The strongest devouring system in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 597 Large-scale requisition of ships

It was similar to the scene in Band of Brothers where they discovered Auschwitz concentration camp, but there weren't even beds here, most people couldn't even stand up, and they were all skin and bones from hunger.

"Carry the person out first, go get some water, and quickly cook some thin porridge. Tong'an, go and make the arrangements."

Chen Er picked up a person from the ground himself. The person felt incredibly light, and only after lifting them did he realize that the person had no support and was either unconscious or...

I saw a lot of things like that in that time and space, but no matter how exquisite your makeup or filming was, all I felt was misery.

But from the moment Chen Er saw the situation inside the room, his hair stood on end. He couldn't express it in words; it was a tremor that came from his very soul.

The dead bodies were rotting, and the living were all around them. They were all human beings, differing only in race and nationality, but this was not how their fellow human beings were treated.

Yes, being in this room gave Chen Er the feeling of being in another world, like in a science fiction story where humans are enslaved by alien creatures.

A group of laborers walked in.

Everyone present felt angry, except for Chen Er; it seemed that no one else was particularly surprised by such a scene.

As Chen Er stepped out of the house, he took a deep breath of the salty, fishy air. This was the true feeling of this era; it was not unusual for fellow human beings to be abused.

“￥……@%” One of the men who was helped out said something. The man was already somewhat delirious. When someone asked him in official language, he could only reply with that one sentence.

"Hey, this is someone from Ningbo Prefecture," Wang Linsheng exclaimed. He could hear clearly that the man was speaking his hometown dialect.

"What did he say?" Chen Er asked.

"Uh... sir, he said, they're all dead, all of them are dead, that's all."

Wang Linsheng had never met Chen Er, but he saw the troop commander salute him. It was only when he came out this time that he realized that raising his hand was a salute.

Are you from Ningbo?

"Your Excellency, I am from the Ningbo Guard Station. I arrived in Changhua the year before last."

Wang Linsheng was a little scared and hesitated whether to kneel down, but then he remembered that kneeling was not allowed in Changhua.

"Alright, then I'll leave this person in your care. Thank you for your hard work."

After Chen Er finished speaking, he patted Wang Linsheng's arm.

"M-Sir." The highest-ranking official Wang Linsheng had ever met was the commander of their garrison, but he had no idea how high-ranking the person in front of him was, and he had no idea how to answer.

"Don't be nervous, we're all fellow countrymen from Taiwan and Wa now, it's alright." Chen Er patted Wang Linsheng's arm again and walked away.

He wanted to figure out what was going on. The matter was quickly clarified.

From April 1622, when the Dutch occupied Penghu, they continuously intercepted passing ships and captured more than 1500 people to build cities and fortresses for them.

Apart from the thirty-odd people sent to Batavia, only these 100-odd people remain out of the original 1500.

Chen Er originally intended to keep some Dutch officers to teach the Chinese navy how to operate soft sailing ships, but now he has changed his mind.

The battle has been going on for just over two hours since it started early this morning, so it's probably around eight or nine o'clock now.

The weather was fine, and the sun began to blaze. The Dutch city was built facing south, and the rising sun cast a huge shadow at the city gate.

The surrendered Dutch officers and soldiers stood in the shadows, all dressed neatly, still wearing their armor, only their weapons had been confiscated.

A brightly dressed European man of medium height stood at the front of the group, and Chen Er led the generals over.

"Yi Guan, go and hear what they have to say?" Chen Er gestured to Zheng Yi Guan.

“Sir, I am Reyes Zorn, commander of the Batavia Squadron of the Dutch East India Company. I am here to represent the fleet in surrendering to you. Please treat me with dignity.”

Reyes reached out and took off his command sword, then placed both hands flat in front of his chest and extended them toward Chen Er.

It was Zheng Yiguan who made the negotiations to accept the surrender. It is unknown how Reyes persuaded Zheng Yiguan to agree to let him leave his sword.

It's the same familiar taste. Isn't this how it always is in movies and TV shows from that era?

The East India Company, it turns out, was actually armed by the Dutch company. The British East India Company was very famous, but this was the era of the powerful Dutch East India Company.

Although Reyes was an armed man for the Dutch East India Company, he never imagined that the one who defeated him was also a private armed force – the Huaxia Group.

"Xiang Lao, you were the one who started this fight, so go and take his knife." Chen Er had no intention of accepting any surrender or dignified treatment.

Although Liu Xiang didn't know what was going on, accepting the enemy's surrender was always one of the most glorious moments for a soldier, and she excitedly rubbed her hands together as she looked at Chen Er.

After Chen Er nodded in confirmation, Liu Xiang stepped forward and took Reyes's command sword with one hand.

“One officer, make them all remove their armor, separate the officers and soldiers, and imprison all the officers in the city.”

"Your Excellency, may I know which Ming general defeated me?" Reyes asked.

A general of the Ming Dynasty? I'm not a guerrilla commander on the Fu River.

"My name is James."

After saying that, he turned and left with the officers. Chen Er had a lot to do and didn't have time to stay here any longer. After walking a dozen meters, he suddenly stopped.

"Xiang Lao, spare the Dutch officers, but kill all the surrendered Dutch soldiers, leave no one alive, and pickle their heads with lime. You go and keep watch." After saying that, he walked into the city.

In the simple meeting room in Holland City, Chen Er began to make arrangements.

"Gentlemen, Governor Nan Juyi may be about to make a move against us."

Chen Zhongji and the others immediately started cursing. The imperial court has always been like this: when they need something, they call for amnesty, but when they're done using it, they start to take action.

Chen Er and Xu Xinsu had already divided their tasks: he would lead the fleet to deal with the Dutch, while Xu Xinsu would be responsible for monitoring the movements of the Ming Dynasty.

From the moment Chen Er began assembling the fleet, he informed Yu Zigao of the operations here. He had originally planned to see how the Fujiang forces would attack Penghu, but after more than a year, there was still no movement.

However, after Chen Er led his fleet out of Changhua, Xu Xinsu sent someone to inform Chen Er that the governor of Fujiang had begun to requisition a large number of ships.

After receiving Chen Er's report that he was preparing to take action against the Dutch, the authorities on the Fujiang River did not respond at all, but instead began to requisition ships.

With the messages from the Liangshan Prefect and the Commander, Chen Er understood that the imperial court was looking to see if there were any bargains they could get their hands on.

While waiting for the ground troops to dig trenches and complete the encirclement of the Dutch, Fuyang Governor Nan Juyi and General Yu Zigao led nearly 160 ships into the Penghu Islands.

Following the same route that Chen Er sent ground troops to Fengguiwei, this fleet also circled around and landed on Magong Island.