While Ganza Xia Alami and Ganza Xia Malu were still seriously discussing the rather ambitious idea of "studying abroad," the battlefield itself had already shifted into its next phase, as the militia from Gao Family Village and the pirates of the Zheng Faction began systematically disarming the surrendered Dutch forces with an efficiency that suggested this was far from their first time handling the aftermath of victory.
There were more than two hundred surrendered white men and over three hundred black men gathered together under guard, and among them were not only soldiers but also merchants, adventurers, and even their families, all of whom had been caught in the collapse of Fort Zeelandia, along with a rather special individual whose presence quickly drew attention.
This man was a Dutch missionary named Fan Bulian.
In the Western world, missionaries often carried the role of mediators during times of war, and the moment the fighting ceased, Fan Bulian wasted no time stepping forward, raising his voice as he called out toward the Zheng Faction.
"Hey, Second Master Zheng, do you still remember me, because it is me, the missionary Fan Bulian."
After greeting Zheng Zhihu (Mang Er), he turned without hesitation toward Ganza Xia Alami and began speaking again, this time switching languages with surprising fluency, even if his pronunciation was not entirely perfect.
"Honorable Sun King, do you still remember me, because I am Fan Bulian, and I once brought medicine to your people."
The speed at which he shifted from Chinese to the native tongue of the Dadu Kingdom caught everyone slightly off guard, and even the people from Gao Family Village could not help but react with genuine surprise.
"This guy can actually speak the language of the Dadu Kingdom."
Fan Bulian straightened slightly, clearly pleased with the reaction, and replied in a tone that carried a hint of pride.
"I am fluent in seventeen languages, and I have some degree of familiarity with more than twenty others, though I would not claim mastery over those."
The crowd fell into stunned silence, because even in a world already filled with strange talents, this level of linguistic ability felt excessive.
Even Li Daoxuan, who was quietly listening from his position, felt a jolt of interest, because someone like this was exactly the kind of rare resource he would want to bring back and build something like a foreign language academy around.
Fan Bulian, meanwhile, continued speaking with calm confidence.
"Although I was born in the Netherlands, I am not bound to it, because I am a servant of God and a messenger of faith, and therefore I stand above national interests as a neutral party who seeks to resolve conflicts fairly."
Li Daoxuan did not believe a single word of that claim, because the idea of absolute neutrality sounded far too convenient to be trusted, but at the same time, he had no reason to reject the usefulness of such a person, since a mediator could serve as a convenient messenger regardless of how sincere he truly was.
Fan Bulian went on, carefully choosing his words.
"The Dutch have been defeated, and they have acknowledged their loss by raising the white flag, so I ask that the people of the Great Ming and the Dadu Kingdom show mercy and spare their lives, because the East India Company is willing to pay a ransom to redeem them."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"If you allow me to travel to Macau, I can secure passage to the headquarters of the East India Company and negotiate the ransom on your behalf, and if you have additional demands, I can convey them as well."
Mang Er grinned and waved a hand casually.
"I will take you to meet our leader, because this is not something we can settle here."
Fan Bulian tilted his head slightly.
"Are we going to meet General Zheng Zhilong."
Mang Er let out a short laugh.
"There is someone even higher than him."
About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Fan Bulian was escorted to the beach, where a temporary arrangement of tables and chairs had been set up, and gathered there were Li Daoxuan, Zheng Zhilong, Cao Wenzhao, Jiang Cheng, and a number of key figures from Gao Family Village, along with Tang Prince Zhu Yujian, who had come along simply to observe.
On paper, Zhu Yujian now stood as the nominal leader, since the Zheng Faction had already declared their allegiance under the banner of supporting him, yet everyone present understood that the true authority lay elsewhere, and this was something even Ganza Xia Alami could clearly sense.
As a result, Fan Bulian was led directly to sit across from Li Daoxuan.
"Missionary Fan, please sit and have some tea," Li Daoxuan said with a warm and almost harmless smile that gave the impression of someone easy to talk to, though anyone experienced in negotiation would immediately recognize that such appearances were rarely trustworthy.
Fan Bulian had handled countless negotiations before, and he understood at a glance that this was not someone who could be easily persuaded, which meant he would need to proceed carefully.
Li Daoxuan leaned back slightly and spoke without pretense.
"I already know why you are here, because missionaries like you specialize in smoothing things over."
Fan Bulian responded calmly.
"I would not call it smoothing things over, because I am working toward peace."
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"Very well, we will call it working toward peace, since having someone like you does bring certain benefits, such as serving as a messenger in situations like this."
Fan Bulian fell silent, sensing where this was going.
Li Daoxuan continued.
"I will state our terms clearly, because there is no need to complicate things."
He raised one finger.
"First, from this point forward, the Dutch must withdraw completely from this island, and all land here will belong to the Great Ming and the Dadu Kingdom, and if they ever attempt to return or interfere again, it will be treated as a declaration of war against both of us."
Fan Bulian nodded.
"I will convey that."
Li Daoxuan raised a second finger.
"Second, every prisoner we have taken must be redeemed with silver, and you can determine a reasonable price based on European standards, because we are not asking for anything beyond what is already customary."
Fan Bulian replied without hesitation.
"That is a fair request, and I can accept it on behalf of the Dutch."
Li Daoxuan added calmly.
"That includes the black prisoners as well, because I have no intention of keeping slaves."
Fan Bulian seemed slightly surprised.
"Black slaves are considered valuable labor, so why would you refuse them."
Li Daoxuan answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Because I have no interest in such things."
Fan Bulian paused, then spoke carefully.
"The East India Company may not be willing to pay ransom for them."
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly, though there was a sharp edge behind it.
"That is fine, because we can offer them at half price, and if that still does not work, I can give them a warship, provide them with weapons, and explain to them that their former masters have abandoned them, and at that point, we will see where their anger turns."
Fan Bulian's expression shifted slightly, because he immediately understood the implications.
Li Daoxuan raised a third finger.
"Third, we will discuss trade."
Fan Bulian frowned slightly.
"If you intend to prohibit Dutch trade entirely, that will not be realistic, because they will wage another war for it, and even the Church may not be able to prevent that."
Li Daoxuan chuckled softly.
"That will not be necessary, because I am willing to allow them to trade here, but they must pay a price for that privilege."
Fan Bulian asked, "What price."
Li Daoxuan answered without hesitation.
"They will pay war reparations to the Dadu Kingdom."
Fan Bulian blinked, clearly not expecting that answer, because compensation to a recognized nation was one thing, but compensation to what he perceived as a primitive tribal society was something entirely different.
Before he could respond, Ganza Xia Malu, who had been listening carefully, leaned toward his father and quietly explained.
"He is helping us demand money from the Dutch."
Li Daoxuan continued, his tone turning more serious.
"The Dutch have built fortresses and strongholds on this land while repeatedly encroaching on the territory of the Dadu Kingdom, killing their people and dividing their tribes, even pushing them toward internal conflict for sport, so do you really believe that such damage should go uncompensated."
His gaze sharpened.
"If they are unwilling to pay sufficient reparations for the harm they have caused, then they can forget about conducting any trade here in the future."