golden scales

"Thank God, Mr. Overwater, it's good to see you safe and sound." Kornrad sarcastically sarcastically the Consolidated Chief in Formosa in his dressing gown.

This is the cabin of a battleship, probably not the flagship of the Ming army.Overwater tried to ignore Kornrad's taunt, forcing himself to think of something.He soon saw William Van Gogh curled up in the corner of the cabin again, finally couldn't restrain his anger, and let out a cold snort from his nose.

"It seems that our Chinese friends are not very gentlemen, and let the honorable sir wear a nightgown to walk outdoors in this climate. Tsk tsk, he doesn't even have a pair of shoes. Your Excellency walked here barefoot like those barbarians What?" Kornrad continued to use his taunting skills, venting his resentment and unwillingness on poor Mr. Overwater.

"Why did you appear here? A great senior businessman." Oufuwat finally couldn't help but counterattacked: "You sent them information that we were unprepared for? So that the Chinese can come to the heat easily and happily Lanzhe hunting?"

"I'm being dragged down by you idiots!" Kornrad glared at Offwat: "You should report the situation in Formosa accurately and in a timely manner, instead of sending ambiguous reports!"

"Ambiguous? I never said that the Chinese are trustworthy!" Overwater exclaimed: "Go and read my letter to Batavia! There is not a single word that is not a warning to you! And I have clearly told you that China If people attack, how large it may be, please Batavia send a fleet of twelve ships to coordinate the garrison! But you noble gentlemen have abandoned us, and you are the ones who have delayed Formosa!"

"Do you know what you're talking nonsense about?" Kornrad said angrily, "Twelve warships! Ha, that's all our warships in the Far East! If you really want Batavia's support, you can Time to send us solid reports! Reports! Not pages full of speculation!"

The hatch was pushed open in good time, apparently those outside had heard enough of their blaming each other.

A squadron of warriors armed with muskets came in first, and drove Kornrad and Ofwat to poor William.

Now the corner is completely filled.

In came two Chinese generals, one of whom was an old friend and rival of the Dutch.Zheng Zhilong Zheng Yiguan.

"This is General Xiao Mo, the commander-in-chief of the Taiwan Reconstruction Campaign." Zheng Zhilong introduced Xiao Mo to the three, and then took seats with Xiao Mo one after another, but his position was slightly off, more like a common position.

Xiao Mo nodded to Zheng Zhilong.Said: "You ignored my court's note, so that my court had to mobilize troops to recover the country, and compensation should be paid."

Zheng Zhilong was indeed Xiao Mo's translator, translating this concise and clear sentence.

Offwat was about to speak, but Kornrad stood up first and said: "General, I do not deny the strength of your country, but it is not a matter of honor to use such means. And you should be clear that the regular army of the Inter-Provincial Republic and the The Spaniards fought a war for 40 years and won. The people stationed here are only adventurers, mercenaries, merchants, and hooligans... It does not represent the armed forces and combat capabilities of the Republic!"

After listening to Zheng Zhilong's long translation, Xiao Mo couldn't help laughing and said, "When will they come?"

Kornrad's intimidation was shattered by this understatement.

"I'm just a businessman. I'm not good at military affairs. But I believe that if the Republic sends a regular army, your country will have to face up to its own casualties." Ofwat stood up and covered the disgraced Kornrad.

Xiao Mo filled the seats and said leisurely: "What happened on the battlefield. You will know about it when you are on the battlefield. If the two of you can't calm down, I'm afraid it will take more time."

After Zheng Zhilong finished translating, Xiao Mo looked at the two captives and said, "My request is very simple: first, all Dutch people in Taiwan must lay down their weapons and accept supervision, including Zeelandia and Fort Antony in the north; other 50. All affairs personnel must be handed over to our court officials as soon as possible and without reservation; [-]. All Dutch property in Taiwan will be confiscated, including the city of Zeelandia, Fort Antony, and the three sailing ships on the sea Fourth, the Dutch must compensate us with [-] taels of military expenses. It can be paid with equivalent goods or silver."

"You guys are blackmailing!" Kornrad protested loudly after hearing the translation.

"What I said to you are announcements, not negotiations." Xiao Mo patted his own sword lightly: "Chongzhen 22 years must be paid before New Year's Day, otherwise 5.00% interest will be charged. Three Do it yourself."

Say it.Xiao Mo got up and nodded to Zheng Zhilong, and went out first.

Zheng Zhilong watched Xiao Mo leave, translated Xiao Mo's final notice, and said: "Daming is a country of faith, Mr. Kornrad, we have paid for the goods you brought, which represents our sincerity , I hope you will urge the Governor General to make a rational choice after you go back."

Kornrad just resented why he was involved in this infamous incident.Now not only did he not have the position of Formosa Chief, but his own future was completely ruined. I am afraid that he could only pack up his property and return to the Netherlands.Thinking of this, Kornrad suffered even more, because a large part of his property belonged to his wife.

"Mr. Overwater," Zheng Zhilong turned to the Dutchman who had only been in contact with him in letters, "Da Ming's promise is still valid, and thank you for your kindness to Daming before. We will protect your private property, of course, only limited to you legitimate income."

Kornrad looked suspiciously at Oferwat, trying to see his secret dealings with the Chinese.In fact, he was already fantasizing about these secret agreements in his mind, as a statement to the Batavian Council.

Overwater wanted to distance himself, but he was well aware of the predicament he faced.If he refuses the protection of the Chinese, he is bound to be thrown into prison by the Batavian lords and spend the rest of his life.This is not without precedent. In order to protect its own business interests, the company once handed over the deposed Chief Formosa to the Japanese for imprisonment.

That's right, that unlucky Peter Nuiz. Ofowat remembered the name of the officer and didn't want to follow in his footsteps.

After Zheng Zhilong went out, Ofwat didn't give Kornrad a chance, and followed Daming's soldiers out of the cabin.

Kornrad cursed Offwat in his heart full of malice, and could only slump in a chair helplessly, waiting to be deported to Batavia.

--what do I do?Did everyone forget about me?

William Van Gogh was still huddled in a corner of the cabin, not daring to move except his eyes.

……

"Masako."

He Bin met his acquaintances in the temporary prison. He tried to let the soldiers of the Ming army guarding the prison let him go, but he obviously overestimated his status.When he finally got Xiao Mo's warrant to bring this curvaceous Japanese woman out of the prisoner camp, both of them heaved a sigh of relief.

"The Dutch will never come back." He Bin said, "But I am highly valued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and most likely I can get an official position here."

"I am sincerely happy for my step." Masako knelt down in front of He Bin and buried her head deeply.She spoke Quanzhou dialect, and if she wasn't a local, she wouldn't even be able to tell her Japanese identity.

He Bin stretched out his hand, touched Masako's hairline, and gently touched the cold earlobe: "Follow me."

Masako turned her head slightly, with a look of shyness on her face: "I'm a weak girl, how can I decide this kind of thing?"

He Bin laughed out loud, and no longer cared about his reserve, he rushed to Masako and hugged her by the waist.Immediately, Masako let out a suppressed exclamation, embraced He Bin's neck, and gently blew on He Bin's ears.

……

On February 21th of the [-]st year of Chongzhen, the First Guards Army landed in southern Taiwan, took over the Dutch castle Zeelandia and the attached Utrecht Round Fort, controlled various waterways, and set off on Weidao and Dayuan Island on the northern line. garrison.

On the [-]th, the aboriginal communities in southern Taiwan announced that they would accept the rule of the Ming Dynasty.The advance battalion of the Second Division of the First Guards Army stationed in the Han villages within the territory of Chixianshe, unloaded supplies and prepared to build the city.According to the predetermined administrative plan, this will be the seat of the government of Taiwan and the county seat of Tainan County.

On the [-]th, the Ming army accepted the surrender of [-] Dutch troops from Fort Antony, took over Fort Antony, and renamed it Keelung County.

On the same day, three hundred Dutch soldiers led by Captain Baker of the Dutch garrison surrendered to the Ming army, hoping to return to Batavia.

On the [-]th, the Ming army built a city defense in Hong Kong, and established Taichung County; set up a township in the enclosure of Penghu Islands, under the jurisdiction of Taichung County.

On the first day of March in the 21st year of Chongzhen, the first prefect of the Taiwan government officially took charge of the affairs. It was He Bin who had contributed a lot to the restoration of Taiwan.

Zheng Zhilong has no objection to this.

At the beginning, the crown prince proposed that he recover Taiwan and let his eldest son Zheng Sen be the prefect of Taiwan.However, he himself missed the opportunity. Now Zheng Sen is still studying and serving in the Naval University. Of course, it is impossible to come back to be the magistrate again.Fortunately, He Bin is also his old department, and he is quite sensible, so it is not impossible to support him.

In addition to He Bin, Guo Huaiyi, the magistrate of Tainan County, is also Zheng Zhilong's former department.He and Wu Hualong, the magistrate of Taichung County, are both local "leaders", and they are quite well connected, and they are inextricably linked with Zheng Zhilong.The county magistrate of Keelung was recommended by Li Zhenxu. His surname was Chen Zhien. He was originally an inconspicuous small businessman.If it wasn't because Chen Nianzu was too young, the magistrate of Keelung would probably belong to him.

When everyone turned their attention to the big cake on the bright side, a signboard of "Emperor Ming Nanyang Company" was hung in front of a brick and tile house in the current Dayuan City in Zelanza.

Ps:

Ask for a recommendation ticket, ask for a monthly ticket~~!