Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The establishment of Weiyuan Town in Penang was like a gentle pluck on the taut bowstring of the Strait of Malacca, the echo of which resonated long afterward throughout the entire sea where East and West meet.

A new and significant force has officially entered this waterway, which was considered the exclusive domain of the Portuguese and Dutch, making the already complex regional landscape even more delicate and unpredictable.

A peculiar "Three Kingdoms" scenario, with three parties checking and balancing each other, is quietly taking shape over the Taiwan Strait.

First Party: The Portuguese at sunset.

Portugal, once a maritime superpower, has seen its influence in the Far East decline.

They occupied Malacca City—a fortified stronghold guarding the narrowest point of the strait, controlling the traditional shipping route from the Spice Islands (Muluka) to Europe, and possessing a relatively complete city defense system and a certain naval force.

However, their weaknesses were equally apparent: their homeland was far away, making support difficult; their fleet was aging, and the replenishment of new warships was slow; their merchant fleets were frequently plundered by the Dutch, and trade profits were far less than before; moreover, their long-standing presence in Malacca had led to increasing exploitation of the local indigenous people and growing conflicts with the neighboring Malay Sultanates.

The sudden intervention of the Great Xia Empire put the Portuguese under unprecedented pressure.

They were both furious that the Chinese had "intruded" into areas they considered their sphere of influence, and wary of the formidable fighting power displayed by the Great Xia fleet in Liaoluo Bay and Manila.

They dared not provoke them, nor were they able to expel them. All the governor of Albuquerque could do was send letters of appeal to Goa and Lisbon, strengthen the defenses of Malacca, and secretly instigate some pirates with close ties to them to harass the Xia army's supply lines and passing merchant ships on Penang, attempting to weaken the influence of Great Xia through such underhanded means.

However, these petty tricks were often quickly thwarted by the strong patrols of the Great Xia Navy, which only highlighted the Portuguese's bluster and cowardice.

The Portuguese mindset was a mixture of resentment and fear.

They were unwilling to relinquish control of the strait, yet they feared the military might of the Great Xia, and could only struggle to maintain their former glory in the cracks.

The second party: the ambitious Dutch.

The Dutch East India Company, a "national agent" with commercial interests at its core, was enjoying its zenith in the Far East.

Centered in Batavia, they controlled most of Java and extended their reach to the Spice Islands, India, and Japan.

They possess the most powerful and modern merchant fleet in the Far East, as well as an equally formidable naval force.

Their goal was to monopolize the spice trade and gradually squeeze out the Portuguese, becoming the sole hegemon of the Far East seas.

The rise of Bactria was both a challenge and a potential opportunity for the Dutch.

The challenge is that the Great Xia Navy defeated them in Liaoluo Bay and recovered Taiwan, and now it is extending its reach to the Strait of Malacca, directly threatening the safety of their shipping routes to India and Europe.

The opportunity lies in the fact that the intervention of the Great Xia has greatly weakened their old rival, the Portuguese. Furthermore, a powerful Eastern empire that seems more inclined towards free trade may be easier to deal with than the corrupt Portuguese, and could even become an ally to counterbalance other European powers.

Therefore, the Dutch attitude appears more pragmatic and cunning.

They increased their vigilance in Batavia, but did not show any obvious hostility toward the Xia army in Penang.

Conversely, some astute Dutch merchants began to try to contact Xia military officers in Weiyuan Town to explore the possibility of trade—they were willing to exchange spices, silver, and European clocks and glassware for Bactrian silk, porcelain, and tea.

The Dutch East India Company's top brass even instructed in internal documents: "Under the current circumstances, it is wise to avoid direct military conflict with Bactria. We should take advantage of their conflict with the Portuguese to reap the benefits, while actively seeking to establish stable trade relations with them."

The Dutch strategy was to combine competition with utilization. They viewed Bactria as a formidable competitor that needed to be taken seriously, but valued it even more as a trading partner and a counterweight to the Portuguese.

Third party: The rising Great Xia Empire.

Zheng Zhilong, stationed in Weiyuan Town, observed the subtle movements on both sides of the Taiwan Strait with keen insight and composure.

He knew very well that the empire's current strength was insufficient to completely drive the Portuguese or Dutch out of the Strait of Malacca.

Forcing the issue would only compel these two long-time rivals to temporarily join forces, plunging them into a costly war of attrition, which would be detrimental to the empire's burgeoning maritime endeavors.

Therefore, the core of the strategy devised by Xiao Chen and Zheng Zhilong can be summed up in one word: "stability".

We will not provoke disputes, but we will never be afraid of conflict.

The Great Xia Navy, based in Weiyuan Town, regularly patrolled the north and south of the strait, focusing on combating pirates and protecting merchant ships of its own country and friendly nations.

As for Portuguese and Dutch ships, as long as they abide by the navigation rules established by Bactria (such as accepting inspections, not carrying contraband, and not attacking Bactrian ships), they will not be interfered with.

Their provocations or tests were met with resolute and precise responses. For example, on one occasion, a Portuguese patrol boat attempted to approach the waters near Weiyuan Town for reconnaissance but was driven away by warning shots fired by the Xia army's artillery. On another occasion, a group of pirates with ties to the Dutch attempted to rob a Xia merchant ship but were quickly overtaken by the escorting Xia warships, which sank two ships, captured one, and publicly beheaded their leader.

This "reasonable, advantageous, and restrained" action demonstrated strength while avoiding excessive provocation of the other side, gradually transforming Daxia's presence in the strait from an "intruder" into an "established fact."

More importantly, the existence of the Great Xia Dynasty objectively served as a "balancer".

The Portuguese dared not be too arrogant, the Dutch also restrained themselves, and pirate activities decreased significantly.

Navigation safety in the strait has actually improved significantly compared to before the intervention of the Great Xia Dynasty.

This is a good thing for all merchants who rely on this route—whether from Bactria, India, Arabia, or Europe.

Thus, the Strait of Malacca entered a peculiar "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" period.

The Portuguese guarded an increasingly isolated castle, the Dutch eyed Batavia covetously, while the Bactrian Empire, using Penang as a fulcrum, firmly wedged itself into this turbulent waterway.

The three forces, suspicious and mutually restraining of each other, dared not make any rash moves, thus forming a fragile but temporarily stable balance.

This balance bought the empire a valuable strategic buffer period.

Trade along the southeastern coast flourished at an unprecedented scale and speed, regulated by the New Regulations on Maritime Trade and with the strong protection of the navy.

The immense wealth brought by trade, like rivers flowing into the sea, converged into the treasury of the Great Xia Empire, accumulating power for even more profound changes.