1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 930
"The Haihan people will not attack Batavia, at least not in the near future." After seeing Fan Dimen, Su Keyi immediately gave him a reassurance.Before he came here, he had already heard the news that the Haihan fleet appeared in the nearby waters, and he also knew the purpose of Van Diemen's invitation to come to discuss, so he directly gave Van Diemen an affirmative answer as soon as he came up. .

Although this was indeed the answer Van Diemen wanted to hear, he still prudently asked Su Keyi to explain it, because he would have to use it to convince the company's board of directors in order to prevent those guys from jumping out and pointing fingers.

"The reason is very simple. After defeating the Spaniards in the first half of the year, Haihan continued to go north and occupied some islands in the waters of the Great Ming River, including the area where the famous Shuangyu Port is located. In addition, they launched a campaign two months ago. It is said that Zheng Yiguan did not slip away from their siege this time.” Su Keyi concluded: “Haihan’s expansion this year is so fast that they don’t even have enough As for the South China Sea, I think they have more energy than they want, and even if they have the ability to seize some land here, they will not be able to develop and operate it.”

After listening to this explanation, Fan Dimen felt less relaxed. According to Su Keyi, it is not that the Haihan people have no desire for the South China Sea, but because they have taken too many steps towards the north this year, and it is difficult to achieve north-south for a while. Both directions go hand in hand.Given time to let them free up their hands, it's really hard to say who will have the final say in this South China Sea.

"In your opinion, what is the real purpose of the Haihan people sending their fleet to Batavia?" Van Diemen asked.

"Go south to explore the road, prepare for the warm-up of future operations in the South China Sea, and show off to us by the way." Su Keyi replied without hesitation: "It is said that the Haihan Army holds large-scale military exercises every year. The several military bases built on Anbuna Island should come in handy after calculating the time. The subordinates thought that the fleet going south was an overseas drill arranged by the Haihan Army. When they attacked Batavia, the subordinates didn't believe it. They thought that Annabuna Island was two thousand miles away from Batavia, and there was no supply port in between. No matter how powerful the Haihan fleet was, it would be difficult to fight at sea for a long time. Always have to turn back."

"These upstarts with low moral character!" Fan Dimen cursed, but also couldn't hide his jealousy towards Hai Han's financial resources.Sending a huge fleet to cruise thousands of miles of waters should have been a move that only a big seafaring country like the Netherlands could implement.However, the East India Company suffered heavy losses due to the war last year, and now even the funds for the construction of port defenses are saved from between the teeth, and there is no extra financial resources for military training.A group of recruits enlisted in Batavia after the war last year have not been issued with enough military uniforms and weapons. Spears, with these weapons, how can they compete and contend with the Haihan Army, which is fully equipped with firearms?
As for the fleet, the gap is really not small. The armed fleet of the East India Company was defeated by the Haihan Navy in several previous sea confrontations. After learning from the pain, of course, I also thought about building a larger tonnage and more artillery. However, the shipyards in the Far East simply cannot build the large warships that the East India Company wants, and the local side is fighting with the Spaniards on the European battlefield in full swing. All shipyards are currently working for War services do not take into account the needs of the Far East at all.Several shipyards that had received shipbuilding orders from the East India Company before that also delayed the delivery of the ship to two years later due to the war.

Van Diemen has already learned from the collected information that Haihan currently has at least three to four large fleets with complete establishments, and it only took five or six years for them to reach this point from scratch.One side is developing rapidly, but the other side is stagnating. It is really hard for Van Diemen to imagine how far the gap between the two sides will widen in two years.The Haihan people are now able to pull a fleet to the gate of the East India Company's headquarters to show off their power, and Van Diemen seems to have no other way to deal with it except ordering his own sailboat to leave the port as soon as possible. This is really a sad thing for the Dutch, who claim to be a maritime power and a sea coachman.

"If the Haihan people just want to show off their force, why do they still ask for a meeting? What do you think they want to talk to us about?" Fan Dimen tried to calm down his emotions before continuing to ask Su Keyi.

Su Keyi thought for a while before answering: "There is an idiom in the Han called 'Union under the City', which means an armistice treaty signed by the defeated country under the threat of the enemy's soldiers. Perhaps the Haihan people want to coerce us by force and promise them Some of the conditions proposed."

"We Dutch will not accept any threats." Van Diemen shook his head again and again: "No one can coerce the Dutch, we would rather choose war than be coerced by others! If they really came with such an idea, then surely Returned disappointed."

Su Keyi said: "Your Excellency, my subordinates are just guessing. It may not be the case. However, since the Haihan people offered to have a meeting, I thought it would be possible to get in touch with them. Although the Haihan people sometimes act unreasonably, they still have a good reputation." Well, since they have stated that they want to communicate through talks, it is unlikely that they will play other tricks. It would be best if they could ask them face to face about their intention to go south this time.”

Fan Dimen glanced at Su Keyi, nodded and said, "There are not many people in Batavia who have dealt with Haihan, and you will have to contribute a little bit when the time comes."

Su Keyi understood, stood up and cupped his hands in response: "Please rest assured, Governor, the subordinates will try their best to deal with it and try their best to ensure the safety of Batavia."

Fan Dimen said: "When the time and place are determined, you will follow me."

Su Keyi was taken aback. He originally thought that Fan Dimen would probably send Van Longen or Van der Wegen who had also dealt with Hai Han to partner with him, but he never thought that Fan Dimen planned to do it himself.Although Su Keyi knew that there was no risk in negotiating with Haihan, he was heartbroken that Van Diemen had such courage.

However, he did not object to Van Diemen's arrangement. After all, both Van der Wegen and Van Longen worked under Van Diemen, and they did not have the power to make decisions on many matters. Grasp the measure, and at the same time, you can get a close look at the strength of the Haihan fleet.The only thing that Su Keyi felt was a little inappropriate was not the safety issue during the talks, but that Van Diemen personally left the meeting with the Haihan people, which left little room for turning around. Words are dead.It is not an optimal option for negotiations that the top decision-maker is personally involved in the process.

It was not until November [-], after several rounds of back-and-forth consultations, that the two sides finally agreed on the venue and time for the talks.After another two days, the two sides sent ships to send the participants to a small sandbar about five nautical miles from the coastline of Batavia Harbor.According to the agreement, both sides sent only one ship of comparable tonnage, and the number of people who landed on the island was controlled within ten people, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

The East India Company side was led by Van Diemen himself, and Su Keyi attended as his deputy and translator.On the Haihan side, Yan Chujie and Luo Jie attended together, and Luo Jie, who has lived abroad for many years, can also act as an interpreter if necessary.

After the two parties exchanged a few pleasantries, Van Diemen quickly got to the point: "The waters northwest of Java Island have always been the sphere of influence of the East India Company. This time, you have sent a large number of armed ships into this sensitive waters. get a reasonable explanation."

Yan Chujie said: "We believe that Batavia is only the controlled area occupied by the East India Company here, not your country's territory. As for the maritime boundaries, it was only unilaterally delineated by you, and you have not negotiated with any party. It has not been recognized by anyone. The sea area here should belong to the free navigation area, and Mr. Governor's accusation against us is unfounded and unreasonable."

Fan Dimen retorted: "Then if we send an armed fleet to the waters near Sanya Port, can you have such a tolerant idea?"

Yan Chujie said with a straight face: "I don't recommend you to make such an irrational attempt. Out of the need to protect the environment and the people, our fleet will definitely expel the maritime armed forces that threaten the safety of Sanya Port."

Van Diemen sneered: "Then you are double standards?"

Yan Chujie also said with a smile: "Does your side have the same internal and external standards? Mr. Governor, as a high-ranking official, will not make such common-sense mistakes. Who has the final say at sea, isn't it based on force? to distinguish?"

"You..." Fan Dimen took a deep breath, and forced his anger back into his stomach.Although he didn't want to admit it, the "reason" Yan Chujie said was indeed the prevailing rule of this era.

In this era of great voyages, new sea routes have been opened up, trade exchanges have increased substantially, and colonialism has risen. To put it bluntly, there are actually two words: conquest and plunder.Portugal and Spain were the pioneers in launching colonial plunder, but rising stars such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France are using their powerful military and economic strength to compete for the interests that originally belonged to Portugal and Spain around the world.

The Netherlands has many competitors in the Far East, not just Portugal and Spain, who came here first.When fourteen Dutch companies merged to form the Dutch East India Company in 1602, the British East India Company had been in operation for two years. After that, the French also established the French East India Company in 1604, investing in competition in the Far East.Naturally, there is no healthy competition between these companies belonging to different countries, and they often rely on force to distinguish themselves and push competitors out of their control areas.

As a newcomer, the Netherlands was able to establish colonial strongholds in Persia, Bangladesh, Sumatra, Java, Siam, Taiwan, etc., not by reasoning with people, but by relying on weapons and soldiers. . Every expansion of Dong India Company means the loss of competitors.In the past, some people pointed at Van Diemen's nose and called him an invader, but Van Diemen's response was to send troops to wipe out the other side's territory, kill all the resisters, and sell all the remaining survivors as slaves. Other places—maybe some slaves flowed into the hands of the Haihan people from the market, it's hard to say.

Even when the Mata blue army attacked Batavia last year, Van Diemen did not feel that he was underestimated as he is now. At least the Mata blue people paid enough attention to the East India Company and invested more than ten times their strength to the East India Company. on the battlefield.The Haihan people obviously disdain to make such a big move to prove their own strength. After all, they have never been defeated in the confrontation with the East India Company in the past, and they even have a very obvious advantage. This makes Yan Chujie have enough confidence to use a condescending tone. Humiliate Van Diemen.

If you can't fight on the battlefield, what you say is useless. As a general who has led troops, Van Dimen naturally understands the truth of this reality.So he resolutely stopped the idea of ​​arguing with Yan Chujie, because he knew that even if he insisted on fighting, the result would only be humiliation.The Haihan people can sit here and negotiate with themselves confidently because they have a huge fleet as their backing in the sea not far away, and there seems to be nothing behind Van Diemen except for a city that is waiting to be built. depended on.

Van Diemen could only keep reminding himself that the purpose of meeting the Haihan people this time was for peace rather than for territory.The East India Company had been exhausted in last year's war, and now its vitality has not yet recovered. It simply does not have enough manpower, material and financial resources to fight another war.If Haihan has the intention of going to war, then this meeting must be used to dispel their intention. Even if they encounter deliberate provocations from the other party, the East India Company must try to avoid conflicts with the other party as much as possible, so as not to let Haihan Han finds an excuse to go to war.

"General Yan, let's get the topic back to the right direction." Van Diemen said in a calm tone as much as possible: "I think you sent a fleet all the way to Batavia, it should not just come here Just turn around?"

Yan Chujie smiled, and replied calmly: "As for the reason why our fleet will appear here, I have already informed you when I sent envoys to Hong Kong to contact you two days ago, but it seems that Mr. Governor still doesn't quite believe it. What we say!"

(End of this chapter)