Marin never dared to underestimate the great sailing potential of the Dutch, and its original history also proved the terrible history of the Dutch in sailing. According to historical records, during the heyday of the Dutch, 15,000 merchant ships sailed around the world. Now, in the prosperous Venice, there are only more than 3,000 merchant ships.

Moreover, the merchant ships of the two countries are very different. Venetian merchant ships only need to sail on the Mediterranean with little wind and waves, and do not need to be built much, and they are sailboats. The Dutch merchant ships are mostly large merchant ships that can sail on the Atlantic Ocean.

It is said that in the 17th century, there were hundreds of shipyards in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and hundreds of ships could be started at the same time. According to a shipyard, only one or two sea boats could be started at the same time. At that time, there were estimated that one or two hundred shipyards in the Netherlands.

Of course, that was the heyday of the Netherlands in the 17th century. As for now, there must be not so much. After all, the North Sea market and the Baltic market are still under the hands of the Hanseatic League. There is not so much demand, and the Netherlands will not have so many shipyards. What's more, the timber for shipbuilding in the Netherlands is insufficient. During its heyday, many of the timber for shipbuilding in the Netherlands came from forests of Norway and Sweden. But now, Marin has used the forest resources of Norway, and there is nothing to do with the Dutch. Therefore, Marin is easy to seek, and why the Dutch suddenly started a large voyage.

Immediately, Kleiman gave the answer:

"It's the French support!"

"What?" Marin almost thought he had heard it wrong. He asked in surprise:

"The Habsburg family and France are deadly enemies. How can France support the Netherlands in carrying out a great voyage?"

Kleman nodded and said:

"That's right, but your Highness, you have overlooked one thing..."

"What's the matter?" Marin asked curiously.

"The French navy was crippled by England, and even merchant ships along the coast of France, whoever flew French flags would be attacked by English 'pirates'..." In fact, the so-called "pirates in England" were ordered by the English officials to pretend to be. The purpose was to fully suppress France's maritime career and prevent them from threatening the English mainland.

Marin suddenly understood:

"You mean that France is not convenient for itself to develop its shipping industry now, so it borrowed the Dutch's hands to do shipping?"

Kleiman nodded:

"Yes, France has a lot of goods that need to be exported, such as wine, and other agricultural products. But now the French do not ship to transport goods themselves, and the French are unwilling to hire British ships and our North Sea ships. So, the Dutch ships have become their best choice."

"It is precisely because of the huge demand for maritime cargo transportation in major powers like France that the shipping industry in Amsterdam in the Netherlands suddenly developed. According to the information from my brother Kohler, there are now 30 shipyards in Amsterdam, which can build more than 50 large merchant ships every year. These merchant ships are used by several Dutch merchants to help the French transport goods."

"So that's it. The English destroyed most of the French merchant ships, but they didn't expect to indirectly make the Dutch... By the way, does His Highness Philip know about the Dutch merchant ships helping the French transport goods?"

Kleman shook his head:

"His Highness Philip did not know that in Ghent, his main focus was on the wool industry in Flanders. The matter of helping the French transport goods seemed to be created by the rich Dutch merchants in Amsterdam themselves. It is said that Louis XII privately gave the merchants a lot of benefits, which stimulated the merchants in Amsterdam to be willing to do things for France. His Highness Philip did not seem to know all this."

Ghent is located in the southern part of the Netherlands, which is later Belgium. Amsterdam is located in the later Netherlands in the north. Philip did not know that the small movements of the merchants in Amsterdam in the north were normal. Unlike Marin, the North Sea Chamber of Commerce had spies in Paris, which found out these inside information.

The French King Louis XII was really beautiful, because the Netherlands belonged to the territory of the Habsburg family. The Habsburg family, like England, are enemies of France. Speaking of which, England and the Habsburg family should be considered ally relations of the same "anti-French alliance". Therefore, the Dutch merchant ships flying the Netherlands flag passed through the English Channel, and the English would not attack them. Therefore, Louis XII privately attracted a group of Amsterdam merchants to help France transport goods, which was very beautiful. Moreover, it is said that Louis XII also sent a lot of sailors to those Dutch merchant ships. Obviously, he planned to use the Dutch merchant ships to help them train sailors. As for what to train sailors? Needless to say, it must be targeted at England. After all, France has never let go of its covetousness for England...

Not only that, these Dutch merchant ships actually competed for business with the North Sea Shipping Company and began to carry goods from West Friesland. You should know that West Friesland is a transit of Marin's North Sea Country and belongs to the sphere of influence of the North Sea Shipping Company. These expanding Dutch merchant ship owners obviously crossed the boundary. But it was precisely because of this that Kleiman was alarmed. Then he asked the North Sea Chamber of Commerce to help investigate and found so many problems.

...

"Since that's the case, let's take a move! Be sure to suppress these Amsterdam annihilations!" Marin said seriously.

Whether from the perspective of cracking down on France's foreign trade or preventing the future "sea coachman", Marin cannot allow the group of ship owners in Amsterdam to rise. Therefore, taking advantage of their just rise and their wings are not yet rich, it is a good time to suppress them.

"Your Highness, please give me instructions!" Clayman said seriously. After a few years of experience, the little monkey who used to be uncontrollable seems to have made great progress. It is said that this kid is no longer bragging anymore. In other words, his mouth is not as unsolid as he was a few years ago. After all, people will always grow up. Maybe he can put a burden on him...

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content behind! Marin thought for a while and ordered:

"First, I will send someone to inform His Highness Philip, and I will say that the group of merchants in Amsterdam will scatter and help the French make money! As long as the news is delivered, His Highness Philip will also help us punish those merchants!"

Because most of the territory of the Principal of Burgundy (the Burgundy region of later France) was stolen by the French, the Habsburg family and France had deep hatred. Not to mention, the resistance troops in western Switzerland are completely supported by the French.

Therefore, if the handsome King Philip knew that the Amsterdam ship owners helped the French, he would definitely not let them go. After all, it is a serious crime to gain access to the enemy. If a group of great nobles do this, Philip might take care of it. But it is just a group of wealthy businessmen in Amsterdam... Marin felt that Philip might take the opportunity to make a fortune... For example, a house search or something...

However, Marin also planned to get a piece of the pie. Of course, it was not to participate in the house search, but to covet the 30 shipyards in Amsterdam. Philip had confiscated the houses of those merchants, so the shipyards and even merchant ships under the name of those merchants might be taken out for auction. Marin planned to take the opportunity to eat the shipyards and merchant ships at a low price. Because if he didn't eat these shipyards, it might be cheaper for others and add a competitor in vain. Therefore, it would be better to eat these benefits by himself.

Then, Marin issued a second order:

"Second, send someone to notify the English side. If they see Dutch merchant ships, they will intercept and inspect. When they find that the French sailors on the ship will be executed or arrested as slaves. If they find that it is French cargo, they will be confiscated!"

This move has slashed the lifeline of the French. Of course, it only hit the French's plan to train sailors and transport goods with the help of Dutch ships. After all, sea transportation is not good, and the French can still choose land transportation. Of course, land transportation costs are so expensive and the profit is very low...

In addition to these two measures, Marin also asked Kohler to send spies to Amsterdam to collect intelligence to avoid the emergence of fish that escaped from the attack of the Habsburg family. This time, Marin planned to take this opportunity to severely attack the Dutch shipping industry and avoid the rise and development of the Dutch maritime industry...

Moreover, because Marin hid behind the scenes this time, no matter the Dutch ship owners or the French, they didn't know that Marin was causing the bad. Because, on the surface, it was the handsome King Philip's attack...
Chapter completed!