South Seas Development Company
 Original South Seas Trading Company flag | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | International trade |
| Founded | 19 March 1738 |
| Headquarters | , |
The South Seas Development Company, previously known as the South Seas Trading Company is a Corummese joint-stock company originally founded in 1738 to trade in the Ocean of Cathay region. It expanded its interests to Australis, specifically the Corummese colonies in Zhijun and Stenza; being granted enormous economic concessions there from the Qian government in exchange for its development of local industries and use of its manpower to help maintain control of the colonies. The company sought an alternative route to avoid the Burgoignesc island chokepoints and its extortionate tariffs by developing what came to be known as the Southern Route, a maritime trade route stretching from southeast Alshar, passing through ports in Stenza and reaching the southern Kindreds Sea and ports in west Sarpedon. The company also got extensively involved in the Corummese periphery, spearheading Corummese economic domination in Canpei, Tanhai and Rusana in the 18th and 19th centuries. A series of questionable investment decisions, the loss of Stenza and pressure from Levantine competitors eventually led the company to insolvency, leading to a partial bailout and the imposition of government trustees. A much reduced company stripped of most of its important assets was sold off to private capital in 1956, being renamed as the South Seas Development Company operating out of Zhijun.
History
Origins
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In 1593, imperial scholars asserted that based on their studies of the sea currents, a landmass of significance had to exist in the southern Ocean of Cathay. Based on these assertions and seeking for alternate routes to seek out riches that were not subject to heavy tariffs by the encroaching Burgoignesc in Audonia, Emperor Yuanjian of the Qian dynasty commissioned Admiral Xi Haifong to set out and explore the southern seas. He sailed across and discovered the islands ofZhijun in late 1593 where he traded with the native polynesians, acquiring coconuts, sugarcane, cocobolo wood and slaves. This cargo fetched high profits for the Qian so they sent him on a second trip in 1594 to build a wooden fort (later upgraded to stone) in Zhijun. The fort of Yishi would be the focal point of Corummese activities in the area for the next fifteen years. The port of Bondor would be built in the eastern coast of Zhijun after buying the land from the Tufele tribe. Two years later, Xi Haifong began the transportation of colonists to the islands to cement the imperial presence. The Tufele and Afakasi tribes, now suspicious of the foreigner's intent, attacked Yishi and Bondor. The wall-less Bondor was captured but Yishi repelled the attack thanks to the three smoothbore cannons installed on the wall. Admiral Haifont set out on three ships to retake Bondor, doing so two weeks later. With relations between the two sides broken down, the Qian court ordered the complete conquest of the islands and the enslavement of the polynesian tribes. The imperial mandate was completed in 1602 after a several decisive defeats for the tribes.