Daming Crazy Emperor

Chapter 297
The Dutch rear admiral should have been terrified. Judging from his miserable expression, he should not dare to lie anymore.

Taichang put on a grim expression, snorted softly, and then asked coldly: "If you Dutch people are strong in the Far East, please tell me carefully, and you must not miss anything."

Hearing this, Gao Wenlu quickly introduced in detail: "We have 2000 large ships and gunboats in the Far East, and more than 40 naval officers and soldiers. In addition, the East India Company also has more than 150 warships and more than [-] armed merchant ships. They probably have tens of thousands of ships. The mercenaries have [-] to [-] employees."

So many warships and armed merchant ships!
And mercenaries?
Taichang heard the words, thought about it carefully, and then asked: "Are these warships including the twelve warships you brought?"

Gao Wenlu nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, what I am commanding are two naval gunboats and ten warships of the East India Company."

This means that the Dutch still have eleven building gunboats, more than 30 ordinary warships and more than 150 armed merchant ships.

Although their combat effectiveness is not strong, there are quite a few warships and armed merchant ships.

Taichang thought for a while and asked again: "How is your defense in Java Island?"

Java Island?
That place is no longer called Java Island!

Gao Wenlu was stunned for a moment, and then introduced in detail: "We have two three-story bastions in Batavia, equipped with more than 300 cannons, including 24-pound, 36-pound, and [-]-pound cannons."

What pounds?

Hearing this, Taichang couldn't help looking at Zheng Zhilong with doubts on his face.

Zheng Zhilong quickly explained: "The pound they are talking about is the weight of the shell, and one pound is about nine taels."

This is a bit scary.

A 36-pound shell weighs more than 30 catties!

How big of a cannon is that?

As long as such a large shell hits, the Dragon Tooth battleship will probably be smashed through.

No wonder the Spaniards dare not attack Batavia, their defense is too terrifying.

It seems that even if 25 buildings and gunboats are built, they may not be able to win Batavia!
Taichang thought for a while and asked again: "How is your local shipbuilding capability? How many warships can you build in a year?"

This one.

Gao Wenlu thought for a while, and then estimated: "If our shipyard works at full capacity, it should be able to produce [-] buildings, gunboats and [-] ordinary warships a year."

This shipbuilding ability is even more terrifying.

However, someone has to drive the boat to build it.

Taichang asked again: "What is the strength of your navy? How many people are there in total?"

This is not easy to say.

Gao Wenlu was stunned for a moment, and then estimated: "Our navy has a total of more than 2 officers and soldiers, and there are also a large number of mercenaries. I am not very clear about the number of mercenaries, because the number of mercenaries in each fleet is different. "

If you count the mercenaries, the strength of the Dutch is difficult to estimate. Anyway, they have a lot of money, and it is no problem to hire tens of thousands or even 10,000+ people!

Who are the mercenaries these days?
Taichang asked again: "Do you have mercenaries under your command? Who are the people you hired?"

Gao Wenlu nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, I also have a lot of mercenaries under my command. We hire poor people from various European countries, as well as natives from the colonies. Anyway, these mercenaries just carry things and load ammunition. As long as they are physically strong Just be strong and follow orders."

It turned out to be the case.

Fortunately, these mercenaries are gangsters, and it is probably difficult for them to work for their employers.

So far, the strength of the Dutch is almost understood.

This maritime overlord is indeed a bit powerful, at least his shipbuilding ability is unmatched, and if coupled with a large number of mercenaries, it is not surprising that he can dominate the sea.

The only thing that is a bit strange is why did the Dutch attack Daming desperately?
Deming's strength lies here. With the strength of the Dutch navy in the Far East and the thirty or forty warships of the East India Company, it is impossible for them to defeat Deming.

To put it bluntly, they can't even do it in Fujian Province!

This has also been proved in history. Even if Ming Dynasty is weak, it is about to perish, and it is not something that a small country like the Netherlands can provoke.

Why did the Dutch attack Daming desperately?
Is it really for money?
Do these people really want money or life?
Taichang couldn't help asking curiously: "What do you think, why do you think of invading Daming?"

This one.

Who told you to cooperate with the Spaniards!

Gao Wenlu thought for a while, and then said cautiously: "There are many reasons why we attacked your Ming Empire. I think the most important one is because you cooperated with the Spaniards and helped them seize the European market. The Spaniards bought a lot from you. The cheap goods dumped to the European continent, we can't do business, so our big council approved the resolution to go to war with you."

Hmph, money can only be earned by you, and no one else can?

You are so overbearing!
However, this is only the current reason, and there is no such thing as a complete abolition of the sea ban in history.

Taichang asked again: "What else?"

Gao Wenlu thought about it again, and then said cautiously: "The main profit of the East India Company comes from Japan. You have also taken away the business from Japan. The Governor of the East India Company is very angry. The decision to go to war with you is also proposed by him. of."

This is also because of Kaihai!

Taichang continued to ask: "What else?"

and also?

Gao Wenlu thought about it again, and then said cautiously: "There is also the East India Company who wants to open a stronghold in the middle of the waterway from Batavia to Dongying to replenish water and food. Moreover, the people of Dongying also lack food and meat, so they will I want to establish a treaty port in your Ming Empire, buy grain and meat nearby, and sell them to Japan."

This is probably the main reason why the Dutch attacked Daming in history.

The question is, are you Dutch brains flooded? You can fight whenever you want, and you don’t look at your own strength, but Daming’s strength?
Is there such a hasty war between countries?

impossible!

Taichang was quite puzzled and said: "Do you think you can defeat Daming with your strength in the Far East? Before starting the war, don't you think about whether you can beat it?"

this?

We were deceived by the Japanese people!

Gao Wenlu suddenly remembered Wei Malang's words, the Dongying people were deliberately deceiving them!

He couldn't help but said angrily: "The information we received before was all wrong. The Dongying people said that the navy of your Ming Empire is just like theirs. They are small boats, and they are not vulnerable at all! You have fought several times, and every time they have the upper hand, they even captured your vassal Ryukyu, and you have no power to fight back! We were deceived by the Japanese people!"

Japanese people!

These Japanese pirates are not dead!
Taichang finally understood that the Dongying people were playing tricks behind this.

They just want the Dutch to attack Daming, and then reap the benefits of the fisherman!
Historically, although they did not reap any benefits during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they never gave up spying on China.

Hundreds of years later, they still made a move!

Hmph, these Japanese pirates are ambitious and plot against China all the time, so they must not be let go!
Taichang really wished he could lead his army to destroy Dongying right now.

However, he thought about it and endured it.

Because Da Ming's strength is rising rapidly at this moment, there is absolutely no need to rush at this moment.

If you fight at this time, it will still take a lot of effort. It will be different when the navy has enough buildings and gunboats. It will be as simple as the autumn wind sweeping the fallen leaves.

And one last question.

Taichang was quite curious: "What kind of company is your East India Company? Why can the governor of the East India Company still propose a decision to go to war with Ming?"

How do you say this?

Gao Wenlu thought for a while, and then introduced in detail: "The East India Company is a company authorized by our Dutch Grand Council to become a shareholder. Our Dutch Grand Council authorized the East India Company to form mercenaries, issue currency, and sign contracts with other countries. contract to colonize other countries.

Our Great Council obtained about half of the shares of the East India Company through the above-mentioned authorization method, and the other half of the shares belonged to the seventeen directors who formed the East India Company.

If the East India Company wants to go to war with some powerful countries, they can submit a resolution to the Great Council. After the Great Council passes it, they can invite our Dutch navy to join the war. "

That's what it means.

The East India Company is a rogue company that carried out colonial plunder for the Dutch Grand Council!
Okay, you're playing hooligans, aren't you?
Daming can also set up a Western firm to fight against you!
As for the director, Zheng Zhilong seems to be a good director.

This guy is a pirate, much better than you hooligans!
Thinking of this, Taichang couldn't help but said to Zheng Zhilong: "Feihong, I'm going to set up a Western company, how about you being a director?"

what?
Zheng Zhilong was stunned for a moment, and then he said excitedly: "Your Majesty, is the Western Company you mentioned also authorized by the imperial court like the East India Company?"

Taichang nodded slightly and said, "Of course."

That's great, isn't this an order to steal money!

Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but excitedly said: "Your Majesty, when will we establish a Western firm?"

Uh, this one has to wait.

I still have to think about it carefully and make a charter.

Moreover, just one director is not enough, at least a dozen or so directors are needed.

I can't let you mess around with such a big matter by yourself!

(End of this chapter)