At the end of April 1637, since the war broke out with the Spaniards, the East Coast was once again subjected to a de facto trade blockade.

The raging British pirates took the Brazilian port under the Dutch as a base, and unscrupulously patrolled the long coastline of Zhenhaibao in the north and the Barewhale Port in the south, constantly robbing the passing merchant ships. Not only were the merchant ships heading to the East Coast Republic repeatedly haunted, but even the Spanish transport ships were "missed".

This largest pirate attack since the Victorian era is gradually entering **. According to historical records, in the past, Britain only had 100 piracy activities every year, and in many years it may reach 200. However, in just the first four months of this year, there have been more than fifty pirate attacks along Brazil, the East Coast, La Plata, the Strait of Magellan, Chile and Peru, not to mention the frequent attacks of the Caribbean region, and it is believed that most of these attacks were caused by British pirates.

The numerous British partnership joint-stock companies flocked to the South Atlantic, messing up the shipping security situation here. In addition, some of the British colonial and trading companies' warships and armed merchant ships made it difficult for weaker merchants to move forward.

As a result, trade in the East Coast region gradually withered. The shrinking trade also greatly damaged the operation of the national economy of the East Coast Republic of China, and the most likely impact was the severance of pig iron and cotton.

Arms, tools, hardware products and cotton cloth are currently the few products that can be exported to Europe on the East Coast. Given the serious shortage of domestic iron ore production, a large amount of pig iron ore ore sand must be imported from Brazil every month for steel production. After the trade was cut off, the blast furnace of Ping'an Steel Plant suddenly fell into a state of shutdown.

What is more worrying than the steel industry is the textile industry, the pillar of the national economy. Especially the cotton textile industry. The wool industry is not large enough because the domestic sheep population is limited. The wool production is limited, and the current scale is not very large. However, for the cotton cloth industry, which produced 220,000 horses in 1636, the cut-off of cotton raw materials is heartbreaking.

Some island cotton fields developed and planted in China can only supply 10% of the annual demand at this stage, and the rest need to be imported from Brazil or the Caribbean. Now that trade has been cut off, Ping An Machine Weaving Factory has suddenly stopped production, and nearly 1,000 workers are unemployed at home. However, the country cannot ignore them, and has to raise them three meals a day, and also pay a part of the basic salary appropriately.

This is also a considerable burden for the Executive Committee, which has cut off its main sources of fiscal revenue. In a helpless manner, the General Administration of Textile Industry left a small number of workers to insist on production, and most of the workers were organized to reclaim fields and plant economic crops that were urgently needed in China, such as flax and cotton.

Of course, these far-off waters cannot save the near fire. At present, the first priority of the East Coast Republic is to end the hostility between the British colonial companies as soon as possible and restore the normal order of the national economy. To this end, a working group jointly formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Justice sent a signal of peace talks to the British colonial companies led by the East India Company through the Governor of Portugal who was temporarily stationed in Rio de Janeiro.

As of yesterday, the British's reply finally came.

"What? Compensation for losses of 200,000 pounds, East Coast textiles withdraw from the European market, and the price of woolen wool must not be less than 12 pounds per horse, and share textile technology with the UK..." Bai Siwen couldn't help feeling dizzy as he looked at the conditions of the British copied back by Gaomo.

This is not a condition to negotiate? This is a surrender book! Even Bai Siwen, a self-proclaimed doviolent and moderate government official, felt that the British had no sincerity in peace talks after reading this condition, let alone many radical "violents" in the government.

"It's such a headache." Bai Siwen held his forehead with his hand, looking gray. "Not to mention that there is not much money in the treasury now. Even if there is, I can't give it. If I really want to give it to the army, I won't spit on my face, let alone share textile technology. How is this possible?"

"If you really want to sign it, it will definitely be a treason treaty. You and I will be stripped of a layer of skin." Foreign Minister Gao Mo was also very depressed. "According to the Portuguese, the British are very tough and do not want to regress at all. They seem to be fearless. Alas, now we are passively beaten, and it is indeed difficult to make others retreat."

"The war must stop." Bai Siwen sat opposite Gaomo and said, waving his gesture exaggeratedly: "Look at what the national economic situation is now, and the economy is almost collapsed. Fortunately, we built complete farmland water conservancy facilities a few years ago, and now we don't have to worry about eating now. However, the fiscal revenue is extremely low. At present, trade in Colonia is supported by only the support of trade. It is still a question whether the government can continue to operate. If it really doesn't work, we can only increase taxes in China! Moreover, some welfare is time to be reduced. In recent years, the country has kept most of the people's three meals a day, and this burden is too heavy and must be cut off. The taxes that should be collected must be strictly implemented. Commercial taxes, income taxes, tariffs, etc. were completely confused before, and now it is time to clarify."

"Old Bai, are you crazy?" Gao Mo looked at him in surprise and said, "At present, domestic prices have risen three times a day, and you will increase taxes. What do you tell the people to think of us? This will weaken their confidence in us and shake our ruling foundation. Moreover, if you do this, isn't it more for those radicals to exaggerate? You probably don't know yet. I just came back from Dingyuan Township, and something big happened there today."

"What big thing? Can you still rebel?" Bai Siwen said disapprovingly, "Don't change the topic, I'll ask you to discuss it today..."

"Can you listen to me?" Gao Mo interrupted Bai Siwen's words and said seriously: "There is not that simple behind this matter. You know the Guangming Candle Factory in Dingyuan Township, it was sealed today."

"What? Who dares..." Bai Siwen stood up with a vein on the ground, his face leaping, "Who is so arrogant?! What about the official of Dingyuan Township Government? Where is the township chief Lin Youde? I know that this kid is not good. I didn't like him at the beginning. Unfortunately, that kid Xiao Bailang followed Ma Qianzu's path and supported him. Now he sees it's still not good, he's all out of trouble!"

"Old Bai, can you touch your mind?" Gao Mo also stood up, "The one who sealed the Guangming Candle Factory was a group of students from Dingyuan Army Officers' School. Behind these people are you, I know better than anyone else. Is it that simple? The director of the Guangming Candle Factory is your brother-in-law, right? The Portuguese is smarter than anyone else, but stupider than anyone else! He actually raised the ex-factory price of candles by five times, annoying a group of military academy students who came to purchase candles. The two sides even had quarrels and pushes. Then, with the fuel of the persuasion of the people, the matter developed to this point."

When Bai Siwen heard Gao Mo explain the whole story, he suddenly woke up: "What's the situation there now? I'll send someone to ask."

"No need to ask." Gao Mo waved his hand and said, "A group of students from Dingyuan Army Officers' School sealed the spot with live ammunition, including the production workshop, warehouse and account books. Lao Bai, it's not me that I said you, the raw materials for this batch of candles were imported at a fair price before the war. In theory, the cost did not increase. So why should the price increase be raised with the candles smuggled from Brazil? Now the army is in charge, saying that it is to crack down on illegal profiteers who make a fortune in the country, and... and the protective umbrella behind them!"

Bai Siwen's face suddenly turned pale. Although he had no shares in the Guangming Candle Factory, everyone knew the tricks. What's more, the director of this factory was his brother-in-law, and he could not get rid of it anyway.

Be careless, careless! Bai Siwen suddenly felt a little regretful. He was a little proud of his success in recent years. He felt that he was one of the eleven Central Executive Committee members and was extremely powerful, so he could walk sideways in this country. Unexpectedly, he was hit by someone at the moment when he was most proud. This felt so uncomfortable.

"I don't believe in the Army. The Navy's butts are clean!" Bai Siwen was a little lost at this time. This matter can be big or small. If the Military Department (Joint General Staff Headquarters) insisted on making big, his brother-in-law would even be enforced. Even Bai Siwen himself, the position of the Central Executive Committee member would be shaky. At least it is certain that his prestige has dropped sharply. Whether he can be elected by the end of next year will be a big question mark.

"It's meaningless to be worse at this time." Gao Mo said with a little regret, "It's better to be realistic. You know what the military headquarters want..."

"Old Gao, are you here to be a lobbyist today?" Bai Siwen looked at Gao Mo suspiciously and said.

"I'm not here to be a lobbyist." Gao Mo waved his hand with a wry smile and said, "Let me tell you clearly. The military officials have been determined this time. Whether the Executive Committee approves or not, they will take the main force of the Shanghai Army and some of the army to go out to sea to fight with the British. I think you should have noticed it, but in fact, I am doing this for everyone's good."

The implication is that the military headquarters is determined to do it alone, and has received the support of Chairman Ma, Xiao Bailang, Shao Shude and others in the Executive Committee, and their actions have become inevitable. Since this is the case, the Executive Committee will still pinch its nose and recognize this time, as a way to preserve some authority and a little decent, so as not to make everyone's division public.
Chapter completed!