"Your Highness, the Dutch fleet has a total of more than 120 large and small ships!"
"Among them are five third-level sailing battleships, seven fourth-level sailing battleships, and fourteen fifth-level sailing battleships!"
"The rest are armed Dutch merchant ships!"
The lookout stood next to Zhu Hongyu and reported to him the number of warships in the Dutch fleet that he had observed!
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly.
"Instruct the entire army to prepare to engage the enemy!"
To be honest, the strength of the Netherlands in the East during this period far exceeded the sum of other European colonial countries.
They have been operating Batavia longer than the Spanish have been operating Manila.
Although the Dutch's sailing battle fleet in the east was not large, compared with the Spanish fleet in Manila, it was only half a weight.
Even if it is more, it is not much.
But there are so many merchant ships that cannot stand up to the Dutch!
During this period, Dutch shipyards built almost half of the world's annual shipbuilding.
The Dutch's armed merchant ships in the East can be gathered together to form a fleet, and there will not be much pressure on them.
…
On the other side, on the flagship of the Dutch fleet.
"Your Excellency, Commander Raymond, the strength of the Ming fleet opposite is extraordinary!"
Adjutant Reins said so.
No need for Adjutant Reins to say anything, Commander Raymond already had a solemn look on his face.
As a man with extremely rich experience in naval warfare and having fought against the British Armada on the sea, he has a very keen sense of battle.
Looking at the Ming army's fleet, I subconsciously sensed the danger!
After touching the pure gold cross on his chest, he calmed down.
"Damn Imberian peninsula stupid pig!"
"If they hadn't given all their battleships to the Ming people for free, how could the Ming people dare to challenge our great sea coachmen in Batavia now?"
Raymond was very angry, his tone full of contempt and dissatisfaction with the Spanish.
In his opinion, if the Spaniards had not sent so many battleships to the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's fleet would have been vulnerable!
However, Raymond's anger cannot change reality.
The distance between the fleets of both sides is getting closer and closer, and the naval battle is about to break out.
…
Batavia, in Governor Robel's office.
Looking at the various news reported continuously below, Luo Bei's face didn't look very good.
Years ago, news came back that Commander Vanderlaan had reached an agreement with the Qing court, which made Luo Bei breathe a sigh of relief.
With the agreement with the Qing court, the company's seventeen-member board of directors should not punish him for the loss of a senior member!
However, before Luo Bei could relax, news came from the north.
The Ming fleet set off from Luzon and headed south to attack Batavia!
Hearing this news, Luo Bei couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Originally, their plan was to support the Qing Dynasty and let the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty fight to the death, and they would reap the benefits later.
They have become very skilled at this kind of routine during their colonial expansion over the years!
Support local powerful factions, bring one faction to fight with another, sow discord, and instigate war...
And then they profit from it!
However, Luo Bei could not have imagined that they would be preparing to help the Qing Dynasty build a navy.
The Ming Dynasty forgot about the war with the Qing Dynasty, and the main fleet chose to go south, preparing to attack Batavia.
He looked like he was going to fight them to the death!
This is good news. The Dutch's original plan of hiding behind the Qing Dynasty to reap benefits came to nothing!
Instead, he had to face the pressure from the Ming Navy on behalf of the Qing Dynasty!
A typical example of stealing the chicken but losing the rice!
Moreover, even if the Dutch gave up and said they would not fight this battle, there was no way the Ming Dynasty would agree to it!
The atmosphere has reached this point. Zhu Hongyu and Zheng Chenggong have both personally led the fleet to set off. How can they say that there will be no fight if there is no fight?
Doesn’t he, Zhu Hongyu, have no face?
Although Luo Bei felt unhappy, the matter had come to this and he had no other choice.
He had no choice but to order the fleet to prepare for war and recruit armed merchant ships from Batavia to prepare to participate in the naval battle with the Ming fleet.
However, Luo Bei's order to prepare for a naval battle had just been issued when news came from Batavia.
The local Chinese in Batavia have begun to communicate with each other, as if they are preparing for an uprising...
Damn you chicken!
Internal and external troubles are now in order!
Luo Bei began to feel that even if Batavia could win this wave, he would definitely not be able to continue as governor.
Luo Bei called Xi Luolai and gave instructions to Xi Luolai.
"My dear Silo, please go there personally and inform our governors in various places to strictly investigate the collusion between Chinese people in various places."
"Once they discover local Chinese uprisings, they will suppress them immediately."
"But you have to remind those dear consuls not to attack Chinese civilians when they are suppressing rebellion."
"Although I firmly believe that the Sea Coachman's fleet is invincible in the East, no one dares to guarantee that we will win this battle until the outcome is decided on the battlefield!"
"So, leave a way for ourselves to escape!"
"Just like the Portuguese, although they were defeated and lost Macau, the lives, property and freedom of the Portuguese in Macau were guaranteed!"
"Their governors and officials are treated decently!"
"I don't want what happened to those stupid pigs of the Imbilia Peninsula in Luzon to happen to us again if we are defeated!"
"I don't want to be Ling Chi alive!"
The Liberation Army in Luzon purged the Spaniards who had participated in the massacre of China, and the deterrent effect was quite obvious.
In this regard, Luo Bei deliberately explained to the following: It is okay to suppress rebellion, but do not attack the Chinese people.
Facts have proved that it is useless to reason with these colonists!
The only thing they can understand is the roar of cannons!
The only warning that can be remembered is blood and killing!
Silolai seemed to think of the tragic situation of the Spaniards in Luzon, and subconsciously shuddered before speaking.
"Don't worry, Governor, I will go and explain to them!"
Luo Bei waved his hand and signaled Silla to step back.
And he continued to be busy!
…
Batavia, the Liu family mansion!
The Liu family was the most prominent figure among the Chinese who settled in Batavia. The head of the Liu family, Liu Chuan, even had the name Kapitan on his head.
The Liu family is well-known in the entire Chinese circle.
Li Weiliang's brother Li Weida, the representative sent to Batavia to instigate the local Chinese uprising, came to visit Liu Chuan, the head of the Liu family, in person.
The head of the Liu family welcomed the people into the main hall and started talking.
After hearing the news that the Ming Dynasty King's army intended to conquer Batavia and needed them as the king's vanguard, Liu Chuan made a decisive decision.
"I, the Liu family, would like to be the eyes and ears of the King of the Ming Dynasty and the king's forerunner. Please tell me what we need to do, Mr. Li!"
Just the news that Master Wang was coming touched the heartstrings of the local powerful factions.
This shows how much influence the Ming Dynasty has in Nanyang.
Li Weida said.
"Find a way to contact people, make plans, and prepare for an attack!"
"His Royal Highness Jian Guo means that whoever conquers the city will govern it!"
"If anyone can lead the army to conquer Jakarta, His Highness the Governor will directly make him the governor of Jakarta!"
Jakarta is Batavia!
The original capital of the Banten Sultanate was renamed Batavia after it was occupied by the Dutch.