One of the tasks of Jackson, the British consul in Guangzhou, is to judge the military production capacity of the Chinese, and now the military machine in South China has been fully activated, although it is difficult to judge from the Guangzhou dock how many merchant ships are supply ships that go to the South Seas after camouflage, but from the endless queue of carriages in the Guangzhou Arsenal, Jackson can't help but be shocked, China has become a country that can produce the world's first-rate rifles and bullets, and the production line is fully capable of supporting it to carry out a local large-scale war.

The supply of the Dutch in the South Seas is obviously a congenital gap compared with the Chinese, Jackson knew that the Dutch were secretly contacting the Anglo-Indian governor, Earl Canning, and also knew that the Earl Canning had rejected the Dutch's proposal to make British India their military supply base, but from a commercial point of view, several trade contracts were also signed to provide ammunition and ordnance parts for Dutch soldiers in the East Indies, and at the same time, the two sides were negotiating a deal for a wooden sail steam gunboat that had just been launched at the Bombay shipyard, This small steam gunboat was fast and was clearly suitable for pursuing the supply ships of the Chinese.

Jackson could not predict the final outcome of the war, and according to a telegram from India, the Earl of Canning hoped to use the war to gain some foothold in the northern part of the East Indies and further secure the smooth trade routes of the Far East.

It is said that the monopoly of the Indian shipbuilding giants, but are happy to hope that the Dutch will lose the war, Chinese businessmen to buy steamships, galleons are more and more inflated, the total tonnage of Chinese merchant ships is also expanding sharply, and the whole of South China, the displacement of more than 100 tons of merchant ship production is actually in a state of stagnation, only some small shipyards produce offshore sand ships, which makes most of the Chinese merchant ships purchased by India, if China wins the war, there is no doubt that the total tonnage of its merchant ships will have a leap forwardLarge ships produced in British shipyards in Mumbai and several other places will find a big buyer, and the money will roll in.

In fact, although China's industry gradually gained a foundation, its tea and silk were even more profitable, and opium was repeatedly hit hard in South China, Sino-British trade has been showing explosive growth, and British exports to South China have not been unacceptably in deficit, because of this, Chinese merchants have a strong interest in buying large industrial equipment, and even to a certain extent, promote the industrial development of the Indian colonies.

In the telegram sent to the Earl of Canning, Jackson also expressed some concern, obviously if the Chinese completely lost the war, the British Empire's colonies in the Far East would also be more or less affected.

Jackson hoped that the Dutch could curb the Chinese's attempts to move south, as a barrier to control the East Indies, and also make China's military adventures more restrained, but not to make the Chinese lose too badly, which would overly hit the Chinese's positive surname for innovation, and a more commercially developed and enlightened but not aggressive southern political axe was what he was most happy to see.

It's just that Jackson would never have imagined that the development of this war would not run more and more according to the trajectory he expected.

…… Located on the Dutch-controlled island of Sumatra, across the water from Java, Penang Harbour was the first two Dutch-controlled islands in the East Indies and the basis of Dutch rule in the East Indies.

Penang has long had Chinese activities, a hundred years ago, the Dutch began to use Chinese workers to open mines in this area, the Kwan Di Temple in Penang is the piglets' dormitory, which enshrines the piglets when they flutter across the sea, in order to ensure the safety of the sea with the golden body of the Guan Emperor and the Great Uncle.

More than ten years ago, this place was renovated, dedicated to Guan Gong, Uncle Gong, in fact, owned by the Wen family, the local Chinese Wang, today's Guan Di Temple is not a temple, but it is a place for Chinese people, but to worship the Guan Di shrine, Chinese people gather together to incense Guan Erye.

Wen Gengnan is the current head of the Wen family, in his forties, he looks very gentle, shrewd and capable.

After the outbreak of the Sino-Dutch War, the Dutch in Zhao Gang began to wantonly arrest and shoot Chinese people, and as for the Chinese laborers, their fate was even more tragic, and the Dutch employers even instigated indigenous laborers to besiege the Chinese, and many Chinese laborers were tortured and beaten to death.

Yesterday, there were several drunken Dutch soldiers who rushed into the Wen family, and happened to meet a beautiful concubine of Wen Gengnan, who immediately surrounded and touched his hands and feet, and ripped off the concubine's shoes.

Overseas Chinese businessmen, everyone is in danger immediately, the Wen family is the richest Chinese in Hong Kong, Wen Gengnan has a lot of friendship with the local Dutch officials, and the Wen family is still treated in this way, let alone others.

When people get together, they think of a way to keep their families safe.

"Simply, let's donate tens of thousands of taels, killing people is not enough, the Dutch can't force us to death, the Southern Dynasty starts a war with them, it's none of our business, even if we talk about it, then we are also the people of the Qing Dynasty in the north, right?" A chubby businessman, sitting in the second place on the left, said.

"Will the Dutch take care of you? I see, even if we take out all our wealth this time, the Dutch will not let us go. A thin man immediately objected.

The fat merchant who spoke earlier sighed and said, "Tell me, tell me, isn't this okay?" It's okay if you rebel, why bother to fight with the Dutch, you can't beat others, but it's good, it's all involved! ”

A few agreed, cursing the legendary regent of the southern kingdom.

Wen Gengnan's face sank, "What kind of bastard?!" You're all enjoying being a slave to the red-haired devil, aren't you? If you want me to say, this battle is well fought! Someone died in my family, and I still have to say, good fight! Even if all my family is dead, I'm willing! ”

No one spoke, and the faces of several overseas Chinese who had just scolded the Southern Dynasty were a little embarrassed, and some people thought to themselves, you died your favorite concubine, aren't you crazy?

Wen Gengnan said with a calm face: "Don't think about donating money or anything, I won't donate a penny!" The Dutch are going to be caught and killed! Let it be! Whoever of you likes to donate will donate, but then again, don't discuss here, don't insult Guan Erye's ears! ”

When he had said that, and what others could say, some of them got up in awkwardness and prepared to leave, and went to discuss donations to appease the anger of the Dutch.

The fat businessman's surname was Zhang, his face was the most ugly, and he arched his hand and said, "Farewell!" ”

At this time, there was a commotion outside, and there were more screams, bang, the wooden door of the council hall was kicked open, and more than a dozen red-haired devils with loaded guns rushed in, and the Dutch officer who took the lead had a ruthless face, pointing at Wen Gengnan and chattering a few words, and immediately two Dutch soldiers ran up to tie Wen Gengnan with a rope, Wen Gengnan wanted to resist, and immediately received a heavy butt on his stomach, and squatted down and retched with a pale face.

Zhang Fatzi was frightened, but he couldn't help but gloat, but his face changed immediately, the Dutch officers all knew each other, and they called Wen Gengnan a brother a while ago, but he turned his face so ruthlessly, he couldn't help but let Zhang Fatzi fall into an ice cave, this time I am afraid that the big guy will be in a catastrophe.

The Dutch soldiers pushed Wen Gengnan out of the meeting hall, and in the courtyard outside, there were soldiers with shiny bayonets everywhere, as well as several bloody corpses, who were from the Wen family, and were stabbed to death with bayonets by these thugs on the spot when they stopped the Dutch soldiers.

At this time, who dared to resist, they all looked at the Dutch in horror, and even some merchants were so frightened that they peed their pants.

The Dutch pushed Wen Gengnan and walked away, leaving the courtyard full of terror, and even after a long time, no one dared to move, as if the Dutchman's cold bayonet was waiting outside the Wen family's mansion.

"Master, master!" The woman shouted anxiously, and from the inner courtyard, a woman in a gorgeous costume hurriedly walked out with the support of a maid, and her beautiful appearance was Wen Gengnan's main lady.

When Mrs. Wen saw the situation in the courtyard, she exclaimed in fright and almost fainted in the maid's arms.

Zhang Fatzi was the first to come back to his senses, and hurriedly came up and said: "Sister-in-law, hurry up, pack up and go out to hide, I guess ah, this Dutchman will come to raid the house in a while!" ”

Mrs. Wen was frightened, although she had a good family, where had she experienced this, "But, master, what should I do?" ”

Zhang Fatzi shook his head and said, "Farewell, I have to go home quickly, this Dutchman is afraid that he is going to do it." ”

Everyone in the courtyard also came to their senses, and was about to disperse, but they saw a person with an open sweat rushing into the courtyard, shouting while running: "The fight is up, the fight is up!" ”

Seeing the situation in the courtyard and the corpses in pools of blood, he screamed in horror and shouted, "What's the matter? What's wrong with this? ”

"Shout fart!" Zhang Fatzi reprimanded him, and had a little impression of him, as if he was a Wen guy buying vegetables in his room, nicknamed Big Mouth, the most eventful gossip, like an old lady.

"No, it's a fight! At sea, at sea there is a fight! Zhang Fatzi pointed to the east and shouted loudly, saying, "I heard, I heard that the fleet of the Qing Dynasty in the south is coming!" ”

Yes? The people in the courtyard immediately exploded the pot and hurriedly gathered around and asked questions.

In mid-July 1860, the Pingyuan Navy launched an attack on the Dutch fleet in the waters off Penang and Belitung Island.

12 ships of the Pingyuan Naval Division, with a total displacement of 21,000 tons and 364 artillery pieces; There were 23 Dutch ships with a displacement of 19,000 tons and 373 guns.

For example, the Jinling only has 36 guns, but it is obviously not half a star and a half stronger than the three-deck wooden-hulled battleship equipped with 70 or 80 guns of various kinds.

In the naval battle between Russia and the Ottoman Empire a few years ago, because of the use of explosive shells, there was a situation where wooden sailing ships hid in military ports and did not dare to fight, which also confirmed how effective steam-powered gunboats were to evade artillery.

The formation of the Pingyuan Naval Division, which was arranged in three V-shapes, fought fiercely with the Dutch fleet under the fierce roar.

When the Dutch fleet saw the Chinese fleet approaching, it was not only shocked, but also delighted.

Although the Dutch suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Pontianak, the commander of the South Ocean Fleet, Buluk, stubbornly believed that it was just the result of Kalimans' great success and rashness, strictly speaking, China had a navy for only a few years, and the British instructors in the attack on the East Indies had all evacuated the warships, and Bulch did not think that the Chinese navy could achieve the final victory with just a few guns that could fire explosive shells.

Without knowing the reality of the Chinese, Kalimans's fleet still caused the Chinese to lose the combat effectiveness of one of the main warships, and now they are still huddled in the Pontianak military port, not daring to drag back home for real maintenance.

Now that there is a clear understanding of the situation with the Chinese fleet, Bulak believes that it will not be very difficult to annihilate it in the vast sea of the East Indies.

It's just that Bulak didn't expect that after more than half a month of shrinkage in Pontianak Port, the Chinese fleet suddenly appeared in the waters of Belitung Island, and suddenly launched an attack on the Dutch-Indian South Sea fleet.

The artillery roared, and the smoke rose on the sea, but the Chinese Navy's first regular naval battle was presentable.

Wooden-hulled ships and ironclad ships are mixed, according to the firepower and formation, on the blue sea, drawing a white line, and on the opposite side, is the Dutch Navy, which has been famous for a long time.

That is, it is not a sneak attack, nor a melee, on the deck, in the gun room, in the command room, although the busy officers, gunners, and helmsmen are dogmatic and mechanical, and they do not have the unique tricks of the old fritters in naval warfare, but they also follow the rules, and after the Battle of Pontianak, the fear of the Pingyuan sailors for the red-haired devils gradually faded.

Looking at the mast of the Dutch ship not far from the sea, everyone was excited.

"Grandma's, blow you up! I'm going to blow you up! Ding Ruchang has been promoted to a second-class gunner, and every time he pulls the rope and fires the cannon, he mutters a few curses.

When Ye Zhao saw the battle report, he would definitely have such a feeling, if the Battle of Pontianak was more similar to the melee between the Italian Navy and the Austrian Navy in the Battle of Lisa in 1866, then the Chinese Navy in the Battle of Belitung Island was obviously more confident and more aggressive.

If the Battle of Lisa was more of a confrontation between ironclad steamships, the Battle of Pontianak demonstrated the great superiority of ironclad steamships over wooden-hulled warships.

As for the Battle of Belitung Island, it was a tragic collision between the old naval power and the new maritime power, with unparalleled naval combat experience and dull ships, and a young but energetic emerging navy engaged in an unprecedented confrontation in the waters of Belitung Island.

Perhaps, this kind of confrontation will not be seen again in the future, because after the Battle of Belitung, the navies of all countries, without exception, began to eliminate wooden-hulled battleships, accelerating the pace of production of steam ironclads, and the replacement of the British fleet spent astronomical naval military expenditures.

On the blue sea, when several light ships of the Dutch tried to get close to the Jinling several times and failed to compete in the most primitive ship-grabbing battle, there was no suspense about the outcome of this naval battle.

In fact, compared to the Battle of Pontianak, the Dutch losses were not so heavy, but they were more shocking, and when the two main second-class ships sank under heavy Chinese shelling, Bulak gave the order to retreat.

In the subsequent pursuit by the Chinese, the only first-class battleship of the Dutch-Indian South Sea Fleet, the flagship Batavia, was closely pursued by the Jinling, although it was equipped with steam power, but the Batavia was obviously completely incomparable with the maneuver of the Jinling, under successive heavy artillery attacks, the Batavia was damaged in many hulls, although it was barely out of the battlefield under the protection of the frigate, but since then it has disappeared, according to the inference, it should have sunk in the vast sea, and the commander of the Dutch-Indian South Ocean Fleet, General Buluck, was martyred.

More than 100 years later, legend has it that the Batavia suddenly reappeared, floating alone on the sea, which is one of the endless ghost ship legends.

The Dutch warships took refuge in the port of Batavia, relying on the deterrence of 14 permanent coastal fortifications and hundreds of artillery pieces in the port of Batavia, to avoid the possible blows of the Chinese sailors.

The Chinese had two gunboats that lost their combat capability, and although the Jinling's battery was wrapped in thick iron armor, it was hit by the opponent's solid bullet that made the two batteries dumb, and then derived, that is, the Chinese redesigned the open-air battery, adding an open-front steel cannon cover to the open-air battery.

The results of this naval battle of the Chinese naval division seem to be inferior to the Battle of Pontianak, but the two naval battles almost destroyed the main ships of the Dutch Nanyang fleet, even if the Dutch navy wants to reinforce from the country, but the exchange of news, decision, thousands of miles of sea frontier, and the arrival of the new fleet of the Dutch is afraid that it will be a year later, this is the biggest advantage of the Chinese in the South Seas, except for the British, in the current situation of communications and sea communications, no country's navy can get such strong support as the Chinese fleet in the South Seas.

In short, the Battle of Belitung Island made the Chinese Navy briefly gain sea control in the waters of the South Seas, a milestone event, no matter how the Netherlands is now declining, but in the foreign sea frontier, the Pingyuan Marine Division won the first major victory, the Chinese Navy and the Chinese really stepped onto the world stage, and began to change from staggering to gorgeous dance steps.

Ma Dayong, obviously knowing this, stood on the deck, looking at the endless blue ocean, his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and it was difficult for him to be himself for a long time.

On the decks of some Chinese ships, sailors fired their guns in unison, venting the joy in their hearts.

On the Canton, while rescuing the downed Dutch sailors, a loud song sounded: "Yu Si Wannian, the Great Empire of Yadong!" The mountains are vertical and horizontal, and the rivers are spreading the waves of civilization; Hundreds of trillions of people and gods, the land is vast and the products are abundant. Raise my Yellow Dragon Imperial Emblem and sing my Imperial Song! ”

This is the tentative military song of the Pingyuan Army at the beginning of this year, the singing is strong and majestic, and for the first time, the sailor can sing so proudly and so emotionally, listening silently, Ma Dayong's eyes gradually moistened.

…… A few days later, before the Pingyuan Marine Division infantry regiment landed, more than 1,000 Dutch soldiers in Penang raised the white flag and surrendered, and this increasingly lazy country, not only did the people lose their enterprising spirit, but it was obvious that the soldiers were gradually getting comfortable, realizing that without the support of the navy, they had to fight alone to resist the fierce attacks of the Chinese, and from officers to soldiers, they obviously did not have the courage to kill. When they saw several prisoners of war sent by the Pingyuan Marine Division to persuade them to surrender, and heard the humane treatment of prisoners of war by the Chinese, the Dutch immediately waved the white flag.

The former residence of the Wen family became the temporary command post of the Pingyuan Navy Division, and Ma Dayong also met Wen Gengnan, a wealthy overseas Chinese businessman with great contagion.

In the prison of the Dutch, Wen Gengnan surrendered before the Dutch had time to suffer, and it can be said that in the past few days, no one has paid attention to him at all.

A few days ago, they were still panicked and thought that they would definitely be robbed and killed by the Dutch, but a few days later, it was a double heaven of joy and sorrow, and the fierce red-haired devils became prisoners, and they turned over and became masters.

At this time, Ma Dayong was looking through the roster in his hand, his brows were frowning, the roster was full of Dutch officials and soldiers who had persecuted the Chinese exposed by overseas Chinese, and there were many names that could not be named, and they could probably be recognized only when they saw someone.

"Lord Junmen! The red-haired devils have bullied us all these years, and they will arrest and kill people at every turn, my lord, can't you just spare them! Zhang Fatzi looked bitter and hateful, and among overseas Chinese, his attitude was the most intense.

Wen Gengnan frowned slightly, and said: "Brother Hengsheng, the military gate has his own decision, for the relationship between the two countries, for the future, sometimes we should not miss the old evils. ”

The fat man gabbled and stopped talking.

Ma Dayong nodded slightly, and said: "Don't miss the old evil, but you can't tolerate it, the first evil still has to be done, the first batch of fourteen Dutch officials and officers who are extremely angry have been put on death row, ready to be shot tomorrow." ”

Zhang Fatzi was stunned, he was just shouting a few words in order to draw a line with the Dutch, but he didn't expect that this military master would really dare to kill the Dutch, and he would kill him if he said so.

Then I thought to myself, the sea war, the Borneo war, maybe how many Dutch devils have been killed, how dare you say it? Why hasn't my head been able to turn around until now?

Ma Dayong looked at Wen Gengnan again and said, "Among these people, one of them is the culprit who forced your deceased wife to death." ”

Wen Gengnan's face darkened, and he bowed down and said, "But it's up to the adults to decide, Lord Xie!" ”

As he spoke, there was a noise outside about a Dutch gentleman being pushed in, dressed in a gray tuxedo, biting his pipe, and babbling something to the soldier who was pushing him.

Seeing Ma Dayong, the Dutch gentleman was full of anger and shouted at Ma Dayong, and the interpreter next to him hurriedly translated.

"Adults, you Chinese are too despicable and untrustworthy, why do you want to kill prisoners of war who have laid down their arms, I protest, seriously protest!"

He will definitely not speak so politely, and the translation will naturally be more tactful.

This Dutch gentleman was a civil official in Penang, and he had a lot of friendship with some wealthy Chinese businessmen, and whether he was a hypocrite or anything, at least he showed a relatively noble and upright gentleman image.

Ma Dayong said lightly: "Mr. Heron, war criminals also have different treatment, according to our Chinese words, they are also divided into three, six, nine and so on, and we will never tolerate the murderers of our compatriots!" As for you, Mr. Heron, we will release you back to Batavia, and I ask you to bring my message to Governor Bolsboum, that if there is any further persecution of the Chinese in Batavia or Java, we will consider him a war criminal of the first class, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, and he will face hanging. ”

Heron looked at Ma Dayong in surprise, he did not expect that the Chinese would release him, and he did not expect that the Chinese would threaten to hang Governor Borsboum, and he swore that it was by no means an alarmist threat.

Wen Gengnan originally wanted to intercede for Heron, but after listening to Ma Dayong's words, he was relieved, and nodded secretly, the first time he dealt with an official of the Southern Dynasty, it was unexpectedly admirable.

Ma Dayong said: "In addition, once again, I seriously warn your navy that the merchant ships that have been seized by me will be released immediately, and if the period exceeds ten days, we will also have to retaliate against the Dutch merchant ships." ”

According to the regent's instructions, the war was kept to a relatively small limit, at least, there was no attack on Dutch merchant ships.

Heron nodded silently, really unable to refute it, judging from the performance of both sides, the Chinese seem to be on the just side of the war.

(To be continued)