"General, there were a total of 284 people with headaches and fever yesterday, and there were more than 30 more people this morning."
"Let's all take a rest and see a doctor!"
An outbreak of malaria began in the Luzon Expeditionary Force. Fortunately, there were military doctors, and most of them were from the Datong Army in Guangxi.
At present, the military mainly uses two drugs to treat malaria: Luzon fruit and poppy shell.
Luzon fruit is called antipyretic bean in Guangxi, Jinma Changzi in Yunnan, and horse money in Qiongzhou, Hainan Island.
Of course there is one in Luzon too!
This drug can effectively treat early symptoms of malaria, but during the fever and sweating stages, the therapeutic effect will be greatly reduced.
The military doctors from Guangxi were very experienced in this, so they advised the generals in charge: Once the soldiers feel tired, have a headache, or have a low fever, they should immediately take medicine prepared from Luzon fruit. There should be no delay. If you delay for one more day, the danger will be
Multiplied!
Peter, the commander of the Dutch army, approached Wang Hui anxiously: "Dear general, I heard that Chinese doctors are good at treating malaria. Can you also help Dutch soldiers with their medical treatment?"
"Of course." Wang Hui did not refuse the friendly forces' request for help.
The miracle drug "Cinchona Tree" for treating malaria was discovered in South America six years ago. However, it has not spread yet. It will take at least another ten years before it will be sold as a medicinal material to Southeast Asia.
It was two hundred years later that the Dutch planted cinchona trees in Java.
Peter did not leave immediately, but sat down and chatted with Wang Hui: "It's almost the rainy season. In such a short time, the city of Manila can be captured at most, but the Spanish castle in the city is impossible to capture. Do you want to continue to fight?"
"Of course, this is an established combat mission." Wang Hui said.
Peter said: "We can demolish all the captured city walls, castles, and forts. During the rainy season, it is impossible for the Spaniards to organize repairs. After the rainy season, we can just send out troops again. There is no need to stay in Manila for consumption."
Wang Hui said: "Your country can withdraw its troops, but the Datong Army will never withdraw."
Peter was suddenly speechless.
In the eyes of these Dutch, sinking and capturing so many Spanish warships and demolishing some Spanish outlying strongholds were enough to be considered a success. Spain, which was declining rapidly, could not recover its losses for several years, but the Netherlands could quickly replenish it.
It would be better for soldiers and warships to continue to fight in the second half of the year or next year.
To put it bluntly, it is to wear Spain to death in the sunset.
If you go out with a fleet and a large number of indigenous servants and stay in Manila to survive the rainy season, how much money and food will be consumed!
This was the Dutch East India Company that had to answer to its shareholders, not the real Dutch government.
Historically, when they learned that Zheng Chenggong wanted to regain Taiwan, they couldn't bear the stationing of more than ten ships for half a year. In order to reduce the consumption of the garrison, they withdrew 80% of the fleet. Zheng Chenggong seized the opportunity to regain Taiwan in one fell swoop. The Dutch, who were so careless,
How many months of the rainy season can be wasted in Manila?
At this moment, Batavia was already involved in a quarrel.
"We cannot withdraw our troops!"
Governor Van Diemen pounded the table and roared: "Once we withdraw, we will give Spain a chance to breathe. Moreover, the Chinese army is likely to occupy Manila after the rainy season before we send troops. How will we negotiate with the Chinese then? Everything
They will all become begging for alms!”
Director General Huis said: "Your Excellency, although we have achieved brilliant results this time, we have also paid a huge price. The rainy season will last for several months, leaving the fleet and army in Manila, and we have to provide for thousands of indigenous soldiers."
Providing food, how much consumption is it? We must withdraw our troops now and wait until the rainy season is over before sending troops. This is the most cost-effective deal."
Van Diemen said angrily: "Sir, this is war. War! Do you understand? This is not business!"
Huis said: "War is business, and everything is about making profits. Moreover, if you want to spend the rainy season in Manila, you must organize a fleet to transport food there. Is there still time now?"
"Of course it's in time. If it weren't for your objections, the food would have been shipped to Manila long ago!"
Van Diemen glared at the members of the Council: "I want to exercise the power of the Governor, and I want to exercise the power of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. I will not accept any objections from you. You can impeach me, but you must wait until the seventeen-member meeting at the headquarters.
recognition!”
The MPs looked at the angry Van Diemen and immediately did not dare to object any more.
A system is a system, and authority is authority. Van Diemen has enough authority in Batavia, and this authority can often crush the company system.
If history remains unchanged, Van Diemen can live for one year, and will die of illness in another year.
…
"Boom boom boom!"
Army artillery from China and the Netherlands, as well as fleet artillery, poured towards the walls of Manila.
With the morale of the Pampanga soldiers, how could they withstand this kind of fire suppression? Every time they heard the sound of cannons, they ignored the orders of the Spanish commander and were so frightened that they all hid under the walls of the city.
The craftsmen brought by the Datong Army have built Lu Gong's chariot, and the indigenous warriors have also filled in the moat.
The Dutch fleet all returned to Batavia. They had to escort the grain fleet, otherwise they would be attacked by the Spanish fleet.
China's merchant ships transporting grain are also escorted by fleets, but they are relatively safer.
The first batch of siege troops were indigenous armies brought by China and the Netherlands.
They pushed Lu Gong's cart, braved the cannonballs fired from the city, and rushed towards the city wall with high morale.
After several rounds of shelling, they fled back in embarrassment, and six of Lu's vehicles were destroyed by city defense artillery. They then continued to organize an attack, and continued to be beaten back by artillery. In one day, more than 300 natives were killed and more than a thousand were injured.
The Datong Army and the Dutch Army watched the whole show without leaving a single soldier.
After attacking the city like this for four consecutive days, the Spanish defenders consumed a lot of artillery shells and rolling stones and other defensive materials. But the indigenous soldiers gave up. They did not want to be cannon fodder anymore. No matter how they were directed, they did not want to attack the city again.
.
Unless, the Chinese and Dutch armies also come together!
There were only more than 700 people in the Dutch Army left, and some were sick. They hid behind Lu Gong's car and moved forward cautiously. They actually didn't want to fight this kind of battle.
When attacking a city, of course you use artillery first.
If we don't blow down the city wall and then attack, with the Dutch army's small force, everyone will die in one or two attacks.
However, the walls of Manila are too short, making it difficult for smoothbore cannons to hit!
Inside and outside the city, artillery fire from both sides was constantly firing. Even the cats and dogs in the city were used to the sound of the cannons.
"Poof!"
A Lu Gong car was smashed by city defense artillery, causing more than ten Datong soldiers to be killed or injured.
"Poof!"
Another artillery shell hit, and after Lu Gong's car was destroyed, the Dutch army pushing Lu Gong's car forward immediately fled.
Wang Hui was furious and went to Peter and said: "The morale of your army is worse than even the indigenous soldiers!"
Peter said confidently: "Sir, I only have more than 700 people, and dozens of people are sick. How can I use them to die?"
On the fifth day of the siege, the attack still ended in failure.
During this period, we have been digging trenches. But the rainy season is coming soon. Even if the trenches can be dug to the bottom of the city, we will not be able to attack again during the rainy season.
The days passed day by day.
The Dutch grain transport fleet has all returned. I heard that they were attacked halfway. Fortunately, they were protected by warships, and only two grain ships were sunk by Spanish galleons.
"Boom!"
There was thunder in the sky.
Governor Coquilla of the Philippines looked at the sky and smiled: "Gentlemen, we are holding on. The rainy season has arrived, and Manila has been blessed by heavy rains. It will not be breached for another hundred years."
outside the city.
Religious Chinese people lived in the outer areas of Binonduo District. In areas that could not be bombarded by city defense artillery, these Chinese people helped build many new houses. Datong Army officers and soldiers lived in these houses.
"Old Tie, have a bowl of barley porridge to get rid of the moisture on your body." Wang Hui filled a bowl himself.
Tie Hong sat down cross-legged and drank half a bowl in one breath: "Decided?"
Wang Hui said helplessly: "We have decided to attack the city in the rain. I have also discussed it with the military doctors. Before fighting in the rain, drink more salt boiled water, and treat illnesses immediately after the treatment. We cannot delay it until after the rainy season.
There are more and more diseases, and some diseases are not even clear to military doctors. It happens to be raining and they can't fire cannons, and the city's defenders can't fire cannons. The city walls of Manila are not high, so don't use Lu Gong's chariots to attack the city. It's raining.
The mud was pushed too slowly. The simple ladder was ready. I carried the ladder to the city in the rain and brought down Manila in one fell swoop."
"This is also a way." Tie Hong nodded and said.
Wang Hui added: "After capturing the Manila city wall, attack the castle in the rain on another day. The Spanish castle in the city is also a kind of bastion. Capturing it on a sunny day is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and a strong attack requires human lives. Just attack the castle on a rainy day!
"
Tie Hong finished the barley porridge and put it on the table with a bang: "I'll lead the team to climb up first. This place is hot and humid. Finish the work early and finish work early. My son will go to elementary school next year and wants to go back for a visit during the Chinese New Year. He has been
I'm afraid I won't be able to go back if I delay."
"Please!" Wang Hui said with cupped hands.
"They are all Datong Army soldiers, no need to mention those." Tie Hong said with a grin.
Tie Hong could probably guess what his superiors were thinking. Many people in the army thought that he didn't care, and it would be difficult for him to continue to be promoted if he stayed in the country. This time he was transferred to Luzon to fight. Wang Hui came here to get gold plating, but he was "exiled".
He is expected to lead troops and be stationed in Luzon for a long time.
Another day passed and it rained heavily.
All the defenders were hiding in the house, and the Dutch soldiers were also in the tents. No one wanted to fight in the tropical rainy season. It would be no joke if they got sick.
"Brothers, finish this bowl!"
Two thousand soldiers picked up pottery bowls and drank salted water instead of wine.
In the tropical rainy season with high heat and humidity, dehydration and desalination are easy even if it doesn’t rain. People who are exposed to rain for a long time are more likely to suffer from the disease. Although they don’t understand the principle, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the south know that drinking salt water can replenish physical strength.
After drinking a bowl of boiled salt water and wearing nothing but leather armor, the Datong troops carried ladders and rushed to the city wall in the rain.
The rain was so heavy that it made people unable to open their eyes and even affected the visibility ahead.
Not to mention the Spanish troops and Pampanga soldiers guarding the city, even the Dutch friendly troops stationed next door didn't know that the Chinese troops had fought their way out in the rain.
If it were the Dutch, they would not dare to play like this, for fear that all the soldiers would fall ill.