1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 248 Digging the Dutch Corner
Tian Zerong sat at the dining table, staring coldly at a group of unkempt Japanese wandering samurai outside the restaurant. From time to time, they looked up at the diners coming in and out of the restaurant, expecting someone to give them food or hire them to do work.

Alas, what a disgrace to the samurai.Tian Zerong sighed slightly in his heart, and then gestured to the companion next to him with his eyes.

Liu Chengbao understood, and hurried out of the restaurant, and came to the group of wandering warriors.

Tian Zerong, formerly known as Tian Zerong, was the first group of wandering warriors who immigrated from Batavia to Hanzhou.He first joined the Mine Guard, and later joined the Marine Corps. He has participated in Hanzhou's previous foreign expeditions, and is now a platoon leader of the Fourth Marine Corps.

A few months ago, Kong Jiliang, the chief officer of the Black Guards stationed in Batavia, sent a report to Jianye City, saying that there were nearly a thousand Japanese wandering warriors and civilians on the streets of Batavia, hoping to recruit them back to Hanzhou for use.However, due to the problem of language communication barriers, we request the Headquarters of the Black Guards to coordinate and send immigrants or military officers who were born in the original Japanese samurai to assist in the process.

Gein, recently the Dutch colonial authorities have been discussing the increasing number of Japanese wandering samurai and refugees. Whether it is necessary to raise special expenses to send these many wandering Japanese samurai and refugees to India or Borneo to enrich the local colonization strength.

In October of last year (1637), the Shimabara Rebellion broke out in Japan. Farmers and survivors of the murdered Catholics gathered in the mountains and islands for meetings and swore an uprising.Zhuangwu (village head) and old ronin samurai played a central role in the uprising.

On the third day of the first lunar month, Nobutsuna Matsudaira, the shogunate minister, rushed to Shimabara, mobilized more than 12 troops from various domains, and stepped up the siege of Hara Castle. At the same time, he colluded with Dutch warships and bombarded Hara Castle from the sea, but it was never conquered.

On February 2th, the shogunate army made a general attack, captured the original city on the 17th, and massacred the rebels in the city. Nearly 28 people died in the hands of the shogunate army.Subsequently, the shogunate completely banned foreign ships from coming to Japan, ordered all feudal clans to inspect sailing ships, tripled the bonus for those who reported smuggling by foreign ships, and banned all contact and influence of foreign churches on Japanese Christians.

If there is no accident, Japan will transfer all Dutch people who have nothing to do with Christian missions to Dejima in Nagasaki in 1641, restrict the import of foreign language books, and even prohibit the trade of red seal ships, thus implementing a seclusion system that lasted for more than 200 years.Japanese companies suffered heavy losses and went bankrupt.After the country was locked down, the shogunate only restricted the port of Nagasaki, allowing ships from China and the Netherlands to sail, monopolizing trade with Japan.

Samurai and ordinary people who believed in and sympathized with Catholicism in Japan were pursued and persecuted by the shogunate, and fled abroad one after another.And because the shogunate only allowed Dutch ships from Daming and Batavia to navigate, a large number of persecuted Japanese samurai and people went to these two places by boat, and some people traveled to Manila, Luzon via Haojing (Macau).

After Tian Zerong arrived in Batavia, in the past two months, he has cooperated with the personnel of Black Yiwei and Hanzhou Warehouse, and has successively recruited more than 800 Japanese who fled from the disaster.However, hundreds of fallen warriors and ordinary people still come here on Dutch merchant ships every month.Therefore, as a Marine Corps officer, he had to stay in Batavia and act as a human trafficker for the Hanzhou government.

"Why do you live on the street?" After Liu Chengbao brought in two Japanese wandering samurai from outside the restaurant, Tian Zerong asked in Japanese with a sullen face.

Those two Japanese wandering warriors looked at Tian Zerong in a blue and black military uniform in awe, bent their backs, and replied respectfully: "I'm sorry, my lord, to bother you for dinner! We..., we have no money, and no one will hire us for the time being." .”

"You haven't eaten for a few days?"

"Two days..."

"Go, ask the shopkeeper for a bucket of rice." Tian Zerong turned to Liu Chengbao and ordered.

"What's your name?" Tian Zerong continued to ask the two wandering Japanese warriors.

"Hirao Ryuji"

"Yosuke Kuroda"

"You used to be warriors?"

"Yes, my lord." Hirao Ryuji looked at Tian Zerong expectantly, "If your lord has something to ask, we will definitely do it for you."

"Go ask everyone outside to come in for dinner." Tian Zerong shook his head noncommittally, and then said, "Let's talk when we're full."

"What?..." Ryuji Hirao was a little unbelievable. This adult, who was obviously Japanese, actually wanted to let a dozen of their companions come in for dinner. Could it be that he wanted to hire them all?If so, great.

Looking at a group of voracious Japanese wandering samurai, Tian Zerong couldn't help but feel deeply moved. Three years ago, he was probably like them. He wished to sell his life for one bite of food.These loyal and brave warriors cannot be wasted here, they must serve our Hanzhou and expand the territory for our Hanzhou.

The bucket of rice was quickly finished, and a dozen or so wandering Japanese warriors calmed down a little, all looking eagerly at Tian Zerong.

"Come with me!" Tian Zerong got up and stood up, "I will take you to Hanzhou to realize the value of your warriors."

"Yes, my lord!" A group of Japanese wandering warriors all showed joy.

"My lord, we...we still have family members." A warrior said timidly.

"Liu Chengbao, go with them and bring all your family members to the Hanzhou Warehouse." Tian Zerong frowned slightly, but still ordered his companions to help the group of warriors pick up their families.

"Yes, sir!" Liu Chengbao promised.

Senard Karamet, the senior commercial counselor of the Dutch East India Company, was sitting in a carriage. When he passed a street, he saw through the car window a group of Japanese refugees who had fled here and a Hanzhou military officer behind him, silently looking towards the Han people outside the city. Go to the continental warehouse.

"Hehe..., this Hanzhou is a cheap and good business!" Senard Karamet stuck his head back and said to himself: "It seems like we Dutch are helping them immigrate !"
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"Your Excellency, the Portuguese colonial stronghold of Ocussi was breached ten days ago, and captured more than 400 colonial officials and people, including their governor, as well as more than 100 soldiers." Batavia Fleet Commander Ayan Colonel Van Dijk reported excitedly to Governor Anthony Van Dyman.

"Very good!" Governor Daiman nodded in satisfaction, "Since the Ocussi stronghold has been captured, we can send representatives to Jianye City in Hanzhou to discuss the issue of Dili City."

"Your Excellency, what is our minimum limit for buying Dili City from Hanzhou?" Colonel Aryan Van Dijk asked.

"They can be granted a certain amount of free spice purchases every year. The monetary compensation is limited to [-] dong." Governor Daiman said casually: "Of course, they may also propose conditions, which can be discussed and discussed."

"Governor, since we talked about the redemption of Dili City, why don't we talk about the ownership of the small island they call Xinsheng Island?" Senior Commercial Counselor Senard Karamet interrupted suddenly.

"Hmm..." Governor Daiman pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly: "We can put the Xinsheng Island and Dili City together and talk to them. Our condition is still the purchase of spices, plus an additional [-] dong currency."

"Your Excellency, our fleet has discovered an archipelago on the east coast of the Kingdom of Cambodia. One of the islands is large enough to establish a trading post and a settlement. Moreover, this island happens to be stuck in Daming, Annan, Cambodia, and Batavia. It is also very close to the mouth of the big river (Mekong River) on the local trade route. Therefore, I don’t think it is necessary to talk about the Xinsheng Island of Hanzhou, and the value is obviously not enough.” Colonel Aryan Van Dijk glanced at Senna De Caramet.

"Really?" Governor Daiman couldn't help being a little surprised. The Batavia fleet finally took the initiative to establish a stronghold that can protect trade routes. Trading posts and armed strongholds."

"Okay, Your Excellency Governor." Senard Karamet nodded and said, "However, I am here to report an important question to you."

"What's the problem?" Seeing Senard Kalamet's serious look, Governor Daiman felt terrified. Could there be a problem with one of the company's business stations, or some financial omissions in Batavia?

"Gentlemen, do you feel that the prices in Batavia have increased significantly recently?" Senad Karamet said, "From the bulk of grain, cloth, metal, wood, etc., to the daily needs of meat, eggs and poultry , salt, sugar, paper, etc., the prices have risen in an all-round way. The clerks under the colonial government are complaining that the meager salaries seem to be no longer enough to maintain their decent lives.”

"Oh, is it?" Governor Dayman looked at several other officials and officers, and found that only a few people were nodding in agreement with Senad Kalamet's statement, "So, Mr. Kalamet, what do you think is the reason for this?" The prices in the Batavia market have risen in an all-round way?"

"I guess it's this." Saying that, Senard Karamet took out a silver coin from his pocket, "Can you see any difference in this Dutch guilder?"

Governor Daiman took the silver coin and put it in front of his eyes to observe carefully. It seemed that it was no different from the Dutch Guilder he usually saw, but the color was brighter.

"Gentlemen, does this silver coin look very new and very eye-catching." Senad Karamet said: "Looking at this silver coin, it seems that it has just been minted."

"Not bad." Registrar Regias Henson took the silver coin from Governor Daiman and said, "It seems that it was made not long ago."

"So, gentlemen. I would like to ask, have we made a new currency this year?" Senad Kalamet asked softly.

"Mr. Karamet, what do you mean to say that someone is making fake Dutch guilders to dig into our corner?" Governor Daiman's expression became serious, and he heard from the tax officer Regias Henson He took the silver coin in his hand again.

"Yes, Your Excellency Governor. Someone is making our currency, and they wantonly purchased all the goods in our hands, so that the prices in the Batavia market have risen in an all-round way!" Said Senad Kalamet said: "However, We have to admit that this silver coin is not fake, both in appearance and inside, and it is even better than the Dutch Guilders we made ourselves."

"Who do you think is making fake ones, oh well, making this kind of silver coins that are more exquisite than ours." Governor Daiman smiled wryly, the silver coins in his hand, both in appearance and feel, seemed to be better than before. The currency issued should be stronger.

"Hanzhou!" Senad Karamet looked at Governor Daiman and said seriously: "I think Hanzhou may be making this currency. They use this currency to continuously buy whatever they need in the market Materials, and slowly grow from it. They seem to be undermining us."

(End of this chapter)