The recovery of Taiwan opened a wider door for the islanders

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Very soon, Ming Dynasty had fallen and taken over by Chin Dynasty. While his father surrendered to the new regime, Cheng Chen-Kung rejected the new emperor’s tempting offers and was determined to bring back Ming Dynasty.  Since then, Cheng’s military forces had had fought with Chin soldiers frequently.  As he was just thinking about coming and taking over Taiwan as his new home base, the Dutch official interpreter, Ho Bin, went to Hsiamen and met Cheng. Ho described in detail the beauty of Formosa to Cheng and gave him a map of the island as well; Cheng was deeply, greatly moved! He then led four hundred battle ships and twenty-five thousand soldiers departing from Liao-Lo Bay heading for Taiwan. As Cheng’s army came on shore, both sides were engaged in a fierce fight.  Cheng then came up with a new strategy – to surround the ”Redhaired City,” namely the region where the Dutch lived, from the sea, so as to cut off food supplies and military supplies for the Dutch. Cheng sent his representatives to the Dutch camps and induced the Dutch to surrender, promising them that he will not kill the captives but to send them back safe and sound, under the condition that the Dutch must withdraw its troops and leave the island forever. The Dutch agreed.  From then on, Taiwan is in the hands of its people.

Those who came with Cheng Chen-Kung were from various provinces on the mainland; besides soldiers, there were also many from the academic circles.  These scholars attributed much to the island’s first stage planning of its education, trades and other fields.