Chapter 702: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf

Tom Wang's explanation is not his personal understanding. It is indeed a view held by many people in the executive committee.

With the increase in Haihan's military power, Shibazhi is no longer an unbeatable opponent for Haihan. It is only a matter of time to deal with this pirate force. But whether to choose to solve it completely at once or to squeeze out its use value, the Executive Committee

There are two different voices.

Of course, Haihan's ultimate goal of expanding his sphere of influence to the north is not to stop at the Taiwan Strait. There is also a large area of ​​sea area in Northeast Asia waiting for the traversers to conquer. In this process, launching a foreign war is definitely the most frequently used method, but how?

Finding a reason to go to war that is both internally accountable and externally justifiable is a great test of the executive committee's ability to govern.

The existence of Shibazhi undoubtedly provides an excellent idea to solve this problem. No matter where Shibazhi flees, Haihan can continue to pursue them in the name of justice - whether he can completely eliminate them is secondary.

, but it is certainly possible to dispatch troops to more places overseas to achieve the effect of expanding the scope of influence.

Qian Tiandun has been stationed abroad for a long time and is a very pure soldier at heart. He does not think as much about these long-term plans as the Executive Committee. However, with his mind, he already understood most of it after hearing what Wang Tom said.

He couldn't help but laugh and said: "Then where does the executive committee plan to drive them?"

"If they choose to join the Dutch or Spanish on Taiwan Island, that would be the best result." Wang Tom analyzed: "The executive committee is still very interested in Taiwan Island, but the Dutch and Spanish

One to the south and one to the north, the best areas have been taken up, which is not very fun for us. We have to find a reason to make them move their butts and make room."

"How likely do you think Zheng Zhilong is to join them?" Now that this topic was brought up, Qian Tiandun was thinking about discussing it with Tom Wang.

"The Dutch probably don't dare to interfere." Wang Tom responded with a smile: "The East India Company gave us a formal reply at the end of the year, and it will no longer maintain any form of exchanges with Shibazhi, including military affairs.

Assistance is included. The Dutch on Taiyuan Island should have also received notice from Batavia. They also know how serious the consequences of violating the agreement will be. I think they should not dare to play any overt and covert tricks. Shibazhi

Even if you have the intention to seek refuge with the Dutch, it will probably be the result of putting a hot face on a cold butt."

"Then the Ambuna Islands are temporarily safe?" Qian Tiandun immediately thought of another stronghold in the South China Sea that worried Haihan.

"Theoretically speaking, it is indeed the case." Wang Tom nodded and said: "After we announced that we had taken control of the Ambrosia Islands, the Dutch acquiesced to our actual control of the local area and only asked to retain nominal condominium.

right."

"This is just asking for a fig leaf." Qian Tiandun sneered: "The Dutch have good calculations."

"In the end, the executive committee only agreed that the local docks could allow Dutch merchant ships to dock. As for the co-management rights...if the Dutch think they have it, then let's treat it as such. We don't recognize it anyway," Wang Tom said about this.

, also looked disdainful.

If the Dutch want to maintain the security of their sea route from Batavia to Northeast Asia, they have only two options. One is to go to war with Haihan and recapture the route relay point of Ambrosia Island, and the other is to choose a compromise.

Recognizing Haihan's control of the local area in exchange for peace. However, the East India Company had lost confidence in retaking the Ambrosia Islands with force, so it sent a mission to Sanya to try to negotiate for Haihan to withdraw. At that time, the Dutch ambassador

The delegation dragged on shamelessly in Sanya for more than a month. If Schneider and others had not lost patience and finally threatened force, the Dutch delegation would probably have continued to drag out this negotiation that was destined to not achieve the results they expected.

However, since the Dutch have chosen peace, the pressure faced by Haihan in the South China Sea and Fujian has been reduced accordingly, and the naval combat ships previously deployed at Jinlan Port in Annan can also be temporarily transferred to Fujian.

Participate in the battle to attack the Penghu Islands. Of course, transferring the naval fleet from Annan to Fujian is not an easy task. It has to visit several ports and cover thousands of nautical miles. For the naval forces participating in the operation, it is considered a rare event.

The long-distance armed training was carried out.

Qian Tiandun naturally thought of this and asked, "Has the order been issued for the Annan fleet to be transferred?"

"The transfer order has been issued, but the other side has not set off yet and is still making preparations for the war. If we want to start in advance, the Annan fleet may not be able to make it in time." Wang Tom said with regret.

Even if Haihan's warships are faster than the sailing ships of the same era, it still takes a long time to complete such a long-distance voyage, and the fleet needs to prepare a lot of combat materials. Waiting for the Annan fleet to come all the way

It will probably take a month at the earliest to arrive in Fujian from Cam Ranh Port.

"If we are in a hurry, we can only let Annan's troops move to Sanya." Qian Tiandun immediately thought of another temporary solution.

Tom Wang nodded and said: "If you want to take action in advance, this is the only way."

The method Qian Tiandun said is to have Annan's fleet stationed in Sanya, and then let the fleet stationed in Sanya directly go to Fujian to participate in the war. From the scale of the fleet, weapons and equipment, personnel configuration, etc., the fleet stationed in Sanya is undoubtedly

The strongest, and the main function of this fleet is to protect the maritime security of the base camp. It was not originally among the participating troops in the attack on Penghu. However, extraordinary things are done in extraordinary times. It seems that this is the only way to ensure more combat ships.

He rushed to Fujian to join the war.

"Back to business, do you think Shibazhi will get together with the Spaniards?" Qian Tiandun returned to the previous discussion.

Wang Tom thought for a while and said: "It's unlikely. When Shibazhi cooperated with the Dutch before, they also cooperated with the Dutch to intercept Spanish merchant ships at sea and Ming merchant ships going to Manila for trade. The Spanish should be

They won't treat these pirates badly. Moreover, Spain has not been established in northern Taiwan for a long time, and the number of armed personnel stationed there is probably very limited. If these eighteen people take tens of thousands of people to seek refuge, it is hard to say who will be the master by then.

Already."

"That's right. After all, Shibazhi started out as a pirate, and no one will let them in easily." Qian Tiandun also agreed with Wang Tom's speculation: "If the Dutch and Spanish don't accept it,

They, then they probably have no choice but to continue going north."

"There are only two ways left. Either find a big island to live on along the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, or go northeast and occupy a place in Ryukyu." Wang Tom is quite familiar with the maritime conditions in Northeast Asia and responded immediately.

Said: "With their strength, the navy of no province in the Ming Dynasty can survive. It is not a big problem to seize an island along the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, I think they are more likely to choose the direction of Ryukyu."

"Let me tell you the reason."

"It's very simple. As long as Zheng Zhilong is not stupid, he can see our development trend all the way north along the Ming Dynasty coastline. If they settle in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, they will become targets again when we set foot in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Will they be targeted again by then?

Do you want to continue to retreat north?" Wang Tom said eloquently: "There are two advantages to retreating to Ryukyu. First, the Ryukyu Kingdom's military strength is not strong, and there is nothing you can do against this group of pirates. They can calmly retreat to Ryukyu.

Choose a place to stay, and you don’t have to worry about being chased away by your host. Secondly, Zheng Zhilong stayed in Japan in his early years. If he evacuated to Ryukyu, he could do business with the Japanese to make a living. If necessary, he could even take his men all the way to Japan.

.With such an armed force of tens of thousands, it will not be difficult to gain a foothold in Japan."

"Listening to what you said, I really want to try to drive them towards Ryukyu!" Qian Tiandun's eyes lit up after hearing what Wang Tom said.

"You want to lay the foundation for a future war with the Japanese, right?" Wang Tom immediately guessed Qian Tiandun's intention.

Qian Tiandun did not deny this. He nodded and replied: "There is no need to mobilize to attack Japan. As long as the time comes, the executive committee will definitely approve it. Being able to destroy Little Japan in my lifetime can be regarded as completing my original participation in the time travel."

A wish from time to time.”

"If you think like this, it will chill your followers, right?" Wang Tom joked.

"Takahashi Nan no longer regards himself as a Japanese." Qian Tiandun smiled and shook his head: "Besides, he is a samurai. For him, the concept of nationality is very vague. The master is the most important person.

.His allegiance is to the Executive Committee, not to the Emperor or Shogun of Japan. If you don’t believe it, just wait and see. If we take action against Japan in the future, Takahashi Minami will definitely be the first batch of officers to ask for war."

"In the final analysis, you trained me well." Wang Tom saw that Qian Tiandun was serious, so he stopped joking about Gao Qiaonan: "Actually, my personal idea is to drive Shibazhi to the north, and Mr. Tao

Mr. Yan also has this idea. Mr. Tao said, this is called driving the tiger to swallow the wolf, let Shibazhi go out for us first and smooth the road, and we can follow along all the way."

"You guy, it turns out you have been testing me with words!" Qian Tiandun reacted when he heard what he said. Since Tao Donglai and Yan Chujie had already expressed their attitudes, it means that the top military officials have already expressed their opinions on this.

They had a relatively consistent view, but Wang Tom kept going around without explaining directly, obviously testing his own attitude.

Wang Tom smiled and said: "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that the Military Commission wants to know your true views on the future development of the situation. After all, you are the commander sitting on the front line. What you see and think may be the same as what you see and think about at the base camp.

There will be some differences. If you have a better idea for solving Shibazhi, the Military Commission will also seriously consider it."

Qian Tiandun said: "I absolutely agree with the Military Commission on attacking Japan in the future."

"Now that Shibazhi has revealed his intention to abandon Penghu, we might as well think about whether it is possible to drive them northeast." Wang Tom asked: "Do you have any ideas?"

Qian Tiandun responded without hesitation: "First of all, they must give up their plan to move to the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. I think the Fujian Navy should step up patrols on the west side of the Taiwan Strait to create obstacles for the Shibazhi to withdraw to the mainland.

.”

"Leave the channel on the east side of the strait aside and give them an escape route," Wang Tom added.

Qian Tiandun continued: "Secondly, we can also think of ways in Zhejiang, such as spreading the news in the market that Shibazhi is about to attack somewhere along the coast to create a tense atmosphere."

"What should we do if the Zhejiang government doesn't accept the offer?" Wang Tom asked.

"It doesn't matter, there is no way to be sure whether the Zhejiang government pays attention to this kind of news. After all, they can no longer afford to lose. If they are frustrated in the target area, then I am afraid that Shibazhi will not be able to move to the next target area.

." Qian Tiandun analyzed: "They can only find soft persimmons to pinch now. What we have to do is to make the direction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang not look like a soft persimmon."

"This is feasible." Wang Tom nodded, thinking about Qian Tiandun's method.

Although the relationship between the Fujian government and Haihan is very close, there is no way to directly influence the policy trends in Zhejiang, so it is unlikely to directly use official channels. However, it is relatively difficult to spread news among the people.

.In addition, Fujian has just intercepted a merchant fleet coming from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They can use this incident to spread rumors in the northern coastal areas and artificially create a tense atmosphere.

However, this matter definitely cannot be done by Haihan himself. Most of the time, Xu Xinsu has to be relied on to complete it. But whether Xu Xinsu is willing to cooperate with this plan still needs to be discussed with him.

"Let's sort out the situation first and send a telegram back to the base camp to report it and see what the executive committee decides." Wang Tom thought about it for a while and decided to follow the standard handling channels and inform the executive committee first.

"Xu Xinsu also needs to have an interview here. If he doesn't cooperate, it will be difficult for us to proceed to the next step." Qian Tiandun reminded.

"Let's see, after the base camp makes a decision, we will have another interview with Xu Xinsu." Wang Tom said: "He should also understand our intentions. After all, it's not that we don't want to eliminate Shiba Zhi, but that the situation has changed.

, taking action in advance will also increase our own operational risks. If we can force Shibazhi to give up Penghu voluntarily, then we and the Fujian government can save a lot of trouble."

The two went ahead and sent a long telegram back to Sanya that day, detailing the latest changes in the situation in Fujian and attaching the specific implementation plan they had discussed to drive away tigers and devour wolves.
Chapter completed!