The dock workers pushing the carts and the construction workers building the roads became panicked when they saw Chang, and they all started to panic too. [Read the latest chapter] Fortunately, they have been working under the banner of the Senate for a long time, and they have more or less organizational and disciplined concepts, so they did not break up in a hurry.
Hong Laojun held the pistol, and countless thoughts went through his mind in an instant - in the old time and space, he was responsible for organizing many projects, and he also led dozens of contractors and thousands of workers. He had seen all kinds of scenes. Hearing the rumble of cannons, thick smoke rose from the dock, and then saw white smoke rising from the Qishan Fort. It was estimated that enemies were attacking from the sea and were shelling the dock.
He quickly picked up the whistle and blew: "Attention, team leaders, unite the team!"
The leaders of each group calmed down for a moment, and each one blew his whistle, and shouts of "Gather!" rang out one after another.
Thanks to the military training, starvation meals, and stick discipline in the refugee camp, although the workers were frightened, they reflexively stood behind their respective team leaders.
"Count!" The team leaders began to count and organize the queue.
"Retreat everyone to the camp according to the serial number!" Hong Laojun ordered. Each team retreated to its own camp according to the plan. Judging from the number of 6 naval forces stationed here, any force in the region that attacks Kaohsiung will be suicidal. So there is no need for workers to go into battle.
"What does the navy do for a living? Why are they boasting that Kaohsiung is an absolute defensive circle..."
At this moment, whistles of different lengths suddenly came from the dock. Hong Laojun heard it and saw that it was a "safe and sound" signal - the sound of cannons just now was not a battle.
He then breathed a sigh of relief and ordered to resume work.
but. He had no intention of staying at the construction site anymore, so he immediately called a construction worker and ordered him to supervise the work. He took the guard and the maid on his bicycle and rode to the dock.
On the pier, many porters have gathered to watch the excitement. A two-masted ship with its sails lowered is slowly entering the port under the tow of a small boat.
On the mizzen mast, flying is an Orange flag - it is the flag that the Dutch East India Company often flies in East Asia.
"The Dutch are coming?" Hong Laojun felt strange. This was not the first time that the Dutch had sent a ship to Kaohsiung. From the first month on D-Day in Kaohsiung, the Dutch had ships coming here every month, each time using trade as an excuse. Both parties exchange some goods. Of course, anyone can see that this is Dutch spying. However, Wei Bachi didn't care about the Dutch's actions - the stronger the strength revealed, the less the Dutch would dare to act rashly, and instead would save more energy in preparing for war.
However, since the arrival of the Hong Lao Army, the Dutch have always sent single-masted small boats of dozens of tons, and they have never sent a decent two-masted ship of hundreds of tons. Not to mention the salute fired when entering the harbor.
"Isn't this the messenger who came to deliver an ultimatum?" Hong Laojun muttered, kicked hard, and rode with his entourage to the bastion next to the dock.
In the central tower of the bastion is Li Di, chief of staff of the Navy and chief of staff of the First Fleet - according to the system. He, Ming Qiu, Captain Li Ziping of the Beginning of Spring, Captain Mond of the Electric Power, and Captain Le Lin of the Wind Control took turns to take command at sea to ensure that at least two veteran officers were in the formation for each patrol voyage. Two veteran officers are in Kaohsiung, and one is mobile.
Li Di was looking at the Dutch ships entering the port with a telescope, and said hello when he saw Hong Laojun coming.
"Why are the Dutch coming back with such a big fanfare? And they fired off a cannon salute in a serious manner."
"He is a guest - he wants to come to our place for a 'visit'." Li Di said.
"Guest? Visit?" Hong Laojun asked in confusion, "Are there diplomats coming?"
"Absolutely." Li Di nodded, "It is said that this is a 'private visit'."
Hong Laojun was a little confused. He couldn't figure out what was going on here. Since it was a "visit" and most of the visitors were diplomats, why was it called a "private visit"? But he is a man who believes in "silence is golden". He didn't ask any more questions - anyway, he was not interested in Dutch men at all, and there would be no Dutch women as diplomats in the 17th century. Let Wei Bachi be responsible for this matter. When he heard Liu Zhengxian grinding his teeth in the guest house these days, he said: Europeans are all smelly these days...
Li Di looked very excited. Seeing that the ship had docked at the dock, he put the telescope into the hand of the female orderly beside him, buttoned the open button on his chest, wiped his head, and jogged all the way in high spirits. Went down. Hong Laojun looked confused. You might as well go down there and watch the excitement.
When I came to the trestle, I realized that the situation was quite large. In addition to Li Di, who arrived first, there were also mayor Wei Bachi, Dr. Zhong, the head of the Ministry of Science and Technology who was on a business trip, and even Fang Jinghan, who always scorned "white-skinned monkeys". I saw these people all neatly dressed, with oily hair and powdered faces. Obviously they have been retouched. Especially Li Di, the navy white armed belt around his waist was so tight that he was almost out of breath. Dr. Zhong was even dressed in a suit and a formal tie.
Doesn't he find it too hot? Hong Laojun was secretly surprised.
The most formal one came, a platoon of sailors, all in neat uniforms, with shining spurs on their rifles, and the red flag of the Star Fist and the Morning Star flag fluttering in the sea breeze. This scene made it clear what kind of big shot was to be welcomed.
Hong Laojun was secretly puzzled - because he had not seen any decent scene welcoming foreign guests in Lingao over the years. When the Dutch East India Company sent an envoy, they simply sent a carriage to the dock to greet them and that was it.
He was not interested in such a fake occasion. Since Wei Bachi's secretary did not inform him that he had concierge duties today, he was happy to just watch the excitement.
Because of the trestle, people on the Dutch ship did not need to transfer to the boat, but directly got off the gangway.
Only then did Hong Laojun realize why Li Di and others were so enthusiastic - it turned out that one of the people who came was actually wearing a skirt!
Both men were wearing tight black trousers and tight-fitting fencing jackets, with white embroidered lapels on their necks. Although the texture was obviously cotton, they were tightly wrapped in the 30-degree temperature. It's quite hot even if you look at it in real light.
They wore wide-brimmed hats, but they did not hang down too long. They did not wear any decorations except a sword that symbolized their status - the necklaces, ribbons, flower knots and other decorations that were common on upper-class men in those days. There was no trace of the goods on them. The Dutch were both serious Protestants and frugal businessmen. They were famous in Europe at that time for their lack of luxury and their style of hard work and simplicity.
The two Dutch men looked to be in their forties or fifties, with serious expressions - a common expression among Protestants at that time. In contrast, the woman was dressed cooler - she was wearing a silk dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat facing the high entrance. The golden curls hung down from under the hat, making her look much more lively.
Behind the girl, there was a boy. His clothes were not as formal as adults. Although he also wore a white lapel, his jacket and trousers looked much lighter and looser. He was not wearing a hat and was looking curiously at the panoramic view of the pier.
Wei Bachi came forward with a cheerful face, and Dr. Zhong quickly followed. The reason why Dr. Zhong was called here was because Dr. Zhong knew a little technical German and could communicate with the Dutch. Originally, there was a German translator here in Kaohsiung who was a naturalized citizen recruited from Fujian, but this person could only translate Dutch and Hokkien, and his Mandarin was a mess, so I was a little worried about him. On this "important occasion", Dr. Zhong came forward.
The visit was prompted by the Dutch delegation a week ago. The envoy from the city of Geranje brought a message from Governor Hans Putmans. Two "distinguished gentlemen" from the Netherlands wished to visit Kaohsiung. If he can get permission from Governor Wei, he will arrive with his entourage in a week.
Wei Bachi was not too interested in receiving the Dutch envoy. Although the two sides had not held formal consultations and signed an agreement on Kaohsiung's trade status, the two sides had already acquiesced that they could trade with each other. With the guarantees of both sides' trade agreement and cannons, the Dutch can't play any new tricks. Furthermore, if the other party asked him to sign any formal agreement, he did not have the power.
Now that the other party has proposed to visit, Wei Bachi feels that it is okay. Especially when the envoy mentioned that the visitor was a "Prince's diplomat" named Constantin Huygens, Dr. Zhong, who was serving as the translator, suddenly widened his eyes, as if he heard some beautiful music. Next , Wei Bachi agreed to this visit request at the urging of Dr. Zhong.
"Welcome, Mr. Constantin Huygens," Wei Bachi said while maintaining enough dignity, "and you, Mr. Franz von Boncourt."
"Salute to you and the Senate!" The two men took off their hats and bowed at the same time. Constantin Huygens raised his head and felt that a senator-looking man with a piece of cloth hanging around his neck and a half-shaved head was staring directly at him, and he couldn't help but be startled. But when he spoke it, he spoke very good German - this was the most correct High German he had heard during his entire trip to East Asia.
"Who are these two?" Wei Bachi learned from the letter that the visitor would be bringing his family - including female dependents. He originally thought he was a strong German dragoon, but he didn't expect the visitor to be a petite golden girl. He couldn't help but look at the visitor. shine.
"This is my son Westly and daughter Credia." Jan Franz Boncourt introduced with a cheerful face. "They are very curious about the customs and customs of East Asia. Especially my son Westly Here, he hopes to become a naturalist."
