novelAbuy Chapter 77 Just bring me the person and the chapter.
Chapter 77 Just bring me the person and the chapter.
The most advanced warships in the Dutch Navy are the 7,000-ton "Seven Provinces" class, with 240mm main guns and a speed of 18 knots. Compared to the "Revue" class, it's like the difference between a child and a giant.
"Therefore," the governor concluded, "militarily, we cannot win. Economically, we cannot afford to. Politically..."
He gave a wry smile:
"Politically speaking, if we suffer heavy losses here, the gentlemen in The Hague will be the first to dismiss me. They will say: 'That fool, Van der Linden, destroyed the kingdom's most important colony in Asia for the sake of a little 'face'.'"
Silence fell over the meeting room once again.
This time, even Van Persie didn't roar. He slumped down, burying his face in his hands.
"Then... what should we do?" someone asked in a low voice.
The governor looked at the clock on the wall: 11:05.
There is one hour and fifteen minutes left until the deadline.
"Van der Zanden," the governor said, ""if we agree to their terms... what would be the maximum price we'd pay?"
The finance official quickly calculated: "The compensation is 500,000 rupiah, and that's in cash. The rights protection agreement... might affect tax revenue, but it's workable. The biggest problem is handing over the military and police—that will create domestic political pressure, but it won't cause any actual economic loss."
"What if...what if we don't hand them over?"
"That ship will fire," van der Zanden said. "Then we'll lose warships worth 3.2 million guilders, ports, trade, and at least several hundred lives. In the end, we might still have to hand over the people—but by then, we'll have nothing left."
"So what's your suggestion?"
"Agree to them," van der Zanden said without hesitation. "Agree as soon as possible, before they fire their second volley."
"I object!" Van Persie stood up again. "Those are nineteen Dutch soldiers! We can't—"
"Major!" the governor raised his voice. "Those forty-seven Chinese people yesterday, they were human beings too! They had parents, children, families! In your eyes, Dutch lives matter, but Chinese lives don't?!"
This statement carries significant weight.
Van Persie stood frozen in place, his face flushed red, but he couldn't utter a word.
The governor took a deep breath and turned to everyone:
"Let's vote. Raise your hand if you agree to the terms."
He raised his hand first.
Van der Zanden raised his hand.
Van der Berg hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand as well.
The artillery commander looked at the governor, then at Van Persie, and finally raised his hand.
Four against one.
"Very well." The governor lowered his hand. "Van der Zanden, draft the reply. We agree to compensation and protection of our rights. As for handing over the military and police..."
He paused:
"Add one more condition: their personal safety must be guaranteed, and they must be handed over only after a symbolic trial in a Dutch court. This is the bottom line—the dignity of the kingdom must be preserved, at least this."
"What if the other party disagrees?"
"Then..." the governor closed his eyes, "let them fire. At least we held on."
The telegram was delivered to the "Kuangfu" at 11:40.
In the bridge conference room, Litte was having lunch with several officers—a simple meal of rice, vegetables, and salted fish. The Dutch representatives sat opposite him, with the same food in front of them, but no one touched their chopsticks.
When the communications soldier delivered the telegram, Li Te was picking up a piece of salted fish. He put down his chopsticks, took the telegram, and quickly glanced at it.
After reading it, he smiled.
"Mr. Van der Wiel," he pushed the telegram forward, "your governor has agreed to the first two clauses: compensation and protection of rights. But the third clause... requires conditions."
Van der Wiel quickly picked up the telegram. After reading it, he breathed a sigh of relief—at least the governor hadn't directly rejected it.
"Captain," he said cautiously, "ensuring the personal safety of the military and police is... a basic humanitarian requirement. As for the symbolic trial in the Dutch court... that's for procedural justice. After the trial, we guarantee the handover."
Li Te didn't speak. He picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.
The conference room was eerily quiet. Only the distant rumble of the engine room and the sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull could be heard.
"Officer Xu," Li Te finally spoke.
"Yes." Xu Wen put down his chopsticks.
What do you think?
Xu Wen pondered for a few seconds: "From the perspective of international law, their demands for guarantees of personal safety and their own country's judicial authority are reasonable. But the term 'symbolic trial'... has room for maneuver. It can result in a lenient sentence, parole, or even a 'prison break'."
"so?"
"So we can agree, but with conditions," Xu Wen said. "First, the trial must be conducted under our supervision. Second, the trial outcome must be approved by us. Third, if the case is not transferred after the trial, we have the right to take action on our own."
Li nodded and looked at Van der Wiel: "Did you hear that?"
Van der Wiel wiped his sweat: "This...this requires approval..."
"You have twenty minutes." Li Te glanced at the clock. "It's 11:45 now. I need a final answer by 12:05."
"Twenty minutes?!"
"Or," Li Te smiled, "I can order the 'Seven Provinces' to be sunk right now. Then we can talk things over."
Van der Wiel was on the verge of tears. He rushed back to the radio transmitter and sent a message himself:
[Your Excellency, the other party has agreed to guarantee your personal safety, but demands to monitor the trial, accept the outcome, and retain the right to act. You have twenty minutes to respond. The situation is extremely critical. Van der Wiel, 11:46]
This time, the call came back very quickly.
At 11:55, the telegram arrived.
Van der Wiel practically snatched it from him. After reading it, he let out a long sigh.
"The Governor has agreed." He handed the telegram to Little. "All additional conditions are accepted. The trial will be held in the Maritime Authority meeting room at Pier 3, and you may send five observers. The prisoners will be handed over immediately after the trial."
Li Te took the telegram and read it carefully. Then he smiled.
"If only I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."
He stood up and said to Lin Hai, "Prepare the transport boat. You take twenty men and go ashore with Mr. Van der Wiel to receive them. After the trial, bring them back immediately."
"yes!"
He then looked at Xu Wen: "You will take four people as observers to participate in the trial. Remember, no matter what they act out, as long as they hand over the person in the end, that's all that matters."
"clear."
Finally, Li Te walked up to Van der Wiel and extended his hand:
"Mr. Van der Wiel, it's a pleasure doing business with you."
Van der Wiel was taken aback for a moment before realizing that this meant a handshake. He extended his hand and shook hands with Litt—the other's hand was steady and dry, while his own palms were sweaty.
"Then...can I leave now?"
"Okay," Li nodded. "Lieutenant Captain Lin will take you ashore. But remember, if I don't see the trial begin before 12:30, and if I don't see the prisoners being brought onto the ship before 2:00 PM..."
He didn't finish speaking, but Van der Wiel understood.
"Yes, definitely on time."