Zheng Zhilong does not want to fight the Dutch now.
This is not because of the insufficient strength of the South China Sea Fleet to face the combined forces of Portugal and the Netherlands, but Zhu Youjian’s long-term plan for South China Sea: Europe has many maritime strengths, and Ming cannot fight against the whole of Europe on his own. This is necessary.
In the future overseas trade, in order to pursue higher profits, Da Ming’s businessmen will also go to Europe. If Da Ming expels all European power in the South Ocean, then Da Ming’s businessmen will also encounter difficulties when they are in Europe. It is an attack. If some European forces are allowed to stay in Nanyang, they will inevitably treat Da Ming businessmen in Europe in order to preserve the interests of Nanyang.
Before Ming's navy could not reach Europe, this was the best way to maximize the interests of Ming merchants.
For Luzon and Malacca, Daming must expel Spain and Portugal. This is the foundation of Daming’s foothold in Southeast Asia. There is no discussion, but Daming is still preparing to sign a contract with Spain. Even if he defeats Portugal in the future, Daming will not be killed with a stick. Part of Portugal’s trade interests in the East will be retained.
The Dutch had many trading strongholds in Southeast Asia. If Daming can occupy strategic points, these trading strongholds will have little influence on Daming, and Daming can allow them to continue to exist.
Before Daming's navy arrived in Europe, protecting the commercial interests of Xiyi was to protect the future interests of Daming maritime merchants.
Therefore, Zheng Zhilong does not intend to go to war with the Netherlands for the time being, although the South China Sea Fleet and the Dutch East India Company are still at war for the time being.
The Dutch letter made Zheng Zhilong’s verbal promise to immediately return to Batavia and report to Governor Spex.
Spex combined with his own estimation, Zheng Zhilong should have no plan to attack the Dutch trading base, at least for the time being, he was a little relieved.
However, Daming is now dealing with Portugal. If Portugal is defeated, will Daming attack the various strongholds of the Dutch East India Company in Southeast Asia? Speks couldn't judge.
How can Daming's fleet truly trust the Netherlands? Can the Netherlands and Daming really coexist peacefully in Southeast Asia
Spex racked his brains.
Now that the Daming Fleet is preparing to attack Malacca, what they worry most is that the Dutch fleet threatens from the south, regardless of the actual loss of Daming's fleet caused by this threat, so Zheng Zhilong asked the messenger to bring the Dutch fleet back to the port.
Thinking of this, Spex was ready to show his sincerity.
He issued the latest order to his navy: "All ships will return to the port immediately, but small clippers and merchant ships will be sent out to sea to closely monitor the movements of the Daming Fleet. In addition, all kinds of forts on the land should be guarded and guarded. Ming army attacked."
"Yes, Lord Governor." The messenger bends down and salutes, about to convey Spex's order.
"Hold on," Spex stopped the messenger. "If an allied country sends someone to find me, it will say that I have left Batavia for the time being and returned home."
"Yes, Lord Governor." Although the messenger didn't understand what Spex meant, he didn't need to understand, he just had to convey the order.
On the one hand, Spex returned the ship to the port, saying that he would not be an enemy of Daming, let alone stabbing him from behind. On the other hand, he was not completely relieved of Zheng Zhilong. Various non-combat ships kept going. Shuttle in the sea, he wants Zheng Zhilong to understand that although he will not interfere with Daming's military operations, he is ready to protect himself.
The size of the Ming fleet is too large. If Zheng Zhilong takes the victory of Malacca and launches a surprise attack on Batavia or other trading bases in the Netherlands, it is not impossible.
Zheng Zhilong's sentry ship has been paying attention to the movements of the Dutch and found that the Dutch ship has returned to the port. They immediately reported Spex's "goodwill" to Zheng Zhilong.
Hearing Spex’s kindness, Zheng Zhilong smiled slightly. Spex is so considerate and must be seeking more interests in future negotiations. He temporarily ignored future negotiations. The Dutch ship left the sea. , He has no worries about the future, he can concentrate all his strength now, first take Malacca and talk about it.
The South China Sea Fleet is anchored in the open sea between Borneo and the Malay Peninsula. Many Cangshan ships are patrolling the sea non-stop, focusing on the Malacca Waterway in the west, Java Island in the south and Borneo in the southeast.
The Malacca waterway was the target of Zheng Zhilong’s military operations. There are a large number of Dutch trading strongholds and ships in Java Island in the south and Borneo in the southeast. Although they have now returned to the port in order to show goodwill to Daming, Zheng Zhilong cannot fully Don't worry, if the ship goes to sea again, it will only take an hour.
Zheng Zhilong originally planned to arrive at the scheduled waters at noon and was ready to begin a tentative offensive. If he can win the victory in one go, he will send part of his fleet to the port. Due to the wind, the fleet only came to the outer seas of the Malay Peninsula in the evening.
After all, the Portuguese have operated here for more than a century, occupying an absolute advantage in topography and geographical advantages. Now it is getting dark, and the situation of the opponent is unknown. Zheng Zhilong did not rashly launch an attack on the port.
The fleet dropped anchor in the open sea.
Zheng Zhilong didn't fall asleep early like a soldier, and Malacca, which made him dream, is now under his nose. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, it will belong to Daming.
He stood alone on the deck of the "Nanhai" ship. The southeast wind from the sea almost messed up his hair, and he didn't care at all.
Zheng Zhilong faced the southwest and stayed still, looking ahead. In fact, he couldn't see anything. The darkness had already swallowed everything, and Malacca was not within his sight at all.
He was thinking about tomorrow's battle.
Although he had a detailed plan, he was still thinking to see if there was anything missing.
The night also made him a little worried. He was born as a pirate, knowing that the darkness is the paradise for the attackers. The strong wind and huge waves on the sea provide adequate cover for the attackers. Although he has sent a large number of Cangshan ships to patrol, But the sea is too wide, and any omission may provide a passage for sneak attackers.
Once the Portuguese attacked, with the speed of the wide ship and the conditions of anchoring in the open sea, it would surely become the target ship of the opponent.
The South China Sea Fleet is too large and will inevitably not be able to hide from the Portuguese sentry ships.
If it’s daytime, Zheng Zhilong is absolutely sure to defeat his opponent with the number of ships and artillery in the South China Sea Fleet, but now it’s night, and it’s as dark as the bottom of a pot. This is a chance for the grape people. He is worried that the Portuguese will send small ships. The ship attacked.
As long as this night is over, the South China Sea Fleet will be the world during the day.
Zheng Zhilong did not wait for the grape people to sneak attack.
The thin mist had been blown away by the sea breeze, and the East began to show a ray of light, and then it was swallowed by darkness again. It was not until the light appeared again that it completely broke free from the fetters of darkness.
The soldiers on the Cangshan boat had been busy all night, and finally felt relieved that the Portuguese would not come to sneak attacks. They dropped anchor on the periphery to rest.
With the advent of daylight, there will be a needle-point war between Ming and Portugal. Ming soldiers believe that war is inevitable unless the Portuguese retreat and give way to the Malacca waterway.
The Portuguese who have tasted the sweetness will never give up the benefits they have already received easily.
More than forty ships, large and small, were in battle at the port of Melaka. Although they were not sure of victory, they surrendered without firing a shot, or fled back to Portugal. After returning, they could not explain to their king.
The ship did not leave the port. The Portuguese soldiers were praying that the Ming navy’s goal was not in Malacca. Maybe the Ming army was just to pass through the Malacca waterways. For the sake of God, they might let it go.
The ideal is full, but the reality is very skinny.
Countless facts have proven that the more you worry about things, the greater the chances of it happening.
A gleaming light reflected from the sea surface, and the sun had not yet appeared, but the sunrise had already dyed the eastern sea water into a deep red, as if preparing a vigorous appearance ceremony for the sun.
More than a dozen blessed ships and Cangshan ships of the South China Sea Fleet, following the direction of Zhaoxia, slowly sailed towards the Malacca waterway. The fishermen seemed to have smelled the smell of gunpowder on the ships of both sides. Usually at this time, the sea was already full of fishing boats. , But today’s sea is quiet, and within sight, no fishing boat can be seen. Only the sea breeze and waves make these Da Ming ships sail.
The Portuguese ships couldn’t stay in the port anymore, and the Ming army’s ships came under their noses. They couldn’t do it. If they didn’t see them, more than a dozen small ships dared to attack the Malacca waterway, which was a slap in the face of the Portuguese navy. .
More than 30 Portuguese ships of various types were dispatched. They faced the sun and sailed towards Daming's ships, trying to force Daming's ships back.
The Portuguese played the semaphore, but the Ming army ignored them, as if they could not understand the Portuguese semaphore, or they had not seen the Portuguese ships coming out at all.
The Portuguese then remembered that the last time they participated in the siege of the Ming Navy by the combined fleet, they had already fought undeclared, and the Ming army was revenge against them.
But the arrow was on the string, and they had to send it out, and they went all out.
The distance between the two sides is getting closer, and no one has a way back.
Daming's ship was downwind, but it was not full of sails, and its speed was not fast, so it sailed slowly. It was not like a war, but like a day trip to the Malacca Waterway.
The ships of the two sides met in the open sea east of the Malacca Waterway. About five miles away, Daming’s ships quickly hung up their sails, one lined up, the bow of the ship was facing north, and the port side gun was aimed at the Portuguese ship. The Portuguese fleet was not to be outdone. They also splayed horizontally, with large warships in front, and starboard guns against Daming's fleet.
By this time, everyone knew that although the two sides did not declare war, the war has actually occurred. Whether it is the undeclared war by the Ming army or the provocation by the Portuguese, it is only a matter on the negotiation table after the war. For the soldiers on both sides, defeating the opponent on the battlefield is now the only goal.