Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 531 The Burning of the Barracks Incident ([-])

The mid-winter night in the Corrales mining area was so cold that a thin layer of frost formed on the brims of the soldiers' hats, shoulders, and even eyebrows.The private who had stood at the sentry post for two hours even felt that his whole body was about to freeze, but he didn't dare to move, because there was a patrolling mobile sentry nearby, and the platoon leader who led the team was using his stern gestures. His eyes lingered on the private soldier, which made him subconsciously straighten his back.

Rhythmic footsteps sounded behind him.The private didn't need to turn his head to know that the person who received his sentry was coming. That guy must be walking slowly with a rifle on his shoulders, and as soon as he handed over to him, he would be able to return to the warm bed Got some sleep.This ghostly weather is really too cold, and there is a cold wind blowing, which makes it even more unbearable.

It's a good thing this is going to be over soon, thought the private happily.

Sure enough, a soldier in a dark blue military uniform and a big hat walked over with powerful steps.When the private soldier was about to go through the process with him according to the procedure, there was a sudden noise not far away.There was panic, surprise, and fear in that voice, and soon there were some chaotic footsteps.

There is a situation!The private snatched the rifle from his shoulder with a jerk.At this time, with the whistling westerly wind blowing, some flames rose up under the boost of the wind, which made everyone know what happened there immediately.

"Everyone is not allowed to walk around and shout, stick to their posts, and strictly prevent the enemy from attacking! If anyone disobeys orders, they will be shot on the spot!" The platoon leader leading the patrol showed the qualities of a veteran at this time. He first sent He sent people to report to the company headquarters, and then ordered the posts to stick to their posts, and dispatched some of his subordinates to places he thought were easy to be attacked by the enemy. Finally, he took a few soldiers with him after blowing the warning whistle Headed towards the place where the fire started.

The location of the fire was a small warehouse, which originally stocked some military supplies of the Army's 6th Company, including cotton clothes, food and some gunpowder.Fortunately, during the daytime today, the superiors have distributed the cotton coats to the hands of every officer and soldier, and the gunpowder has also been taken to the military depot for storage. Now there are only some bacon, flour, vegetables and the like left in this small wooden warehouse. Just food.

"What a blessing!" The platoon leader who rushed over secretly thanked Taishang Laojun for his blessing while wiping off his sweat.But he still didn't dare to neglect. The warehouse was burned, which must have been done by the hostile elements, most likely the Spaniards not far away.How arrogant!Do you really think that our east coast soldiers are made of mud?When the matter is clarified, you must call the Spaniard to ask for an explanation, otherwise it is not enough to vent your anger!

Soon, more and more people came to the scene of the fire.In fact, this is not surprising. The camp set up by the 6th Company of the Army is not very big, and the so-called warehouses are just a few wooden houses. coming.

At this time, the fire had spread to the roof, and the entire warehouse was engulfed in raging flames. The flames looked so dazzling in the dark night.The supplies in the warehouse are finished, but fortunately the important winter coats have been distributed, and the gunpowder was also temporarily moved into the military depot during the day. At this time, what is left in it is just some food.

And there should have been two soldiers guarding here—both are recruits, but they were called by the company department just a few hours ago to take the written examination of the soldier's drill with many people, and the examination should not be over yet.Fortunately, they went to the exam. If they were still on duty here, they might be attacked by the enemies who came in, causing casualties.

Company commander Xiao Baitu and other officers arrived at the scene quickly, and then organized people to quickly join the fire fighting operation.With everyone's efforts, the fire was quickly brought under control, but at this time the warehouse had been burned to the ground, and the loss of supplies seemed to be very serious.

After the last open flame was also extinguished, the gloomy Xiao Baitu ignored everyone's dissuasion and walked into the ruins of the warehouse that had become a pile of ashes.Everything I saw was cured meat that was carbonized due to high-temperature burning. In addition, there were some half-melted metal utensils, which looked extremely miserable.

Xiao Baitu wandered around inside twice, and then used tongs to pick out a metal object from the ashes.Although a small part of the object has been melted away, it is still clear from its surviving shape that it is a Spanish rapier—standard equipment for Spanish soldiers.The officers who followed Xiao Baitu into the warehouse let out a low exclamation, and then immediately whispered to each other regardless of Xiao Baitu's presence.

"Go to the military station and ask Second Lieutenant Frey of the Gendarmerie to come over, and then hand over this rapier to him. The fire in the barracks will be investigated by the Gendarmerie." Xiao Baitu turned around and said calmly.

Second Lieutenant Frey of the gendarmerie quickly rushed over, and after silently looking at Xiao Baitu with his eyes, he took the Spanish rapier, looked at it carefully, and said with certainty: "It's the Spaniard's equipment! That's right! Officer Xiao, the murderer may not be far away. I suggest conducting a search immediately."

"What about the scope of the search? It's very troublesome to know that these Spaniards have probably fled back to their camp." Han Zhen, the deputy head of the Mei Agency's action team who arrived at the scene with the gendarmerie, interjected appropriately. .Originally, there should be no Mei agency in this place, but they still came here under the banner of strictly investigating internal spies.

Sure enough, this question is tricky.Xiao Baitu frowned and thought for a while before resolutely saying: "Since the Spaniards dared to burn our barracks, they have already tarnished the honor of our great soldiers on the east coast. At this time, we don't need to have any more scruples. The murderer must be handed over, otherwise we will never stop. Lieutenant Lieutenant, you go to contact the cavalry company stationed at the military station and ask them to dispatch immediately to the side of the Spanish military post, intercept the Spaniards you encounter, and don't let any one go. If it is inconvenient to ride a horse at night, you can lead the horse forward, and the speed should be fast.”

Li Shen, the deputy commander of the 6th company, graduated from the 39th class of the Dingyuan Army Military Academy. He served in South Africa for many years and participated in many battles with the Xhosa with Marshal Mo Mingmo.At this time, he didn't hesitate after hearing the words, as if he had expected this to happen, he immediately responded to the order to contact the cavalry.

After dismissing his adjutant, Xiao Baitu immediately ordered the entire company to assemble, and then 240 soldiers armed with 4 light artillery opened the camp gate aggressively, and "searched" for the Spanish outpost all the way. .

The Spaniard's outpost is very close to the camp of the 6th Company of the East Coast Army, about four or five kilometers away.Although they are already very familiar with this land, the night march of the 6th company was still not smooth, and it took them several hours to reach the Spanish outpost.

Naturally, the movement of hundreds of people could not be concealed from the Spaniards, especially when there were still several draft horses pulling the cannon carts screaming endlessly.The Spaniards soon sent people to negotiate, but when they heard that the people on the east bank asked them to open the gate of the camp and let them search for some "arsonist", they were extremely surprised at first, and then furious.They thought that the people on the east bank had made such a poor and ridiculous excuse to force them to evacuate the outpost and humiliate the Spaniards by the way, so they refused the request of the people on the east bank without hesitation.

The next thing is very simple.Soldiers on the east bank, who failed to negotiate, surrounded the Spanish outpost with only 30 men stationed there. After getting in touch with the cavalry on the outside and confirming that they were all right, Xiao Baitu resolutely ordered to storm the Spanish outpost.

Naturally, the Spaniards resisted desperately. Four Spanish officers and 4 Guarani soldiers armed with muskets fired a volley towards the shadowy east bank position outside the camp.At this time, they were convinced that the people on the east bank would never let them go, so even the priest in the camp took up his rifle and joined the battle.

Spanish resistance came to a screeching halt when artillery joined the fray.The soldiers on the east bank used artillery to clear the hidden corners of the Spaniards one by one, and then successfully entered the post, and the battle came to an abrupt end.

I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, but the Spaniards in the camp failed to leave a living.All 30 corpses were found one by one. Xiao Baitu, the commander of the 6th Company of the Army who commanded the battle, even breathed a sigh of relief after seeing all the Spaniards wiped out.After all, to him, the dead can't speak, they can't justify themselves, this is the best substitute for the dead.

"Because the incident of burning our barracks was exposed, the Spaniards resisted stubbornly and were finally wiped out by our army." Xiao Baitu stood beside the blood-stained corpse of the Spaniard, and said with a ferocious expression: "Adjutant Li, take the I will go back to the capital and report what happened here to the military department and the executive committee, and let them know the bad things that the Spaniards have done. Let me say that now my whole army is excited, and I ask the executive committee to summon the Spanish king immediately. Baron Bravo, the special envoy to Dongfang Port, asked the other party to respond positively to this matter immediately. If the Spaniards deliberately delay or fail to give any reasonable explanation, our army has the right to take all actions freely."

After hearing the words, Li Shen took a deep breath, returned the military salute vigorously, and hurried back with a few messengers.He had a premonition that the outbreak of an all-out war with the Spaniards might be just a few days away, and it didn't depend on anyone's will.Some people may be ecstatic, some people may be furious, some people may be stunned, some people may be sad and desperate, but the war is inevitable after all.

(End of this chapter)