1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 615 The prediction of war

December 1648, 10, Batavia.

When Huang Mingfang, the representative of Qi State in Batavia, was about to enter the city hall building, he involuntarily raised his head and glanced at the "VOC" logo of the Dutch East India Company on the outer wall, with a sneer at the corner of his mouth, and then entered the building.

"Huang, I need you, Hanzhou, to give an explanation for your unprovoked attack on our merchant ships in the Annan Sea in August." Evel Jimenez, the senior representative of the East India Company's foreign affairs, said seriously.

"Mr. Jimenez, your statement is very inaccurate." Huang Mingfang shook his head and said, "The incident you said we attacked your merchant ship did not exist at all. As far as I know, in August, we The Qi State Fleet did launch a military operation in the Annan Sea, but the target was the Annan Navy. I don’t know why you fabricated that our fleet attacked the East India Company’s merchant ships out of thin air.”

"Huang, one of the Annan Navy ships you attacked was an armed merchant ship under our Dutch East India Company. You not only wounded it in the battle, but also chased it all the way to the waters near Cambodia. If it hadn't reached the sky Hei, if it escapes in time, it will be sunk by you. Isn't it?"

"Our fleet of the Qi State Navy is fighting against the Annan Navy. Why are your armed merchant ships of the East India Company in it?"

"Our merchant ships are trading in Annan." Evel Jimenez said: "Because of the safety of the surrounding seas, our captain specifically asked the Annan Navy to send ships to escort them. Unexpectedly, they were still attacked by your Hanzhou fleet. s attack."

"Mr. Jimenez, after the interrogation by the officers and soldiers of our fleet, the warship that escaped belonged to the Annan Navy." Huang Mingfang said with a sneer, "I don't understand, why do you insist on identifying it as your Dutch East Indies?" An armed merchant ship owned by the company."

"The armed merchant ship was sold by our East India Company to the Annan Kingdom, but they have not yet paid the full amount. Therefore, in theory, the ship is still our East India Company, and the actual right to use and control , also in our East India Company."

"Then, your ship joined forces with the Annan Navy to attack our Qi Navy fleet. Is that so, Mr. Jimenez?"

"No, no, no..." Jimenez shook his head vigorously, and said in a deep voice: "As I said just now, the merchant ship was trading in Annan, and then invited Annan Navy ships to escort it. Then near the mouth of the Red River, it encountered Now comes the surprise attack of your Hanzhou naval fleet."

Damn, if you say this, you probably won't believe it yourself!
Huang Mingfang looked at Jimenez coldly, wondering what he meant by these nonsense words.Look for an opportunity to provoke, and then declare war on our country of Qi?Or use this to make trouble and obtain some unknown purpose?

Based on the strategic deployment of Qi State, it is to try to postpone the possible conflict between the two sides until February and March next year. At that time, Qi State should have completed the immigration task for this year, and can free up all warships and transportation capacity to deal with the outbreak of war. .

But today, the Dutchman is obviously here to find fault with a reason that he can't get on the table. Could it be that the other party is ready to attack our country of Qi?

Jimenez looked at the representative of Hanzhou with an uncertain face, and he was deeply moved. Unexpectedly, Hanzhou suddenly launched an attack on Annan. Going up the Red River, they broke through the capital of Annan, causing the country to suffer a serious military defeat.At the same time, the separatist forces in the south of the country (Annan Nguyen, or Guangnan Kingdom) also attacked the city and conquered territory all the way, pushing the front line maintained by the two sides to the north for hundreds of kilometers.

Faced with this situation, Annan will definitely not launch a challenge to Hanzhou again. Maybe the previous attempt to lease a piece of land to the Dutch East India Company so that it can establish a stronghold and trading station will also undergo major changes.

However, the Makassar Fleet organized by the East India Company, under the cooperation of the local Gowas and the Portuguese, stopped their troops at sea, and could neither conquer the Portuguese stronghold nor the fort built by the natives. Compare the two , Can't help but marvel at Hanzhou's powerful combat power.

Today's invitation to the representative of Hanzhou in Batavia is not to take the opportunity to make trouble, but to get back those captured mercenary officers and sailors from the Hanzhou people.In addition, I would like to warn Hanzhou again not to interfere in the struggle between them and the Portuguese, and to prohibit the supply of weapons and Makassar.

"I think Hanzhou may have noticed our attempt to use the Annan people to deal with them." Jimenez stood in front of the window on the second floor, watching Huang Mingfang leave the city hall and leave in a carriage. They will suddenly attack the Annans to eliminate potential threats in the region. Maybe they have also reached some kind of agreement with the Annans to exclude us, the East India Company, from the affairs of the region.”

"The Annan area is the most important node in the immigration route of the Hanzhou people. They will not allow anyone to threaten this point." Fred Upton, the senior commercial counselor of the East India Company, showed an unnatural expression on his face. , "Even if we want to join in, I'm afraid it will be difficult to exert our strength. The Hanzhou people have been operating there for more than ten years, and there are still three solid strongholds."

"But after all, it is very far away from Hanzhou, and it is separated by Batavia. Our East India Company can completely cut off the connection between there and Hanzhou."

"and then?"

"Instigate the Annan people to attack several strongholds in Hanzhou again. Their capital was captured by Hanzhou, which must be a great harm to them. We can help the Annan people transport troops there, and even provide landing cover. "

"Is this your strategic plan based on the period of the war?" Upton asked.

"Everyone knows that there will be another war between us and Hanzhou." Jimenez said: "All the efforts we are making now are to weaken the strength of the Hanzhou people as much as possible when the war breaks out." ?”

"Ten years ago, we did not defeat Hanzhou. Could it be that ten years later, we are sure to defeat Hanzhou?" Upton said disapprovingly: "I think it is a wrong decision to make the choice of war."

"Ten years ago, because of the ongoing war in Europe, we received very little support." Jimenez said: "Now, the war seems to be over. I think that the large number of German mercenaries that are about to be idle and some of the retired The warship will gladly come to the East Indies for an adventure."

"Dear Mr. Jimenez, do you think our East India Company can get continuous support from Europe?" Upton shook his head and said, "All the manpower and material support will need to cross more than half of the world, and it will take several hours. It takes months to come to the East Indies from the distant continent of Europe."

"In order to obtain the gold mines in Hanzhou and obtain unattainable wealth, these distances are not a problem." Jimenez said with a smile: "And the malice towards Hanzhou is not only limited to our United East India Company."

"The English East India Company?" Upton sneered. Will fly to eat the corpse."

"Dear Mr. Upton, you seem to have always been opposed to another war between us and Hanzhou, and you are not optimistic about our final victory." Jimenez stared into Upton's eyes, " Have you been inspired by the natives of Hanzhou?"

"... Jimenez, you have not been in the East Indies for a long time, and some cognitions may be biased. Hanzhou is not an ordinary aborigine." Upton was shocked in his heart, and then greeted Jimenez "I think all of us have greatly underestimated Hanzhou's strength."

"Really?" Jimenez shrugged his shoulders, "However, recently Hanzhou is obviously making compromises with us, and seems to want to avoid the occurrence of war. The export of arms from Java Island, coupled with the unconditional release of company employees captured in Annan..., several disputes with us, are giving in to us. I think they have become A little guilty. They are afraid of war, afraid of being blocked by us again, afraid that the increasing population in the country will cause chaos due to hunger, and afraid that we will rob them of the wealth they have created."

"They may not be afraid, nor are they compromising." Upton turned his head and looked at the city scene outside the window. "They may be seriously preparing for war."

"Are you predicting the war?" Jimenez frowned.

"Hanzhou people are not so easy to succumb to external pressure." Upton said quietly: "Sometimes, in order to wave their powerful fists, their strong arms often actively shrink back."

(End of this chapter)