Chapter 702: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf
Tom Wang's explanation is not his personal understanding. It is indeed a view held by many people in the executive committee.
With the increase in Haihan's military strength, Shibazhi is no longer an unbeatable opponent for Haihan, and it is only a matter of time before this pirate force is eliminated. But whether to choose to solve it completely at once or to squeeze out its utilization value, there are two different voices in the executive committee.
Haihan's ultimate goal of expanding his sphere of influence to the north is of course not limited to the Taiwan Strait. There is still a large area of sea area in Northeast Asia waiting for traversers to conquer. In this process, launching an external war is definitely the most frequently used method, but how to find a reason to go to war that is both internally accountable and confident externally is a matter that tests the executive committee's ability to govern.
The existence of Shibazhi undoubtedly provides an excellent idea to solve this problem. No matter where Shibazhi flees, Haihan can continue to pursue them in the name of justice - whether he can completely eliminate them is secondary. , but it is certainly possible to dispatch troops to more places overseas to achieve the effect of expanding the scope of influence.
Qian Tiandun has been stationed abroad for a long time and is a very pure soldier at heart. He does not think as much about these long-term plans as the Executive Committee. However, with his mind, he already understood most of it after hearing what Wang Tom said. He couldn't help but laugh and said: "Where does the executive committee plan to drive them?"
"If they choose to join the Dutch or Spanish on Taiwan Island, that would be the best result." Wang Tom analyzed: "The executive committee is still very interested in Taiwan Island, but the Dutch and Spanish The best areas in the south and north are already occupied, so it’s not fun for us. We have to find a reason to get them to move their butts and give up the space.”
"How likely do you think Zheng Zhilong is to join them?" Now that this topic was brought up, Qian Tiandun was thinking about discussing it with Tom Wang.
"The Dutch probably don't dare to interfere." Wang Tom responded with a smile: "The East India Company gave us a formal reply at the end of the year and would no longer maintain any form of exchanges with Shibazhi, including military affairs. Assistance is included. The Dutch on Dayuan Island should also have received it. After receiving Batavia's notice, they are well aware of the serious consequences of violating the agreement. I think they should not dare to play any overt and covert tricks. The result of having a cold butt on your face.”
"Then the Ambuna Islands are temporarily safe?" Qian Tiandun immediately thought of another stronghold in the South China Sea that worried Haihan.
"Theoretically speaking, this is indeed the case." Wang Tom nodded and said: "After we announced that we had taken control of the Ambrosia Islands, the Dutch acquiesced to our actual control of the local area and only requested to retain nominal condominium control. ”
"This is just asking for a fig leaf." Qian Tiandun sneered: "The Dutch have good calculations."
"In the end, the executive committee only agreed that the local docks could allow Dutch merchant ships to dock. As for the co-management rights...if the Dutch think they have it, then let it be. We don't recognize it anyway." Wang Tom said about this. , also looked disdainful.
If the Dutch want to maintain the security of their sea route from Batavia to Northeast Asia, they have only two options. One is to go to war with Haihan and recapture the route relay point of Ambrosia Island, the other is to choose compromise. Recognize Haihan's control of the area in exchange for peace. However, the East India Company had lost confidence in retaking the Ambrosia Islands with force, so it sent a mission to Sanya to try to negotiate for Haihan to withdraw. At that time, the Dutch mission was dragging its feet in Sanya for more than a month. If Schneider and others had not lost patience and finally threatened force, the Dutch mission would probably have continued the negotiations that were destined not to achieve the results they expected. Drag it down.
However, since the Dutch have chosen peace, the pressure faced by Haihan in the South China Sea and Fujian has been reduced accordingly. The naval combat ships previously deployed at Jinlan Port in Annan can also be temporarily transferred to Fujian. Participate in the battle to attack the Penghu Islands. Of course, transferring the naval fleet from Annan to Fujian is not an easy task. It has to visit several ports and cover thousands of nautical miles. For the naval forces participating in the operation, it can be regarded as a rare long-distance armed training.
Qian Tiandun naturally thought of this and asked, "Has the order been issued for the Annan fleet to be transferred?"
"The transfer order has been issued, but the other side has not set off yet and is still making preparations for the war. If we want to start in advance, the Annan fleet may not be able to make it in time." Wang Tom said with regret.
Even though Haihan's warships were faster than the sailing ships of the same era, it still took a long time to complete such a long-distance voyage, and the fleet needed to prepare a lot of combat supplies. By the time the Annan fleet arrives in Fujian from Cam Ranh Port, it will probably be a month at the earliest.
"If we are in a hurry, we can only let Annan's troops move to Sanya." Qian Tiandun immediately thought of another temporary solution.
Tom Wang nodded and said: "If you want to take action in advance, this is the only way."
The method Qian Tiandun said was to have Annan's fleet stationed in Sanya, and then have the fleet stationed in Sanya go directly to Fujian to participate in the war. In terms of fleet size, weapons and equipment, staffing, etc., the fleet stationed in Sanya is undoubtedly the strongest, and the main function of this fleet is to protect the maritime security of the base camp. It was not originally among the participating troops in the attack on Penghu. However, extraordinary things are done in extraordinary times. It seems that this is the only way to ensure that more combat ships arrive in Fujian to participate in the war.
"Back to business, do you think Shibazhi will get together with the Spaniards?" Qian Tiandun returned to the previous discussion.
Wang Tom thought for a while and said: "It's unlikely. When Shibazhi cooperated with the Dutch before, they also cooperated with the Dutch to intercept Spanish merchant ships at sea and Ming merchant ships going to Manila for trade. The Spanish should be They will not tolerate this group of pirates. Moreover, Spain has not been established in northern Taiwan for a long time, and the number of armed personnel stationed there is probably very limited. It is hard to say who will be the master when the Eighteen Zhi take tens of thousands of people to seek refuge. ”
"That's right. After all, Shibazhi started out as a pirate, and no one will let them in easily." Qian Tiandun also agreed with Wang Tom's speculation: "If the Dutch and Spanish don't accept They, then they probably have no choice but to continue going north.”
"There are only two ways left. Either find a big island to live on along the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, or go northeast and occupy a place in Ryukyu." Wang Tom is quite familiar with the maritime conditions in Northeast Asia and responded immediately Said: "With their strength, the navy of no province in the Ming Dynasty can survive. It is not a big problem to seize an island along the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, I think they are more likely to choose the direction of Ryukyu."
“Let’s hear the reasons.”
"It's very simple. As long as Zheng Zhilong is not stupid, he can see our development trend all the way north along the Daming coastline. If they settle in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, they will become targets again when we set foot in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Will they be targeted again by then? Should we continue to withdraw to the north?" Wang Tom said eloquently: "There are two advantages to retreating to Ryukyu. First, the Ryukyu country's military strength is not strong, and there is nothing you can do against this group of pirates. They can be more relaxed in Ryukyu. Choose a place to stay and don't have to worry about being chased away by your host. Secondly, Zheng Zhilong stayed in Japan in his early years. If he retreats to Ryukyu, he can do business with the Japanese to make a living. If necessary, he can even withdraw all the way to Japan with his men. "It won't be difficult for such an armed force of tens of thousands to gain a foothold in Japan." "Hearing what you said, I really want to try to drive them towards Ryukyu!" Qian Tiandun finished listening. After Wang Tom's remarks, his eyes lit up.
"You want to lay the foundation for a future war with the Japanese, right?" Wang Tom immediately guessed Qian Tiandun's intention.
Qian Tiandun did not deny this. He nodded and replied: "There is no need for mobilization to attack Japan. As long as the time comes, the executive committee will definitely approve it. Being able to destroy Little Japan in my lifetime can be regarded as completing my original participation in the time travel." A wish from time to time”
"If you think so, it will chill your followers, right?" Wang Tom joked.
"Takahashi Minami no longer treats himself as a Japanese." Qian Tiandun smiled and shook his head: "Besides, he was born as a samurai. For him, the concept of nationality is very vague. The master is the most important person. . His allegiance is to the Executive Committee, not the Emperor or the Shogun of Japan. If you don’t believe it, just wait and see. If we take action against Japan in the future, Takahashi Minami will definitely be the first officer to ask for war."
"In the final analysis, you trained me well." Seeing that Qian Tiandun was serious, Wang Tom stopped joking about Gao Qiaonan: "Actually, my personal idea is to drive Shibazhi to the north. Mr. Tao and Mr. Yan also has this idea. Mr. Tao said, this is called driving the tiger to swallow the wolf. Let Shibazhi go out for us first and smooth the road, and we will follow along."
"You guy, it turns out that you have been testing me with words!" Qian Tiandun reacted when he heard what he said. Since Tao Donglai and Yan Chujie had already expressed their attitudes, it means that the top military officials have already expressed their opinions on this. They had a relatively consistent view, but Wang Tom kept going around without explaining directly, obviously testing his own attitude.
Wang Tom smiled and said: "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that the Military Commission wants to know your true views on the future development of the situation. After all, you are the commander sitting on the front line. What you see and think may be different from what you see and think about at the base camp. There will be some differences. If you have a better idea for solving Shibazhi, the Military Commission will also seriously consider it.”
Qian Tiandun said: "I absolutely agree with the Military Commission on attacking Japan in the future."
"Now that Shibazhi has revealed its intention to abandon Penghu, we might as well think about whether it is possible to drive them northeast." Wang Tom asked: "Do you have any ideas?"
Qian Tiandun responded without hesitation: "First of all, they must give up their plan to move to the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. I think the Fujian Navy should step up patrols on the west side of the Taiwan Strait to create obstacles for the Shibazhi to withdraw to the mainland. .”
"Leave the channel on the east side of the strait aside and give them an escape route," Wang Tom added.
Qian Tiandun continued: "Secondly, we can also think of ways in Zhejiang, such as spreading the news in the market that Shibazhi is about to attack somewhere along the coast to create a tense atmosphere."
"What should we do if the Zhejiang government doesn't accept the offer?" Wang Tom asked.
"It doesn't matter, there is no way to be sure whether the Zhejiang government pays attention to this kind of news. After all, they can no longer afford to lose. If they are frustrated in the target area, then I am afraid that Shibazhi will not be able to move to the next target area. ." Qian Tiandun analyzed: "They can only find soft persimmons to pinch. What we have to do is to make Jiangsu and Zhejiang not look like a soft persimmon."
"This is feasible." Wang Tom nodded, thinking about Qian Tiandun's method.
Although the relationship between the Fujian government and Haihan is very close, there is no way to directly influence the policy trends in Zhejiang, so it is unlikely to use official channels directly. But it is relatively easy to spread news among the people. In addition, Fujian has just intercepted a merchant fleet coming from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They can use this incident to spread rumors in the northern coastal areas and artificially create a tense atmosphere.
However, Haihan definitely couldn't do this by himself, and most likely had to count on Xu Xinsu to do it. But whether Xu Xinsu is willing to cooperate with this plan still needs to be discussed with him.
"Let's sort out the situation first, send a telegram back to the base camp to report, and see what the executive committee decides." Wang Tom thought about it for a while, and decided to follow the standard processing channels and inform the executive committee first.
"Xu Xinsu also needs to have an interview here. If he doesn't cooperate, it will be difficult for us to proceed to the next step." Qian Tiandun reminded.
"Let's see, after the base camp makes a decision, we will have another interview with Xu Xinsu." Wang Tom said: "He should also understand our intentions. After all, it's not that we don't want to eliminate Shiba Zhi, but that the situation has changed. , if we take action in advance, we will also increase our own operational risks. If we can force Shibazhi to give up Penghu, we and the Fujian government will save a lot of trouble."
The two went ahead and sent a long telegram back to Sanya that day, detailing the latest changes in the situation in Fujian and attaching the specific implementation plan they discussed to drive away tigers and swallow wolves.
(End of chapter)