The castle in Palembang is very simple, built with rammed earth, and is still being reinforced.
The Netherlands gathered more than 600 land troops and more than 3,000 Indian soldiers on the east coast of India. They merged with the South Ocean and Indian Ocean fleets and attacked in a mighty manner, trying to capture Palembang by surprise.
However, they passed through the Strait of Malacca on the way. How could the Chinese army not receive the message?
"Boom boom boom boom!"
The ship-borne guns continued to bombard the rammed earth castle, and even fired at the pier, but the pier was completely silent, and there was no panic escape at all.
Naval Commander Balthazar Burt immediately realized something was wrong and ordered: "Evacuate immediately, the Chinese are ready!"
More than thirty Dutch ships, carrying reinforcements, headed north and did not leave the Strait of Malacca. They bypassed Bangka Island and went to the southwest coast of Kalimantan Island, docking in their own vassal state of Sukadana.
, forcing the Sudan to immediately send food and fresh water supplies.
Only six hours after the Dutch fleet left Palembang, the Chinese fleet attacked and missed.
The Chinese fleet immediately pursued it and pursued it all the way to Sukadana. In the end, it missed the target. The Dutch fleet had already left and was heading southeast.
Balthazar Burt originally planned to dock at Semarang, let the reinforcements brought from India join the reinforcements from Mataram, and then go together to support Batavia. Who knew that when they arrived in Semarang, they were greeted by
It's shelling.
The Datong Dragon Flag is planted at the top of the city, as well as a makeshift green flag.
The city of Semarang is very magical. There is a Zheng He Temple built in the city, which is completely Chinese Taoist style. In addition to worshiping Zheng He, it also worships Mazu. It also has a mosque and a Catholic church. However, due to the uprising during this period, the Catholic church has been destroyed.
Burnt down. On the mountain outside the city, there is the Buddhist Borobudur Pagoda, and there are even remaining Hindu temples in the mountains further away.
The Han people have completely occupied the city, and the three major families of Zheng, Wang, and Ma have temporarily jointly ruled Semarang.
Many Han people have changed their surnames. The surname Zheng claims to be a descendant of Zheng He, the surname Wang claims to be a descendant of Wang Jinghong (Zheng He's deputy eunuch), and the surname Ma does not need any explanation.
The city was in a mess, a large number of neighborhoods were burned down, no Europeans were left alive, and even a few Arabs were accidentally killed.
Zheng Yongshou was wearing a leather armor he got from nowhere, standing at the top of the city with his hand on the hilt of a knife, and shouted angrily: "Close the city gate quickly, and the people outside the city should go around the city and hide in the countryside to the south!"
Balthazar Burt looked depressed and scolded the Sultan of Horses and Blues countless times in his heart.
This puppet Sudan is really too weak to support the wall. The Netherlands has helped suppress the rebellion, but in just two years, the rebels have grown bigger again.
If the Sudanese army of Maltalan wants to support Batavia, it must pass through Semarang. If Semarang is not captured, Maltalan reinforcements will not be able to come out. The Dutch's intention to gather troops is equivalent to bankruptcy - Balthazar
Bert didn't know it yet, but there were already rebels in Maltalan.
"Go east!"
Balthazar Bert gave an order, and the Dutch fleet did not sail directly to Batavia, but went in the opposite direction.
About two hours after the Dutch fleet left, the Chinese fleet caught up.
The envoy landed in a small boat, revealed his identity, and was immediately invited into the city by Zheng Yongshou.
The messenger asked: "Which way are the Dutch going?"
Zheng Yongshou said: "To the east."
"Farewell!" the messenger turned and left.
Zheng Yongshou said quickly: "Your Excellency, please wait a moment. I will appoint myself as the governor. Semarang is willing to submit to the Celestial Empire. Please help me pass on the news."
"I know, you must guard the city and don't let the Dutch break it." The envoy left in a hurry.
Zheng Yongshou finally showed a smile on his face. The governor was telling the court that what he really wanted to do was become a sultanate. There were many city-state sultanates in Southeast Asia. He had no intention of expanding his territory and owning Semarang and surrounding villages and towns.
However, because the living space of the Han people is only so large.
Although the Han people in Semarang believe in Green Religion, they belong to the improved Green Religion. They still retain the tradition of ancestor worship, still insist on worshiping Zheng He, and also retain the belief in Mazu. In addition, they also have academies and free schools to teach.
It’s the Confucian thing again. It even mixes Buddhism into it and believes in reincarnation.
What kind of religion is this?
The Chinese fleet did not continue the pursuit, but returned to the waters near Batavia. No matter where the Dutch fleet went, they would come to support them, so just wait and see.
But it was said that the Dutch fleet, after leaving Semarang, went straight to Surabaya Port (Surabaya).
Just hearing the name "Sishui", you know that there must be Han people here.
At the time of Zheng He's voyages to the West, the Javanese name was transliterated as "Sulu Mayi". As more and more Han people multiplied here, they felt that the place name was too awkward to pronounce, so they shortened it to "Sarimu". Because the port is connected to a
River, the cultural people among the Han people simply named the river Sishui, and the city named Sishui City and Sishui Port.
When the Dutch fleet sailed here, Balthazar Bert looked at the flag on the city head and fell into despair again.
The Javanese landowners, nobles, religious leaders and the Han people of Surabaya have joined forces to capture the city. The Europeans and officials sent by the Sudan were slaughtered by the rebels. They could not stand the Sudan's rule, the taxes were too high, and they could not tolerate the Dutch.
Preaching everywhere.
The Dutch fleet could only continue to go east and soon arrived in the waters of Bali.
If you can’t conquer Semarang and Surabaya Port, you can’t conquer the Bali natives?
The Dutch fleet bombarded the royal city frantically. The Dutch army landed with Indian soldiers and captured the city in two hours. The Sultan fled in panic with the royal family and his entourage.
After some burning, killing and looting, they obtained some fresh water and food, and the Dutch fleet circled from the south coast of Java to Batavia.
The Banten navy did not dare to resist and allowed the Dutch fleet to sail past. However, the Dutch reinforcements did not dare to land near Batavia. The fleet sailed close to the coast and sent the army dozens of miles in advance.
Go ashore and walk all the way to support the governor.
"Sir, the Wandan bandits are burning and killing people everywhere in the countryside!"
Outside Batavia, Liu Hanyi received unexpected news.
The Banten Kingdom, which had been taken over by China as a vassal, not only did not send troops to help, but instead took the opportunity to plunder Han farms. This was often done in the past. Han landowners provided food for the Netherlands, and it was normal for the Banten Kingdom to plunder Han farms, but now it has
It’s different.
There is no way to hold people accountable afterwards. Even if China pursues the case, Sultan Banten can still blame the thieves and say that those who looted the Han farms were not regular troops.
The war was fought in a mess. The Netherlands' vassal state, Ma Dalan, was fighting a civil war all over the country. But the Chinese vassal state, Wan Dan, came to take advantage of the situation and rob the Han manor. They didn't know how to write the word "death" at all.
After Liu Hanyi discussed with Tie Hong, he said to Zhang Xianzhong: "Take people to drive away the Wandan bandits!"
Zhang Xianzhong immediately led his troops and rushed there. After marching about twenty miles, he saw a large area of farmland burned down and some Wandan bandits driving livestock.
"kill!"
These Wandan bandits, in groups of thirty or fifty, were scattered throughout the countryside robbing things.
Since all the Han people were helping to siege the city, the only ones left were the old, weak, women, children and slaves. They were no match for the Wandan bandits and had no choice but to escape. This made the bandits even more unscrupulous and did not even bother to assign men to guard the city.
Zhang Xianzhong gave an order, and four hundred ronin drew their swords and rushed out, running as fast as they could.
The local Han rebels under his command also rushed and fought crazily in order to protect their homeland and did not lag behind those rogues.
Only the peasants and soldiers brought by Zhang Xianzhong from Taiwan, in groups of five and in teams of ten, always maintained their organizational structure and were not as chaotic as other rebel armies.
The same is true when fighting a war. The prodigies and the local Han people relied on their bravery, while the Taiwanese peasants and soldiers knew how to cooperate with each other.
Zhang Xianzhong was too lazy to take action himself, and more than twenty bandits in front of him were killed. He simply divided his troops into three groups, one to the west, one to the south, and one to the east, chasing and killing the bandits who scattered and looted.
"A hero's end, grandpa, what kind of bastard am I fighting with?" Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help but sigh.
After two full days of pursuit, all the troops returned to their troops and gathered. Two local Han people were killed, and no one else was killed. As for the Wandan bandits, more than 200 were killed, and the rest abandoned the looted property and ran away.
Zhang Xianzhong withdrew his troops and rushed back to Batavia, continuing the siege.
The food in the city was getting less and less, and it would be at its bottom in a few days. However, the Dutch refused to take out a grain of rice from the castle.
Suddenly, smoke erupted in the west, and the sentry spotted the Dutch reinforcements coming on foot.
Tie Hong ordered: "The Johor soldiers continue to be stationed in the south of the city, and the Datong army moved to the southwest of the city. Zhang Xianzhong and Sun Kewang led the rebels to the west of the city. Remember, do not let the enemy's reinforcements enter the city. If there are many reinforcements, lead them to the southwest of the city.
, I will lead my troops to intercept and outflank them."
Zhang Xianzhong and Sun Kewang were happy, they finally had a decent battle.
Governor Rainiers, after seeing the smoke, also realized that Indian reinforcements were coming. He was very confused about whether he should continue to hold on or cooperate with friendly forces to go out of the city to fight.
Commander Clapp was called to discuss, and Clapp said: "With three hundred land troops, we can defend the castle. The remaining land forces will lead the militia out of the city to fight. The number of enemies is not very large, and we may be able to win with reinforcements. Once defeated,
Retreat to the castle immediately. Even if you don't go out to fight, the food in the city is not enough. Those Javanese, Indians and Arabs will give up sooner or later. It is better to let them go out of the city to fight with the Chinese and cause more casualties to the Chinese army.
.”
"Okay, let's fight like this. I'll stay and guard the castle." Rainiers immediately agreed.
Even if all the troops outside are killed, he can lead three hundred soldiers to defend the castle for a year or two until the food is exhausted.
Troops were being mobilized inside and outside the city.
The hot air balloon rose again to observe the movement trajectory of the Dutch army.
Zhang Xianzhong, who originally led troops to the west of the city, saw movement in the city and immediately ran to find Tie Hong himself: "General Tie, if we can't fight during the day, we can attack and capture the city at night tonight."
Tie Hong didn't understand: "Why capture the city tonight?"
Zhang Xianzhong explained: "When the enemy's reinforcements arrived, they were thinking about how to cooperate with each other in fighting, and they thought that our goal was to bring reinforcements. They certainly didn't expect that we would attack and capture the city at night. The city wall tonight must be the loosest!"
Tie Hong scratched his head, and after a long time he finally cleared his mind, nodded and said, "Then we will seize the city tonight."
Zhang Xianzhong continued: "We can first make a fuss in the west of the city and pretend that we are fighting enemy reinforcements in the west of the city. The attention of the defenders in the city will be attracted to the west of the city, and they may even go out of the city to help. At this time, we can quietly ambush the troops
It is in the east of the city. The east part of the city is the most difficult to attack. It has the most city gates, enemy towers, and forts. You would never expect us to attack the city from there!"
Tie Hong said sincerely: "You are still good at fighting, and you are worthy of being a bandit leader."
