1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 278 Wrestling
"Anyway, it's either starving to death or dying in battle....I think we can try it." Qi Dalu looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice.

Xu Chuanxing turned to look at Zhou Zuwang.

"Okay, anyway, a dead horse is a living horse doctor!" Zhou Zuwang said: "If the Dutch don't agree, what should we do? Kill all the captives?"

"No need to slaughter!" Qi Dalu's face flashed a trace of sternness, "Starve them to death!"

Xu Chuanxing and Zhou Zuwang couldn't help laughing when they heard this.Also, when there was no food in the city, the prisoners were the first to starve to death, including three or four Dutch Army officers.

Because the food in Dili City was about to run out, and there were only ten days of reserves left, the three of them discussed that they would exchange the prisoners for some food with the Dutch.Getting rejected doesn't make things any worse.

All the landing forces in the Netherlands have been evacuated, but there are three armed merchant ships floating outside the port of Dili.They were part of the Dutch fleet carrying out the blockade mission. They used Oecussi, not far from Dili, as their base and came here in turn.

Squadron Commander Major Manfred Eigen looked at the embarrassed Dutch mercenary in front of him, devouring a few pieces of black bread handed to him by the sailor.

"Is there a shortage of food in Dili City?" Major Manfred Eigen asked after the mercenary took a sip of water and seemed to have recovered.

"Major, I don't know if there is a shortage of food in the city." The mercenary said, "However, since we were captured that night, all of us have only one bowl of porridge to drink every day."

"What do Hanzhou people eat?"

"...I'm sorry, Major, I don't know." The mercenary said awkwardly: "We can't see them when they are eating."

"Then you eat so little every day, haven't you protested to them?" Major Manfred Eigen asked.

"Second Lieutenant Raikkonen once made a serious protest. But..." the mercenary said angrily: "However, it was rejected by the soldiers of Hanzhou. Moreover, as a punishment, Second Lieutenant Raikkonen's meals for the next three days were also was detained."

"How is Second Lieutenant Raikkonen?"

"He's alive, but very weak."

"What about the rest?"

"...It's also very weak." The mercenary said with difficulty: "After all, we haven't had enough food for a month."

"Okay, you go down and rest first." Major Manfred Eigen said.

The Hanzhou people in Dili City released the Dutch mercenary, and they were later discovered by the blockading fleet at the pier, and a small boat was picked up.He informed Major Manfred Eigen that the Han Chinese in Dili were going to "sell" to them the Dutch prisoners in their hands.

Each Dutch officer has a discount of about 1.6 last (last, 1 last is about 1250 kilograms), each mercenary has a discount of about 0.8 last, and each native servant has a discount of about 0.4 last. The more than 200 captives in the hands of the Europeans need to use 120 Rast grains (about 150 tons).

"The asking price of the Hanzhou people is not very high. I think we can exchange our soldiers with food." A Dutch officer suggested.

"But the purpose of our blockade of Dili Port is to cut off any support and supplies from the Hanzhou people. If we want to promise them to exchange food for prisoners, wouldn't the effect of our blockade be greatly reduced!" Another officer said.

"That's right, if the Hanzhou people in Dili City want to exchange captives for food, it must prove that their food supplies are seriously insufficient. And this also shows that our blockade is valuable. If we continue to block them, perhaps, They will voluntarily surrender because they lack the necessary food."

"But the problem is, if the Hanzhou people are short of food, in order to ensure their own needs, they will definitely starve our people to death first as the mercenary said." The officer said: "Among them, there are our officers and Mercenaries."

The more than 100 native servants and captives were automatically filtered by the Dutch, and they were not considered at all.

"Alternatively, we could bring back a few of our officers."

"No, Hanzhou people will definitely not agree."

"War, sometimes, requires sacrifice..."

Major Manfred Eigen was also hesitant when he heard the heated discussion among several officers under his command.In terms of morality and emotion, they must rescue their officers and soldiers, because you don’t know whether you will become a prisoner of others in the next war, and whether you will also be discussed by others about whether to give up rescue.

However, in terms of the effect and purpose of the war, the Dutch should make the most of the lack of food in Dili City to increase the blockade and force the Hanzhou people to surrender.But in this way, those captives will inevitably become victims.

"Send a liaison ship back to Kupang, and ask for further instructions on the exchange of food and captives." Major Manfred Egan decided to leave this difficult problem to the colonial officials in Kupang.

"Go back and tell the Hanzhou people to order them to surrender as soon as possible, and we will guarantee their safety." Major Manfred Eigen found the mercenary released from Dili Port again, "If they refuse to surrender, And there is still the phenomenon of mistreating our captives, and when our army breaks through Dili City, all of them will not receive any preferential treatment!"

The mercenary looked at Major Manfred Eigen with an ugly expression, hoping that he could send another person back to Dili City.Because, he really doesn't want to go hungry!
However, seeing Major Manfred Eigen's firm expression, he reluctantly grabbed some black bread, and sadly walked out of the cabin.There is no clear answer to the request of the Hanzhou people, and they have to go back and warn them not to abuse the prisoners and surrender as soon as possible.After hearing this, the people of Hanzhou will definitely vent their anger on him. I am afraid that their future situation in Dili City will be very bad.

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"General, half a month ago, you promised to send some troops to Dili City to support our army. Why haven't you sent troops yet?" Qiao Bensheng asked a little dissatisfied.

Natatuka, the general of the former Wehally Kingdom, looked at the Hanzhou man in front of him indifferently, and said unhurriedly: "The big Dutch ship is patrolling the sea near the city of Dili, and our small boat can't get close. If If you go at night, you may hit a rock, which is very dangerous for our soldiers."

Qiao Bensheng's face showed a trace of sullenness, and he said in a deep voice: "As far as I know, you people in the Weihali Kingdom know some jungle trails leading to Dili."

"There are some trails in the jungle that can lead to Dili City." Natatuka said: "But walking is extremely difficult, and it is impossible to carry a large amount of supplies."

"Don't you have settled tribes and people near Dili City?"

"Of course there are. But the tribes there certainly don't have too many material reserves. You know, the Portuguese used to set off from their stronghold near Dili City to attack our tribes there."

"Even if you can't send large-scale troops to support, you can send a small number of people there. Even if there are only 100 people, you can let the Dutch know that their blockade is ineffective." Qiao Bensheng tried hard to persuade.

"What if your army in Dili City is wiped out by the Dutch?" Natatuka asked suddenly.

"No, our Hanzhou army cannot be defeated by the Dutch." Qiao Bensheng said firmly: "Over the past few years, our Hanzhou army has not been defeated by anyone on land."

Natatuka stared fixedly at Qiao Bensheng, feeling a little moved and jealous of the firm and confident expression on his face.They can loudly proclaim that they have never been defeated by the enemy. Although they are only on land, this kind of pride from the heart still deeply stimulates him.The soldiers of the Kingdom of Weihali can be like this at any time.

"I will send 100 people to Dili City through the small road." Natatuka said: "I hope your soldiers from Hanzhou will still stick to Dili City."

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"The Dutch didn't refuse, but they didn't agree immediately." Xu Chuanxing said: "Perhaps, they want to delay it first, to see if we are really short of food, so that they can take advantage of it."

"So, is the supply of all captives cut off now?" Zhou Zuwang asked.

"First cut off the supply of those Dutch native servants." Xu Chuanxing said coldly: "Some people are really not healthy, just drag them out and throw them into the sea for the Dutch to see."

"Or, I'll take some people out of the city and search in the depths of the forest. Maybe we can find a native tribe." Qi Dalu said.

"A while ago, the people we sent had gone deep into the forest for six or seven miles, and they couldn't find the natives. If they go any further, they will die."

"It's better than starving to death here in a few days." Qi Dalu said: "Walking deep in the forest, you might be lucky and meet a native tribe."

"...Well, let's send someone out." Xu Chuanxing sighed and said, "The ugly Portuguese drove away all the natives in the vicinity of Dili, and they didn't leave any for us."

"It's fine if you run away." Zhou Zuwang said: "In the future, more people will be moved here, the forest will be cut down, all will be built with houses and crops will be planted!"

"That's a good idea!" Xu Chuanxing glanced at Zhou Zuwang, "Then we have to get over the difficulties in front of us first!"

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"Flying Fish No. 1" dexterously got into the mouth of Cangxi River, and the sailors on board lowered several sails one after another, and then paddled vigorously towards the wharf of Xinxiangpu.

After a while, several Dutch armed merchant ships from outside the estuary sailed over and fired a few shots into the estuary from a distance as a warning.

"How did you come here?" Chen Dalang asked in surprise, looking at Li Gengsheng who jumped off the boat.

"Commander Qi asked me to come over to investigate the situation of Jianye City and Xinxiangbao." Li Gengsheng said with a smile: "Just now, I saw the Dutch warship near the river mouth was a little far away, so I saw an opening and got in."

"Everything is fine here." Chen Dalang said, "Even if the Dutch blockade us for a year or two, they can't do anything to us."

There are more than 800 people in Xinxiangbao, and there are more than 400 natives under its control. There are five large and small settlements nearby. The cultivated land has increased to more than [-] mu, and there is a large surplus of food and vegetables.Except for some industrial products and non-staple foods such as sugar and wine, they can basically be self-sufficient.

"How is Jianye City?"

"Dutch armed merchant ships are blocking the entrance of the bay. Seeing that the chances are slim, they dare not venture in. Let's take a look at your side first." Li Gengsheng said,

"Jianye City is probably the same as our Xinxiangbao, safe and sound." Chen Dalang said: "The most worrying thing is Dili City. On their side, even the pier fortress has given up, and they are probably trapped by the Dutch. .”

"In a couple of days, I'll take a look over there." Li Gengsheng nodded, "Our boat is small and fast, and the Netherlands may not be able to touch us."

(End of this chapter)