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Chapter 566: All grass and trees are soldiers
December in Luzon is the best season of the year. At this time, the windy and humid rainy season has just passed, and the hot and muggy dry season has not yet come. The temperature has dropped to more than 12 degrees, and there are not many typhoons and rain.

Under the rule of the Sulu Dynasty, Manila was just a larger fishing village located on the south bank of the Pasig River. After the Spanish occupied this place at the end of the 16th century, they first used it as a trading point and built a wooden fence.

In 1575, the first governor demolished the original wooden fence, recruited tens of thousands of local indigenous people, spent 15 years, built city walls and moats with volcanic rocks, and set up multiple forts at key locations.

Among this defense system, the most important link is Santiago Castle. It is located northwest of Manila. It is a defensive fortress built by Governor Santiago in 1590. The outer wall is 10 meters thick, with a moat, towering towers and more than ten forts.

The pier on the south bank of the Pasig River can be seen from the fort of Fort Santiago. Anyone who wants to land from here will be hit by double artillery fire from the city wall and the fort.

In response to the Ming Emperor's war threat, Governor Aguna and Bishop Joseph summoned more than 30,000 tribal indigenous people from all over the Philippine Islands for more than two months to fight together, but only 8,000 people actually came to Manila to receive training as Spanish officers. .

This is the limit that the governor and the bishop can bear. Although the indigenous soldiers do not need to pay wages, they always have to take care of their food. If more than 30,000 people were brought here to wait, the Governor of the Philippines and the Philippine Diocese would go bankrupt before the Ming Emperor came to attack.

According to Colonel Juan's plan, as long as the city of Manila can resist the first wave of attacks by the Ming Navy, the remaining more than 20,000 indigenous soldiers will come from all directions to cooperate with the city's defenders in a counter-siege. With the city of Manila’s defense system, I dare not say that even if the French army were to attack, it would definitely take ten days and a half.

As for whether they could wait for reinforcements from the Viceroyalty of New Spain or mainland Spain to arrive, everyone from Governor Aguna to Bishop Joseph basically gave up hope. I just hope that after the war, the King of Spain will pay more attention to the Philippines and send more soldiers and ships.

"Colonel, Bishop Joseph is here, and he is bringing two Chinese businessmen with him." Fort Santiago has become a temporary headquarters at this moment. A Pica Seca (light armored spearman) rushed up to the tower and faced The figure from behind reported loudly.

"God, can't he just stay in the church and pray more...I'm going down right now!"

Within two months, Colonel Juan seemed to have aged five years, and his unkempt beard and bloodshot white eyes made his face look even more haggard. After hearing the news of Bishop Joseph's visit, the colonel couldn't help but put his hand on his forehead, feeling unwilling and helpless.

Since we started preparing for the war in October, most of the work has been going smoothly, and God has shown us that there have been basically no heavy rains or storms. The city of Manila, no, it should be said that most of the Philippine Islands are working day and night to deal with the coming Ming Navy.

In mid-October, Bishop Joseph came to visit unexpectedly, accompanied by two Chinese businessmen. According to the decree just issued, Chinese merchants are not allowed to cross the Pasig River until the end of the war, but it is a different matter if they are led by a bishop.

Then why did Bishop Joseph lead two Chinese businessmen across the Pasig River in violation of the law and entered the defense center of Manila? Two words, intelligence. Chinese businessmen brought accurate intelligence, the Ming Dynasty navy is about to arrive!

These two Chinese businessmen were originally from Zhangzhou. They had settled in Chinatown outside Manila a generation ago and became Catholics. On weekdays, they often travel between Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Manila, relying on their relatives in Daming to help sell sugar cane wine, soap, matches and other in-demand goods, and they live a relatively wealthy life. Returning to Manila Port this time, they immediately found the priest and reported the movements of the Ming Navy. It was said that they learned at Guangzhou Port that the navy was transporting supplies and personnel onto the ship, and that they would all leave the port in the next few days.

The priests in Chinatown did not dare to neglect the news and immediately reported it to the bishop. When Bishop Joseph heard this, he quickly sent someone to take the two men across the river and come together to see Colonel Juan.

In view of Bishop Joseph's guarantee, and what the two Chinese businessmen saw and heard in Guangzhou Port, Colonel Juan did not doubt that it was false, and immediately sounded the alarm and entered a state of combat readiness. At the same time, he ordered Captain Steer to set sail with the fleet. Be prepared for the challenge.

But three days passed, and five days passed, and there was still no sign of the Ming Navy. As a last resort, the two Chinese businessmen were sent to sail back to Guangzhou Port. Only ten days later did they learn that the Ming Navy gathered outside Guangzhou Port had not moved at all. , the previous torment was just an exercise at sea.

In a false alarm, Colonel Juan quickly sent people around to notify the cancellation of combat readiness, and then recalled Captain Steer's fleet. By this time, it was already the first ten days of November in the Ming Dynasty.

Just a few days after getting settled, Bishop Joseph came with a Portuguese captain to deliver a message, saying that the Ming Navy was recruiting interpreters in Haojing'ao, and two of his crew members were selected. Various signs showed that the Ming Navy would set out from the port within three days. .

Last time, the message sent by Chinese businessmen was wrong, and this time it was replaced by a Portuguese captain. Colonel Juan did not dare to neglect, and after consulting Governor Aguna, he sounded the alarm again and dispatched a fleet.

The result was very similar to the last process. After waiting for several days, the Ming Navy still did not show up. A few days later, the Portuguese captain sent a message saying that the interpreter had also been released. The Ming Navy was still anchored outside Guangzhou Port, which was another false alarm.

The more than 1,000 Spanish soldiers and more than 7,000 indigenous servants stationed near Manila were already a little tired after two struggles. If they had anything to do, they sent someone over to ask when the Ming Navy would arrive.

Two consecutive misinformations had already made Colonel Juan feel grudge, but he still couldn't ignore Bishop Joseph's enthusiasm. No, this is another secret report from Chinese businessmen, saying that the entire Ming Navy did indeed board the ship and leave Guangzhou Port.

And it’s not just hearsay, it’s something you’ve seen with your own eyes. Zuo Guangdou, the governor-general of Guangdong, and Li Rumei, the commander-in-chief of the capital, took a group of officials to see him off in person at the port. If it was a drill, there would definitely not be such a scene.

"Send someone to inform Captain Steer that the fleet will leave the port immediately! Allocate manpower to load the two ships with stones. This must be completed before noon tomorrow! Ring the bell, put everyone on alert, close the city gates, and prepare for battle!"

After listening to the descriptions of the two Chinese businessmen, and receiving the guarantee from Bishop Joseph in the name of God, Colonel Juan could only declare a state of combat readiness for the third time even if he was doubtful, and all related combat links were put into operation.

(End of this chapter)