Ming Zuo

636 Sea Battle
The Battle of Liuluo Bay was the first time that the Chinese defeated Western colonists at sea.

For China, which is dominated by farming, this is undoubtedly a great achievement worthy of special mention.

However, what is funny is that if we discuss the cause of the naval battle at Liaoluo Bay, the Dutch are actually the victims.

In 1624, the Dutch built a castle in Penghu.

This move greatly stimulated the Ming Dynasty.

Shang Zhouzuo, governor of Fujian at that time, sent superior troops to surround Penghu and forced the Dutch to retreat.

Although this was a great victory against aggression, in the subsequent negotiations, the Ming Dynasty showed consistent arrogance and amateurishness.

In his negotiating letter to the Dutch, Shang Zhouzuo mentioned that if the Dutch quit Penghu and return to Taiwan, then the imperial court would be willing to protect the business exchanges between Fujian and Dayuan.

The main purpose of the Dutch colonial aggression was to do business and make money.

With the guarantee from the Ming government, the Dutch retreated happily.

However, the Ming government did not fulfill its promise.

Knowing the existence of the sea ban, the local government of Fujian even promised a bad check to deceive the Dutch.

In desperation, the Dutch had no choice but to start a smuggling business.

After Xu Xinsu was defeated by Zheng Zhilong, the Dutch also signed a business agreement with Zheng Zhilong.

But Zheng Zhilong has the same virtue as the Fujian government, and he doesn't pay attention to the agreement.

The delivery quantity stipulated in the contract has never been fulfilled.

The Dutch complained about this and asked Zheng Zhilong for free trade rights along the coast of China.

For this reason, the Dutch also released goodwill and took the initiative to help Zheng Zhilong defeat his main opponent at the time, the pirate Li Kuiqi.

As a result, Zheng Zhilong did not fulfill his promise afterwards.

The actual reason is that Zheng Zhilong's official position at that time was only a general, and he had no power to decide business transactions at all.

In order to defeat Li Kuiqi, he just fooled and used the Dutchman.

In addition, Zou Weilian, the new governor of Fujian who took office at that time, was already dissatisfied with Zheng Zhilong, and further strengthened the sea ban after he took office.

At that time, there were only six permits to go to Dayuan.

This undoubtedly caused the Dutch business to be in trouble.

After a string of promises and payouts for nothing, the Dutchman's patience is finally running out.

The decision makers of the Batavia of the Dutch East India Company decided to use force to achieve their goals.

Hans Putmans, who is also in charge of the Chinese affairs in Batavia, became the supreme commander in charge of military operations.

On April 4, Batavia sent personnel to Dayuan to report the upcoming battle.

On June 6, Batavia gathered six warships and searched for passing ships at the same time, and took advantage of the southwest monsoon to head towards the coast of China.

In the end, this invading army possessed thirteen Galen warships, with extraordinary force.

South Australia became the first battle.

After observing the situation in South Australia on the flagship, Hans Putmans was extremely arrogant, thinking that such a small island could not stop the Dutch attack.

On July 7, the Dutch colonists brazenly launched an attack on the Ming army on Nan'ao Island.

General Fan Ruyao is not afraid of life and death, and bravely takes up the challenge.

The battle has heated up from the beginning.

Although the Ming army was trapped on an isolated island, with the advantage of the long range and high power of the landing cannon, it was still inextricably fighting the Dutch.

Regardless of the fact that in today's world, the Dutch's sea power is second to none.

But in fact, the combat effectiveness of the Dutch is very stretched.

The Dutch are like Teddy at sea, they can basically cause trouble, but they can't make trouble.

Facing Nan'ao Island, which was defended by hundreds of Ming troops, the Dutch gathered thirteen Galen warships and besieged for a whole day, but did not make any progress.

Although General Fan Ruyao was seriously injured and [-] soldiers were killed in battle, the losses of the Dutch were not small.

"Your Excellency, I don't think we need to waste too much energy on such a remote island."

A Dutch general made a suggestion.

Hans Putmans immediately followed suit.

"We should go to a better place and let the damn Ming understand our will."

So the Dutch army retreated, and the fleet began to go north.

Regardless of his serious injuries, Fan Ruyao once again sent someone to convey the military information to the local government in Fujian.

It's a pity that Fujian's mountainous terrain determines that the transmission of information on land is far inferior to the speed of marching in Shanghai.

The situation on Nan'ao Island has not yet reached the ears of the governor of Fujian, and the Dutch army has already launched a second wave of offensive.

On July 7, the Dutch fleet arrived in Xiamen.

At this time, dozens of Ming Dynasty and Zheng Zhilong ships were moored in Xiamen Port.

However, Xiamen defender Zhang Yongchan was in Quanzhou to arrange equipment at this time, and Zheng Zhilong was far away in Funing. As a result, Xiamen had no leader.

Hans Putmans was overjoyed, and immediately swung his army into the harbor and launched a surprise attack on the Ming army.

The ships parked here in the Ming Dynasty were all in a state of repair, and it was too late to pull anchor and set sail, and they were completely lost under the artillery fire of the Dutch army.

After a day of fierce fighting, the Ming army sank more than [-] large warships and more than ten small warships.

Xiamen's sea power was swept away and lost.

This time the Fujian local government finally understood the seriousness of the situation.

But without sea power, the local government was helpless in the face of the Dutch fleet.

Even though the Dutch blocked Xiamen Bay and plundered everywhere, they had to send letters to the Fujian governor's yamen and Zheng Zhilong.

Funing.

Compared with Xiamen, which is full of war, it is peaceful here.

Zheng Zhilong hid comfortably on his flagship, even in the mood to fish.

The Xiamen battle report was right beside him, and he didn't even glance at it.

Zuo Hua, who was fishing with him, was also at ease.

"Yiguan, when do you plan to make a move? Your loss this time is not small."

Zheng Zhilong stared at the calm sea.

"I am an official of the court, of course I have to listen to the court. I will do what the governor says."

Zuo Hua snickered inwardly, and had a new understanding of Zheng Zhilong's shamelessness.

"I believe it won't be long before the governor will rely on you as the Great Wall."

Knowing that he was being sarcastic, Zheng Zhilong didn't care, and instead wanted to test the teacher.

"General Zuo, where do you think our army is fighting?"

Zuo Hua confronted each other.

"I'm afraid it's still too early to talk about this now. If my predictions are correct, the official is waiting for Liu Xiang, right?"

A gleam flashed in Zheng Zhilong's eyes, and then he laughed.

"Hahaha, the one who knows me is General Zuo."

He asked again: "In your opinion, will Liu Xiang make a move this time to help the Dutchman?"

Zuo Hua took a deep look at him.

"Liu Xiang, even a thief, what morality and shame are there? In order to deal with an official, why can't people like Liu Xiang do anything?"

Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but tighten his hand holding the fishing rod, and no one knew what was going on under his copper-colored skin.

(End of this chapter)