John Van Berg was lying in the cabin, seasick and about to die. This old Dutch man in his fifties vomited several times in the afternoon and vomited out all his lunch. He was originally afraid of taking a boat.
The Ming Dynasty declared war on the Netherlands, and he, the Dutch ambassador to the Ming Dynasty, was allowed to leave the country within a time limit. He and some other Dutch diplomats took a boat to Palembang City and were on standby here.
But it was a large passenger ship with tens of thousands of tons. Although it was a bit bumpy, it was much better after all. Now it was a destroyer with more than a thousand tons, and it was going so fast, almost like a swordfish on the water.
Jumping forward. The young Ming Dynasty captain drove the boat like a rude cowboy, without any regard for the feelings of an older, educated and superior man.
But John Van Berg seems to have nothing to complain about. He is now lying on the bed in the captain's cabin. Although the captain's cabin is also very small and there are many instrument lines on the cabin roof, for a destroyer, the captain's cabin is
It was the only single room in the whole ship. Fortunately, the voyage from Palembang to Batavia was not too long, and the destroyer was fast, so it could be reached at night, so there was no need to spend the night on the ship. Otherwise, he was really not sure whether the captain would be able to
They would push him into the sailor's cabin and sleep together with the sailors... From the moment he got on the ship, everyone on the Ming destroyer, from officers to sailors, had been very cold towards him, which could be said to be rude. God, that
The captain doesn't seem to have much education, and he is totally capable of doing this kind of thing.
Feinberg felt even worse when he thought about heading to Batavia, looking at the face of the young Ming Dynasty general, begging to get back as much benefit as possible at the negotiation table... Why not begging? The Netherlands doesn't have any capital now.
Bargained with the Ming Dynasty. In the Far East, the navy was wiped out, the air force was wiped out, and the army was basically wiped out. Now Batavia Island has been completely lost, and each of the adjacent large islands has its doors open, and the Ming army
You can occupy it anytime you want.
The mission given to him in the country now is to try to preserve the territory. As for other things, such as reparations, ceding military ports, allowing troops to be stationed, and transferring Sumatra's oil and rubber rights, these can be regarded as a price to maintain the territorial integrity of the East Indies. It must be
If the Ming Dynasty wants to return Batavia Island to itself, it must make every effort and at all costs. Batavia Island is the top priority of the East Indies. If Batavia Island is lost, it will
It is equivalent to losing the entire East Indies.
The Foreign Secretary even sent a secret message, saying that as long as the Ming Dynasty can return Batavia Island, some less important islands can even be exchanged. Of course, this is the bottom line, and it should not be raised unless it is absolutely necessary. Try to use compensation as much as possible
, rights and other "soft" things to be settled to ensure that the East Indies are intact and not damaged.
After all, this is the last large colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the world.
Feinberg felt terribly sick in his chest and felt that he could no longer stay in the cabin. He put on his wide-brimmed hat, pushed the door open, climbed to the deck using the gangway, held on to the railing, and took a deep breath of fresh air.
At this moment, it is the time when the sun sets into the sea. A bright red sunset on the sea level is slowly sinking into the sea. The sky to the west is filled with burning clouds. The setting sun drags out a long reflection on the sea, flashing countless golden waves, which is very dazzling.
.
In normal times, such beautiful scenery must be intoxicating. But now Feinberg is not in the mood to appreciate it at all. Even if he appreciates it, it has different feelings with different moods: this may indicate the colonial years of the Kingdom of the Netherlands overseas, just like this sunset
Same, getting depressed day by day.
When it was almost dark, the destroyer finally sailed into Batavia Bay. With the remaining light, Feinberg saw behemoths parked on the sea, reflecting huge black silhouettes in the sky.
Those were Ming Empire battlecruisers, aircraft carriers, heavy cruisers, light cruisers... towering towers, formidable gun barrels... these were things that the Kingdom of the Netherlands could not possess despite all its efforts.
Feinberg stared at the tall and tall bodies in the sunset, and suddenly had a pessimistic premonition: The Netherlands no longer deserves to own the East Indies. This is just the beginning. In the next few decades, this emerald chain in the Western Pacific will
Zhu, the richest place in Southeast Asia, will completely change hands.
…
In the evening, Xiang Xiaoqiang had dinner with three old consultants. While eating, he reviewed the established strategies for tomorrow's negotiations. Song Ruhai and Sun Jiye were both experienced in this aspect, while Wang Hexiang listened more than he talked.
Xiang Xiaoqiang opened the big lobster on the plate with both hands. This big lobster weighed three kilograms and was caught in the local sea. It is very close to Australia. The so-called "Australian big lobster" is this kind. He opened the shell and used pliers
He took out the large pieces of meat and distributed them to the three old consultants while saying:
"The domestic bottom line is that, in addition to the last conditions, compensation of 10,000 Mingyang for each Chinese victim; 6,000 Mingyang for each Chinese woman who was raped; 10,000 Mingyang for each injured Chinese; and 10,000 Mingyang for each injured Chinese.
, in addition to rehabilitation and lost work expenses, compensation of 500-6,000 Mingyang; for each disabled Chinese, in addition to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost work expenses, compensation of 4,000-10,000 Mingyang; and annual living expenses sufficient to ensure the previous living standard; Daming
Establish military ports and military bases in the three port cities of Surabaya, Medan, and Pontianak; 80% of the oil field mining and management rights on Pazia Island, and 60% of the rubber mining and management rights are controlled by Daming's company; extradition to the Dutch Embassy
Governor of East India... In addition to these conditions, there is also a war indemnity of 100 million Mingyang. It is quite dark... 100 million Mingyang, to be honest, I have no idea, I don't know how many things 100 million Mingyang can buy."
Wang Hexiang, former deputy director of the General Administration of Military Industry, ate lobster meat, buried his head and smiled:
"With 100 million Mingyang, we can build almost 3,000 Lightning-3 tanks. If it is Lightning-2, we can build more than 5,000 tanks."
"Be good."
"If we build warships, 100 million Mingyang can build almost three Yongle-class battleships."
"Be good!"
Song Ruhai smiled and said:
"Don't forget, sir, this is the bottom line. When we ask for a price, we have to ask for 180 million mingyang. There is also a compensation for the dead, disabled, and humiliated Chinese, which is about 45 million to 50 million mingyang."
Mingyang. This item cannot be touched. However, this solatium is calculated based on the number of people. It is still being calculated and there is no accurate figure. In this way, we only talk about a single figure, not the total number of tens of millions Mingyang. Over in the Netherlands
It sounds like it will feel better."
Several people laughed. Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said: "Then the Netherlands is going bankrupt?"
Song Ruhai smiled and said:
"It's still too early to go bankrupt. Do you remember how much compensation Germany must pay under the Treaty of Versailles? 132 billion gold marks. Our billions of gold are less than a fraction of others. Although one gold mark contains 0.4 grams of gold, one of our golds contains 0.62 grams, which is less than
A little more gold marks.”
When Xiang Xiaoqiang heard that there were so few compared to Germany, he said angrily:
"Ah? It's only one thousandth of what someone else has? Then why don't we order more."
Sun Jiye shook his head and said:
"This is not comparable. First of all, that astronomical figure is simply unrealistic. More than 100 billion is simply a figure that vents anger. No country can afford it, even if it goes bankrupt. Facts have also proved that Germany has not been able to afford it until now.
If they haven't paid it back, it's not settled. Secondly, it was the result of the world war. Every country was throwing pot and selling iron, and Europe was in ruins. They themselves really needed so much reparations to recover, and at that time Germany had already
He was beaten to death and had no right to speak. In order to save his life, he had to agree to whatever they wanted. Even if he added two zeros at the end, Germany would still sign.
"The situation here is completely different. It's just a small local battle, and it was only fought on a small island in a colony. It didn't hit anyone's home. Firstly, we don't need so much compensation, and secondly, we want too much.
Even if we ask for more than 100 billion, the Netherlands will not give it to us. What we rely on now is the Batavia Island in our hands, and we have not forced it to the doorstep of the Netherlands. Let us not ask for more than 100 billion, even if it requires 1 billion, the Netherlands may be willing to give up.
No need to leave Batavia Island."
Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded and thought it was true. He remembered the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 in formal history. Japan demanded 200 million taels of compensation from the Qing Dynasty and almost squeezed the Qing Dynasty dry. He knew that in this time and space, the same was true between Japan and Qing Dynasty.
The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 occurred, but the Qing Empire in this time and space did not seem to suffer as badly as in history. In the end, it only lost 100 million taels.
He didn't know which one was worth compared to 100 million taels of silver and 100 million mingyang. Historically, the price ratio between gold and silver has always fluctuated greatly, so it's hard to say. But according to the price comparisons of later generations, one ku of silver is worth 90
Yuan, one market tael of silver is worth 120 yuan, 100 million market taels of silver and 100 million mingyang are worth about the same.
In general, the compensation of 100 million Mingyang was a lot under this situation. He believed that this was the most appropriate amount proposed by the Ming government after repeated weighing and calculations.
The chef came in with a small dining cart, brought a large silver plate to the table, and opened the shiny silver cover.
There was a braised baby turtle on a large silver plate, with spices unique to the East Indies sprinkled around it. The chef opened the lid of the turtle, revealing the chopped turtle meat inside. Xiang Xiaoqiang took the tongs and divided the plates among the three old consultants.
inside.
After the chef pushed the cart out, Song Ruhai said again:
"The problem is that now we can't figure out how important Batavia Island is to the Netherlands, and how much the Netherlands is willing to pay to redeem it. To be honest, what we occupy is Batavia Island, a political and cultural center with many indigenous people.
The resources are small, important to the Netherlands, but not of much use to us, so we have to do everything possible to exchange them for as many things as possible. If we occupy Pazia Island, we will just keep it for ourselves, without bothering to exchange it.
In exchange for that, Sumatra has everything we want. It has few indigenous people and rich resources. 80% of the oil fields and rubber forests in East India are located on it. Its geographical location is extremely important, and it directly guards the Strait of Malacca... There is one,
There are fewer good harbors, not as good as Batavia Island."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said: "Then why don't we trade Batavia Island with them for Pazia Island?"
Several people laughed.
Song Ruhai cut off the turtle's head with a knife, put the big turtle head on Xiang Xiaoqiang's plate, and said with a smile:
"Come on, come on, young man, please eat more of this..."
Several people laughed coaxingly. Xiang Xiaoqiang was so thick-skinned that he felt embarrassed. He just laughed, lowered his head and played with the turtle head, and started eating.
Song Ruhai cut the turtle meat with a table knife and said with a smile: "Didn't we also propose that the Netherlands exchange Pazia Island for Batavia Island?"
Sun Jiye shook his head and said: "It's a pity that it's just an asking price. We can't really get 100 million Mingyang compensation and Pazia Island in the end. How can it be such a good thing?"
Song Ruhai also nodded and said:
"Yes, Pazia Island is good, but the target is too big and unrealistic. If we really want to win Pazia Island, we may have to give up all other conditions, give up 100 million open oceans, give up Batavia Island and Borneo
There are ports and troops stationed in the continent, and we have to give up the extradition of the governor. Maybe we have to pay for the Chinese pension of 40 to 50 million yuan, so that we can come to Pazia Island... It is only a possibility.
"So let's be realistic. Let the Netherlands compensate the Chinese 40 to 50 million mingyang, and we will get 100 million mingyang, the three military ports and garrison rights in Surabaya, Medan, and Pontianak, 80% of the oil on Pazia Island, and 60% of the oil on Pazia Island.
% of the rights and interests in rubber, and then extradite the governor back, this is more cost-effective. Anyway, the biggest purpose of our wanting Pazia Island is oil. If we get 80% of the oil rights and interests in Sumatra, our oil problem can also be solved."
Xiang Xiaoqiang lowered his head to eat the turtle head, and nodded, humming in agreement. But at the moment, he was thinking about a simple truth:
How important are the East Indies to the Netherlands?
First: The East Indies is the last large overseas colony of the Netherlands. Without the East Indies, the Netherlands will withdraw from the ranks of the colonial empire.
Second: After World War II, facing the already independent Indonesia, the Netherlands did not hesitate to use the power of the newly liberated country to go halfway around the world and launch a war in an attempt to recapture the East Indies.
Third: Batavia Island is the political center, cultural center, economic center, transportation center, and ruling machine center of the East Indies. Without Batavia Island, the Netherlands would not be able to rule the East Indies.
Fourth: Although Pazia Island is more than twice the size of Batavia Island, is rich in petroleum and rubber resources, and is close to the Strait of Malacca, it is a relatively "marginal" island after all, unlike Batavia.
The island is so irreplaceable.
To a certain extent, Pazia Island is equivalent to the three eastern provinces of the Republic of China, while Batavia Island is equivalent to the Ningbo-Shanghai-Hangzhou region of the Republic of China. Although the Ningbo-Shanghai-Hangzhou area is far less large than the three eastern provinces, it is in East Asia.
The strategic position is not as important as the three eastern provinces, and the resources are not as rich as the three eastern provinces. However, there is one thing. The three eastern provinces are just a "resource area", while the Ningbo, Shanghai, and Hangzhou regions are the political, economic, cultural, and governance centers of the country. Once they are lost, they will not be able to function normally.
Ruling the country. In the three eastern provinces, this aspect is much less important.
The same is true in the South Seas. For the Netherlands, losing Batavia is equivalent to losing the East Indies. Losing Pazia is just losing Pazia.
Fifth: The most important thing is that the Netherlands no longer has any power in East Asia. It now has no cards in its hand. Even if the Ming army wants to take over the entire East Indies, it only needs to send a few more divisions calmly.
They just landed on several large islands to occupy the ground and suppress the indigenous people. There was no need to even fight. The Netherlands could only watch.
In fact, Xiang Xiaoqiang also knew that the reason why Ming Dynasty did not do this was because it did not want to invest more energy in fighting wars in Nanyang, especially when there was Beiqing in the north and Japan in the east. If the oil problem can be solved, the goal will be achieved.
Already.
Secondly, they are worried about the fear of Britain and the United States. In the eyes of Britain and the United States, the East Indies are safe in the hands of the Netherlands and pose no threat to themselves. No matter how big, rich or important the East Indies are, the Netherlands cannot
One day, the East Indies will be used as a springboard to attack Malaya and the Philippines. Once the Ming Dynasty takes control of the East Indies, it is entirely possible. At that time, the strategic situation in the entire Southeast Asia will take a turn for the worse, and the Ming Dynasty will no longer play the traditional role of Little Red Riding Hood.
Become a big bad wolf or even a big tiger.
A sword in the hands of a child and in the hands of a strong man will give people around it a completely different sense of threat. The East Indies are the sword, the Netherlands is the child, and the Ming Dynasty is the strong man.
Once Britain and the United States regard the Ming Dynasty as an imaginary enemy, it will be terrible. It is already very difficult for the Ming Dynasty's navy to compete with the Japanese navy. If possible, add the British and American navies, and the world's fourth-ranked navy can compete with the first, second, and third navies at the same time.
The Navy... Therefore, this situation must not happen.
Therefore, the conditions proposed by the Ming government were not so "absolute" in Xiang Xiaoqiang's view. In fact, he also knew that the main reason why Ming did this was because he was afraid of "breaking Batavia Island into his hands". This would turn the Netherlands into a hurry.
, is angry that he doesn’t want Batavia Island anymore (of course this seems unlikely to Xiang Xiaoqiang), then Daming will have no use holding it, and he can’t even exchange it for some money or oil.
Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly said:
"You three adults, I have a little trick. You can try how much the Netherlands can offer you."
Then he lowered his voice and spoke. The three old men looked at each other, suddenly smiled, and nodded:
"You can give it a try."
Xiang Xiaoqiang looked up at the wall clock and said:
"Without further delay, since everyone agrees, I will call someone to make arrangements immediately."
With that said, he rang the bell, called in his personal guard, and gave him these instructions.