1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 160 Zheng Zhilong's "Goodwill"

"Have you found them?" Luis Dasmarina, the Spanish Governor in the Philippines, looked at Colonel Rolscheit, commander of the Far East Fleet, with a smile.

"Yes, Your Excellency Governor!" Colonel Rorscheidt corrected his reply: "We already know the approximate location of the pirates, and we have also captured two of their sailors."

"How many are they?"

"According to the confession of the captured sailors, the group of pirates has about 2000 people, most of whom are farmers and craftsmen, and their armed forces should be around [-]. The two sailors also said that they gathered on a continent south of Batavia . . . But we think it must be a large island, explored by the Dutch, and a rather wild place." Colonel Rohrscheidt.

"If we send a squadron now, can we catch them all?" Governor Luis Dasmarina nodded in satisfaction, and finally got the exact news of the pirates.

"Uh, Your Excellency, I think we should send an exploration ship there first. Because the two captured sailors are obviously not professional pilots, and some routes need to be verified. At the same time, the gathering place of the pirates, we I just got an approximate location. So..."

"So, we still have to wait a few months?" Governor Luis das Marina was a little angry, thinking that he could immediately send a squadron to catch them all after getting news of the pirates, fully demonstrating the majesty of the Kingdom of Spain.But now I heard the naval commander say that they still need to confirm the route and position in detail.So annoying!
But Governor Luis das Marina knew that taking an unproven route on the vast sea was risky.To dispatch an expeditionary fleet, you need to carry a large amount of supplies and personnel. If there is an error in this route, or if the expeditionary fleet is lost, it will be a huge disaster for the ships and personnel of the fleet.

"Then immediately arrange for an excellent captain to explore this route leading to revenge and find the hideout of those despicable pirates!" Governor Luis Das Marina ordered loudly: "The honor of the Kingdom of Spain is not to be missed!" Allowed to be defiled for too long, go find them!"

"Of order, Your Excellency the Governor!" Colonel Rohrscheit replied solemnly.

East Indies, Batavia, Governor's Palace.

Governor Anthony Van Dyman is being briefed by Colonel Aryan Van Dijk, Commander of the Batavia Fleet, and Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona, Commander of the Expeditionary Fleet.

The war with the Kingdom of Aceh has come to an end. After the expeditionary fleet sank and injured a large number of Aceh naval ships, it has forced the other side to be unable to send reinforcements to retake their Rapid Water Bay City.The Dutch East India Company successfully drove a nail into the southern side of the Strait of Malacca.With its powerful sea power, it will continue to backlog the forces of Portugal and local states, and eventually control the Strait of Malacca. That is a high probability event.

"Lieutenant Colonel Jamini Bacona, you and your fleet have done a very good job! When I report to the company's board of directors on the development of the Far East, I will strongly mention your contribution!" Governor Anthony Van Daiman smiled Said.

"Your Excellency Governor, thank you for your affirmation and praise." Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona said reservedly: "This military operation to conquer Aceh is thanks to the wise strategy of Your Excellency the Governor, as well as Colonel Van Dijk's Preliminary planning and arrangement. Oh, and our gallant captains and sailors."

Anthony Van Daiman shook his head insignificantly. Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona deliberately omitted the army's contribution to the city's capture, obviously belittling them.Although almost all the armies in the Far East are mercenaries from various European countries, they are also employees of the company after all, aren't they?
"Oh, by the way, how did our servants contribute to the battle?" Anthony Van Daiman asked.

"Chao, they are very brave!" Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona couldn't help but recall that at that time, the fleet was suddenly bombarded by 18-pound heavy artillery at the pier, and his own ships were preparing to retreat to avoid the artillery fire, but Cao Xiong led them. The two armed merchant ships rushed up heroically.

"Brave? . . . just brave?"

"Uh, yes, Your Excellency Governor." Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Bacona replied: "Their combat skills are very amateurish, the accuracy of the artillery firing, oh, they should have no front sight, and behave like a group of naive child!"

"Oh?" Anthony Van Daiman couldn't help chuckling. Even though a group of original pirates were driving powerful warships, their performance ability was still amateurish and inferior.

"Then the landing troops they sent are still amateurs?"

"No! Their marines are quite effective. If it weren't for them, our poor army might have been driven into the sea." Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona had been brooding over the battle at the pier before dawn that day. bosom.If he had listened to the advice of Major Frost Fritz and retreated back to Batavia, then he would not have captured the city of Rapids and the present glory.Those mercenaries are really doing too badly.

Anthony Van Daiman frowned, and couldn't help feeling a little dissatisfied with Lieutenant Colonel Jemini Bacona.There is no need for your navy. In order to belittle the uselessness of the army, you deliberately raised the combat effectiveness of a group of pirates.Here in the Far East, both the navy and the army should be the company's powerful fulcrum and deterrent force.

It seems that in the future, the conflict between the Batavia Navy and the Army needs to be reconciled. For the benefit of the company and the interests of the Inter-Provincial Republic, the two parties can no longer be hostile to each other and tear each other down.

October 25, Xinsheng Island (Phu Quoc Island).

Cao Xiong took the three large ships "Kai Kai", "Xing Han" and "Xing Ye" to a distance outside the Xinxiangbao Wharf, and then took a small boat to the island.

"Is someone from the Zheng family here?" Cao Xiong was at the pier, and heard Hu Pingjiang say that Zheng Zhilong had sent several people to find Xinsheng Island more than ten days ago, and said that he wanted to discuss cooperation with Cao Xiong.

"The person who came here is Zheng Cai, and he is Zheng Zhilong's follower. For more than ten days on the island, apart from sleeping, he was hunting in the woods." Hu Pingjiang said with a smile: "I really don't know, this young master of the Zheng family is Those who come to talk to us about things, or come to play."

"Go, meet him!" Cao Xiong didn't say any more, and walked towards Xinsheng Castle.

Xinshengbao was built on the southernmost side of the island, probably in Antai Town, south of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam in later generations.The entire regulation is a typical small castle with a radius of about 500 meters.Since a large number of immigrants had been stranded here, Hu Pingjiang made full use of these huge manpower, and in five months, he built a small city abruptly. Almost all the defensive facilities such as city walls, crenels, watchtowers, and gun emplacements have been completed. complete.

Among all the places managed by Hanzhou, Xinshengbao is the first city to complete all the defense facilities. Even the earliest Jianye City, the city wall is still a half-baked project, and it will take a lot of time before it is completed.

There are also a large number of temporary wooden houses, masonry warehouses, barracks, and residential buildings in the city, which can accommodate more than 5000 people at most.

"You are Cao Xiong?" Zheng Cai looked at the tough-faced man in front of him, his eyes were fixed on him, and his heart was a little awe-inspiring, what a hero!

"I am Cao Xiong." Cao Xiong said in a deep voice, "Zheng Zhilong sent you here, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Zheng Cai frowned, and the other party called his uncle by his name, which seemed disrespectful. Doesn't he know that we can cut off your immigration route at any time?

"Talk about cooperation." Zheng Cai said lightly.

"What kind of cooperation?"

"If you want someone, we won't stop you, and we can even send them here for you." Zheng Cai said slowly.

"What do we need to pay?" Cao Xiong thought, if Zheng Zhilong only wanted money, then it would be easy to say.

"People can help you send it here, and each kou is 12 taels of silver." Zheng Cai said.Bring the hungry people here, and when they return, they can get some special products from Chenla and Champa back to Daming, which is another trade route.

"anything else?"

"We will bring some products of Ming Dynasty here, and you can resell them to Batavia." Zheng Cai said.

The reason why Zheng Zhilong made this request was not because he wanted to take advantage of Cao Xiong for nothing.He also had another purpose, to dump a large amount of products from Ming Dynasty to this island, and then transfer them from Cao Xiong to Batavia, so as to hit the Dutch trade chain and weaken the Dutch economic strength.

Of course, there is another layer of provocative meaning in it. Cao Xiong resold Daming products in large quantities, and let him earn the money that should have been earned by the Dutch.The Dutch are bound to conflict with Cao Xiong because of economic interests.

"Aren't you afraid that we don't have the money to pay for your freight and goods?"

"You are pulling the products of Daming to Batavia one by one, and you are afraid that you will run out of money!"

"What if we renege on the bill?"

"Repudiation? Heh..., unless, you don't need population anymore!"

For a moment Cao Xiong couldn't figure out what Zheng Zhilong wanted to do.As Qi Tian said, let Hanzhou develop and grow, and eventually due to the increase in strength, it will inevitably collide with the Dutch.After Hanzhou and the Dutch weaken each other, Zheng Zhilong will still be his Daming Sea King.

"How about we go to Daming to recruit refugees?"

"...Of course." Zheng Cai smiled bluntly. Even if you go to recruit refugees yourself, can you prevent us from placing eyeliners in your Hanzhou?
"You won't talk to the Dutch just after talking about cooperation with us, right?"

Zheng Cai is a little speechless, even if we really want you to clash with the Dutch, we will have to wait a few years to let your small stature grow up a bit.

After Zheng Cai finished talking with Cao Xiong, she didn't stay any longer, and immediately returned to Quanzhou by boat to report to Zheng Zhilong.

Now that Zheng Zhilong no longer blocked the Hanzhou ships going north, Cao Xiong immediately led all the ships and left Xinsheng Island for Daming.

This time, they will go to the Shandong Peninsula and take the opportunity to collect their former hometown and relatives.

(End of this chapter)