Five armed merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company were swimming outside the port of Jianye City, watching closely what was going on in the port.

However, it had been a month since the Sino-Dutch War broke out, and the port of Jianye City had been blocked for more than 20 days. Dutch ships did not find any Hanzhou ships entering or leaving the harbor.

The silent port seemed to be an uninhabited, desolate land deep inside the dock. But the Dutch warships knew that dozens of heavy artillery were hidden in the silent dock and the mountains on both sides. When Jianye Port had just been blocked, a group of

When a Dutch armed merchant ship arrived for reconnaissance and testing, it tried to attack two small boats fishing in the harbor. However, it was bombarded by artillery batteries from three directions. In less than fifteen minutes, it was hit by six or seven shells. It was embarrassing.

The land escaped from the harbor.

The blockade fleet wisely stayed near the sea outside Jianye City Port, monitored all movements in the depths of the harbor, and resolutely intercepted and sunk any ship that dared to enter or exit Jianye Port.

"I think we should establish a temporary camp on the island opposite Jianye City (Bathurst Island). Otherwise, we will not be able to maintain a long-term blockade of Jianye Port." A Dutch naval officer suggested.

"If a temporary camp is established, I think we may need support, not only supplies, but also camp logistics personnel." Major Gregory Thomas, commander of the blockade squadron, frowned and said.

Based on the current situation in Jianye Port, it is estimated that the Hanzhou ships must have moved to a place unknown to us. In the short term, they may be able to hide outside, but over time, the ships and personnel will always have to come back for supplies.

Well. It seems that the task of blocking the squadron will be a long and boring wait.

Oh, damn Hanzhou, why can't you act like a brave man and dispatch all your ships to have a sea duel with our East India Company's warships?

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"We cannot engage in any form of duel with Dutch warships!" Qi Dajiang looked at the captains sitting here and said in a deep voice: "Our current strength is too weak and we cannot easily lose any warship. But

We can’t hide here and let the Dutch block our door!”

He patted the table and said with firm eyes: "We must fight out and teach the Dutch a profound lesson."

"Commander Qi, just give your orders wherever we want to fight!" Luo Rucheng said loudly: "Now the Dutch are blocking the door of our house, but we ran to Beikou Fort to hide."

"That's it, Commander Qi, find an opportunity for the Dutch to fuck them hard and let them know that we in Hanzhou are not easy to mess with!" Niu Jinming said.

"When we came out of Jianye Port, the Grand Commander and the Chief Superintendent told me that the Dutch have many colonial strongholds in Nanyang, and the distances are relatively scattered, and the number of people is not very large. Therefore, we can attack any of them.

Colonial stronghold. However, when we attack the Dutch colonial stronghold for the first time, we must hit it hard! Moreover, it can disrupt their overall deployment." Qi Dajiang said.

"Which place is so important that it can both cause pain to the Dutch and disrupt their deployment?" Luo Rucheng asked: "The Dutch have so many colonial strongholds, so we won't go to Batavia, right?"

"Batavia? With our current strength, we can't defeat it."

"Since Batavia is not possible, let's go to Kupang, which is relatively close to Xinxiang Fort and Dili City. Maybe we can lift the blockade of these two places."

"Kubang is very close to Oecussi, which the Dutch just occupied, and it is also an important node in the Dutch spice trade. We may encounter many armed merchant ships. We can't compete with them!"

"How about attacking Ambon?" Marine Corps Chief Niu Hu suddenly interrupted.

"Ambon? That is the center of Dutch rule in the Spice Islands, their most important stronghold. Will you encounter Dutch ships coming for trade?"

"Any colonial stronghold of the Dutch may encounter their ships coming to trade or transport supplies and personnel." Niuhu said: "However, Ambon lives in the Spice Islands, there are no other Atlantic powers around, and the closest colony to them is

The stronghold in Kupang is eight or nine days' voyage away. We can sneak into the vicinity of Ambon quietly, watch the timing right, and move in and out quickly. We will definitely be able to catch the Dutch by surprise."

"What if we can't capture Ambon in three to five days?"

"If you can't defeat Ambon, then send more weapons to the natives on the island." Niuhu said: "Half a year ago, a native riot broke out on Ambon, and the Dutch forcibly suppressed it. I don't believe it. Those riots

All the natives were killed!”

"Ambon!" Qi Dajiang stood up and made a decision, "Ambon is the center of Dutch rule in the Spice Islands. Conquering it will definitely shock Batavia. Moreover, the Dutch have been running Ambon for decades, and

It is the place where the spice trade is exported, and it must have accumulated astonishing wealth. Taking Ambon will definitely make the Dutch heartache!"

"But, we have never been to Ambon, how can we sail there?" Luo Rucheng raised a question.

"We haven't been there, Portugal has been." Qi Dajiang said with a smile: "It just so happens that there are several Portuguese naval officers captured in Dili City in our fleet. Presumably, they are also very willing to take us there.

Attack Ambon.”

Ambon was first established by Portuguese colonists in 1526, but in 1609 the Dutch East India Company captured Ambon from the Portuguese and gradually expelled Portugal from the Spice Islands. If the Portuguese captured the city of Dili in Hanzhou,

If they are resentful, they will gnash their teeth in hatred towards the Dutch for taking over Ambon.

The plan has been decided, Qi Dajiang immediately organized four warships, two transport ships, two marines and more than two hundred rural soldiers, led by Portuguese naval officers, and headed directly to the center of the Spice Islands - An.

Wen.

Seven days later, the Hanzhou attack fleet passed an island (Yendena Island) and stayed for two days on a protrusion on the northeast side of the island (near the small town of Watmulli in the northeast of Yende Island, Indonesia) for two days.

Qi Dajiang considered that this island was in the middle of Timor Island, Ambon, Weiyuan Island and Hanzhou, and had an excellent strategic position. When the fleet set off, he left a fleet of more than fifty people.

The local soldiers set up a temporary camp here in preparation for the fleet to dock again for repairs later.

--------------------------

"Xiaotian, are there more than 10,000 people in this city?" In the early morning, Cao Xiong and Qi Tian stood on the wall of Jianye City, looking at the increasingly noisy scene in the city, feeling emotional and a little proud.

"There are not ten thousand people." Qi Tian said: "There are more than 8,300 people in the city. However, including the residents of a dozen settlements near and far outside the city, there are more than 12,000 people."

"If we have more than ten Jianye cities in Hanzhou, why should we be afraid of the Dutch?"

"We are not afraid of the Dutch now!"

"Haha..." Cao Xiong smiled, "Yes, two or three years ago, we were afraid of the Dutch. Now, we dare to confront them head-on. In another three years, maybe the Dutch will be afraid

We are here!"

"The Netherlands may not really be afraid of us. They just don't want to lose too much. After all, they came from distant Europe for wealth and profit." Qi Tian said: "Even if we develop for another five or six years, compared to those who have

There is still a gap between Westerners who have profound knowledge. What's more, our maritime power is obviously weak."

Qi Tian remembered that the Dutch's global maritime hegemony seemed to have been maintained until the end of the 17th century, and it gradually declined after three maritime wars with the United Kingdom. However, the maritime hegemony in the Nanyang region was maintained until the mid-to-late 18th century, and it was still

Britain's strong intervention forced it to give up sea control in the Far East.

"I know how powerful the Dutch are at sea, and I don't expect that we can do anything to the Dutch in such a battle." Cao Xiong said: "But we want to let the Dutch know that we are not on various islands in the Southeast Asia.

The local savages who provoked us will have to pay a price."

"Yes, hit me with one punch to avoid hundreds of punches! From now on, we in Hanzhou will create such an image for the Dutch. It looks harmless and cooperation is okay, but if you bully me, you would rather be broken into pieces than destroyed!"

"Qitian said.

"I don't know if Dajiang and the others can capture one or two Dutch strongholds and let them know how powerful we are."

"It should be possible, as long as you pay a certain price." Qi Tian thought for a while and said, "That Ambon is a very good target."

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"Gentlemen, it has been more than a month since the war with Hanzhou began, but the news coming out is very pessimistic." Anthony van Demen, the governor of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia, looked at the colonial government sitting in the conference room.

The official said solemnly: "Jianye City and Xinxiang Fort are well defended, and the warships we sent can monitor and blockade them on the outside. Dili City was attacked for more than ten days without any results."

Captain Ajan Vandyk, commander of the Batavia fleet, glanced at Governor Daiman anxiously. The attacks on the above three Hanzhou strongholds were all led by the Batavia fleet. There is no progress now. As a navy,

Commander, it is hard to blame.

"I am extremely dissatisfied with the current situation." Governor Daiman glanced at Colonel Ajan Van Dijk, "In the short term, we must make a new breakthrough. The Hanzhou mainland is well-defended, and it once defeated Spain.

People, if we capture Jianye City, it will be a difficult task, but are we unable to capture those strongholds far away from the mainland of Hanzhou?"

"Mr. Governor, we are considering reinforcing the attack fleet in Dili City and sending more landing troops to seize this stronghold in the shortest possible time." Colonel Ajan Van Dijk said quickly: "We are confident that all of us will

Annihilate the Hanzhou army in Dili City."

"When can Dili City be captured?" Governor Daiman asked.

"Within a month." Colonel Ajan Van Dijk said through gritted teeth.

"Within a month? That means we can capture Dili City before Christmas?"

"Yes, Lord Governor."
Chapter completed!