1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 430
On May 1642, 5, Timor Island, Zhenhaibao (formerly Dili City).

"My lord, a Portuguese armed merchant ship has come to the port and applied to berth at the pier. And they also said that there is a messenger representative to see you." A port officer hurriedly came to the command office in the city, and sent an envoy to Zhenhai Fort. Sanping report.

"Portuguese?" Gu Sanping couldn't help being stunned after hearing the news.After Hanzhou and the Netherlands signed a peace agreement and normalized bilateral relations, in recent months, Zhenhai Fort has often visited armed merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company, some of which stopped for supplies, and some transported goods to buy and sell here, which is the surrounding area. From time to time, small boats would come from the Tubang Kingdom to trade goods with Hanzhou merchants and people here.But the Portuguese never came here.

Gu Sanping knew that the Zhenhai Fort under his rule was taken from the Portuguese a few years ago. At first, they even sent representatives to negotiate with Hanzhou, asking Hanzhou to withdraw from the city that they had been operating for decades. stronghold and return the captured Portuguese.

But then, Hanzhou and the Dutch turned against each other, and they also began to compete fiercely for the city. During this period, several tragic offensive and defensive battles took place outside the city. People suffered a bloodbath here, and there were countless casualties. In the end, they could only block the city's external sea passages to deal with Hanzhou's tough defense.

After the Han-Dutch War, Xinxiang City (now Suai Town, East Timor) on the mainland of Hanzhou and the south of Timor Island immediately carried out large-scale population and material replenishment to this stronghold named Zhenhaibao.When the Ming immigrants arrived in February, more than 700 people were added here in one breath, bringing the population of the entire Zhenhaibao to more than 600, as if to firmly occupy the city.

Gu Sanping came to the mainland of Hanzhou from Hanxing Island two years ago. Because he had worked as an administrative assistant to Zhang Wenqi, the commander of Hanxing Island, and had certain experience in immigration management and local management, he was immediately recruited after arriving in Jianye City. The Hanzhou People's Government at that time appointed him as the commander of the newly opened Shanggubao in the east (now Bowen City, Australia).In just over a year of tenure, the once desolate Shanggu settlement was built into a small town with a population of more than 600 and a relatively complete set of infrastructure, providing a superior logistical support for Hanzhou to continue to colonize in the south base.

In February of this year, Gu Sanping was transferred to Zhenhai Fort, which is extremely important to Hanzhou, as the commander.To the north of Zhenhai Fort is the Banda Sea, where there are many islands, namely the Spice Islands (now the Indonesian Maluku Islands), which were highly valued by the Dutch East India Company.Not far to the west of Zhenhai Fort is the Dutch stronghold of Oecussi (now Pante Makassar, an enclave west of East Timor).In addition, there are many tribes of the Weihali Kingdom in the northern mountains and eastern regions of Zhenhaibao.

Therefore, the situation facing Zhenhaibao is extremely complicated. There are not only the coveted eyes of the Dutch, but also the stubborn resistance of the local natives. After taking office, Gu Sanping appears to be extremely cautious, for fear that if there is a mistake, he will miss Qi. The great entrustment of the king will make Han Zhou stop his official career abruptly.

However, the foundation of Zhenhai Fort is very good. There are decades of management by the Portuguese in the front, and the production and self-rescue carried out by Hanzhou soldiers and civilians in the back in response to the Dutch blockade. Whether it is the amount of arable land or the various infrastructures in the city, it is far less troublesome than building a barren land from scratch.

Gu Sanping’s three-year plan for Zhenhaibao is to achieve complete local food self-sufficiency within one year, and then wait for opportunities to expand to the west and east coastal areas, strive to cooperate with Xinxiang City in the south, and finally complete the eastern half of Timor Island. Complete control of the eastern seaboard.

"Let the Portuguese ship enter the port." Gu Sanping didn't think the Portuguese would have any malice when they came to Zhenhai Fort. I heard that they were beaten by the Dutch not long ago and lost the city of Malacca. Moreover, their Ceylon Island and India It is also increasingly facing the threat of the Dutch. At this time, they should not provoke them from Hanzhou Qi.

Besides, Zhenhaibao was well-defended and had numerous artillery pieces, which even the Dutch couldn't break through, let alone the strength of the Portuguese.There is also a full-strength marine company stationed in the city, plus hundreds of township soldiers who can be armed at any time, Zhenhai Fort can be described as impenetrable.

Riddell Padilla boarded the Zhenhaibao pier with a complicated expression, and watched a group of Hanzhou soldiers with muskets on their backs watching them from a distance from the fort, he couldn't help but sighed heavily in his heart.This port city used to belong to the Portuguese, but now not only has the ruler changed, but the name has also been changed.Perhaps, in a few years, there will not even be a trace of the Portuguese left here.

In recent decades, the Portuguese can be described as disaster-ridden.The oppression of the Spaniards in Europe is increasing, and poverty is also increasing. Many towns in the country have begun to launch riots against the Spanish rule. Five years ago (1637), riots broke out in Evora and Algarve one after another.In June of last year (1640), Lisbon and Catalonia also launched riots against the Spaniards.Fearing that they could not control the situation, Spain even ordered all Portuguese nobles and troops to go to Madrid to concentrate.

On December 1640, 12, the nobles in Portugal planned a complete expulsion of the Spaniards for independence, executed their minister of state in Lisbon, and deposed King Philip IV of Spain as the legal heir of Sebastiao. The Duke of Bragança is the new king of the Portuguese, John IV.

King Philip IV of Spain was not reconciled to Portugal's independence and separation, so he sent troops to Portugal to suppress the independence movement. The Portuguese fought back under the leadership of King Joao IV to defend the achievements of independence, and Portugal's "Royal Restoration War" broke out.I don't know how the current situation has evolved, but because of the domestic turmoil in the past few years, many of the Portuguese's overseas territories have not received any assistance from the mainland, allowing the Dutch and the Han people to successively seize Europe. Cousi, Dili City, and then landed on the island of Ceylon, and in February, they occupied the city of Malacca that they had been operating for decades.

Riddell Padilla was an official of the former Malacca city. After the Dutch captured the city of Malacca, he moved to Makassar with many fugitives and sought refuge in the protection of the Gova Sultan Kingdom. respite.

The reason why the defeated Portuguese in Malacca did not withdraw to India and Ceylon, but collectively moved to Makassar Port on Sulawesi Island, was mainly based on their own deep understanding of the distribution of industrial chains and geopolitical forms.Although the west coast of India was the core of their century in the East, it was already crippled by the Dutch naval blockade.Many precious spices, after all, have to be sent from the Moluccas (that is, the Spice Islands, Maluku Islands) by boat.Although the Dutch East India Company has long been involved in the local area, it has always been restricted by the local Green Church kingdom.The Kingdom of Gova Sultan, with Sulawesi at its core, has always hoped to balance the power of the Netherlands by attracting foreign forces and capital.Therefore, the Portuguese lived in Makassar Port, hoping to make a comeback at some point in the future, seize the Spice Islands again, and expel the Dutch.

However, the Portuguese who fled to the port of Makassar lost almost all their artillery and most of their muskets, and there was very little gunpowder in existence. Although they were promised asylum by the Kingdom of Govasultan, the Portuguese still lacked the necessary sense of security.Especially a month ago, an armed merchant ship of the Dutch East India Company sailed into the port of Makassar to trade with the Kingdom of Gova Sultan.They were sure to find the makeshift camp the Portuguese had built on the north bank of the Jeniberão.Perhaps, it won't be long before the Dutch East India Company will bring a large number of warships and landing troops to attack them.

The Portuguese learned through exchanges with merchants in the port that the Hanzhou people who once captured their city of Dili had negotiated peace with the Dutch, and re-divided the spheres of influence of the two sides on Timor Island with the Dutch. Timor Island, where people occupy almost two-thirds of the area, seems to be stronger than the Portuguese.

Therefore, the panicked Portuguese decided to ask the Hanzhou people for help, hoping to obtain some weapons and other production and living materials, so that the Portuguese could have the power to protect themselves in the face of another attack from the Dutch.

"Zhenhai Fort has swords and spears in stock, as well as iron armor and leather armor. We can sell them to you." Gu Sanping only thought for a moment, and immediately responded positively to the Portuguese request.Although there is a clause in the peace agreement between our country of Qi and the Dutch that prohibits the sale of weapons to the Tubang Kingdom of the East Indies, the Portuguese are not natives and are not included in the arms embargo!

The middle and high-level officials in Qi State all know the fact that the Dutch cannot be allowed to expand smoothly in the Nanyang region and then dominate Nanyang. On the surface, they cannot confront the Dutch tit-for-tat, but secretly, they can find ways to use it to the Dutch. stumbling block.Since the mortal enemy of the Dutch, the Portuguese, is living miserably in Makassar Port, it is necessary for the State of Qi to secretly support and assist it, and must allow it to survive tenaciously and add obstacles to the Dutch.

"We still need cannons and muskets. Of course, there is also a lot of gunpowder. ... However, we don't have any extra gold and silver coins. I don't know if we can pay you on credit first, or exchange them with cardamom and cinnamon." Del Padilla was very excited by the positive attitude of the Hanzhou people. It seems that although they signed a peace agreement with the Dutch, they did not completely surrender to the Dutch.

"Sorry, I don't have the authority to give you credit here." Gu Sanping said: "If you are willing to work hard, you can go to Xinxiang City in the south of us to find Lord Luo, the chief manager of our Timor Island. I believe that you will Get everything you want."

I heard that the Portuguese had sunk our immigration ship a few years ago, and their attitude at that time was extremely arrogant and arrogant. Who would have thought that after a few years, these Portuguese would lower their stance and beg us Hanzhou people, Oh, no, it should be our Qi people here.Things change, nothing more than this.
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When Ruan Yonghe boarded the pier of Xinsheng Island (now Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam), he looked with some fear at the Hanzhou soldiers on the pier holding muskets and showing off their might. The shining bayonets were extremely dazzling under the noon sun.

Three years ago, Guangnan Kingdom came to attack this island twice, but suffered disastrous defeats, with thousands of troops lost.Not only did Guangnan Kingdom's prestige in this area plummet, but it also worsened the situation in the north and south of the Ruan family in Annan.

Two years ago, in order to retaliate against Champa and Hanzhou for looting the coastal towns of Guangnan, Ruan Fulan, the king of Guangnan, dispatched an army of [-] to use Huaying (a part of the former Champa Kingdom, a puppet kingdom of the Edi people supported by the Guangnan Kingdom) Going to capture the city, when it was near its royal city Bintong Long (now Panlang-Ta Cham City, Vietnam), it was severely attacked by the Champaigns.The lieutenant general who led the army was injured, and the army retreated in defeat.This move caused an uproar in the Guangnan Kingdom, and even a small Zhancheng could defeat the mighty Guangnan Army.

Not long after, Champa and the Hanzhou people plundered the coastal towns of Guangnan for two consecutive years. However, because Guangnan had to deal with the persecution of the Zheng army in the north, it was unable to deploy elite troops from the north to protect the coastal towns. After repeated successes, more than ten towns were breached, and countless supplies and population were lost.

What shocked Guangnan even more was that at the end of August last year, when Hanzhou and Champa jointly sent troops to "routinely" plunder the coastal town of Quy Nhon, the Zheng family in the north also dispatched naval forces, first to the royal city of Fuchun (now Vietnam) Hue) defeated the Guangnan Navy, and then attacked Quang Ngai, defeated the local defenders, and used the Chaqu River as a danger to block the Nguyen Army for more than a month.But Zheng Jun conquered the southern camp, took advantage of the gap to attack the strong fortifications of the Ruan family in the north, defeated several city defenses, broke through the river, and the army approached the important town of Donghai.

Guangnan was shaken up and down. For this reason, Guangnan King Ruan Fulan personally commanded the Forbidden Army in Wangcheng, went north to Donghe, and gathered troops from various towns in the country to prevent Zheng's army from continuing to go south.At the same time, he ordered Ruan Fuxi, the younger brother of the king, to lead the troops and horses of the towns in the south to besiege the general Zheng army.

After several months of fierce fighting, Zheng's army conquered Donghai, an important town in the north of Guangnan.However, the thousands of soldiers led by Ruan Fuxi were blocked by the Zheng army, and they were unable to break through the Chaqu River. When the other towns in the south rescued Quy Nhon, they were defeated by the coalition forces of Hanzhou and Champa, and they were scattered in the wild, unable to come to the rescue. .As a result, Zheng Jun relied on his navy to transfer thousands of troops to Guangyi one after another in a few months, so that Zheng Jun gathered more than [-] soldiers and motors behind the Guangnan Kingdom, as if they were about to form a two-sided attack with the northern army. .

In March, when Guangnan was under enemy attack and the country was in dire straits, the people of Hanzhou sent a messenger, saying that they would strike peace with Guangnan to normalize the relationship between the two sides.

In this regard, there was a heated debate among the monarchs and ministers of the Guangnan Kingdom.A pragmatic courtier advised the King of Guangnan that although Hanzhou is far away from Guangnan and may not be well-populated, its ships are strong and its guns are powerful, its soldiers are brave and its weapons are excellent, and it cannot be controlled at once.In this way, it is better to make peace with it and let it restrain Champa and stabilize the southern border.

But there are also fierce ministers who firmly oppose it, saying that Hanzhou is a strong man, who broke up more than ten counties and towns in Guangnan, and plundered tens of thousands of women in the country, and countless gold and silver treasures. Guangnan is a big country in the south, how can we easily negotiate peace with him? .After repelling Zheng's army and reorganizing the country, it is necessary to swallow up the small island and kill all the leaders of Hanzhou.

However, fortunately, Ruan Fulan, the king of Guangnan, deeply understood the current predicament of Guangnan Kingdom, and stopped the quarrel among his courtiers in time. He decided to stop the military confrontation with them at the request of the Hanzhou people, and promised that they could come to Guangnan Kingdom to designate Several major coastal ports in China conduct normal trade in goods.However, without permission, it is still not allowed to enter the Fuchun Gyeonggi area at will, let alone sail into the mouth of the Xianghe River with gunboats.

Hanzhou was sent away, and when Guangnan was about to deal with the north-south attack of the Zheng family in Annan, it suddenly received a message that the Kingdom of Cambodia pre-joined Nanzhang (now Laos) and Champa to launch a military operation against Guangnan, causing Guangnan to stop. feeling stressed.

After some deliberations, a counselor offered a solution to the Guangnan King Ruan Fulan, who used heavy bribes to Hanzhou to control the southern countries, so he appointed the servant of the Ministry of Rites Ruan Yonghe to come to Xinsheng Island to find their leaders here for discussion. The discussion of cooperation between the two parties.

(End of this chapter)