novelAbuy Chapter 72 Hand over the military and police officers who fired the shots yesterday, and let us try
Chapter 72 Hand over the military and police officers who fired the shots yesterday, and let us try
Xu Wen quickly jotted down: "What if... what if they don't agree?"
Li Te smiled. It wasn't a gentle smile.
"Then tell them that the target of the second round of exercises might be closer to the port. For example... the Port Authority building? Or the Governor's Palace? Who knows, artillery calibration always has some margin of error."
He spoke casually, but everyone on the bridge understood.
This is not a request.
This is an ultimatum.
At 8:30 a.m., exactly half an hour after the shelling ended, the "Kuangfu" was still patrolling eight kilometers outside the harbor. It neither approached nor moved away, like a patient hunter waiting for its prey to make its choice.
Inside the port of Batavia, all the ships remained obediently at their berths, not even daring to row out. The military and police on the shore had been reinforced, but they all hid behind cover, none daring to show their faces.
An emergency meeting was held at the Governor's Palace for a full hour.
Those present included Governor Van der Linden, Garrison Commander Major Van der Hayden (the same Major who ordered the shooting yesterday), Port Authority Director Van der Weil, and several civilian officials.
"We must retaliate!" Van der Heiden slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot. "This is blatant aggression! A trampling of the dignity of the Kingdom of Holland!"
"Retaliate? With what can we retaliate?" the finance officer retorted coldly. "Can your coastal artillery even reach eight kilometers away? Even if the 'Seven Provinces' sets sail now, by the time it's out there, their shells will have already leveled the harbor!"
"Then let's request aid from the mainland! Let the navy send a fleet!"
"The fastest ship from Rotterdam to Batavia takes six weeks," said Port Authority Director Van der Weil listlessly. "Six weeks from now, it's questionable whether any of us will still be around."
"What should we do then? Surrender? Agree to the unreasonable demands of those yellow-skinned monkeys?" Vanderhaden roared.
The governor, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke: "Major Van der Heiden, watch your words. And regarding yesterday's events, I need an explanation. Who authorized you to order the firing?"
Van der Hayden paused for a moment, then retorted sharply, "Those Chinese rioters attacked the military and police; I was enforcing the law!"
"The law?" the treasurer sneered. "The law allows you to shoot women and children? The law allows you to kill forty-seven people at once? Major, you've gotten yourself into big trouble. That ship outside is here to demand an explanation."
"Let them come! I'm not afraid—"
"I'm afraid!" The governor suddenly raised his voice, stunning everyone. "I'm afraid my governor's mansion will be blown to smithereens by a 381mm shell! I'm afraid the entire port of Batavia will be reduced to ruins! I'm afraid the kingdom's most important colony in Asia will be destroyed in my hands!"
He stood up, bracing himself on the table with both hands, his voice weary:
"Gentlemen, let's be realistic. According to the intelligence we just received, that 'Restoration' has a standard displacement of 38,000 tons and a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons. Its speed exceeds 30 knots, and its main guns are 381 mm in caliber. What about the 'Seven Provinces'? 7,000 tons, 18 knots, 240 mm guns. How can we fight it? With our heads?"
The meeting room was completely silent.
"Then... then what do you mean?" Vanderville asked cautiously.
The governor took a deep breath: "Reply to them. Agree to negotiations. Location... can be the port authority building. But we must require that their representatives not exceed ten people and cannot carry heavy weapons."
"And the conditions they proposed..."
"Agree to what we can." The governor closed his eyes. "Compensation can be given, and rights can be guaranteed. But handing over the military and police... that's unacceptable. The dignity of the kingdom cannot be trampled on like this."
"What if they insist?"
The governor opened his eyes and looked out the window. The outline of the giant gray ship was clearly visible on the sea.
"Then... let's talk again."
His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
At 3 p.m., the "Guangfu" received a formal reply from the Dutch authorities.
In the captain's cabin, Li Te and several key officers reviewed the telegram. It was lengthy and worded tactfully, but its core message was clear: they were willing to negotiate, offer compensation, and guarantee their rights, but refused to hand over their military and police forces.
"As expected," Lin Hai said, "They still care about saving face."
"Face?" Li Te threw the telegram on the table. "You killed forty-seven people, and you still want face?"
"Captain, what's next?" Xu Wen asked. "Continue to apply pressure?"
Lee Te thought for a few seconds, then shook his head: "No. The President said it should be a controlled escalation. We've already demonstrated our strength; now it's time to give them a way out. Reply to them: We agree to negotiations, the location is... the Guangfu! ...The time... tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."
"Then the conditions for handing over the military and police..."
"Let's put it on hold for now," Li Te said. "We'll discuss it at the negotiating table again. But the other two points—compensation and protection of rights—must be written down in black and white and implemented immediately."
He stood up and walked to the porthole. The setting sun dyed the sea a golden-red hue. The ruins of Wangfu Cliff stood out starkly in the twilight, like a fresh scar on the earth.
"Lin Hai".
"exist."
"Notify the entire ship to increase vigilance tonight. The Dutch might try something underhanded. Double the number of all sentries, and keep lookouts on high alert."
"Yes."
"Also," Li Te turned around, "prepare a list. Food, medicine, bandages... We'll send them to the local Chinese community after the negotiations tomorrow. It's... a small token of our appreciation."
Lin Hai nodded and wrote it down.
Li Te looked out the window again. Lights had already come on in the Chinese community on the dock. The twinkling lights looked especially warm in the twilight.
He knew that today's shot wouldn't change everything. The Dutch were still there, colonial rule was still there, and discrimination and oppression wouldn't disappear overnight.
But at least from today onward, the Chinese living here will know when they go to sleep that there is a ship at sea, and a group of people on board who are willing to fire their guns for them.
This is enough.
That's worth it.
"Captain," Lin Hai suddenly asked, "Do you think anyone will still remember today, a hundred years from now? Remember this ship, remember this shot?"
Li Te did not answer immediately.
He stared at the yellow dragon flag fluttering in the evening breeze for a long time.
"We will remember," he concluded. "Even if the ship sinks, the cannon rusts, and the people are gone... the sound of that shot will continue to echo across the South Seas. For a hundred years, for a thousand years, as long as there are still Chinese people who remember the way home, they will remember this day."
Outside the window, the last ray of sunlight disappeared below the horizon.
But the navigation lights of the "Kuangfu" were already on, like eyes that never go out in the darkness.
At seven o'clock in the morning, the "Guangfu" (Restoration)
Deputy Captain Lin Hai stood at the front of the group, holding a list in his hand. His eyes occasionally swept across the sea—there, a Dutch Navy transport boat was churning towards them, a small white flag flying at the bow, with a Dutch flag beneath it.
"Remember the procedure," Lin Hai said to the Marine Corps captain beside him. "First, verify their identities, then check for weapons. If they are, confiscate them on the spot. After the inspection, take them to the bridge conference room. Don't let them look around on the way, but don't be too rude—stay professional."
"Understood, sir."