Yang Zhen was suddenly speechless as to what Lemaia said about Zheng Zhilong.

In fact, Yang Zhen had the idea of ​​uniting with Zheng Zhilong. If Zheng Zhilong's huge fleet could be utilized, then the destruction of the Japanese country and the destruction of the Ning country should be a piece of cake.

In fact, even in the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, if the Ming Dynasty could properly integrate all forces, if civil servants and generals, between the court and local governments, including various local mountain factions, could sincerely cooperate and work together,

If we work together to defend ourselves against foreign aggression, we can still be saved.

Unfortunately, Emperor Chongzhen no longer had the ability to integrate all the forces of the Ming Dynasty and use them for the country.

The government and the public, the gentry, civil and military officials, and even the clans and vassal kings in various places were at odds with Emperor Chongzhen and fell into an abyss of mutual constraints, intrigues, and infighting.

Of course, it was precisely because Yang Zhen knew this that he only briefly flirted with the idea of ​​joining forces with Zheng Zhilong and then gave up immediately.

Because he also knew it was impossible.

First of all, the Dutch are entrenched on Dajuan Island, which is across the sea from Nan'ao. Zheng Zhilong cannot ignore the threat of the Dutch and go north with his commander to cooperate with Yang Zhen.

The other reason is what Lemaia said. Lemaia is right. If you can make money just by sitting down, who would be willing to put in any extra effort?

And this also means that today's Zheng Zhilong family has a great cause and is very proud of their ambitions. They have long lost the enterprising spirit of seeking wealth and wealth in the early years.

In this regard, Yang Zhen could only be speechless.

But this time Lemaia met and talked specifically with Yang Zhen. It was obviously not just a casual chat, but a purposeful one. Therefore, when he saw Yang Zhen nodding in silence and waiting for a moment, he took the initiative and said:

"Admiral Yang, what do you think about the combined fleet's next combat operations? I would like to hear your suggestions."

The battle under Yang Zhen's command outside Kagoshima City has made Le Maia and other Dutch officers and captains realize the strength of Yang Zhen's command, and at the same time, it has also won Yang Zhen the respect of his strength from these red-haired devils.

.

Especially when only four giant ships of the Dutch fleet arrived at Izu Oshima, the weight of Yang Zhen's command in the subsequent combat operations was naturally different from before, and the right to speak increased sharply.

"My suggestion? Let's study the situation at hand first, and then I'll make my suggestions."

Faced with Le Mai'a's active inquiry, Yang Zhen certainly would not hide it. His previous idea could be implemented at this time.

However, before putting forward his own suggestions, Yang Zhen still wanted to take advantage of the Dutch fleet's sensitivity to naval battles and first clarify the situation at hand.

"I heard that when Captain Thomas launched the attack, several Japanese patrol boats escaped from here. Is that true?"

After He Tingbin's translation, Lemaia turned his head and looked at Thomas Pedel, who was standing in a corner of the room. Seeing the latter nodding, Lemaia said with certainty:

"Yes, a few Japanese ships did escape. However, I don't think this is such a bad thing."

Le Maia's face is narrow and long, with a long nose, and the eyes in the deep sockets are not big, and they are also slightly obscured by thick eyebrows, but when he said this, his eyes were as sharp as lightning, and he looked extremely sinister.

"Haha, Mr. Lemaia is right, this is not a bad thing. Sometimes, taking the initiative to announce our arrival to the enemy is actually a good thing."

After getting a definite answer from Lemaia, Yang Zhen first expressed that he did not complain about the Dutch fleet. After waiting for He Tingbin to translate his words, he immediately said:

"It has been four days since we left Kagoshima Bay, and how many days have passed since we destroyed Nagasaki Minato Town? I believe that the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo Castle should have received Nagasaki or Satsuma

News about the domain. So what will they do?”

"Captain Yang, your judgment is very reasonable, and I am just about to listen to your advice. Because only you Orientals understand your thoughts best."

After listening to Yang Zhen's words translated by He Tingbin, Le Maia immediately nodded and said.

“I believe that the Tokugawa shogunate, which issued the order to seize the country, will not easily accept the Dutch East India Company’s request for comprehensive trade, but will mobilize the Japanese army to fight to the end unless the combined fleet shows them the force sufficient to destroy them!

"At the same time, I also believe that since we come from the sea, the Tokugawa shogunate will inevitably recruit a large number of Japanese warships to fight against the combined fleet at sea.

"However, our combined fleet has sailed north from the Osumi Strait and has not been intercepted by Japanese ships. We have only encountered Japanese patrol ships here. What does this mean?"

At this point, Yang Zhen did not continue, but quietly waited for He Tingbin to translate his words into the red-haired language and said it to Le Mai'a.

"This means that the maritime power of Japan is probably gathering in Sagami Bay or Edo Bay, where they are waiting for the arrival of the combined fleet!"

"That's right——"

"But I'm not worried about the Japanese fleet!"

Before Yang Zhen could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Lemaia.

And He Tingbin also quickly translated Lemaia's words.

Yang Zhen was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and his anger at being interrupted immediately dissipated.

Because he already realized what Lemaia was worried about.

In fact, the Dutch red-haired ghosts, known as sea coachmen, have strong confidence in their maritime power in this era, especially in the Far East seas of this era.

Yang Zhen could understand this, because it would be really strange if the Dutch East India Company was not confident in its maritime power.

After all, they had just driven away the Spaniards on Taiyuan Island by force, and captured the Portuguese fortress in Manlacca. They were at their strongest and most ambitious.

Yang Zhen was just thinking when he heard Lemaia speaking again.

"What I am really worried about is the need for landing operations. If the Tokugawa shogunate uses the power of the entire country to defend Edo Castle, then, Governor Yang, what do you think we have to do to do what we did under Kagoshima Castle?

, force them to accept armistice negotiations?”

After listening to He Tingbin's translation, Yang Zhen was silent for a long time and finally said:

"If we land at Edo Bay and fight the shogunate army under Edo Castle, I have to say that we don't have much chance of winning, maybe not even 10% chance of winning."

After He Tingbin gave Yang Zhen's translation to Lemaia, Lemaia's face instantly darkened.

After also being silent for a long time, Lemaia finally spoke:

"Although I don't like your statement very much, I have to admit that if your army cannot take Edo City, then our chances of winning are indeed very small. So, I would like to know what your suggestion is."

Lemaia's Dutch fleet now only has four giant plywood ships, and the rest are a dozen small and medium-sized ships used for patrolling and landing.

When the Putmans was still in the fleet, their combat troops were less than a thousand.

Now that the Putmans is no longer in the fleet, more than 200 Dutchmen who followed the Putmans and other ships to garrison Tanegashima were separated.

The remaining musketeers who can actually land for combat would be good if they can gather 600 people.

Therefore, if Lemaia wants to launch a landing operation, the main force he can rely on right now is Yang Zhen's subordinates.

Apart from seeking Yang Zhen's opinions and listening to Yang Zhen's suggestions, he could not find any other way.

When Yang Zhen saw this, he no longer hid it, but smiled slightly and said decisively to Lemaia:

"My suggestion is that we first use all our strength in Sagami Bay or Edo Bay to completely eliminate the maritime power mobilized by the shogunate, and first ensure that the combined fleet is invincible.

"Then we will use the victorious division to enter Edo Bay, bombard Edo Castle, and assume a posture of landing from Edo Bay and storming Edo Castle, forcing the shogunate to deploy the main force of the army to defend Edo Castle."

"Then what?"

As soon as He Tingbin translated Yang Zhen's strategies and tactics to Le Mai'a, Le Mai'a reacted immediately. His eyes suddenly opened and he immediately asked about Yang Zhen's back-up plan.

"Then? Haha, by then we will no longer have any scruples at sea. Not only can we boldly divide our forces, but we can also come and go freely. At that time, your army can continue to cruise in Edo Bay, and I can lead my men to find other places suitable for landing.

location and launch landing operations.”

"Where are the governor going to fight?"

"Except for Edo Castle, we will fight wherever the shogunate cannot lose."

"Captain, why don't you give me an example?"

"For example, Osaka."

Yang Zhen wanted to say Kyoto, but he still left a little room for words and only mentioned Osaka, the planned landing place.

"Osaka?"

After listening to He Tingbin's translation, Lemaia muttered the name of Osaka, then leisurely took out a map from his arms, moved the plate in front of him, and laid the map squarely on it.

Then he took out a magnifying glass and a foldable square ruler from a box he carried with him, and started tracing around on the map.

"Should the governor go to attack Osaka, or should he land from Osaka and attack the Japanese city of Kyoto?"

"?!"

After listening to He Tingbin's translation, Yang Zhen was stunned for a moment and could not control his surprised expression.

And his surprised and speechless expression obviously fell into Lemaia's eyes.

In this way, Lemaia no longer needed Yang Zhen to answer anything, because the answer was already written on Yang Zhen's face.

"Seriously, Yang, you are an absolutely smart and absolutely sinister guy. I feel lucky that this time we are not opponents, but trustworthy allies. And I am willing to pray that we never become opponents on the battlefield."

"Hahahahaha, Mr. Lemaia, we are each other!"

Yang originally wanted to conceal his true intention of landing from Osaka from the Dutch so that he could monopolize Kyoto City in the future.

But he didn't expect that the Dutch fleet commander Maximilien Lemaia was so shrewd that he actually saw through his intentions after taking out a map and comparing it.

Now that he had been seen through, Yang Zhen simply stopped hiding it and immediately revealed his strategies and tactics.

Lemaia also saw the hope of achieving the Dutch East India Company's goals from Yang Zhen's strategies and tactics, and almost completely agreed with Yang Zhen's suggestions.

The reason why it is said to be "almost completely in favor" is because Le Maia did not agree with Yang Zhen and his men acting alone, but insisted that the musketeers of the Dutch fleet should also participate.
Chapter completed!