GBP Chapter 309 The Post-War Situation
Chapter 309 The Post-War Situation
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The massive fleet returned in an orderly fashion. Ships transporting army soldiers and supplies went first, followed by the main naval fleet, then the Fujian-style ships "requisitioned" from the local area to transport prisoners like Zheng Hongkui. Several Wuxiang-class patrol ships trailed at the very back, monitoring the situation. Liu Ye wasn't afraid of Zheng Hongkui escaping. His clansmen, including Zheng Zhilong, were all dead. What could Zheng Hongkui do even if he escaped back to Zhongzuosuo or Anping? Besides, he was now branded with the crime of "colluding with outsiders to harm his clansmen," and would be condemned by everyone if he returned.
However, Liu Ye's oversight in not placing Zheng Hongkui on the troop transport ship gave certain people an opportunity.
Zheng Fusong, mingling with Zheng Hongkui's family, was also forced onto the ship. Zheng Hongkui was in a bad mood and had no time to comfort him. He secretly ran to the stern of the ship and looked out at the fortified city on Wulao Mountain, which was said to be the place where his father had died.
Just as the ship was about to follow the convoy out of the harbor, there was a sound of water on its right, and a person wearing a wetsuit climbed onto the side of the ship. Zheng Fusong, who had just experienced a terrible ordeal, was on edge, and when he suddenly saw this, he was about to scream.
The man quickly made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Young Master Fukumatsu, it's me, Totaro."
Zheng Fusong recognized Tong Taro; he and the black man, Matos, were among his father's most trusted confidants. His initial surprise turned to delight. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he walked over and whispered, "Are you here to pick me up?"
Totaro nodded: "Young master, now is not the time to talk. We'll discuss the details after we're out of danger. If you stay here, you'll be exposed sooner or later and suffer the consequences. Come with me, I'll take you back to Hirado."
Zheng Fusong answered without hesitation, "Okay, I'll go with you."
With a splash, water droplets fell, then the water returned to calm. No one on the boat noticed that Zheng Fusong had disappeared.
This battle in February of the eighth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign shocked the entire Asian continent.
The war began too suddenly and ended even more abruptly. In a single day, Zheng Zhilong, a powerful figure who commanded respect across the seas and inspired fear in both Fujian and the imperial court, was swiftly defeated. From Zhongzuo Fortress to his hometown of Anping, everything was wiped out. Tongan County, where Zhongzuo Fortress was located, didn't even have time to react, let alone the governor's office in Fuzhou. The newly appointed governor of Fujian, Shen Youlong, immediately focused on strengthening the military and preparing for battle—the capture of the thousand-household fortress was a clear indication of trouble, something big was about to happen.
The news shocked the trading post in Tainan and even as far away as Batavia in Java: Following the Battle of Liaoluo Bay, Zheng Yiguan, riding high on his victory, seemed poised to unify the Far East's maritime territories. Batavia had even prepared themselves to compromise with Zheng Yiguan; if Zheng Zhilong were willing to provide raw silk, silk fabrics, and porcelain, they were willing to do business honestly. Unexpectedly, in just one day, the seemingly invincible Zheng Yiguan was utterly defeated, and even Zheng Yiguan himself was killed in battle. The East India Company's leadership was bewildered; what should they do in the Far East?
As for established maritime powers like Spain, whose influence in the Far East is waning, their first thought upon hearing the news was that they were glad they hadn't extended their reach to the Chinese coast. From then on, they held onto Manila and dared not move any further north.
Just as everyone was speculating about the post-war situation, several Dutch soldiers approached the Tong'an County government office, claiming that their East India Company was responsible for the incident. Tong'an County officials dared not draw any conclusions and could only relay their claims verbatim to the governor's office. When the news finally reached Fort Zeelandia, the Dutch were devastated, wanting to deny any wrongdoing.
A few days later, Putmans, the high-ranking official of the Dutch East India Company, sent a personal letter to the provincial governor's office, detailing the reasons for the war: it was all to retaliate against Zheng Zhilong, and had nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty. Officials at all levels in Fujian breathed a sigh of relief; at least the war wouldn't continue. As for the inside story—that Putmans himself wasn't in Fujian but under house arrest in Qiongzhou and had no right to represent the East India Company—they were naturally unaware of this.
The Governor's Office of Fuzhou.
Upon receiving this news, Governor Shen Youlong secretly consulted with his confidants. In fact, based on the information that came from various parties after the war, the instigator of this battle was definitely not the heavily weakened Dutch in the Battle of Liaoluo Bay. All the clues pointed to the Qiongzhou camp in Guangdong—the very army that helped Zheng Yiguan defeat the Dutch.
A trusted advisor helped the master analyze the current situation: "Master, you are wise: even if the culprit is indeed the Qiongzhou camp, revealing this secret will do more harm than good..."
Shen Youlong pressed further, "What do you mean by that?"
"It is said that the Qiongzhou Camp is no pushover. Back when they were still outlaws, they caused chaos in Qiongzhou Prefecture. Later, they even wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, repeatedly defeating government troops and ultimately causing the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Wang Zunde, to lose his post. Their land warfare is incredibly formidable, and even the entire Guangdong province could not wipe them out..."
Shen Youlong seemed to be thinking: "You mean..."
"This Qiongzhou camp is just a lowly stable boy; we can't fight it. We can only subdue it with official titles and rewards. If we uncover this, you will have to send troops to suppress it just for the crime of attacking the fortified city. Tell me, even if we report to the court and get permission for Fujian and Guangdong to join forces to suppress it, can we defeat this monkey? If we can't, will we end up like Wang Zunde?"
Shen Youlong was filled with dread as he thought about it, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "This..."
The advisor pressed his advantage: "The Qiongzhou Battalion's land warfare prowess is virtually unmatched, at least in the southern provinces. The recent battle at Zhongzuo has proven that their naval strength is even greater, with a formidable figure like Zheng Zhilong suffering a crushing defeat at their hands. With such powerful generals and troops, who in Fujian and Guangdong can possibly subdue them? If we anger them, they might launch a direct attack from the sea to land in Fuzhou. What will we use to defend ourselves then?"
Shen Youlong sighed deeply: "Hearing your words is worth more than reading ten years of books. If it weren't for your guidance, I would have almost gotten myself into trouble. What should I do then? Should I take the easy way out and report the red-haired harassment?"
The advisor nodded: "Anyway, this isn't the first time the red-haired barbarians have harassed Fujian. They're used to it, and they're used to being burdened with debts. Just blame it all on the red-haired barbarians. Besides, the Qiongzhou camp is quite tactful; they withdrew after the attack without causing any trouble, and they even sent a real red-haired barbarian to deliver the message. Everything can be done flawlessly. Moreover, the Master can easily turn this into a good thing and report it as a victory against the red-haired fleet..."
Shen Youlong was overjoyed; this was a good idea.
And so, the farce, directed by the Qiongzhou Camp and co-performed by the Fujian Provincial Governor's Office, was born. What everyone knew was ultimately shifted to the Dutch, turning into a drama of "Red Hairs Fighting Zheng Yiguan, Fujian Soldiers Valiantly Repelling the Invading Enemy." The Qiongzhou Camp gained substance, the Fujian Provincial Governor's Office gained face, and all without a direct confrontation, a win-win situation. The only unfortunate ones were Zheng Zhilong, who died and whose family was wiped out, and the Dutch, the scapegoat.