The year 1670 in the Western calendar is destined to be an extraordinary year. Here in Nanyang, Asia's First Republic made its grand debut in an atmosphere of helplessness - citizens with certain industries in Batavia and farmers outside the city, immediately

Most of the planters on the Gulu Islands and the Banda Islands are the first generation citizens of this republic. Their number is less than 1,500. They are all adult males who have paid more than a certain number of taxes. Half are Westerners or mixed-race foreigners, and the other half are

Chinese.

These less than 1,500 citizens of the Republic of Batavia, with the assistance of the Governor's Office of the Southern Continent of the Ming Dynasty and the Batavia East India Company, held what was probably the first popular election in Asian history, and elected 15

Members of the Assembly of the Republic. Among them are 7 Chinese members and 8 foreign and mixed-race foreign members.

The first consul of the Republic was not elected by the council, but Krilov Van Goss, who was drawn by lot. This fine tradition of ruling by lot was established. In the following years,

, the consuls of the Republic of Batavia were drawn by lots - 15 members of Parliament drew lots together, and whoever was caught became the governor.

The consul has a term of office, which lasts for four years and can be re-elected...

After the formation of the first parliament of the Batavia Republic, although there was no drawing of lots (everyone would draw lots starting from the next session), their responsibilities were not small! They had to formulate the Statute of the Batavia Republic.

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The "Covenant" thing sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't. And in the Republic of Batavia, the "Covenant" definitely doesn't work very well.

Because this republic was basically a "shell" used to maintain East-West trade during the war - the registered place of the Dutch East India Company was transferred to the Republic of Batavia, apparently out of the jurisdiction of the Netherlands, but the board of directors in Amsterdam

However, the company's governor can still be appointed and removed, and the company will continue to pay dividends to shareholders in Europe as usual... and the cooperation between the East India Company and the Dutch India Trading Company will continue to be maintained.

Since it had to serve as a bridge between the East and the West, and at the same time satisfy both the Ming Dynasty and the Netherlands, the Batavia Republic's constitution had to remain flexible enough, and sometimes even several versions of the constitution were formulated.

So as to confuse both ends.

However, the progressive significance of the Batavia Republic is undeniable...

In the East in 1670, the major event comparable to the establishment of the Batavian Republic was of course the exploration of the southern continent.

Because the establishment of the Republic was delayed for a long time, the powerful Batavia East India Company did not take the lead in exploring the southern continent, but let the British East India Company seize the opportunity.

At the turn of the spring and summer of 1670 in the northern hemisphere, an exploration fleet consisting of four Galenic ships of 300-600 tons left Temasek Island, passed southward through the Sunda Strait and entered the Indian Ocean, using the south equatorial warm current to move westward.

Sailing. After almost crossing the Indian Ocean, they turned south in the waters near Madagascar. After sailing south for a certain distance, they found the westerly drift zone and then headed east. After sailing eastward for 20 days, the British fleet

We encountered a continuous northeasterly wind (Western Australia Cold Current) again.

With the help of this northerly wind, the four British exploration ships headed for their destination—the southwest coast of the southern continent.

But now, they have not discovered the legendary and fertile southern continent.

On the "Oliver Cromwell", the flagship of the exploration fleet, Rear Admiral Blake, the commander of the British Eastern Fleet, stood on the stern deck of the ship, looking at the magnificent scenery that had long made him a little bored.

The surrounding sea water is as blue as a shining blanket. The wind and waves are not small, and the swells are rolling layer by layer, just like this blue blanket is slowly undulating. The sun shines on it, and the eyes are filled with twinkling waves.

.The air is very humid and a bit cold. Looking around, it seems that the sight can be extended to infinite distances.

But there was no sign of any land, not even a small island.

The sailors of the exploration fleet are all experienced veterans, and they also receive generous salaries. They will also receive a bonus after the mission is completed. In addition, the food on the ship is relatively rich, and there is sufficient supply of rum - this

Everything ensured that the sailors' spirits would not collapse during the slow and indefinite voyage.

Of course, if scurvy breaks out on the exploration ship, all efforts will be in vain... But the British East India Company is also prepared. Because this terrible disease is the nightmare of all Western sailors, but few

Sailors from China, Japan, Korea, and Annan will be harmed.

So the East India Company assigned a certain number of Japanese and Annamites to the ships of Major General Blake... About ten years ago, it was almost impossible for sailors with East Asian faces to appear on the ships of the British East India Company. But now

, as more and more East Asians go to the ocean, the British East India Company can also hire some sailors who are "not afraid of scurvy".

The Japanese and Annamites who joined the "Black Expedition" had another mission, which was to land and establish a stronghold after discovering the southern continent.

Only by successfully establishing the first stronghold could the British East India Company complete the contract signed with the Governor-General of the Southern Continent - according to the contract, they could receive a bonus and the right to establish colonies in the Southern Continent.

Establishing a colony is a high-risk, high-yield business - if the land discovered is fertile enough and the developer can transport colonists there cheaply enough, the colony should be profitable quickly.

Don’t underestimate the profit and loss of a colony...colonies at a loss are usually unsustainable!

In particular, the British East India Company was essentially a commercial company, and their project in the southern continent was a commercial adventure.

In addition to the sailors from Japan and Annan, there are other oriental faces on the "Oliver Cromwell". They are officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty Navy. They are responsible for supervising the exploration and colonization of the British East India Company according to the contract - whether they have discovered

It is not up to them to decide whether to establish colonial strongholds on the coast of the southern continent.

The Ming Dynasty naval officer responsible for leading the team was named Yang Yandi Hanzi, whose official title was Qianhu. He was originally an old subordinate of Zheng Sen. He was not considered a major in the Ming Navy, nor was he a direct descendant. Therefore, he could not get ahead in the fleet, so he transferred to Nan

In the Mainland Governor's Mansion, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy.

He didn't speak English, and Blake didn't speak Chinese, so the two didn't have much communication. However, West, the East India Company's chief executive who was on board the ship, and Yang Yandi got along well with each other.

While Blake was watching the scenery on the stern of the ship, Worster and Yang Yandi were walking and chatting on the upper deck, passing the boring time.

Time passed little by little, and it was slowly approaching noon. Just when some people thought they were going to drift aimlessly on the endless sea again until the sun set, someone suddenly shouted in English.

"Blackbird! Big black bird!"

Vorster quickly looked up and soon spotted several large black birds forming a line in the sky to the east of the fleet, flying from north to south!

Yang Yandi also spotted the birds in the sky and took out his telescope to observe them carefully.

"The black bird looks like a wild goose..." Yang Yandi muttered, "It seems to be looking for the southern continent!"

Blake also saw these black swans flying in the air at this time. This kind of bird migrates more randomly and sometimes flies around the continent.

Blake, who has been dealing with the sea for half his life, certainly realizes what these big birds mean!
Chapter completed!