At the Governor's Mansion in Jelanje City, Taiwan, the distinguished Governor Nicholas Felbaugh is enjoying his afternoon tea comfortably.
He was in a good mood. After the great uprising led by Guo Huaiyi was brutally suppressed, the seventeen gentlemen at the Batavia headquarters of the Dutch East India Company finally realized the problem of Taiwan's insufficient military strength. The seventeen-member board of directors made a wise decision
Resolution: "Even in times of peace, more than 1,200 soldiers must be maintained to protect the company's property in Formosa."
Although Felburg knew that with the company's slow execution capabilities, it would take at least another one or two years to increase Taiwan's existing nine hundred soldiers to more than one thousand two hundred. In the short term, he could only
Relying on 900 native soldiers and 3,000 Turkish soldiers to maintain the company's rule in Formosa.
The reason why the Dutch East India Company's execution is slow is mainly because the territory it rules is too vast, with colonies in Asia, Africa and the United States; in addition, a few months ago, the company established a new colony at the Cape of Good Hope in Africa (Cape Colony)
), taking up a lot of resources.
Feuerburg is proud to be a member of the East India Company. This is the world's first joint-stock company. The Dutch government is the largest shareholder, but it does not participate in management. Management power is in the hands of the "17-member Board of Directors".
It was also the first company in the world to issue shares. At its peak, its market value was nearly 80 million Dutch guilders, equivalent to 8 trillion U.S. dollars in later generations.
The company's documents read: "No Christian king, prince, or republic has hitherto made any serious, diligent, and timely effort to discover the unknown parts of the earth.
All the continents and islands where we landed shall be yours in the name of the Speaker of Parliament of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. In uninhabited areas or countries without a master, you may erect monuments or insert our Prince of Orange.
flag to show actual possession, and endeavor to make such lands belong justly to the discoverer and first occupier; but in areas where there are people, or where there are doubtless lords, you must first obtain the consent of the natives or the natives before taking possession of them.
Should you strive to obtain the consent of the monarch through friendly persuasion, send them some small trees with roots covered with soil, cooperate with the local residents to build some stone buildings, or erect a prince's flag to commemorate their voluntary consent or submission?
?"
The company's footprints have spread to every corner of the world, and it has conquered barbarian countries one after another. I am really proud to serve such a great company!
"Your Majesty the Governor, Guo Bao wants to see you." The attendant's report disrupted Fairburg's afternoon tea.
"What's this despicable guy who betrayed his brother come to see me for? Is he looking for a reward from me? Didn't I already reward him with ten gold coins?"
As a gentleman, Felburg looked down upon Guo Bao's character. In order to survive, this man could even betray his own brother. It was really despicable!
As an experienced colonist, Feuerburg attached great importance to people like Guo Bao. He believed that they were indispensable eyes and ears to maintain the company's rule in Taiwan.
"Let him in, damn Ming people, why do you always like to come during afternoon tea time?"
Fairburg stretched himself very presumptuously. This would be very rude to meet a gentleman, but for these Ming people on the island, the Governor felt that there was no need to treat them as gentlemen. Therefore, he stretched as much as he wanted.
, yawn if you want.
This move made Guo Bao flattered. The Governor stretched himself in front of me. He didn't treat me as an outsider. He immediately flushed with excitement and quickly saluted, "I see you, Your Majesty the Governor."
"Guo, what do you want from me?"
"Your Majesty the Governor, I would like to serve you as Taiwan's general secretary."
"Are you a general manager?"
Felburg waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, Guo, I don't think you are a good candidate to be the general manager. If you want to ask for reward, I think we have rewarded you with ten gold coins last time. Besides,
As you know, the current general manager, He Bin, is an old friend of mine and is very diligent in his work. I don’t think it is necessary to replace him."
"That's not the case, Your Excellency Governor, He Bin is not your friend. He secretly plotted a rebellion with Guo Huaiyi, which harmed the interests of you and the Netherlands. I have seen and heard him talking secretly with my brother many times, trying to lead
The Ming army attacked Taiwan.
Felbao chuckled, thinking that this villain, in order to be a general, actually wanted to frame him. So how could He Bin be a spy if he worked conscientiously and diligently?
He said displeasedly: "Guo, do you know that you will be punished by the Lord if you tell lies and frame people? You said that He Bin wanted to lead the Ming army to attack Taiwan. What evidence do you have?"
"I have proof!"
Guo Bao screamed: "Please send someone to the Da Yuan Commercial House to take a look. The Chinese businessmen in the merchant house are gradually transferring their property to the mainland. During this time, the number of Chinese merchant ships coming to trade has also dropped sharply."
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"Bang!"
Fairburg accidentally broke the tea cup, and he immediately sent someone to check it out at the Da Yuan Store.
People who checked reported that there was indeed news among the Chinese businessmen in the Taiyuan Commercial Hall that the Ming army was going to attack Taiwan. They were transferring their property and the number of merchant ships was also reduced a lot.
By interrogating Chinese businessmen, Feuerburg believed Guo Bao's words, and he judged that the Ming army's attack on Taiwan would be in March.
Action must be taken, immediately, immediately!
Ferborg was a veteran colonist who was very efficient in his work. Although there was no evidence to directly prove that He Bin was a spy of the Ming army, he immediately dismissed He Bin from his post and replaced him with Guo Bao. In order to punish He Bin for his "disloyalty"
", and ordered heavy taxes to be levied on the properties under He Bin's name, which soon pushed He Bin to the edge of bankruptcy.
Under the governor's strict order, the Dutch prepared for war urgently, rushed to build Chican City, and required all regions to strengthen reconnaissance and armed forces. The Chinese were not allowed to sell food in Chican City, and all Chinese elders and gentry were placed under house arrest in Relanja City to avoid collaborating with the enemy. In the fields
The idea of burning all unharvested rice was unethical. Fierce conflicts broke out during the burning, resulting in Chinese casualties.
Fairburg urgently reported to the governor of Batavia City, requesting reinforcements. He wrote: "Dear Sir, there are various signs that the Ming army will attack Taiwan in March. There are only a pitiful number of people signed on the island.
With nine hundred soldiers, I have to ask you to immediately reinforce Taiwan. Otherwise, the beautiful Formosa may no longer be the property of the company."
After seeing Feuerburg's letter, the governor of Batavia City immediately requested a board meeting. He did not have the power of war, and war must be approved by seventeen gentlemen.
After seventeen gentlemen met to study, they believed that the Ming Dynasty was at war with the Qing Dynasty, and the possibility of directly attacking Taiwan was not high. However, the company's property was sacred and inviolable. It is better to believe that it exists than to believe that it does not exist. Batavia
The governor dispatched Commander Vander Laan to lead a fleet of twelve ships, carrying 1,453 soldiers to Taiwan. Vander Laan was a stubborn commander and had a nickname: "Stubborn John".
However, the seventeen gentlemen are all businessmen, and for businessmen, every silver coin cannot be wasted. They instructed Vanderland that if the Ming army did not attack as intelligence indicated by the end of February, in order to make up for financial losses,
The fleet must attack Macau.
This chapter has been completed!