Batavia, Dutch Governor's Palace.

"It's naked threats, blackmail. Shameless Qing people. The Dutch Governor threw on his desk the note from the Qing Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Yamen, which had been forwarded by the Dutch government.

"Your Excellency, what's going on? First, the Dutch government asked us to delay the street sweeping operation against the Chinese, and now it has sent us this note. The commander of the Dutch garrison asked uneasily.

"See for yourself." The Dutch governor threw the note in front of the commander of the garrison. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Qing Dynasty actually asked us to protect the Chinese who were making trouble. Moreover, the main force of the Beiyang Fleet will bring nearly 1,000 marines (he counts the marines directly under Beiyang and the Huai army sent by another army as marines) will visit Batavia in the near future. The Dutch governor said through gritted teeth.

"Nearly a thousand Marines? Even if it is a warship cruising the South China Sea, or visiting Wèn, there is no need to bring so many land forces. The commander of the Dutch garrison said as he stroked his glasses that had almost fallen to the ground. Is the Qing Dynasty going to war against the Kingdom of the Netherlands? ”

"I want to ask you, how many troops do we have in Indonesia, and what are the odds of victory in the event of a war?" The Governor asked with red eyes.

"We have more than 10,000 soldiers in the entire East Indies. But you have to note that this is a total force scattered throughout the territory, and it is actually very difficult to mobilize. (Historically, during World War II, the Dutch garrison was only 40,000, so I'll count more than 10,000 here.) I really can't find the information. The commander of the garrison thought for a moment and said.

"Aren't there still those natives? Count them in! Give them guns!! The Governor said sinisterly.

"Well, this native, with a Balem knife and a musket, really can't be called an army, even if they are given modern weapons, because of lack of training and lack of discipline, they are simply vulnerable, and even the Chinese armed forces can't deal with them." The commander hesitated for a long time and said. "And we can't start a war with the Qing State, the warships of our home fleet are all small warships, lacking the ability to sail far, and even if we can come over, I'm afraid that Batavia, Pontianak, Semarang and other areas have been swept away by the Beiyang Fleet's naval guns, and there is no base for warships to dock, and our fleet in the colony is even more difficult to put on the table."

"The Qing people are far away from us, we can drag it down completely, and the financial resources of the Qing State are simply not able to support the long-term operation of the Beiyang Fleet." The Dutch governor repeats itself like a drowning man who has found a straw.

"But Lord Doge, you should know that your territory is even more distant from the Netherlands proper. The Dutch government is not in a position to provide effective support, and the Qing government is unable to rule the region, but would you like to see a city of Batavia destroyed by artillery fire? Leaving behind a ruined city scorched by war and a battered army, the Dutch were equally unable to rule the land. The commander of the garrison hurriedly explained.

"Then why did the Beiyang Fleet come here, if it can't get any benefits, don't say that the Qing government, even Li Hongzhang, the actual controller of the Beiyang Fleet, won't take his fleet lightly, right?" The Dutch governor suddenly remembered something, turned around and asked.

"Is this one, it is said that a few people among the Chinese businessmen have hooked up with the Beiyang personnel." A person in charge of internal affairs said on the side.

"Throw these people in jail for me. I'm going to send them all to the gallows afterwards!" The Dutch governor roared.

"Do you want to declare war with the Qing Kingdom? You don't have the authority to do that, you can't do it unless you have a Cabinet mandate!! The commander of the garrison, who had been whispering, said sharply.

"So what do you want? Wait until the Beiyang Fleet is gone, and then we will act? The Governor seemed to lose all strength in an instant, and slumped in his chair.

"Actually, we can rely on the British." said the commander of the garrison. …,

"British? These guys, who have no absolute interest, who will not help a doomed army, and who is now running it, sending our street sweeping plan and articles sympathetic to the Nanyang Chinese to The Times, even if the British government wants to do it, has to take into account domestic public opinion. A Dutchman shook his head.

"So what do we do now?" The Governor asked weakly.

"Actually, the Qing just wants a guarantee, a guarantee that the Chinese will not be harmed, I can try to live in peace with the Chinese, even if I can't, this street sweeping operation cannot continue, otherwise no matter what, once the Beiyang Fleet really drives over for this, the Dutch mainland will never be able to help us stop it, even if we are given enough time, the Dutch government will not be able to make our navy in the colony can fight with the Qing fleet. This is a limitation of national strength. There is no other way. A thinker said rather frustratedly.

"No, how can those Chinese have the same rights as the Dutch? This land is Dutch, and those yellow people don't deserve it!! The Governor yelled hysterically.

"You have the right to express your opinion, but you don't have the right to make your own decisions. This is up to the government. The commander of the garrison emphasized, but he was not willing to die for a person who could not distinguish the form.

"Okay, then suspend the measures against the Chinese and wait for the government's instructions. Get out of here. The Governor said his last sentence, and his eyes pressed into pain.

At the same time, Peng Haifeng, who was far away in Guangzhou, handed a letter to Chen Ming on the side with a proud face.

"The Dutch coaxed." Peng Haifeng said with a smile.

"Unexpectedly, the Dutch just threw in the towel? The police and gendarmes deployed in various Chinese communities have been withdrawn? The natives have also returned to their own turf? Chen Ming asked in surprise.

"What's there to be surprised about? If the Dutch can't beat it, then they can only admit it, this is not the same as doing business. Strength is a qiē, and winning a war is the last word. Peng Haifeng said.

"Will the Dutch take revenge on us then?" Chen Ming frowned and said uneasily.

"As long as the Beiyang Fleet continues to maintain its position as the No. 1 in the Far East, as long as the people who help us speak are still there, and as long as we can maintain the cooperative relationship between the Beiyang and the Nanyang merchant group, we will never have to be afraid of the Dutch." Peng Haifeng sighed and said, he really didn't expect that a person he inadvertently met would bring such a big change to the fate of himself and the Nanyang Chinese. "That's fate. A small change can have an impact on the future. Many years later, Peng Haifeng wrote this sentence in his diary.

"Boss Peng really has a long-term vision. Chen is ashamed of himself. Chen Ming said admiringly.

"By the way, go back and talk to Mr. Chen, and say that Mr. Xu from Beiyang wants to meet Mr. Chen, and he was recommended to Beiyang by Master Xue Fucheng. Now he is a protégé of Master Li. I have a good impression of Nanyang Chinese. Peng Haifeng finally explained.

"Chen Ming must bring the words." Chen Ming saluted.

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