1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 354 The Dutch's Focus
December 1639, 11, Batavia.

This day has a very special meaning in later generations of China. In addition to commemorating Singles' Day, which is a single person, this day is also given to the most grand online shopping festival.

However, on this day, Batavia Governor Anthony Van Daiman received a letter of inquiry from the board of directors of the local East India Company.

The wording in the letter of inquiry is very harsh. In the past six months, the East India Company has not shipped a single shipment of clove materials back to Europe, and the company’s operating profit for the first half of the year has dropped sharply, and the trade surplus shipped back to the mainland is less than expected.You know, Spain is planning an invasion against the Netherlands, and it needs a lot of money to recruit mercenaries and build warships.

At the beginning of the year, Spain began to raise a large amount of military supplies.According to relevant intelligence, this large-scale military operation by Spain is not aimed at the Kingdom of France on the European continent, but at the rebellious federal republic they have always considered.Because Spain has recruited a large number of armed merchant ships in the Americas, the Mediterranean, Italy and other regions, as well as a huge amount of maritime combat equipment and supplies.

For this reason, the Interprovincial Republic also carried out sea preparations accordingly, preparing to concentrate all resources to defeat the Spanish invasion.In view of this, the federal provincial government also requires all classes and groups in the country to contribute all their strength to defend the free republic.As the largest overseas colonial company in the Netherlands, the East India Company was required to provide a large amount of funds and the federal provincial government. Many armed merchant ships under it were also ordered to suspend their return to the East Indies and join the Dutch Navy in response to the Spanish invasion at sea.

However, in order to win the war against the Kingdom of Mataland and the Kingdom of Banten, and to rebuild Ambon, the Batavian colonial authorities had to embezzle part of the trade surplus funds. In addition, Zheng Zhilong captured the colonial stronghold of Formosa, Seriously affected the trade between Japan and North Korea.All this led to a sharp drop in the amount of funds sent by the East India Company to the mainland.

When Batavia struggled to repel the attacks of Matalan and Banten, and began to intensify efforts to restore the spice trade in Ambon, the hateful Hanzhou people broke through Ambon again in October. , and once again completely destroyed the entire city.This undoubtedly made the Dutch crazy and felt extremely painful.

This Hanzhou is too careless, how can you fight again this year after breaking through Ambon last year!Is there any law of the king, is there any law of heaven!

The Hanzhou people not only destroyed Ambon again, but also captured Mr. Senad Karamet, the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company. This made Governor Daiman even more angry, but he also felt helpless in his heart.

The representative sent to negotiate with Zheng Zhilong has not sent back any news, and the current trade in Ming Dynasty, Japan, and North Korea has not fully resumed.Ambon was destroyed again, and the clove trade was bound to be difficult to restart before the end of the year.The other kingdoms and tribes on the Spice Islands were unable to make up the difference for a while.

After the Hanzhou attack fleet raided Ambon, it turned around and went to Dili Port, expelling two Dutch armed merchant ships that were carrying out blockade missions here.Ten days later, two Hanzhou warships attacked a Dutch transport ship near Java Island, causing it to return to Batavia with scars all over its body.

A week ago, news came from Ceylon that the Kingdom of Kandy suffered a disastrous defeat in Colombo. More than [-] people were killed, wounded and captured by the Portuguese, and fled back to the royal city in embarrassment.Moreover, the Portuguese intercepted and attacked two Dutch merchant ships bound for India near Malacca, forcing them to return to Palembang.

After receiving a lot of news that was not conducive to the Dutch East India Company, coupled with a harsh letter of inquiry from the Dutch local company's board of directors, Daiman suddenly felt an inexplicable anxiety.From last year to now, the East India Company seems to have encountered too many troubles, and all of them broke out in a short period of time, which made the Batavian colonial authorities a little tired of coping.

I still remember that a few years ago, the Dutch East India Company continued to squeeze out the Portuguese forces in India in the west, and reached an agreement with the local Kingdom of Kandy in Ceylon to deal with the Portuguese, and was invited to settle on the west coast of Ceylon.In the Strait of Malacca, it captured a port in the Kingdom of Aceh and obtained part of the control of the strait that the Dutch dreamed of.

For the Spaniards in the Philippines, they almost wiped out their fleet on the expedition to Hanzhou. Last year, they also captured several Spanish colonial strongholds in the Philippines, destroyed their Cavite shipyard, and forced the Spaniards to retreat to Manila. Contest the Spice Islands with the East India Company.

However, the Dutch East India Company seems to have had many unsatisfactory incidents since June last year.The landing in Ceylon was prevented by the Portuguese, and they took advantage of the opportunity to pull out the stronghold of Rapid Water Bay City (now Simawei City, Indonesia).

Then the Dili City occupied in Hanzhou suffered successive setbacks, and the mercenaries and native servants suffered heavy losses.Then, Nicholas sent ships to intercept and attack Dutch merchant ships near Xinsheng Island, and later sent troops to capture two strongholds in Formosa.Hanzhou launched a counterattack, not only providing a large number of weapons to the natives on Java Island, but also raiding Ambon twice, destroying the local spice trade of the Dutch.

The trading posts of the Kingdom of Cambodia were destroyed by the government and all the Dutch were taken prisoner.Finally, Batavia was besieged by the natives.

"We must solve these troubles as soon as possible!" Governor Dayman said loudly: "Yes, we have too many troubles, which prevent us from focusing on trade and obtaining more benefits. Gentlemen, this year will be our East India Company In the most difficult year, our trade volume has shrunk sharply, and our profits have also fallen precipitously compared with last year. Facing the current complicated and severe situation, if you have any constructive suggestions, please put them forward.”

"Your Excellency, I think our biggest enemy at present should be the Portuguese." Batavia Mayor Sylvie Heimer said: "The Portuguese occupied Malacca and Rapid Water Bay City, one in front of the other, and controlled the Most of the strait passages, and they also have a solid colonial stronghold in Ceylon. This poses the most serious threat to our East India Company going back and forth between India and Europe. Therefore, we should vigorously assist the Kingdom of Johor and lure them Join us in attacking Malacca and unplug this most threatening colonial stronghold."

"This, we are already doing it." Governor Daiman said: "Moreover, we have provided weapons to Johor three times in the past few months, even including several heavy artillery."

"But I don't think it's enough. We should concentrate all our resources to face the Portuguese threat." Sylvie Highmore said: "Johor natives alone are not enough to defeat the Portuguese. We must When the time is right, send a powerful fleet and landing force to capture Malacca and Rapid Bay City."

Governor Daiman couldn't help frowning. What Sylvie Highmore said seemed to be a bit disapproving of his plan to send part of the sea force to Haojing (today's Macau) to lure the Portuguese fleet to help and severely damage it. .

He glanced at the naval commander on the right, Colonel Duckman Barek, trying to find his support.

"Before we attack Malacca, we must weaken the Portuguese's sea power." Colonel Dakman Barek said: "In view of this, it is very necessary for us to use the attack on Oyster Mirror as an excuse to deprive the Portuguese of the few armed merchants." The boat was drawn near the Oyster Mirror and severely damaged or wiped out."

"Are you so sure that the Portuguese will send armed merchant ships to support Oyster Mirror?" Sylvie Highmore asked rhetorically.

"This..., Oyster Mirror is the most important colonial stronghold of the Portuguese in the Far East. It bears the heavy responsibility of importing a large amount of goods from the Ming Dynasty. It is a place that the Portuguese cannot easily lose." Colonel Dachman Barek said: "Therefore , Our navy has reason to believe that the Portuguese will send a considerable number of armed merchant ships to support there after they get the news that we are about to attack Oyster Mirror."

"If the Portuguese sent armed merchant ships to guard the port of Haojing, they would not come out to fight our navy at all, but would use the pier forts to protect Haojing. How should we respond? In addition, Haojing is near the Ming Dynasty. We attack Oyster Mirror, we intervene, and what are we going to do about it?"

In the conference room of the Governor's Mansion in Batavia, many high-level figures were shocked when they heard Sylvie Highmore's question.Facing the strength of the Dutch navy, the Portuguese are likely to choose to close without fighting, strictly guard the port, and wait for the Dutch to leave.

"Attacking Haojing should not cause the reaction of the Ming government." Colonel Dachman Barek thought for a moment and said, "We have... attacked Haojing several times, and the Ming government never intervened. They will definitely not intervene this time, after all, large-scale civilian riots are taking place in the north of the Ming Dynasty. It should be impossible for their government to take countermeasures against the Portuguese stronghold of Haojing."

"As for the Portuguese choosing to hide their supporting armed merchant ships in the port of Haojing to avoid war, well, I think there is such a possibility. ... However, Haojing is the most important part of the Portuguese's trade in the entire Far East. If we By blocking their ports, they will lose their largest source of goods and the most critical supply point for trade. I don't think they can afford this loss."

"Could it be that our East India Company can afford this loss?" Sylvie Highmore said: "The blockade of Oyster Mirror means that we must maintain at least four or more armed merchant ships there. The question is, is it really effective? We have blocked the Dili Port occupied by Hanzhou for nearly a year, and now it seems that they are not affected at all. Oh, yes, a while ago, they took advantage of our relaxation of the blockade to give Dili Licheng sent a large amount of supplies. Therefore, my lord, gentlemen, I think that a long-term blockade may not be able to achieve the desired effect on our opponents."

"So, Mr. Hammer, your suggestion is..." Governor Daiman felt restless when he heard him mention Hanzhou again.

"We must retract our extended fingers, clench our fists, aim at the vitals of our main enemy, and give him a hard blow!" Sylvie Highmore first stretched out five fingers, and then quickly clenched them into fists. Fist, waved towards the void, and then said: "The Portuguese are our main threat at present. We had to follow the practice of the East India Company for decades, continue to attack and weaken the Portuguese, and finally drive them out of the East Indies. Ceylon, and even India!"

"The official Nicholas of the Ming Dynasty (Zheng Zhilong's Christian name), the Spaniards in the Philippines and the Hanzhou people are our secondary enemies at present. We can ease the relationship with them first. As long as we clear the Portuguese If there are strongholds in Malacca, Ceylon, and India, then there will be no threat on our entire route to and from Europe. Moreover, we can monopolize the entire East Indies, the entire market of the Indian subcontinent, and various resources such as huge manpower and material resources. At that time, our enemies will be even less able to threaten us."

"We, the East India Company, need to negotiate peace with the Hanzhou people?" Governor Daiman asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, in order for us to concentrate more power and gain more time for us, we need to make peace with Hanzhou." Sylvie Highmore said: "In the Far East, since we can make peace with the Spaniards Temporarily negotiate a peace truce, you can make concessions to Nicholas, so why not temporarily negotiate peace with Hanzhou?"

"No!" Governor Daiman looked at Sylvie Highmore, shook his head and said, "Even if our East India Company can make a truce with the Spaniards in the Far East, we must not make peace with the Hanzhou people lightly. Because, we They are all from Europe, and they are complete outsiders. However, Hanzhou is a local power that is committed to taking root here, and it is also a local power that is rising."

(End of this chapter)