the world's leading rice exporters.

However, Bangkok, operating alone, was far from being a match for the two rice trading centers in British India and French Indochina at that time.

Saigon, one of the three major rice trading centers, naturally has an office of Louis F. Fauci located there.

Manager Akda was surprised by Koman's sudden appearance. "Wasn't the shipment of rice back to China already finished? What do you need our company for?"

“Mr. Ekda, you have misunderstood us.” Koman thought of the rice that had been transshipped through Louis Fida Company before, which indeed didn’t leave them much room for profit. His face turned cold as he questioned, “Does your company have to bargain with the country when it comes to doing things for the country?”

Ekda couldn't bear such a accusation. Currently, many groups are still clearly bound to the state, and Louis F. F. is not in the same situation as the four major grain traders of the 21st century. "Commander Coman, just state your purpose. If you need help, our company will absolutely defend the national interests."

“This is really good news. The Governor’s Office is planning to inspect Bangkok.” Koman quickly changed his expression and revealed his purpose. “Thailand’s pillar industries are similar to those of French Indochina. This may expand Louis Fida’s business, which would benefit both the country and your company. It would be a win-win situation.”

“The trading volume in Bangkok isn’t high; our main competitor is New Delhi.” Ekda’s words practically stated one thing: Koman was an outsider.

"The British may have treated the Indians like dirt before, and Burma was indeed a formidable adversary. But now the British should seriously consider a dignified withdrawal from India."

Koeman didn't take the British seriously at all. None of the four major grain traders in the 21st century were British companies, which shows that Britain had disappeared from the grain trade sector since the independence of British India.

Although 1946 was not yet over, Gandhi's nonviolent noncooperation movement did indeed have an effect during the decline of British Empire.

In February, a naval mutiny broke out in India, beginning at a naval training camp in Mumbai and gaining support from all sailors aboard the escort ship INS Sword, anchored in Mumbai. The following day, all 20,000 sailors on 20 ships in Mumbai harbor and from the coastal service corps mutinied.

In support of the mutinous sailors, the Communist Party of India organized a general strike and demonstration of 200,000 workers in Mumbai. The colonial authorities dispatched a large number of military and police to carry out a brutal crackdown, resulting in nearly 2,000 casualties.

By the second half of the year, in just over six months, British India had experienced more than a hundred major strikes, which seriously affected the operation of British India. The Attlee government was at a loss and sent a special envoy delegation of the British Cabinet, headed by Indian Secretary of State Bashik Lawrence, to India to negotiate with Indian political leaders together with the Viceroy of India, W. W. Weefer.

Attlee himself explained that the Indian independence movement was a nationwide movement and closely linked to the struggles for independence in other colonies, with the military also involved.

In order to safeguard Britain's interests in India in the future, it was necessary to send people to discuss independence with Indian politicians.

The British are currently in India, battling wits with Nehru and Ali Jinnah. The entire British India is already incapacitated. What is there to worry about?
The world's three major rice trading centers have been controlled by Indians themselves since India's independence.

New Delhi has maintained its status as a rice trading center thanks to India's attitude of not treating lower castes as human beings; otherwise, with India's population, how could it possibly have the capacity to export rice?

"Our future competitors will be Bangkok, not New Delhi," Koman said, looking at Akda with disdain. "How can a real grain trading company not be concerned with political developments? Why are you still looking at things with outdated perspectives?"

It must be said that Corman is quite vengeful. He wasn't unaware of Ekda's amateurish perspective and immediately seized the opportunity to retaliate. Corman only told half the story: France's aggressive struggle did indeed preserve Louis-Fuda's existence, but French Indochina couldn't be saved either. However, the independence of Cambodia and Laos could be fought for.

If leaving Saigon is unavoidable, then placing the remaining French forces in Bangkok would be a viable option.

Thailand was not entirely unscathed during the Cold War. After the United States' defeat in the Vietnam War, it entered the well-known phase of Soviet aggression and American defense. During this period, the United States indeed avoided the Soviet Union on most issues, while resolutely resisting it in a few areas.

This limited area is basically in the Middle East. After Vietnam took control of Laos and Cambodia, the United States saw that Vietnam was showing signs of a major westward expansion. Its first reaction was to withdraw its air force base in Thailand and prepare to abandon Thailand altogether. In the late 1970s, the United States also wanted to withdraw its troops stationed in South Korea.

The US promise to keep its word is just empty talk; Thailand immediately turned around and began improving relations with the major Eastern power, ignoring the threat from the Communist Party of Thailand and ceasing to associate it with the Eastern power. It focused on dealing with the threat from Vietnam.

France cannot completely withdraw from French Indochina and must retain a certain degree of influence. Therefore, Thailand, which is currently neglected by both sides, is a very suitable destination. Koman can now do the relevant work.

It's too risky to put all your eggs in one basket and put all the rice trade in French Indochina in Saigon.

Eva Gardner's departure rekindled Koman's ambition. With General Dassanliu's approval, he immediately set off with some of Aikda and Louis Fuda's men, heading to Bangkok.

Bangkok’s rice trading center is located in a bustling market on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Every morning at five o’clock, when the salty river breeze still carries the lingering fragrance of jasmine from the previous night, crowds are already surging under the corrugated iron roof.

A man with a cloth padding his shoulder carried a sack as he moved through the narrow path. Golden rice grains dripped from the cracks, spreading a winding trail on the oil-stained ground.

Merchants squatted atop stacks of rice sacks piled high, their bronze fingers picking up a few grains of rice and chewing them, their squinting eyes reflecting a calculating glint. Each rise and fall of the scale's iron bar was accompanied by shouts in a mix of Thai and Teochew, the numbers echoing metallically in the damp air.

The probe tube was inserted deep into the burlap sack, and the rice grains that were pulled out spread out in a perfect circle in the aluminum tray.

The crisp sound of their thumbnails scraping against grains of rice seemed like the sound of raindrops falling on a tin roof during a day's work—chaotic yet busy, very similar to the scene in Saigon.

“The situation in Thailand is similar to that in Saigon; the Chinese community plays an important role in the rice trade.” Koman spoke calmly to Akda, his hands in his pockets. “Since we can cooperate so well with the Guo, Li, and Bao families, why can’t we get along just as well with the Chinese community in Bangkok?”

“The judge is right,” Ekda agreed, avoiding referring to Coman’s rank. After all, ranks and positions aren’t fixed, especially in French Indochina, where the military practically decided everything, and France wasn’t without options.

On the contrary, if France lowers its bottom line a little, it still has a lot of cards to play. Does that mean that rice trade between Cambodia and Laos can only be conducted in Saigon?

As long as Thailand acts harmlessly enough, what's wrong with taking a small share of the transaction in Bangkok?

As they walked and talked, the group entered a restaurant. Faced with questioning looks, the French, including Coman, chose to ignore them. Even in French Indochina, the French were a minority, and they were used to such looks from time to time.

About ten minutes later, the invited Chinese tycoon appeared before Koman and the others. The man was named Liao Gongpu. At this time, rice trading was the absolute core of the Thai economy, and Liao Gongpu was one of the largest traders, controlling the processing and export channels of rice.

As a representative of the rice industry's interests, they wield significant influence over rice prices and trade.

His status is roughly equivalent to that of the Guo family on the embankment. The Guo family has already sent people to French Africa to investigate, but they are unaware that Koeman is digging into the Guo family's foundation, or to put it more nicely, promoting strategic transformation.

"Dear guest, I apologize for the wait." Liao Gongpu didn't know that Koman understood Chinese; he just needed to speak slowly. It was just a polite expression he used as a habit.

“It wasn’t long, Mr. Liao,” Koeman said with a smile, extending his hand with a very gentle expression. “In fact, you were very punctual, which made us feel respected. With this attitude, our cooperation will definitely be very pleasant.”

(End of this chapter)