1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 245 The Dread of the Dutch
"Your Excellency, I have very bad news here. The city of Rapid Water Bay has been captured by the Portuguese!" Colonel Ayan Van Dijk, commander of the Batavia Navy Fleet of the Dutch East India Company, hurried to the Governor's Mansion and told Anthony Governor Van Dyman reported a shocking news.

"Colonel Van Dijk, what are you talking about?" Governor Daiman stared at Colonel Aryan Van Dijk dumbfounded, as if he couldn't believe the news that Colonel Aryan Van Dijk brought.

"The merchant ship that returned from India this morning brought back the news that the Portuguese captured Rapid Water Bay City. It is believed that all company employees and mercenaries in the city should have been captured by the Portuguese. . . . Inlet Harbor." Colonel Aryan Van Dijk said sadly.

"Temporarily lost the Rapid Water Bay port?" Governor Daiman looked at Colonel Aryan Van Dijk, "Then can we get it back?"

"...Your Excellency, I think we need time." Colonel Aryan Van Dijk felt a little bit bitter in his heart. The Ceylon Island Squadron led by Lieutenant Colonel Dakman Barek had just returned home without success. The original plan to land on the island of Ceylon shocked the Dutch, and at the same time made the officers and soldiers of the Batavia fleet look extremely embarrassed.

Now, organizing an expeditionary fleet again to regain the port of Jishuiwan captured by the Portuguese is obviously a big challenge for the Batavia fleet, because they have no plan for this at all.According to normal thinking, the Portuguese have just suffered a big defeat on the island of Ceylon, so they should die down, recuperate, and slowly recover their strength.

But who knew, the Portuguese didn't play their cards according to the routine at all. Not only did they prevent the long-planned landing operation between the Dutch and the Kingdom of Kandy, but they also swung a knife and cut off a tentacles that the Dutch had finally stretched out in the Strait of Malacca. .

Governor Daiman looked at Colonel Aryan Van Dijk coldly, and said with a sullen face: "Colonel Van Dijk, in the face of this situation, we cannot remain indifferent. We must give the most violent counterattack to the Portuguese provocation by force. Three Within days, your Fleet Command must come up with a revenge plan."

Colonel Aryan Van Dijk looked at Governor Daiman in astonishment. The failure of the landing operation on Ceylon Island and the loss of the Rapid Water Bay port were not, strictly speaking, the responsibility of the Batavia fleet.But the Governor-General, who was furious, ordered him to take responsibility for it.The aggrieved and helpless heart is beyond words.

Colonel Aryan Van Dijk returned to the fleet headquarters and immediately summoned all the remaining officers to prepare to brainstorm and discuss a retaliatory plan against the Portuguese.

"Perhaps, we can attack the Portuguese colonial stronghold in Malacca. In this way, we still have half of the control of the Strait of Malacca." An officer suggested.

"It is estimated that if we are in a hurry, it will be difficult for us to break through Malacca. After all, the Portuguese have been operating there for more than 100 years and have many vassal natives." Another officer shook his head and opposed this suggestion.

"Or, we can attack one of the two Portuguese colonial strongholds of Ocussi and Dili on Timor Island." Another officer suggested: "We can also try to attack the Portuguese together with Hanzhou."

Colonel Ayan Van Dijk's heart moved. The Hanzhou army is good at fighting and has enemies with the Portuguese. If they join forces to attack the Portuguese on Timor Island, they will surely be able to make a difference.

"Hanzhou may not fight for us in vain. If they want to attack the Portuguese on Timor Island with us, what can we give them?" an officer questioned.

"Threat them! We can threaten them to send troops to help us seize Timor Island by cutting off their route to and from Ming Dynasty."

"If this is the case, wouldn't it push Hanzhou to our hostile side?"

"So what?" the officer said disapprovingly: "Anyway, they don't have enough sea power, and they can't pose any threat to us. However, we can block them at will. As long as we want, we can even block our warships." The boat sailed out of their Jianye port."

Lieutenant Colonel Dakman Barek, deputy commander of the Batavia Fleet, looked up at the officer, feeling a little guilty.More than half a year has passed since the Battle of Cavite. The shipbuilders who were taken back from Hanzhou may have built their own warships.If faced with the threat of the Dutch navy, or a blockade, there is no guarantee that they will not retaliate wildly and attack the Dutch colonial strongholds and merchant ships.

You must know that due to the limited design capability and manufacturing level of Batavia's shipyard, it can only build some small boats of less than [-] to [-] tons. As for large armed merchant ships and professional warships, it cannot be built.The biggest role of the Batavia Shipyard is to repair and maintain many merchant ships in the Far East.Large armed merchant ships of more than [-] to [-] tons still have to be transported from the Netherlands.

"Lieutenant Florent, do you think that if we ask Hanzhou to send troops to attack Portugal on Timor Island, will they agree without any additional conditions?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk looked at Andrew Frau Lieutenant Lunt asked softly.

As the liaison officer of the Dutch East India Company in Hanzhou, Lieutenant Andrew Florent is the person who knows the style and principles of Hanzhou best. Perhaps his speech will provide a guide for everyone to refer to.

"Sir, I think that even if we don't promise them benefits, they will still send troops to attack the Portuguese." Lieutenant Andrew Florent said, "They don't care much about benefits, but they value dignity more. Portugal People sank the immigration boat in Hanzhou, killing more than 50 people, but did not say anything about it.”

"To a certain extent, this may be a kind of contempt for Hanzhou, which will seriously anger Hanzhou. Even if we don't attack the Portuguese on Timor Island, they will dispatch their own ships and personnel to punish the Portuguese !"

"Very good!" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk said with satisfaction: "Then, please ask Lieutenant Florent to find the person in charge of Hanzhou in Batavia, and tell us to join them and attack Timor Island together." The Portuguese on board planned to inform Han Zhou. I hope..."

"Sir, there is news from Kupang." An officer came in from the door, walked quickly to Colonel Aryan Van Dijk, and said softly: "Kupang's attack on the Portuguese colonial stronghold of Ocussi is not good, and the loss is not small , now requesting support."

"Huh? Why did Gupang take the initiative to attack Ocussi?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk asked suspiciously.

"Hanzhou united with the natives on Timor Island to attack the Portuguese in Dili, and captured the city of Dili that night. The Portuguese sent a large army to attack the native king's city, and after receiving the news, they quickly returned to Dili. As a result, they were completely annihilated in Dili City by the Hanzhou and native troops. After hearing the news, the governor of Kupang thought he could take the opportunity to expel the Portuguese, so he organized five armed merchant ships passing through Kubang and went to Ocussi. But after seizing the pier, they have been unable to attack Oecussi City for a long time, and now they have to ask for our support."

"Hanzhou captured Dili City?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk was taken aback.

The officer who reported the letter looked at Colonel Aryan Van Dijk in surprise, sir, I am reporting to you the information of Kupang's request for help now, why did you pay attention to the issue of Hanzhou's seizure of Dili City.

"Everyone, quickly organize the warships in good condition, notify the army in the city, and prepare for reinforcements. Now, I must report this matter to the governor." Hanzhou went to attack Dili City, and conquered the city that night. Although it was a joint attack with the natives, it also fully demonstrated that the Hanzhou Army was really good at fighting.

Then, Hanzhou seized Dili City, and a series of problems caused by it naturally came.

"They have occupied Dili, and they will be a potential threat to our Spice Islands in the future!" Governor Daiman frowned after hearing Colonel Aryan Van Dijk's report, and said softly: "The development of Hanzhou is a bit fast. a little."

"Do you need to make a plan to block the Hanzhou route?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk asked.

"Not for the time being." Governor Daiman shook his head and said, "You send a support fleet to Oecussi first, and make sure to capture this Portuguese colonial stronghold. As for Hanzhou..."

Governor Daiman paced back and forth, thought for a while, then turned to Colonel Aryan Van Dijk and said, "After the capture of Oecussi, we sent our representatives to Hanzhou, saying that we are willing to buy Dili City. See if they are What a reaction."

"What if they refuse?"

"Then they really want to threaten us in the future." Governor Daiman showed a ferocious expression on his face, "For any potential threat, we must work hard to weaken it, combat it, or even eliminate it."

"Governor, is Hanzhou more of a threat than the Portuguese?"

"The Portuguese, like us, came all the way from the European continent. If Portugal hadn't come early and operated for a long time, their national strength would not be enough to fight against our federal republic."

"However, Hanzhou is different. The huge Ming Kingdom is their potential source of human and material resources. You must know that Ming Dynasty is much closer to Hanzhou than our East Indies are to Europe!"

"In addition, Hanzhou may already have the ability to build large warships. If we want to let it develop, not to mention the Portuguese and Spaniards, even we Dutch may not have a foothold in the Far East!"

Colonel Aryan Van Dijk could not help feeling tense when he heard this.Three years ago, there were only a few hundred exiled pirates living in Hanzhou on that remote "big island". However, after several years of development, until now, Governor Daiman was so afraid.

(End of this chapter)