Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1630 The brewing storm

On June 1673, 6, the sky in Amsterdam was overcast, and it seemed that a heavy rain was about to hit. At this moment, the situation in the city was already boiling to the extreme: two days ago, the Utrecht Fortress, which the country spent a lot of money to build, was not substantive. So far, most of the four administrative districts of the three southern provinces and one common land have fallen into the hands of the French, and basically did not cause much damage to the French army with a number of more than 18. There was an uproar in the invaded Netherlands and the two provinces of Zeeland.

Councilors from the various municipalities clamored in the Provincial Assembly, angrily accusing the southern provinces of treachery.They have reason to complain, because two-thirds of the cost of building those fortresses is paid by the Dutch province, and the Dutch province also bears more than [-]% of the cost of recruiting mercenaries, but it is so easy to let it fall into the French army. How can anyone not be angry?

However, the ordinary MPs accused their compatriots of betrayal out of righteous indignation, while the veteran MPs who were closer to the top were much calmer and more realistic. They have now seriously considered Speaker DeWitt’s proposal to hold peace talks with Britain and France, although This is not to the liking of most people-this is not groundless, because I heard that the three-level parliament controlled by the republicans intends to negotiate peace with the enemy, and riots broke out in many places in the Netherlands and Zeeland provinces, such as in the province of Holland. In Leiden, Monnickendam, and Rotterdam, city militiamen seized the keys to the city gates; for example, in many cities in the province of Zeeland, some Orange factions took part in activities to think together with the citizens about "problem-solving solutions". Method".

These domestic changes undoubtedly aroused the vigilance of the republicans headed by Speaker DeWitt, because if you think about it with your toes, you know that there must be tricks in it, and someone with a heart is following the rhythm.But really, so what if you knew?Due to the disastrous defeat of the Dutch Army on the battlefield, the image of the republican government is not very good now. Even many cities in the Netherlands and Zeeland provinces, which have always been regarded as the stronghold, have turned their backs on them and instead asked the Prince of Orange. This kind of military aristocrat came to power to save the country, one can imagine what kind of mess they are facing now.

Li Qing has been staying in Amsterdam recently. For safety reasons, he has ordered the business station to be closed at night and people are not allowed to go out at will. He plans to go to the capital The Hague in the next few days to follow up the latest news as soon as possible.The current United Provinces is really undercurrent, and some amazing events may erupt at any time.

But Li Qing's wishful thinking of leaving was shattered this afternoon!Several merchant ships from the mainland arrived at Tethel, the outer port of Amsterdam, and brought a group of special guests to Li Qing, that is Lan Fei, the first mixed battalion of the army who came from the banks of the Mississippi River under the order of the native Major's Department.

This first mixed battalion is also a full-stacked battalion, that is, 1450 people (currently there are only more than 1200 people), and the capital Dongfang County is used as the recruiting site.For more than a year before, this force composed of children from the capital has been clearing up indigenous people and pirates in Mobile River, Mo River (Mississippi River), Tortuga Island and other places. It was originally planned to end the overseas service period and return to China to station. , As a result, they temporarily received a paper transfer order from the mainland, asking them to go to the United Provinces to accept the employment of the Dutch and help them fight.

To be honest, the executive committee and the military department were able to make the decision to transfer the first mixed battalion to the United Provinces to fight, which really eliminated a lot of resistance.You must know that there are more than 1400 people in this battalion, all of whom are from the capital. Among them, there are not a few officers and soldiers from official families, not to mention many children of high-ranking officials who came to the army to receive training and be gilded.Therefore, it is conceivable how worried their parents and relatives would be when sending this battalion to Europe, but in the end it was possible to make the trip, and I can only praise the members of the Executive Committee for their understanding of righteousness and the energy of the Ministry of War.

However, the parents couldn't bear to kill their children in the United Provinces, but the morale of the first mixed battalion was pretty good. The officers and soldiers were not nervous about coming to the United Provinces, and they didn't have much fear Emotions.Moreover, because they are often teased and ridiculed by the robes of other battalions, and privately laughed at them as young soldiers and idiots, the 1450 people in the whole battalion have been holding their breath, wanting to prove themselves fiercely on the battlefield , Let those other battalion leaders who always like to look at people through colored glasses shut up, and have nothing to say. For this reason, it doesn’t matter if they serve overseas for another year or a half.Therefore, under such a background, the First Mixed Battalion was brought to Amsterdam by Major Lan Fei, the commander of the "princeling" battalion who grew up in the compound of the Ministry of War. What's the next step.

Li Qing was a little surprised at their arrival, but at the same time he was a little happy, but he didn't plan to transfer this heavily armed army to the south where misfortunes and misfortunes happened. Just in case.He now keenly feels that the situation in Holland Province is on the verge of changing conditions. If he can have a well-trained army by his side, then there will be a lot of room for maneuver. For example, he is very worried about DeWitt right now. The safety of the brothers and some other important figures in the Republican faction has been suffering from insecurity, but the unexpected arrival of the First Mixed Battalion changed everything.

"It's best for you to stay in Holland, stay in Amsterdam, and don't go anywhere. I have important tasks for you!" Li Qing, special envoy of the East Coast to Europe, arrived at Tethel Island and landed in a hurry. Fei said with a serious face: "Although this is not easy, I will try my best to fight for it from the Dutch. The third mixed battalion ahead is enough."

"I listen to you." Major Lan Fei, the battalion commander, gave a military salute to Li Qing, and said indifferently: "You are a special envoy with full powers and have the right to restrain us army and navy officers and soldiers sent here, although I don't think the Dutch will Agree that we stay in Amsterdam, hearing the situation at the front is dire?"

"Of course it's terrible, or it's not an exaggeration to say that it's terrible. Who did you listen to? The sea news is so well-informed?" Li Qing asked a little surprised.

"Of course the fellow Dutchman told us." Lan Fei replied.In fact, when these merchant ships temporarily docked at the port of Spain to replenish water and inquire about news, they happened to meet a Dutch fleet escorting the merchant ships of the East India Company back to Amsterdam, so they joined in very happily. Returned to the United Provinces without any danger-not without French warships intercepting on the way (it is said that this country now has 196 ships fighting the Dutch navy), but the escorting Dutch navy defeated them after a fierce battle, and the entire fleet lost only one ship. A merchant ship returning from Batavia.

The fellow Dutchmen did not hide the current battle situation on land from Major Lan Fei and others, because it was unnecessary.Therefore, Lan Fei generally knows that two of the French army divided into three groups have joined forces at the Utrecht Fortress and occupied most of Utrecht, Limburg-Brabant, and Gelderland. part of the province of IJssel; and the third army commanded by the Duke of Buttwil (comprising the army of the Archbishop of Münster and the Elector of Cologne) was comparable to the army organized by the Prince of Orange from Friesland, The army of the province of Groningen blocked the Rhine-IJssel line, and there was a stalemate for a while, but even so, the French still occupied the Drenthe Constantly eroding the sum of the territories acquired by the German region, but like the commons in the south, local cities and residents have no right to send members to the Hague three-level parliament, and political rights are exercised by neighboring provinces), Groningen and Friesland a big part.

Major Lan Fei is also a soldier who has been fighting for a long time. He took a breath after looking at the map for a while. He had an intuitive understanding of the critical situation in the United Provinces. They were also amazed at the low will of the Dutch Army to resist. Tucao, the French occupied so many sites, did they get it from the war or from the armed march!

At the same time, he also had a faint throbbing in his heart, that is, thinking of fighting the French with real swords and guns on the battlefield, it will not only meet the rumored invincible French army, but also test his level of hard training over the years How exactly?Is there any defect in the combat of large corps?But this is probably just a matter of thinking, because it depends on Li Qing's intentions, and she probably won't let them go, but I don't know what the Dutch in Amsterdam will think, will they use them to block the attention?The possibility is not small!

"Regardless of the situation ahead, you all stay in Amsterdam first, and I will help you solve the identity problem. By the way, who is providing your military pay and supplies now?" Li Qing decisively decided on the next step of the First Mixed Battalion, and then He asked about their supplies with concern.

"Amsterdam's militia is giving." Lan Fei immediately replied: "Because we just landed, although some Dutch officials have come over and happily expressed that they will hire us as a whole, no peace agreement has been signed yet, and no one has paid us. Just some bread and salted fish were brought to us in a small boat on Tethyr Shoals."

Li Qing nodded when she heard the words. The situation in the Netherlands is critical now. It can be said that all the vegetables in the basket were picked up. A well-equipped and well-trained army came to their door. They are too happy. It is estimated that it will be done in two days I still have to hurry up on the formalities and signing the agreement, so as not to be caught by the Orange faction and sent to the front line as cannon fodder.

And just when Li Qing and Lan Fei met on the pier, in Amsterdam, four Dutch MPs who had just returned from the Louis XIV camp were blocked by some angry citizens (obviously, there were many fishers in troubled waters) on the street.After seeing the humiliation and exhaustion of the members of Parliament, the sadness and fear in the hearts of the citizens of the Netherlands were gradually replaced by anger, and the people of the Prince of Orange began to skillfully guide the public opinion, so that this anger gradually began to spread. It spread throughout the city, and eventually took its anger out on the de Witt government, which repeatedly tried to make peace with the French.

There is no doubt that this is a very dangerous emotion, and if you are not careful, it will lead to many uncontrollable things.Especially when the French continued to attack other territories of the United Provinces, the sentiments of the sensitive and self-respecting Amsterdam citizens who felt betrayed were simply on the verge, and now they missed an opportunity.

After Li Qing finished talking with Lan Fei, she reached the boat and returned to Amsterdam. At this time, a long-distance fleet had just returned.The sailors had unconcealable fatigue and sadness on their faces, and the hull was also riddled with bullets, but everyone seemed to be in a relatively stable mood. It must have been another victory in the confrontation with the British and French allied sea forces.

This time leading the fleet of the Dutch Navy to return victoriously is Admiral Cornelis de Witt, the elder brother of John de Witt, the chairman of the third-level parliament in The Hague, a serious and upright admiral who has participated in many military careers. Although his talent in the sea battle with the British was not as good as that of the famous Druiter, it was still considered qualified, and he had made a lot of contributions to the United Provinces over the years.

After returning from the sea battle, according to the plan, his sons and daughters will have a precious one-week rest time, and he himself intends to drive to The Hague to see his younger brother after finishing some of the affairs at hand. Well, he now has a lot of things he wants to talk to this brother who holds the power of the country but feels a little bit battered.

Cornelis DeWitt stayed in Amsterdam for three days, and personally sent some pensions to the families of some officers who died after the sea battle, and said a lot of words of relief, before leaving sadly, intending to go to The Hague .However, just as Cornelis and his servants were driving the carriage out of the city, several unidentified thugs rushed out, first fired at the carriage Cornelis was riding in with pistols, and then pulled out their rapiers. He rushed forward, intending to kill the admiral of the United Provinces.

Perhaps due to luck, the muskets of the assassins did not hit Cornelis himself.Being a soldier, he was also unambiguous. He drew out his sword and fought the assassin together with the two servants until the soldiers patrolling the city rushed over and the assassins fled.

The admiral was extremely shocked by this attempted assassination, especially the slow movements of the soldiers patrolling the city and the suspicion that they deliberately released water to make the assassin escape, which made him extremely worried about the safety of himself and his younger brother John—— Now, he wants to see his younger brother even more urgently, and wants to tell him to be vigilant, because some people are already planning to tear their face apart and play tricks, so they have to be on guard.

(End of this chapter)