1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 294 Chaos Battle ([-])

The two strongholds of the Netherlands in Formosa, Zeelandia City and Chikan City, are located in the southwest of the island, present-day Tainan City, Taiwan.The coast here is winding, and there is an inner harbor between the two cities, called Taijiang.There are seven islands connected to the southwest of Taijiang River, called Qikun.Each island is more than 1 mile apart, and they are "connected and protected" by each other.To the north of Yikun, there is a small island called Beixianwei across the sea, and the sea in between is called Anping Port.The north side of the northern line tail is Luermen Port.Zeelandia, a castle built by the Dutch, is on Yikun on the west side of the Taijiang River, and Chixian City is on the east side of the Taijiang River, forming the horns of each other.

There are two routes to enter Taijiang River from the outer sea: one is Anping Port, called the South Channel, between the end of the North Line and Yikun; the other is the North Channel, between the end of the North Line and Luermen Island, namely the "Luermen Channel" ".The south channel is wide and deep, and it is easy for ships to sail in. However, the fort near the port wharf overlooks it. On weekdays, there are often merchant ships coming and going here.The northern channel is shallow and narrow, and only small boats can pass through it, and large ships must pass when the tide is high.

In 1627, the Formosa colonial government of the Dutch East India Company built a small castle at the northern end of the Northern Line Wei Island to clamp down on the Northern Passage.Under normal circumstances, based on this "natural danger", as long as ships and forts are used to block the seaport of the southern channel, and cooperate with the forts of Zeelandia City and Chikan City, any enemy troops can be prevented from landing.

Recently it has been heard that the Spaniards on the north side of the island are planning to attack two Dutch strongholds.For this reason, in addition to sending rescue messengers to Batavia, the Dutch also mobilized the natives they controlled, and once again strengthened the defense facilities of the two castles.

However, all precautions must be taken. The expected Spaniard did not come, but Zheng Zhilong's army came. More than 100 large and small ships suddenly appeared outside Luermen Port.Before the Dutch could react, more than a dozen small boats rushed into the northern channel, and after a fierce battle, they quickly captured the small fort at the northern end of Wei Island on the northern line.

Chikan city sent more than 100 musketeers and more than [-] native servants to try to drive hundreds of Zheng Zhilong soldiers who landed into the sea, but they were repelled by a row of muskets, and then chased them down, and less than half of them escaped.This time, the Dutch colonial officials and mercenaries in Chikan and Zeelandia were greatly surprised.When did the Ming army, which used to be equipped with spears and broadswords, possess so many muskets?

After repelling the Dutch's first counterattack, more than 20 small boats came to the vicinity of Chikan City through the Northern Channel.Afterwards, after the warships of the Zheng Army passed Luermen, they immediately divided into two groups: one boarded the end of the northern line, the other sailed into the Taijiang River, and landed at Heliao Port (now Heliao Port Street, Tainan City).

General Yang Geng, who was appointed by Zheng Zhilong to capture the Dutch colonial stronghold, frowned and looked at the Dutch castle in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.This raid on the Dutch stronghold in Taiwan, Zheng Zhilong’s side planned for nearly a month, and through businessmen traveling to and from the Dutch stronghold, he roughly described the Dutch port defense and the topography of the two castles, and made corresponding offensive arrangements.

When the mist rose outside the port in the early morning, Yang Geng sent fifteen small Haicang ships to quickly break into the Luermen North Passage, and then seized the threatening fortress when the Dutch were not prepared enough, and fought in Taiwan. Beachheads were established along the river, giving them a solid foothold from which to attack Dutch positions.However, after observing the two castles of the Dutch with mutual horns, he believes that it is not easy to attack.Even if it is forcibly attacked, Zheng Jun will pay a considerable price.

The only fortunate thing is that, looking at the appearance of the Dutch, it seems that there are not many soldiers in the two castles, at most no more than three or four hundred.However, artillery is deployed at the top of the city, which can launch an attack on the front, but it also seems a little narrow, and there is not much cover.Advance to any of the castles without risking constant bombardment from Dutch artillery.Even at the bottom of the city, the bastions protruding from the city wall have almost no dead ends, and they can condescendingly shoot and kill Zheng Jun who is attacking the city from all directions.

"Go and call that man named Shi Lang." After setting up camp temporarily, Yang Geng ordered loudly.

The raid on the Luermen North Channel in the early morning and the rapid capture of the small fortress at the northern end of Weidao on the northern line was proposed by the deputy Baihu named Shi Lang in the vanguard of the army and was commanded by him.It can be seen that this young officer who has just completed his full year is quite courageous and resourceful, and can lead the way. He is a player with good potential.

Shi Lang was born in Yakou, Longhu Town, Jinjiang, Quanzhou, Fujian, and his ancestral home was Fangji Town, Gushi County, Henan Province.Born in a peasant family, his grandfather's family was relatively well-off, and it began to decline when his father Shi Daxuan, but Shi Daxuan was righteous, upright, and generous, so he had a good reputation in the village.Shi Lang was born with a big face and a wide forehead. Shi Daxuan thought he was a nobleman, so he disciplined Shi Lang strictly, hoping that Shi Lang would become a prince and general in the future.

When he was a boy, Shi Lang failed to study calligraphy, so he gave up learning martial arts.Follow his teacher to learn the art of war, and he is proficient, wise and brave. He joined the army at the age of 17. Under Zheng Zhilong's command, he attacked pirates and captured rebels.

"I've seen the general!" Shi Lang came to Yang Geng and sang loudly.

"Giving hundreds of households free of courtesy." Yang Geng looked at the young junior military officer in front of him with a smile, but he didn't show any contempt.The head of the family (Zheng Zhilong) was also at such an age when he ventured into the sea, and now he has gained a huge fortune.Troubled times are approaching, and it is the time when heroes are born in large numbers. Who dares to say lightly that this little military officer in front of him will not rise to the sky in the future.

"You have seen the two Dutch cities. Shi Baihu, what's your strategy? Tell me?" Yang Geng asked.

"General, the Dutch city is well-defended, and we came across the sea without all kinds of large-scale siege equipment. It may be difficult to conquer it in a hurry." Shi Lang lowered his head and said.

"What about the artillery bombardment?" Yang Geng asked, "The governor asked me to carry two 18-pound heavy cannons, just to use this sharp weapon to attack the Dutch fortified city."

"General, our army doesn't have horses or other livestock. It may take a long time to unload the heavy artillery from the ship and drag it all the way here, which is not conducive to a quick battle." Shi Lang said: "And the Dutch people come and go here. There are a lot of big ships, so delay for a while, I'm afraid there will be accidents."

"Our army has come here to attack the Dutch stronghold, with more than 120 large and small ships, and more than [-] soldiers. Are you afraid of some Dutch ships passing by to rescue them?" Yang Geng said indifferently: "Unless the Dutch people get the news, once Come seven or eight big ships to help."

"The general intends to slowly siege and overcome it?"

"If you have a good way to attack quickly, that would be the best!" Yang Geng said with a smile: "After all, our supplies of food, grass and ammunition have to be transported from Quanzhou, so it still takes some trouble."

"General, our army has come here. There are so many people and ships, and the army is huge. The Dutch people must be terrified." Shi Lang said, "Besides, we have 150 fast-growing firecrackers. If we can lure the Dutch people out of the city and kill them in large numbers in field battles, Perhaps, we will be able to find an opportunity to break through those two cities."

"how do you want to do it?"

"Our army landed across the sea, there will inevitably be some accidents, and there may even be some mistakes." Shi Lang said softly: "If the Dutch can detect it, they will definitely not let go of the opportunity to frustrate me!"

Yang Geng looked at Shi Lang steadily, with a playful smile slowly appearing on his face, walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said softly: "Well, let's make some arrangements, and if we seize the He people's stronghold, we will report it to the governor." Repay your first merit, and promise you a great future!"

The governor of the Dutch East India Company in Formosa, Van der Bolger, stood on the head of the city of Zeelandia, put down his binoculars somewhat uneasily, turned around and said to Captain Sten Gruben, the magistrate: "It should be Nico Pull Yiguan (Zheng Zhilong)'s army, they finally fought over."

In fact, the Dutch were only a little afraid of the threat of the Spaniards in the north of the island, but not very afraid.

What really scares them is Zheng Zhilong who is on the mainland.Backed by Daming, with tens of thousands of troops and nearly a thousand ships, as long as he wants, he can easily send an army of thousands of people to Formosa to attack their two Dutch strongholds here.

In recent years, Zheng Zhilong has concentrated on managing Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and other land sites, and has firmly controlled the hegemony along the coast of Daming, earning tens of millions of taels of silver every year. Apart from satisfying the luxurious enjoyment of the Zheng family, most of them have invested in the maintenance of maritime force At the same time, Zheng Zhilong also raised a land army of more than [-] people, and became a veritable "Sea Dragon King" throughout the southeast coast of Daming.

After the Battle of Luowan, the Dutch began to face up to Zheng Zhilong's hegemony along the coast of Daming, and accelerated the construction of two strongholds on the island they called Formosa, as a sea force against Zheng.

But the Dutch also knew that Zheng Zhilong was backed by Daming, had endless manpower, coupled with his strong financial resources, so the coast of Daming, especially the Taiwan Strait, was not enough to counter Zheng Zhilong's powerful sea power.Therefore, the East India Company has been in a peaceful situation with Zheng Zhilong, and there has been no violent sea conflict like the battle of Liaowan.

Now, Zheng Zhilong suddenly sent a large army to attack the Dutch stronghold in Formosa. It was obvious that he was going to fight the Dutch East India Company. Maybe he wanted to monopolize Japan's trade and completely drive the Dutch out of Daming and Japanese sea areas.

"Your Excellency, perhaps Officer Nicholas's army is not as powerful as we think." Formosa Sheriff Captain Sten Grubben pointed to the Zheng's army that was constantly landing and camping in the distance. "Look at them, the many soldiers who landed were a little impatient with the heat and humidity. They even took off their clothes and soaked them all in the water. Did they think that we would not dare to attack again after we retreated once?"

Governor Van der Bolger raised his binoculars again and looked towards the beach where Zheng's army landed. Sure enough, after disembarking, countless soldiers left their weapons and luggage on the shore, took off their clothes, and jumped into the beach one after another. In the water, to relieve the suffocation and humidity after a long-term boat ride.

"They won't launch a counterattack against us after luring us out of the city, right?" Governor Van der Borg showed a look of hesitation on his face.

"Of course, this is too obvious." Captain Stern Coruben nodded and said, "Their musketeers did not appear in our sight. If the guess is correct, they must be ambushing somewhere outside the city. .Then wait for us to leave the city and launch a surprise attack on us. This kind of trick to lure the enemy is too clumsy."

"Then what are we going to do?"

"Once the enemy sees through our tricks, they will definitely be very frustrated." Captain Sten Coruben said seriously: "And, after a long journey by boat, they must be very tired. I think this will be our a chance."

(End of this chapter)