Ming Zuo

Batavia.

The leisure time of Lu Guangzhai and Xu Erjue is completely gone.

"The merchant ship that was originally scheduled to arrive five days ago has not heard from it yet. I am afraid something may have happened."

The representative of Songjiang Cotton Spinning came over with a dignified expression.

Hearing this news, both Lu Guangzhai and Xu Erjue felt the seriousness of the situation.

Because the sea is vast and the distance is long, sufficient time will be reserved for merchant ships to and from.

But in any case, if the merchant ship has not arrived at the port for more than five days, it means that it may never arrive.

Since the air route between Xia Guo and Batavia has been traveled many times, he already knows how long it will take.

Excluding the impact of the storm at sea, five days of relaxation time is definitely enough.

Besides, we don't run boats every year during stormy seasons.

Although the two of them had learned about the situation, they were overseas and alone, so there was no clue for a moment.

Anthony van Diemen actually came to the door.

"One of our merchant ships going to Japan was supposed to return within this month, but there was no news. We suspect that they encountered pirates."

pirate?

Lu Guangzhai and Xu Erjue looked at each other.

Experience above the sea, the Dutch are definitely above them.

Since the Dutch judged this way, I'm afraid it is almost the same.

"Could it be a Spaniard?"

If you want to say who is the most difficult to deal with the Dutch on the waters of the East, then it must be the Spaniards who have occupied Luzon.

The Bashi Channel is exactly between Taiwan and Luzon.

Perhaps the Spaniards learned of the situation here, so they sent the navy to pretend to be pirates and carry out the robbery.

Anthony van Diemen didn't see it that way.

"After the last battle, the Spaniards have been severely injured by us, and they dare not come to provoke them. Moreover, the Spaniards have been driven out of Taiwan, and this route is not within their control."

Lu Guangzhai and Xu Erjue vaguely guessed something, but they didn't dare to define it randomly.

This is no small matter.

It can set off huge waves.

Seeing their expressions, Anthony Van Diemen knew that he should not act rashly.

He gave the Dutch way.

"I wonder when Xia Kingdom's merchant ships will set sail?"

Lu Guangzhai informed me heartily.

"Three days later."

Anthony van Diemen has spoken of his intentions.

"Batavia decided to send naval warships to check what happened, but the pirates would run away when they saw that it was a warship. So I would like to ask your merchant ships to cooperate, which is beneficial to both of us. "

Lu Guangzhai and Xu Erjue understood immediately.

There was an unexpected situation on the route, which was definitely a great loss for Xia Guo.It is also in Xia Guo's interest to be able to find out the truth.

"Then do it."

Three days later, three Xia Kingdom merchant ships set sail from Batavia and embarked on their return journey.

Before the fleet left the port, the news had already been sent out by someone with a heart.

It's just that those who are interested can't see that on another island, two Dutch warships also left the port quietly.

At the same time, Xia Guo was also discussing.

"It is reasonable to say that the new route is not within any sphere of influence, and there should be no situation. But so far, we have lost seven merchant ships, and many people have died. The losses on the Dutch side are almost the same as ours. The staff The department guesses that someone must have intervened in this sea area, not other factors."

Liu Yiyuan read out the pre-judgment on behalf of the General Staff.

"Cheng."

Because it was an internal meeting, Zuo Yong didn't have any worries about speaking.

"evidence."

Zuo Menggeng's words seemed to refute, but in fact they confirmed it.

If only one or two merchant ships were involved in an accident, everyone would not doubt that something happened to them.

But it is definitely not an accident that so many merchant ships have disappeared without a trace.

Taking everything into consideration, the biggest suspect must be Mrs. Zheng.

This has actually reached a consensus within Xia Guo.

But Zuo Menggeng made it very clear.

Even if he knew it was done by the Zheng family, Xia Guo needed evidence.

With evidence, Xia Guo can show his talents without any scruples.

Evidence... will there be?

Off the coast of Shimabara.

Xia Guo's transport ship entered here again in the early morning.

The situation of the Daoyuan Rebel Army is getting worse and worse.

Yuan Shengzhang and Amakusa Tokisada have decided to retreat to Kurume, shorten their own front, and not give Matsudaira Nobuzuna a chance to turn around.

Their weapons and ammunition are exhausted and need to be replenished urgently.

Under such circumstances, Xia Guo had to increase the frequency of transportation.

Even if there are many crises in it, I can't take care of it.

The sailboat sailed quietly on the water, and everyone on board had their eyes wide open, alert to the unexpected situation around them.

But the hazy night still makes people's eyes unable to see too far.

Suddenly, a tall shadow rushed towards him in the darkness.

It wasn't until thirty meters away that there was a rampant and wanton shout from the opposite side.

Immediately afterwards, the overwhelming rain of arrows covered this side.

Fortunately, the people on the boat were well prepared. Seeing the collision of the two boats, they hurriedly turned around and ran towards the cabin.

The pirates had already rushed over, seeing the actions of the crew, they couldn't help laughing mockingly.

On the vast sea, what's the use of running into the cabin?

The leading pirate drew out his saber, yelled, and rushed to the cabin to kill.

But when he slashed open the cabin door, he immediately froze there.

First of all, there are no weapons in the cabin, but a crowd of people.

What is more terrifying than the mass of people is the mass of muzzles.

The pirate leader immediately understood, turned around in horror and tried to escape.

But amidst the gunshots like popping beads, he was shot in the left leg and fell heavily on the deck.

It was even worse for the pirates behind him, who died in the rain of bullets one after another.

Regardless of the wound on his leg, the pirate leader tried his best to get up and escape quickly.

Two claws flew from behind, clasped firmly on his shoulders, and dragged him back alive.

The people in the cabin swarmed out, and the gunshots continued.

Those unprepared pirates couldn't resist at all, and were slaughtered like wheat in the wind.

And seeing that all the people who ran out were wearing Xia Jun's military uniforms, the pirates even lost the will to resist.

Escaping became their only thought.

The surviving pirates jumped back to their ships, only to get away.

But since Xia Jun made such a round, how could he be unprepared?

One of Xia's soldiers raised his arm high and fired a shot into the sky.

The bullet flew high into the air and exploded violently, and then transformed into a bright firework.

In this moment of dawn and twilight, and on the sea as flat as a mirror, such fireworks are so eye-catching.

Soon, Xia Guo's warships surrounded them in all directions.

Seeing this scene, the pirates have already lost their souls.

They want to run.

Where can you run to?
The artillery on a Xia Guo warship roared, punching a big hole in the pirate ship, and immediately began to circle around in place.

On the transport ship, an officer of the Xia Kingdom walked up to the captured pirate leader and knocked off his hat with a knife in his hand.

When he saw the hairstyle of the pirate chief, his expression changed.

"You are Han, who are you?"