1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 56 Met Pirates? (three)

Feiningberg and Chartres each led their ships and left the battlefield at night.After sailing for more than ten nautical miles, Chateltrand's "Poseidon" merchant ship took the lead in lighting up its lights, and not long after, Feiningberg's "Iron Strikeman" merchant ship also lit up the signal lights on board.After the two ships approached, they accompanied each other and sailed towards Malacca.

"Mr. Berg, I want to know why you were the first to evacuate last night?" After daybreak, Chateltrand arrived at the merchant ship "Iron Strikeman" by a traffic boat, and looked at Finnenberg seriously.

Feiningberg smiled wryly, and said in his heart, I was frightened by that shell last night, can you believe it?
"Dear Mr. Trump, because last night, I found out..." Feiningberg said with a smile, "I found out that the fleet was a Spanish troop carrier!... When I was approaching their ship, I saw . . . all armed soldiers! Spanish musketeers!"

"Spanish troop carriers? Armed soldiers? ... Oh, God, are the Spaniards really going to attack a certain country?" Chatelton exclaimed.

"Well..., I think, it should be." Feiningberg said guiltily.

"There seems to be only one native country here, which seems to be called Banten, but isn't this native country beaten by the Dutch and huddled in the jungle on the island?...Could it be..." Chateltram looked Looking at Finnenberg, "The Dutch! They're going to attack the Dutch!"

"Ah?" Feiningberg was stunned, man, that fleet is a Spanish troop carrier, I just made it up!
"Aha! The Dutch are finally going to be unlucky!" Chateltrand said gloatingly: "How many soldiers can these five ships carry? I guess there must be 1000 people, and there must be a lot of military supplies on board. Hmm Well, maybe there are reinforcements behind the Spaniards. Oh, they can't do anything to the Dutch in Europe, do they want to come from Asia and hit the Dutch's pocketbook hard?"

After nearly 40 years of development, the Dutch East India Company has almost monopolized the spice trade in the East Indies, and even controlled the foreign trade of Japan, Korea, and Ming Dynasty. In return, it even provided huge financial support to the Dutch government.

The Dutch East India Company monopolized the spice trade in Asia, which inevitably damaged the interests of a wave of latecomers.England, France had tried to enter the East Indies, intending to get a piece of it.However, they were eventually squeezed out by the Dutch using various methods.However, Portugal was small and weak, and under the continuous attack of the Dutch, it successively lost its colonial points in Java, Sumatra and other places, and only maintained two strongholds in Malacca and East Timor.Moreover, the Dutch have been eyeing Malacca.It can be said that the Dutch monopoly trade in Southeast Asia has offended all Western colonial forces.It is not difficult to understand that Chateltrand speculated that the Spaniards were going to attack the Dutch, and seemed extremely excited.

"When we return to Mumbai, we must tell the company (British East India Company) the news, so that the company's deacons can make a reasonable response!" Chateltrane finally said.

Feiningberg looked at Chartres in astonishment, panicked in his heart, "Mr. Trump, why didn't we wait, after all, this is just our guess. Maybe, we confirmed Batavia's news, and then Wouldn't it be safer to report to the company?"

"Well, you're right! But we wait for all the news to be confirmed. I think the decision made by the company may be delayed a lot." Chateltrane said: "So, we have to see Tell the deacons of the company all the information you have received and guessed based on it, and let them make reasonable decisions!"

"Okay, you're right..." Feiningberg said helplessly.At this moment, he somewhat regretted his hastily withdrawing from the battle last night, and even more regretted using the so-called Spanish troop carrier to cover up his cowardice.

He wondered, if the company in Bombay (East India Company) made a wrong decision based on this, would the consequences be serious?God forbid, hope the company simply waits and sees.

In the afternoon, two English merchant ships turned northwest and headed for the Strait of Malacca, one after the other.As for the "Spanish" fleet that followed yesterday, they are naturally heading towards Batavia.

"Oh, look, the Dutchman's ship!" The first officer of the Poseidon looked at a typical Dutch flute-shaped merchant ship that jumped into the line of sight, with the flag of the East India Company with the "VOC" logo on the mizzen.

"They have a deep draft!" Chateltrane took a look and said, "I guess they came back from Ming Dynasty, they must be full of porcelain and silk!"

"Captain..." the first mate looked over inquiringly.

Chartres understood what he meant. This place is still two days away from Batavia, and this kind of flute-shaped merchant ship is equipped with few people and few artillery pieces. Its manufacturing process inherits the Dutch Typical businessman thinking.

"Signal the Ironman and ask Mr. Berger if he would like to get an extra compensation for this journey!" said Chartres.I accidentally ran into a Spanish troop carrier last night, so the Dutch merchant ship I encountered today should be a good prey!
Cornett Ludwitter is a branch of Ludwitter, an old Dutch political family. Five years ago, through the family's various efforts, he entered the 17-member committee of the East India Company Amsterdam to handle the financial statements of the joint companies.Three years ago, appointed by the 17-member board of directors, he came to Asia and joined the Indian Committee as a senior commercial counselor, responsible for policy guidance for business houses across Asia.

In February of this year, he was entrusted by the Governor of Batavia to inspect business houses (colonies) all over Asia.In April, go to Formosa to see the planting of tropical products such as sugar cane and the collection of metal deposits.But the situation is not more optimistic. The local native tribes in Formosa have become wild and difficult to tame, and there are constant conflicts with commercial houses, resulting in a lot of loss of personnel and property.In Connett's view, Formosa's financial position is temporarily in negative equity, and as for the return, it is a bit far away.

However, Governor Hansputes (the fourth governor of Taiwan) suggested that Batavia should increase its support and send more armed soldiers to attack the local tribes and purify the local trading environment.Because Formosa is the closest commercial house (colony) to Daming, it can embrace the entire Daming market and enjoy the economic benefits of tens of millions of people.

To be honest, Connett Ludwig didn't take it seriously, because the East India Company's hastily increased investment without breaking the blockade of Nicholas (Zheng Zhilong) was a certain risk to the company.

But Cornett Ludwig will still report the truth to the Governor, so that he can make a rational judgment.After inspecting Formosa, he returned to Batavia on the merchant ship "Nikett".

However, when it was about to arrive in Batavia, the "Nikate" encountered two malicious voyeurs.

"Captain Scott, can we get rid of those two ships?" Anyone can clearly see that the two unknown ships surrounded them from the left and right sides, trying to intercept their ship.

"Mr. Ludwild, I don't think... we can't get rid of it!" Scott, the captain of the Nicket, sweated nervously.The ship was full of porcelain, silk, and gold, silver and jade collected on the island. In the eyes of pirates, it was a very fat prey.

"Boom! Boom!" The two ships chasing behind fired warningly, and huge water columns rose on both sides of the ship.

The "Nicket" did not fight back, and continued to sail desperately towards Batavia.All the crew members are praying to God that their companions are nearby, or that the other party's ship fails, or that a hero with a sword comes down to save them.

"Abandon the cargo on the ship!" Connet Ludwig said decisively: "Throw all the cargo on the ship into the sea!"

"Mr. Ludwild, these goods are all the property of the company... there are tens of thousands of guilders!"

"If we are all captured, then everything here will be someone else's property!" Connet Ludwig shouted loudly: "Quickly, throw away all the goods and reduce the weight! I can keep this boat for the company!"

Captain Scott hurriedly greeted the crew and threw the cargo on board into the sea with all his might.

"Oh, damn it, they are throwing the property that will soon belong to us into the sea!" Chateltrand jumped angrily when he saw the Dutch merchant ship in front of him was throwing the cargo into the sea.You've thrown away all the goods on board, what's the point of me capturing an empty ship.

"Change the chain bullets and hit their masts!" The two English merchant ships got closer, and countless bullets flew towards the Dutch merchant ships. Although they occasionally hit, they missed the sails and masts, and the Dutch merchant ships continued to move forward desperately. run away.

"Oh, God, there's a fleet!" exclaimed the sailors on board the Nicket.

I saw that two or three miles ahead of the left side of the "Niket", five large ships were moving slowly towards them.

(End of this chapter)