Fu Ao said: "The situation in the battle at sea is constantly changing. In three or four months, we can think of another solution. Moreover, the 'Black Dragon Palace' is coming in force this time, and the consumption of these many ships is not small. It’s still uncertain whether we can besiege the island for three or four months, so why should we worry about that!”
This Fu Ao commanded the warships and navy in the "Wanjin Hall" and was good at naval battles. He had fought against the pirates of the "Black Dragon Palace" several times in the past and had always fought bravely. Most of the other people in the meeting hall were worried. However, Captain Fu did not look worried, but instead looked enthusiastic and warlike.
At this time, a tall foreigner in the crowd, wearing a gray and white straight uniform, spoke loudly.
This foreigner has short brown hair, a broad face, and a short beard. He looks very rough and has a very loud voice. However, what he spoke was not in Chinese. He kept talking "jijijiwawa" for a long time. , no one in the hall could understand.
Hua Bushi, who was standing in the corner of the hall, did not recognize this person and asked a Chinese businessman beside him in a low voice: "Brother, do you know who the foreigner is who is speaking?" [
The businessman replied: "This man is the governor of the Dutch East India Company, and his name is Jianpi Tuosongkoan."
Hua Bushi said: "Thank you very much, brother."
The Dutch East India Company is well known in Okura City. The black python that ranked second in the "Purple Sky Conference" last year is the fighting dog raised by this company. Although Hua Bushi, the governor-general Ke An, has never met him before, he has heard about it. People have talked about it.
In an ordinary Western Fleet Company, no matter how big the business is, the head of the company will not be called the Governor. Janpitosonkoan is called the Governor because his East India Company is a government company of the Netherlands. Not only does it engage in ocean trade with merchants from various Eastern countries, but it can also sign treaties with other countries on behalf of the Netherlands, which has considerable rights.
In Okura Castle, the East India Company was one of the leading large merchant houses from Western countries, no less than the fleet of the Spanish noble Gongora.
Governor Ke An delivered a long series of long speeches. Although no one could understand a single sentence, it must be a way to deal with the current crisis on Okura Island. Therefore, many business owners in the hall listened patiently. Interrupt loudly.
Only Hai Hongzhu couldn't bear it anymore and said: "This foreign devil who likes to peel off his skin can't even speak human words, so he definitely doesn't have any good ideas!"
Hua Bushi, who was beside her, could only smile bitterly and remain silent when she heard this. It seemed that it was more difficult to make this "Mrs. Hua" know how to be polite than to let her practice peerless martial arts.
Fortunately, Governor Ke'an didn't understand Chinese, so he didn't know what Hai Hongzhu was talking about. He spoke for a long time, and finally finished, and the translator he brought with him began to translate this general Dutch speech into Chinese.
Just listen to the translator: "Governor Ke'an just said that this group of pirates from the 'Black Dragon Palace' surrounded Okura Island, blocked shipping routes, and hindered the progress of ocean trade. This is a barbaric act that violates international conventions and is an act of justice by us." The soldiers must not be tolerated and must be dealt with resolutely and resolutely. Governor Coan, on behalf of the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch government, made a solemn protest against them and did not rule out the possibility of using force to resolve the matter."
Now that the dragon palace tribe's giant ships are surrounding the island, the situation is urgent, but the Dutch governor has spoken such a large set of official words. Not only Hai Hongzhu, but also other businessmen in the hall can't listen anymore. Even if Someone shouted to the translator: "Hey, stop talking nonsense and tell me what the red-haired devil's idea was!"
The translator still made a brief translation of Ke An's remarks, and finally said: "Governor Ke An has a proposal. He can invite the Royal Navy of the Netherlands to come to Okura Island. I believe that with the Dutch Navy warships With his strength, it is not difficult to wipe out the pirates of 'Black Dragon Island' surrounding the island. However, there is one condition. 'Wanjintang' and the Chinese businessmen in the city must agree and sign a written agreement to confirm it. That is, from now on, everyone will All Chinese merchants in Cangcheng can only trade cargoes with the Dutch East India Company, and are no longer allowed to do business with the fleets of other Western countries."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was in an uproar, especially the businessmen from Western countries who were the loudest.
The Spanish Gongora said: "The conditions proposed by the Dutch are really ridiculous! If 'Wanjintang' agrees to such conditions, I can also promise to let our Spanish naval fleet come over, as long as the Chinese merchants in Okura City will only deal with Spain in the future. People do business. The strength of the so-called Royal Navy of the Netherlands is very average, and it has been defeated by the artillery fire of our Spanish enemy fleet many times."
The Netherlands and Spain were enemies who had been engaged in maritime wars for many years, and this Spanish nobleman would not be polite to Governor Coan. Not only Gongora, but also businessmen from Britain, France and other countries also protested.
For Chinese businessmen, if they only trade cargo with one Western company, the price of the goods will be controlled by the other party, the profits will be greatly reduced, and the losses will definitely be considerable. But the situation on Okura Island is critical now, if the foreign fleet can be allowed to Driving away the "Black Dragon Palace" pirates who besieged the island was not completely unacceptable, so everyone discussed it, both in favor and against it.
Seeing the hall in chaos, Yao Yuanxiao slapped the table and shouted: "Everyone, don't be upset, listen to me!"
The internal energy used in this shout made everyone's ears buzz, and everyone in the hall immediately fell silent.
Yao Yuanxiao said: "May I ask Governor Ke'an and Mr. Gongola, where are the fleets of your two countries now?" [
Gongora said: "Our Spanish enemy fleet is naturally on the Atlantic Ocean, within the seaports along the coast of our country."
The translator translated Yao Yuanxiao's question to Governor Coan, who replied that the Royal Navy of the Netherlands is also on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Yao Yuanxiao said: "It takes at least four or five months to go back and forth from Okura Island to Europa Island. Now the pirates from the Black Dragon Palace will attack the island in the near future. I will wait for your news to be sent home. It will definitely be too late to send your fleet from the Atlantic again."
The "Black Dragon Palace" came in large numbers this time, determined to win Okura City, and it was impossible to delay the attack for four or five months. Water from afar could not quench the thirst of the near. Ke An, Gongola and others knew that what Yao Yuanxiao said was terrible. The facts of the dispute had to be kept silent. And the Chinese businessmen who wanted to use the power of the foreign fleet to drive away the pirates also showed disappointment.
Suddenly, the previous noise in the meeting hall turned into silence again, simply because no one had any feasible strategy to defend the city.
But it was Sima Rulan who broke the silence and said: "We in Okura City have always implemented the rules of free trade. The cargo transactions at the port are only fair and will never establish privileges. Therefore, even if Mr. Ke An's proposal is feasible, We can't accept it either. Now that the enemy is facing us, if we want to defend this city, we can only rely on the existing strength in our city and everyone's support. Only when everyone in Okura City works together can we defeat it.' Black Dragon Palace’s Pirate’s Opportunity!”
She paused briefly and then said: "The top priority is to defend the port and prevent pirate ships from sailing in from the bay and attacking the city. As for how to defend, please follow the instructions of Elder Yao and Master Fu."
Okura Castle is a city built on the sea. Walls were built on three sides, and the side facing the sea is a bay. The bay is where the port is. If a pirate ship sails into the bay, Okura Castle will be in danger. Not only The artillery on the pirate ship can bombard any position in the city, and the pirates can also land directly from the port and enter the city. I am afraid that the city will fall immediately.
Therefore, guarding the gorge to prevent pirate ships from entering the harbor became the first priority in defending Okura Castle.
At that moment, Yao Yuanxiao and Fu Ao began to count the number of frigates of various fleets currently anchored in Okura Port, as well as the installation of artillery on board, so that they could be uniformly deployed and work together to guard Okura City's harbor.
Faced with the siege of the city by pirates, whether they were from Middle-earth or Western countries, the various shops trapped in the city became grasshoppers tied to a rope. Therefore, the bosses in charge in the meeting hall had no objections and reported one after another. The equipment and strength of our own fleet.
But at this moment, a disciple of "Wanjintang" rushed in from outside the door, came to Sima Rulan, and reported: "Tell the eldest lady, there are **10 people outside the east city gate, saying they are from the seaside." The indigenous villagers went to the city to find the boss of Weitian Tower."
Since a large number of pirate ships from the "Black Dragon Palace" were discovered on the sea around the island, the three gates of Okura Castle have been closed and entry and exit are no longer allowed to prevent pirates from launching attacks from land. At this time, I heard that someone wanted to When Sima Rulan went into the city to find the boss of Waitian Tower, her eyes turned to Hua Bushi who was standing in the corner.
Hua Bushi quickly stepped forward and asked the "Wanjintang" disciple: "Is there a leader among the ten people? Can you tell me his name?"
The disciple said: "Those indigenous people do not understand Chinese. The leader is a man of medium height and dark complexion. He looks like a fisherman who fishes at sea, but I don't know his name."
Hearing the description of this "Wanjintang" disciple, Hua Bushi immediately guessed that the leader of the group of indigenous people who came to find him was probably Xinlika from "Moli Village", but why did he bring him with him? These many people came, but the young master couldn't figure it out.
Hua Bushi immediately said: "Miss Lan'er, the person coming from outside the city is probably an old acquaintance of Hua Bushi. It seems that he came to the city to find me for something. When I go to the city gate to check, I also ask Miss Lan'er. Order the city gates to be opened to let people pass through."
Sima Rulan nodded and told the disciple: "Take Mr. Hua to the east city gate and let him identify the people coming from outside the city. If they are indeed old acquaintances, open the city gate and let them in!"