Late Ming sea owl

Chapter 257: Destroying the Nest
Dongfan, Wanggang. The fire was burning fiercely, and the billowing smoke could be clearly seen in Dayuan, dozens of miles away.

In the Fort Zeelandia under construction, William Jansson, Batavia's plenipotentiary envoy to Japan, stood on a triangular fort, looking solemnly in the direction of Wanggang. Beside him stood Su Minggang, who had just arrived in Dayuan from his hometown of Tongan, and his son-in-law Monda.

Wilhelm Jansson's mission was not smooth. The mission of reopening Japan-Dutch trade was not completed, and the two Ahart ships that were seized from Hirado Trading Company were not recovered. He himself was even almost detained by Japan along with his ships.

However, the shogunate finally chose to let William Jansson go, allowing him to leave on the ship he came on. At the same time, he was also asked to tell Batavia that if anyone else came to Japan, they would be beheaded.

Yang Song had no choice but to return to Dayuan in disgrace, but on the way he happened to see the fleet of Huiyou Company setting out on an expedition.

His galleon was at a distance at the time, and he carefully observed the fleet through a telescope and clearly saw the flag of "Sword and Ledger" that Van Diemen, a member of the East India Council, had shown him.

Yang Song was astonished by the scale of the fleet. The novel sails were even more impressive. The strange Western-style schooners also gave him a strong visual impact.

Yang Song wanted to get closer so that he could see the number of the fleet's broadside guns, but he finally resisted the urge, thinking that the Dayuan side must have had detailed intelligence about this fleet.

When he arrived in Tainan, he found that the new chief, Peter Nuyzi, knew nothing about this. He was busy visiting his native lover's house every day and ignored the threat that was so close.

Nuiz had only been in Asia for less than half a year and knew nothing about local affairs. He was full of the arrogance of a Western European.

When Yang Song reminded him to pay attention to the Ming company in the north, Nu Yizi sneered at this and even ruthlessly ridiculed him for being cowardly. He said that it was his cowardice that made the Japanese think that VOC was nothing to be afraid of, so that this mission could not be completed.

Nuys was a special member of the East India Council appointed by the Seventeen Gentlemen. His status in the company was much higher than that of Yang Song, and the latter could only be angry but not say anything.

Yang Song did not want to stay in Dayuan any longer, so he sent Su Minggang's son-in-law Mengda to Tongan and asked him to come to Dayuan as soon as possible so that he could set off for Batavia as soon as possible. As a result, not long after Su Minggang met Yang Song, a raging fire broke out in the direction of Wanggang.

"Kapitan Minggang, you said that direction is the pirate port of Nicholas I-Kuan, right?" William Yangsong asked Su Minggang. Nicholas I-Kuan is Zheng Zhilong's Christian name.

Mengda translated Yang Song's words into Chinese, and Su Minggang said, "Yes, Mr. Yang Song, I think the fleet that is attacking that port is the one you saw."

"Yes, the patrol ship of Dayuan also discovered the fleet today." Yang Song then asked, "Do you think Nicholas Yiguan's forces will be eliminated?"

"Of course, Mr. Yang Song doesn't know yet, right? Zheng Yi Guan has been trapped in an isolated city by that Ming general. The fire in Wanggang was just that general destroying Zheng Yi Guan's lair."

"So that's how it is..." Yang Song showed a look of regret on his face. He knew the attitude of Jan Peterszohn Cohen, the general manager of Batavia, towards the Huiyou Company. After seeing the fleet with his own eyes, he originally planned to suggest Cohen to join forces with Zheng Zhilong. After all, the VOC's troops were too few and there were too many places to divide them. If they wanted to completely wipe out the Ming company, relying on naval forces alone might not be enough.

"Mr. Cohen, what decision will you make?" William Jansson turned and looked at the sky to the south, but soon felt relieved: Although this Ming company is not simple, it is still far from threatening VOC's maritime hegemony.

He is just an employee and has no shares in VOC. After working for a few more years, he plans to return to the Netherlands to find another way to make a living. Why should he worry about such long-term issues?
In Wanggang, the fleet of Huiyou Company is slowly sailing out of the harbor.

Shibi and Miguel, the backbone and old employees who have equity, are very excited. The spoils of this nest raiding operation are so rich. Suddenly getting such an unplanned income when the year is about to end means that this year's dividends must be considerable.

Finally, the two men agreed that Shibi would temporarily hand over the command of the Dingyuan to Miguel, who would escort the captured women and children and property back to Tamsui, while he would lead the Bowang, Feng Fengshi, Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang to Xiamen again.

After Shibi arrived at Xihu Port, he immediately went to the military camp to report the situation of the nest raid to Lin Hai. At this time, it had been two days since the Vanguard Bureau captured the trenches around the city.

During these two days, the pirates in the city did not leave the city again, and Lin Hai did not attack the city. He was waiting for news from Wanggang.

After the two met in the central army tent, Shibi reported to Lin Hai: "General, this operation went very smoothly. The red-haired people in Dayuan really didn't dare to move. We seized more than 700,000 taels of silver, in addition to a large number of silk, deerskin, porcelain and other goods. The specific amount has not been detailed yet, but after selling them to Japan, it will be at least 500,000 or 600,000 taels."

“There are so many?” Lin Hai was also a little surprised. This amount exceeded the angel round of financing!

According to Li Guozhu, Li Dan's family assets before his death were probably only in the millions. It seems that Zheng Zhilong has indeed robbed a lot in the past two years. After all, he first spent a lot of money in the gang, and then started training the Marine Corps, and his expenses were much higher than Li Dan's.

But then again, Lin's income from robbery in the past two years was unparalleled: first he robbed the imperial envoys in Liaohai, then he robbed the Wu family's silk goods in Lihai, and then he robbed the Spaniards in Keelung, and then Li Shi and Zheng Zhilong. The total amount added up to nearly four million taels.

Lin Hai was really helpless, too helpless. He really just wanted to be a maritime merchant, but there were always people rushing to be robbed. This feeling was really... so fucking good.

"No more, no less. I'm probably underestimating it." Shibi's excitement hadn't worn off yet, and he said happily, "Brother-in-law, if Zhu Niang hadn't met you, I wouldn't have dared to dream that this day would come true!"

"The best is yet to come. When we become the maritime hegemon of the South Seas, you won't dare to imagine how much money we can make from legitimate business every year..." Lin Hai said, "But we have to eat one bite at a time. The most important thing right now is to completely destroy Zheng Zhilong."

Shibi nodded repeatedly, and Lin Hai continued, "Brother-in-law, how many prisoners did you bring back this time?"

(End of this chapter)