"To be honest, although Basten is not authentic, from his perspective, he did nothing wrong. We have no alliance with the Huang family, and we can't even say a partner..." Chen Pengyu came later, had no feelings for the Huang family, and he was even more unwilling to be directly involved in this kind of dispute.

From the perspective of interests, the friendship between Van Basten and Voc is obviously much more useful than the Huang family. Now Voc's business station and ships are providing supplies to the Silla exploration team. There are other projects that can be cooperated with for a long time.

In contrast, the resources occupied by the Huang family and the help that can provide to the Senate are actually far less than those of voc.

Not only Chen Pengyu and Qin Xike, two later veterans, clearly opposed the involvement in this matter, Huang Lu's attitude towards it was also very casual. The only one who firmly advocated supporting the Huang family was Wu Tingwei. Cui Yunhong was somewhat embarrassed.

Emotionally, he was willing to provide help, but first of all, they were "oil exploration teams" and not "Senate Nanyang Governor's Office". It was a special thing to rashly get involved in local political affairs.

"Although we regard voc as our number one rival in Nanyang in the future, we have to say that voc's business network is an important collaboration for us to operate in Nanyang at this stage." Cui Yunhong carefully said, "No matter from which perspective, we have no right and should not break up with voc..."

"But they broke the face with us first..." Wu Tingwei said anxiously.

"Is the Huang family related to the Senate?" Chen Pengyu said dissatisfied, "Is it a tribute to the Senate or an ally of the Senate? It is not even a business partner, right? I heard from Brother Cui that most of his exported goods are also sold by VOC."

"Yes, voc has a formal relationship with the Senate, and the Huang family has no relationship with the Senate." Cui Yunhong said, "From no matter from which perspective, voc takes action against the Huang family has nothing to do with us - to be honest: Sudan in the Great City is the one who should stand up for them, not us."

"Are we just standing by and watching?"

"I'm afraid that's it." Qin Xike shrugged, "Besides, what are you going to use to hit? Do you use these drilling workers? What if the battle is not smooth and there are too many casualties and injuries?"

"Then we can't stand by death and refuse to save us!" Wu Tingwei almost started arguing with Qin Xike.

Cui Yunhong was thinking about countermeasures. Although from all perspectives, not helping the Huang family is the most reasonable choice. However, he was very reluctant to watch such a mature Chinese community disappear like this. Yes, in the long run, the Senate will sooner or later send a large number of immigrants to Nanyang and turn it into a real "South China Sea". But that is the future. If these mature Chinese communities and groups can be preserved now, it will be of great benefit to future colonial development...

But how can the situation be broken? Obviously, it is not enough to help under the banner of the Senate. This is what it means to openly break up with Voc and cause trouble.

perhaps……

He talked about his ideas to everyone, especially the significance of preserving the Chinese community in Southeast Asia, and finally added:

“…No matter from which perspective, we should not come forward directly. But this does not mean we can’t help them.”

Huang Lu immediately understood: "You mean to fight an agent war?"

"Yes," Cui Yunhong nodded, "Let's think about the process. Although Basten planned all this, the attack was "pirates". Later, the excuse of occupying Shanba Port was that they 'expelled the pirates'. I have no doubt that in a few days, the king will send them official documents to grant them the power to occupy the place."

"We're here to be pirates, too?"

"This is unnecessary. Let's first determine one thing. Did the king confirm that Voc has the power to occupy Shanba Port? If Basten has not obtained this permission, it would be natural for the Huang family to organize a counterattack. Our people would be a member of the Huang family's army."

"I think it's OK!" Wu Tingwei immediately agreed.

"What if the king has confirmed Voc's power?" Huang Lu asked.

"I think it's not there yet," Cui Yunhong said, "because Huang Shibei is still alive."

Keeping Huang Shibei, the king still has room for maneuver. There is no doubt that the Huang family has accumulated more than 200 years of power, and they will not do anything at the moment when they are cautious.

However, if the Huang family cannot react strongly, then Huang Shibei's life will be in danger.

"What are we going to interfere with the Dutch's actions? We have no army, the Sea Blue has already gone to Batavia to load goods, and the Yefeng still has to defend the safety of the Silla base camp." Chen Pengyu questioned.

The only ones they could call their armed forces were thirty soldiers and a gunboat in one platoon. The protection base was barely enough. How could they have the ability to free up their hands to help the Huang family?

There are quite a few people. There are more than 800 workers in Silla, including "explorers" and "constructors" from Hainan, "handymen" recruited locally, and "captives" like Lin Laowu.

Of course, handymen and prisoners cannot count on them. Naturalized migrant workers are disciplined, but they only have less than 500 people. They have not undergone rigorous military training and do not have enough weapons.

"We don't know how many enemies there are in Shanba Port. However, judging from the Huang family's statement and our personal experience, the enemy is well-trained and well-equipped. With our strength, counterattack is basically about delivering vegetables..." Cui Yunhong said, "And none of us have military command experience..."

Wu Tingwei said: "I think he was the one in charge of the Huang family's military command. It should not be a problem to command hundreds of people. The key is that there are too few people. I wonder how many pirates are there?"

"I think, you might as well agree to help," Cui Yunhong thought carefully, "Didn't it meant that agents war? Okay, we will give money, food, guns and cannons, and we will provide appropriate support for some technical troops - artillery and other things."

"But what about people? If we don't arm the miners, they will only have more than 100 people." Wu Tingwei said hurriedly.

"Miners can't give them, local handymen can." Cui Yunhong knew that once naturalized people joined the war, there would inevitably be a large number of casualties, which would be difficult to explain at that time. Moreover, in his psychology, he was unwilling to receive training, and naturalized people with work experience would suffer a large number of casualties.

"And the key to their lack of people now is that they have no money. If there is money here, someone will work hard for you. Recruiting thousands of people is not a problem." Cui Yunhong said, "The Huang family goes everywhere to find support from allies, but after the old nest is taken, it cannot provide any benefits to exchange. It depends entirely on painting cakes - how can others do their best?"

"They don't have any other industries outside of Shanba?" Huang Lu was a little disbelief, "There should be manors, deposits, etc. elsewhere."

"Maybe there are, but not too much. They are agriculture-based groups, and their trade income is only a small part of the money. And their own expenses will not be too little." Cui Yunhong said something and thought of it: "We can take out loans!"

"Loan?!" Several people suddenly widened their eyes. How did the Huang family's "restoration plan" involve "loan"?

"Don't be surprised. It has been common for people to borrow money for war since ancient times. In order to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and raise military expenses for the uprising, Mr. Zhongshan issued bonds in the United States and Southeast Asia. What the Huang family lacks the most now is money. Let's issue loans to them..."

"Big Boss! Where is the money?" Huang Lu couldn't help but remind Cui Yunhong who was beginning to be excited.

Most of the funds allocated by the Nanyang Company to the exploration team are used to purchase materials and pay handymen's wages and supplies bills. Even if there is a surplus, it is far from enough to support a war. Moreover, it cannot be reported.

"Money is a problem, it's a problem." Cui Yunhong suddenly remembered something after thinking for a moment and asked Huang Lu, "Before we came to Shiriya, you were in Mala and Dacheng for more than a month and met many locals. I remember you said that there were a few Indian lenders who were very rich..."

"Are you talking about Indian money dealers?" Huang Lu understood what he meant at once, "These Sans are so bad, and the annual interest rate of borrowing money is about 100-150%..."

"It's not our borrowing, it's the Huang family. What are you worried about the interest?"

"Big Boss, you don't need to pass by our hands if you borrow money. They have been here for hundreds of years, and the business network here is so familiar. I think this brain has also been used."

"They will borrow, let alone 150%, 1000%, A San will not dare to lend them - if you are a bank, will you dare to give mortgages to people who have lost their house?" Cui Yunhong was confident, "We will definitely be able to borrow." As he said that, he looked at the veterans, "What do you think?"

"If it is indirect intervention, I don't object." Chen Pengyu said.

Qin Xike also nodded: "The loan must be signed by the Huang family!"

"Of course. We are just as guarantors. We also have to sign a relevant agreement with the Huang family to ensure the safety of the loan guarantee."

Of course, this is just Cui Yunhong's words. If the counterattack fails, even if the Huang family's aunt and nephew are sold, they will not be able to pay such a large loan. It is definitely the Senate that the elders of the exploration team will be in trouble. Needless to say, the elders of the exploration team will also have to lose. However, neither Cui Yunhong nor other veterans will feel that they will fail.

"Since you are preparing for a loan, you still have to discuss with Huang Shidong and the others. How much does it cost to borrow, how much interest, and how long does it take to borrow. After all, they will eventually repay the loan. We cannot overestimate their economic strength - after the pirates, there is not much treasure left in the Huang family." Wu Tingwei said.

"According to the Huang family's aunt and nephew, there were at least six or seven hundred people..." Huang Lu said.


Chapter completed!