Among the three routes of Chinese troops, the North Route quickly approached Binondo. The Spanish army, which seized Binondo half an hour in advance, used musket fire to block the passage on the north bank of the Pasig River. Li Xing, commander of the third regiment, commanded the artillery battalion to seize the river bank. Set up an artillery position on a slightly higher platform and prepare to attack across the river.
Because the middle road goes upstream, the Pasig River twists and turns for more than ten miles. In addition, it has to drag a huge water fort and a raft platform. The traveling speed is the slowest. Therefore, when the Chinese Company troops on the north road began to force the crossing, .In reality, they are fighting alone. There is always a difference between planning and practice. After all, this is the first time Yin Feng and his men are planning a large-scale operation. Inadequate consideration and negligence are inevitable.
The big raft fort that Yin Feng came up with was inspired by the use of the Ming Dynasty army's large artillery "Dafa Ke" recorded in "Hai Hao Tu Pian". According to records, the Dafa Ke is actually a large artillery introduced to China from the West. The Ming army's warships were not strong enough. In water battles, "Thieves can use an ark as a formation. They can also use smaller ones. However, when the firepower is forward, the ship will vibrate and shrink, and all of them will crack and sink. They must be replaced." It can be carried on a raft and used."
This kind of heavy artillery is basically a decoration on the ship. In actual combat, there is no such thing as dragging a raft and firing artillery. Imagine that at a critical moment of battle, the sailors have to be busy hoisting the cannon onto the raft before fighting. It is simply not possible. Possible. In fact, this is related to the backward shipbuilding technology of the Ming Dynasty at this time. Not only ships with large load capacity cannot be built, but also the strength of the hull is not as strong as that of Western ships. Once the cannon is fired, the ship will be "shipped" They were shaken and shrunk, and all of them cracked and sank." However, Yin Feng did the opposite when he arrived. He used rafts as water forts and used the developed water system around Manila. It can be used as fire cover for sieges and can also be used as support. The battle between the northern and southern armies.
After the first burst of gunfire and artillery fire broke out on the north side of the Pasig River, the Chinese company troops on the south road stood firm and began to stand at attention. Yin Feng rode quickly in front of the front line and galloped past. Li Lihua was dressed in white and looked elegant. Their long hair and long skirt danced in the wind. Wherever they went, the soldiers were surprised, raised their guns and cheered: "The captain is victorious. Invincible. Invincible."
The auxiliary soldiers also waved their spears and muskets in the skirmish line, shouting "Invincible. Invincible. The great master will be victorious."
The supervisors began to check the preparation of each soldier in the army. The supervisors of each sentry, the supervisors of each battalion, and the supervisors of each regiment loudly announced Yin Feng's order at the front of the team:
"The land of Luzon, any land related to the Latins, will be confiscated and distributed to the soldiers who participated in the war today. It can be passed on to future generations. Anyone who died in the battle, their family members and children also have the right to receive land on Luzon Island. The soldiers who participated in the war. Different sizes of land can be allocated according to the size of military merit..."
Yin Feng did not discuss this "Military Merit Distribution Order" with others. He directly asked the people in charge of the military department to announce it. This kind of straightforward material stimulation is more powerful than the most powerful for most of the escort soldiers who are farmers at heart. The stimulants are even more useful. Although they don't know where the land on Luzon Island is and what it can be used for, the real land is more real than gold and silver in the eyes of most people.
All the soldiers who were already in a state of frenzy burst into deafening shouts: "Long live the captain. Long live."
The treasonous shouts hardly affected the mood of any officer. They also shouted: "Long live the President."
Finally, there were shouts of long live on the battlefield on the southern front. Yin Feng galloped to wherever he was on his war horse. The shouts of "Long live!" there were even louder. The shouts of "Long live the president!" came one after another to Fort Santiago to watch the battle. In the ears of Chen Di, the old general's face turned pale. The person overseeing the military department also read out the "Military Merit Distribution Order" among the soldiers left behind in the fortress. Suddenly, there were shouts of "Long live..." all around the old general Chen Di.
These landless farmers, fleeing farmers, refugees and other people turned warriors will fight for their own land. Chen Di is not a pedantic scribe. He immediately understood Yin Feng's intention. But he could not accept this approach: dividing Whether it's land or military merit, it's all something that the imperial court can do. Now, a group of merchants, pirates and fishermen are doing it. But doing so will not infringe on the imperial bureaucracy and the mainland's immediate interests. rights. Because this is an overseas distribution.
Under the influence of the fanatical emotions, Yin Feng aroused the fighting desire of the troops to the extreme without saying a word.
After running back and forth twice, he reined in his horse and raised his hands. All officers at all levels immediately issued commands one after another:
"Stand at attention. Load ammunition. Check trigger. Stand at attention."
At this time, the Spanish troops also stopped moving two miles away. The Spanish troops arrayed in five deep rows were thicker than the Chinese troops.
The deafening "Viva!" from the opposite side reached the ears of the Spaniards.
"Look, their morale is still very high." Archdeacon Flores, the military priest, said coldly: "We must attack to knock down their morale."
Lieutenant Colonel Azquita looked at the opponent's thin and long line with distress; this was a formation that did not conform to the current European military combat paradigm. In his opinion, the depth of the Chinese team except for the first loose skirmisher line There are only three rows, which is too thin. However, if the opponent does this, the front width of the Spanish army array will be far less than that of the Chinese army. It is very likely that the Spanish army will be outflanked by the Chinese on both sides during the battle.
He ordered the messenger to say: "Order the artillery team to fire. First bombard the opponent's array." Now the two sides are more than 1,000 meters apart. The maximum range of the field artillery shells can be reached. Captain Billagon said worriedly: "The opponent has more guns than us. ah."
Lieutenant Colonel Azquita said calmly: "Now it depends on which side's soldiers can withstand the bombardment."
The Spanish's eight 3-pound guns and two 6-pound guns were hauled up with great difficulty, dragged by horses and donkeys. Before they even had time to open fire, the Chinese on the opposite side had already set up artillery positions on both wings and in the center of the line. .Be the first to fire.
The professional artillery battalion formed by Yin Feng personally started the Chinese attack on Manila City with thirty light field guns on the left and right wings and ten 6-pound guns in the central position.
"Boom, boom, boom..." The sound of cannons shook the earth. Gunpowder smoke surged out and filled the front of the two armies.
The artillery shells fired crosswise from the north and south wings were able to penetrate the Spanish army's entire phalanx in a diagonal line. This maximized the power of the solid artillery shells. The Chinese artillery shells fired from the front also neatly aligned the Spanish troops. Make gaps one by one.
The Spanish artillery also fired back. Their artillery position was located in front of the square formation. They were almost directly bombarding the artillery of the Chinese central front.
The Spanish artillery shells penetrated the thin array of the Chinese Company's troops from the front, knocking down at most 3 or 4 people at a time. But even the soldiers next to their comrades who were knocked down by the shells seemed to be standing at attention like wooden stakes. There was no order. They will always stand here.
The booming sound of artillery sounded rapidly. Lieutenant Colonel Azquita, Captain Billagon and other Spanish officers painfully felt that this deal was not a good deal: when a Chinese artillery shell passed through the thick and tight Spanish phalanx, it often... It can knock down more than ten people at a time; even if the Spanish artillery shell hits directly head-on, it can only knock down three to four Chinese soldiers.
Moreover, although several gaps were made in the Chinese line by Spanish shells, all the soldiers stood tall like wooden stakes, motionless, and showed no sign of collapse.
"They are a real army. They cannot continue to be wasted like this. Our indigenous soldiers are already in chaos." Captain Billagon said anxiously to Lieutenant Colonel Azquita.
At this time, another burst of rapid shooting came from the direction of Binondo. The fierce fighting there seemed to have begun again.
"We can't delay it any longer." Lieutenant Colonel Azquita made a desperate decision: "Captain Billagon, order your second indigenous battalion to launch a charge. At the same time, order the rest of the troops to rearrange themselves into 4 rows. Line up. Width the front. Prepare for assault."
"Let a battalion attack. I'm afraid it will be useless. The enemy's artillery fire is very fierce..." Captain Billagon hesitated.
"This battalion is used to buy time for the headquarters to change its formation."
"Boom." An iron artillery shell from the Chinese army hit the mud five or six meters away from the two of them. It jumped and rolled out, breaking the front legs of the war horse mounted by a messenger next to the lieutenant colonel. The war horse screamed sadly. There was a sound. The messenger was thrown off his horse and injured. The soldiers rushed to help the messenger. After a period of confusion, Lieutenant Colonel Azquita gritted his teeth and issued a combat order to the officers:
"All troops will immediately switch to attack mode after changing their formations. This attack will determine the fate of Manila City and the Philippine Colony. Officers and soldiers of all departments should keep in mind the empire's expectations of you. In battle, a strong soldier is better than a ragtag group of people. Officers We should lead by example. And the soldiers should resolutely carry out the orders of their commanders and perform their duties with determination. Fight for God and the King. For 'gold, glory and gospel'."
Led by Archdeacon Flores, more than a dozen Catholic priests performed pre-battle prayers and blessing ceremonies for each unit. Captain Billagon detached a battalion of indigenous spearmen from the back row of the phalanx and detoured to the left flank of the unit. .launched an attack on the right wing of the Chinese front.
Li Kuiqi was busy adjusting the artillery positions on the central front artillery position. Andre, a Dutch mercenary officer and commander of the artillery battalion, comforted him with a telescope: "Don't worry. I saw the impact point of the bullet. It's only a few steps away from the Spanish officer. Again. A little to the left..."
Li Kuiqi said calmly: "It's the direction of the wind. That burst of wind just now saved this guy's life. I'll shoot again. I'll definitely..."
"Uh-uh-uh-uh." The rapid sound of the conch trumpet came over in the distance. This was a signal. A signal to change the direction of shooting. At this time, a group of Spanish native soldiers rushed out of their phalanx and headed towards the right flank of the Chinese army's line. Come.
"The President ordered us to fire on the right-wing enemy troops." Andre greeted Li Kuiqi and said: "Don't worry about that officer. Hurry and execute the order."
The spearmen and arquebusiers on the skirmisher line of the Chinese Company were moving to the right. The artillery concentrated on shooting at the group of Spanish native infantry who rushed out risking their lives.
Yin Feng was behind the central front. He was riding on a tall horse and looking in the direction of Binondo with a telescope. There was smoke and gunfire. It was obvious that a fierce battle was going on.
He thought for a while and then looked back at Yan Siqi. He saw this kid jumping up and down. He could no longer hold himself back.
"Yan Siqi, you take the army to support the northern front. Ji Zai, you take the indigenous troops and go to the northern front too. Remember, after capturing Binondo, quickly march to Venanduque on the edge of Manila and make a detour. Go behind the Qianlu people."
Yan Siqi jumped to his feet and shouted "Yes." He disappeared in a flash. Chen Zhongji stood at attention and saluted Yin Feng. He turned around and led the Taiwanese indigenous troops to march towards the northern front.
Continuous gunfire sounded in front of the front. Intense artillery shells were fired at the Spanish indigenous soldiers who were attacking the Chinese army's front. The Chinese soldiers on the right were soldiers of the third regiment. Amid a series of commands, they quickly raised their guns and took aim. Prepare to fire.
However, at a distance of about 1,000 steps between the two armies, countless artillery shells flew across. The attacking Pampanga indigenous soldiers were knocked down one after another. In just five minutes, more than 100 people of one battalion of attacking indigenous soldiers were knocked down by cannons. There were bloody corpses everywhere along the way. Not a single indigenous soldier could rush within 50 steps of the front of the Chinese line. They were summoned back by a burst of military music. Only one-third of the original number could return to the team alive. two.
However, these indigenous soldiers bought time for the main force. The well-trained Spanish army was able to quickly deploy a square formation in front of the enemy. At about 10 a.m., the Spanish launched a four-row deep horizontal array. Their marching drums beat a continuous rhythm. The Spanish army's front line now began to move towards the Chinese army. The front was covered by a skirmish line of indigenous soldiers who had retreated during the charge.
When they walked over from the plain, three of the Spanish artillery units had been damaged in the previous artillery battle. The Chinese artillery unit also stopped firing because the Spanish array had become longer at this time. It is thin and the killing effect of solid artillery shells is greatly reduced; moreover, in the following battle, it will have to rely on the combat effectiveness of the infantry.
The Spanish army, which had to stop and stand at attention every 50 steps, walked very slowly. It took ten minutes before they started to get within a distance of about a mile. The Spanish army's marching drum suddenly accelerated the rhythm. The whole army began to attack. They The left wing of the Chinese army, which is tilted back due to the terrain, is the focus of the attack. It is also close to the Pasig River. Lieutenant Colonel Azquita may want to get closer to Binondo's friendly forces.
Yin Feng could see it clearly from the horse. He immediately sent someone to notify the third regiment on the right wing of his team to take advantage of the momentum and deflect to the left front. When they were 300 yards away from the Chinese army, that is, less than 300 meters away, the Spanish army couldn't wait. The first platoon shot was fired. It is completely conceivable that the shooting effect was unsatisfactory at such a distance.
However, this first volley of gunshots marked the official start of the main battle between the Chinese United Company Army and the Spanish Imperial Colonial Army.