1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 287 Batavia's Dilemma

"On February 2, our stronghold east of Batavia was attacked by the Matalan Sultan Kingdom. Although it was repulsed by our mercenaries stationed there, five people were killed and 15 people were killed. Injured, and part of the outer wall was damaged to varying degrees. This is the fifth attack on us by the Kingdom of Mataland since late January." Peter Kuru, Commander of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia Colonel Ci said.

"Based on these continuous attacks, we have reason to believe that the Kingdom of Mataland is organizing a large-scale attack. They sent a small force to attack and destroy our parts east and south of Batavia The purpose of the stronghold is to clear the way for their large forces to quickly advance to the vicinity of our Batavia. Therefore, I think that local mobilization can now be carried out in the city to face the upcoming large-scale military operations."

"How long will it take for the troops attacking Banten City to withdraw?" Batavia Governor Anthony Van Daiman asked.

"It will take about a week before we can withdraw." Colonel Pete Kurucs said: "The soldiers of the Kingdom of Banten have been following our army. For this reason, Major Stuart Campbell is going to be in a place called Kakina Set up an ambush against the Banten Kingdom's pursuers and injure them severely to prevent them from entering the western outskirts of Batavia."

Governor Daiman nodded. It is indeed necessary to deal a heavy blow to the Kingdom of Banten when facing the attack of the Kingdom of Mataland.More than half a month ago, Batavia's garrison invaded the Kingdom of Wandan, and finally approached the city of Wandan.Major Stuart Campbell was preparing to attack the city of Banten (present-day Serang, Indonesia) in order to weaken the strength of the Banten Kingdom.

However, the attacking force was in big trouble.There are more than a dozen artillery pieces on Wandan City, and the defenders have more than 200 muskets, plus thousands of soldiers equipped with iron swords and spears.For the Dutch attacking force of only a thousand people, it is tantamount to an impossible task to capture the city of Banten.

Major Stewart Campbell still bit the bullet and made a tentative attack, but he was met with a fierce counterattack by Banten City.After more than 2000 people were killed and injured, the Dutch stopped all attacks and sent people back to Batavia quickly to report the situation here.If he insisted on capturing Banten City, then Batavia would have to send at least [-] more reinforcements, moreover, there should be no less than [-] Musketeers.

Governor Dayman and Colonel Pete Kurutz were greatly surprised to receive Major Stuart Campbell's report.Attacking a Tubang kingdom, mobilizing more than 1000 troops, plus three artillery pieces, it can't be defeated in one battle, but more reinforcements are required!

After learning about the strength of Wandan City, Governor Daiman hesitated again and again, but still issued an order to withdraw troops.Not to mention that the city of Batavia couldn't gather so many troops for a while, even if there were so many troops, they couldn't be consumed by the natives.More than two months ago, they had lost too many troops under the city of Dili, but they didn't want to lose some more troops under the city of Wandan.

The Kingdom of Mataland has already begun to move, and Batavia must concentrate all its forces to defeat its attack.Damn natives, damn Hanzhou!They even shamelessly colluded together to deal with the East India Company.

"What happened to Ambon?" Governor Daiman turned his head and asked Lieutenant Colonel Dakman Barek, the acting commander of the Batavia fleet.

"The situation is not very good." Lieutenant Colonel Dakman Barek said with a bitter face: "In addition to rebuilding the city of Ambon, our people also have to deal with the attacks of the local natives. For safety reasons, some of the inland The commercial station has been temporarily abandoned, and all of them are stationed near the city of Ambon."

"Then our spice purchase has also stagnated?"

"Yes, Your Excellency Governor." Lieutenant Colonel Dachman Barek said, "Those tribal leaders began to secretly resist our acquisition and refused our business personnel to enter their tribal territory."

Governor Daiman's face was gloomy, and he paced back and forth with his arms folded, thinking about the solution to the current situation.

"Send our representatives to the Sultanate of Ternate and tell their Sultan King that we have agreed to their request and can double the price of the spices they supply, such as fennel, cardamom, and cinnamon. However, we need They sent at least [-] native soldiers to Ambon for us to drive." Governor Dayman said to Lieutenant Colonel Barek.

"If they ask us for the weapons we need, how do we respond?"

"Promise them!" Governor Daiman said decisively: "We must stabilize the situation in Ambon in the shortest possible time. We have not sent a shipment of cloves back to Europe for two months, which is huge for the company. loss."

"Obey, my lord governor!" Lieutenant Colonel Barek promised.

"Also, [-] mercenaries were dispatched from Oecussi and Kupang, and [-] mercenaries were dispatched from Machen in Borneo, and all of them were transported to Batavia. We need to deal a heavy blow to the kingdom of Mataran , just like ten years ago!"

"Governor, in this way, the defense of those commercial stations may be somewhat empty. Will they be attacked by Hanzhou people?" Lieutenant Colonel Barek reminded.

"Lieutenant Colonel Barek, do you think that Hanzhou would dare to send their weak fleet to attack our trading strongholds when our fleet blocked the line between Timor Island and Java Island?" Governor Daiman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Dakman Barek would like to say that there are many sea routes, and if Hanzhou's warships cross Java Island to attack Borneo, or the Malay Peninsula and other trading stations, then how to deal with it.However, seeing Governor Daiman's impatient expression, he opened his mouth and finally said nothing.

Perhaps, Hanzhou people dare not step out of their homes.

------------

Christopher Mandane, the senior representative of the Dutch East India Company in the Kingdom of Cambodia, heard Huang Yuantao, the commander of the Annan Navy in front of him, say that they will send [-] soldiers to Xinsheng Island occupied by Hanzhou, and with the cooperation of the Dutch squadron Take that island.

As for how to sail, how to seize the island, and how to defeat the Hanzhou people on the island, the commander of the Annan navy did not say a word. Instead, he and Christopher Mandane began to discuss how to distribute the post-war profits.They demanded that all the civilians and military resources captured on the island be handed over to Annan, and the leader of Hanzhou can be handed over to the Dutch.

Moreover, they needed to occupy that small island, and entrusted the Dutch to sell them muskets and artillery.

"General, are you so convinced that you can seize that small island?" Christopher Mandane couldn't help asking.

The Dutch East India Company gathered more than 2000 people under the city of Dili, and there were seven or eight artillery pieces, but they failed to break into the city of Dili, which was defended by more than 400 Hanzhou troops.Could it be that you Annan people can defeat the Hanzhou people and capture their fortress on the island with only [-] soldiers, almost all of whom are armed with cold weapons?

"How much force can a small island with 3000 people have?" Huang Yuantao said: "We have sent [-] troops this time, and the soldiers are brave enough to be used!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the red-haired barbarian opposite him.Our Guangnan Kingdom dispatched [-] troops. In addition to capturing the small island and stationing there, we will also move most of the captured Ming people to the Priango area of ​​​​Cambodia (near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam today), so as to manage the richness of the south. land.Naturally, these thoughts cannot be made known to you red-haired people.

However, after seizing the small island, Guangnan Kingdom still needs to be more prepared against these barbarians.Their boats are strong and powerful, and they cannot be controlled by small boats in the country.

Christopher Mandane helplessly spread his hands, perhaps these Annan troops are particularly capable of fighting.

---------

Hu Pingjiang stood on the top of Xinsheng Castle, and saw seven or eight armed merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company appearing in the waters near Xinsheng Island from a distance, but the Zheng family's fleet did not have any intention of engaging in battle, and directly raised their sails. Flee to the northeast.

Four or five small boats of the Zheng family, who had no time to escape, rushed towards the shore in the direction of Xinshengbao.After being stranded on the beach, more than 70 sailors jumped off the ship and rushed to Xinshengbao.

"Let them in." Hu Pingjiang said to a captain of the township soldiers next to him: "You bastards, a bunch of cowards! Even if you can't beat them, let's fire two shots. They ran away without looking back!"

"The Zheng family's ships are obviously bullying the weak and afraid of the strong." Another village captain said: "Twenty or thirty ships can bully one or two other ships. Now that the Dutch have come to the big fleet, naturally they can run as fast as they can. "

"I'm afraid they want to preserve their strength and throw us to the Dutch!"

"Then the Dutch will come to land and beat us later?"

"Probably. With so many boats, they must have brought a lot of people over."

"Hmph, how many people he came here are all giving us heads!" Hu Pingjiang snorted coldly, "Blow the horn and prepare for battle! Everyone in the city is forbidden to go out, and all the town soldiers are prepared to patrol the streets!"

"Yes, Commander!" A group of township captains and civil affairs officials at the top of the city promised loudly.

"In addition, send two people to ride to Zhaoming Fort, and get them and all nearby forts ready for the battle."

"Commander, there are still hundreds of Cambodian and Champa fishermen and traders in the city, how to deal with them?"

"Scattered and resettled in the immigrant camp, and the organized immigrants will take care of them. If there is any change, shoot and kill!"

The entire Xinsheng Island, with the arrival of the Dutch East India Company's attack fleet, immediately entered a state of intense preparations.

Projectiles, gunpowder, guns, and a large number of Leimu were successively transported and stored from the military treasury in the city to the vicinity of the city wall.All fishing boats on the shore were also dragged inland, and several wooden trestles were also demolished and destroyed.

However, the strange thing is that after waiting for several days, the Dutch still have no sign of landing.In the waters near Xinshengbao and Zhaomingbao, several Dutch armed merchant ships anchored at sea far away, closely guarding the movement of Xinsheng Island.

"Could it be that they are waiting for some reinforcements, or do they just want to block us like this?" Hu Pingjiang looked suspiciously at the Dutch warship on the distant sea.

(End of this chapter)