On the twenty-third day of the twelfth month of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, the victory of the war in Taiwan was transmitted back to Hangzhou, and the rest came with the capture of a group of war criminals such as the Dutch Governor in Taiwan, Putmans. In this regard, the Three Guards specially arranged one rather high-profile propaganda campaign after another. However, the local gentry apparently had little interest in these alien lands and barbarians, and the attention did not achieve the desired effect.

However, at the very least, the local officials and people in Hangzhou still learned that the Three Guards opened up an island called Taiwan, captured a lot of Hongmaofan, and it is said that there are also governor-level figures. On the day that Putmans was escorted to Hangzhou, people gathered at the docks, not to celebrate in response to the call, but to see if the red-haired official had three heads and six arms. It is even rarer to see a Westerner than a three-legged toad these days.

When the blonde red-haired fan appeared on the deck, the onlookers immediately booed, they could hardly imagine that a person with yellow hair could actually look like a little ghost Hades who jumped out of the underworld.

Some even recited the messy Buddha name and Tao name on the spot, in order to protect their family members from being contaminated by the bad luck of this ghost.

The Three Guards treated Wallace quite well, and in addition to the loss of personal freedom, they still retained enough respect for him personally. He was not in chains, nor was he abused or abused. After all, the main generals in charge of the conquest of the Dutch in Taiwan almost without exception have inextricable relations with Westerners, such as Wallace and He Bin were originally on errands under Putmans, although Putmans was arrogant, but he never betrayed his personal actions against someone, so this is also a basis for him to win respect.

As for Heisenberg, the commander of the infantry battalion in charge of the attack on Taiwan, he had received an order from Li Xin at the beginning of his departure that all captured Dutch officers should not be mistreated, and that all of them should be escorted to Hangzhou and then sent to Nanjing.

Putmans straightened the folds of his clothes a little nervously, he had seen and heard too many reports and rumors of his colleagues being abused by the natives after being captured alive. Now, as a prisoner, he can't help but worry about his situation.

However, to Putmans's good fortune, the commander of the fleet responsible for escorting him to Hangzhou this time was his former subordinate Wallace, who maintained enough respect for him along the way and did not make him too ugly. But sooner or later, Wallace had to hand him over to the Ming Dynasty, who had always been hostile to them Westerners, and it was unknown whether the other side would be able to treat them well as their defeated captives.

After taking a deep breath, Wallace cautiously stepped onto the springboard and safely stepped on the mainland land under the "protection" of the two soldiers of the Three Guards. The feeling of this moment gave him an unreal experience. Not far away, the crowd of mountains and seas seemed to welcome a hero who had returned triumphantly in the middle of the road. The Orientals who could not see their faces clearly did not exude the terrible curses and hatred they expected, and there were no stones and dung thrown at him.

The hustle and bustle of the wharf seems to be just a bustling street market, and these people are just a circus that comes here to perform, attracting curiosity and a relaxed welcome. And these Westerners are the most eye-catching monkeys in the circus.

With the handover of prisoners of war, Putmans also entered the most tense state, and from now on his fate has completely embarked on an unknown path, which may be a hellish ordeal or an unimaginable torment.

For a moment, Putmans prayed in his heart: "Forgive me, a sinner, my God, merciful Lord, and let me return to the land from which I belonged." And the Almighty and Merciful Lord, even if he heard his prayers, could not get him back to Europe from the hands of the Orientals.

Because Putmans was soon escorted into a carriage under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of people, and was transported to the castle where the governor of the Ming Dynasty lived all the way. Of course, this was just Putmans's intuitive feeling, and he thought that he would probably spend his whole life in the dark and damp dungeons of the Ming Dynasty. However, when he was informed that he would be received by a marquis of the Ming Dynasty, he could not believe his ears.

In the past, the Orientals were very unfriendly to them, such as the Ming Dynasty pirate surnamed Zheng, who once executed 500 Dutch soldiers who had laid down their arms at one time, so much so that for a long time, they called the Oriental pirate a Satan from hell.

Whether the reception of this marquis of the Ming Dynasty was a blessing or a curse for Putmans, Putmans could not judge at all, but in the current situation, he still had a faint expectation, expecting that the Ming Dynasty people would open up to him.

"You're Putmans?"

The meeting was a relaxed environment, very different from what Putmans had imagined, and could even be called a friendly meeting.

The Marquis of the Ming Dynasty was not very tall, which can even be described as short in the West, but the confidence that emanated from his eyes made the tall and strong Putmanston nervous and fearful.

"You may be seated!"

The words of the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty were very simple and irresistible, and after Putmans bent down to thank him, he sat down on the chair on the right side of the room under the guidance of the servant. Soon, Putmans was surprised to find that the servant had brought him a bowl of tea.

With his understanding of the people of the Ming Dynasty, if the other party is willing to serve you a bowl of tea, this is definitely a gesture of goodwill. He had already had a dry mouth because of nervousness, picked up the tea bowl with a hot temperature, picked up the lid with his almost trembling left hand, and took a sip impatiently. The hot tea was instantly sucked into his mouth and entered his esophagus, and he coughed violently.

This sudden move caused his clothes to be splashed with water stains.

I saw that the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty actually smiled at him in a friendly manner.

"Don't worry, the tea tube is enough, now let's talk."

At this time, Putmans suddenly realized that the language in which the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty communicated with him was English, although the words and accents sounded very strange, but he could understand the basic meaning of the other party.

Putmans realized his faux pas and hurriedly stood up and bowed again, apologizing for his recklessness.

"Your Excellency the Marquis, I apologize for soiling your living room for my stupidity."

His words were humble and humble, trying to save his image in the hearts of the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty.

He was surprised to find that the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty did not mean a trace of mockery, but directly asked him about the basic situation, and it seemed that the other party did not mind his rude behavior, including the compliment to him. This made him feel that this Marquis of the Ming Dynasty was not a very foolish person.

"Your Excellency the Marquis, I am from ......"

Putmans was proud of his origins, and although he was now a minor officer, his grandfather had been a count loyal to the Roman Emperor, but after a long and chaotic war within the empire had failed, the family had fled to the Netherlands, where they had a place to settle down thanks to a relative.

The aristocratic background has always been a source of pride for Putmans, and it is something that must be brought out whenever he introduces his family history to others. Although this only proves that he himself is a descendant of a broken aristocracy, but in the land of blood-only Europe, even the broken aristocracy is a hundred times stronger than those nouveau riche who have no foundation.

However, this is in the East, and no one cares about your former grandeur and glory, and this is a time when princely generals have a kind of peace, and anyone who can understand Putmans's almost boastful rhetoric will laugh at him.

In Putmans's view, the communication between the noble-born Ming Marquis and him was between nobles and nobles, and perhaps there was more common language than those barbarians. He even hoped to redeem his freedom for a ransom.

In this regard, the marquis of the Ming Dynasty just smiled meaningfully.

"Your Excellency, I wonder if you have heard of my origins?"

Putmans didn't understand the other party's intentions, so he had to subconsciously shake his head.

"Actually, I'm from a distant world, I don't know if you can understand this, I was a prisoner in a dungeon three years ago......"

In the end, Putmans was stunned to find that the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty was also a nouveau riche, and his disappointment suddenly surged up again. Perhaps I will be mercilessly punished, for in what he just said, he remembers that he had said something inappropriate.

But unexpectedly, the Eastern Marquis did not continue to dwell with him about his origin, but changed the subject again.

"You now have two choices, one is to be loyal to me and be free. The second is to accept the trial and sit through the prison! ”

Puttmans couldn't believe his ears, was it that simple? Is it true that you can gain your own as long as you are loyal to him?

The Marquis of the Ming Dynasty seemed to see his doubts and concerns, so he said undoubtedly: "Don't doubt it, you don't have many choices. Aren't your hands stained with the blood of the Ming Dynasty? The answer is definitely no. If you could choose to be loyal to my country, I might consider an amnesty! ”

Putmans was overjoyed, and in the face of the Ming Dynasty's marquis's almost half-threatening, half-luring rhetoric, he let go of his anxiety and suspicion. Hurriedly got up and bowed, impatiently stating his attitude and position.

"Your Excellency the Marquis, I will serve you, please grant me freedom!"

In a flash, the change was as if it was a dream in a dream.