Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 298 The Situation in Brazil ([-])

In fact, the so-called Sao Paulo flag team in history is a kind of colonial expedition spontaneously formed by local Brazilians (mainly Sao Paulo).At that time, Brazil's rich reputation began to spread in Europe, as the Pernambuco region became the largest sugar production center in the world.Therefore, many poor Europeans traveled thousands of miles to the New World with the idea of ​​making a fortune, but only a few of them managed to make a fortune, and most of them lived a miserable life.Under such circumstances, many people had the idea of ​​expanding inland to try their luck, especially when the legend of gold mines in the interior of Brazil was rampant.

Therefore, in the 1580s, the "colonial pioneering team" (entradas) sent by the government and the "banner team" (bandeiras) composed of civilians went deep into the interior of Brazil one after another, hunting for Indians while looking for gold mines. .Even, these adventurous guys crossed the Spanish-Portuguese border stipulated by the Pope's meridian and entered the Spanish colony to capture slaves. Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world.

"The number of these flag teams is only a few dozen people, and there are hundreds or thousands of people. For example, the flag team led by Antonio Tabarez in 1629 included 69 whites and 900 Mamelucos. and 2200 Indians; in 1639, the number of the flag team that attacked the Paraguayan mission area exceeded 2000; there was even a super flag team composed of more than 1000 whites and 12000 Indians in history. Xu Xin, who is familiar with these historical allusions, said, "That is to say, for the Brazilians, manpower will never be a problem. In the past 25 years, the people of Sao Paulo have plundered more than 30 Indians from the inland areas. They can easily Organize an army of thousands or even tens of thousands of people. Of course, the equipment of these troops will be very problematic. They may not even be equipped with spears and bows, and their combat quality is also very poor, but their numerical advantage is really very big."

"Then why don't the Brazilians think of a way to recover the seven general jurisdictions in the Northeast occupied by the Netherlands?" Ding Yiyu was a little puzzled. Are these Brazilians stupid?With this strength, why don't you quickly recover the lost ground?

"I can't give you a satisfactory answer to this question. In my opinion, it probably involves a comparison of strength between the two sides." Xu Xin thought for a while and said: "The Brazilians' main The large-scale flag team composed of Indians can only be used to beat the side drums, and it will definitely not work as the main force. The Spaniards’ conquest of South America at the beginning proved the weak combat effectiveness of the Indians. I think the Brazilians themselves also agree with this point It is very clear, otherwise they would not have traveled thousands of miles to Europe to find mercenaries. These Indians can rely on an army mainly composed of whites to cooperate in combat, and their numerical advantage will be enough for the Dutch to have a headache. But that is all That's all, and the Brazilians don't trust them very much. Brazilians only trust whites and Mamelucos (mixed whites and Indians). This time, Brazil ordered a large number of weapons from us. I think it is mainly used to arm the territory. Of the whites and of the Mamelucos, and as for the Indians attached to them, I think the order of ten thousand spears is for them."

Qi Wangping listened to the two talking without interrupting, but this did not mean that he did not have his own thinking.Xu Xin's explanation did not completely convince him. He remembered reading some scattered news about Brazil's history recorded by everyone in the reference room before setting off.And one of the messages written by Gao Mo once attracted his attention, that is, about the current head of the New Netherlands region of the Dutch West India Company-Joao Maurice from Nassau-Siegen (Portuguese, Dutch News from Count Johann Maurice van Nassau-Siegen in Germany, Johann Mauritz von Nassau-Siegen in German.

Earl Maurice had a prominent background. His father was the ruler of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange, and the second son of William the Silent. During his reign, he used his military talents to reform the Dutch army, making it a very effective fighting force. A professional army who defeated the Spaniards many times.As the saying goes, a tiger father has no dogs. Since Earl Maurice became the governor of New Netherlands in January 1637, he has adopted a free trade policy, encouraged agricultural development, and returned land to the Brazilian family who obeyed Dutch rule.Morris also had a tolerant attitude towards non-Protestant Brazilians and Jews, allowing them to continue their original beliefs. At the same time, he also established a parliament covering all classes in New Holland.He also used his high reputation and deep connections to attract a large number of artists and architects from Europe to Recife, who made outstanding contributions to the urbanization of Recife.

Achievements in civil affairs and art, Earl Morris is equally good at military affairs.Under his command, the Dutch army fought north and south and defeated the Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian armies several times, which made the area occupied by the Netherlands continue to expand.Today, it already includes the seven wealthiest general jurisdictions in northeastern Brazil.

Such a dazzling figure staying in Recife is not good news for Brazilians and East Coasters.But this is mainly the trouble of the Brazilians, and has little to do with the people on the east coast.The people on the east coast did not intend to be the vanguard of the Dutch. The maximum support they could provide to the Brazilians was weapons and supplies, and perhaps personnel training, that is, sending instructors to train the Brazilian army.As for sending the army into Brazil to fight directly with the Dutch army, it seems impossible at present, but the Brazilians still have extravagant hopes for this, and they have raised huge military expenditures for this, and they even used Blanco Euphemistically express to the people on the east coast that the debts owed by the people on the east coast can be forgiven.

Although the conditions offered by the Brazilians are very attractive, the people on the East Coast do not intend to accept them.Of course, the people on the east coast did not directly reject the Brazilians on the surface, on the contrary they also played hotly with the Brazilians in a very high-profile way.The return fleet docked at San Vicente, and the appearance of two companies of the army at the dock was part of the plan.The people on the east coast tried to demonstrate to the Dutch in this way, making them realize that the people on the east coast could also threaten their major interests.This bargaining chip is important to the East Coast Republic. When they open up the Eastern route to conflict with the Dutch in the future, this bargaining chip can be used to repeatedly put pressure on the Dutch in order to win the Dutch to give the East Coast people convenience on the Far East route. .

Of course, it was not that no one pointed out that this plan to actively provoke the Dutch was an "act of madness" and an "adventure of betting on the fate of the country".This kind of argument is extremely popular among the civilian factions who advocate burying their heads in science and technology and rising peacefully. They cannot tolerate the repeated military or political adventures of the soldiers, and they cannot tolerate the soldiers provoking a behemoth-like country with a disparity in national strength. colonial empire.The soldiers naturally ignored the criticism and accusations of the civilian officials, and they stubbornly pushed the country forward step by step according to their own ideas.

"By the way, in addition to expressing the cancellation of a large amount of debts, the Brazilians also expressed that they can further open up the Sao Paulo market, set San Vicente as a trade port, and allow our products, especially textiles, to be sold directly here. You know, here Before, a group of local Brazilian businessmen were selling our products as agents, and this time they really spent their money." Tao Chenxi, director of the General Administration of Textile Industry, who had been silently listening to other people talking, suddenly spoke, and His words also made the rest of the people shake their heads after hearing it. The Brazilians are so eager, but I am afraid they will be disappointed in the end.

"Hey, old Tao, pay attention to your butt. Don't just sit there just because you are a Brazilian son-in-law. The wind blows on your wife's pillow recently, haha." Xu Xin jokingly asked Tao Chenxi said.

"The pillow wind is blowing every day, and it's only after she stayed at her mother's house these two days that my ears are clearer." Tao Chenxi also said with a smile, "My cheap brother-in-law Blanco has come to see me twice , let me do activities in the country, especially in front of several executive committee members, so that the executive committee can make up their minds to directly intervene in the Brazilian war situation. No, in order to give me some motivation, they also promised to give me There is a large cotton plantation near Sao Paulo, hehe. Unfortunately, the current policy direction is not right, and I can’t make this cheap.”

Several people talked nonsense again, and finally went back to the room to rest.

On June 1641, 6, the East Coast Fleet, which had been resting in Port San Vicente for several days, set sail again and embarked on a journey back to the East Coast itself.Prior to this, Xu Xin, the plenipotentiary representative of the East Coast Republic of China in San Vicente, began to frequently attend banquets held by local nobles and landlords in Brazil.He has made high-profile public statements in support of Brazil. He believes that the content of Brazil in the peace agreement signed between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Dutch is "inappropriate", and clearly stated that the East Coast Republic will provide the Brazilians with extremely favorable prices. Provide enough weapons and equipment to arm thousands of people.

In addition, he even hinted to the outside world that the people on the east coast might sell to the Brazilians the heavy siege artillery that is never exported, as well as the lightweight 12-pound steel long-barreled cannon for the army.His statement made the Brazilians ecstatic, and at the same time confirmed the pro-Brazilian position of the people on the east coast. Of course, this also annoyed the executives of the Dutch West India Company in the New Netherlands area.Because they know that with the limited intervention of the people on the east coast, the Dutch are bound to pay a higher price to deal with those Brazilian militias that are as annoying as bedbugs.They are businessmen, and they are extremely disgusted with any behavior that increases costs. It seems that it is necessary to have a good talk with people from the east coast.

(End of this chapter)