1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 419 Businessman ([-])

On March 1641, 10, Hanzhou, Jianye City.

"The Dutch are here again?" Qi Tian was speechless when he heard an officer of the Coast Guard report that two Dutch armed merchant ships had arrived outside Jianye Port.

The Dutch are so deceitful!Sanwu sent ships to our Hanzhou Jianye Port from time to time to fully demonstrate their strength at sea, which made Hanzhou angry, but seemed helpless.However, in order to maintain the morale of the army and the people of Hanzhou, the Dutch appeared outside Jianye Port several times, and the military government of Hanzhou blocked the news.As for the attack and interception of Dutch merchant ships by the Hanzhou navy in a certain place, and the breach of a certain Dutch stronghold, there was a lot of publicity to boost the morale of the Hanzhou military and civilians.

"Commander, the Dutch warships that came this time are different from the previous ones." The officer said, "They released a small boat, and a Dutch officer landed with a white flag. He said that the East India Company sent The peace negotiators are on board and they are asking for their big ship to enter the port. Commander Chen asked me to report to you immediately and ask for instructions."

"The Dutch sent a peace negotiator!?" Qi Tian was stunned for a moment, and then a smile appeared on his face, "They are here after all, let them enter the port. However, the coastal defense team must strengthen vigilance to prevent the Dutch ships from Sneak attack."

"Commander, the Netherlands has requested peace!" He Yunfeng, a senior staff member of the staff department, said in surprise.

"It can't be said that they are coming to ask for peace." Qi Tian smiled and said: "It is unlikely that the Dutch will continue to fight with us. Immediately gather all the staff of the staff and discuss it. The Dutch may The content of the truce agreement proposed. Then, we will discuss and finalize some of our truce requirements with officials from various ministries of the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Chen Changyi, the commander of the coastal defense team, stood on the pier with a solemn face, watching the Dutchmen filing down from the boat, feeling deeply moved.During these three years, there were quite a few Dutchmen who were able to land on the land of Hanzhou, 800 in succession, but those were all captives escorted by officers and soldiers of the Hanzhou Navy.

The representatives and officers of the Dutch East India Company who appeared in front of them now obviously arranged their clothes and faces deliberately before disembarking, and their expressions were serious with a bit of arrogance.

"I am the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Representative of the Governor of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia. This time, I am here to end the state of war between you and us." Rolette Mapplethorpe said solemnly: "I hope Han Zhou, you can have an effective consultation with your supreme leader, and make a correct response to ending the unhappiness between each other."

"Our Hanzhou Commander has been aware of your arrival and welcomes you. You have come from afar, please follow me into the city and rest for a while. Tomorrow, our Hanzhou Commander will have a formal meeting with you. "Qi Yuanshan politely invited more than a dozen Dutch representatives and military officers to board the carriage and head to Jianye City.

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"Husband, is it possible for the Netherlands to reach peace?" After a few mouthfuls of food, Luo Yuru raised her head and asked.

"That depends on what conditions the Dutch will put forward." Qi Tian looked at his wife's concerned expression and said with a smile: "However, this war has been fought for three years, and the Dutch have suffered a lot of losses, and most likely they don't want to continue fighting with us. Let’s go down. Thinking about it this time, the truce conditions they put forward will be more realistic than last year.”

"If they continue to demand compensation from us, will there be no negotiation?"

"Of course!" Qi Tian nodded and said: "Our Hanzhou was not defeated, so how can we pay for it? We have captured many Dutchmen, as well as many mercenaries and employees from various European countries of the East India Company. Maybe we can ask them for food. fee."

"Food expenses?" Luo Yuru curled her eyebrows and eyes with a smile when she heard this, "I heard that, except for a few high-level people, the rest of the captured Dutch people are working in our mines and road construction in Hanzhou On the construction site, I suffered a lot! You still have to ask others for food expenses?"

"In this period, almost all the captives were treated in this way." Qi Tian explained: "If you want to treat the captives preferentially, you can only achieve it by making some kind of agreement after hundreds of years. If you capture the other party's people, Acting as a coolie is the common practice of both sides in the war. If you encounter a barbaric country or army, you may slaughter them all, and there are some."

"People, sometimes they are more barbaric and cruel than those beasts." Luo Yuru sighed softly.

At this time, Luo Yuru was pregnant for more than four months, and she felt sorry for Qi Tian when she heard what Qi Tian said about the cruelty of reality.

The couple were eating and talking at the same time, Qi Yuanshan hurried to the Commander's Mansion to see him.

"Butler Ludwig?" Qi Tian looked at Qi Yuanshan curiously, "That Ludwig who used to be the senior commercial counselor in Batavia?"

"Yes. He first secretly found one of our patrolmen who was stationed at their rest station, and said that he wanted to see us... Commander Cao. After hearing that Commander Cao passed away, he asked to see the third uncle (Qi Dalu) .”

"Has my third brother gone?" Qi Tian asked.In the past, Cao Xiong dealt with that Ludwig several times, and they always brought Qi Dalu there, thinking about it, they knew each other.

"I have already sent someone to notify third uncle." Qi Yuanshan said, "Commander, do you want to meet that housekeeper Ludwig?"

The former senior commercial counselor of the East India Company in Batavia sent a butler to the east from the Netherlands all the way, and the butler was carrying the Dutch delegation on his back to meet the senior officials of Hanzhou at night. This Luther What is Vader trying to do?

"Let's go and have a look." Qi Tian had a faint guess in his heart, and suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement.
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Anli Credo looked at Qi Dalu, who was wearing a blue and black military uniform in front of him, and couldn't help but feel deeply moved. The young man who looked immature back then is now a mid-level Hanzhou officer, and his words and deeds have become mature and stable.It seems that war can make a person grow up quickly!

"I came to Hanzhou this time mainly to visit my old friend Cao on behalf of Mr. Ludwig." Anri Credo said with a serious expression: "I didn't expect it, alas..."

"It's rare that Mr. Ludwild still misses us! Mr. Credo, if you return to your Dutch mainland, I will thank him a lot for me. In the past, he took good care of us in Hanzhou."

Qi Dalu followed Qi Tian to gradually understand some of the situation in Europe, and also knew that their surnames and first names were exactly the opposite of what the Han people used to, so they didn't call him "Lao An" as they did four years ago.

"Since your new commander-in-chief of Hanzhou is your younger brother, he must be very young and has outstanding leadership skills." Anri Credo said with a smile: "From the moment I entered your city, I have won for you Such a great achievement."

"Of course, my fourth brother is a genius, nothing can trouble him!" Qi Dalu said proudly: "I believe that under his leadership, Hanzhou will become better and stronger!"

"Yes, you have grown from scratch and gradually become stronger, and now you have made the East India Company a little embarrassed. I have to say that you have done a good job." Anri Credo said: "However, you can't do this It has always been at war with the Dutch East Indies. Because it is not beneficial to both parties, it not only consumes countless money, but also costs each other many lives. War, for everyone, is a tragedy."

"It's not that the East India Company wanted to bully Hanzhou, and even provoked it on its own initiative." Qi Dalu glanced at Anri Credo, "To be honest, we Hanzhou never thought of going to war with you Dutch , I just want to live my life well.”

"So, the East India Company brought the will for peace." Anri Credo said with a smile: "I sincerely hope that you, Hanzhou, will enthusiastically accept the olive branch handed over by the Dutch East India Company."

"...What is an olive branch?"

"Oh, the olive branch means peace." Anri Credo explained: "It's a story in our "Bible", and the dove holds an olive branch in its mouth, which symbolizes peace and tranquility."

"Then can you tell me something about the terms of the Dutch East India Company's armistice?" Qi Dalu asked.

"Ah?" Anri Credo was stunned. "Some conditions for the truce will be presented to you by the representative of the Netherlands when I see your commander tomorrow. I'm afraid I can't easily disclose it to you. This is... no Honorary."

Qi Dalu smiled and did not continue to entangle with Credo on this topic.He took the initiative to look for Hanzhou people, not to chat with an old friend from four years ago by lighting an oil lamp.As for what purpose and intention he has, he can only speak out when Qi Tian arrives.

More than half an hour later, when Qi Tian and Qi Yuanshan entered the room, Anli Credo immediately stood up, bowed respectfully to Qi Tian, ​​and said: "Dear Commander, I represent Mr. Ludwig, I would like to express my sincere respect to you and express my deep condolences to Cao who passed away unfortunately."

Qi Tian nodded, motioning for the other party to sit down and talk.

"Mr. Ludwig is a good friend of my uncle, and he has helped us several times before. Hanzhou has deep respect and gratitude to Mr. Ludwig." Qi Tian said politely: "If When Credo returns to Europe, please be sure to bring the gift we prepared to Mr. Ludwild and our greetings from Hanzhou to express our gratitude and remembrance."

Anri Credo bent down to touch his chest again to express his gratitude.

"We in Hanzhou welcome the peace representatives sent by the Dutch East India Company. This three-year war not only caused great damage to our Hanzhou, but also brought great harm to the East India Company. A lot of losses. I personally think that it is time to end this war. If Mr. Ludwild had stayed in Batavia, this war caused by misunderstanding and suspicion would not have happened."

Anri Credo nodded with a smile, but he didn't think so in his heart. Although Ludwig wanted to win over Hanzhou back then, it was not to support their development and growth, but to tie Hanzhou to a chain and follow the East. The pace of Indian companies is to pursue greater commercial interests and maritime hegemony in the Far East.

"Mr. Credo, you should be the closest person to Mr. Ludwild, and you must also represent him. If you have a place that can be used in our Hanzhou, please feel free to speak. At that time, we will go up and down Hanzhou to repay you. Mr. Ludwig's friendship will definitely be satisfied with everything he can." Qi Tian saw that the other party seemed to have some concerns, so he simply pointed out the words directly.

"Mr. Ludwig's eldest son, Sean Ludwig, is also here." Anri Credo said softly: "He is still in Batavia, because of the long sea voyage, poor young man When people got off the ship, they fell ill... We brought a ship with some goods that you Hanzhou wanted in the past."

"Oh?" Qi Tian was a little surprised, what kind of goods they would bring to Hanzhou from Europe, and according to him, Hanzhou especially wanted it.

"If the goods are urgently needed in Hanzhou, we will definitely pay a high price to take them over, and we will definitely not let Mr. Ludwiddie suffer!"

(End of this chapter)