1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 348 Breaking Ambon Again ([-])

The Acting Governor of Ambon, Edel Kone, and the Senior Commercial Counselor of the East India Company, Mr. Senad Kalamet, are in the Governor's Mansion, discussing how to restore some commercial stations and strongholds in the inland areas, and monitor and manage them with stricter means Clove cultivation and acquisitions all over the island.

Suddenly, a Dutch officer knocked on the door and came in, reporting the shocking news to Governor Edel Konedai with a pale face, the Hanzhou people came again!They have broken through the temporary camp of the soldiers of the Ternate Sultan Kingdom outside the city, and occupied the pier fort with lightning speed, and then allocated most of their troops to stop at a place 800 meters away from Ambon City. , seems to be waiting for something.

"Why are the Hanzhou people attacking Ambon again?" Senad Kalamet, the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company, also changed his face.You know, this Ambon city was only breached by the Hanzhou people in December last year, and it was completely destroyed.Today, the entire city defense facilities have not been fully repaired, and there are less than 200 mercenaries and native servants in the city.

The army of the Ternate Sultan Kingdom outside the city was also defeated by the Hanzhou people. They stopped temporarily outside the city, nothing more than waiting for their fleet to dock at the dock so that they could drag their artillery to bombard Ambon City.

Edel Kone glanced at the company's senior commercial counselor, and couldn't help shaking his head when he asked such a stupid question in front of several subordinates.The Dutch East India Company has been at war with Hanzhou for almost a year. Not to mention attacking Ambon again, it is not surprising that they attacked Batavia.

To attack the opponent, isn't it just relying on surprise and attacking the unprepared.

"Where is Lieutenant Koontz?" Edel Kone asked the officer who came to Koontz to report.

"Lieutenant Kunz took the soldiers and natives to the top of the city."

"Very good." Edel Kone took a deep breath, and then said: "Mobilize all company employees and family members in the city, take up arms, and let us defend Ambon City."

"Mr. Kone, can we hold the city of Ambon?" Senad Kalamet looked hopefully at Governor Edel Kone.

"..." Edel Kone looked at Kalamet fixedly, and said calmly: "...Maybe it can. God will bless us."

With that said, he took a few of his subordinates out of the room and prepared to go to the city of Ambon to check the specific situation of the Hanzhou people.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." There was a roar of artillery from outside the city, shaking the hearts of all the people in Ambon City like thunder.

The Dutch merchant ship docked at the pier quickly hoisted its sails and prepared to flee after bombarding the Han Chinese occupying the fort for a few rounds.Since Hanzhou's landing force had already approached and attacked the Ambon Wharf, their fleet must be not far from here, and would come at any time to block their way.Hurry up and leave at this time, maybe there will be a chance to escape from the port.

However, the Dutch merchant ship had just started, and before it was far away from the dock, it saw three Hanzhou warships appearing in front of the Dutch outside the port, firmly blocking their escape route.

Just when the Dutch armed merchant ships were hesitating whether to continue to force their way out, the three Hanzhou warships on the opposite side fired one after another.Obviously, the opponent wanted to capture them, and the shells just fell on both sides of the ship, causing several huge water jets.

Faced with the blockage of the outbound channel, the Hanzhou ship fired warning shots, and was bombarded by the fort artillery behind him, the Dutch captain quickly raised the white flag, stopped resisting, and slowly moved the ship back to the shore of the pier, waiting for Han The reception of European soldiers.

Soon, the armed merchant ship "Pioneer" also docked firmly next to the Dutch merchant ship at the Ambon Wharf.Qi Dajiang stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the nearby dilapidated dock forts and forts, he couldn't help laughing.The dreadful Dutch, after more than half a year, have not completely repaired these damaged facilities at the beginning, and they deserve to be breached again by Hanzhou.

"What's the situation in the city? How about the casualties of the brothers?" Qi Dajiang came to the place where the Hanzhou Marine Corps was stationed, glanced at the distant city of Amwen, and asked.

"When we broke into the fort on the pier just now, we suffered some casualties. Three brothers were killed and seven were injured. Well, in Ambon City, it seems that there are several artillery pieces at the top of the city wall. To the northeast of the city wall, a large section is only covered by wooden rafts. , It is estimated that it should be blasted away with artillery." Xu Hongxiang said: "After breaking through the city wall, we can push the captured natives to the front to attract the firepower of the Dutch. The grenadiers followed closely after approaching the city wall. Throw a few bombs in and clear the gap. Finally, the Marines make a quick break into the city."

"How many Dutchmen are there in the city?"

"I interrogated the Dutch captives on the fort. It was said that there were less than 200 people, including more than 150 native servants. However, I will find the officers and sailors on the Dutch merchant ship for verification later."

"Can the artillery on the fort on the pier be brought over?" Qi Dajiang asked: "If the artillery is unloaded from the ship and then dragged to the shore, it will probably take a lot of time."

"Captain Su has already driven the natives to do it, and he will use the gunners on the ship to bombard the city wall." Xu Hongxiang said.

"Can we take down Anwen City before dark?" Qi Dajiang looked up at the sky. It was almost late afternoon (14-16 o'clock), and it was only two or three hours before dark.

"This... I really don't have the confidence to take Amwen City before dark." Xu Hongxiang said cautiously: "If the Dutch in the city try their best, they may drag it into the night. Unless..."

"It's still necessary to minimize the casualties of the brothers. If we can't fight before dark, then wait until tomorrow." Qi Dajiang shook his head and said, "We came here suddenly this time, and the Dutch certainly wouldn't have thought that we would fight again." Attack Ambon. Even if there are sporadic Dutch armed merchant ships coming here, with two warships guarding the gorge and flying fish boats following, it should be enough for us to give an early warning."

Hearing this, Xu Hongxiang breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Qi Dajiang would rush to break through the city and urge the marines to attack forcefully, which would cause many casualties.

"My lord governor, I suggest to hold on to the city until night. Then, we can use the night to break out from the side where the Han people can't take care of the defense. First hide in the forest outside the city and wait for our reinforcements." Ha, the Sheriff of Amwen City Lieutenant Rod Koontz addressed Governor Edel Cornedai.

"Breakout?" Senad Karamet also looked at Governor Edel Konedai, "Don't we have the confidence to stick to Ambon City?"

"Mr. Karamet, our mercenaries are very small, less than 100, and the more than 300 natives are said to be temporarily recruited from Batavia. It is estimated that the combat effectiveness is difficult to guarantee. Hanzhou outside the city There are nearly [-] soldiers. In addition, our Ambon City can be said to be leaking everywhere. As long as the Hanzhou people are willing to pay some casualties, we can’t even last until night. As for the night, it will be more beneficial to Han Europeans broke through our walled defenses," explained Lieutenant Harold Koontz.

"Break out at night and have to go through the dense forest. Are you sure we can all get to a safe place smoothly?" Senad Kalamet asked.You must know that walking through the dense forest at night is very dangerous. If you escape with a torch, wouldn't it point out a very obvious target for the Hanzhou people.

"..." Suddenly, there was a commotion from the city gate, accompanied by the sound of shouting and fighting.

"Bang! Bang!" Immediately afterwards, there was the sound of musket shooting, and the cry of someone dying.

Several Dutch colonial officials at the top of the city were taken aback. The Hanzhou people were still struggling to drag the artillery at the pier, and the soldiers were still stationed at a distance of 700 meters from the city wall.

So, what happened at the city gate?
"The natives are rioting!"

"The natives should be the internal support of the Hanzhou people..."

"The natives opened the city gate!"

"..."

Following the news that came from near the city gate and inside the city, the faces of Lieutenant Harold Koontz, the magistrate of Ambon City, and Governor Edel Conedi turned pale.The rioting natives must have sneaked in while taking advantage of the tribal leaders who came to pay the cloves.Even if no Hanzhou people came to fight, they would definitely cause chaos in the city at night and attack and kill the Dutch.

Turning his head and looking out of the city, he saw a group of Hanzhou soldiers running towards the city gate with bayonet-tipped muskets in their hands.

Ambon will once again be breached by the Hanzhou people.

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The armed merchant ships of the Northward Fleet of the Dutch East India Company just appeared near the waters of Xinsheng Island, and immediately frightened the seven or eight small transport ships and fishing boats passing by here and there, and the ships that were closer to Xinsheng Island sailed directly to the pier , or washed up on nearby beaches, while others scattered and fled to the waters of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Dutch armed merchant ships chased and rammed the fleeing boats recklessly. Seeing the Han Chinese or Cambodians falling into the water one after another, the Dutch officers and sailors on board laughed loudly, and then dropped several wooden barrels, preparing to capture these people.

Fleet Commander Lieutenant Colonel Carsten Kuritz led four large armed merchant ships approaching the pier of Xinsheng Island, preparing to bombard the pier of the Han Chinese to show off the force of the Dutch.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." Several shells were fired from the pier of Xinshengbao, and landed around the Dutch warship, which surprised the Dutch naval officers and sailors on board.The Hanzhou people actually built a fort on the pier!
"Order all ships to retreat immediately!" Lieutenant Colonel Carsten Kuritz was also very surprised. The Dutch warships came and went and besieged Xinsheng Island several times, but the other party gave up the defense of the dock.Now, at some point, a fort was built at the pier.If it weren't for the Hanzhou people who were impatient and waited for the Dutch warship to approach, if they suddenly fired a salvo of artillery, they might have suffered a big loss.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." Another round of artillery shells fired from the fort at Xinshengbao Wharf, two of which hit a Dutch armed merchant ship, pierced two holes in its side, and knocked it down by the way. three sailors.The Dutch armed merchant ship turned and retreated with difficulty, while not to be outdone, it fired back.However, the moving ships and the turbulent waves made all the shells unable to threaten the Xinshengbao fort.

"Damn it, there are at least ten artillery pieces on the pier battery! ... and heavy artillery!" An officer on the Dutch armed merchant ship that was hit by shells exclaimed: "Hey, guys, move faster, or else you will be killed again!" I'm going to be shot!"

After watching the Dutch armed merchant ship complete its turn, it sailed quickly towards the open sea. The Xinshengbao fort chased their tails and fired another round of salvo.This time, another shell hit the quarterboard of one of the towed ships, smashing a corner of the poop.

"Damn Dutchman, this is nothing to do again, and he ran here for a stroll!" When Hu Pingjiang rushed from Xinshengbao to the pier fort, the Dutch armed merchant ship had already retreated beyond the range of the artillery, with half sails, in the Swimming in the distance.From the appearance, it seems that he is still a little unwilling to leave like this.

"Separate three warships and go to the west of the island. If you see any ships approaching this small island, authorize the ships to attack and capture them. Before the news comes from the Kingdom of Cambodia, we will temporarily block this small island." Island!" Fleet Commander Lieutenant Colonel Carsten Kuritz ordered.

Prior to this, three small sailing boats had gone to the mouth of the Dahe (now the Mekong River), carrying a large number of armed soldiers, and were preparing to sail to the Royal City of Cambodia, forcing them to release the Dutch captured by the capture of the Dutch trading post a few months ago. Continue to open the market to the Dutch and rebuild the business base.

(End of this chapter)