Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Because of this, any sign of activity by the Dutch rulers in Taiwan would be immediately detected by these local gentry and powerful individuals, who would then pass the information on to Li Xiaolin through secret smuggling trade channels in exchange for further benefits. Furthermore, these local officials and tribal chiefs, who had received favors from the Dutch, similarly went to great lengths to protect the Dutch interests, using this secret channel to make a fortune.

After all, if the Dutch fell, their smuggling business would be difficult to sustain; in comparison, even if they informed the Ming army, the reward the Dutch offered was far less than the proceeds from smuggling. Therefore, their position has always been profit-driven, and they will favor whoever can bring greater benefits. They understand this calculation better than anyone else.

"Mr. He, there's no need to doubt my identity." Guan Shisheng, who was standing next to Liu Laoer, smiled slightly, his tone calm, as if he had already expected He Nan to be wary. He continued with an unchanged expression:
"My master specifically mentioned Mr. He, saying that he is a man of great talent, both in literature and in war. The red-haired people didn't recognize the value of the pearl and buried it. Now, if we can get your help, our Ming Dynasty will have a better chance of recovering Taiwan. So, as soon as we entered the city, we were ordered to try to contact you."

Guan Shisheng's tone was quite sincere, his words a mixture of flattery and probing. But He Nan simply smiled faintly, gently shaking his wine glass, his gaze calm and expressionless. In reality, he had already been plotting his surrender to the Ming army, but he couldn't act too eagerly, as if anyone discovered it, it would be disastrous.

Chikan City was still under Dutch control, with undercurrents surging within and the complex interplay of forces. If he wasn't careful, not only would his life be in danger, but his family and brothers would also suffer. Therefore, even though Liu Laoer had personally guaranteed him today, He Nan still didn't dare to trust him.

"How could Lord Zhou know a nobody like me?" He Nan chuckled and shook his head. His tone seemed nonchalant, but in reality, it contained a hint of inquiry: "I'm just a local Taiwanese Han Chinese. How could I possibly catch the eye of someone like Lord Zhou, a favorite of His Majesty's?"

Guan Shisheng heard this, his smile remained unchanged, but his eyes narrowed slightly, knowing that He Nan was deliberately testing him, he emphasized his tone a little:

"Mr. He is too modest. If it were just an ordinary Han Chinese, why would we bother so much? Your extraordinary talent and wisdom in military management are no secret in this city. Furthermore, did you know that someone in our Military Intelligence Department was promoted three levels in one day, from a small operations team member to the head of a region? Lord Zhou has always valued talent and has never been reluctant to promote loyal and virtuous people. If you were to join us, you would surely make a difference."

Seeing He Nan remained calm, Guan Shisheng continued to exert pressure. He had already seen that He Nan was already considering defecting to the Ming Dynasty; otherwise, he would never have come to the appointment today. However, He Nan's real concern was not whether he would be reused, but the Dutch garrison in the city and how the Ming army would respond.

He Nan's eyes flickered slightly, he gently put down his wine glass, and whispered: "If Lord Zhou is really interested, can you first resolve the doubt in my heart?"

Guan Shisheng raised his eyebrows and said, "Sir, please speak."

"Chikan City is still under Dutch control. The city is densely populated with spies, and the Dutch are omnipresent. If I agree to your request, how will the Ming army respond? How can I ensure that my people won't be wiped out by the Dutch before anything happens?"

He Nan's question was pointed, revealing his greatest concern—it wasn't that he didn't want to surrender to the Ming, but he couldn't act rashly. If the Dutch discovered him, the consequences would be disastrous.

Upon hearing this, Guan Shisheng's lips curled up slightly, his eyes deep. "Mr. He is indeed cautious. However, the Lord has already made arrangements for this matter, and action will be taken soon. You only need to wait for the right opportunity, and then you will know that we are not aimless."

He Nan was silent for a moment, his mind already forming some calculations. He sensed that the Ming army must have something to rely on, otherwise they wouldn't be so confident. And if they could truly ensure the city's proper response, his move would go smoothly.

"Of course I have heard of this before, and I have great admiration for Lord Zhou." He Nan was being polite while looking out the window, but he was thinking about how to deal with the situation in front of him.

He wasn't as calm as he appeared. His hesitation wasn't just about deciding his stance, but also about whether he could gain the upper hand in this political game and secure a suitable price. Weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately remained silent, awaiting the other party's next move.

"Mr. He, I advise you not to delay any longer." Guan Shisheng's tone was filled with a hint of impatience, but there was a hint of smile between his eyebrows. He tapped the table lightly and said:

"If you miss this opportunity, you'll never get it again. My master may not need you, but if you miss this opportunity, you'll have to pay for your hesitation in the future. Remember, if you miss my master, you might become cannon fodder for the Red-Haired Tartars. Think carefully about these words."

Guan Shisheng raised a slightly sarcastic smile and glanced at He Nan's slightly narrowed eyes. As a businessman, He Nan's vision and judgment were always outstanding, and Guan Shisheng naturally did not dare to underestimate him. However, today he had to make a decision, and this decision obviously required some more straightforward means.

After all, the current situation is different from the past. The situation in Taiwan is becoming increasingly tense, and the balance of victory or defeat may tilt at the next moment.

"If you surrender now, you will surely leave a deep impression on the Lord. Then, with your achievements, your rapid rise to prominence will be easy. But if you continue to hesitate, the outcome will be uncertain."

Guan Shisheng's words gradually turned threatening, and his tone became increasingly firm: "This is the appreciation of my master. How many times can you encounter such an opportunity in your life? If you don't seize the opportunity soon, you will regret it for the rest of your life."

He Nan was silent for a moment. He lowered his head to look at the wine glass on the table, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the glass. After a moment, he raised his head, put on a gentle smile, and said with a slight upward curve of his lips:

"Master Guan, you are absolutely right. I am just a little hesitant and don't want to make a hasty decision. After all, such a choice cannot be made on impulse."

Before he finished speaking, He Nan had already made his decision. He had never been one to be easily swayed by outside opinions, but the current situation left him no room for hesitation. Especially given the extremely complex situation on Taiwan Island, choosing a side was undoubtedly the most rational approach.

……

At the same time, in another place in the palace, Zhu Cilang was carefully reading the information handed over by Zhou Shixian, with his brows slightly furrowed.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest news from Taiwan," Zhou Shixian whispered. Zhu Cilang's eyes swept across the paper, and when he saw He Nan's name, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing an appreciative smile.

"This He Nan is no simple man. He is indeed a man who is well versed in the art of government and politics." He whispered, "He knows when to express his views and can grasp the right balance. If he gets the chance, he will definitely have an extraordinary future."

"There are good horses only when there are good horse trainers." Zhou Shixian laughed heartily, his smile tinged with flattery. "Good horses are common, but good horse trainers are rare. If it weren't for Your Majesty's discerning eye, He Nan would still be an insignificant pawn, perhaps even perishing in the chaos of our attack on Taiwan."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang nodded. Then, he smiled lightly, his tone somewhat indifferent: "Yes, Shixian is right. If a person like this doesn't have a discerning mentor, his talent will probably be buried. Since I have taken a fancy to him, I might as well give him a chance."

Zhou Shixian nodded respectfully, but mentally he had already made preparations. He knew that as someone close to Zhu Cilang, he not only had to prioritize those with potential, but also ensure his own position was secure. As for He Nan, perhaps he could become a chess piece in the future battle for Taiwan, perhaps even a crucial one in determining victory or defeat.

"Your Majesty, although He Nan is a bit scheming, if he can be used properly, he will definitely be able to serve my purpose." Zhou Shixian said calmly: "Do you think it's time to give him a little test so that he can truly gain a foothold in this battle?"

Zhu Cilang's laughter echoed in the spacious room. He laughed calmly and said, "Hahaha...you are right."

He paused for a moment, a sly look flickering between his eyebrows as he spoke, "Have Guan Shisheng cooperate with He Nan. At crucial moments, even obey his instructions. Vigilance is essential, but don't overdo it. He Nan can be trusted. He has no reason to continue working for those red-haired Tartars. If he persists in his wrongdoings, the only outcome will be humiliation at the hands of slaves, and death in the stable."

Zhou Shixian's heart trembled when he heard Zhu Cilang's words. Although he didn't fully understand the deep meaning behind them, he was accustomed to Zhu Cilang's usual style of doing things. He knew that every time Zhu Cilang issued such instructions, there was often a deeper consideration behind them.

Zhou Shixian thought about it, then nodded and said, "I understand, Your Majesty."

Zhou Shixian had already begun to speculate about He Nan's situation. Although the Imperial Guards didn't have much detailed intelligence on He Nan, Zhu Cilang's ability to accurately foresee everything had left Zhou Shixian with no doubts. He hadn't delved into the underlying situation, nor did he want to delve into it easily. As Zhu Cilang had said, a strategic decision of this magnitude couldn't tolerate any overthinking or inappropriate curiosity.

"That's right," Zhu Cilang spoke again, his tone becoming more serious. "The defenses of Chikan City have been greatly strengthened. The Dutch have almost finished repairing the city walls. The moats on the north and west sides have been widened by several feet. The sentries outside the city are very well deployed. If we make any movement, the Dutch soldiers in the city will be prepared at least half an hour in advance."

He said with a stern gaze, "He Nan and his men are only responsible for guarding a certain gate in the north. There are nearly a thousand Dutch soldiers stationed in the city. Under such circumstances, we obviously cannot easily break through this city through a surprise attack."

Zhu Cilang's words were understated, yet they carried a weight that couldn't be ignored. "We can only encircle them, gradually wearing them down, and wait for the right moment to strike. He Nan's troops are certainly not to be underestimated, but they're still far behind the Dutch regular army. Furthermore, no matter how hard his men try, they'll never be able to withstand the Dutch's well-trained and well-equipped troops."

At this point, he frowned and added, "This isn't He Nan's problem, but rather a problem of food and fodder supply and military pay. The quality of the troops has always been constrained by this."

Zhou Shixian was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Majesty, are you saying that our only option now is to gradually dismantle the Dutch defenses of Chikan City through an external siege?"

"That's right." Zhu Cilang nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "However, this is not enough. I need to deploy more manpower in the city. Chikan City is so large that we can always find a hiding place."

He paused, his eyes penetrating as he spoke, "Although He Nan's troops aren't particularly strong, they are familiar with the city's terrain. If they can provide more intelligence, it might prove useful at a critical moment. Lack of combat effectiveness doesn't mean we can't exploit our strengths through other means. If we can't breach the city from the inside, we must be prepared for a tough battle."

"If the Dutch notice our movements, will they send more troops?" Zhou Shixian asked.

"That's possible." Zhu Cilang's tone remained calm. "Especially in Batavia, they still have two to three thousand East India Company personnel. If the situation in Chikan City becomes dire, they will most likely mobilize a thousand soldiers to reinforce."

He paused in thought and added, "That's why we must act quickly. The longer we wait, the greater the uncertainty."

Zhou Shixian nodded, his thoughts racing as strings of data and intelligence flashed through his mind. Guan Shisheng's report did include a detailed assessment of He Nan's troops' combat effectiveness. Aside from the forty-odd elite personal guards, the remaining troops under He Nan's command were mostly local militia. While their combat effectiveness was higher than that of the general population, there was still a significant gap between them and the Dutch regular army.

Zhou Shixian knew that relying on these people alone would make it difficult to achieve a decisive breakthrough in a short period of time. At critical moments, he still had to rely on the support of elite troops.

"Then do we need to mobilize more elite forces?" Zhou Shixian asked.

"Yes." Zhu Cilang looked down at the map in his hand. "The mission of the action team may come in handy in the next phase. Although He Nan can provide intelligence, we still cannot ignore the Dutch's reaction speed. We must quickly cut in and complete the strategic encirclement before they can reinforce their troops."

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will arrange it right away." Zhou Shixian stood up straight, lowered his head and replied in a low and firm voice.

Zhu Cilang stared at the battle map on the table, pondering for a moment before slowly speaking, "The most crucial thing is the timing of our attack. We must strike with one strike. If we miss this opportunity, there will never be another like it." (End of Chapter)