At this time, the Netherlands reached its historical peak.
The huge Dutch East India Company occupied the Strait of Malacca, Java Island and other Southeast Asian islands, including the largest Indonesia, and even Taiwan, Japan's massive trade, which can be said to have strangled the throat of Southeast Asia.
Since Portugal was annexed by Spain, it has been continuously defeated by it. Even the small Macau has been bullied repeatedly.
Only the Spanish could barely compete in Manila, Philippines, but they were also attacked in the second year of Hongguang (1646) and returned without success.
If we use the Three Kingdoms as an analogy, the Netherlands at this time would be Cao Wei, the Portuguese hiding in Macau would be Shu Han, and the Spaniards occupying Manila would be Soochow.
If the Ming Dynasty returned to its maritime hegemony, the first obstacle it would encounter would be the Dutch.
It can be said that the Dutch were the biggest stumbling block for the Ming Dynasty in the East.
As for suppressing bandits, it is no exaggeration to say that 90% of the Dutch merchant ships are part-time pirates. The Dutch got their start by plundering Spanish silver treasure ships.
That's all, but unfortunately worse news keeps coming.
Dutch Taiwan received a large number of letters from businessmen, and they revealed that the overlord of the China Sea, Zheng Zhilong, was back.
"What? Zheng Zhilong is back? Didn't he go north to fight the Tatars?"
O. Feuerberg, the governor-general of the Netherlands Taiwan, was shocked. His round face was full of fat due to corruption, and he kept shaking it.
The tight belt was stretched straight, carrying indescribable pressure.
The protruding belly was shaking constantly, reflecting the owner's nervous and urgent mood.
It's no wonder that he is like this, Zheng Zhilong is really famous.
From the Tianqi period to Chongzhen, the Dutch had been actively trying to establish a trading point for 20 or 30 years. They tried twice in Penghu and once in Xiamen, but they were defeated in both cases.
Especially in the Battle of Kinmen in the sixth year of Chongzhen's reign, also known as the Battle of Liaoluo Bay, the Dutch were defeated and Zheng Zhilong's hegemony over the East China Sea was completely recognized.
While Zheng Zhilong focused his attention on the north, the land of Dajuan was constantly being encroached upon by the Dutch, and they even colluded with the Tibetan people to kill the Han people.
Now that Zheng Zhilong is back, it will be no less than a disaster for the weak Dutch Taiwan.
"Sir Governor, is that the Chinese pirate king Zheng Zhilong who has 3,000 warships and 200,000 troops?"
"Oh my God."
Gilson, the newly appointed senior businessman on the side, was shocked when he heard this and couldn't help but marvel.
Even the head of the army, Qiao Xiuer, couldn't help but waved his hands in fear: "We can't defeat this Chinese pirate, we still have to think long term."
"At that time, those pensions alone will bankrupt the company."
"But once Zheng comes back, the company will lose the most guilders due to the high tolls."
Governor Felberg slapped his forehead in annoyance, his chest kept rising and falling, and it was obvious that he was not in a calm mood.
Since a war broke out between the Dutch army stationed in Taiwan and the Zheng army in the seventh year of Tianqi (1627), and the Dutch army was defeated, Zheng Zhilong has determined his hegemony in the China Sea.
Zheng Zhilong stipulated that all merchant ships passing through the South China Sea should be charged a toll of 3,000 taels of silver per year for each ocean-going ship, including Dutch, British and other Western European merchant ships. Only after paying the toll and flying the "Zheng" flag can trade smoothly.
Otherwise, it may be eradicated at any time.
The toll collection alone amounts to millions of taels every year.
This was also the beginning of Zheng Zhilong's sudden wealth, but it was based on exploiting Dutch businessmen.
Whether it was to suppress bandits or something else, the news that Zheng Zhilong came back again two years after leaving Fujian was shocking enough.
Philippines, Governor's Palace, Manila.
"Akito really said that?"
Governor Dio's short and fat body was filled with great joy. His fat body was almost lying on the table. His green eyes were full of desire as he hurriedly confirmed.
"The Emperor of Ming Dynasty really wants to take down the chicken coop and ask the Dutch to do it."
"The Dutch have a monopoly on trade with Japan and are extremely rich. And I heard that the Ming Empire is hunting down the Tatars, so they must be raising military spending."
The merchants who came back from their missions said one after another: "The purpose of spreading rumors about the eradication of pirates is to confuse the Dutch."
When Dio heard this, he sighed heavily: "I hope it won't cause a catastrophe."
"What do you mean?"
"The Ming Empire looks different this time from the good guys before. How can such a huge empire not scare people?"
…
"Is this Xiamen?"
Sitting on the boat, Sun Lin looked into the distance, looking at the island-like Xiamen, and asked in surprise.
"This is Xiamen, it's time to take some rest."
At this time, in Xiamen, dozens of merchant ships, large and small, were moored, with sails fluttering. A large number of foreign businessmen gathered in the morning, and there were even more people from Franji, making it extremely lively.
Westerners with very different looks seemed to have become permanent residents at this time, appearing extremely free and easy.
Sun Lin was dumbfounded.
Zheng Zhilong on the side was very polite. He stepped onto the land swaggeringly and introduced:
"Xiamen is just an island, but it has already built a steel port, and merchants from Ming Dynasty, North Korea, Annan, Manila and other countries come and go..."
"Is there a government office?"
"Of course, I am an official of the imperial court, so naturally I have a government office."
Zheng Zhilong laughed.
Suddenly, hundreds of large and small warships suddenly appeared on the sea surface of the port. Although they were inferior to those of the navy, their skillful skills could score a lot of points.
"Crash-"
Suddenly, on the warship docked by the Donghai Navy, thousands of people came down one after another. They were wearing armor and holding sharp swords, and they looked extremely fierce and strong.
"This?" Zheng Zhilong was stunned: "There are also infantry in the navy?"
Obviously, the group of people in front of them are not sailors. They have a completely loose atmosphere and only have neat and orderly movements.
"This is the Marine Corps. It is composed of two thousand elite soldiers from the selected army. It can not only fight on ships at sea, but also land on shore to attack cities. It can be said to be extremely powerful."
Although Sun Lin is young, he has a calm attitude, neither arrogant nor impetuous, which makes people like him.
"This is because the navy is not good at attacking cities, so it was specially built to make up for the shortcomings of our navy."
"I wonder what your abilities are?" Zheng Zhilong was stunned and couldn't help but ask tentatively.
"Wouldn't it be clear by then?"
Sun Lin didn't take it seriously and said: "Taking down the chicken coop will no longer be a problem. Even the small nails of the senior officials will suffer one by one."
"Don't worry!" He lowered his head and said softly: "There are thousands of flintlock guns and countless gunpowder. The storage of them surprised the Red Devils."
"this……"
Zheng Zhilong glanced at Zheng Hongkui, who shook his head and smiled helplessly.
Obviously, Xiamen was completely unable to stop these two thousand people, and the imperial court was indeed so terrifying.