Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1001 The company's worries and ambitions
The news of the presence of the Australians in Formosa made the leaders of the East India Company in Batavia nervous-although the operation of the senior staff's business was not satisfactory, and its importance was greatly reduced after the signing of the trade agreement with the Australians, However, as a direct window for trade with China, Formosa still plays a pivotal role.

The Australians sent ships to spy on Formosa, which was terrible news for the Dutch.For this reason, the Council of De Capontier and Batavia sent Magdeburg to venture to Lingao during the typhoon season to find out the news.

Trini understood why they were so anxious. He pondered for a moment and said: "In the past few months, I can feel that they are planning a big operation. But I can't say that such an operation is aimed at the company."

Then he talked about the large-scale activities he witnessed in Lingao: a large number of imports and exports of materials, frequent transfers of personnel, and active shipbuilding operations.He clearly felt that the Australians had entered a state of war,

"All the establishments, factories and ships of the Australians are running at full speed..." Mr Triney said, "especially the ships are coming in and out of the port very frequently. There is a constant flow of goods in and out - you know, this is not the trading season. .”

"If that's the case, why do you still think that the Australians' preparations are not targeting companies?"

"It's very simple. Because they are raising equipment for use in the cold northern regions." Trini said, "The order they submitted to the company involves many materials that cannot be used in Formosa. I think you are also very clear about this." .”

After his reminder, Van der Laantelon remembered that the Australians recently ordered a lot of woolen wool and leather, and also purchased Persian raw wool and Indian raw cotton.None of these goods can be used in Formosa.

"Secondly, excuse me for the offense: I don't think the Australians need to prepare for war so extensively with the company's full strength in East Asia. Their opponents are much stronger and bigger than our masters."

Van der Lanteron nodded: "You are very reasonable. However, in order to reassure the governor and the adults of the council, I still hope to know exactly where they want to do it—and why they want to go to Fukuoka. Mosa go?"

"I think they chose to target the Ming country, which is the Chinese. They may have come to Formosa for various motives - such as to obtain a stopover point, I don't know the specifics..."

"Please go on."

"The Ming country has a vast territory, a large population, and unparalleled wealth. The Australians have traveled thousands of miles to East Asia, and they have such a powerful military force. If the Ming country is not among the targets of their conquest and plunder, I will feel that Surprised." Trini said, "Besides, they chose Lingao on purpose."

"Well, assuming that the Australians are about to launch an expedition against Ming, what do you think their chances of winning are?"

"There is no doubt that they can easily defeat the Chinese army ten times their size, but it is obviously difficult to conquer the whole of China-at least not in the short term." Trini said, "China's territory is too vast Well, the Australians are a little less powerful to conquer such a country."

"Assuming, just assuming. If one day the company wants to go to war with the Australians, can the company achieve a favorable peaceful ending?"

"Forgive me, I'm afraid it will be very difficult. Peace is sure to come, but the outcome may not be favorable." Trini said, "The military potential of the Australians is amazing. Once it works, I am afraid that no one will be their opponent. "

"What if their potential has not been unfolded?"

"Is this also included in your mission?"

"Three or four directors -- you understand, they're masters, and they're not in Batavia. So they're proposing... wanting to evaluate... whether it's worth taking Australian territory."

Compared with the barren Dayuan, Lingao is lively and prosperous.After full construction, there are many military industries and large shipyards, and its comprehensive strength is much stronger than that of the Portuguese Macao.If it can be captured, it is obviously a very ideal base for trade with China or even East Asia trade.

The Senate was well aware of Trini's entrustment, but did not mind it.

Since the Senate is about to carry out the engine operation, it does not want to disperse its forces for unexpected attackers, so it very much hopes to let the Dutch understand that their military strength cannot be challenged by anyone.

So Trini was sometimes even invited by the Ministry of Foreign Intelligence to visit the army and navy training, and was allowed to draw the fubo army at close range.It’s just that Australians have a lot of requirements for painting, such as requiring soldiers to have a head-to-body ratio of 1:7, muscles to be drawn in Greek style, and shoulders to be the same shape as Germans...

However, these were originally similar to the scholastic paintings of the Renaissance, and Trini was naturally happy to complete them.

"I don't intend to offend my lords, but this idea is—too crazy. Australians have great confidence in their own force, so they showed me their force very casually, and asked me to keep sending the picture album back to Badawi Ya."

"Then what do you think?"

"From my personal observation, Australian soldiers are actually local aborigines, and most of them are Chinese. Only a very small number of officers are Australians. When they recruit soldiers from the mainland, their physique is very poor - compared to monkeys in Southeast Asia They are not as strong as there. But now the speed and hit rate they shoot with muskets is terrifying. I have never seen such a strong professional soldier... The officers are also very good-by some as much as Gusta I have seen many times that they get up before dawn, and then walk quietly from one county to another on foot."

"That means they didn't maneuver on foot because they didn't have a boat."

"They're just training their troops to go over mountains quickly and then go into battle, and that's what virtually every soldier does."

"Great Hannibal...?"

"Whether they can match Hannibal's level is difficult for me to judge, Your Excellency, but their combat power clearly surpasses most armies I have seen."

"As for the boats, they don't have enough boats yet. But there will be many in the future. Your Excellency. Please be sure to take this picture book home and tell the people of Badawi that the Australians built it in fourteen weeks. A sailing ship of several hundred tons."

"what?!"

"Their shipyards are very efficient, but I have never been able to get close. From a distance, it seems that many ships are being built side by side at the same time. The second same ship is launched 10 days later."

"It's so amazing, I thought I'd better check it out with my own eyes."

"Before you go, you will see the next one going into the water"

"Do you think Australians have any intention of going south?"

"It's a matter of time." Trini smiled slightly, "When you have a unparalleled army and a powerful fleet, will you let them go home and farm?"

"Your work is really excellent, I will recommend you to the Council of Batavia"

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I'm an Italian. Italians don't have a homeland. My homeland is the job my employer gives me."

"What do you think of Lingao?"

"I really hope Lingao is in Italy."

"Fortunately, Lingao is not in Italy." Van der Lantron said.

"It doesn't matter where Lingao is." Trini realized that Van der Laantelon's inquiry had come to an end. He stood up, took out a bottle of rum from the wine cabinet, took out two bottles of "soda water" and two He took a glass, took some crushed ice from the "freezer," and mixed two shots of rum and soda in the fashionable local fashion.

"A delightful treat," van der Laantelon praised after drinking it.

"Australian ambitions or goals are for our masters to consider. Now I have an Australian project to present to the council."

"Oh? Was it proposed by the Australians?"

"Yes, the Australians provided me with a batch of agricultural books and pictures, and asked me to translate them into a picture book." Trini said, handed him a thick book, sat down on the sofa, and continued to explain, "Australia People are going to give us some seedlings for the company to plant on one of the small islands in the Moluccas, and they buy the mature crop."

"what is it then?"

"Looks like a rubber tree to me."

"The rubber tree?" Although the rubber tree and rubber had been known since the time of Columbus, the plant was unknown to Europeans at this time.Trini also had a certain knowledge of natural history to recognize this plant that was not seen in Europe.

"Yes, an American plant..."

Trini became interested: "They have also been to America?"

"Very likely, otherwise how could they provide rubber tree seedlings."

"What do they want these rubber trees for? Why not plant them on the land they occupy—you said that the Australians now actually occupy the entire island."

"I think they lack enough labor. As for the role of rubber trees, I don't know." Trini knew that rubber trees can secrete a sticky gel, which Indians use as balls and can also be used to smear cloth. Waterproof - but hardens once dry and is of little practical value.

The Australians want the company to plant this kind of plant, obviously they have mastered some kind of technology of using this colloid - the Moluccas are hotter and rainier than Lingao, and the climate is similar to the origin of rubber.It's no surprise that Australians have such thoughts.

"In addition, I think that since the Australians want the company to promote the cultivation of these crops in the Moluccas, they will not be interested in the company's property for at least seven years-otherwise their investment will become worthless?"

"Why ten years?"

"Because it takes at least seven years for rubber to grow to produce the rubber they need."

(End of this chapter)