November 11, 1639, Batavia.

This day has a very special significance in later generations of China. In addition to commemorating the solitary Singles' Day, this day has also been assigned to the most grand online shopping festival.

However, on this day, Batavia Governor Anthony Van Dyman received a letter of inquiry from the board of directors of the local East India Company.

The wording in the inquiry letter is very harsh. In the past six months, the East India Company has not shipped any clove material back to Europe. Moreover, the company's operating profit for the first half of the year has dropped significantly, and the trade surplus shipped back to the mainland is less than expected. You know,

Spain is planning an invasion of the Netherlands and needs large sums of money to recruit mercenaries and build warships.

At the beginning of the year, Spain began to raise a large amount of military supplies. According to relevant intelligence, Spain's large-scale military operation was not aimed at the Kingdom of France on the European continent, but against the United Provinces Republic, which they had always regarded as rebellious.

.Because Spain has collected a large number of armed merchant ships in the Americas, the Mediterranean, Italy and other regions, as well as a huge amount of maritime combat equipment and supplies.

To this end, the United Provinces Republic has also made corresponding preparations for maritime war, preparing to concentrate all resources to defeat the Spanish invasion. In view of this, the United Provinces Government also requires all classes and groups in the country to contribute to the defense of the free republic.

All forces. As the largest overseas colonial company in the Netherlands, the East India Company was required to provide a large amount of funds to the federal provincial government, and many of its armed merchant ships were also ordered to postpone their return to the East Indies to join the Dutch navy in response to the Spanish maritime invasion.

However, in order to win the war against the Kingdom of Mataram and the Kingdom of Banten, and to rebuild Ambon, the Batavia colonial authorities had to embezzle part of the trade surplus funds. In addition, Zheng Zhilong captured the colonial stronghold of Formosa.

It seriously affected the trade between Japan and Korea. All of this led to a sharp decrease in the amount of funds sent by the East India Company to the mainland.

When Batavia struggled to repulse the attacks of Mataram and Banten and began to increase efforts to restore the spice trade in Ambon, the hateful Hanzhou people, in October, they invaded Ambon again

, and once again completely destroyed the entire city. This undoubtedly made the Dutch crazy and felt extremely painful.

This Hanzhou is too careless. How can you attack Ambon again this year after conquering Ambon last year? Is there any law of kings or justice of heaven?

The Han Chinese not only destroyed Ambon again, but also captured Mr. Senard Karamet, the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company. This made Governor Daiman even more angry, but he also felt helpless in his heart.

The representatives sent to negotiate with Zheng Zhilong have not yet sent back any news. The current trade in Ming Dynasty, Japan, and North Korea has not been fully restored. Ambon has been destroyed again, and the clove trade will be difficult to restart before the end of the year. On the Spice Islands

Other kingdoms and tribes were unable to make up the difference for a while.

After the Hanzhou attack fleet raided Ambon, it turned around and went to Dili Port, expelling two Dutch armed merchant ships that were performing blockade missions here. Ten days later, two Hanzhou warships also attacked near Java Island.

A Dutch transport ship returned to Batavia with scars all over its body.

A week ago, news came from Ceylon that the Kingdom of Kandy suffered a disastrous defeat in Colombo. More than 1,700 people were killed, wounded and captured by the Portuguese. They fled back to the royal city in embarrassment. Moreover, the Portuguese also intercepted and attacked two ships near Malacca.

Dutch merchant ships bound for India forced them to return to Palembang.

After receiving a lot of news that was unfavorable to the Dutch East India Company, as well as a severely worded letter of inquiry from the Dutch company's board of directors, Daiman suddenly felt inexplicably anxious. From last year to now, the East India Company seemed to have encountered too many problems.

The troubles broke out in a short period of time, which made the Batavia colonial authorities somewhat exhausted.

I still remember that a few years ago, the Dutch East India Company continued to squeeze out the Portuguese forces in western India. In Ceylon, it also reached an agreement with the local Kingdom of Kandy to deal with the Portuguese, and was invited to settle on the west coast of Ceylon. In the Strait of Malacca

, captured a port in the Kingdom of Aceh, and gained control of part of the strait that the Dutch dreamed of.

The Spanish in the Philippines almost completely wiped out their expedition fleet to Hanzhou. Last year, they also captured several Spanish colonial strongholds in the Philippines, destroyed their Cavite shipyard, and forced the Spaniards to retreat to Manila, not daring to return again.

Battle with the East India Company for the Spice Islands.

However, it seems that the Dutch East India Company has had many troubles since June last year. The landing in Ceylon was blocked by the Portuguese, and they also took advantage of the situation and took advantage of the situation to pull out the stronghold of Rapid Water Bay City (today's Simawei City, Indonesia).

.

Then the Dili city occupied by Hanzhou suffered successive setbacks, and the mercenaries and native servants suffered heavy losses. Then, Nicholas sent ships to intercept and attack Dutch merchant ships near Xinsheng Island, and later sent troops to capture two Formosa islands.

Hanzhou launched a counterattack, not only providing a large number of weapons to the natives on Java Island, but also raiding Ambon twice, destroying the local spice trade of the Dutch.

The trading post of the Kingdom of Cambodia was destroyed by the Cambodian government and all the Dutch were captured. Finally, Batavia was besieged by the natives.

"We must solve these troubles as soon as possible!" Governor Dyman said loudly: "Yes, we have too many troubles that prevent us from focusing on trade and obtaining more profits. Gentlemen, this year will be the year for our East India Company

In the most difficult year, our trade volume has shrunk significantly, and our profits have also plummeted compared to last year. Faced with the current complex and severe situation, if you have any constructive suggestions, please put them forward."

"Sir Governor, I think our biggest enemy right now should be the Portuguese." Batavia Mayor Sylvie Heimer said: "The Portuguese occupied Malacca and Rapids City, one after another, and controlled

Most of the strait passes, and they are still in Ceylon

We have established a solid colonial stronghold. This poses the most serious threat to our East India Company's travel between India and Europe. Therefore, we should vigorously assist the Kingdom of Johor and induce them to jointly attack Malacca with us to remove this most threatening

Colonial outpost.”

"We are already doing this." Governor Daiman said: "Moreover, we have provided weapons to Johor three times in the past few months, including several heavy artillery pieces."

"But I don't think it's enough. We should concentrate all our resources to face the threat of the Portuguese." Sylvie Heimer said: "The Johor natives alone are not enough to defeat the Portuguese. We must use them at the appropriate time."

When the time comes, send a powerful fleet and landing troops to capture Malacca and Rapid Water Bay City."

Governor Dyman couldn't help but frowned. What Sylvie Heimer said seemed to disapprove of his plan to send part of the maritime force to Oyster (today's Macau) to lure the Portuguese fleet to come to the rescue and inflict heavy damage.

.

He looked at the naval commander on his right, Colonel Duckman Barek, and tried to seek his support.

"Before we attack Malacca, we must weaken the Portuguese naval power." Colonel Duckman Barek said: "In view of this, it is very necessary for us to use the attack on Oyster Mirror as an excuse to destroy the Portuguese's few armed merchants.

The ship was lured to the vicinity of the Oyster Mirror and severely damaged or annihilated."

"Are you so sure that the Portuguese will send armed merchant ships to support Oyster Mirror?" Sylvie Heimer asked rhetorically.

"This..., Oyster Mirror is the most important colonial stronghold of the Portuguese in the Far East. It is responsible for the introduction of a large number of Ming products. It is a place that the Portuguese cannot easily lose." Colonel Duckman Barek said: "Therefore,

, our navy has reason to believe that after the Portuguese get the news that we are about to attack Oyster Mirror, they will send a considerable number of armed merchant ships to support there."

"If the Portuguese sent armed merchant ships to guard the Oyster Mirror port and did not come out to fight our navy at all, but used the dock forts to protect the Oyster Mirror, how should we respond? In addition, the Oyster Mirror was near the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming government

If we attack the Oyster Mirror and intervene, how will we deal with it?"

In the conference room of the Governor's Palace in Batavia, many high-level figures were stunned after hearing Sylvie Heimer's questions. Facing the strength of the Dutch navy, the Portuguese would probably choose to close their doors and not fight.

The port, waiting for the departure of the Dutch.

"The attack on the Oyster Mirror should not cause any reaction from the Ming government." Colonel Duckman Barek thought for a moment and said: "We have... attacked the Oyster Mirror several times, but the Ming government never intervened.

They will definitely not intervene this time. After all, a large-scale civilian riot is taking place in the north of the Ming Dynasty. It should be impossible for their government to take measures to deal with the Portuguese stronghold of Haoyingjing."

"As for the Portuguese choosing to hide the supporting armed merchant ships in the Oyster Mirror Port to avoid the war, well, I think there is a possibility... However, the Oyster Mirror is the most important link for the Portuguese to maintain trade throughout the Far East. If we

By blocking their ports, they will lose their largest source of goods and their most critical trade supply point. I think they cannot afford this loss."

"Can our East India Company bear this loss?" Sylvie Heimer said: "Blocking the Oyster Mirror means that we must maintain at least four or more armed merchant ships there. The question is, is it really effective?

?We have blocked the Dili port occupied by Hanzhou for nearly a year. Now look

Come, they don't seem to be affected at all. Oh, by the way, a while ago, they took advantage of our relaxation of the blockade to deliver a large amount of supplies to Dili City. So, Mr. Governor, gentlemen, I think that in the long run

With such a blockade, it may be difficult for our opponents to achieve the results we expected."

"So, Mr. Heimer, your suggestion is..." Governor Daiman felt irritated again when he heard him mention the Hanzhou incident again.

"We must retract our outstretched fingers, clench our fists, aim at the vital points of our main enemy, and give him a hard blow!" Sylvie Heimer first stretched out five fingers, and then quickly clenched them into

He punched his fist, waved it towards the void, and then said: "The Portuguese are our main threat at present. We had to adhere to the East India Company's practice for decades, continue to attack and weaken the Portuguese, and finally expel them from the East Indies.

Ceylon, and even India!”

"The official Nicholas of the Ming Dynasty (the Christian name of Zheng Zhilong), the Spanish in the Philippines, and the Hanzhou people are currently our secondary enemies. We can ease the relationship with them first. As long as we eliminate the Portuguese

Malacca, Ceylon, and strongholds in India, then there will be no threats to our entire route to and from Europe. Moreover, we can also monopolize the entire East Indies, the entire market of the Indian subcontinent, as well as huge manpower and material resources and other resources.

At that time, our enemies will be even less able to threaten us."

"Does our East India Company need to negotiate peace with the Han people?" Governor Dyman asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, in order for us to concentrate more power and to win more time, we need to negotiate peace with Hanzhou." Sylvie Heimer said: "In the Far East, since we can make peace with the Spanish

If we can temporarily negotiate a peace and truce, we can make concessions to Nicholas, so why not temporarily negotiate a peace with Hanzhou?"

"No!" Governor Dyman looked at Sylvie Heimer, shook his head and said: "Even though our East India Company can have a truce with the Spanish in the Far East, we can never make peace with the Han people. Because, we
Chapter completed!