16 Chapter 15

Daud sat at his desk in the study, poring over documents and maps of the Aceh region. Suddenly, his AI Venus spoke up, "Sir, I have just received a report that the Dutch East Indies have dispatched troops from Batavia for the second Aceh expedition campaign."

Daud looked up from his work, intrigued. "What do you know about this expedition, Venus?"

Venus paused for a moment, processing the information. "The expedition is led by Jan van Swieten and consists of 8,500 soldiers, 4,500 servants, and coolies. And later an additional 1,500 troops were added to the reserve."

Daud furrowed his brow in concern. "That's a lot of troops. What is their objective?"

Venus replied, "Their objective is to subdue Aceh and claim the territory for revenge sir."

Daud listened and say. "So, the Dutch East Indies have finally sent their troops for the second expedition," he said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "And they have even added more soldiers to their ranks."

"Yes, that is correct," Venus replied. "However, some of the troops have contracted cholera, which could pose a problem for them."

Daud furrowed his brow. "Cholera is a serious disease," he said. "It could weaken their forces and slow down their progress."

"I agree," Venus said. "But we must not underestimate them. They are a formidable opponent, and we must be prepared for any eventuality."

Daud nodded in agreement. "Yes, we must prepare ourselves for the worst-case scenario," he said. "We cannot afford to be caught off guard, what are their plans, Venus?"

Venus took a moment to gather the information.

"Their plans are not yet known, but they have assembled a large force and are likely to be well-armed and well-prepared for any resistance."

Daud nodded, "We must keep an eye on their movements and gather intelligence to stay one step ahead of them. Thank you for the information, Venus."

Venus replied, "You're welcome, sir. I will continue to monitor the situation and update you as necessary."

"Send this report to Sultan as well," Daud said.

"Copy that, Sir" Venus replied.

Sultan and his advisors were gathered in the meeting room, discussing the latest report they had received. The mood in the room was tense as they read the contents of the report carefully.

"Are we sure that this report is reliable?" asked one of the advisors.

"Yes, we have received confirmation from our sources that the Dutch East Indies have indeed sent their troops," replied another advisor.

Sultan spoke up, "We cannot ignore this. We need to take action to protect our people and our land."

The advisors nodded in agreement, but one of them asked, "What can we do? We don't have as many troops as they do."

Sultan thought for a moment before replying, "We will use our knowledge and strategy to our advantage. We have trained our commanders and soldiers in military science, and we will continue to do so. We will also use the terrain and natural resources of our land to our advantage."

Another advisor spoke up, "We also need to take precautions against cholera. We cannot afford an outbreak in our camps."

Sultan nodded, "We will ensure that our camps are kept clean and that our people practice good hygiene. We will also quarantine anyone who shows signs of the disease."

The advisors continued to discuss their plans for the defense of Aceh, but the mood in the room had shifted from tense to determined. They were ready to face the Dutch East Indies and protect their land.

The news of the Dutch East Indies' second expedition to Aceh had reached the ears of the British in Southeast Asia. The British, who had interests in the region, were closely monitoring the situation. They had already established a foothold in the Malay Peninsula and were looking to expand their influence.

Sir James Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak, had summoned his advisors to discuss the implications of the Dutch expedition. His advisors were a diverse group of people, including local chiefs, British officials, and even a few Dutch traders who had decided to settle in Sarawak.

Brooke began the discussion by saying, "Gentlemen, as you all know, the Dutch East Indies have sent an expedition to Aceh. This is a cause for concern for us, as it poses a threat to our interests in the region."

One of the Dutch traders, Jan, spoke up. "I think it's only natural that the Dutch would want to expand their territory. After all, they are a colonial power just like the British."

A local chief, Tun, interjected. "But what about the people of Aceh? We cannot allow the Dutch to just come in and take over their land."

Another British official, John, chimed in. "We must also consider the impact this will have on our trade routes. The Dutch will undoubtedly try to assert their dominance and control over the region."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "Yes, we must be prepared for any possible scenario. We cannot let the Dutch gain too much power in the region."

The group continued to discuss the situation for several hours, weighing the pros and cons of various strategies. Some suggested allying with Aceh to resist the Dutch, while others advocated for a more diplomatic approach.

In the end, they agreed to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action when necessary. They also agreed to send a message to the Dutch East Indies, expressing their concerns and urging them to respect the sovereignty of the local peoples.

As the meeting came to a close, Brooke turned to his advisors and said, "Gentlemen, we must remember that our ultimate goal is to ensure stability and prosperity in the region. We must work together to achieve this, regardless of our differences and interests."

It was late January 1874, and the news of the Dutch East Indies' second expedition to Aceh had spread across Southeast Asia. One group of people who were particularly interested in this news was the Portuguese, who had a long history of colonial rivalry with the Dutch.

In a small tavern in Macau, a group of Portuguese traders and sailors gathered to discuss the news. One of them, a weathered old sailor named Manuel, spoke first.

"I hear the Dutch are sending another army to Aceh," he said, taking a swig from his mug of ale. "What do you make of it, João?"

João, a young trader with a sharp mind, replied, "It seems they're intent on conquering Aceh, despite their earlier defeats. But why now? What has changed?"

Another trader chimed in, "Perhaps they're feeling threatened by the British, who have been expanding their influence in the region. They may see Aceh as a strategic location to control."

The group continued to speculate on the motives of the Dutch, with some expressing concern over the potential consequences for trade and commerce in the region. But Manuel, ever the cynic, scoffed at their worries.

"Let the Dutch waste their time and resources on their futile conquests," he said. "As long as they keep their hands off our colonies, we have nothing to fear."

The news of the Dutch East Indies' second expedition to Aceh had spread far and wide, even reaching the American and Italian ambassadors in Singapore. The two ambassadors, John Avery, and Luigi Monti were sitting in Monti's office discussing the news.

Avery was the first to speak, "Have you heard about the Dutch's second expedition to Aceh?"

"Yes, I have," replied Monti. "It's quite concerning. The first expedition was a disaster, and now they're sending even more troops."

"I know," said Avery. "And the fact that they're bringing in people who have contracted cholera without knowing it makes it even worse."

Monti nodded in agreement. "It's a dangerous situation, not only for the Dutch but also for the Acehnese. Cholera is highly contagious and could quickly spread throughout the region."

"Exactly," said Avery. "And what's even more concerning is that the Dutch seem to be ignoring the advice of the British, who have had a lot of experience in dealing with cholera outbreaks."

Monti looked at Avery and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

"Well, we can't interfere directly, but we could try to offer our assistance to the Acehnese. Perhaps we could provide them with some medical supplies and expertise."

Monti nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea. I'll see what I can do on my end, and we can coordinate our efforts."

As the two ambassadors continued to discuss their plans, they both knew that the situation in Aceh was dire. The Dutch expedition had the potential to cause a significant outbreak of cholera, and the Acehnese people were at risk. They knew that they had to act quickly and decisively to help in any way they could.