Chapter 660 The Dutch’s response

Hans had previously decided to send troops to assist Shiba Zhi in attacking Nanri Island. First, for the sake of money, he felt that there was such a windfall that he would not take it for nothing, and there would be no risk if he took it. Anyway, the fleet was just going to the South Island.

Assisting in the defense of the Japanese island and not participating in the landing and seizing the island. With the strength of the Dutch armed fleet, it stands to reason that there will be no risk. Secondly, Hans still has a glimmer of hope for the Shibazhi led by Zheng Zhilong to counterattack the mainland.

, hoping to save the current unfavorable situation of Shibazhi through military support, and use Shibazhi to put pressure on the Fujian government of the Ming Dynasty. Third, since the Haihan people have intervened in the war in Fujian, the East India Company cannot completely

Ignoring it and letting Shibazhi weigh Haihan and observe his combat methods was one of the reasons for sending troops.

In addition, there is another reason that is not humane to outsiders, and that is to create an opportunity for his nephew Van der Wegen to gain military exploits, so as to pave the way for his future promotion within the East India Company. Of course, this idea obviously went well.

It was not smooth enough. Not only did Van der Wegen fail to gain any decent military exploits during this trip, he actually lost two-thirds of his men and ships. He was lucky to be able to escape back to Taiyuan Port alive.

Uncle Hans still knew how much van der Wegen weighed. If he didn't have some real skills, Hans would not be so stupid as to give van der Wegen the company's armed sailing ship as a toy. In fact, van der Wegen worked for the East India Company.

He is definitely considered a capable young talent internally. Whether it is sailing or commanding operations, he has a certain level. What he lacks is an opportunity to make a name for himself. But after the setback in Fujian this time, Van der Wegen has a short-term success.

There would probably never be another chance to be entrusted with an important task, which annoyed Hans even more than losing several sailboats in the battle.

What never comes singly is that bad news came one after another. As soon as the news of Zheng Zhihu's death in Nanri Island arrived, the envoy from the Fujian government came to demand compensation. Under such circumstances, how could Hans be in the mood to talk to the Ming envoy?

When it comes to reparations, it is natural to push the matter aside first and then bite back, trying to change from passive to active.

However, this attempt seemed feeble under the premise that our side had just been defeated. The Ming envoy did not even refute, and stood up to leave. He only said that he would stay in Damuan Port for three to five days. If Hans changed his mind,

Then the two sides would make an appointment for negotiations. That confident expression made Hans itchy - what qualifications did the Ming envoy have to pose as a winner in front of him?

Although he was very reluctant, Hans had to seriously consider what would happen if he rejected the request of the Ming envoy. Hans ordered Van der Wegen to be called in to discuss countermeasures with him.

"What do you think of the Fujian government asking us for compensation?" Hans asked straight to the point.

"If what the other party's envoy said is true, then we probably have no other way to take back the people who fell into their hands except paying the ransom." Van der Wegen's face also looked very ugly. After all, he was the owner of this fleet.

commander, but two-thirds of his men failed to follow him back to Damiang Port, and were chased by his opponents to demand ransom for prisoners of war. This is really a great shame. Nine years ago now

, that is to say, in the second year of tomorrow, the Dutch fleet will block the seaport of Zhangzhou with seven warships and 900 soldiers, making it impossible for the Fujian Navy to fight. Nine years later, the Dutch fleet was actually captured in the same sea area.

Almost the same opponents were beaten in a miserable manner, and this disparity is really unacceptable.

Although it is commonplace on European battlefields to redeem prisoners of war with gold, silver, jewelry or other valuables, the Dutch are rarely in such a passive situation in the Far East. Most of the time, it is the local indigenous people who are defeated.

Afterwards, ransoms were paid to the Dutch to redeem their captives. Even in the fourth year of the Apocalypse, when the Ming army was defeated and withdrew from Penghu, and twelve Dutch soldiers were captured, the East India Company never paid a single copper coin to the Ming Dynasty.

of ransom.

Of course, the Ming Dynasty did not mention ransom at all at that time. The Fujian government directly escorted the captives Gao Wenlu and others to Beijing to ask for merit. Later, these prisoners of war were beheaded in Beijing for public display. The Emperor Xizong of the Ming Dynasty even issued an imperial edict to inform the world.

From the beginning to the end, there was no intention to reconcile with the East India Company. For the Ming Empire, face was much more important than so much money.

But this time the attitude of the Fujian government has changed significantly. Not only has the attitude become tougher, but they also send people to ask for money. Needless to say, the Haihan people must have played a role in this. The most disgusting thing is that the Haihan people actually also

The lion asked for fifty thousand silver in compensation, which was really hard for Hans to accept. If it weren't for the fact that hundreds of captives were in the hands of the other party, Hans would have really wanted to break up on the spot.

"But they actually asked us for one hundred thousand taels of silver as war compensation. This is absolutely impossible!" Hans said gloomily: "If the gentlemen of Batavia knew that I agreed to such conditions,

Then they will definitely send an executioner to Tai Muang Port to hang me."

"Besides, we don't have one hundred thousand taels of silver on hand to offer in exchange." Van der Wegen added frustratedly.

It is not the trading season, and Taimuang Port does not have much silver reserves. According to previous years' arrangements, Batavia will probably arrange a silver ship to deliver a large amount of silver to Taimuang Port between September and October.

In the past, these silver ships had to go to Japan, but in the past two years due to the Hamada Yahei incident, the open trade between the East India Company and the Japanese shogunate has been interrupted. Only a few smuggling channels are still operating secretly, and the trading locations

It was also changed from Hirado, Japan to Ryukyu. However, because the Spaniards are now more active in the north, Hans has ordered that this year's trading location with Japanese smuggling merchants be changed to Taimu Port as a precaution.

Even if Hans is determined to reach an agreement with Ming Dynasty to exchange prisoners of war, there is not so much silver to mobilize in Damuan Port now, and it will have to wait until at least two months later. Moreover, the silver shipped from Batavia will be used for this year's large quantities.

In terms of trade, if it is used for other purposes, no one can fill this hole.

But if he wanted to sit back and watch these hundreds of prisoners of war being captured and punished by the Ming Dynasty, it would be equally difficult for Hans to explain to Batavia. You must know that this fleet is almost concentrated with the elite of Damuan Port, and those who participated in the war are also

Several armed sailing ships in the best condition in the local area will be gone soon. Even if they can be concealed for a while, they will not be concealed forever. When Batavia is punished, Hans will not be able to escape responsibility.

"This matter is too big a responsibility. I must report it to the company headquarters." Hans looked at Van der Wegen and said slowly: "I must send a person involved back to explain the battle to the gentlemen of the board of directors."

Van der Wegen's face turned slightly pale, and he finally understood why Hans called him alone to discuss the matter. It turned out that he planned to send him back to Batavia to make a face-to-face report - in view of the disastrous defeat in Fujian,

This report is very likely to turn into taking the blame. After all, someone has to stand up and take responsibility for a defeat. Obviously, Uncle Hans intends to push himself to the front and take the corresponding responsibility, and this is absolutely

Not really a good job.

"If possible, I would certainly prefer to return to Batavia myself to explain to the board of directors the causes and consequences of this battle with Ming and Haihan, but you also know that my responsibilities are my responsibility, and I cannot leave the affairs of the senior officials behind..."

Hans looked at his nephew's pale face and felt equally uncomfortable. He sighed and said, "You have to remember one thing. As long as I don't fall down, you will always have a chance to get up. If even I fall down, you will always have a chance to get up."

, then no one can support you from now on!"

Van der Wegen didn't know that there is a saying in China that loses the chariot but saves the commander, but he could also understand that his uncle wanted him to understand the priorities of this matter. If he returned to Batavia to bear the responsibility for the defeat, he would most likely be punished by the company.

With a certain amount of punishment, at least the uncle's status can be preserved, and there will be a chance to make a comeback in the future. But if Hans loses his position as chief officer because of this incident, it will be difficult for Van der Wegen not to be implicated, so the uncle and nephew

It will be difficult for the two of them to be reused in the Far East in the future.

"Uncle, I understand what you mean." Van der Wegen finally said after a long silence: "I will return to Batavia as soon as possible and report this operation to the board of directors. But what should we do about our lost sailors and soldiers?

Explain to the board of directors?”

"According to what I told the Ming Dynasty envoy, this was a deliberate attack by Haihan against us! Our fleet was attacked in a completely unprepared situation. Haihan's behavior was to launch a unilateral war.

The board of directors understands that this behavior must be retaliated against!" Hans immediately gave him instructions.

"But this way we will completely lose the captives!" Van der Wegen was a little worried about this: "The Haihan people have proposed such harsh exchange conditions. If we reject them outright, then they probably will not be kind enough to release the prisoners of war."

"You are still too young!" Hans shook his head and said: "Do you think the conditions proposed by the other party are really feasible? The compensation is one hundred thousand taels of silver, and you have to promise to Ming not to take any hostile actions in the future. They simply

They are not coming to us to negotiate with sincerity, they just want to embarrass us and embarrass us!"

"But what benefit does this do to them? Is it just to show off the pride of the winner in front of us?" Van der Wegen asked puzzledly: "I heard before that the Haihan people are very pragmatic and will not waste time doing something.

It’s unrealistic. If they do this, do they have other plans?”

"Perhaps, but I can't think of what their purpose is now." Speaking of this, Hans also looked a little confused: "If the Haihan people just want to fight with us, then there is no need to propose anything else.

The conditions for the exchange of prisoners of war were that everyone would decide the winner on the battlefield. But they sent people to negotiate peace, and the conditions they proposed were completely impossible to achieve. I really can’t understand their intentions."

At this time, a guard came in and reported: "Mr. Van Longen wants to see you."

"Invite him in." Hans did not particularly shy away from Van Lungen's arrival. The news that the Dutch fleet was defeated in this expedition had already spread throughout the Damuan Port when Van der Wegen escaped and returned. This is not something that needs to be kept secret.

Secret. Moreover, Van Longen had been in Batavia for a long time and had a close relationship with the company's senior personnel. Hans originally planned to ask for his opinion.

"Mr. Hans, I'm here to say goodbye to you today. Thank you for your care and convenience during this period!" Van Longen entered the room and exchanged a few words of greeting before getting down to business.

"When will we leave?" Hans asked with concern.

"Probably tomorrow morning, all the goods and supplies that need to be loaded have been loaded on the ship. Next time we come to Taipei Port, we may have to wait a long time." Van Longen's mood also seemed relatively low. This trip departed from Batavia.

When we arrived, our troops were strong and our horses were strong, and our momentum was unparalleled. However, when we returned, we were alone and panicked.

"If possible, I hope you can allow Van der Wegen to join your fleet. He needs to rush back to Batavia as soon as possible to report what happened here to the company's board of directors." Hans immediately made the request.

When Van der Wegen fled back to Taiyuan Port, there were only two scarred sailing ships left, which were no longer suitable for ocean voyages, and Hans did not intend to allocate one or two more sailing ships to him among the limited number of sailing ships in Taiyuan Port.

After all, the local maritime defense must retain a certain strength. It happened that Van Longen was about to return to Batavia with his merchant ship, so Hans took the opportunity to give Van der Wegen to him.

"It's a great honor." Van Longen nodded to Van der Wegen in a friendly manner. As a captain who had just experienced a big defeat not long ago, he understood Van der Wegen's mood at this time. The feeling of failure is indeed uncomfortable.

.

"If possible, I hope you can put in a good word for Van der Wegen in Batavia. After all, the main responsibility for the defeat of this war does not lie with him. It is really the people of Ming and Haihan who are too shameless. He has tried his best to fight.

." Hans continued to say to Van Longen: "At the same time, I also hope that the board of directors can send a more powerful armed force to Taiyuan Port to retaliate against the Fujian government. These ungrateful Orientals must learn a lesson!"

"Mr. Hans, I think you may have forgotten one thing." Van Longen shook his head and said: "The gentlemen of Batavia are probably worrying about another thing now. Even if they want to send troops, they must first

Just solve another problem. Don’t forget, the Natuna Islands caused us a big setback just last month!”
Chapter completed!