1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 929 The Uninvited Guest

In order to prevent the enemy from raiding Batavia again from the sea, Van Diemen listed the coastal fortifications as the top priority in the reconstruction project, and even its priority was still above rebuilding the city wall of Batavia.Van Diemen's engineers planned four parallel sections of coastal defenses in the Batavia harbor area, including coastal defense batteries and bunkers for musketeers to gather.The military plans to deploy [-] to [-] artillery pieces on these four sections of fortifications, to cover the main area of ​​the port and the coastal waters as much as possible, and strive to stop the enemy at sea and prevent them from being brought ashore.

In last year's fight, the East India Company made a serious mistake, thinking that they could easily block the opponent's offensive with the fortified city, but the Matalan people taught the Dutch a good lesson with their primitive weapons and offensive methods. Therefore, victory or defeat on the battlefield is not determined by weapons and fortifications, but by the people involved in the battle.Although the Mata blue army was outdated in equipment, and many soldiers had not even received systematic military training, they were superior in that they had a large force, and they fought to the death without retreating.If it weren't for the Dutch armed fleet coming back at the last moment to copy the horse and beat the blue army's ass, all the thousands of Dutch people in the city of Batavia would have to go to see God.

Van Diemen knew that the local garrison of the East India Company could not be rapidly increased, and the Matalan people would not give up the idea of ​​attacking Batavia. They wanted to effectively prevent the next offensive of the enemy. The best way is to keep them at sea.Once the opponent is let ashore, even if the city wall of Batavia can be restored to its original state, the Mata blue army can follow the same pattern to break through the city defense again.

But the project of building the coastal defense fort is really not small. Even with Haihan's engineering construction ability, it took two years to complete the coastal defense of Shengli Port.The coastal fortifications of Batavia Port have been implemented since Matalan retired from the army last year, and even half of the progress has not been completed yet, and the construction effect is far from meeting the requirements of the military.

The stone materials needed for the coastal fortifications had to be transported from a quarry about [-] kilometers south of Batavia City, which was quite a difficult task.For this reason, the East India Company confiscated almost all the local cattle and horses in Batavia and used them as animal power for transporting stone materials, and this measure inevitably caused complaints from the local people.The freight industry of the entire Port of Batavia was greatly affected by this, and the port trade, which was originally in the post-war recovery period, was also indirectly slowed down by this measure.

Nevertheless, Van Diemen was still dissatisfied with the construction of the coastal fortifications. This kind of fort built from stones from a flat bottom was not strong, but due to the requirements of the construction period, Van Diemen did not have a better solution.He learned from the slave trader Captain Philip that the Haihan people have a building material called "cement", which can quickly bind sand and stone together, and is said to be resistant to water erosion.Later, Philip thought of a lot of means, and bought more than 2000 catties of cement from Abunna Island at a high price through the twists and turns.

After the trial, Van Diemen was really happy and worried. The happy thing is that the effect of this thing is much better than the earthen mortar used before, and it is perfect for building fortifications that require high sturdiness.What is worrying is that the production method of this thing is in the hands of the Haihan people, and it cannot be bought with money. It seems unrealistic to use this thing to complete the Batavia Port project.It is said that the Haihan people's ports, fortifications, and even some civilian houses were built using this material.Although Fan Diemen didn't want to admit it, he knew in his heart that Haihan's technology in engineering construction had far surpassed his own.

Earlier, the report from Dayuan Port stated that the construction of the new port opened by Haihan was extremely fast. Van Diemen once thought that it was the intention of Dayuan Chief Hans to complain, but if the Haihan people used it in the process of port construction With this new type of building material, it seems to make sense.The seafaring technology of the Haihan people is not weaker than that of the Netherlands, and the infrastructure capacity is still higher than that of the Netherlands. Judging from the situation in the past two or three years, the expansion speed of Haihan in the Far East has obviously far exceeded that of the East India Company. This is why Van Diemen A matter of deep concern.

Although the Haihan people retained the East India Company's colony in Dayuan Port, they did not hesitate to clear the Spanish base in Taipei at the beginning of the year. This has already seen that Haihan did not want to share Taiwan Island with others.The reason why they haven't dealt with Dayuangang yet is probably just that they haven't freed up for the time being.Although the two sides also signed an armistice agreement, Van Diemen knew very well that the binding force of this paper agreement was only on paper. As long as the Haihan people felt that the time was ripe, they might tear up this agreement at any time.

But Van Diemen really never thought that the fleet of the Haihan people would come to the city of Batavia one day, so when he heard the fleet was approaching for the first time, he didn't believe it was the Haihan fleet and asked his subordinates to Confirm the flag of the fleet again.However, only the Haihan family used the red and blue flags in the entire Far East, and ten times of confirmation would not change this fact.

"The Haihan people actually launched a sneak attack! These shameless guys!" Spikes, the officer who arrived after hearing the news, was also very shocked by the news.After he was defeated in the Battle of Ambuna two years ago, he lost the opportunity to compete for the position of governor, and now he can only serve as an errand under Van Diemen.

"Whether a war is launched against us is still uncertain." Van Diemen still maintained a rare calmness, and did not make an impulsive judgment because of the sudden change of the situation.

"Your Excellency, we can't put the Haihan people ashore. Their fighting power is much stronger than the Matalan people. Once they go ashore, they will be very difficult to deal with!" Spikes didn't think that the Haihan fleet appeared as uninvited guests. He came out of Batavia Harbor with good intentions. He still vividly remembered the loss he suffered on Ambuna Island two years ago.

"Order the whole city to enter a state of combat readiness!" Although Fan Dimen was not sure about the real intention of the Haihan Fleet's sudden appearance outside the port, it was always right to sail carefully and prepare for the battle first: "You Go inform Van der Wegen and let him quickly take the combat ship out of the port!"

On weekdays, there will be armed patrol ships of the East India Company in the offshore waters of Batavia Port, but it happens that the sea conditions are not good these days, and all the patrol ships have returned to the port area to rest and maintain.Unexpectedly, the timing of the United Fleet's arrival was just right, and it happened to step on the Dutch's defensive gap, making Van Diemen's command very passive.Under such circumstances, the only option is to keep the combat ships first. As for resisting the Haihan fleet's attack at sea, Van Diemen does not intend to send his own vital forces to the Haihan people for military training in vain.After all, the two sides have fought at sea several times in the past, and they both know who is stronger and who is weaker. If they really fight at sea, the Dutch side will only suffer.

While commanding the mobilization of troops, Van Diemen wondered why the Haihan fleet went south here, and there was no warning message before. Could it be that the Dutch stationed in the Temeran Islands and Belitung Island in the north have been uprooted by Haihan? Apart from?He never imagined that the Haihan Fleet did not choose the direct route between Ambuna Island and Batavia to head south, and instead of passing through the Temeran Islands and Belitung Island, it turned around the coastline of Borneo. A big circle, and then detoured all the way from the east end of Java Island.

It has to be said that after Van Diemen took over the East India Company, he paid more attention to military affairs than the former Governor Cohen. After his order was issued, the whole city was quickly mobilized. The staff quickly returned to the city, and a 3000-strong force composed of Dutch, blacks, local aborigines, and some immigrants quickly assembled and headed to the port, and deployed to several sections of coastal fortifications that had not yet been fully completed.Although these troops may not be able to stop the Haihan people with strong ships and guns, at least they can give the dignitaries in the city a little more sense of security.

Van Diemen didn't rush out of the city to command the troops himself. He appointed Spikes to command the first line of defense in the port area, while he himself was in the city.Fan Diemen was not greedy for life and afraid of death, but worried that after he left the city, the bureaucrats of the company's board of directors would command indiscriminately and mess up their own positions.Last year when the Mata blue army attacked, if these guys hadn't been in the way, Batavia's defensive battle would not have been so difficult. After Van Diemen took over the power, he decisively reduced the power of the council in military affairs. The purpose is to prevent literati and businessmen from interfering in military command.

After completing the defensive deployment, the warships of the Haihan people did not rush into the port, and Van Diemen was only slightly relieved until then.Regardless of whether the Haihan people are planning to attack Batavia or not, at least they have already used all the means they can.If this still can't stop the Haihan people, then it's really God's arrangement.

Waiting and waiting, after a few hours, still did not wait for the next move of the Haihan fleet. Just when Fan Dimen was about to lose patience, a message was finally sent back from outside the city—the Haihan people hoped to be able to cooperate with Bada Via officials arrange a face-to-face meeting, preferably with Governor Van Diemen in person.

Since the Haihan people just want to have an interview, they probably won’t be ready to go to war. Fan Diemen was finally relieved a little when he heard the news, but a new problem came one after another. Where should the meeting with the Haihan people be arranged? it is good?
If the meeting place is arranged in Batavia City, can the Haihan people go ashore and enter the city with confidence?If it is arranged in another place controlled by Haihan, such as on a warship of the Haihan people, then Van Diemen will be somewhat worried about safety issues.

Fortunately, Haihan quickly gave a compromise suggestion. Find an island outside Batavia Harbor. The leaders of both parties should make an appointment to attend the island. The specific location can be designated by the Dutch side.There are dozens of small islands in the offshore area to the northwest of Batavia Harbour. It is not difficult to find a suitable place to meet. Haihan seems to be quite sincere in his move.

In addition, Haihan also made a request to the East India Company, that is, to send ships into the port to purchase various supplies.Van Diemen didn't reject this either. Since the Haihan people's fleet didn't come for war, everything can be negotiated. There is nothing that cannot be resolved through negotiation. If there is, it must be because there has not been a negotiation.

"Give me an order to invite Mr. Su Keyi immediately." After Fan Dimen replied to Hai Han's request, he immediately sent someone to invite Su Keyi who had dealt with the Hai Han people.

As the representative of the Chinese comprador in Batavia, Su Keyi won the trust of the top management of the East India Company.His elder Su Minggang had a close personal relationship with the former Governor Cohen, and this trust has also been extended to him.In the summer of 1631, after Mu Xiabo defeated the Dutch fleet trying to take back the control of the local area by force, Sukeyi, as a representative of the East India Company, went to HN Sanya with van der Wegen to negotiate with Haihan .However, the result of that negotiation was not satisfactory. The Dutch delegation was even placed under house arrest in a disguised form for a period of time. Both parties talked about failing to sign a formal settlement agreement in the end.

However, it was after Su Keyi and others went to Sanya to see Haihan's local development with their own eyes that the top management of the East India Company really realized the terrifying strength of Haihan's opponent.If before that the Dutch believed that the defeat on Ambuna Island was caused by accidental factors such as bad luck or incompetent command of the officers, what Su Keyi and others brought back from Sanya has already confirmed that the Haihan people It is no coincidence that their actions and the overwhelming results they have achieved will make this group one of the toughest competitors the Netherlands will ever face in the Far East.

Su Keyi rushed to Fan Dimen's study soon after receiving the notice.He is no longer just a manager in the East India Company. After returning from negotiations in Sanya two years ago, Governor Cohen established a Chinese Affairs Department in the East India Company and appointed Su Keyi as the director of this department. His functions include: In addition to managing local Chinese affairs in Batavia, the collection of information on Haihan is also one of the main functions of this department.In other words, this department is more or less like an intelligence agency, but its professionalism is far less than that of a specialized agency like the Haihan Security Department.

Su Keyi's job is to identify valuable parts from various news, and use these news to analyze Haihan's strategy and movements in the Nanyang region.This department has been in operation for more than a year so far. In terms of understanding of Haihan, Su Keyi is basically an expert within the East India Company.Therefore, after Van Diemen dealt with the matter of deploying defenses, the first thing he did was not to discuss the next step with his colleagues in the council, but to invite Su Keyi here to hear his views on the current situation.

(End of this chapter)