Traveling through the late Ming Dynasty to promote Chinese civilization

Chapter 223 The True Face of the Dutch

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Zheng Zhilong is in the wrong regarding what Putmans said.

In the third year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, in order to defeat his greatest rival, Li Kuiqi, and establish his dominance over the Fujian coast, Zheng Zhilong requested the Dutch's assistance, promising them free trade in Fujian. Having already defeated his partner, the Fujian military commander Xu Xinsu, by Zheng Zhilong, the Dutch had no better option and thus agreed to Zheng's demands.

However, after successfully suppressing Li Kuiqi, Zheng Zhilong failed to honor his promise. Although he was a powerful maritime figure in Southeast China, his official status was merely that of a guerrilla commander in Fujian, and he had no authority to decide trade rights with other countries on behalf of the imperial court. Furthermore, the newly appointed Fujian governor, Zou Weilian, was also dissatisfied with Zheng Zhilong and others' disregard for the maritime ban and their trade activities. Therefore, after taking office, he reissued the maritime ban, allowing only Fujianese people with permits to engage in maritime activities, but prohibiting foreigners from trading in Fujian. The year after this ban was issued, only six permits were issued to travel to Taiwan, and even fewer ships arrived, plunging Dutch trade in Taiwan into difficulties.

Even though Zheng Cai was eloquent, she blushed when asked about this matter and awkwardly explained, "My elder brother tried to persuade me to do this, but his official rank is not high, and the governor's office objected, so this matter had to be put on hold for the time being..."

Putmans scoffed, "I don't care about that. All I know is that Zheng Yiguan failed to fulfill the agreement. Since peaceful means cannot resolve this issue, then, for the sake of the East India Company's interests in the Far East, we do not rule out the use of force..."

Hearing the threat in the other party's words, Zheng Cai's eyes widened: "So, this is your reason for attacking Zhongzuo?" He took out the flags and slammed them on the table.

Putmans stared at the flags, bewildered. The counterfeit versions were so realistic that he couldn't tell the difference between the real and fake ones for a moment.

"What are you doing with our company flag... Wait, you just said Xiamen Port was attacked?"

Zheng Cai sneered, "A few days ago, a fleet of ships made up of large hull-hulled boats took advantage of my elder brother's absence while he was suppressing bandits, and launched a surprise attack on Zhongzuosuo Port, burning countless Zheng family warships. Only your family has these large hull-hulled boats in the Fujian waters, and you left these flags in the port. I can't think of anyone else who would do this. Do you know that doing this is tantamount to declaring war on the Zheng family?"

"Damn it!" Putmans couldn't help but curse. Using such a low-level framing tactic against the notoriously shrewd Dutchmen was an insult to his intelligence—he did indeed want to do it, but the company council hadn't approved it; it was just a plan, not an action. Aside from Liu Xiang's attack on the Zheng family's merchant fleet at his behest, Da Yuan's fleet hadn't engaged the Zheng family in direct combat.

He was about to say that this was a blatant frame-up and that they wouldn't take the blame, but before he could say it, a thought flashed through his mind—no matter who did it, or whether it was just a ruse by Zheng Yiguan, the deed was done, and wasn't this exactly the opportunity and reason the company council needed to start a war?

Batavia's decision-makers held most of the Dutch East India Company's power in the Far East, including trade and warfare.