The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 423 If I don’t close the net, I will become the boss

For Mo Zi Bu, the best outcome for Zheng Xin would naturally be that he would be killed by the rebel army before the main army appeared.

In this way, Mo Zibu would not have any moral guilt, and the problem of Siam would naturally be solved.

The second best outcome is that the person survives, but has experienced numerous setbacks, and his or her faith in Taoism is shattered, leading to him or her becoming a monk.

Since my father-in-law has become a monk, it would be appropriate for the eldest son-in-law to take over Siam and then divide it among his brothers-in-law in the future.

The result of waiting again is that the person is alive, but still a little unwilling to admit defeat. In the name of filial piety, he can only be brought back to the mainland to recuperate, leaving a shogunate in Thonburi to rule on his behalf, and then thinking about splitting Siam step by step in the future.

However, procrastination, waiting until Zheng Xin was killed before destroying the rebels even though the army had already arrived, was actually the worst outcome.

Because the country of Siam is not worthy of Mo Zibu bearing such a moral stain.

There are many smart people in this world. There are some things that you have to choose not to do. Once you do something, no matter how well you cover it up, you will never be able to hide it from those who are interested.

Therefore, when the southern expedition fleet set out, Mo Zibu issued an imperial edict to Zheng Mincheng and Luo Fangbai, asking them to ensure Zheng Xin's safety, even if it meant letting the rebel Tong and others go, they must rescue Zheng Xin.

As for which method of rescue is used, it depends on how well their brains work.

If it is the second case, then these two people will definitely have a bright future in their careers. If it becomes the third or even the fourth case, then their careers will basically be over.

On the sixth day of March, Mo Zibu held a departure ceremony in Humen, appointing him as the Duke of Yi'an, Lieutenant General Chen Lian as the General Pingnan and commander-in-chief of the army, and French Rear Admiral Suffren as deputy commander-in-chief and fleet commander.

On March 21, the army arrived in Jiading, and the two third-level battleships that had been anchored in Cam Ranh Bay, Qui Nhon Prefecture, and the three fifth-level cruisers of Xingtang River Xianfu also came to join them.

In the Jiading Governor's Office, Chen Lian showed Luo Fangbai and Zheng Mincheng the imperial edict Mo Zibu had issued, and deliberately said loudly:
"When I was heading south, His Majesty repeatedly told me that I must rescue King Zheng at all costs. I don't care about anything else. Even if it means letting the traitor Chakri and others go, it would be worth it.

Therefore, I, the general, believe that we should now focus all our efforts on advancing into Siam. What do you all think?

Hearing what Chen Lian said, Queen Wu Xuan of Siam and Crown Prince Zheng Miao, who came with him, both breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, they didn't understand what Chen Lian meant at all.

Zheng Mincheng and Luo Fangbai looked at each other. The current situation was actually very clear. It didn't matter how chaotic Siam was.

Because it does not have a strong navy, its army of only a few tens of thousands of people is not worth mentioning at all. As long as the sea is blocked, it can be caught in the trap and destroyed whenever it wants.

In contrast, the Dutch East India Company had a fleet in Java consisting of two fourth-level battleships and four fifth-level frigates, as well as more than thirty armed merchant ships.

With current navigation technology, if the Dutch fleet were to leave the port and play hide-and-seek with the Xingtang Navy, the situation would be quite troublesome.

So normally speaking, Chen Lian’s first priority when heading south would be to rush to Java Island immediately while the insiders could still determine the anchorage of the Dutch fleet. He would never say anything about ensuring Zheng Xin’s safety first.

But now Chen Lian said this out of character, there must be other reasons, or there must be something else behind his words.

Zheng Mincheng, who was more familiar with the situation in Siam, immediately said, "Before General Pingnan arrived, I had already contacted 10,000 troops loyal to the royal family in various places. The rebels Chakri and others only had about 30,000 soldiers.

There's no need for a full-scale attack from the entire army. Just send three thousand elite soldiers, supported by a few guns and cannons, and I can capture Thonburi and rescue King Taksin."

After Zheng Mincheng finished speaking, he immediately looked at Chen Lian. Seeing that Chen Lian did not raise any objections, he immediately understood.

However, when Queen Wu Xuan heard what Zheng Mincheng said, she became a little anxious, and she looked at Zheng Mincheng in surprise.

But before she could ask, Luo Fangbai explained, "If Chakri really wanted to harm King Zheng, he would have raised his hand in an instant. He hasn't done anything yet, which proves that he won't do anything in the short term.

The reason he dared to rebel was simply because he relied on the Dutch in Batavia or the British in India. Therefore, as long as we break his foreign support and then threaten him with a large army, we should be able to force him to release King Zheng.

Wu Xuan thought it made sense. After all, she had been queen for over a decade and understood some basic politics. So she said to Chen Lian:

"Prince Zheng has suffered so much this time that his family and country have been overthrown. I think he has no face to rule this country of thousands of chariots anymore. If I can spare his life, I will accompany him back to his hometown to visit his family and their graves."

Chen Lian nodded. Zheng and Luo already understood the best way to deal with the situation, and the queen would not make trouble, so the war could proceed as planned.

"Okay, since everyone agrees, I will send 3,000 elite soldiers from the Divine Lightning Guards to accompany you two westward. Together with the Siamese troops, we will slowly advance towards Thonburi.

The main force of the army will attack the Dutch naval base directly and defeat the rebels' external support first."

. . . .

The Dutch rule on Java was not actually very strict. They could not even fully control the island of Java. It was not until 1755, twenty-four years ago, that they barely conquered the Sultanate of Matram on Java.

And they were merely conquerors. Although the Dutch split the Mataram Sultanate into the Yogyakarta and Solo Sultanates, they could only manage to make them obey orders rather than orders. Furthermore, since the Yogyakarta and Solo Sultanates' territories were located in central Java, they might become mad and cut off east-west transportation.

Therefore, the Dutch were forced to build a port at the east and west ends of Java Island so that they could communicate with each other by sea through the two ports.

If a rebellion breaks out in the Sultanates of Jakarta and Solo, it can be suppressed by advancing from both the east and the west.

Of the two ports, the western Maurya Port is about one hundred kilometers away from Batavia (Jakarta).

Semarang in the east is about 430 kilometers away from Batavia and is the largest port.

"The Dutch East India Company's army consisted of approximately 3,000 men. Aside from the artillery, there was basically no distinction between land and sea forces. They served as soldiers on land, and remained sailors once aboard."

Jinyiwei Nanji Qianhu Shi Yaer said with a smile: "Of course, the fixed members on the ship are not included in the 3,000 people. These sailors and the ship's gunners make about 1,300 people.

Therefore, the total number of Dutch troops on the entire island of Java would not exceed 4,500.

Half of them are from Europe, and the other half are local Westerners who have been living here for several generations.

Of course, he also had a vassal army of about 30,000 people, but most of these vassal armies were in the hands of various sultans and lords, and generally speaking, it was not easy to recruit them.

Even if they were recruited, their combat effectiveness was very low. They were not very willing to work for the Dutch, and the Dutch did not trust them. They were reluctant to equip them with flintlock rifles, and the equipping rate of matchlock rifles was only 30%.

The only land threats we have are the four bastions outside Batavia, which must be taken down through gradual bombardment with large-caliber naval guns."

"There's no rush to take over Batavia. As long as we destroy the Dutch fleet, we don't even need to take Batavia immediately.

So where is the main force of the fleet? Can you confirm it?" asked Major General Suffren, the fleet commander.

"Most of them are in Semarang Port. Our insider, Colonel Marco, is in charge of guarding the Semarang Port Fortress. This is completely certain."

"Okay, then we'll split up!" Chen Lian nodded excitedly, then said to Major General Sufran:
"General Su, lead the main force to attack Semarang and make sure not a single ship of the Dutch fleet escapes.

With the cooperation of Pengangzi, Kechengnan and five thousand samurai and soldiers, I took over Peacock Port.

As long as we block these two main ports, the Dutch will have no choice but to surrender, and we won't have to storm the bastions."

. . . .

In the port of Semarang, Colonel Marco's life is not very comfortable. He is now staring at the sea in a daze.

When he first established a relationship with the Chinese emperor because of a golden Buddha, he was still a major.

But he knew at that time that the Dutch could not defend Java.

Because the United Provinces Republic is a small country with a population of only a few million. Even if it had three heads and six arms, it would not be possible for it to compete with the Chinese Empire with a population of 200 million from thousands of miles away.

However, he made up his mind to surrender, but Mozibu's plan to attack Java Island was repeatedly postponed.

During this period, Colonel Marco successfully outlasted the highest commander of the army, Brigadier General William Otton.

And because the company's profits declined year by year, no general was hired to serve as the military governor of Batavia. He and another colonel had become the highest-ranking officers.

This made Colonel Marco feel the pain of thinking, "Arthur, if you don't close the net, I will become the boss."

"Father, the time has finally come. Tomorrow the Chinese Empire's fleet will arrive in Semarang."

Just when Colonel Marco was waiting anxiously, his son Marco Jr. finally brought him good news.

"According to His Majesty's secret decree, after taking Batavia, His Majesty will confer upon you the title of Earl of Jinshi and allow you to have two hundred feudal lords and one thousand feudal soldiers." Little Marco was very excited.

"And I will be awarded the title of Jinyiwei Baihu and enrolled in the Whampoa Military Academy."

Jinshi City is located in the easternmost part of Java Island, not far from the famous Surabaya. It is considered a good place. Marco is allowed to recruit 200 samurai, which means that the number of people in the Earl of Jinshi's fiefdom will not be less than 60,000.

"Okay, my child, the good days for our Marco family are finally here. After all, several generations of our ancestors were born in Nanyang, so we should be the people here.

As for the Netherlands, screw it, I've never even seen it, it's not my country."

(End of this chapter)