1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 645 The Predicament of Shibazhi
After a simple defense handover ceremony in Nanri Island, Shi Diwen led his subordinates who had been stationed here for nearly two months to leave Nanri Island, go south to Zhangzhou to join Ningqi and others, and then returned to Sanya, Hainan.

The group of Ming soldiers stationed on Nanri Island quickly realized the difference between the new Haihan soldiers and the previous group.If the daily training of the previous batch of Haihan militias was cruel to them, then the training content of the new batch of militias is simply hell-level.The first compulsory training content every day is to run around the hill where Nanri Village is located.

For people like the Annan Militia, the 5000-meter cross-country run is indeed just one of the usual training items, but for the vast majority of the Ming army who lack daily physical training, this distance is simply impossible to run down in one go. I was able to walk through this part of the trip slowly, and then I missed all the training subjects for the rest of the day.The huge difference in training intensity between the two sides made it impossible for the Ming army to keep up with the training progress of Shanghai Han.Just physical training can no longer be synchronized, and it is even more impossible to train together for more advanced subjects such as tactical coordination.

Seeing this situation, Qian Tiandun felt helpless. Of course, he understood that there were many deep-seated reasons behind this gap in training level. Even if these Ming troops were forced to train, it was impossible to see the effect of improvement immediately.In this regard, he can only suggest to the generals of the Ming army to provide better food guarantee for the soldiers, so that they can follow the training of the Shanghai Han militia.

No matter how the Ming army practiced, Qian Tiandun would never let up in the training of his subordinates.As a high-level person, he is very clear about the development plan of the executive committee, and he has already expressed the intention of the executive committee when he was transferred from Annan to Fujian this time.For a period of time to come, the control of Fujian's coast will be the focus of Haihan's attention, and the elite division of the militia army led by Qian Tiandun will most likely have to take on the task of taking the lead.

Although the military attaches great importance to the role of Nanri Island at this stage, Qian Tiandun also knows that this is actually just a way of accommodating the Fujian government and Xu Xinsu. , in fact, it is not harmful to the overall situation.Qian Tiandun believed that the real battlefield of the decisive battle would not take place on this small island, and it was more likely to be in a seaport along the coast of Penghu or Taiwan Island.

Of course, before the conditions were ripe to send troops to attack Penghu and even Taiwan, Qian Tiandun knew that he had to guard against Shibazhi and the Dutch to retake Nanri Island.Now that Shibazhi has sent people to Tainan to find the Dutch to rescue the soldiers, Qian Tiandun believes that the possibility of the Dutch participating in this matter is relatively high.

The first reason is that the Dutch and Daming had an unresolved old enmity. If they could seize the opportunity to trick the Fujian government, the Dutch might really take the risk.The second is that the Dutch don't have much external help available now, and Xu Xinsu has clearly stood on their opposite side. If they lose Shibazhi again, it will be difficult for the Dutch to obtain manpower and other resources from Daming.Whether public or private, the Dutch cannot sit back and watch Shibazhi lose and then fall apart.

Attacking strong cities such as Jinmensuo and Zhongzuo, Shibazhi has hit a wall several times, and the Dutch may not be willing to send their soldiers to this kind of battlefield to fight their lives.However, it must be much less difficult to attack a small island like Nanri Island with a small area and relatively weak defense.If Shibazhi offered the right conditions, it would not be surprising for the Dutch to intervene.

And just as Qian Tiandun expected, after Zheng Xinzhi made a condition to Hans, the chief officer of the East India Company, after discussion, the Dutch finally found it difficult to resist the temptation to drive away the Spaniards, and decided to assist Shibazhi Take back Nanri Island.

"But our military assistance is conditional." Hans poured cold water on the excited Zheng Xinzhi first: "We will not send soldiers to the island to join the war."

Zheng Xinzhi was taken aback for a moment, and then said: "It is also possible if Lord Hans can sell a batch of artillery to us."

"The cannon can be sold, but it needs to be increased by [-]% of the previous price." Hans showed his fangs calmly: "The prices of other weapons are also raised according to this standard."

Zheng Xinzhi secretly felt sorry for his master's money. This cannon cost a few hundred taels more, and ten cannons cost a few thousand taels more. It is equivalent to taking the silver of the past ten cannons, which can only be bought now. Six or seven doors.This price increase is indeed poisonous enough. Now that Shibazhi is begging the Dutch to sell weapons, there is no room for bargaining at all.To be honest, even if Hans increased the price by [-]% or even more in one go, Zheng Xinzhi would hold his nose and agree first, otherwise he would have no way to explain it when he returned to Penghu empty-handed.

"In addition, all the expenses of the combat ships and combat personnel we send must be borne by you." Hans quietly put forward the next condition: "First, 5 taels of silver must be paid in advance as the cost of the troops' departure. "

Zheng Xinzhi frowned. Although this condition was extremely unfair, he still did not express any objection.As long as the Dutch are willing to send troops, it is all right, as for how much money they want, it is secondary - anyway, Zheng Xinzhi himself will not be responsible for paying the money in the end.

Seeing that Zheng Xinzhi didn't object, Hans continued: "Thirdly, after our fleet departs from Dayuan Port, you must send over the information on the northern Danshui and Jilong ports as soon as possible, and ensure that the information on our side Cooperate when sending troops to attack the area. This matter needs to sign a written agreement, and Mr. Zheng Zhilong's autograph and seal must be attached."

The main reason why the Dutch are willing to send troops is that Shibazhi can help them deal with the Spaniards, and in order to prevent Shibazhi from playing tricks in the middle, signing a written agreement is also a necessary means of coercion .If Shibazhi backs down, then this piece of paper will make it impossible for them to get along on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"This matter... the villain has to go back and tell my lord first, and it should be fine." Zheng Xinzhi dared not express his position on Zheng Zhilong's behalf on this matter, after all, Zheng Zhilong would have to personally handle the signing and deposit.

"We can discuss the details again, but the general framework is like this." Hans said proudly: "If you think it is feasible, then come next time with the signed agreement and money."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Hans is busy with business, so the villain will leave first." Zheng Xinzhi saw that Hans had no intention of talking to him anymore, so he quickly stood up and said goodbye tactfully.

After Zheng Xinzhi came out of the office of the East India Company, he didn't even return to his residence, so he went straight to the pier, and immediately returned to Penghu by boat, and brought back the contents of the negotiation to Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong had been waiting impatiently in Penghu for a long time. If he didn't know that he was not strong enough, he probably couldn't wait for Zheng Xinzhi to come back, so he organized his own team to go to Nanri Island.

After Zheng Xinzhi finished talking about the three conditions offered by the Dutchman, Zheng Zhilong's face turned dark: "Is this the result of your half-month negotiation in Dayuan Port?"

Zheng Xinzhi argued tremblingly: "The red-haired leader Hans was not willing to participate in this matter before, and later the villain offered the Frang machine as an exchange, so he was relieved, but he still killed the three men." This condition has always been unwilling to give in. The villain did not slack in the slightest during his stay in Dayuan Port, running up and down day and night, lobbying everywhere, and he has achieved today's results."

Zheng Zhilong scolded: "You idiot, you still think you are smart! You know how much extra money we have to pay for guns with a 5% increase in price? We also have to pay 10,000 taels of military expenses first, and then pay the other half when things are done. Even if you don’t even go ashore, you still agree to their terms? Have you been flooded with sea water by the red-haired men? Here and there, you have to pay [-]+ taels of silver to the Dutch, and you will pay for it?”

Zheng Xinzhi was scolded so badly that he didn't dare to speak back at all, but was secretly wronged in his heart.Before setting off, Zheng Zhilong gave him great negotiating authority, "Any money transactions can be made by oneself, without asking for instructions." Unexpectedly, Zheng Zhilong changed his face after returning.Zheng Xinzhi thought that even though he was ripped off by the red-haired man, this matter has already been done!Paying money to ask for help, isn't that your original intention?
The reason why Zheng Zhilong was so angry was because the internal environment deteriorated rapidly after losing Nanri Island.Due to Shibazhi's own limited strength, he did not dare to launch another attack on Nanri Island alone, so he could only wait for news from the Dutch.

During this period, Shibazhi’s internal opinions have begun to diverge. Due to the loss of Nanri Island, Shibazhi’s trade channels with Ming Dynasty have also been greatly affected. Therefore, several leaders who have more business in the mainland think that the war should be ceased. For peace talks, if possible, just accept the Fujian government's offer of peace, and follow Xu Xinsu's example to wash it off and go ashore. At any rate, he can be a small official like a general, and he doesn't have to worry about living at sea in the future.

The other part is unwilling to succumb to Daming, thinking that the current government pressure is too great, and there is no future leader in the coast of Fujian. They suggest that the venue should be moved, for example, to the northeast of Ryukyu and Japan. There is nothing there. Pirate forces can compete with Shibazhi—of course, because there are fewer merchant ships passing through the local waters, the relative oil and water will be much less.

In addition, there are also diehards who think that they should send troops to attack Nanri Island immediately, so as not to give Haihan and the Fujian Ming army a chance to breathe. As for how to fight and whether they can beat the opponent, they don't care so much, or they don't care at all. I haven't considered that specific issue.After all, for these people, they have never experienced the fear of being suppressed by Haihan's artillery fire.

With various opinions divided, it is also difficult for Zheng Zhilong to prepare for the battle in Penghu in a unified manner.Although the pirate force under his command is the strongest among the Eighteen Zhi, if he does not get the cooperation of other leaders, he will still appear to be alone and lacking in strength when facing opponents of the level of Haihan and Fujian Mingjun.

When Zheng Xinzhi was negotiating with the Dutch, Zheng Zhilong could not do much, the main thing was to win over and appease the leaders of the various families, so as to prevent them from falling apart under the pressure of the outside world.It took a lot of saliva and energy to finally temporarily settle down the internal disputes.Of course, he also made a lot of promises because of this. For example, Zheng Zhilong insisted on inviting the Dutch to send troops, so he had to bear half of the corresponding expenses, and the other half was shared by the other leaders of Shibazhi.If the Dutch are willing to sell weapons such as artillery, then the purchased weapons will also need to be divided equally between each family. Of course, if the Dutch take the opportunity to raise the price, the increased part will also be subsidized by Zheng Zhilong himself.

After all the talk, the leaders of the various families were finally willing to obey his command and began to select the elite of their subordinates to prepare for the battle to retake Nanri Island.And Zheng Zhilong hoped that Zheng Xinzhi could bring back a relatively satisfactory news from Dayuangang—at least so that his loss would not be too great.

However, the news Zheng Xinzhi brought back was really disappointing. Although the Dutch finally agreed to sell weapons and send troops, this was far from Zheng Zhilong's request.Giving so much money to the Dutchman for nothing, Zheng Zhilong felt for a moment that it would be better to give the money to Xu Xinsu to buy peace.

Of course, this was just a momentary thought, and Zheng Zhilong still refused to admit defeat after all.Shibazhi's great reputation in the coastal areas of Fujian was not based on bragging. Zheng Zhilong still wanted to use war to regain the status that Shibazhi deserved in the world. It was just a few conditions discussed by Zheng Xinzhi that really made Shibazhi He is dissatisfied.

Zheng Zhihu had already disliked Zheng Xinzhi for a long time, and at this time he also took the opportunity to express his displeasure: "Brother, your aide has been away for more than half a month, and none of the terms negotiated is beneficial to us. I think maybe He did something wrong in the middle, sold our brother for his own personal gain!"

Zheng Xinzhi was so frightened that he quickly argued: "There is absolutely no such thing! If you are a master, you can learn from the loyalty of a villain, so how could you do something that is a joke!"

"The price of the red-haired man's weapon will increase by [-]%, and you actually agreed. After the deal, you must have a share of the benefits!" Zheng Zhihu refused to let him go.

Zheng Xinzhi knelt down on the ground with a thump, and repeatedly argued: "If there is such a thing, the villain is willing to be punished!"

Zheng Zhilong looked at Zheng Zhihu suspiciously, but saw that he was just angry, but he didn't seem to want to show evidence, knowing that his brother was just talking loudly, without even the slightest evidence.Of course, Zheng Zhilong couldn't convict Zheng Xinzhi of the crime by fabricating a crime out of thin air, so he could only dismiss him in a few words.

As for Zheng Xinzhi digging this big hole...the digging is done, should he jump or not?If you choose not to jump, the Haihan people and the Fujian government are digging a bigger hole behind you, which is almost up to your heels. If Zheng Zhilong doesn't jump, he will fall into this bigger and deeper hole.

(End of this chapter)