Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1021
"These nasty yellow-skinned monkeys, they only know cannons and matchlock guns! Only by beating them hard will they teach them how to get along with people!" When Putmans thought this way, he looked at the beings in disgust. Workers working on the expansion of the New Zeelandia Castle - most of them are local Han immigrants.The labor shortage has been a headache for Taiwan's chief executive.The company that the Dutch brought to the island never numbered more than a thousand, even including slaves and hired East Indians.And there was always a constant attrition: some were hospitalized, some died.He had to hire Chinese to complete most of the civil engineering and reclamation operations, which was expensive in terms of manpower, which made his financial situation even worse.

But he didn't dare to be careless about defensive matters.The company has hundreds of thousands of dong in cash and goods stored in the shop of the big man. In case of a mistake, the company will never forgive itself-the directors of the seven provinces and republics will never forgive those who damage their profits. Be merciful—Peter Natz's fate was real.

However, things have turned around recently in terms of trade with China. Zheng Zhilong—the rise of Liu Xianglao has softened his attitude again—at least in terms of trade cooperation, he is not as blunt as in the past.Last month, Zheng Zhilong's envoy also brought him a letter, exploring the possibility of support from the Dutch.

Putmans got the news that the council had agreed to give Liu Xiang old secret support.The two old brigs had been sold to Liu Xianglao, and the more pressure Zheng Zhilong felt, the more harmonious his attitude with the Dutchman would be.Of course, Putmans thought, if Liu Xianglao was too powerful, it would be quite disadvantageous to the officials.Pirates are always difficult to control.

However, now he has one more worrying thing. From the natives who sell deerskins in Zeelandia, they learned that a fleet of "innumerable giant ships" has arrived in Tagou and is heading to the coast. Unload the cargo and get ready to build the house.

Putmans was a little skeptical about this news: firstly, the concept of the number of natives is not good, and when the number is too large, it is difficult to count, and only concepts such as "many" and "innumerable" can be used, but it can make the natives People said "innumerable", at least a dozen or twenty ships arrived in Dagou, and they were all "giant ships". Small fishing boats off the coast of China will not be regarded as "giant ships".

What can be called a "giant ship" is at least a ship of more than [-] tons.Apart from Zheng Zhilong, the only ones who can mobilize so many ships in the East Asian waters are Liu Xiang, Spaniards and Australians.

No matter who came, they must have come with bad intentions if they landed less than ten miles away from the senior officials.Putmans has sent a scout ship to Dagou to find out the details of the local situation.

In fact, Putmans has some predictions about who will come: it is likely to be an Australian.A few months ago, a fast brig of the Australians had been to Tagou and killed dozens of Tagalyans at that time.This is likely to be the reconnaissance for this landing.

Australians, why are you interested in this place?Don't you have Hong Kong Island?Putmans secretly thought, if the company could occupy such a good big island in the Pearl River Estuary, it would have been content to carry out large-scale trade in the Pearl River Estuary.How could he come to this deserted island full of savages?Needless to say, the diseases here alone kill dozens of soldiers and sailors every year.

As a merchant and soldier in the seventeenth century, Putmans could not understand the important position of Taiwan Island in the new industrial system established by the Senate.

He looked worriedly at the busy construction site—hope the visitor was not an enemy with ulterior motives for the senior staff.His gaze shifted from the Zeelandia Castle, which was being expanded, to the other side of the harbor, east of the Taijiang River.Now there is only one simple fortress. Although it is also built with bricks and stones, it is very small and can only accommodate fifty soldiers and a small amount of artillery.If the city can be transformed into a strong bastion, the two cities can form a pattern of mutual support.Coupled with the fort on Beixian Wei Island, the safety of the entire staff can be fully guaranteed.

It's a pity that his current resources are only enough for the expansion of Zeelandia Castle, and he can only be satisfied with minor repairs to other fortifications.

"My lord, the communication ship Bornstein is back." The servant came to report.

"Please come to me immediately, captain!"

The news brought by the communication ship Bornstein confirmed his speculation: it was indeed an Australian.

"Australians have a total of 27 boats moored at Tagou. All are brigantines." The captain reported, "The smallest boat is 150 Rusters."

It also included the smoky clippers reported by the consul stationed in Lingao. The size of one ship left a deep impression on the captain.This is a large ship equivalent to the largest Spanish galleon, but the shape of the ship is much more slender and beautiful.There are two masts, also belching black smoke.The captain thought the ship might be the flagship of the Australian fleet.Because there are many different flags flying on it.

According to the captain's report, the Australians have built a wooden trestle bridge in Dagou Port, and built a three-story circular fort next to the trestle bridge.Meanwhile, about a dozen wooden houses have been erected on the shore.

"Are you telling the truth?" Putmans opened his eyes wide in surprise—it has only been ten days since he received the news of the Australians' landing, and the Australians have built so many buildings?You must know that just building a wooden trestle bridge is a huge project, and the first boarders used small boats to transport people and goods in bulk.

"Yes, my lord. I have indeed seen it with my own eyes."

"Well, have the Australians responded to your arrival?"

“They just sent a small boat to ask me why I was here,” Captain Hui reported. “I said I was on a voyage to Xiaoliuqiu to carry trade goods. They let me go.” He went on to add, “ The small boats they used didn’t use sails or long oars, they were very fast, and they kept emitting black smoke.”

"You answered very well." Putmans nodded, "You take a break first, then ship some trade goods, and then go to fight dogs. I am now appointing you to serve as the junior businessman on the Bornstein. Your task is In the name of trade, enter the fight, contact the highest officials of the Australian fleet, and try to find out their real intentions in the local area. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord, I will arrange it now," said the captain.As he spoke, he bowed and stepped back a few steps to go out.Putmans called to him.

"Captain, do you believe in witchcraft?"

The captain's face turned pale. Whether in a Catholic country or a Protestant country, belief in witchcraft is a fatal crime.

"I don't believe it, my lord. I only believe in Almighty God."

"Very well, what do you think of Australians who smoke and don't use paddle boats?"

"I don't know, my lord," said the captain. "Witchcraft or not, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them if need be."

"very good."

After the captain left, Putmans thought about it for a while, and called Captain Heinrich Weidenfeller, the commander of the garrison.This German veteran commanded some 400 East India Company troops serving in Grandeur.It was a mixed force of Europeans, East Indies Yachts, blacks, and Japanese.

"I must tell you now that a battle is likely to break out here soon..." Putmans said, "How confident are you in defending the officers?"

"My lord, it depends on who the enemy is..." Captain Weidenfeller said politely, "If it is a Chinese, no matter if he is Liu Xiang, an official, or the army of Ming Dynasty, I am sure to deal with it— ―A soldier under my command can beat 25 Chinese people.」

"I'm glad you are so confident. But the opponent is likely to be a stronger enemy than the Spaniards..."

"Then I need to strengthen the fortifications and recruit everyone who can use weapons."

"Assemble the personnel, you start on a small scale first - recruit sailors to follow my instructions, I authorize you to immediately strengthen the existing defenses, I know that the fortifications are being expanded and repaired, you first use the conditions at hand to strengthen the defenses of the various fortifications. Double post every night! I don’t want to be caught off guard.”

"Yes sir."

Watching the captain withdraw, Putmans thought about the warehouse and the inventory and cash on the ship, and he was a little worried about his 25000 livre cargo.The Dutch United East India Company treated its own employees very harshly. Even if they became members of the council, the salaries of Formosa officials were very low. If they did not engage in smuggling activities to earn money, they would not be able to save much money.

The Dutch immediately became busy with the staff.Captain Weidenfeller ordered the laying of landmines on the beach, and at the same time raised the fence with bamboo poles on the northern line of Wei Island and other simple fortifications.Part of the artillery stored in the warehouse was also taken out to strengthen the forts.

Soldiers sent to protect missionaries and merchants were called back.Volunteers were recruited from the Japanese village near Dayuan, and some native Xingang people were also called up.A mixed team of natives and Dutchmen marched to Dagou by land, collecting intelligence along the way to see if there was a possibility of the Australians coming from land.

Under Putmans' order, all ships in the port were made ready for battle.Three large ships moved to the entrance of the South Channel, ready to intercept enemy ships attempting to break into the port at any time.As for the Northern Passage, the water was so shallow that the Australian ships, being so large, could not pass.In addition, there is already a fort on the end of the northern line, and the artillery fire on it is enough to block the northern channel.

(End of this chapter)