Formosa, the city of Geranza.

The city of Geranza was the nucleus of Dutch rule in Formosa. It 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 them as an entrepot for East Asian trade. But. The Dutch were expelled by the Ming army's sailors. In the end, he had to leave the Penghu Islands and find another place.

The third year of the Apocalypse (1623 AD). The Dutch in the southern part of the island of Taiwan is called, "a carp". place. Build a simple fortress city, this is the predecessor of Anping Castle. In the fourth year of the Apocalypse (1624 AD), after a month of fierce fighting with the Ming Dynasty army, the Dutch and the Chinese officials reached an agreement to destroy the fortresses and forts set up in Penghu and transfer them to the island of Taiwan. It was agreed that the Dutch would have to get closer to the Penghu Islands. At the same time, the Ming Dynasty did not interfere with the Dutch occupation of Taiwan.

After the Dutch occupied Taiwan, they rebuilt the large-scale castle "Orange City" on the site of the original city of Orange City, (*****). In the seventh year of the Apocalypse (1627 AD), it was renamed after the name of the Dutch province Zeeland Province (or Zeeland Province), "Geranza City". （*****）。 In the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632 AD), the first phase of the fort bottom project was completed.

Since then, the castle has been the main hub of Dutch rule over the entire island of Taiwan and foreign trade. Other castles of the Dutch on Formosa, such as the city of Prominja and the city of the Great Man, were built on the basis of the city of Geranza. By the tenth year of Chongzhen (1637 AD), the Dutch had "more than twenty" strongholds and forts in Formosa scattered in many corners of the entire island of Taiwan.

As the Dutch governor in Formosa, Putman's previous days were quite leisurely. Maybe. In the first half of his life. He never imagined that "he would have such a good life." His life in Formosa was indeed too happy.

Formosa has abundant bounty, diligent servants, beautiful young nv, and white sandy beaches. There are crystal clear waters. There is warm sunshine, blue sky, fresh air, flying seagulls, and turquoise forests. Streams with babbling streams can be found in Formosa as long as they are liked by humans.

Alien Dutch. As long as you live here for a while, you will not be willing to leave. They're going to love it here. This is the basic reason why more and more Dutch people are coming to settle in Formosa. Putman has roughly counted. Last year, the number of Dutch people on the entire island of Formosa "has exceeded 10,000.

However, these good days are gone. Ever since the Tiger Army appeared. Putman's life is getting more and more difficult. The other Dutch on Formosa are not having a good time either. After the defeat of the Dutch Bluffhead fleet by the Tiger Navy, the number of Dutch on Formosa decreased dramatically. In just three months, half of the Dutch ran away.

Especially in the "Japanese" book, "the fall. . . After that, Putman's life can no longer be used, "It's not good. . . To describe, it must be used, ", panic. , to describe. The number of Dutch people on the island of Formosa has also decreased further. So far, there are less than three thousand. What can three thousand people do? Even Putman himself didn't know.

After the Tiger Army occupied the "Japan" book. Immediately waved his army south, directly towards Formosa. This made the remaining Dutchmen on Formosa even more frightened. Despite Putman's constant attempts to comfort them and cheer them up, the Dutch on Formosa were still quite demoralized. Just at this damn time. The news of Rezger's defeat came!

Putman could not understand why even the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, led by Rezger. will all fail at the hands of the Tiger Ben Navy. It's simply impossible! To say that Bluffhead's defeat may have been caused by mistakes in the Tiger Navy. So. Rezger's defeat. It's a real defeat.

This news is indeed terrible. The last vestiges of the Dutchman's luck were completely crushed. No matter how Rezger was defeated, it shows that the Tiger Army Navy. There is already a qualification to challenge the main fleet of the Dutch. This was after the Spaniards and the British. The third formidable enemy that the Dutch encountered!

In fact, when the news of Rezger's defeat reached Formosa, Putman would not have believed it anyway. Putman knew Rezger, and the two were still quite good friends. Putman believed in Rezger's fighting abilities. He was more convinced of the combat capabilities of the main fleet of the Dutch Navy. That's a super battleship with a displacement of more than 1,500 tons, and a main fleet of ten super large warships with a displacement of more than 1,000 tons!

Such strength is absolutely outstanding, and few people dare to face it head-on.

Even if the main fleet of the Spanish Navy encounters the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, it is necessary to seriously think about whether to start a battle or not. What kind of ability does the Tiger Ben Army Navy have to defeat all these behemoths......," rumors。。

"Definitely a rumor!" ”。

Putman came to a categorical conclusion.

He detailed that these news were all fabricated by the Tiger Ben Army in order to attack Formosa. The main fleet of the Dutch Navy was unlikely to be defeated. The Tiger Navy, which does not have the strength to defeat the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, is simply not capable of defeating the main fleet of the Dutch Navy.

However, one after another, similar news came: "Even if Putman doesn't believe it, there is no way." The so-called empty xùe coming wind may not be without cause. In particular, there were three battleships of the Dutch Navy that were battered. Stranded on the beach of Formosa "when a group of embarrassed Dutch sailors escaped from the battleship, Putman had to believe that all this was true. The main fleet of the Dutch Navy, really defeated.

What it was like to be like that, Putman has no way of describing it. He spent a lot of effort and a considerable amount of money in the development of Formosa. When the Dutch first arrived in Formosa, there were only primitive indigenous people and nothing else. It was the Dutch who built the port, castle, handicraft yard, plantation, etc., "which attracted a large number of people and merchant ships." But "just as it was all flourishing, a black hand suddenly reached out.

It's as if it was not easy for me to catch up with a beautiful young nv, and put a ring on her, "put on a wedding dress, and waited for the wedding to be held, and then when the dòng room was huā candle, suddenly someone told you that the groom official was not you, and the person who entered the dòng room with the young nv was not you, and you wanted to resist, but you were slapped away......

It's like, you have worked hard to find a ruby, hold it in your hand, and appreciate it carefully. When you are dreaming of making a fortune, a hand suddenly reaches out next to you, takes your ruby away and tells you that it is his. It has nothing to do with you, if you want to resist, you will be beaten away with the same slap......

In the days that followed, Putman lived in fear. Between retreat and holdout, Putman has been wavering. Every morning, Putman felt that he should take thirty-six steps as the best plan, and it was only right to run back to Batavia. However, when it comes to the afternoon or evening. He changed his mind again.

Because afternoon tea and dinner are indeed too comfortable and rich. So comfortable that Putman didn't want to use his brain, so rich that Putman would rather die here than go back and look at other people's faces. It was only in the dead of night that there was silence all around, and Putman would calmly consider whether he should go or stay.

Idiots know that after the Tiger Navy defeated the main fleet of the Dutch Navy, the next step must be to capture Formosa. This is a plan that the Tiger Ben Army has made early on, and it is impossible to change it. At this time, abandoning Formosa and escaping is the best policy. Stay here and wait for him. It must be the bayonets and prisons of the Tiger Army.

However, when it comes to giving up, Putman is really unwilling! Formosa was too obsessed with him. When Putman first arrived in Formosa, he was deeply struck by it. He felt that his life had been completely integrated with Formosa. He wanted to stay here for the rest of his life. Never separate.

"Mr. Governor, let's get out of here。。

Finding that Putman was hesitant, Anita next to him couldn't help but urge in a low voice.

Putman didn't seem to hear it, didn't react at all. In fact, of course he heard, but he didn't react. Between leaving and staying, Putman still hasn't decided. After all, Putman is still not reconciled! Formosa is nothing short of a cornucopia. It's a shame to give up like this.

For Formosa's contribution to the trading activities of the Dutch East India Company. Putman will never forget. Dutch East India Company. The considerable wealth is from Formosa. If there wasn't Formosa, he wouldn't be where he is today. It was only after his arrival in Formosa that the fate of Putman changed dramatically.

At the beginning, the purpose of the Dutch occupation of Formosa was to establish a pivot over the Ming Kingdom, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asian strongholds, and to monopolize the trade between Manila (a Spanish colony) and the Ming Kingdom, constantly devouring the strength of the Spaniards. All merchant ships that traveled between Manila and the Ming Kingdom. will be raided by the Dutch. The route from Fujian Yuegang to Manila has always been a constant war.

After more than ten years of efforts by the Dutch. Formosa itself. I was able to produce a comparable article, too. At that time, Formosa's main export trade included sugar, deer skins, deer ròu, antlers, rattan, rice, etc. The transshipment trade includes metals and yào materials from the Netherlands, spices, pepper, amber, linen, cotton huā, opium, tin, and wrong from Batavia, and silk fabrics, pottery, gold, etc. from China.

In the case of deerskins, for example, in just four years, the number of sheets exported from Formosa to the Japanese book. From 10,000 at the beginning, it has grown to 150,000 at its peak. If you want to talk about the largest commodity, it is estimated that it is still sugar. By the fifth year of Chongzhen, Taiwan's sugar output was enough to supply the needs of Japan and Persia, and Batavia was added as an export object.

The Dutch Toindo Company has about 35 bases in Asia, and the profit of the base in Japan is the second largest in Taiwan, which is the profit % of the profit. However, the company's profits in these places are mainly distributed to Dutch shareholders, rather than given back to local people or used for local construction.

To give up Formosa is to give up more than 60% of the profit sources of the Dutch Toindo Company. The market for Japan is gone. If there is no market for Taiwan, then the Dutch. It's only in the South Seas. and other Western powers, desperately fighting. It's not easy to do that! The rotten ship also has three catties of nails, and the rabbit is in a hurry to bite!

Even worse, once the Dutch abandoned Formosa. It is tantamount to completely abandoning the seas of Northeast Asia. Later. If the Dutch wanted to return to Japan, they had to conquer Formosa. With the population advantage of the Ming Kingdom, with the combat effectiveness of the Tiger Army. Later. It would be quite difficult for the Dutch to regain control of Formosa.

In other words, with Putman's retreat, the Dutch East India Company is on the verge of bankruptcy. There is no Japanese market, there is no Ming market. How many goods can be consumed and how many goods can be produced by relying solely on the indigenous people of Southeast Asia? In fact, the entire Far East, if it leaves the Ming market, no one will be able to play!

, "Mr. Nose!." , Anita next to him was already a little impatient, and couldn't help but urge again.

Putman's hesitation, in Anita's opinion, was completely unnecessary. He's daydreaming! I also want to return to the Japanese market in the future! Yes, the loss of the Dutch to give up Formosa was indeed great. However, if you don't give up, the loss is even greater.

If you want to return to the Japanese market, it is a dream!

With the increasingly powerful strength of the Tiger Army's navy, and the combat effectiveness of the Tiger Army's army, unless the Dutch Navy dispatches more than half of its troops. to the Far East" in order to defeat the Tiger Ben Navy. To occupy Formosa, the Dutch needed at least 50,000 armed sailors. Do the Dutch have what it takes? Impossible!

Will the Dutch Navy be able to transfer half of its forces to the Far East? Unless it's the Dutch, don't want to be your own country. Behind the Dutch, there are also the British and Spaniards! However, in all seriousness, the land area of Formosa is not necessarily much less than that of the Netherlands itself. If Putman had been given the choice, it would be better to relocate the entire population of the Netherlands to Formosa. The natural conditions here are much better than in the Netherlands

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