Dundas sent a full two thousand soldiers of the British regular army, plus another six thousand Indian mercenary soldiers. However, it was two days before the departure, but Dundas did not want any accidents, so out of caution, he again sent an additional thousand British regular soldiers, as well as twenty rifles.

The East India Company battleships, in addition to leaving some fast warships, and then recruiting the armed merchant ships of those British merchants to cooperate with the patrol, the British East India Company fleet, including the Bengal third class battleships, escorted a group of merchant ships loaded with nearly 10,000 army soldiers, heading towards Malacca, their first stop was Manila.

Dundas's decision to use this time was absolutely unprecedented, except for the suppression of the rebellion of the Indian kings, he had never used such a large number of troops, even when fighting with the Dutch for the fortress of Sumatra, the British soldiers had only dispatched 2,000 soldiers, and the other 4,000 Indian mercenaries.

Dundas and Macartney were both sensible politicians, and they both understood that this vast empire was definitely not something that the British Empire could conquer with its current strength in the East. But, if necessary, enough force to wake them up to the fact that their dreams were mere dreams, and that the British Empire had the power to wake him up and even hurt him.

Less than ten days after Dundas, who had given orders in the name of the British East India Company, had slowly sailed away from Calcutta, and their movements had already been taken to Canton by a Westerner.

That person was Mr. Van Persie, chief adviser to the Dutch colonial governor, and at this moment, the silver-haired old man was sitting in the Tongfu Commercial Bank of the Thirteen Banks in Guangdong, and was reporting the news about the British East India Company to Liang Pengfei.

The staff around Liang Pengfei also looked solemn, and it can be said that they were even a little heavy, because the weight of the British's shot was really beyond their judgment.

"They have given up the blockade of the Strait of Malacca, and of course, the pirates in the Strait of Malacca have been almost wiped out, but in fact the British hope to be able to show goodwill to the European countries before starting this war, lest these countries become angry and join forces to invade and annex British territory in the East." Van Persie is worthy of being an old man and shameless politician who has been an adviser to the governor for many years, and he can see through a few turns in the bowels of those British at a glance.

His analysis also made Liang Pengfei secretly admire, this piece of old ginger is really spicy enough.

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Liang Pengfei tilted his body, his eyes squinted and looked at a beautiful scimitar in his hand, which was a gift from Van Persie, a ladder pattern Uzi steel knife, this handle was inlaid with beautiful gems, and the beautiful cross ladder pattern on the upper body of the knife really gave people a visual enjoyment.

However, Liang Pengfei's eyes were always revolving around the huge ruby inlaid at the end of the scimitar hilt, these Ni Ming and the others were speechless for a while, although they didn't know much about the family background of this adult, but at least they could know that it was not a lie to be rich and rival the country.

But such a person, but still showing a greedy gaze only of robbers to a gem, this is indeed very helpless. "Greed is the natural surname of human beings, and it is also the source of human progress." Liang Pengfei made a perfect interpretation of his actions very well, as for how many people can believe it, it is unknown.

However, he didn't care about other people's opinions, and said straightforwardly: "If you have the right to decide, what choice you will make, of course, I mean you Holland." Mr. Van Persie, a wise man like you, must have thought about it. ”

"Your explanation is so apt, yes, greed is the natural name of all human beings, and I absolutely agree with you." Old Van Persie smiled at Liang Pengfei and said: "It is precisely because of this reason that the British will do this." And it is because of them that they have come here to report to you on behalf of His Excellency the Governor of the Dutch Colony. ”

"Let's be straight, dear Mr. van Persie, you must have a plan or idea in your head to profit from this war. In other words, the Dutch wanted to be able to restore their former glory in the East. Am I right? Liang Pengfei reluctantly inserted the scimitar back into the sheath, placed it on the desk, and showed a meaningful smile to Van Persie, and under the sharp eyebrows were a pair of shrewd and cunning eyes.

"Your wisdom is enough to light up the night sky, Your Excellency, the Führer." Van Persie slapped Liang Pengfei very interestingly. "Your Excellency the Governor and the members of our Dutch East India Company believe that this is an excellent opportunity, a good opportunity for our Netherlands to regain sovereignty over Sumatra, and of course only if the British warships and armies are crushed before the great empire of the East, or, at your feet, Your Excellency, Your Excellency."

"Oh, then, you Dutch are not optimistic about the future of this war that the British have waged?" Ni Ming asked with a smile beside him.

"Of course." Van Persie nodded earnestly, without the slightest hesitation. "In my eyes, the British are making the same mistakes as we Dutchmen have been, they are underestimating your excellence and equally overestimating their own abilities. This is a truth that we have only fully realized after the defeat, but this rich experience will naturally not be leaked casually, because the grievances between our Netherlands and Britain must be very clear to you. ”

"Tell me, then, what you Dutch want is only sovereignty on the island of Sumatra?" Liang Pengfei's hand pulled out the Uzi scimitar again, and a look of fascination overflowed his face. In his previous life, even if Liang Pengfei tried everything he could, he wouldn't be able to get a treasure.

But now, this scimitar, which is said to be of a certain royal family, has been humbly delivered to him, as if he is afraid that he will not want it. This is the gap, the gap in identity, Liang Pengfei can't wait to kiss this Uzi scimitar.

Hearing Liang Pengfei's seemingly casual question, Van Persie couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat, and he raised his head in amazement. "Your Excellency, what do you ......mean?"

"I remember that you Dutch also have your own colony in India, but now the British are already in a bit of a precarious situation, right?" Liang Pengfei raised his eyes and said to Van Persie with a smile.

Van Persie's brow furrowed, and after the corners of his eyes twitched slightly, he lowered his head, silent as a stone sculpture, his mind quickly calculating the pros and cons, reason and calmness, and that wisdom of the big picture, was the fundamental reason why he was able to be trusted by the top management of the Dutch East Indies.

But Liang Pengfei's words almost made him lose his mind, the temptation is really a huge temptation, and it is a temptation that people can't refuse, but there is a premise for this, that is, with the current strength of the Dutch, can they get the British.

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However, after some rational consideration, Van Persie was desperate to find that with the current strength of the Dutch, even in the face of the current elite troops and warships that were now dispatched, the Dutch still could not deal with the remaining British, which made him extremely frustrated.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but although your idea is very tempting, it is a pity that we, the Netherlands, with our current strength, cannot succeed in victory." When he said this, Van Persie's mellow and magnetic voice seemed a little hoarse, and there was a strong resentment in his tone.

It was precisely because of this person in front of him that the Dutch lost most of their combat effectiveness in the East.

"What if, in conjunction with the Spaniards?" Liang Pengfei said unhurriedly, like a shopkeeper in a pawnshop, not only unslowly putting the chips in his hand on the scale one by one.

Van Persie's eyes began to flicker. "Manila, the most important Spanish colony in the East, has now become a supply port for the British, and even if they wanted to cooperate with us, their strength elsewhere would not be able to shake the British rule in India."

"You are right, but, perhaps, I have not yet told you, dear Mr. van Persie, that the Spanish fleet of the Eastern colonies, consisting of one first class battleship, one second class battleship, and fifteen three-masted battleships, has now crossed the Gulf of Aden and entered the Arabian Sea. You don't know this news yet, right? The corners of Liang Pengfei's mouth curled up, and his expression looked extremely evil and hideous.

"What?!" Van Persie almost jumped out of the chair out of his hand, but the shock on his face could not be concealed.

Liang Pengfei slapped his face slowly, and at this time, a Spaniard walked in from outside the house, with a beautiful chestnut head and chestnut eyes, and his chin that looked thinner than ordinary people, with a small beard, which made people feel obscene and cunning. A pair of small eyes were shrewd, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he seemed to be able to keep smiling all the time, and after entering the house, he gave Liang Pengfei a respectful salute.

"This is Mr. Villa, the envoy of the King of Spain." After Liang Pengfei bowed slightly to the envoy, he set his eyes on Van Persie, the chief adviser to the governor of the Dutch colony.

"Hello, Mr. Van Persie, when I was in Spain, I have heard of your great name, as the chief adviser to the Dutch colonial governor Groening, you must have superhuman wisdom and vision, and the special envoy of His Majesty the King of Spain, Baron Villa, greets you." Villa saluted Van Persie, who was still staring at him dumbfounded.

(To be continued)