1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 620 Decisive Battle in Ambon ([-])

On March 1649, 3, the southwest coast of Seram Island.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company defeated the Portuguese, captured Ambon, and completely controlled the Spice Islands (now the Maluku Islands).After decades of operation, the Dutch have almost monopolized all spice trade channels in the region, earning hundreds of millions of guilders every year, laying a solid foundation for the East India Company's continuous development and growth.

In the Spice Islands, the East India Company, in addition to Ambon, which has an absolute core position, also established a number of commercial station bases on other surrounding islands.On the southwest coast of Seram Island, which is closest to Ambon, the Dutch had one of the most important transfer points for spice collection in this area.

Seran Island is an island under the control of the Kingdom of Ternate Sultan. It is rich in cardamom. The natives in the central and eastern parts of the island are more peaceful, while the natives in the west of the island are prevalent in headhunting, which is unruly and unruly.

The Dutch stronghold on the island, Middelburg (now Kailatu City on the southwest coast of Seram Island, Indonesia), in addition to more than 30 German mercenaries stationed there, there are more than 100 fierce natives who came from the western headhunting tribe. man servant.

Relying on the force it possessed here, this Dutch stronghold forcefully conquered and suppressed the native tribes on the island, strictly implemented the spice monopoly trade policy stipulated by the East India Company, and became the actual ruler of the island.

However, just in the afternoon of this day, a powerful fleet with more than 100 ships suddenly appeared outside the port of Middelburg.The weak dock turret only put up a few rounds of heroic resistance, and then quickly disintegrated under the bombardment of more than ten warships and more than [-] artillery pieces of the opponent.After dropping several damaged coastal defense guns and the corpses of several companions, the defenders of the fort all fled back to the city of Middelburg.

Then, under the horrified eyes of the Dutch defenders, nearly two thousand soldiers quickly landed in countless small boats.

In the evening, the commander of the Dutch stronghold defenders sent a representative to have a brief communication with the military officers of the Qi State, and after receiving a personal safety guarantee, he took all his subordinates, walked out of the fort empty-handed, and went to Qi State. The National Landing Force surrendered.

This Dutch stronghold on Seram Island is less than [-] kilometers away from Ambon. The Qi State Special Attack Fleet has formulated a corresponding combat plan before setting off, and will first control this stronghold as a temporary anchorage for the fleet.Then a small number of ships were sent to block Ambon, waiting for the Dutch East India Company to send warships to relieve the siege.Then according to the scale of the other party's aid, the fleet will be organized to encircle and wipe out in due course.

According to the most optimistic war situation deduction of the General Staff Department, it is hoped that the Dutch will implement refueling tactics to relieve the siege of Ambon, and send fleets to the area one by one, so that the Qi fleet can wait for work here and annihilate them one by one with absolute superiority.

On March 3, the Qi State Special Attack Fleet sent three armed merchant ships to transport all the property seized in Middelburg and the captives who surrendered back to Xuanwu Fort (now Sorong City, Papua, Indonesia), and at the same time asked the place to send some Supplies come here for what the fleet needs.

In the following ten days, before the Dutch rescue fleet came to Ambon, the special attack fleet attacked continuously, destroyed several Dutch strongholds in the surrounding areas, captured more than 120 East India Company mercenaries, more than [-] native servants, and captured [-] soldiers. Two merchant ships per ton, seven small and medium-sized galleys, and countless spices such as cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, and fennel were harvested.
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On March 3, a support fleet composed of 18 armed merchant ships under the Dutch East India Company sailed to the waters of Makassar, and joined the 9 armed merchant ships that blocked the Portuguese stronghold here, preparing to go to Ambon to expel those "raiders". "Han Chau ships in the Spice Islands.

The Dutch were mentally prepared for Hanzhou to attack the Spice Islands.After all, ten years ago, they had attacked here twice, and they also broke through Ambon, and captured the two governors of Ambon, as well as Mr. Senad Kalamet, a member of the company's India committee and a senior commercial counselor.All this made the East India Company lose face.

Therefore, a week ago, a fast liaison ship returning from Ambon to Batavia brought news of Hanzhou's attack on the Spice Islands.Rear Admiral Grigoris Kopet, commander of the navy, immediately dispatched the nine armed merchant ships gathered in the port, and ordered them to go to Makassar first, where they joined the six armed merchant ships to form a support fleet, headed to Ambon, and looked for an opportunity to annihilate the tourists. Tow the Han Chau ships nearby to secure the Spice Islands.

"Are you sure that the Hanzhou fleet that attacked Ambon has only 8 warships?" Colonel Carsten Kuritz, who was appointed commander of the support fleet, once again asked Wesley Tavares, who had returned from Ambon. lieutenant.

"Yes, Colonel." Lieutenant Wesley Tavares nodded and said: "The 8 warships of Hanzhou were outside the port of Ambon, and attacked and captured one of our merchant ships. Then, they tried to break into the port , but was repulsed by our fort. In the evening of the second day, we rushed out of the port with a fast liaison ship, and four warships from the other side successively came to surround us. Covered and escaped their pursuit."

The Hanzhou people must have learned that Ambon was well-defended and could no longer be easily conquered as it was ten years ago, so they simply sent 8 warships to harass the Spice Islands.They divided the fleet into two parts and took turns patrolling around Ambon in an attempt to cut off our spice trade.

Colonel Carsten Kuritz calculated in his mind that his side had 15 armed merchant ships, nearly twice the number of the opponent's ships.Even if all the ships sent by Hanzhou are professional warships, then our support fleet can rely on the superiority in numbers to fight them.Moreover, we also have the logistics supply base in Ambon, coupled with many excellent sailors, we should be able to control the situation here.

Unless, the Hanzhou people send all their main warships here.

"Hanzhou people don't have such courage?" Colonel Carsten Kuritz couldn't help shaking his head and laughing.

You know, during the Han-Dutch War ten years ago, the Hanzhou people tried their best to hide their warships in unknown ports to avoid a head-on confrontation with the Dutch East India Company Navy.Could it be that after only ten years, they dare to invest in the main fleet to fight a decisive battle at sea with us?
"Okay, gentlemen, let's cheer up and rush to Ambon. Then use blood and fire to teach the Han people a lesson. We want to let them know that in the entire East Indies, the people who can finally rule Our East India Company is still in charge of this sea area!" Colonel Carsten Kuritz said loudly to the officers and sailors on board.

Major Andrew Florent hesitated for a moment, and wanted to suggest that Colonel Kuritz should be more vigilant to the Hanzhou Navy and pay more attention to it.As the first Dutchman in contact with Hanzhou people, he has a certain understanding and familiarity with Hanzhou people.When he first came to Batavia more than ten years ago, he was sent by the navy commander to the Hanzhou people as a liaison officer, and he worked and lived with them for a year.

Hanzhou people are very good at learning, they are also tolerant of suffering and suffering, and they are very brave in battle.More than ten years have passed, and Hanzhou's seawater strength has also undergone earth-shaking changes, especially the opponent has more than ten professional warships, both in terms of firepower and ship protection, far surpassing their own armed merchant ships.What's even more frightening is that the design of their professional warships obviously borrowed from the streamlined design of their flying fish clippers, and they were faster than ordinary armed merchant ships.

This means that when fighting at sea with the Hanzhou Fleet, if you cannot completely control the battlefield situation, or if you fail in the battle, your own armed merchant ships will not even have a chance to escape, and will be quickly caught up by the opponent's professional warships. Either sunk or captured.

Major Florent was faintly worried that there might not be only 8 Hanzhou warships appearing in the Spice Islands, there might be 10 ships, or even 15 ships.Then one's own support fleet, in the face of such a situation, may not be able to gain an absolute advantage and be attacked suddenly by the opponent.

However, after more than ten years of baptism, the current Major Florent is no longer the unabashed brat he used to be. He will no longer question his decisions and tactical arrangements in front of the officer, and forcefully put his own Doubt is hidden in the heart.

Maybe we can't defeat Hanzhou's raid fleet, but it shouldn't be a problem to safely withdraw to Ambon Port.
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On March 3, Ambon Bay.

Watching a flying fish fast boat coming from the southwest, Luo Rucheng held the binoculars in both hands and looked behind it. Except for the endless sea water, there was no sail.

"Admiral, thirty miles to the southwest, we found two Dutch merchant ships." The Flying Fish approached the "Qiming" battleship, and a naval officer boarded the deck to report to Luo Rucheng.

"Is there a large fleet behind them?"

"No discovery yet."

"It's been more than half a month since we came to Ambon. The Dutch should have received the letter, so they wouldn't foolishly send two merchant ships here." Qiming Captain Wan Changshu said: "I think that the Dutch support fleet It must be behind, they clearly want to use two merchant ships to lure us to the sea battlefield they set up, so as to surround and kill us."

"Old Wan's speculation is the same as what I thought." Luo Rucheng said with a smile: "We were originally using it as a bait, thinking of leading the Dutch support fleet to the northeast island (Seraland Island). Now, When the two baits are about to meet, let's see who can eat it quickly."

"Master Admiral, shall we kill them now?" Wan Changshu asked.

"No, let's stay here." Luo Rucheng thought for a while, and said, "It's noon now, if we rush over, it will be almost evening, and we won't be able to fight for a longer period of time. If we turn around and flee to the big island in the northeast, the Dutch may not dare to chase us. Why not let the Dutch block us deep in the bay and fight with them. Then, give us the big fleet Create an opportunity, and then block the Dutch inside!"

Hearing this, many officers on board were stunned.

Luo Rucheng is throwing their four warships directly to the mouth of the Dutch, and it is still in the narrow Ambon Bay. If the opponent's support fleet has many warships, they may be forced into the depths of the bay, and then as long as Holding the narrow sea lanes between the ports of Ambon is enough to trap them to death or even capture them.

"What's wrong? Is everyone afraid?" Luo Rucheng smiled when he saw the surprised expressions on everyone's face, "After ten years, you all started to cherish your life?"

"Lao Luo, don't provoke us!" Yao Wu, the captain of the Yangming, frowned, "There is no one who is timid at sea! Our previous plan was to lead the fleet supported by the Netherlands to the northeast. Near that big island, so that our ambush big fleet can be surrounded and wiped out. Now, you suggest to put our four warships directly in this narrow and long bay, and take the initiative to put them under the siege of the Dutch fleet. If the commander-in-chief and them If we failed to arrive in time, our sacrifices would have been in vain."

"War, how can you not take risks." Luo Rucheng said slowly: "Leading the Dutch support fleet to the vicinity of the big island in the northeast, although we don't need to take any risks. But who can guarantee that the Dutch will follow us Let's go? Even if they chased us to the vicinity of the big island, where the sea is open and unobstructed, as long as the Dutch run fast, they can always escape a few ships, or even half of them."

"But if we drag the Dutch support fleet to the depths of the bay, and then the commander-in-chief arrives, block the Dutch here, and then send some ships to intercept them entering the port. Then, we have a high chance They can be wiped out to aid the fleet."

"...Then what if the governor fails to arrive in time?" Cao Xinzhong, the captain of the Yangwu, asked softly.

"If the commander-in-chief fails to arrive in time...then we have no choice but to fight to the death and be loyal to Daqi!" Luo Rucheng said seriously.

Everyone was speechless after hearing the words.

"It's done!" Lu Zhengliang, the captain of the Yangwei, said suddenly: "We are going to die and survive, and in front of the Dutch in Ambon Port, we must surround and kill all their aid fleets. Intimidate the Dutch and get the respect they deserve."

"It's just a matter of desperation. More than ten years ago, we were in Dengzhou and then at sea. It's not that we haven't tried." Wan Changshu nodded and said: "As the admiral suggested, we are in this Ambon Bay. Have a good fight with the Dutch!"

Yao Wu and Cao Xinzhong also nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, everyone, the governor will definitely come over in time, attack us inside and outside, and surround and kill all the Dutch rescue fleet here."

Luo Rucheng immediately ordered the two accompanying flying fish fast boats to go to the main anchorage of the fleet, inform them of the battle plan they had made, and hurry over.

In the evening of that day, more than ten Dutch armed merchant ships appeared one after another at the entrance of Ambon Bay. They suddenly found four Hanzhou ships in an attack formation, and rushed towards the two leading armed merchant ships.

(End of this chapter)