Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1020 The Zheng Brothers
"But the Dutch don't necessarily like them coming to Taiwan." Lin Yishao said.

"Hmm." Zheng Zhilong didn't answer, Lin Yishao's statement was indeed reasonable.No matter what status the Australians have in the hearts of the Dutch, Taiwan, the side of the couch, will never allow others to sleep soundly.Due to the treaty, the Dutch may not immediately turn their backs.

"Needless to say, the Dutch will surely come to borrow their swords to kill again." Lin Yishao said again.

The Zheng family has not yet been infected with the Shangguan faction, and the situation where the subordinates dare not say a word in fear does not exist here.Lin Yishao expressed his opinion naturally.But such an attitude is a great disrespect in the government.

Zheng Zhilong didn't answer his words: "You have worked hard this time, go pay 50 taels of silver, go back and have a good rest for a few days!"

After Lin Yishao left, Zheng Zhilong considered for a long time to sign the house in the house, and the Australians landed in Taiwan, making it clear that they wanted to get a foothold in the ocean of Fujian, and they must not be taken lightly.

He called out in Portuguese, and the black servant appeared again at the door.

"Go and invite the second master, the third master and the fourth master."

The so-called second master, third master and fourth master are his three brothers, who are also the leaders of the Zheng family: Zheng Zhihu, Zheng Zhifeng (Zheng Hongkui), and Zheng Zhibao.

There are several brothers in the Zheng family, including cousins, but the three brothers are Zheng Zhilong's confidantes and occupy a pivotal position in the family.

The meeting of the four Zheng brothers did not last long: it was obviously not acceptable to immediately use force against the Australians—this would only encourage the Australians to join forces with Liu Xiang.

"We should not add another opponent now." Zheng Zhilong said.The past 1630 was a turning point for the entire Zheng family. In 1629, Li Kuiqi even captured the Central Left Office for a time, discrediting him.He had to ask for the support of the Dutch on very high terms, and only then last year, in February of the third year of Chongzhen, he completely defeated Li Kuiqi, and then defeated Zhong Bin.Now, there is only one Liu Laoxiang left as his enemy.

He is very disgusted with the Dutch - not only because the Dutch play tricks and play tricks on the Taiwan Strait. When he was fighting Li Kuiqi and Zhong Bin, the Dutch bet on both sides. What he held grudges was that Peter Natz, the Dutch chief stationed in Taiwan, tricked him into boarding a ship and kidnapped him in the name of negotiation, extorted hundreds of taels of gold, and forced him to sign a trade agreement before releasing him.Not to mention the "glorious past" that the Dutch, regardless of their once cooperative relationship with him, joined forces with the government to try to eliminate him.

"I heard that Liu Xiang had a battle with the Kun thief before, and the two families had a bit of a feud, but that doesn't mean they won't join hands. We have also joined forces with Li Kuiqi and Liu Laoxiang before." Zheng Zhihu expressed his feelings Opinion, "I see that when they arrived in Taiwan, Liu Laoxiang and the Dutch may not be able to sit still."

"The Dutch are probably the most restless." Zheng Zhifeng said, "Look, it won't take long for the Dutch to come to us and give us favors. They provoked us to beat the Australians."

Zheng Zhibao flicked his beard: "We don't want to be their thugs. Let the Dutch do it themselves."

"In my opinion, the Dutchman has to be teased." Zheng Zhifeng said.

"Haha, that's right." The three brothers laughed together, but the eldest brother Zheng Zhilong just smiled.Not expressing emotions or anger is the key to being a leader or an official.Even in front of my own family.

"The Dutch are smarter businessmen than us," Zheng Zhilong said, "If you want them to do something, you can't do it without some material."

"What trick does brother have?"

"No trick, I have an idea," Zheng Zhilong said, "Let's not worry, tell Guo Huai to keep an eye on the thieves, see what they are doing and what they want to do, and then make a decision—anyway, people who are more anxious than us Some are..."

Zheng Zhilong had suffered enough from the Dutch before, so he was extremely wary of the Dutch.The sudden appearance of the Australians is a greater threat to the Dutch, and he might as well use the Australians to contain the Dutch.

"Zhibao, you go to Jinmen Island tomorrow to see that Troodnius." Zheng Zhilong said, "Ask the tone of the Dutchman—he has frequent contacts with the officials, and he should have a lot of information. Look at them What do you think of Australians?"

Trodneus was a senior businessman of a senior official, and Hans Putmans stationed him in Zhangzhou Bay to be in charge of contacting Zheng Zhilong and other Chinese businessmen who entered and exited Anping.

"I'll see him tomorrow, brother."

Hans Putmans looked out the window of the merchant house at the ships moored in the harbour.Several junk ships have just returned from Zhangzhou Bay, and in addition to various trade goods, they also brought tens of thousands of red bricks, many stones and timber
So much building material was brought in to expand Zeelandia Castle and a series of fortifications around Daguan.Although Putmans took office at a time when his trade was at a serious loss, he set about spending money on fortifications—not without reason.

When Hans Putmans took office in 1629, the entire Dali was in an unprecedented crisis. On the one hand, the trade of Dali was not profitable, and the trade with Japan broke out because of his predecessor Natz’s mishandling. The Tian Yabei Incident interrupted the trade with China, and the trade with China was not well developed. The Dutch could not open the door to direct trade with China, and were trapped in the struggles of various sea owners along the coast, which almost came to a standstill.On the other hand, the Spaniards are ready to move. The Spaniards not only built castles in chicken coops and fresh water, but also dispatched a fleet from the Philippines to try to expel the Dutch in one go. If it wasn't for a storm that dispersed the fleet, the defenseless The fall of the great officials is inevitable.

Finally, there is the harassment of the local natives.Several aboriginal communities around Dayuan had tense relations with the Dutch.The Dutch and the Chinese who served them were constantly attacked by the Madou Society and the Mujialiu Society, including meaningless headhunting and conflicts of interest.His predecessor Natz made a great "contribution" in intensifying the relationship with the local natives.The safe zone for the Dutch was limited to less than a few miles around the Dauphine.Just eight days before Putmans took office, more than 50 Dutch soldiers were raided by the local Madou Club on their way to fight against Chinese pirates, and the entire army was wiped out.

Similar things, but with less casualties, are emerging in an endless stream locally.In particular, the aborigines are equally hostile to the Dutch and the Chinese immigrants. The Chinese are often attacked by the local aborigines when they hunt and cultivate locally.

Combating pirates, suppressing natives, and trying to expand trade, these are the three major problems facing the fifth chief executive of the Dutch United East India Company in Formosa.

Hans Putmans was of military origin and very capable.He came to East India in 1624 as a low-level businessman, and was promoted to a businessman in 1626. He made great contributions when Batavia was besieged by the local king.In less than 5 years, he was qualified as a member of the East India Council.

Probably because of his military background, Hans Putmans has a firm and resolute personality and is keen on using force.At the beginning of his tenure, he began to crusade against the small group of Chinese pirates haunting the local area, and at the same time carried out continuous military retaliation against the hostile local natives.At the same time, he also asked the East India Council to send him 1300 soldiers and the necessary weapons to expel the Spaniards occupying northern Formosa and bring their castles under the company's jurisdiction-a request that was rejected. It's a matter of course to refuse.The size of the company's army in the East India region never exceeded 8000 men.Even if Spain can be expelled for a while, ruling such a large area will inevitably impose a great burden on the company.We must know that so far, Dayuan's trade is still in a state of loss.At the beginning of Putmans's tenure, the business house of the senior officer did not make a single sea trade for four months, and the company was almost about to give up the place due to internal and external difficulties. In the end, it was only because it valued that it was a trade window facing China that it barely managed to support it. down.

Since the company signed a trade agreement with the Australians, the status of the chief executive has declined dramatically.Hans Putmans learned from the correspondence that the company obtained a large amount of Chinese goods from Lingao and Hong Kong under the control of the Australians, and it was very rare to use goods instead of silver to pay for the goods.

Putmans is very clear: if it weren't for the location of Lingao and Hong Kong too far to the south, it would be impossible to take care of trade with Japan, and the company would probably give up its senior staff to Zheng Zhilong.

As the chief executive of a senior officer, the aspiring Putmans certainly did not want the senior staff shop to close down in his own hands.He has always dreamed of opening direct trade channels with China.But so far he has not succeeded - Zheng Zhilong's attitude is erratic.The court and officials of the Ming Dynasty were also elusive: they did not respond to any proposals and negotiations made by the company, and used various means to obstruct trade, no matter the request.Bribes and threats get nowhere.Chinese businessmen are either unwilling to enter Dayuan Trading and sail directly to Manila, or they promise to purchase goods on behalf of others but run away with the company's prepaid deposit.

Hans Putmans came to a conclusion: to trade with the Chinese, force must be used.Use force to conquer a certain port along the coast of China, establish a stronghold, and then force the Chinese government to agree to the trade between the two sides by continuously plundering maritime trade.He has written a report on this plan and submitted it to the Council of Batavia for discussion.

(End of this chapter)