1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 632 Hunting Malacca

December 1649, 7, Batavia.

Just when the East India Company was raging about the Kupang tragedy created by the Hanzhou people, a huge fleet of more than [-] warships sailed outside the port of Batavia, and made a grandiose attack on the pier. shelling.

Although the Hanzhou fleet quickly withdrew from the harbor after being counterattacked by the dock fort, this still shocked the colonial government of the East India Company.

Since 1619, the East India Company acquired Batavia and established a city here, making it the headquarters of the company in the Far East. Thirty years have passed. Although the inland was threatened by the Kingdom of Banten and the Kingdom of Mataland, and experienced two sieges, the East India Company has maintained the infinite scenery of the city by virtue of its own powerful force. , making it the most dazzling trade center in the entire region.

But now, there is actually a fleet that has imposed a blockade and siege on the city from the sea, making all ships that need to leave the port for trade and transportation hide in the port very aggrieved.Moreover, during the blockade that lasted for several days, six merchant ships were intercepted successively.The merchant ships belonging to the East India Company were naturally forcibly seized by the Hanzhou Fleet, and the merchant ships from other countries and regions were persuaded to return by them, or directed to other ports where transactions could be carried out.

However, early this morning, the East India Company mercenaries who were observing the situation outside the port from the watchtower at the pier were surprised to find that the many Hanzhou warships swimming outside the Batavia port suddenly all disappeared.

After hearing the news, Rear Admiral Gris Coppert, the commander of the navy, first observed the situation outside the harbor carefully for a while, and then ordered the two ships to sail out of the harbor to confirm whether the Hanzhou fleet had really evacuated.

Although the colonial government announced in a very high profile that it would retaliate against the Kupang tragedy caused by the Hanzhou people, it was not an easy task to recruit and assemble armed merchant ships in a short period of time.

After the disastrous defeat at the sea battle of Timor Island, within two months, the East India Company worked hard, and after sacrificing some non-essential trade and transportation activities, they successively assembled eleven armed merchant ships in Batavia.However, in view of the Hanzhou Fleet currently occupying an absolute numerical advantage, Major General Kopet did not dare to send these ships, but continued to wait for more ships to assemble.

After two days of investigation, the Dutch in Batavia finally confirmed that the Hanzhou Fleet had really left, and that they were indeed going to the Ming Dynasty to transfer immigrants.Well, at this time, even if there are some warships left in the East Indies or the mainland of Hanzhou, the number will certainly not be too many.Next, it's our East India Company's turn to fight back against Hanzhou!

"It is estimated that around mid-August, we will be able to assemble 15-18 armed merchant ships. Accordingly, the entire expedition fleet will go to the mainland of Hanzhou at the end of August or early September to carry out a series of strikes on their western coastal towns. "Major General Kopet said solemnly: "In order to conquer the strong fortress built by the Hanzhou people, we need to carry some heavy artillery that can be used for siege, as well as a large number of soldiers for landing operations."

"There are 200 mercenaries and 2000 native servants drawn from Ceylon and Malacca respectively. If we add some volunteers from Batavia, we should be able to gather [-] people." Army Commander Colonel Stuart McGrath saw Governor Delin looking at him, and quickly said: "In addition, we have also recruited two hundred volunteers from the Chinese. I believe that when they land in Hanzhou, they should be able to play some unexpected effect."

Governor Delin was silent and did not speak for a while.After the outbreak of the Han-Dutch War, he was very surprised by the power of Hanzhou. They could easily assemble dozens of warships, and they dared to face the threat of the East India Company and directly launched a local decisive battle at sea.

It can be said that within a few months after the start of the war, the East India Company was severely beaten by Han Zhou, and they did not recover for a long time.At this time, he regretted a little in his heart that he shouldn't have intensified the conflict with Hanzhou, so that the company entered a state of war.Moreover, all of them somewhat underestimated the strength of the Hanzhou people, and even underestimated their will to fight.

Although the other party is a centralized kingdom, it is also a civilized country that can produce various industrial products.As long as their young king is willing to continue the war, Hanzhou can even fight the whole country, concentrate all the manpower and material resources in the country, and continue to compete with the East India Company for consumption.

So what if we smashed the entire western part of Hanzhou to pieces?They are in the north and east of Hanzhou, and there are more than a dozen towns, which can continue to provide various materials for combat.After all, the East India Company is a joint-stock company that needs to continuously obtain high profits. Occupying a country and requiring too much money to eat up the company's profits will never be recognized by investors.

What is the purpose of our war with Hanzhou?

Suppress a potential challenger of interests, or continue to maintain the monopoly commercial profits of the East Indies?Forbid any foreign power to sit at the table and share this gluttonous feast with the East India Company?
However, what if the opponent cannot be suppressed?

"Your Excellency..." Major General Coppett saw the hesitation and hesitation of Governor During at this time, "No matter what step the war progresses, we must now restore the reputation and prestige of our East India Company. Dozens In [-], the East India Company defeated the Spaniards, Portuguese, English, and countless native states. Now, in the face of the challenge of Hanzhou, we must still meet it without hesitation, defeat it, and defeat it. Ultimately establishing our unique dominance in the region."

"Major General Copet, I believe in your professionalism and command ability." Governor Delin took a breath and said firmly: "In order to maintain our honor and prestige, I authorize you to formally form an expedition fleet. To attack the mainland of Hanzhou, weaken their war potential, and destroy their confidence in combat!"
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On August 8, the Strait of Malacca.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." The Qiming and Yangming battleships outflanked the fleeing Dutch merchant ship tightly between them, and the artillery at the front kept bombarding it, warning the opponent not to continue escape.

This is a Dutch armed merchant ship with a full load of more than 400 tons. Shortly after sailing out of the port of Malacca together with another merchant ship of about [-] tons, it was discovered by two flying fish clippers hiding on the shore, and quickly The professional warships swimming nearby were recruited, and they started chasing and intercepting them.

In order to avoid being captured by the "Hanzhou pirates" who suddenly appeared, the two Dutch merchant ships fled towards the east and west directions of the Strait of Malacca at the first time.

After chasing for half a day, the "Qiming" and "Yangming" finally got close to the Dutch merchant ship. Seeing that they could not escape, the other party simply raised the white flag, terminating the arduous pursuit.

"A large amount of Indian cotton cloth, saltpeter, indigo... oh, and the wheat in the ballast. In addition, two large boxes of coins were seized from the captain's cabin. It is estimated that there are [-] to [-] Hanzhou silver dollars in total." Captain Zhou Mao said with a deep smile: "After staying here for more than ten days, it finally opened. I don't know if Lao Ding and the others stopped another Dutch merchant ship?"

"The Dutch merchant ship has a larger tonnage, so it shouldn't be running fast. Lao Ding and the others probably succeeded." Captain Wan Changshu of the Qiming was also in a good mood when he heard that the ship was seized. Go back to the small island east of the strait and report the good news to the Admiral."

The raid fleet temporarily formed by the Qi State Navy has eight professional warships and two battleships. The ship also carries three marine companies, led by Weiyuan Fleet Admiral Niu Jinming.

At the end of July, after entering the Strait of Malacca, Niu Jinming divided the fleet into two and blocked the two ends of the strait.In the east, the activity area was from the entrance of the Strait of Malacca to the city of Malacca, while the squadron in the west took Aceh, Jishui Bay (now Simawi City, Indonesia) and other coastal areas as the activity area, intercepting and killing Dutch merchant ships passing through the Strait of Malacca .

Before the arrival of the winter warm current in December, the Dutch merchant ships that haunt the Strait area are generally not too large, and there are even many merchant ships that come and go to this area alone. Go on a "hunt".

However, when the winter warm current arrives, the Dutch East India Company will organize a very large fleet, pass through the Strait of Malacca, and then gather trading ships from Ceylon, India, West Africa and other commercial bases all the way, and return to mainland Europe to complete the year. Asia-Europe trade missions.

Qi Guo had already mastered this information, and at the same time, he had some bold ideas.

Today, in addition to attacking and destroying Dutch merchant ships, the navy's assault fleet also needs to be familiar with and understand the hydrogeographical conditions of this section of the Strait of Malacca, and to master "hunting" techniques.As for the many intelligence and tactical staff members who came with the ship, they will also prepare to gradually improve and refine that bold idea based on various information collected from field investigations during this period of time.

They believed that once a large number of East India Company trade ships returning to Europe were intercepted or sunk in the Strait of Malacca, the Dutch's determination to fight would be greatly shaken.

When local Dutch shareholders and many investors learn that the East India Company, which can generate huge returns every year, may face the risk of cutting off the entire trade channel during the war with Qi, their dividends and investment will also exist. The consequences of losing everything.

Then, the 17-member board of directors at the European headquarters of the East India Company, which meets three times a year, should make major decisions in line with investors' wishes.

(End of this chapter)