Putmans said that Zheng Zhilong was at fault. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

In the third year of Chongzhen, in order to defeat Li Kuiqi, the biggest opponent at the time, and establish the position of the coastal hegemon of Fujian, Zheng Zhilong asked the Dutch for help and promised the Dutch free trade in Fujian. The Dutch had no better choice when their partner Fujian defeated Xu Xinsu by Zheng Zhilong, so they agreed to Zheng Zhilong's request.

However, after the successful elimination of Li Kuiqi, Zheng Zhilong did not fulfill the contract, although he was the overlord of the southeast sea, but the official identity was only a guerrilla in Fujian, and he had no right to decide the right to trade with other countries on behalf of the imperial court, and the newly appointed governor of Fujian, Zou Weilian, was also dissatisfied with Zheng Zhilong and others ignoring the sea ban on trade, so he issued a sea ban again after taking office, only allowing Fujian people with permission to go to the sea to carry out activities, but not allowing foreigners to trade in Fujian. The following year, only six permits were issued to travel to Dayuan, and fewer ships came, making Dutch trade in Taiwan difficult.

Even if Zheng Cai was articulate, he blushed when asked about this matter, and unnaturally defended: "This matter has been fought for by the eldest brother, but his official position is not high, and the governor's yamen is opposed, so this matter can only be put on hold for the time being......"

Putmans snorted coldly: "I don't care about this, I only know that Zheng Yiguan didn't fulfill the agreement." Since this problem cannot be solved by peaceful means, we do not rule out the use of force in the interests of the East India Company in the Far East......"

Hearing the threat in the other party's words, Zheng Cai's eyes widened: "So, this is the reason why you sneak attacked the Zhongzuo Institute?" He pulled out the flags and slapped them on the table.

Putmans looked at these flags inexplicably, these A goods were too realistic, and he couldn't distinguish the real from the fake for a while.

"What are you doing with the flag of our company...... Wait, just now you said that the port of Xiamen was attacked? ”

Zheng Cai sneered: "A few days ago, a fleet of plywood boats took advantage of the fact that my eldest brother was not at home, and attacked the port of Zhongzuosuo without declaring war, and burned countless Zheng family warships - this kind of big plywood ship is only available to you in the Fujian Ocean, and the port has left these flags, except for you, I can't think of anyone else to do this-do you know, this is tantamount to declaring war with the Zheng family?" ”

“Shit！” Putmans involuntarily expletively scolded, this shoddy trick against the famously shrewd Dutch was an insult to his intelligence—he did want to do it, but the company's council did not approve it, and there was only a plan at the moment, not action. Except for Liu Xiang, who attacked the Zheng family's merchant fleet at his behest, Dayuan's fleet did not go out to confront the Zheng family head-on.

He just wanted to say that this was a naked frame-up, and we didn't carry this pot, but before the words could be spoken, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind - no matter who did this, or it was simply Zheng Yiguan's bitter trick, the matter had already happened, isn't this the opportunity and reason for war that the company's council needs?

Batavia's decision-makers held the vast majority of the Dutch East India Company's power in the Far East, including trade and war. Under the unremitting persuasion of Putmans, the members of the Council were tempted, but they lacked a suitable opportunity and a reason to go to war. The East India Company needed the Ming to open the door to trade with them, but they did not want to become mortal enemies with the Ming - they were only interested in making money, and expanding their territory was something that only the king had to think about - so the company's plan was to wage a controlled war "reasonably and justly".

Putmans rolled his eyes, had an idea, pointed at Zheng Caiyi, and said: "As a representative of Zheng Yiguan, what you just said seriously hurt the reputation of the East India Company and the Dayuan Merchant House, and we will not be responsible for what we have not done, I have reason to believe that this is Zheng Yiguan's naked framing of us by clumsy means." Therefore, Zheng Yiguan must apologize to the company, open the trading port to the Dayuan, and prohibit trade with all countries except the East India Company - including but not limited to Spain and Portugal! ”

Zheng Cai was dumbfounded, the shamelessness of the Dutch refreshed his three views, and he didn't admit the sneak attack, but he actually kicked his nose in the face, using this as an excuse to re-mention the matter of monopolizing trade rights. He asked, somewhat speechlessly, "What if we refuse?" ”

"Then in order to protect the reputation of the East India Company, we will declare war on Ming Guo and Zheng Yiguan!" Putmans was a little excited, "Until you agree to our request." ”

"Your Excellency's unreasonable request will not be accepted! If you want to fight, the Zheng family should accompany you to the end! Zheng Cai asked himself that he was also a dignified seven-foot man, as the envoy of the Zheng family, he couldn't lose his share, so he left a cruel sentence and walked away.

Looking at the departing back, Putmans smiled merrily, and he shook the bell and called the servant: "Prepare me a pen and paper, and I will write a letter to Batavia." ”

Naturally, the Zheng family's negotiations with the Dutch and their subsequent development would not be notified to the Qiongzhou camp, but Xia Nan received definite news from Wang Qinian: Zheng Zhilong had already sent a notice to the Dayuan Merchant House and sent "evidence" to the Dutch to explain the attack on the port - it was clear that Zheng Zhilong basically believed that the attack was carried out by the Dutch, at least most of the Zheng group believed it, and Zheng Zhilong personally could not suppress the anger of his brothers.

Putmans was worried that he could not find a reason to go to war with the Ming Dynasty, and Zheng Zhilong's "naked frame-me" gave him an excellent excuse, and the council of Batavia made a decision to use it as an opportunity to launch a war of coastal raids and force the Ming dynasty to accede to their request for exclusive trade rights.

The communication efficiency in this era is very low, and even with the clippers as a tool, Wang Qinian's news back to Lingao is still lagging behind.

By the time Xia Nan learned of this, Putmans had personally led a fleet of thirteen warships to the vicinity of Kinmen, and on July 11 attacked the northern part of Xiamen Harbor, Kinmen, Lieyu, Gulangyu and nearby villages. The Ming Dynasty government didn't expect the Dutch to say that they would fight, without any defense, and it was quite damaged. The Zheng family lost 10 armed merchant ships, the Fujian Navy lost 5 warships, and the civilians along the coast also suffered casualties.

On 24 July, Zheng Zhilong sent a representative to the Dutch fleet, offering that as long as the war was stopped and the Daguan was withdrawn, ships could be sent to trade with the Dacheng, in an attempt to make a last-ditch effort to stabilize the situation - he still hoped to deal with the Dutch with all his might after Liu Xiang had been eliminated.