Episode 55 Asking for money or islands

Johann Van Berg lay in the cabin, and the Dutchman, who was in his fifties, threw up several times in the afternoon, and vomited all the food he had eaten at noon. A few days ago, Daming declared war on the Netherlands, and he, the Dutch ambassador to Daming, was left for a limited time, and he and some other Dutch diplomats came to Palembang by ship and waited here.

However, it was a large passenger ship of tens of thousands of tons, although it was also a little bumpy, but it was much better after all. Now it was a destroyer of about a thousand tons, and it was driving so fast that it was jumping forward on the water almost like a swordfish. The young Ming captain sailed like a rude cowboy, without the slightest concern for the feelings of his old, educated, superior man.

But John Van Berg doesn't seem to have much to complain about. He was now lying on the bed in the captain's room. Although the captain is also very cramped, and there are many instrument lines on the roof, in the case of destroyers, the captain's room is the only single room on the whole ship. Fortunately, the voyage from Palembang to Batavia is not too long, and the destroyer is fast, so it can be reached at night, and there is no need to spend the night on the ship. Otherwise, he was not sure if the captain would have thrown him into the sailor's cabin and slept with the sailors. …… From the time he got on the ship, from the officers to the sailors on the destroyers of the Ming army, his attitude towards himself was very cold, and it can be said that he was not polite. God, that captain doesn't seem to have much education, and this kind of thing is completely done.

Thinking of the imminent departure to Batavia, looking at the face of the young general of the Ming Dynasty, begging at the negotiating table to get back as much as possible, Feinberg's mood was even worse. …… Why not begging? Now the Netherlands did not have any capital to bargain with the Ming Dynasty. In the Far East, the Navy was wiped out, the Air Force was wiped out, the Army was largely wiped out. Now that Batavia Island has been completely lost, each of the adjacent large islands is open, and the Ming army can occupy it at any time if they wish.

Now the mission given to him by the country is to keep the territory as much as possible, and as for others, such as reparations, cession of military ports, permission to garrison troops, and transfer of oil and rubber rights and interests in Sumatra, these can be used as a price to obtain the territorial integrity of the East Indies. It is necessary for the Ming Dynasty to return Batavia Island to itself, and to this end, every effort must be made, at all costs. Batavia is the most important island of the East Indies, and the loss of Batavia Island is equivalent to the loss of the entire East Indies.

The foreign minister even sent a secret telegram saying that as long as the Ming Dynasty could return Batavia, it could even exchange some less important islands. Of course, this is the final bottom line, and you can't take the initiative until you have to. Try to use such "soft" things as reparations and rights and interests to settle the situation and ensure the integrity of the East Indies without breaking the bones.

After all, this is the last large colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the world.

Feinberg was sick to death, and felt that he couldn't stay in the cabin any longer. He put on his wide-brimmed sunhat, pushed the door open, climbed the gangway to the deck, held on to the railing, and breathed in the fresh air.

At this moment, it is the time when the sunset enters the sea, a round of red sunset at the sea level is slowly sinking into the sea, the western sky is a burning cloud, and the setting sun drags out a long reflection on the sea, flashing countless points of golden waves, which is very dazzling.

In normal times, such a beautiful view must be intoxicating. But now Feinberg is not in the mood to appreciate it at all. Even if you appreciate it, you have different feelings in different moods: this may indicate that the colonial years of the Kingdom of the Netherlands abroad, like this sunset, are becoming more and more depressed.

When it was about to get dark, the destroyer finally sailed into the bay of Batavia. In the remaining light, Feinberg saw behemoths parked on the sea, huge black silhouettes reflected in the sky.

It was the Ming Empire battle cruisers, aircraft carriers, heavy cruisers, light cruisers...... Towering towers, formidable barrels...... These are all things that the Kingdom of the Netherlands cannot have by smashing pots and selling iron.

Feinberg looked at the towering bodies in the sunset, and suddenly had a pessimistic premonition that the Netherlands no longer deserved to own the East Indies. This is just the beginning, and in the next few decades, this string of jade beads in the western Pacific, the richest place in Southeast Asia, will completely change hands.

……

In the evening, Xiang Xiaoqiang had dinner with three old advisers, and while eating, they reviewed the established strategy for tomorrow's negotiation. In this regard, Song Ruhai and Sun Jiye are both old professionals, and Wang Hexiang listens more and talks less.

Xiang Xiaoqiang dismantled the big lobster on the plate with both hands. This big lobster weighs three pounds, and it is caught in the local sea. It's very close to Australia, and the so-called "Australian lobster" is one of them. He lifted the shell, scooped out the large pieces of meat with his tongs, and distributed them among the three old advisors, as he said:

"The bottom line in China is that, in addition to the last condition, each Chinese victim will be compensated 10,000 Mingyang; 6,000 Mingyang for each Chinese woman who was **; 10,000 Mingyang under the age of 15; In addition to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost work expenses, each injured Chinese will be compensated 500-6000 Mingyang; Each disabled Chinese, in addition to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost work expenses, will be compensated 4,000-10,000 Mingyang; There is also an annual payment of living expenses sufficient to cover the previous standard of living; The Ming Dynasty established military ports and military bases in the three port cities of Surabaya, Medan, and Pontianak; 80% of the oil field exploitation and operation rights and 60% of the rubber mining and operation rights of Pazia Island are controlled by Daming Company; Extradition of the Dutch Viceroy in the East Indies...... In addition to these conditions, there is also a war reparation of 100 million Mingyang. It's dark enough. …… 100 million Mingyang, to be honest, I don't have any idea, I don't know how many things I can buy with 100 million Mingyang. ”

Wang Hexiang, former deputy director of the State Administration of Military Industry, ate lobster meat, buried his head and smiled:

"100 million Mingyang, almost 3,000 Lightning-3 tanks. If it is Lightning-2, it can build more than 5,000 vehicles. ”

"Good."

"If you build warships, Yongle-class battleships, 100 million Mingyang can build almost three."

"Good boy!"

Song Ruhai said with a smile:

"Don't forget, my lord, this is the bottom line, and when we ask for the price, we have to reach 180 million Mingyang. There is also a consolation payment for the dead, disabled, and humiliated Chinese, which is about 45 million to 50 million Mingyang. This one cannot be moved. However, this consolation money is calculated according to the number of people, and it is still being counted, and there is no accurate figure. In this way, only a single number, rather than a total of tens of millions of Ming Yang, sounds better on the Dutch side. ”

Several people laughed. Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said, "Isn't the Netherlands going bankrupt?" ”

Song Ruhai said with a smile:

"It's too early to go bankrupt. Do you remember how much the Treaty of Versailles required Germany to pay reparations? 132 billion gold marks. Our 100 million Mingyang is not even a fraction of others. Although a gold mark contains 0.4 grams, we have a gold content of 0.62 grams, which is a little more than a gold mark. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang heard that it was so little compared to Germany, and said angrily:

"Huh? Only one thousandth of people have more? So why don't we order more? ”

Sun Jiye shook his head and said:

"There is no comparison between this. First of all, that astronomical figure is not realistic at all, more than 100 billion, it is simply a figure to vent anger, and no country can afford it, and even bankrupt people cannot afford it. Facts have also proved that Germany has not yet returned the situation, and it is not out of the question. Secondly, it was the result of the world war, every country was smashing the pot and selling iron, Europe was in ruins, and they themselves really needed so many reparations to recover, and at that time Germany had been beaten to death, without any right to speak, in order to save their lives, people had to agree as much as they wanted, even if they added two zeros to the back, Germany would sign.

"Our situation here is completely different, it is just a small local battle, and it is only a war on a small island in the colony, and it does not reach anyone's house. First, we don't need so much reparations, and second, we want too much, and the Netherlands won't give it. What we are relying on now is the island of Batavia in our hands, and we are not forced to the doorstep of the Netherlands. Let's not say more than 100 billion, even if we want a billion, the Netherlands may prefer to give up Batavia. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded when he heard it, thinking it was true. He remembered the First Sino-Japanese War in regular history, when Japan demanded 200 million taels of indemnity from the Qing Dynasty, which almost drained the Qing Dynasty. He knew that in this time and space, there was also a Sino-Japanese War between Japan and Qing, but the Qing Empire in this time and space did not seem to have lost as badly as in history, and only lost 100 million taels in the end.

He didn't know which one was worth compared to one hundred million taels of silver and one hundred million Ming Yang. Historically, the price of gold and silver has fluctuated dramatically, and it is difficult to say. However, according to the price comparison of later generations, one Kuping two silvers are worth 90 yuan, one city and two silvers are worth 120 yuan, and the value of 100 million cities and two silvers and 100 million Mingyang is about the same.

In general, the compensation of 100 million Mingyang, in this case, is a lot. He believed that this was the most appropriate amount proposed by the Ming government after repeated measurements and calculations.

The chef came in with a small food cart and brought a large silver plate to the table, lifting the shiny silver cover.

In a large silver platter is a small red turtle sprinkled with spices unique to the East Indies. The chef lifts the turtle lid, revealing the sliced turtle meat inside. Xiang Xiaoqiang took the clip and distributed it to the three old consultants.

When the chef pushed the cart out, Song Ruhai said again:

"The problem is that we don't know how important Batavia is to the Netherlands, and how much the Netherlands are willing to pay to redeem it. To tell the truth, we occupy the island of Batavia, the political and cultural center, the indigenous people have many resources and few resources, they are important to the Netherlands, and they are of little use to us, so we have to exchange it for as many things as possible. If we occupy the island of Pazia, we will simply keep it for ourselves, and we will not bother to exchange this for that. Sumatra has everything we want. It is rich in 80% of the oil fields and rubber forests of the East Indies, and its geographical location is extremely important, directly guarding the Strait of Malacca. …… There is one that there are fewer good harbors, not as good as Batavia. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled: "Then why don't we exchange Batavia Island with them for Pazia Island." ”

Several people laughed.

Song Ruhai cut off the turtle's head with a knife, put the big turtle's head on Xiang Xiaoqiang's plate, and said with a smile:

"Come on, come on, to adults and young people, eat more of this ......"

Several people laughed "coaxingly", Xiang Xiaoqiang's cheeks were so thick-skinned, which also made him embarrassed, laughed, lowered his head and played with the "glans-head", and began to eat.

Song Ruhai said with a smile while cutting the turtle meat with a dining knife: "Didn't we also propose to let the Netherlands exchange Pazia Island for Batavia Island?" ”

Sun Jiye shook his head and said: "It's a pity, it's just an asking price, you can't really take 100 million Mingyang indemnity and Pazia Island in the end." How can there be such a good thing. ”

Song Ruhai also nodded:

"Yes, Pazia Island is good, but the target is too big to be realistic. If we really want to get Pazia, I'm afraid we will have to give up all other conditions, give up the 100 million oceans, give up the ports and garrisons of Batavia and Borneo, and give up the extradition of the governor, and maybe the forty or fifty million Chinese pensions in the Ming Ocean will have to be paid by us, so that we can come down to Pazia. …… It's just a possibility.

"So let's be realistic, let the Netherlands pay 40 million or 50 million Mingyang to the Chinese, we get 100 million Mingyang, get the right to the three military ports and garrisons in Surabaya, Medan, and Pontianak, get 80% of the oil and 60% of the rubber rights and interests of Pazia Island, and then extradite the governor back, which is more cost-effective. Anyway, we want Pazia Island, and the biggest purpose is oil. Win 80% of Sumatra's oil interests, and our oil problem can be solved. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang bowed his head and ate the turtle-head, and he was also nodding, humming in agreement with his mouth. But at the moment, he was thinking of a simple truth in his mind:

How important is the East Indies to the Netherlands?

First: The East Indies were the last large Dutch colony overseas. Without the East Indies, the Netherlands would have withdrawn from the ranks of colonial empires.

Second: After World War II, the Netherlands faced Indonesia, which had already become the first country, and did not hesitate to devote the power of the newly liberated country to bypass half the world and launch a war in an attempt to recapture the East Indies.

Third: Batavia Island is the political, cultural, economic, transportation, and ruling center of the East Indies, without which the Netherlands would not have ruled the East Indies.

Fourth: Although Pazia Island is more than twice the size of Batavia, rich in oil and rubber resources, and close to the Strait of Malacca, it is a relatively "marginal" island after all, not as irreplaceable as Batavia.

To some extent, Pazia Island corresponds to the three eastern provinces of the Republic of China, while Batavia Island corresponds to the Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou region of the Republic of China. Although the area of the Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou region is far less than that of the three eastern provinces, its strategic position in East Asia is not as important as that of the three eastern provinces, and its resources are not as rich as the three eastern provinces, there is one rule, the three eastern provinces are only a "resource area", and the Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou region is the political, economic, cultural, and ruling center of the whole country. In the three eastern provinces, the importance of this aspect is much lower.

It's the same in the South Seas. For the Netherlands, the loss of Batavia was the loss of the East Indies. And the loss of Pazia is only the loss of Pazia.

Fifth: The most important one, the Netherlands no longer has any power in East Asia, and it now has no cards in its hand. Even if the Ming army wanted to take the entire East Indies, it only needed to send a few more divisions and calmly land on a few large islands to occupy the ground and suppress the natives, and there was no even need to fight. And the Netherlands can only watch.

In fact, Xiang Xiaoqiang also knew that the reason why Daming didn't do this was because he didn't want to invest more energy in fighting in Nanyang, especially when there was the Northern Qing Dynasty in the north and Japan in the east. If the oil problem can be solved, the goal will be achieved.

Second, they are worried that Britain and the United States will be jealous. In the eyes of Britain and the United States, the East Indies were safe in the hands of the Dutch and posed no threat to themselves. No matter how big, rich, or important the East Indies are, it is impossible for the Netherlands to use the East Indies as a springboard to attack Malaya and the Philippines. And once the Ming Dynasty masters the East Indies, it is entirely possible. At that time, the strategic situation of the entire Nanyang will take a sharp turn for the worse, and the Ming Dynasty will leap from the traditional role of Little Red Riding Hood to the big bad wolf, or even the big tiger.

A sword, in the hands of a child, and in the hands of a strong man, gives the people around him a completely different sense of threat. The East Indies are the sword, the Netherlands is the child, and the Ming is the strong man.

Once Britain and the United States regard the Ming Dynasty as an imaginary enemy, it will be too much. The navy of the Ming Dynasty was already struggling to compete with the Japanese navy, and if it was possible to add the navies of Britain and the United States, the navy of the fourth place in the world would compete with the navy of the first, second and third places at the same time...... So, this must not be the case.

Therefore, the conditions proposed by the Ming government are not so "absolute" in Xiang Xiaoqiang's view. In fact, he also knew that Da Ming did this mainly for fear of "smashing Batavia Island in his hands". Turning back and forcing the Netherlands to be anxious, he didn't want Batavia Island (of course, this is unlikely in Xiang Xiaoqiang's opinion), then it was useless for Daming to take it, and he couldn't even exchange some money and oil.

Xiang Xiaoqiang said suddenly:

"Three adults, I have a little trick to see how much the Dutch side can offer."

Then he lowered his voice and spoke. The three old men looked at each other, and suddenly they all laughed, and they all nodded:

"You can give it a try."

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked up at the wall clock and said:

"Without further ado, since everyone agrees, I'll call someone to arrange it right away."

As he spoke, he pulled the electric bell, called in his personal guard, and gave him such and such instructions.