Chapter 943 Trade Alliance
On December 20, Yan Chujie and Mu Xiabai also led their fleets to leave Xingdao respectively, and returned to Annan Island and Jinlan Port in Annan respectively. The time for the second meeting agreed with the Dutch is coming soon, and Yan Chujie must go to Ambona Island to take charge of the overall situation. But this time he does not need to continue to push forward in areas that he is not good at, because Schneider has sailed south from Sanya a few days ago and came to personally preside over this trade negotiation.
Roger, on the other hand, led hundreds of soldiers and logistics staff to temporarily stay on Star Island. They will be the first batch of troops stationed here. The fleet left a lot of supplies before leaving, which is enough for this group of people for half a year. However, the follow-up development will soon be launched. When Yan Chujie returns to Amborna Island, the first batch will be dispatched soon. Immigrants and workers come to Xingdao to implement infrastructure projects.
Just in case, the fleet also left two expedition-class warships and a supply ship here to ensure that the garrison has the minimum maritime armament and mobility capabilities. When subsequent port projects progress, the military will mobilize more combat ships to station here to ensure Haihan's control of the Malacca Strait channel.
Just two days after the combined fleet left, a situation arose on Xingdao. Several Johor fishing boats discovered this new stronghold that popped up out of nowhere while operating nearby, and immediately went back to inform the government. The Johor government, who did not know why, thought that this might be an attempt by the Portuguese to establish a colony here again, and soon A group of troops were sent to fight over from the sea.
Over the control of the Strait of Malacca, the war between Portugal and Johor has continued on and off for decades since the last century. Because the Portuguese side had the advantage of force, it had fewer wins and more losses. It suppressed the country of Johor at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula and could not raise its head. In the early years of Johor, there were many people on Star Island, but repeated raids by Portugal turned this place into a no man's land.
Of course, Portugal has tried to station troops here to build colonies, but because the scale of the garrison was too small, it could not resist the counterattack of the Johor Army. After several attempts, it ended in failure, and in fact it lost a lot of manpower. . The two opposing parties were too weak to take root on Star Island. Over time, this island with an area of more than 700 square kilometers became a strategic buffer zone for both sides.
However, in this way, the Haihan people took advantage of the situation and left room for maneuver. They easily landed on the island without encountering any obstacles and established a temporary stronghold on the island. The Kingdom of Johor, who did not know the truth, discovered that there were human activities on the island, and naturally thought that the Portuguese were becoming restless again, so they hurriedly sent troops to clean up, intending to drive away their opponents before their foothold was stable.
However, when they discovered that the flags hung on the two armed sailboats sailing out of the harbor to fight were the red and blue Haihan flags, they immediately hesitated. It is no secret in the South China Sea how powerful the maritime armed forces possessed by the Haihan people are. Many businessmen from Johor have visited the ports under the rule of Haihan and witnessed their strength. Now they have to face Haihan, who even the Portuguese and Dutch cannot defeat, on the battlefield. This is indeed a big psychological test for the Johor Army.
While the Johor warship cowered, Haihan's two warships had already fired their cannons, but the distance between the two sides was still far, and the Haihan warship fired its cannons only for warning purposes. However, this move misunderstood the Johor Army on the opposite side. The commander believed that this was a sign that the Haihan Army was starting a war. Considering that his sailboat was not equipped with a long-range weapon with great lethality such as artillery, the consequences of rushing forward to engage in the battle would be very serious. Perhaps it was a one-sided situation, so the commander ordered to immediately change direction and evacuate the sea area.
"Why did you run away before the fighting started?" Roger used a telescope on the deck to observe the enemy's movements, and was very disdainful of the Johor Army's cowardly performance.
The appearance of the Johor Army was expected by Hai Han. After all, Star Island is only separated from the Kingdom of Johor on the Malay Peninsula by a water. In the past, it was the territory of the Kingdom of Johor. It was also the subject of repeated disputes between Johor and Portugal. It is impossible for the other party to turn a blind eye to the new situation here. It is reasonable to send troops to expel it. It's just that the Johor Army was probably bullied and frightened by the artillery prepared on the Portuguese armed sailing ship before. Haihan only fired a few blank rounds, but the other party actually turned around and left. This reaction was a bit too cowardly.
Roger didn't quite believe that this could scare away the Johor Army. After all, they had been fighting the Portuguese for decades. Logically, they had seen all the scenes and they wouldn't withdraw because of two cannon shots. However, the number of Haihan naval ships stationed here is limited, and Roger does not dare to chase him out to find out what is going on. If the other party plays some trick like diverting the tiger away from the mountain, and there is no time to build comprehensive coastal defenses, there is no coastline covered by the navy. But there is nothing that can prevent the other party from logging in.
Of course, the Johor Army is not retreating, they just don't want to do something stupid like an egg hitting a rock. In past battles with the Portuguese, they suffered losses more than once or twice due to weapons and equipment in maritime operations, and they had a very clear personal experience of the power of ship-based artillery. Avoiding the Haihan people does not mean that they give up trying to expel the Haihan people.
The commander of the Johor Army judged that the Hai Han people had not been here for a long time, so it was unlikely that a large number of people were stationed here. He ordered the fleet to retreat a certain distance, and after leaving the sight of the Hai Han ship, he moved towards Star Island. Coast, let the troops land and march to bypass the Haihan armed defense line at sea.
The distance between the east and west ends of Star Island is less than 40 kilometers, and the widest point from north to south is only more than 20 kilometers. There is no obstacle to crossing this uninhabited island from land. The Johor Army spent most of the day to cross it from land. Quietly approached the Haihan Army's station on the southern coast.
However, it is a pity that the early warning sentries deployed by the Haihan Army on the periphery of the camp noticed the movements of the Johor Army a few miles away. After receiving the news, Roger immediately ordered the entire army to enter a state of first-level combat readiness. As a result, the Johor Army's plan to launch a surprise attack after dark became futile. When they approached the Hai Han camp, they found that many fires were lit in the wilderness outside the camp, allowing those who tried to approach to kill them within a hundred meters. Nothing to hide from.
But having reached this point, the commander of the Johor Army was unwilling to return without success again, so he sent a team of people to slowly sneak towards the Hai Han camp. However, when they were stopped by a barbed wire fence that stretched across the perimeter of the camp, gunfire suddenly erupted in the camp. Several rounds of continuous gunfire caused this group of Johor soldiers who had no warning to fall outside the barbed wire fence.
After defeating this round of camps by the Johor Army, nothing happened that night. The Johor Army knew that the Haihan people were secretly on guard, so they were unwilling to kill anyone easily. When it got light in the morning, people from the Haihan camp were sent out to count the results of the battle, and a total of eighteen enemies were killed. From the clothes and weapons these people wore, Roger quickly confirmed their origins.
"It turns out that if you don't take action at sea, you will go around to the land!" Roger looked at the dozen corpses lined up on the ground and considered how to deal with the armed conflict with Johor.
The weapons of these Johor soldiers are all cold weapons, and they have no armor on their bodies. Their individual equipment is still relatively typical of South Asian tribal armed forces. Based on the size of Haihan's troops currently deployed on Star Island, even if Johor sends one or two thousand men to attack this camp, the result will only be pinned to the ground and rubbed by Haihan. Roger did not think that Johor had the courage to send a thousand troops to Star Island to cause trouble when the situation was unclear, so he did not have to worry about his camp being breached by the Johor army for the time being. But since the opponent's army is already lurking on the island, it is a hidden danger that needs to be solved after all. At the same time, Yan Chujie was greeting Schneider who had just arrived at the pier of Ambona Island. Schneider, who is in charge of Haihan's financial power, came south to Ambon Island this time specifically to discuss the South China Sea Trade Alliance with all parties. In the future, this trade alliance initiated and established by Haihan may also expand to Northeast Asia and become a trade organization with influence throughout the Far East.
It stands to reason that the negotiation process of a regional trade organization like this should be held in a place like Sanya. However, Haihan's decision to hold the meeting on Amborna Island this time has another profound meaning.
First, the current participants in this trade agreement are mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia, except for the Ming Dynasty’s Fuzhou and Guangzhou provinces, and Haihan hopes to use this meeting to attract more Southeast Asian countries to join the trade alliance in the future, which will The location of the meeting in the South China Sea is also to show that Haihan pays enough attention to its partners in this region.
Secondly, Haihan already intends to build Amborna Island into a gold-selling cave in the South China Sea. Naturally, they must take this opportunity to publicize it and give everyone a heads-up first. The investment that should be attracted should be attracted first. Absorb it.
"Roger didn't come back?" Schneider asked immediately after landing on the island and found that only a senior official, Yan Chujie, appeared.
"Roger is in Star Island, and he won't be back until next year." Yan Chujie knew what Schneider was worried about, and immediately explained: "Although Roger is not here, several of his people who are responsible for the management of the island are here. They can also provide you with the information you need to know.”
Schneider relaxed a little. He came here this time to make the final decision on the plan of Ambona Island. During this period, one or two investment meetings for investors would inevitably be held. At that time, some specific data information would need to be obtained by someone familiar with the local area. Someone can explain the situation on your behalf. Roger was originally the most suitable candidate, but now he is far away from Star Island and cannot come back during the meeting, so his subordinates can only do it for him.
"Which ones have arrived now?" Schneider continued to ask.
"Zheng Zha from Annan arrived first. He followed us around the South China Sea and came directly here when he came back." Yan Chujie explained: "Representatives from the Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian government also arrived, but they probably only Will observe the meeting and will not make public statements or sign documents.”
Schneider nodded to express his understanding. The officials in Fuzhou and Guangzhou did not represent the Ming Dynasty in joining this trade organization, but only represented the local area. The local senior officials sent to attend the meeting were only their staff, and it was impossible to represent them in such a public occasion. The Ming Dynasty expressed its stance, and the signed documents were even less effective.
"People from Champa and Matalan should arrive in the next two days. In addition, Siam, Aceh, and Johor will send people to observe this meeting." Yan Chujie paused and said, "Speaking of Johor, Roger I sent a telegram this morning, saying that there was an armed conflict with the Johor Army in Sing Tao, and more than a dozen people were killed.”
Schneider's face was unmoved after hearing the news: "Conflicts are all expected, and it's not us who suffer anyway. Don't worry, this kind of small conflict will not affect the big picture, and national-level interests are not A dozen human lives can be compared. As long as the people of Johor realize the benefits that this trade alliance can bring to them, they will forget what happened in Star Island. Whether they follow us or stand opposite us, they will soon see. Clear the situation.”
The trade alliance planned by Schneider is quite different from the past chambers of commerce and investment companies. It is not a simple trading partnership, but a series of business guilds, technical standards, financial systems, maritime transportation, etc. with maritime connections. The organization and operation methods with Chinese characteristics have been integrated. In the future, member countries will not only be members of the Haihan trade system, but also need to gradually integrate into the Haihan-led system in all aspects such as politics, military, finance, and culture. . ,
Schneider calls it the “Far East integration process of the seventeenth century.” If the operation of this system is relatively successful in the future, then the establishment of a large-scale international alliance for political and economic integration covering the entire Far East region is also an expected outcome. If the time travelers move quickly enough, they may be able to see this day come in their lifetime.
Although Schneider was a speculator by background, he also had his own political ambitions. In the time and space before time travel, Trump, who was also a businessman, could become the president of the United States. Schneider believed that in addition to his business talents, he could also make a difference in the political arena, even if he could not become President Haihan. The chairman of the committee can at least leave a good name for himself in history and spread it to future generations.
Schneider does not even regard opponents like Johor or the Netherlands as stumbling blocks, only as small obstacles on the way forward. He firmly believes that he has mastered the general trend of historical development. No matter which country, it is impossible to violate the laws of social development. Even the forces that are still confronting Haihan are only temporarily bucking the trend. Sooner or later, they will still be defeated by Haihan. Assimilated and annexed by the new social system led by.
(End of chapter)