If we talk about qualifications, the Moscow Company, established in 1557, is undoubtedly the earliest overseas chartered company in British history.
But unfortunately, in terms of performance and strength, this old Moscow Company is far inferior to the young and promising ones.
Established as an overseas chartered company in the sa 16th century, whether it is the East India Company, the Levantine Company, or the later established West India Company and Africa Company, all have left Moscow Company far behind.
The biggest reason for the company’s poor performance is certainly due to managent errors, but one must also consider the complex business conditions and ever-changing governnt policies in Russia.
The Moscow Company has to deal with jealous ’green-eyed monsters’ in Parliant on the one hand, while also being on edge to guard against the Tsar retracting the privileges granted to them.
Yet even with all their caution, they still cannot escape trouble from both sides.
Compared to the East India Company, which did not lose its monopoly rights in India until the late 18th century, the Moscow Company was fiercely attacked by Parliant as early as 1628 for its monopoly on whale oil and whale fin products. This collective siege by British foreign trade rchants against the Moscow Company lasted 70 years until 1698 when the Moscow Company was completely stripped of its trading privileges with Russia by Parliant.
When it rains, it pours. With the death of Tsar Mikhail I in 1645, Moscow Company’s century-long trade privileges in Russia also ca to an end.
After losing so many privileges, even though the Moscow Company had the first-mover advantage as the ’first foreign company to enter Russia’, they were still significantly squeezed out by the Dutch and their British counterparts.
If it were during Moscow Company’s heyday, their headquarter ’Moscow Club’ located in Moscow was the site of the British Embassy. Even the envoy appointed by His Majesty the King, upon arriving in Russia, would have had to show so respect to the company just for the privilege of staying at the Moscow Club.
Why do all forr envoys stationed in Constantinople for the Ottoman Empire always stand up for the Levantine Company at critical monts, arguing for the Levantine Company’s interests with Parliant and the Ottoman governnt, even if unfounded?
It’s because the salaries and living expenses of all forr Ottoman envoys weren’t covered by the Foreign Office, but were paid by the Levantine Company!
Moreover, this benefit not only covered the envoy but also included the two consuls under him.
Back in the day, our Moscow Company also had its tis of grandeur.
If we rewind 150 years, as an agent of the Moscow Company’s headquarters in Moscow, Martin Huyning would never have let Arthur manipulate him like this.
Unfortunately, those are things of the past.
In business, one should be realistic. Nowadays, apart from their loud na, long history, and extensive network, the Moscow Company is actually no different from other companies engaged in import-export trade in Russia.
Once, they laughed at the Levantine Company as a bunch of grocers trading seedless raisins, but now, they couldn’t even keep up with those raisin sellers.
Because the Levantine Company’s Royal Charter wasn’t lost until 1825, they managed to hold on 127 years longer than the Moscow Company did.
When Huyning thought of this, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Sir Arthur Hastings spoke up, and moreover, pressed the Moscow Company in the na of the King and the Foreign Office. If he rashly refused, there’s no need to even think, the consequences would most likely be very serious.
The way the Duke uses the word ’help’ is mild; even if he directly ’commands’, what can be done?
It’s decent of the Duke to help the Moscow Company get the license, because he could completely use another excuse to coerce the Moscow Company.
The cultural attaché of Britain might not necessarily be able to help the company with the Russian governnt, but he surely can cause trouble for the company with the British governnt.
If Huyning here refuses to go all out for the Foreign Office, then don’t bla the Foreign Office for asking the Trade Commission to choke the Moscow Company’s neck on import-export licenses in Britain.
After all, they’re already very proficient at this, because the company has already gone bankrupt once due to Parliant playing this trick.
In the face of this combo of tactics, not to ntion the crippled Moscow Company, even the 200-pound strongman East India Company was knocked down by Parliant, wasn’t it?
Martin Huyning was silent for a long ti, then raised his head, a trace of helplessness and fatigue in his eyes: "The company does have a few trade routes through the Caucasus to Persia, but those routes are basically not in use now, and even when these routes were most active in history, it wasn’t our Moscow Company that used them, but the Levantine Company."
"Levantine Company?"
Arthur originally had the attitude of casting a wide net, like looking for a needle in a haystack, mobilizing all forces to ’rescue’ Sir David Eckett, but he didn’t expect that this unintentional act would actually uncover a clue.
Where is the headquarters of the Levantine Company?
Constantinople!
What is Sir David Eckett’s position?
Forr First Secretary of the British Embassy in Constantinople, now Consul of the Constantinople Embassy.
If the Levantine Company knows how to reach the Caucasus, then it’s highly likely Sir David Eckett can find out from them.
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