"Boom!"

"Boom!"

A cannonball flew from outside the city to the fort at the head of the city, knocking a bronze cannon into the air, and the gun carriage was knocked over by the force of the impact and flew down the inner wall. The castration of the cannonball did not wane, and it happened to hit the powder keg not far from the artillery, triggering a martyrdom, and more than a dozen shells flew happily in all directions under the effect of the powder keg, destroying a qiē object and life in the way.

The soldiers and sailors operating the artillery on the fort could not dodge, and were killed on the spot by gun carriage parts, gun barrels, shells and other objects flying through the air, and dozens of wounded people fell on the ground of the fort and screamed in all directions.

The two governors, Putmans and Debaul, guarded by the officers, observed the situation of both friend and foe on the inner and outer walls, which were covered with blood and broken bones.

In just a few days, to the east and south of the city of Geranza, the Nanzhong army built two batteries, placed one Kelon cannon and two 32-pounder cannons on the batteries, and six cannons from time to time to carry out targeted killings of the artillery on the city of Geranza.

"Your Excellency, our artillery has lost four guns since yesterday! If this continues, it won't take more than a week for us to form a suppressive firepower against the Ming soldiers who are trying to fill the trenches! ”

Most of the cannons of the Nanzhong Army are cast from nine-turn steel molds, which not only have low manufacturing costs and short time, but also have fast heat dissipation speed. Under the training of Galileo Descartes and others, the shooting skills of the artillery were much stronger than those of the Dutch, and with the optical instruments such as artillery mirrors and telescopes, it can be said that the cannons on the city head. The commander of the artillery team, Huang Lei, had long regarded it as his bag.

However, under the strict will of Li Shouhan to resist the two fortresses of Geranza and Chichicheng before the reinforcements of Batavia City were eliminated, the artillerymen had to use the city's artillery as whetstones and sparring opponents.

"It can't go on like this!"

Governor Debaul was very careless, and he exclaimed, "We can't wait here to die!" Wait for General Lee's army to storm the city and crucify us! ”

"Fan. I ask you to calm down for a moment, Mr. Debaul, for a few more days I think that in a few days our indigenous friends will launch a surprise attack on the rear and flanks of General Lee's army, causing great trouble to General Lee, and then we will go out of the city to counterattack. Conclude a dignified armistice with General Lee. ”

"From today onwards, we will be able to unify the grain and timber in the castle. If you grasp it well. The food in the city can feed us for half a year, and during this time, I believe that the company will send people to support us! Formosa will never sink, never fall into the hands of infidels! ”

"Boom! Boom! ”

As if to add a footnote to Putmans' words. The artillery of the south battery outside the city opened fire again. A naval six-pounder gun erected on the inner wall was hit by a projectile from a 32-pounder gun of the South Central Army. Immediately, the cannon was smashed and paralyzed on the spot, and the iron balls flew around the gun wheel of the gun carriage. A six-pounder cannonball whizzed over the heads of Debaul and the others, slamming into the open space between the outer and inner walls. Bounced hard, and rushed straight at several soldiers who couldn't dodge, one soldier shook his body, only to feel that one side was a little empty, and in a blink of an eye, he found that his right arm and shoulder had been taken away by the cannonball, and the iron ball was castrated, and a few rolled back, breaking the calves and ankles of the other two soldiers.

The terrible screams of the soldiers rang out, and they didn't know what tribal dialect they used, and none of the officers and gentlemen present could understand it. Monsieur de Baul, who had just experienced the battle, was already so frightened that his face turned pale and he was at a loss for what to do, and he did not know what was holding on to it. Only Putmans gritted his teeth and ordered the sergeants to organize men to carry the soldiers down the city to the priest for healing.

After only a few minutes, I heard a few more cannon shots on the east side of the battery, and then I heard the sound of dozens of shells whizzing through the air, but it was the 32-pounder cannon of the Southern Central Army that used a group, one large bomb, carrying more than a dozen small bullets.

There was silence in the city, only the terrible screams of the wounded soldiers who had been hit by the shells as they were carried down the city, the weather had slowly become warmer, and those who had been carried by the artillery projectiles were afraid that what awaited them was the fate of festering wounds, suppuration, high fever, and necrosis of limbs.

A damp sea breeze blew, and the air was filled with a strong smell of burnt human flesh, which was disgusting, except for this smell, a heavy smell of blood, mixed with a faint smell of gunsmoke.

"Your Excellency the Governor." A sergeant hurriedly came from the east, not knowing who to report, so he had to call him vaguely, thinking that no one would bother with him at this time.

"General Li's artillery has already killed seven of us today, and more than 30 people have been wounded and lost their combat effectiveness!"

According to custom, the Dutch only counted the casualties of the Dutch and those soldiers, and the casualties of the natives auxiliary soldiers were regarded as missing, and their fate was two words, "cannon fodder!" ”

"Mr. Debaul, I have a Jianyì!"

Captain Debell suddenly said something.

"I don't think we can go on like this, if it goes on like this, I'm afraid that the company's reinforcements haven't arrived yet, and we have already been killed by General Li's artillery!"

"Are you still planning to go out of the city to attack General Lee?" One of the captains sneered at Captain Debell, pointing to several trenches outside the outer walls, "Look at it! ”

Next to the outermost ditch, with the help of the residents of Anping Town, the Nanzhong Army filled bags made of straw with mud and sea sand, and built several bunkers around several exits of the city of Geranza, and with the bunker as the core, it continued to extend to both sides, if nothing else, it is believed that a low wall will be formed in a few days to block the external access of the city of Geranza.

"It's because I saw this that I wanted to send our fleet to the sea, report to the company, and ask the company to send a strong fleet and reinforcements!"

Captain Debell's construction was immediately approved by the captains, and they all asked to go to Batavia City to ask for reinforcements from the company's headquarters! (Nonsense.) What is it to stay here instead of waiting for death? When you go to sea to deliver a letter, you can also pretend to be a brave and fearless warrior! If you can rush out, you will be in safety when you reach Batavia! ）

"It's good! Captain Debell is right! "Both the governors, Putmans and De Baul, agreed with Captain de Bell's proposal.

Then there's the headache for them, the question of candidates! It's not that no one wants to break through to Batavia City to ask for help, but there are too many people who volunteer!

From the flagship, the largest battleship "Hector" in Taiwan's Dutch Navy, to the gunboat "S? The "Graflan", the "Egret", and the communication ship "Maria" were all passionate and eager to fight.

Both Putmans and Debaul were very clear about the inner thoughts of the navy, but it was not easy to break them, and they looked up at the Dutch flag on the castle tower, and it was the last period of the north wind, and in a few days it would be the season of the south monsoon. That's it!

"All the ships of the Navy were dispatched together. Cover the Maria's breakout, and adapt to the situation during the battle, which ship can escort the Maria to break out, go to Batavia with the Maria for help! ”

There was a trumpet from the camp of the Nanzhong Army. Immediately afterward, the smell of food wafted from outside the low wall, where the rudimentary shape had appeared. It is the time of day when people are most likely to let their guard down. It's time for dinner. According to Putmans' knowledge of the Orient, eating is a time when people put down their things and concentrate on enjoying their food.

"May God bless you!"

"God bless the Netherlands!"

The captains boarded the bridge without looking back. The sailors had already hoisted the sails, two of the three iron anchors were pulled up, and the hull of the ship slowly swayed with the push of the wind and waves with one of the iron anchors left in the water.

"Anchor! Let's go! ”

With the Hector as the lead, more than a dozen warships rushed out and went straight to the outside of Dayuan Harbor.

"God bless Formosa! Don't let it be plundered by the infidels! ”

Inside the castle of Geranza, a group of East India Company employees and women prayed earnestly as the sun set red.

"Boom!"

"Boom, boom!"

After a cannon shot, a dense cannon sound came from the sea.

"Your Excellency! Our fleet was intercepted by artillery fire from both land and sea under General Lee's subordinates! ”

An officer on duty hurriedly informed the two governors who were sitting in their offices of the Governors of the city.

Putmans nodded, indicating that he understood, and waved his hand for the officer to withdraw.

In this situation, all he can do is pray for the naval warriors who broke through and reported the news. Hope that God will favor them so that they can break through the blockade of the South Central Army and ride the north wind to Batavia for help.

The sound of cannons on the sea rang out for almost midnight, and from time to time there was a cluster of flames jumping in the night sky. When the eastern sky was white, the people in the city of Geranza saw the result of the breakout battle:

More than 100 Dutch sailors were covered in the sea and hugged a broken deck to carry loads and floats on the sea, and in the distance, those soldiers of the naval division of the South Central Army rowed small boats to capture the prisoners.

Occasionally, a few lucky people were swept away by the waves near Dayuan Harbor and were immediately rescued by patrolling Dutch soldiers.

"Your Excellency! Our battleship Hector was sunk by a warship of the Ming Kingdom, and the people on board, from the captain to the cook, should have all died in the line of duty! ”

"S? What about the Graffran? ”

"S? The Graflan? Your Excellency the Governor! He was besieged by six warships of the South Central Army, and hundreds of artillery pieces made him the best target for night shooting, and he was the first to be sunk! However," the sailor paused slightly, "the captain lowered the sails on the mainmast and hoisted the white flag before being sunk, so the men on board must have been captured by the Ming people!" ”

"What about the others?"

"The Egret and the Maria, in the main force of the enemy's warships besieging the Hector and the S. While the Graffran was in the midst of the Gap, I broke through and went south, and before my ship was sunk, I saw two warships pursuing it south! ”

Of the more than ten warships that broke through to the sea, one capital ship was sunk, one gunboat was captured, two gunboats were damaged and sunk, two ships broke through successfully, and the rest soon returned to Dayuan Port one after another. However, only four returned, and the other few ships did not dare (or more unwilling, right?). When I returned to Dayuangang, I either went to Trench Jingao against the north wind, or I simply ran east to Fusang, in short, I left the land of right and wrong in Dayuan.

After settling the naval personnel and ships that had fled back to the city, Putmans ordered that all the guns that had fled back to the warships be moved to the city to strengthen the garrison. All sailors were formed into four companies to supplement the garrison.

"I hope the old men of Batavia can send reinforcements as much as possible!"

The two governors, Putmans and Debaul, and the entire Dutch in the castle, were eagerly awaiting.

"My lord, Commander Zhang Xiaohu sent a battle report from Gelanza City. Follow your strategy. The two Dutch plywood boats were released, and the rest were either sunk or captured, and a total of more than 40 artillery pieces were captured, and more than 300 members of the Dutch naval division were captured. Mr. Zhang, please tell me what to do next! ”

Freshwater City. Shouhan also received the report of the naval division's anti-breakout operation for the first time.

These days. Shouhan lived a very leisurely life in Tamsui City. Every day, I would read the war reports from everywhere, review the documents from Hue, and if it weren't for the noise of Hua Mei in my ears from time to time, I would go to a naval battle. It's no less than a vacation.

The work of the Reclamation Bureau has also entered a new stage, and now both the South Central Army and the Dutch seem to have entered a waiting period, the Dutch are waiting for reinforcements, and the South Central Army is also waiting for reinforcements from the Dutch. In this time gap, both sides tried to quickly win over and use the power of the natives to cause trouble for the other.

The village communities that submitted to the Nanzhong Army received all kinds of benefits, and through the trade activities with the Fuken Bureau, they got all kinds of items from hunting knives, bows and arrows, iron pots, cotton cloth, salt to needles and threads, whether it was the head of the patriarch or the ordinary old and weak women and children, they had what they needed, and if they worked with the Nanzhong Army to uproot those villages and communities that refused to return, they could also get half of the share of hunting grounds, mountains and forests, and seized property.

For a time, from north to south, small-scale mountain and jungle battles in various mountains and forests never stopped.

The head man with a brighter brain chose a beautiful woman in the clan, and sent it to Tamsui City happily, asking to send it to the general of the Celestial Empire, "Warm the general's feet!"

However, in the eyes of this general, who is very advanced from his own aesthetic point of view, this group of beauties is also hidden. Dark skin, brown and black, not to mention, this is acceptable, but the flat and huge nose, betel nut-chewing blood-red teeth, thick lips, except for the figure, are almost lackluster.

"Alas!"

After a sigh, Shouhan couldn't help but think of the famous female singer of the Gaoshan tribe who was banned for singing the so-called national anthem of the Republic of Taiwan at the inauguration ceremony of Ah Bian, "No wonder she is the only one who can be known as a mountain compatriot singer!" The appearance is so bad! ”

After a lot of slander, I still have to comfort these leaders who came to offer beautiful women.

"We will buy your hunt at a much higher price than the Red Hairy, and you can also learn how to cultivate the fields from our cultivators. In addition, your children, who can eat a bowl of rice at a meal, must go to the school opened by the Reclamation Bureau to study, and every child can have a pound of white rice a day! ”

"However, you must obey my laws and take a Han name!"

After settling the alpine natives in the north, Shouhan began to make new deployment adjustments.

"Zhang Xiaohu's department, mainly brigs and sailing ships, carried infantry, smuggled along the Luermen waterway on the night of the first day of the new year, and then quickly landed on Beilianwei Island and took control of this island! Cut off the communication link between the city of Chichia and the city of Geranza! ”

"The battalions of the Chinese army, recently pulled out their camps and anchored south, landed at Heliao Port in the north of Chiji City, set up camp, and began to attack Chichi City!"

"The tasks of the naval division are as follows: the ships on the left flank of the naval division are arranged in the bay between the cities of Chichicheng and the cities of Geranza, cutting off the sea communication between the two cities; The warships of the Chinese Navy Division were arranged between Tagou and Xin'an (that is, about the vicinity of Zuoying and Kaohsiung today, which is about four hours away from the city of Geranza), to prevent the Dutch army from making a detour to land to support the trapped Chichicheng! ”

"Within ten days of the completion of the camp in Chichicheng City, our army must sweep away the Dutch stronghold outside the city! Don't slack off and avoid battle on the pretext of luring the enemy out of the city! ”

With the promulgation of military orders one after another, the southern Chinese army intensified its offensive against Chichicheng and Geranza City, as if tightening the noose around the neck of a condemned prisoner.

Looking at the camp of the Nanzhong Army under the Red Embedded City from afar, the flags as red as the morning glow, and then look at the thousands of natives who belonged to the East India Company to come to reinforce the scene of being killed by the spearmen and sword and shield soldiers of the Southern Central Army outside the Red Embedded City like chopping melons and vegetables, the blood-stained sea water was swept by the waves to the west and north of the sea outside the city of Geranza, and the people at the head of the city could see the dorsal fin of the shark disappearing from time to time between the waves, looking for food to satisfy their stomachs.

"Raise the flag!"

Perhaps it was under such heavy siege that the unyielding character in the blood of the Dutchmen from Debaul and Putmans was aroused, and they provocatively raised a red pennant on the commanding heights of the castle of Geranza!

"You want to fight me to the end?! All right! I was going to let you live a few more days! ”

Surrounded by a group of officers such as Zhang Xiaohu and Huang Wen, Shouhan saw from the telescope lens that the flag was fluttering provocatively there.

At this time, the city of Geranza had been surrounded by the Nanzhong Army on both sides and four roads. The Xuanwu camp, which went north from the land Qikun body, set up a position on the south side of the castle; The other came from the sea and landed a kun body, and set up a position on the east side of the castle, and a long wall from east to south with the Dutch trench had completed the construction of the siege fortifications. The north and west sides of the castle are the sea, and at this time this sea has been completely controlled by the naval division of the Nanzhong Army. The Dutch, the sea fortress on which they traded between China and Japan, became the possession of the Han Guards. (To be continued......)