This Dutch Rear Admiral should have been almost scared. Judging from his miserable and miserable expression, he should not dare to lie.

Taichang pretended to have a cold expression, snorted softly, and then asked coldly: "If you Dutch people have the strength in the Far East, you can talk to me well, and there must be no omission."

Upon hearing this, Gao Wenlu quickly introduced in detail: "We have thirteen tower ships, gunboats, more than 2,000 naval officers and soldiers in the Far East. In addition, the East India Company has more than 40 warships and more than 150 armed merchant ships. They have about tens of thousands of mercenaries and 40,000 to 50,000 employees."

So many warships and armed merchant ships!

And mercenaries?

When Taichang heard this, he thought about it carefully and then asked: "Do these warships include the twelve warships you brought?"

Gao Wenlu nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, what I led were two naval tower ships and gunboats and ten East India Company warships."

This means that the Dutch still had eleven tower ships and gunboats, more than 30 ordinary warships and more than 150 armed merchant ships.

Although their combat effectiveness is not strong, there are many warships and armed merchant ships.

Taichang thought for a while and asked again: "How is your defense in Java?"

Java Island?

That place is no longer called Java Island!

Gao Wenlu was stunned for a moment, and then introduced in detail: "We have two three-story bastions in Batavia, equipped with more than 300 cannons, including twelve pounds, twenty-four pounds, and thirty-six pounds."

What pound?

When Taichang heard this, he couldn't help looking at Zheng Zhilong with confusion.

Zheng Zhilong quickly explained: "Their pound refers to the weight of the shell, and one pound is about nine taels."

This is a bit scary.

Thirty-six-pound shells are more than thirty pounds!

What a huge cannon?

Such a large shell, as long as it hits, the Dragon Tooth Battleship will probably be smashed to the point.

No wonder the Spaniards dare not attack Batavia, their defense is too terrifying.

It seems that even if twenty-five tower ships and gunboats are built, they may not be able to take Batavia!

Taichang thought for a while and asked again: "How capable are your local shipbuilding? How many warships can you build in a year?"

this.

Gao Wenlu thought about it and then estimated: "If our shipyard starts construction with all its might, it should be able to build one hundred building ships and gunboats and four hundred ordinary warships a year."

This shipbuilding ability is even more terrifying.

However, someone must drive the ship if it is built.

Taichang asked again: "How strong are your navy? How many people are there in total?"

This is hard to say.

Gao Wenlu was stunned for a moment, then he estimated: "Our navy has more than 20,000 officers and soldiers, and there are also a large number of mercenaries. I am not very clear about the number of mercenaries, because the number of mercenaries in each fleet is different."

If you include mercenaries, the strength of the Dutch is not easy to estimate. Anyway, they have money, so it is okay to hire tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people!

Who are the mercenaries these days?

Taichang asked again: "Do you have mercenaries? Who do you hire?"

Gao Wenlu nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, I have many mercenaries under my command. We employ poor people from all over the continent and indigenous people from colonies. Anyway, these mercenaries just carry things and load ammunition, as long as they are strong and obey orders."

So that's it.

Fortunately, these mercenaries are just helping the mob, and it is probably difficult to work hard for others to work for their employers.

At this point, even the Dutch people's strength is almost fully understood.

This sea overlord is really powerful. At least no one can match his shipbuilding ability. If there are many mercenaries, it is not surprising that he can dominate the sea.

The only strange thing is why the Dutch came to attack the Ming Dynasty at all costs?

The strength of the Ming Dynasty is here. With the strength of the Dutch Navy in the Far East and the thirty or forty warships of the East India Company, they could not have beaten the Ming Dynasty.

To put it bluntly, they can’t even beat it even in Fujian Province!

This has been proved in history that even if the Ming Dynasty is weak, it will be destroyed, and it is not something that a small country like the Netherlands can provoke.

Why did the Dutch attack the Ming Dynasty at all costs?

Is it really for the money?

Do these people really want money and live?

Taichang couldn't help but wonder, "What did you think of invading the Ming Dynasty?"

this.

Who told you to cooperate with the Spaniards?

Gao Wenlu thought about it and then said carefully: "There are many reasons for attacking your Ming Empire. I think the main thing is that you cooperate with the Spaniards to help them seize the continental market. The Spaniards purchased a large amount of cheap goods from you to dump them in continental areas. We couldn't do business, so our Grand Parliament approved the resolution to start a war with you."

Humph, money can only be made by you, but no one else can make it?

You are so domineering!

However, this is only the reason for the present, and there has been no complete abolition of the maritime ban in history.

Taichang asked again: "What else?"

Gao Wenlu thought about it again, and then said carefully: "The main profits of the East India Company come from Japan. You have also taken away the business of Japan. The Governor of the East India Company is very angry. He also proposed the decision to start a war with you."

This is also because of opening the sea!

Taichang continued to ask, "What else?"

besides?

Gao Wenlu thought about it carefully and then said carefully: "The East India Company also wants to open a stronghold in the middle of the Batavia to Japan to replenish water and food. Moreover, the Japanese people also lack food and meat. They want to set up a trading port in your Ming Empire, purchase food and meat nearby, and sell it to Japan."

This is probably the main reason why the Dutch attacked the Ming Dynasty in history.

Question, are you Dutch people's brains all over? If you want to fight, you don't look at your own strength, then look at the strength of the Ming Dynasty?

Is this arbitrary war between countries?

It's impossible!

Taichang said in confusion: "Do you think you can defeat the Ming Dynasty with your strength in the Far East? Do you not think about whether you can fight before the war begins?"

this?

We were deceived by Japanese people!

Gao Wenlu suddenly remembered Wei Malang's words, and the Japanese were deliberately deceiving them!

He couldn't help but say angrily: "The information we received before was wrong. The Japanese said that the navy of the Ming Empire was like their navy, all of which were small boats, and they were vulnerable at all! They also said that they had fought with you several times, and they were the dominant ones every time. They also captured your vassal state, Ryukyu. You have no power to fight back! We were deceived by the Japanese!"

Japanese people!

These Japanese pirates are desperate!

Taichang finally understood that behind this was the Japanese who were messing around.

They just wanted the Dutch to attack the Ming Dynasty and reap the benefits of the fisherman!

In history, although they did not gain any benefits during the Ming and Qing dynasties, they never gave up their spy on China.

Hundreds of years later, they still took action!

Humph, these Japanese pirates and wolfish ambitions are always calculating on China, so they must not let it go!

Taichang really wished he could lead his army to defeat Japan now.

However, he still endured it after thinking about it.

Because the Ming Dynasty is now rising rapidly, there is no need to rush to this moment.

If you hit it at this time, it would still take some effort. It would be different when the navy has enough building ships and gunboats. Scattering Japan would be as simple as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

There is one last question.

Taichang said curiously: "What kind of company is your East India Company? Why can the governor of the East India Company still propose a resolution to go to war with the Ming Dynasty?"

How do you say this?

Gao Wenlu thought about it and then introduced in detail: "The East India Company is a company that our Dutch Parliament has authorized to invest in. Our Dutch Parliament authorized the East India Company to form its own mercenaries, issue currency, sign contracts with other countries, and implement colonial rule on other countries.

Our Grand Parliament obtained approximately half of the equity of the East India Company through the above authorization, and the other half of the equity belongs to the seventeen major directors who formed the East India Company.

If the East India Company wants to go to war with some powerful countries, it can make a resolution to the Grand Parliament. After the Grand Parliament is passed, they can invite our Dutch Navy to join the war."

So that's what it means.

The East India Company is a rogue company that colonizes and plunders for the Dutch Parliament!

OK, are you hooligans?

The Ming Dynasty can also set up a Western business name and fight against you!
To be continued...