Chapter 631 Temeilan Islands

The original intention of Zhan Gui's friendship with Jon Ke originally came from the assignment from the Haihan Security Department, rather than his own initiative. At the earliest, the military had planned whether to take Belitung Island as well when going south.

However, after considering that this place was too close to Batavia, it was difficult to guarantee a safe transition period to take over this place after the capture, so we had to give up this step first and chose to move Anbu to the north.

Na Islands as the main target.

The pepper grown on Belitung Island was not Haihan's goal, but there was a suitable location for building a port on the west side of the island, which was the location of Tanjung Pandan Port, the capital of Belitung Island. The local port conditions were obviously

It is better than Ampurna Island, but it is difficult to fully utilize it with the engineering capabilities of the Dutch. They can only temporarily choose a harbor on the south side of the island that is more convenient for building docks as a colonial site. And Tanjong Pandan

If the location is left to Haihan to operate, there is no doubt that it can be built within a year or two as an outpost for attacking the throat waterways of Southeast Asia. However, given that the current strength of Haihan's navy is not strong enough to attack the East India Company,

The military could only do the next best thing for the time being and set up the springboard to the south at the Ambrosia Islands.

Two months ago, when the militia army went south to seize the Ambuna Islands, in order to prevent scattered island residents from escaping the encirclement, the military and the Ministry of Security specially arranged for Zhan Gui to take a fleet to Belitung Island in advance -

-If someone escapes from the island, they must go south to report the news, and Belitung Island, more than 400 nautical miles south of Ampur Island, is the first choice target for escapees.

If such a thing really happens, then the security field team members in Zhangui's fleet will have to take decisive action. Either look for mobile operators on the island, or intercept and intercept the island in the outer sea and send them back to Batavia

The ship reporting from the base camp was to keep the news of the change of ownership of the Ambrosia Islands secret for a while longer.

Fortunately, the Haihan militia suddenly attacked all the Dutch ships docked at Ambona Island, and no fish escaped the net. Zhan Gui did not have to bear the risk of his identity being exposed. Of course, the luckiest person was actually Wu.

Mayor Jonker of Lidong Island, because if someone really escapes here from Ambona Island, he is likely to be involved. Then the killers in Zhan Gui’s fleet will kill people overnight. Jonker Town

As an insider, I will definitely not be able to escape.

However, Jonke didn't notice anything unusual about the inside story. He still believed that Zhan Gui was a friend worth making friends with. What he was worried about now was not what kind of gift Zhan Gui would bring next time, but what kind of gift Zhan Gui would bring next time.

I will ask Zhan Gui when we meet next time to find out what happened on the northern sea that caused all the Dutch merchant ships that had recently gone south to disappear without a trace.

Because the three commanders of the search and rescue fleet drank a little too much the night before, they were unable to set out early the next morning as scheduled. It was almost noon that the three arrived at the dock smelling of alcohol.

, after a brief lunch, the fleet unmoored and raised sails and sailed out of Belitung Port.

The next stop for the search and rescue fleet is the Tammelan Islands, which is located just north of Belitung Island and has a voyage of about 250 nautical miles. The location of this archipelago is exactly at the midpoint between Belitung Island and the Ambunas Islands.

Food and fresh water can be replenished at the local port. However, the East India Company did not resettle immigrants here for no other reason. The place here is indeed too small and not suitable for colonial development. There are seventeen islands in the Tameran Islands.

There are only five islands inhabited by indigenous people, and the variety of local products is far less than that of Belitung Island and Ambuna Island. The main products are only coconuts and sea cucumbers.

Three days later, the search and rescue fleet successfully arrived at the Tamailan Islands, but they also found nothing here. The information the indigenous leaders on the island could tell them was even less than that of Mayor Jonke. At least Jonke still had a clearer concept of time.

and record the docking of ships, but the indigenous people here live a chaotic life. There is only one witch doctor in the entire tribe who records the time using the primitive method of carving wooden stakes. As for the last time a Dutch ship docked here,

When it happened, no one on the island could tell the exact time.

"These stupid monkeys should be exterminated as soon as possible!" After returning to the boat, the impatient Spikes finally couldn't help but lose his temper: "These guys are much stupider than black people! They are simply stupid and lazy!"

The reason why Spikes lost his temper was that during the negotiation with the indigenous people just now, he asked the indigenous people to provide more locally produced fruits and vegetables, but this was rejected by the indigenous people because they did not want to work for outsiders. Spikes

It was said that silver coins could be given as reward, but the natives believed that silver coins were of no use on this island. Of course, this is indeed true. There is no established commercial system here, and the primitive trading method of barter is still used.

.

Fortunately, it was not the first time for the three commanders to take this route. They knew how to deal with these extremely lazy natives. They immediately took out the goods on the ship and traded with the natives, and then successfully obtained supplies. Of course, transportation

These supplies have to be put on board by the fleet's own hands, and the natives here are not interested in doing any manual labor other than subsistence.

"God is my witness, sooner or later I will catch all these monkeys and send them to the plantations in Surabaya to work as coolies, and let the whip teach them what the rules are!" Although this is not the first time that he has encountered such a thing, Spikes

His anger is still uncontrollable.

"Okay, Mr. Spikes, stop complaining to these ignorant natives. We should think about what to do next." Brower stopped Spikes' venting with an indifferent look: "We are now

A decision needs to be made whether to prioritize completing the voyage or launching a search operation in this area."

Since the local indigenous people failed to provide any useful information, all the commanders can now determine is that the waters where the Dutch ship crashed were north of Belitung Island, but the specific location cannot be determined. The Tamerlan Islands are located in

Between Peninsular Malaysia and Kalimantan, the surrounding situation is relatively complicated. To the east is Kalimantan, the third largest island in the world, which was known as Borneo during this period. In addition to Belitung Island, there is Bangka to the south.

Island and the sixth largest island in the world Sumatra.

The situation in the west is the most complicated. The Riau Islands and Linga Islands outside the Strait of Malacca have always been active areas for pirates in the South China Sea. Even if the Portuguese are stationed there, it has not changed the chaos and disorder in that area of ​​the sea. And this

The two islands are only 1,560 nautical miles away from the Tamailan Islands, so there is indeed the possibility of pirates coming out to cause trouble.

As for the north, in addition to the Ambunas Islands, there are Anambas Islands in the northwest. The local complex island environment also provides convenient conditions for pirates to hide. For the search and rescue fleet of the East India Company, these islands have

There may be hidden clues related to the disappearance of the Dutch merchant ship.

"If we want to search all these places, it will take at least one or two months. This is unlikely to be achieved." Van Longen took the lead and shook his head and vetoed: "Gentlemen, our fleet is not a professional combat fleet.

The extent to which search and rescue missions are carried out must also take into account our actual situation."

Although Van Longen accepted Governor Cohen's appointment to lead the fleet to participate in this search and rescue mission, he also knew very well that his fleet's capabilities were limited and could only undertake low-intensity military missions. Brouwer's tone was completely to make this

Filter out any places where pirates may exist in the sea. This is actually a very risky approach for a fleet mainly composed of armed merchant ships. Van Longen is not worried that he will not be able to defeat a rabble like pirates, but that he cannot afford the possible losses.

These ships are all ordered at local shipyards in the Netherlands. Once they are seriously damaged, the local shipyard in Batavia may not be able to repair them. At that time, people will have to be specially hired from the country to repair the ships. This delay is caused by

The loss would be huge. Therefore, he expressed his attitude to Broward very tactfully and was unwilling to let the fleet take too much risk.

Brower probably could have anticipated Van Longen's little calculation, so he did not reveal it at the moment, but turned to seek Spikes's opinion: "Mr. Spikes, what do you think?"

At this time, Spikes had calmed down from his previous excitement and returned to the state of a professional: "I think there is no need to think too much about the east and south. There are already company ships regularly patrolling in the south, and Borneo in the east

...We'd better not provoke them."

Neither Van Longen nor Brouwer expressed any objection to Spikes's opinion. There were many foreign kingdoms in Borneo, among which the ruler of Sukadana was a foreign kingdom on the island of Java.

The Blue Kingdom was loyal, and the Mataram Kingdom could be said to be the most troublesome enemy of the East India Company during this period.

Not long ago, in 1628 and 1629, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mataram, **** Langsan, led an army to attack Batavia twice. If it were not for the East India Company's armed strength, it would have already been

Lost the city. Although the Kingdom of Mataram failed to completely defeat the East India Company, their sphere of influence expanded very rapidly during this period, unifying Central Java and East Java, and also expanded in eastern Sumatra and southern Kalimantan.

A ruling area was established. The area actually controlled by this kingdom was actually far larger than the colonists of the East India Company.

In its original history, it was not until the second half of the 17th century that the Kingdom of Mataram began to decline. Its ruler Amon Goulart II signed a slavish treaty with the East India Company and became a vassal of the East India Company.

In the mid-18th century, the country was split into Yogyakarta and Solo by the East India Company, and it could never regain its former glory.

Of course, those are situations that have not happened yet. The relationship between the two parties is still in a state of war to be serious. If the search and rescue fleet goes around the coast of Borneo, it will probably be regarded as the East India Company's attack on the Kingdom of Mataram.

The provocation may even lead to another large-scale war between the two sides. This blame cannot be shouldered by the three of them. Even if the reason for going to Borneo is very good, the Governor will never forgive such a low-level mistake.

After listening to what Spikes said, Brower responded unhurriedly: "According to what you said, there is no need to go to the west. It is very close to the Portuguese place. If you are not careful, you will bump into them.

fleet."

"Gentlemen, I suggest that we go to the Natuna Islands in the north first. After all, that is the place that really belongs to us. When we get there, it is too late to collect information before making further judgments. The person in charge there, Old Jansen, is a

A serious and responsible person, he should have more complete shipping schedule records than Mr. Jonker." Hearing Brouwer's unkind tone, Van Longen quickly spoke up and put forward his own suggestions to prevent the two from quarreling.

Compared to Belitung Port near Batavia, Dutch captains returning from the north prefer to dock at the Natuna Islands because this is the first piece of the Netherlands they saw after their long voyage south from Damuan Port.

Colonies, almost every Dutch merchant ship going south will use the Natuna Islands as a supply point that must be stopped on this voyage. There will undoubtedly be more detailed information than the first two stops.

"This is probably the safest approach at the moment." Broward said noncommittally, stood up and said, "Gentlemen, I need to go back to my ship to see if all the supplies have been loaded on board."

"This guy... just wants to fight!" Spikes complained angrily after Brower left: "He just hopes that he can achieve outstanding military exploits this time so that he can serve as the next governor.

Outperform me in competition.”

Governor Cohen plans to select someone between Spikes and Brower as the next governor to recommend to the company's board of directors. In fact, many people already know this, and Van Longen is one of them. However, he does not want to get involved in such high-level affairs.

In a power dispute, it's okay if you bet on the right side. If you don't win, then the other side will suffer a bitter pill after taking power. I think that when Cohen became the governor, he was killed as soon as possible.

Several of his main competitors were sent to explore remote and unknown seas, and more than half of them never returned to Batavia alive.

Van Longen did not want his good maritime trade business to be suddenly interrupted, and then be sent by the new governor to explore new routes in the ocean. Perhaps navigators would like that kind of thing, but Van Longen was just a businessman, and he was only interested in business.

He was interested in things. Whether it was exploring or fighting, that was not what he wanted to do. Therefore, he could only pretend not to hear Spikes's complaints in order to maintain his neutral position. He now only hopes to reach Na

After visiting Tuna Island, some clear clues can be found locally to settle the differences between the two senior officers.
Chapter completed!