Chapter 1048: Recovering Taiwan Island (1)

(1048)

【Today's first update is delivered!】

Formosa, Jelancha.

The city of Jelancha was the core of the Dutch rule in Formosa and was also the first castle built by the Dutch in Formosa. In the second year of the Apocalypse (1622 AD), the Dutch East India Company occupied the Penghu Islands and used it as a re-export base for East Asian trade. However, the Dutch were expelled by the Ming Navy and finally had to leave the Penghu Islands and find another place.

In the third year of the Tianqi (1623 AD), the Dutch established a simple village in a place called "Yikun" in the southern part of Taiwan Island, which was the predecessor of the Anping Castle. In the fourth year of the Tianqi (1624 AD), after eight months of fierce fighting with the Ming army, the Dutch and China reached an agreement to destroy the fortresses and forts set up in Penghu and transfer all to Taiwan Island. The two sides agreed that the Dutch had to approach the Penghu Islands anymore. At the same time, the Ming Dynasty did not interfere with the Dutch's occupation of Taiwan.

After the Dutch occupied Taiwan, the large-scale castle "Orange" was rebuilt on the original old city site of the village. In the seventh year of the Age (1627 AD), it was rebuilt and named "zeelandia" after the Dutch province (or translation of Gelandia). It was not until the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632 AD).

From then on, this castle was the main hub for the Dutch to rule the entire island of Taiwan and foreign trade. Other castles on Formosa, such as Prominzha City and Dayuan City, were built on the basis of the city of Jelanzha City. By the tenth year of Chongzhen (1637 AD), the Dutch's strongholds and fortresses in Formosa had more than twenty, spread across many corners of the entire Taiwan Island.

As the governor of the Netherlands to Formosa, Putman's previous days were quite leisurely. Perhaps, in the first half of his life, he never thought that he would have such a leisurely life. His life in Formosa was indeed so happy.

Formosa has rich products, diligent servants, beautiful girls, white beaches, clear sea water, warm sunshine, blue sky, fresh air, flying seagulls, green forests, and gurgling streams... As long as it is loved by humans, it can be found in Formosa.

Foreign Dutch people would not be willing to leave as long as they stay here for a while. They would fall in love with this place. This is also the basic reason why more and more Dutch people came to Formosa to settle down. Putman roughly counted that last year, the number of Dutch people on the entire Formosa Island had exceeded 10,000.

However, these good days are gone forever. Since the emergence of the Hu Ben Army, Putman's days have become increasingly sad. The other Dutch people on Formosa Island have not had a good life. After the Hu Ben Army Navy defeated the Dutch Bluffhead fleet, the number of Dutch people on Formosa Island has decreased sharply, and in just three months, half of the Dutch people ran away.

Especially after Japan's "fall", Putman's life can no longer be described as "difficult" and must be described as "treat". The Dutch people on Formosa Island have also been further reduced. So far, there are less than 3,000 people. What can 3,000 people do? Even Putman himself does not know.

After occupying Japan, the Hu Ben Army immediately rushed south and came directly towards Formosa. This made the remaining Dutch people in Formosa seem even more frightened. Although Putman kept coming to comfort and cheer them up, the Dutch people on Formosa Island were still quite depressed. But at this damn time, news of Rezger's defeat came!

Putman couldn't understand why even the main Dutch Navy fleet led by Rezger would fail in the hands of the Hu Ben Navy. This is simply impossible! To say that Bluffhead's failure may have been caused by mistakes. Then Rezger's defeat was a real defeat.

This news is indeed too terrible. The Dutch's last little remaining lucky mentality was completely defeated. No matter how Rezger was defeated, it shows that the Tiger Army Navy is qualified to challenge the Dutch's main fleet. This is the third strong enemy that the Dutch encountered after the Spanish and British!

In fact, when the news of Rezger's defeat reached Formosa, Putman would not believe it anyway. Putman knew Rezger, and the two were friends with a very good relationship. Putman believed in Rezger's combat ability, and he believed in the combat ability of the main Dutch Navy fleet. It was a super battleship with a displacement of more than 1,500 tons, and a main fleet consisting of ten super battleships with a displacement of more than 1,000 tons!

Such strength is definitely outstanding, and few people dare to look at it head-on. Even if the main fleet of the Spanish Navy meets the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, they must seriously think about whether to launch a battle. What are the skills of the Tiger and Ben Navy that can defeat all these giants?

"rumor!"

"Absolutely a rumor!"

Putman made a decisive conclusion.

He detailed that these news were specially fabricated by the Hu Ben Army to attack Formosa. The main fleet of the Dutch Navy was impossible to defeat. The Hu Ben Navy did not have the strength to defeat the main fleet of the Dutch Navy.

However, similar news came one after another, and even if Putman didn't believe it, he had no choice. The so-called groundlessness may not be without cause. In particular, three Dutch naval warships that were riddled with holes were stranded on Formosa Beach. When a group of embarrassed Dutch sailors escaped from the warship in a panic, Putman had to believe that all this was true - the main fleet of the Dutch navy was really defeated.

What kind of feeling was that Putman could no longer describe. He spent a lot of energy on the development of Formosa and invested a considerable amount of money. When the Dutch first arrived in Formosa, there were only primitive indigenous people here, and nothing else. The Dutch built ports, castles, handicrafts, plantations, etc. here, which attracted a large number of people and merchant ships. However, just as all this was thriving, a black hand suddenly reached out.

It’s like it’s very difficult for me to catch a beautiful girl, put on a ring, put on a wedding dress, and wait happily for the wedding. Then when the wedding party was in the wedding night, someone suddenly told you that the groom is not you, and the person who entered the wedding chamber with the girl is not you... You wanted to resist, but ended up being slapped away...

It seems that you worked hard to find a ruby, held it in your hand, and admired it carefully. When you were dreaming of making a fortune, a hand suddenly stretched out from your side, took away your ruby, and told you that it was his and had nothing to do with you... If you want to resist, you were knocked away with a slap...

In the days that followed, Putman was in panic all day long. Betman was swaying between retreating and persevering. Every morning, Putman felt that he should be the best strategy to leave, and he was serious about running back to Batavia. However, in the afternoon or evening, he changed his mind again.

Because afternoon tea and dinner are indeed too comfortable and rich. It is so comfortable that Putman doesn't want to use his brain, so rich that Putman would rather die here than go back to see other people's faces. Only when it is late at night and there is silence around him, Putman will calmly think about whether he should leave or stay.

Idiots know that after the Hu Ben Navy defeated the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, the next step would be to capture Formosa. This is a plan formulated by the Hu Ben Army in the morning and it is impossible to change. At this time, giving up Formosa and escaping is the best strategy. What stays here and waits for him must be the Hu Ben Army's bayonets and prisons.

However, when it comes to giving up, Putman is really unwilling to give up! Formosa fascinated him so much. When Putman first came to Formosa, he was deeply fascinated by it. He felt that his life had been completely integrated with Formosa. He wanted to stay here for the rest of his life and never be separated.

"Mr. Governor, let's go!"

Seeing Putman hesitating, Anita next to him couldn't help but urge him in a low voice.

Putman seemed to have not heard it, and there was no reaction. In fact, of course he heard it, but he just didn't react. Betman still didn't make a decision between leaving and staying. After all, Putman was still unwilling to give up! Formosa is simply a treasure pot and a money tree. It's a pity to give up like this.

Putman will never forget the contributions made by Formosa in the trade activities of the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch East India Company has considerable wealth, which comes from Formosa. If Formosa were not available, there would be no present in Putman. The fate of Putman only changed dramatically after the arrival of Formosa.

At the beginning, the Dutch occupied Formosa to establish a pivot against the Ming, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian strongholds, and monopolize the trade between Manila (Spanish colony) and the Ming Dynasty, constantly devouring the strength of the Spanish. Any merchant ships traveling between Manila and Ming will be attacked by the Dutch. The route from Yuegang to Manila has always been in constant war.

After more than ten years of efforts by the Dutch, Formosa itself could also produce equivalent items. At that time, Formosa's main export trade content included sugar, deer skin, venison, antlers, vines, rice, etc., and the transportation trade content included Dutch metals, medicinal materials, Batavian spices, pepper, amber, linen, cotton, opium, tin, lead, Chinese silk fabrics, pottery, gold, etc., and the varieties were quite rich.

Take deer skin as an example. In just four years, the number of pieces exported from Formosa to Japan grew from the first ten thousand to the peak of 150,000. If we talk about the largest commodity, it is probably sugar. By the fifth year of Chongzhen, the output of Taiwan sugar was enough to supply Japan and Persia's needs, and Batavia was added as the export target.

The Dutch East India Company has about 35 strongholds in Asia, and the Japanese strongholds ranked first with a profit of 38.8%, and the second place is Taiwan (Formosa), which makes 25.6%. However, the Dutch East India Company’s profit in these places is mainly distributed to shareholders in the Netherlands, rather than giving back to local people or using local construction.

Giving up Formosa is equivalent to giving up more than 60% of the profit source of the Dutch East India Company. The Japanese market is gone. If there is no more market in Taiwan, the Dutch will only fight desperately with other Western powers in the South China Sea. It is not easy to do this! There are three kilograms of nails on the rotten ship, and the rabbit will bite people if it is anxious!

What's even more terrible is that once the Dutch gave up Formosa, it would be equivalent to completely giving up the Northeast Asian waters. In the future, if the Dutch wanted to return to Japan, they had to conquer Formosa. With the population advantage of the Ming Dynasty and the combat effectiveness of the Tiger Army, it would be quite difficult for the Dutch to re-control Formosa.

In other words, even Putman's retreat, the Dutch East India Company will face the verge of bankruptcy. Without the Japanese market and the Ming market, relying solely on the indigenous people of Southeast Asia, how much goods can be consumed and how many goods can be produced? In fact, if the entire Far East leaves the Ming market, no one can play with it!

"Mr. Governor!"

Anita next to her was already a little overwhelmed, and she couldn't help but urge her again.

Putman's hesitation was completely unnecessary in Anita's opinion. He was daydreaming! He was thinking about returning to the Japanese market in the future! Yes, the loss of the Dutch to give up Formosa is indeed great. However, if you don't give up, the loss will be even greater. If you want to return to the Japanese market, it is simply a dream!

With the increasingly powerful strength of the Hu Ben Navy and the combat effectiveness of the Hu Ben Army, the Dutch Navy can only conquer the Hu Ben Navy unless the Dutch Navy dispatches more than half of its troops to the Far East. If you want to occupy Formosa, the Netherlands needs to dispatch at least 50,000 armed sailors. Do the Dutch have this ability? It’s impossible!

Can the Dutch Navy transfer half of its troops to the Far East? Unless the Dutch don’t want to have their own country. Behind the Dutch are the British and Spanish eyeing them! However, seriously, Formosa’s land area may not be much less than that of the Netherlands. If Putmann chooses, it would be better to relocate all the people of the Netherlands to Formosa. The natural conditions here are much better than those in the Netherlands.
Chapter completed!