If you really fight to the death with the Ming navy according to what St. George said, then the problem comes.

How long can the East India Company's fleet and coastal defense system, or the whole of Batavia, last?

Not only did Cohen feel a pain in his eggs, but even the others present felt a pain in their eggs after hearing St. George's words.

If you want to go by yourself, you can take your master, Governor Cohen, with you, but can you think about it for so many people here?

But there are also smart people present.

After Cohen coughed and asked St. George to sit down, the hearts of many people began to move.

If Governor Cohen's opinion is in favor of fighting the Ming army to the end, then whether or not it is necessary for Governor Cohen to lock himself up for a day, St. George's statement alone should be in favor.

In reality, however, Governor Cohen did not express any appreciation or approval of St. George's statement, but coughed and sat him down.

There is a lot of information revealed here, at least it can prove that Governor Cohen himself does not want to fight the Ming Navy to the end.

The only concern is whether Governor Cohen is fishing.

Cohen's other confidant, Armand, who was also the second-in-command of the East India Company, was less worried about whether Governor Cohen was fishing.

Because even if he said the wrong thing, it was equivalent to helping Governor Cohen catch a fish together, and it should not cause any fatal consequences.

After thinking for a moment, Armand spoke: "Your Excellency the Governor, I think that whether we continue to fight or seek a path of peace, we should think about the whole of Batavia and the entire East India Company. ”

As soon as Armand spoke, Cohen's eyes lit up and he encouraged, "Go on, I'd like to hear what you have to say." ”

Armand pondered: "First of all, it is not known for the time being what the combat effectiveness of the twelve warships of the Ming Kingdom is.

However, even if these twelve warships were similar to those warships of the Ming pirates, they were far from being the only four warships we had left to compete with.

Secondly, even if the naval combat power of the Ming Kingdom is not as strong as they seem, or even inferior to their pirates, but at the end of the battle, it will definitely be Batavia and not the Ming Kingdom that will be hurt in the end.

Although we have the advantage of fighting at home, in fact, this is also a disadvantage.

The Ming navy can attack us without any scruples, and we have no other way than to defend, after all, we are responsible for the nearly 30,000 employees in Batavia.

Finally, as a military power on the sea, the same is true of the Ming Kingdom, which can be seen from their pirate equipment and combat effectiveness.

I'm sorry, but I don't mean to mean anything bad, but in fact, our military power in Batavia is only on par with their pirates, otherwise we would have driven them out long ago.

To sum up, my personal opinion is that we should first seek a peaceful solution, rather than going to war with the Ming Kingdom. ”

Cohen nodded and said, "Regarding the combat effectiveness of the Ming Navy, I think I should have the right to speak."

As you know, I visited the Governor of the Ming Navy this morning, and I saw the power of their shipboard artillery.

At a range of nearly ten miles, the sea water would evaporate.

To put it bluntly, the so-called three-masted galleons are like children's toys in front of their warships, and the only possible advantage is speed.

According to their governor, there are three fleets like this in the entire Ming Dynasty, namely the North Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea fleet.

Moreover, as long as their Emperor Majesty was willing, they could come up with more fleets at any time, even ten or twenty fleets of this size and combat effectiveness. ”

Geert Janssen expressed his doubts: "I do not mean to offend you, Your Excellency, but I think that such a statement is still too exaggerated.

Wood, first of all, is the problem of wood, how can they solve it? Secondly, it will be a big problem to have so many warships, both in terms of management and supply. ”

Shaking his head, Cohen looked at Geert Janssen with caring eyes: "Poor Janssen, I told you a long time ago that you should study, but you never took my words seriously.

I don't know how they solve the problem of wood, but theoretically it's very easy to get wood, for example, we can get a lot of it in Batavia.

As for management and supplies, I think the people of the Formosa branch, which has been completely sent into the sea by the Ming South China Sea Fleet to feed the fish, should have the most say.

That's a country with a population of nearly 200 million, 200 million, 20,000,000, not 2 million!

A country with a population of 200 million without any major problems will be able to handle a few fleets in this region?

God, it's hard to imagine, Janssen, what's in your head? Is there anything else you can care about besides wine and women? ”

Geert Janssen blushed a little at Cohen's remarks, and stumbled in defense: "I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to offend you, but I just made some immature opinions. ”

After nodding his head, Cohen spoke: "Of course, I know that you are such a Janssen, but in the future, you still need to read more books." ”

Yang Sen's face almost turned into a monkey's buttocks: "Then Your Excellency the Governor, my personal opinion is that like Armand, we should seek a peaceful solution instead of war, after all, we are all people of the civilized world, aren't we?" ”

After nodding again, Cohen said, "Good, I'm glad you have this understanding." ”

After complimenting Janssen, Cohen then glanced at everyone present: "So, is there anything else the others have to say?" ”

Others have nothing to say except for approval.

Fighting a war is not terrible, who is weak is embarrassed.

Now there is a possibility of a peaceful settlement, without the need for conflict to die and bloodshed, what else is there to say?

Seeing that everyone else was in agreement, Cohen spoke, "Actually, when I visited the Governor of the Ming Navy in the morning, I had already talked to him about whether it was possible to settle it peacefully. ”

As soon as Cohen's words came out, many people present breathed a sigh of relief.

But there are also some people who raise people to their throats.

If there is a peaceful solution that could be easily found in such a situation, then why would Governor Cohen bring the matter to the meeting again?

It seems that the conditions for peace must not be low, even so high that Governor Cohen alone cannot decide, or bear, it.

Cohen ignored the crowd with different faces, and continued: "Actually, the so-called peaceful solution is not nothing.

However, the naval governor of the Ming Kingdom demanded that we surrender to them before it was possible to proceed with the next step of peace talks, and as for my proposal to give the Ming some compensation, they refused. ”

The word surrender, no one is willing to accept.

Because after surrendering, it basically means that you have become a fish on the shore board, and you can be slaughtered by others - whatever the other party asks, you have to agree to what you want, and there is no room for bargaining.

Compared with the others, St. George's heart was even more desolate.

Others are okay to say that it does not involve military aspects, and even if it is surrendered, it does not have a particularly big relationship with them, or that the heaviest pot is not carried by them.

But what about yourself?

As the confidant of the Governor-General, as the supreme commander of the armed forces of the East India Headquarters in Batavia, he is in charge of everything from the army to the navy, and he is the nominal supreme commander.

Even if there is a Governor Cohen above him, he is the actual leader.

Once you surrender, then you can't bear the blame or not.

And his reputation will be finished from now on, and there is no possibility for him to go further.

Not to mention the army that entered the Dutch royal family.

But can you say no?

Whether it's for the whole of Batavia, or for his wife, children and lovers, do you have the capital to refuse?

Seeing Cohen's gaze on him, St. George, who was already somewhat sure of Governor Cohen's thoughts, simply spoke: "Your Excellency, although I would like to say that we should fight to the death with the Ming Navy, I myself hope so.

But it has to be said that we have to be responsible for the entire Batavia headquarters, for the East India Company, and even more for the Netherlands.

Our strength in the Far East is not enough for us to confront the mighty Ming Kingdom, and even all the forces of the entire East India Company combined may not be able to confront the huge Ming Kingdom.

And once we go to war with the Ming Kingdom, or even drag the Dutch navy into the water, then it is not the Ming people, nor the Dutch government, who are most happy, but the insatiable vampires of Spain.

They will be glad that we are in conflict with the Ming Kingdom and even drag the Dutch government into the water, so that they will have an opportunity. ”

Spain?

Now that they themselves are in danger of protecting, they have all sent people over for help, and they can take advantage of it?

What if he surrendered on this side, or even betrayed Spain to the Ming Navy?

Moreover, according to the Governor of Nanjuyi, as well as the information brought by Acuña, all of them show that the other fleet of the Ming Dynasty, the South China Sea Fleet, dealt with the Spaniards in Luzon because they slaughtered the people of the Ming Kingdom in Luzon.

In this way, he is the unlucky fish that swims near the city gate and is cooked by the fire?

After constantly considering various possibilities in his heart, Cohen spoke: "Actually, there is another thing that is also related to today's meeting.

I think everyone is also wondering, why did those pirates of the Ming Kingdom suddenly attack us like crazy? Why did even the navy of the Ming Kingdom come to Batavia to attack us? ”

Seeing everyone's curiosity, Cohen continued: "It's actually very simple, it all has something to do with the Spaniards in Luzon.

Those insatiable vampires wanted to occupy the southeastern coastal cities of the Ming Kingdom.

In order to attract and ambush the Ming navy, they carried out a massacre in Luzon, and even clashed with the Ming pirates and navy at sea.

Obviously, His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Kingdom regarded us as vampires like the Spaniards in Luzon, so he sent a fleet over. ”

After finishing speaking, Cohen suddenly sneered again and licked his lips: "However, it is a pity that the Spaniards in Luzon miscalculated the naval strength of the Ming Kingdom and suffered a devastating blow, and even we were affected by them.

Prior to this, Sánchez of Spain had sent his assistant Acuña to seek my help, asking us to send troops to help them.

But gentlemen also know that at that time we were at war with the pirates of the Ming Kingdom, and we didn't care about them at all.

And, even if we had the power to help them, I would have refused his request to cooperate with the greedy Spaniards, not to go hunting with the wolves. ”

After Cohen's words were finished, St. George said a little speechlessly: "So, it was because of them that we were hit by the pirates and the navy of the Ming Kingdom?" Not just because of Formosa? ”

Cohen nodded: "There is a reason for Fusamo, but it is by no means the main reason. So, my opinion is the same as that of all of you, which is to seek a peaceful solution. ”

It's just that the more he continued, Cohen's face became more and more bitter: "I can surrender to the Ming Navy on behalf of the Batavia East India Company, hoping to exchange my personal reputation and future for peace." ”

St. George objected: "Sorry, Your Excellency the Governor, I am the nominal supreme military governor of Batavia.

The matter of surrender does not need you to come forward, it should be enough for me to go. ”

Cohen waved his hand: "St. George, I understand your thoughts and know that you are for my good, but I have to say that they will not accept your surrender, because I am the supreme governor of Batavia, not only military." ”

When St. George heard this, he was also quite helpless.

After glancing around at everyone, Shengzhi continued: "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think it's a shameful thing to surrender at this time.

On the contrary, the Governor is enduring humiliation and using his personal reputation to resolve the misunderstanding between us and the Ming Kingdom! ”

As soon as St. George's words fell, Armand followed suit: "Yes, I think so too.

His Excellency the Governor paid for his personal reputation, but he saved Batavia, the East India Company, and the lives of all those present.

This is by no means a shameful act, on the contrary, this kind of behavior of giving up personal honor and disgrace for the sake of everyone is very worthy of our respect and learning! ”

Armand's words served as a start, and the others chimed in.

In fact, there is only one purpose, which is to surrender temporarily, and to keep all this first.

Cohen once again lit the pipe he had been holding in his hand, and after a few sharp inhales, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the purpose of surrender now, everyone knows, tomorrow I will go to the naval governor of the Ming Kingdom to discuss the surrender."

But what I would say more is that we should know that this is a shame rather than an honor.

I hope that all of you here will be able to catch up until one day, we can block the door of the Ming Kingdom to find their trouble! ”