1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 361 Dutch Confidence
On February 1640, 13 (the 2th year of Chongzhen), Batavia.

Niu Huizhong, who was dressed in a blue and black military uniform, attracted the attention of many people when he entered the Governor's Mansion in Batavia.The war with Hanzhou has been going on for more than a year, and Hanzhou's very eye-catching black military uniform has long been known by the Dutch East India Company.Under the city of Dili, the Dutch mercenaries and native servants suffered disastrous defeats one after another, the city of Ambon was breached twice, Mataran near Batavia and the Kingdom of Banten besieged the Dutch, and various incidents and losses occurred. They are all directly related to the Hanzhou people.

Today, a small boat brought the Hanzhou people to Batavia, which made many East Indian colonial officials and subordinates feel a little bit of surprise in their hearts.The Hanzhou people, are they ready for peace talks because they cannot deal with the war with the East India Company?
Governor of Batavia Anthony van Daiman first read the personal letter of Mr. Senad Kalamet, the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company, and then sighed insignificantly. Letter from the government about the cessation of the war.

The writing of the Hanzhou people is very long, with a total of four sheets of paper, and it is written with a brush like that of the Ming Dynasty. The font is elegant and pleasing to the eye.

A Ming interpreter read it while stammering and telling Governor Daiman and the colonial officials present what was written in it.

Governor Daiman listened carefully, and after the interpreter had finished speaking, he ordered him to translate all the content again to avoid inconsistencies and omissions in the context.After listening to the first time, several Dutch colonial officials began to talk in a low voice.

After hearing it for the second time, Governor Daiman flipped through the few Hanzhou documents in disbelief, and then looked at the interpreter sharply.

The interpreter nodded vigorously in fear, indicating that he was sure that his translation was correct.

Niu Huizhong stared at Governor Daiman expressionlessly, waiting for his reply without saying a word.

Governor Daiman was a little angry. How could the Hanzhou people be so contemptuous? The document to the Dutch East India Company was full of benefits that everyone would get after the war ended, and the words were so straightforward.At the end of the document, it informed the Dutch that Hanzhou was willing to stop the war with the utmost sincerity, and hoped that all military offensive operations with the East India Company would end before the end of February, and the two sides would return to the previous peaceful relationship.As for the conditions of the armistice, or the necessary compensation for the losses suffered by the Dutch, there is no mention at all.

This document is not so much a letter for peace, but more like a notice, telling the Dutch that it is extremely uneconomical to have a war between us, Hanzhou is unwilling to fight with you again, and let us restore peace Bar.All this made Governor Daiman feel deeply insulted and violated.How can you Hanzhou have the right to say casually to us that the war is over and everything is peaceful.

Although the Dutch East India Company plans and is working to end some meaningless disputes, of course including the war with the Hanzhou people.But you Hanzhou must at least show a little sincerity, more or less admit your mistake, compensate for some losses, and have a humble attitude, and promise to remove some necessary military threats.Of course we are aware of the adverse effects of the wars you mentioned, and they make us feel extremely uncomfortable.But there is no need for you Hanzhou to tell us so bluntly!

In this way, it makes our East India Company look very embarrassed and embarrassing, you know?
"Is this the official document for your peace request in Hanzhou?" Governor Daiman asked with a sullen face.

"This is not our Hanzhou's peace request document. This is our Hanzhou's proposal to call for peace and end the war between you and us." Niu Huizhong said sternly.

Our Hanzhou has not been defeated, how can we seek peace!

Governor Daiman suddenly became angry and stared fiercely at the representative sent by Hanzhou.

"You stay in Batavia for two days first. We need to discuss your Hanzhou's proposal for peace... to end the war. We will inform you of the results." Governor Daiman waved his hand Said.

After the representative of Hanzhou left, Governor Daiman immediately summoned the high-level personnel of the East India Company to the Governor's Palace one by one to discuss and propose an end to the war on Hanzhou.

"The Hanzhou people can't hold it anymore!" Colonel Pete Kurucs, the commander of the army, showed joy on his face when he heard Governor Daiman's introduction, and said loudly: "The Hanzhou people seem to be unable to cross the front line of Java Island. Obtain the production and living materials they want. All kinds of materials in their local area must be extremely scarce, and even all aspects can no longer function normally. This is the best time for us to weaken them. We must continue the war , keep blocking them."

Because in Dili City, the Dutch mercenaries suffered a disastrous defeat and returned without success, and Hanzhou also broke through Ambon twice, which made Colonel Pete Kurucs, who is the commander of the army, quite embarrassed. , Therefore, eager to completely defeat Hanzhou, or weaken Hanzhou to the greatest extent.

"We may not be able to completely blockade the line from Hanzhou to Java Island." Colonel Dakman Barek, the naval commander, shook his head slightly, and said, "It is said that in May last year, Hanzhou Xinsheng Island defeated the Annans' attack. At that time, it seemed that warships from Hanzhou participated in the battle. If this is the case, it proves that Hanzhou may have explored a new shipping route to Daming and even the waters near Annan."

"The exploration of new routes cannot be completed in a year." Colonel Pete Kurucs said: "As we all know, the distance from Hanzhou to Daming is thousands of kilometers. How will the supplies be carried out? As for the Hanzhou warships that may exist on Xinsheng Island to join the battle, I think this is fabricated by the Annans to cover up their incompetence."

Colonel Dachman Barek frowned when he heard this.It is true that the Hanzhou people on Xinsheng Island defeated Annan's [-]-strong army, including warships, which was rumored by Annan's population and has not been confirmed by the Dutch navy.However, it is also possible to open up a new route from Hanzhou to Daming.However, he could not express his conjecture, because as Colonel Kuruc said, it is impossible to find a new route within a year and improve the supply points along the way.Unless, Hanzhou started to explore the route as early as a few years ago.

"Continuing to block them will consume too much of our resources." Governor Daiman said: "So, we propose an end to the war against the Hanzhou people, and I think we can agree with conditions. Yes, the war is not what they Hanzhou wants. If it wants to end, it can be easily ended, and all the process must be controlled by us."

"Your Excellency, what conditions do we need to put forward?" Batavia Mayor Sylvie Highmore wanted to end the meaningless war with Hanzhou as soon as possible, but he also thought that Governor Daiman was right. Throughout the East Indies, the Dutch should dominate.

"Release all East India Company employees and mercenaries unconditionally, and...the captured natives should also be released;...for the loss of Ambon, a certain amount of compensation should be made;...let Dili City be given up; the East India Company will send people to Han mainland China; punish those responsible for instigating troubles. If you come to Batavia for trade, you have to pay entry-exit tax, and if you go to Ming Dynasty for trade, you need to collect a transit tax..." Governor Daiman said while thinking: "The most important thing is to All shipbuilders and ship tools are delivered to us. As for any other conditions, gentlemen, please speak freely."

Colonel Dachman Barek was a little stunned when he heard this.Are the conditions that Governor Daiman said must be given to Hanzhou people?This is clearly a condition for the defeated!Our Lord Governor, isn't he a little overconfident?

In fact, deep in the heart of Governor Daiman, there is an obsession that has always influenced his view of Hanzhou.A local power with the manufacture of firearms and large ships must be the biggest threat to the Dutch East India Company in the future.Therefore, the East India Company must weaken it as much as possible while it is still weak, or slow down its development.If conditions permit, it is best to nip it in the bud.

After the defeat in Dili City, it proved that Hanzhou's army, in terms of combat effectiveness and fighting will, may still be faintly higher than the Dutch mercenaries.If it is allowed to develop, when their sea power becomes stronger, they will definitely be the strongest opponent of the Dutch East India Company, and they will even backlog and eliminate the Dutch colonial power.

At this time, the Dutch East India Company has an absolutely powerful sea power in the entire Nanyang region. Although it has encountered many difficulties for the time being and is a little tired of coping, Hanzhou must have more difficulties than the Dutch. Otherwise, they would not have taken the initiative to ask for peace. .If there is a truce with Hanzhou, and the Dutch get nothing from Hanzhou, then as the leader who launched this war, wouldn't Governor Daiman be criticized by the company!

That night, the Dutch East India Company, under the insistence of Governor Daiman, listed [-] requirements for reaching an agreement to end the war with Hanzhou, and prepared to deliver them to the representatives from Hanzhou two days later.

And in the inn where the representative of Hanzhou rested, Niu Huizhong was awakened by a slight knock on the door that night.When he cautiously opened the door, he saw a figure sticking to the wall of the door, said "black-clothed guard" in a low voice, and then quickly entered the room.Niu Huizhong looked at the door with his head, closed the door immediately, and then looked back at the figure.

"You put these things away, and when you return to Hanzhou, you must hand them over to the people above." Sitting on a chair, the figure said in a low voice: "It's been a year, brothers risked beheading, to investigate information about the Dutch."

Niu Huizhong took a stack of thick letters from the man, nodded, and asked in a low voice: "Is there anything else I need to tell my superiors?...Do you want to send a letter to your family?"

"...No need." The man shook his head and said softly, "Just tell the family that we are still alive, that's all."

"You...are tired!" Niu Huizhong was in the room in the dark night, unable to see the face of the person coming, but he knew that this person was one of the black-clothed guards lurking in the city of Batavia. Bringing the collected information about the Dutch back to Hanzhou will definitely bring more information worth learning and referring to when their staff formulates a strategy against the Netherlands.

"I haven't suffered much." The man smiled wryly, and said, "The other two people in the city escaped death by a narrow margin. The purpose of bringing these letters back to Hanzhou is to let the family know that they did The great events of narrow escapes."

(End of this chapter)