Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2503 Yamen ([-])

On a rainy morning on May 1704, 5, a large group of gray figures were trudging through the rolling low hills of southeastern Spain.

In Spain in May, it is reasonable to say that it is slowly transitioning to the dry and rainless season.Even in the southern mountains, where the Mediterranean climate prevails, the rainfall will drop suddenly at this time of year.Otherwise, why do you think the Moors built so many water conservancy projects in Granada and Andalusia?Isn't it just to provide irrigation during the critical period of crop growth?

But this year is a little bit different.First of all, the foggy weather in winter and spring has increased significantly, and the precipitation in spring has also increased a lot compared to previous years, so that it is still ticking in May, like the rain is falling from the faucet.

Such a year is actually a blessing from God to the Spanish people, allowing them to take advantage of the rainy and humid weather to obtain a good harvest in agricultural production.Regrettably, the Spaniards seemed to have missed this great opportunity. The whole of Andalusia and Granada were in a mess, and a large number of farmers were recruited to help transport food and ammunition to supply the Granada Army and the East Coasters.As for the farm work in the field, the efficiency of the elderly, women and even children can be imagined.

In fact, not only Granada and Andalusia, but even the rich plains of Aragon and the plateau of Castile have been greatly affected, and agricultural production has suffered serious setbacks, not to mention Canada, which is now in a state of war. Catalan region.In a word, this year's Spanish grain harvest is about to hit a new low, and foreign grain merchants will reap a wave of profits.

"Abandoned reservoirs, silted canals. Why do the Spaniards feel that they are nomads and don't pay attention to agricultural production at all." Walking on the rugged mountain road, a young staff officer wiped the rainwater from his forehead, puzzled road.

"Hehe, it's not that I look down on them. In terms of agriculture, they are really not as good as the Moors back then. When this land was occupied by the Moors, there were reservoirs and irrigation canals everywhere, and the dry south of Spain was rich in wheat and melons. And vegetables. What will it look like after the Christians take over? Farmland water conservancy facilities are gradually abandoned, and food production is declining year by year. The whole of Spain is sleeping on the pile of silver and living on imported food." Another officer shook his head and said with a smile: " If they don’t make it, they’re not as good as the Italians. If you don’t carry out an ideological revolution that touches your soul, you won’t be able to do anything for the next 100 years, that’s all.”

"It seems like you two are very busy." A tall horse quickly appeared next to them, and Lieutenant Colonel Xiao Guang, holding a whip in his hand, pointed to the back and said, "Since you are so motivated, how about you?" Just go to the back and help push the cannon cart."

The two looked at each other, a little hesitant.

"Immediately! Immediately! Get over here!" Xiao Guang said angrily, smashing the whip down his head and covering his face.

"Yes!" The two didn't dare to talk nonsense, and after standing at attention and saluting, they ran over to push the cannon cart in embarrassment.The road was slippery in rainy days, and the Spaniards did not pay attention to repairing the road, so it was very difficult to tow the heavy artillery, and they often got stuck in the pit accidentally, which greatly affected the speed of marching.

The commander of the artillery battalion, who was sweating profusely directing his men to push and pull the artillery, was overjoyed when he saw two officers rolling over.He knows both of these brats. One is the second son of the deputy director of the Canal Department of the Ministry of Communications, and the other is the youngest son of the director of the Capital Branch of the State Reserve Grain Depot. Both are lieutenants. They have played several polo games together. Get on well.

"Hurry up, that 75mm gun is stuck in a puddle. Damn Spaniards, this is still a traffic artery. There is such a big hole on the road that you can't see it. I don't know how they usually walk. A bunch of stupid grandchildren." The commander of the artillery battalion grabbed the two poor young officers and threw them to the rear, saying.

The two sighed, walked to a group of mud monkey-like artillery handymen, and pushed the artillery cart hard.Those artillery servants looked at the two with amused eyes. Although they were also part of the "yamen regiment", they were not yamen after all, but ordinary people in the capital.Suddenly seeing two sons of officials who are usually bullish come to accompany them to soak in the muddy water, I felt very refreshed.In addition, these two boys are also open-minded people, and they gave each of them a cigarette, and they got closer to each other, shouting together and pushing the cannon cart.

We were the first to form a group, we didn't say anything, we are all good guys, bright people, good brothers!

"March staff, how far is it from Seville?" Looking at the foggy front, Xiao Guang suddenly asked.

"Reporting to the head of the regiment, it is less than ninety kilometers away." The marching staff officer who was sketching the route under the umbrella snapped to attention, ignoring the mud and water splashing under his feet, and replied loudly.

"The speed is a bit slow. If there is no accident, the enemy has already found our whereabouts. At the current speed, I am afraid that it will take three or four days to reach Seville. If the Spaniards do not make preparations, they will be no different from stupid pigs." Yes. Send the order to speed up the march without delay." Lieutenant Colonel Xiao Guang said.

"Yes!" The liaison staff officer right behind him immediately responded loudly, and then ordered two messengers to go down to deliver the order.

"Regimental Commander, what about the artillery and supply units? It's raining and the ground is muddy and difficult to move on. I'm afraid they can't keep up with the rhythm." The marching staff officer asked cautiously.

"Let the [-]rd Infantry Battalion retain two companies. Some people from the troops directly under the regiment, um, the engineering company and the cadets from the school attached to the battalion will stay to assist them. The other field hospitals, military bands, cooking platoons and All the staff members, throw away their baggage, get their rifles, and follow me lightly. Let’s do this, go down and pass the order!” Xiao Guang said without any doubt.

They've been walking the area for a day and a half, at a snail's pace.Including the time it took to land and capture the Spanish military depot, four full days had passed. Xiao Guang was very dissatisfied and felt that something might go wrong, so he was very anxious and decided to march lightly.

They are now located on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River, an area dominated by plains and low hills.During the rule of the Moors, it was a very important agricultural production area. In the hinterland, there is a large city of Seville, which is one of the ports where the famous Spanish treasure fleet set sail (the other port is Cadiz), which is very rich.

On the night of April 4, after the forward scouts of the Spanish Granada Corps exchanged fire with the people on the east coast, the navy made a decisive decision and immediately mobilized a large number of ships to transfer more than 30 people from the Army's First Mixed Regiment, which was resting in Danji County, and all its equipment, The luggage was loaded onto the ship and headed straight for the mouth of the Guadalquivir River.There used to be a Spanish fort in this place, but it was a coincidence that the Anglo-Dutch fleet had spent a day and a night of heavy shelling here in order to confuse the sight when they passed by, completely destroying the Spanish fortifications. failed to recover.Therefore, the first mixed regiment landed at the mouth of the river easily without encountering any resistance.

After the landing was completed, the First Mixed Regiment moved quickly, captured a small town near the river mouth, and was also one of the Spaniard's depots, and looted all the supplies there.Afterwards, the Ministry did not delay any longer, braved the rain all the way to the north, and headed towards the big city of Seville.

It should be said that this strategy of the people on the east coast was greatly beyond the expectations of the Spaniards.In their view, the 2000 army led by Carroll arrived in Gibraltar and launched an attack. The people on the east coast should hold on to it to avoid being driven into the sea by a wave.But they obviously underestimated the ambitions of the people on the east coast. They deployed a marine battalion, a security regiment and more than [-] Portuguese mercenaries in Jinghai County. .Carol, you have an army of [-], but Gibraltar is such a big place that it is inconvenient to deploy troops. In the end, only a few thousand people can directly participate in the attack. With the equipment and quality of Spanish soldiers, it will take years and months to take Gibraltar. ah?

Besides, now that we have the first mixed regiment, why do we have to go to offensive and defensive battles and positional battles at your own pace?Why don't you fight yours, I'll fight mine, you besiege Gibraltar, I'll send the elite main force to land elsewhere, attack your big city, let you care about your head, disregard your back, mess up your own position, and finally put you in a mobile battle Annihilation of the first legion - fighting in the field, the yamen of the first mixed regiment are not afraid, they are all screaming!

After Xiao Guang's order was passed down, it was quickly implemented.The First Infantry Battalion, Second Infantry Battalion, and Third Infantry Battalion abandoned the burdens that hindered the speed of marching and marched quickly, while the soldiers of the artillery and supply units also exerted their breastfeeding strength and hurried on their way.

The lads of the first mixed regiment are suffocating in their hearts, and must show other brother troops that our "Yanei regiment" can also fight tough battles and achieve dazzling military exploits!When communicating with the Sixth Mixed Regiment before, those officers and non-commissioned officers who had military exploits specially hung their combat medals on their chests. There was a lot of superiority in their words. The group is very angry!Paralyzed, artillery bullying people is not a hero. This time, let's see how our first mixed regiment completely defeated the enemy with light infantry, and stabbed the Spaniards with bayonets!Grandma is a bear, the whole group, whoever dares to bend over and charge straight is a coward, not a hero!

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, but the fire in the hearts of the 5000 people in the first mixed group was burning hotter and hotter.Everyone looked at the distant horizon with firm eyes, as if Seville was there, and rushed over with all their strength.

(End of this chapter)