Nan Ming Sun Never Sets

Chapter 37 Night Attack on Batavia
The port of Batavia is quiet in the middle of the night. A crescent moon hangs in the sky and is also reflected on the sea. The sound of the tide weakly forms the background of this picture. Only a few lights are not enough to illuminate the cool tropical winter. night.

Batavia in the mid-17th century is not Jakarta in the 21st century. There is no population of more than 1000 million here. The Dutch spent half a century, and the population of Batavia at this time is only tens of thousands.The number of Dutch people is not even in the majority. Many people are local natives, Chinese laborers and Chinese businessmen recruited by the Dutch from China.

Bai Mingxiu personally led the troops and quietly approached the outskirts of Batavia city.The Dutch's control over Java Island is extremely limited, and even in the surrounding area, the Dutch do not have much vigilance.

Bai Mingxiu actually occupied several plantations in the evening, but the owners of these plantations were all Chinese.

It is impractical to expect Javanese people to work, so the main production and trade jobs in Batavia are basically Chinese.The Chinese here still keep the clothes of Ming Dynasty, unlike the mainland where they have all shaved their hair and changed their clothes.When Bai Mingxiu unfurled the Ming flag and revealed his identity as the crown prince, these Chinese merchants and laborers knelt down on the ground.

Bai Mingxiu called some representatives over and talked to them.

The Chinese businessman Chen Jing'an respectfully said to Bai Mingxiu: "His Royal Highness, the people of Bacheng Daming heard that His Highness came to Java, and they were overjoyed. They all made contributions. Could it be that His Royal Highness sent heavenly soldiers here to attack the Dutch?"

The Chinese businessmen were actually very nervous. At this time, the Dutch had not taken any action against the Chinese, because the Chinese were an important force for them to maintain Batavia, and they were the intermediate force between the local natives and the official Dutch rulers.If the Ming army really attacked the Netherlands, they were worried that the Ming army would not be able to win.Even if they won, if the Ming army patted their butts and left, leaving these Chinese businessmen here, their status would be very embarrassing, and they might be liquidated by the Dutch in the future.

These people all have their own wealth, and it is unrealistic for them to pay attention to family and loyalty.

Bai Mingxiu understood the mentality of these people. He said: "The Dutch stole the land of Taiwan in Ming Dynasty. Zheng Chenggong, the king of Yanping County, sent troops to retake the island. The Dutch have been smuggling for many years, monopolizing the trade, and privately robbing the Chinese to come to Java. God does not allow it. Although I did not come for the Netherlands on this voyage, the destruction of the Dutch East India Company is just a matter of convenience. You are the people of Ming Dynasty, and there is no reason for you to be controlled by foreigners. The palace destroyed the Dutch East India Company, and set up the Java Consolation Department here, and set up our Chinese Consolation Envoy to take control of the overall situation. Those who do business, those who work in agriculture, don’t have to worry about being slaughtered by the Dutch, naturally there are also me The colonial company of Ming Dynasty will lead you to open up more business routes and make more business."

These Chinese businessmen could not believe their ears. What the Ming prince in front of them said did not sound like what a Ming prince or even a Ming official said.Chinese dynasties have always despised commerce and trade, and regarded maritime trade as a wrong way, but the prince meant that Ming would strive to forge ahead overseas, open up new opportunities, and even defend Java forever.This made them feel incredible.

Bai Mingxiu didn't want to talk nonsense with these people, so he said: "I don't want you to fight together with the Ming army, as long as you don't cause trouble and don't communicate with external enemies. You have been away from the king for a long time, and I don't blame you. But you If you can't distinguish between the main idea and want to be the enemy of this palace, then this palace has nothing to say."

Chen Jing'an hurriedly said: "Your Highness, why did you say that? Although Cao Min and others are just vulgar merchants, they miss their homeland and the court all the time. Although the Tartars destroyed the Central Plains, we still have our heart for Ming Dynasty and are willing to listen to Your Highness's advice."

People like Chen Jingan also knew that the Ming Dynasty had been beaten down by the Manchus at this time, but the power of the Ming Dynasty for more than two hundred years was still there. Resistance forces in the Central Plains were rising one after another, and it was still unclear who would win.Moreover, Java where they were located was thousands of miles away from the mainland, which had always been beyond the reach of the Central Plains dynasties.But now that Ming Dynasty actually wants to manage overseas places, it is obviously more cost-effective for the Chinese to follow Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness, our Chinese leader Kapitan Pan Mingyan lives in the city of Batavia. He is also an official appointed by the Dutch. Mr. Pan has always been sensible and will definitely be willing to serve His Highness."

Bai Mingxiu ordered these Chinese to stay in his plantation and not to go out, while he led the army to ambush outside the city of Batavia. He glanced at the watch on his wrist (exchanged), and muttered to himself: "Meng Hui It should be there soon."

A little later than the expected time, suddenly several bright rays of light on the sea rushed into the sky, illuminating Batavia Harbor brightly.Several huge warships of the Ming army approached quietly outside the port.The lighthouse in Batavia Harbor didn't find them before because they were hiding in a blind spot and the distance was far enough. When the fleet led by Meng Hui seized the time to attack, they approached with the sea wind and fired flares.

It was already late at night, and most people in Batavia were asleep, with only a few Dutch soldiers on watch.When they saw the flares, they were all shocked and quickly sounded the alarm, waking up Batavia who was safe.

"fire!"

Quickly aim the side of the battleship at Batavia, and fire dozens of cannons violently. These artillery fires basically attack the ships and coastal defense facilities in the Batavia port. However, in fact, according to Bai Mingxiu's idea, the shelling did not Not for destruction, but for suppression and psychological deterrence.

Meng Hui's first mate asked: "Captain, are you sending the Marines to land?"

Meng Hui replied: "Don't worry, just keep bombing for a while. Your Highness will attack from outside the city. At that time, we will send the marines to flank the Dutch. Now pay attention to the forts and turrets on the shore. Our main task is to give Bada Via caused chaos."

Batavia doesn't have a strong defensive force. Although this city is already the most important stronghold of the Netherlands in the east, there are actually only a few hundred troops stationed here.The Dutch occasionally recruit local natives and Chinese to fight, but the main reason they can maintain their rule is because they have modern firearms and there are really no powerful enemies around them.

But Bai Mingxiu's Daming Rejuvenation Army has five first-class sailing warships at sea. On land, he has prepared a mixed army with thousands of people, which has far exceeded the garrison deployed by the Netherlands. In terms of weapons and equipment And tactics, Bai Mingxiu also has enough confidence.

That's why Bai Mingxiu directly considered occupying the city when he passed by Batavia.Compared with occupying her, the real difficulty is how to manage it in the future.

(End of this chapter)