Zheng Zhilong looked at the information in his hand with a playful smile on his face.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Zheng Zhibao asked curiously.

"The Xinsheng Island in Hanzhou has recently stocked up a large amount of weapons, and it is also constantly purchasing food." Zheng Zhilong handed the information to Zheng Zhibao.

"Are they going to sell us a large amount of artillery?" Zheng Zhibao asked: "I heard that the firecrackers they make are pretty good. We can also buy some."

"Except for the artillery sold to us, most of them are hoarded on the island themselves." Zheng Zhilong said: "Do you know what this means?"

"Are they planning to attack nearby Cambodia and Champa?"

"No, I think they may be at odds with the Dutch." Zheng Zhilong said with a smile: "They are hoarding weapons and food in large quantities to prepare for war!"

"No way. Cao Xiong and those people have only been in Hanzhou for three years. It is estimated that the population is just over 30,000 and there are not many warships. How dare they turn against the Dutch?" Zheng Zhibao was a little unconvinced.

Powerful, the Zheng family's fleet is well aware of it. Leaving the coast of the Ming Dynasty, the Zheng family's fleet may not be able to suppress the numerous armed merchant ships of the Netherlands at sea.

"The Dutch have always been overbearing. Perhaps they were too oppressive, and Cao Xiong and his gang couldn't stand it anymore." Zheng Zhilong sighed, "I simply turned the table over and prepared to bite the Dutch hard."

"Brother, can we..." Zheng Zhibao was somewhat moved.

"Japan is preparing to completely lock down the country. All trade will only allow us, the Ming Dynasty and the Dutch, to go to Nagasaki, and prohibit merchants from other countries and regions from traveling to and from Japan." Zheng Zhilong said leisurely: "Trade with Japan is extremely profitable, and it provides us with

Interest on millions of taels of silver. Tell me, if we exclude the Dutch, will our future income be higher?"

“The Dutch occupy the southern side of Taiyuan (Taiwan), where ships passing the Japanese trade dock for repairs. Their locations in Quanzhou and Zhongzuo Suo (Xiamen) are even one or two superior to ours in terms of geographical location.

"Zheng Zhibao said: "Moreover, the sea is vast, so it is difficult to intercept."

"The only best way for the Netherlands to deal with Hanzhou is to send a large number of ships to blockade the port of Hanzhou." Zheng Zhilong did not respond to his third brother's question, but instead talked about Hanzhou, "And Hanzhou has four or five large Western ships.

How many ships do you think the Dutch need to send to block the access to Hanzhou?"

"At least ten more armed merchant ships are needed."

"What if we send some ships to Xinsheng Island in Hanzhou?"

"Brother, you mean that we sent a large number of ships to Xinsheng Island to intercept Dutch merchant ships heading to Japan?" Zheng Zhibao was a little surprised.

"That's right. That Xinsheng Island happens to be near the Dutch's route to and from Japan, so we can attack and intercept Dutch merchant ships." Zheng Zhilong said with some pride: "And the Dutch don't have any stronghold nearby."

"Hanzhou is willing to let our ships use Xinsheng Island to attack the Dutch?"

"We help them fight against the Dutch, why are they unwilling?"

"What if the Dutch send a large number of warships to look for us?"

"Just withdraw to the mainland." Zheng Zhilong said nonchalantly.

"You don't care about the Han people on Xinsheng Island?"

"Didn't they hoard a lot of weapons and food?"

Zheng Zhibao looked at Zheng Zhilong and couldn't help but admire him. This move would not only attack the Dutch's trade routes, but also transfer more of the Dutch's anger to Hanzhou. The sea was vast and the Zheng family's fleet could sail away at any time.

He only left the new island to attract the Dutch sea power.

———————————

"Sir Governor, the representatives of the Spanish are going to Hanzhou." Colonel Ajan Van Dijk came to the Governor's Mansion and reported to Governor Anthony Van Dyman about the Spanish itinerary.

"No, they cannot be allowed to go to Hanzhou!" Governor Anthony Van Dyman heard this and immediately said: "The Spanish must have colluded with Hanzhou under the guise of exchanging prisoners to deal with us together."

"The Spanish invaded Hanzhou, and Hanzhou also massacred many Spaniards in the Philippines. They... are unlikely to collude, right?" Colonel Ajan Van Dijk said.

"No. We can't take it for granted!" Governor Dyman shook his head and said: "Don't think that the Spanish are always arrogant and will not think of uniting with their former enemies. At least, in dealing with the situation of our Dutch East India Company,

Next, it is possible for the Spaniards to join forces with Hanzhou, because none of them alone can resist our maritime power in the Far East."

Colonel Ajan Van Dijk was still a little dissatisfied. The Portuguese and Spanish had a common king, and they had never been able to unite in the Far East. What's more, Hanzhou not only had wars with the Spanish, but also had

In the eyes of the big and religious Spaniards, Hanzhou was an out-and-out pagan.

"Colonel Van Dijk, whenever there is a chance for the enemy to jointly attack us, we will ruthlessly kill it." Governor Dyman said: "Don't you think that our East India Company has some enemies in the Far East?

Is it much?"

Yes, the Dutch seem to have no allies in the entire Far East. They are almost all enemies, the Spanish, the Portuguese, the Kingdom of Banten, the Kingdom of Mataram, the Kingdom of Aceh, the Kingdom of Dili... and now there are more.

A Hanzhou.

If these enemies were not scattered across the vast East Indies, divided by the ocean, and the Dutch had the largest number of armed merchant ships in the entire region, otherwise, the East India Company would not have been able to survive for a long time.

"Sir Governor, do the goods and property sealed in the Hanzhou Warehouse need to be registered and transferred to the company's account?" Batavia Finance Officer Predrag Poole asked.

"Have all the Han people evacuated?" Governor Daiman asked.

"Yes, two days ago, they took a transport ship from Hanzhou and returned to their Jianye City."

"What is the estimated value of the sealed goods and property?"

"It's estimated to be between 80,000 and 100,000 guilders." Finance Officer Predrag Purpa paused and replied, "Mainly the warehouse building and the goods inside, as well as several properties in the city."

"It will be temporarily sealed and will not be included in the company's accounts." Governor Daiman thought for a moment and said, "If they can find their way back, we can still return these properties to them."

Financial Officer Predrag Purton sighed slightly and nodded with some regret. It seems that the Governor is still thinking about restoring the former subordinate relationship with Hanzhou in the future.

"Has the ransom for the Spanish prisoners been determined?" Governor Dyman suddenly asked.

"They insisted that each officer and colonial official should be paid no more than three hundred pesos, and soldiers and civilians no more than one hundred pesos." Treasurer Predrag Purton said: "After many rounds of pressure with Colonel Van Dijk,

They have always insisted on this price. So, I estimate that these Spanish representatives may only have the current authorization."

"After all, we can only receive less than 30,000 Spanish pesos?"

"Yes, Lord Governor. If we deliver it at the Spanish lowest price, they will need to pay us more than 27,000 Spanish pesos." Finance Officer Predrag Purton said.

"How much do you estimate it will cost us to fight the war with Hanzhou?"

"If Hanzhou surrenders within half a year, we will need to spend about 300,000 guilders." Predrag Purton said: "If they persist for a year, we will spend 600,000 to 70 thousand guilders."

Ten thousand shields."

"so much?"

"Because we need to send more than twenty armed merchant ships for a long time to attack and blockade their Dili City, Xinxiang Fort, and Jianye City. Coupled with the casualties of mercenaries, material consumption, and even ship losses, the cost is about this

.”

"Damn Hanzhou!" Governor Daiman cursed in a low voice. If Hanzhou insists on not surrendering for a year, it means that Batavia may pay less than sixty-seven to the Dutch mainland next year.

A profit of one hundred thousand dong.

"Mr. Purton, if Hanzhou attacks our trading posts (colonial strongholds) in the East Indies, will our losses increase?" Colonel Ajan Van Dijk suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Predrag Purton was stunned for a moment. Will Hanzhou attack our trading station in the East Indies?

Upon hearing this, Governor Daiman turned to look at Colonel Ajan Van Dijk.

"Hanzhou will definitely not hide all armed merchant ships in their ports." Colonel Ayan Van Dijk said: "They will definitely transfer combat-effective warships to a place we don't know, and then launch attacks from there.

An attack on our trading posts in the East Indies. They will do that!"

"Where...may they attack?" Governor Daiman suddenly became a little nervous. He had never thought that Hanzhou would take the initiative to attack the Dutch trading station.

"Your Majesty, Governor, we have too many trading stations throughout the East Indies." Colonel Ajan Van Dijk said in embarrassment: "Any trading station may be their target of attack."

"Then we need to strengthen it now..." Governor Daiman said halfway, and suddenly felt that something was wrong. Strengthen the defense of that trading station? Or strengthen the defense of all trading stations?

"It is said that the Hanzhou Army's combat effectiveness is very strong." Army Commander Colonel Peter Kurucs said: "Moreover, they will have artillery to assist their attack."

With strong combat effectiveness and artillery to assist the attack, this means that Hanzhou may be able to defeat one or several Dutch trading stations in the East Indies.

"Colonel Van Dijk, your Batavia fleet must organize a task force to find and destroy those warships in Hanzhou that threaten us. To avoid their potential threats to our various trading stations in the East Indies!

"Governor Daiman said solemnly to Colonel Ajan Van Dijk.

Upon hearing this, Colonel Ajan Van Dijk immediately felt that this task was simply an impossible task. How to find those armed merchant ships in Hanzhou on the vast sea.
Chapter completed!