The Spanish rulers of the Philippine colony almost thought that their army was close to victory. But just a few minutes later, the Spanish army completely collapsed.
There are now only dozens of Spanish soldiers and 100 unreliable armed black slaves in Manila. On the battlefield outside the city, the Spanish regular troops, indigenous soldiers, and Pampanga indigenous auxiliary troops have all fled. Chinese troops in black uniforms are closing in on them. Follow them closely and assassinate them mercilessly. The Chinese also broke through the position in the direction of Binondo. The Pasig River was already covered with Chinese sampans and boats. A large number of Chinese sampans and boats appeared in the west and north of Manila. Chinese army. At this time, the Royal City of Manila was almost an undefended city.
A group of regular Spanish soldiers gathered under the city wall. There were about 80 of them. They were Spanish heavy matchlock gunners and Mushtaq musket gunners. They were well-trained, experienced in hundreds of battles, and experienced. They gathered together to form A small square formation, facing the city gate, used the swords and short spears they carried to resist the Chinese.
At the beginning of the battle, Zhao Tie's troops suffered the most casualties in the Spanish army's volley fire. At this moment, they rushed over like furious tigers. The bayonet on the Chinese army's musket was a weapon unheard of by Spanish soldiers. In actual combat, it was obviously more The Spanish swords and short spears were more effective. More than 200 people from one battalion of the first regiment stabbed all the Spanish veterans to death at the base of the city wall with just one charge. No one was left alive.
The Spanish officers previously did not understand that most of the Chinese used muskets: at that time, the use of muskets could not completely solve the battle. In the end, the victory had to be decided by cavalry or close combat. They did not understand that almost 90% of the Chinese used muskets. How to engage in close combat in the end. The unexpected bayonet shattered the Spaniards' last illusions.
The role of the bayonet was brought into full play at this moment. Countless Spanish soldiers and indigenous soldiers were killed by the bayonet. Pursuing troops from all walks of life approached the west gate of Manila. Countless Spanish soldiers who did not choose their way jumped into the moat and swam desperately toward the city gate. The pursuing Chinese forgot to ask the enemy to surrender. The defeated Spanish army also forgot to surrender in their extreme panic.
"We are finished. Governor, what should we do?" Bishop Benavidez said tremblingly.
The fall of Cebu meant that Spanish rule over the islands in the southeastern Philippines had collapsed; now, the Spanish army was defeated in the city of Manila. What this means is already very obvious.
The rumbling sound of artillery suddenly came from the direction of the North City Gate. A floating fort suddenly appeared on the Pasig River. It was violently bombarding Nihonmachi on the water.
Yin Feng asked Da'an's mountain allies and a battalion of the third regiment to march south, bypassing the southern part of the royal city, and inserting it into the inner lake southeast of Manila City, cutting off the Spanish's escape channel in the upper reaches of Manila. The northern route Li The Hoshisuo Division sent one force to cooperate with the foreign mercenaries in attacking the Japanese town. The rest of the main force went to attack the North Gate.
Yin Feng's order to the foreign mercenaries was very simple: everything in Nippon Town is yours.
After reassigning tasks to various units, it was already around noon.
In the eyes of the Spaniards who were scared to death, the Chinese army had become a sleepless killing weapon. Although two hours had passed since the war started, the Chinese soldiers still did not rest. They were still chasing the defeated Spanish troops on the plains west of Manila. The corpses of Spanish colonists and indigenous soldiers were everywhere in the swamps and on the riverside beaches. All the colonial farms, checkpoints and other buildings along the road were all burned down by the vengeful Chinese.
Yin Feng rode a tall Andalusian war horse. He quickly jumped over countless enemy corpses. He was approaching the front line of the battlefield. Beside him, heralds in red uniforms and holding flags followed him all the way. They were everywhere on the battlefield. He ran away and announced Yin Feng's order: "The president has an order. All the soldiers who surrendered and surrendered were not allowed to be killed without reason. All the native soldiers who surrendered were not allowed to be killed without reason. Noble officers and prisoners were taken to the old camp first. Disposal."
Although Yin Feng came to repay the blood debt from the Spanish colonists, he was a time traveler after all and did not like unlimited killing.
Chinese Jesuit priest You Wenhui and several believers followed the herald and shouted the order again in Spanish.
Wherever Yin Feng's horses went, they saved the lives of many Spanish soldiers who were in danger of death. The number of Spaniards and local natives who knelt down and surrendered according to Chinese rules gradually increased.
Just an hour ago, Chinese soldiers attacked the west gate of the royal city in one go. Some soldiers gathered near the city gate, organized by Captain Billagon who miraculously escaped from the battlefield, did not close the city gate first, but formed a formation on the side of the drawbridge. The formation attempted to block the Chinese army's attack so that more defeated troops could escape into the city. Facts have proved that Captain Billagon's move created good conditions for the Chinese to capture Manila in one fell swoop.
The furious Chinese warriors on the opposite side ignored the spears and muskets of the Spanish army. First they threw a pile of smoking clay pots and iron pots. The booming explosion and the flying iron sand and iron pieces shattered the Spanish formation. Ghosts cried and wolves howled; they were originally frightened birds who had survived the disaster. When the Chinese soldiers rushed to the suspension bridge and used bayonets to open the way and assassinated all the enemies near the city gate who dared to resist, the Spanish soldiers collapsed again. No one was able to raise organized resistance again. Captain Billagon disappeared. No one saw him again. Some said he fell into the moat and drowned.
The rebels marched across the royal city, crying all the way: "It's over. The physiological man has entered the city! Run for your life. The infidels have entered the city."
In fact, the Chinese who rushed to the west city gate were just a group of less than 30 soldiers from the third battalion of the first regiment. If the Spaniards resolutely counterattacked, they would still have time to close the city gate.
This group of soldiers stormed into the city gate. I was shocked. What I saw in front of me was a city densely populated with high-rise buildings. Most of this group of soldiers came from rural areas along the coast of Fujian. They had only heard of Luzon from relatives and friends. People have been overseas. They are a little worried at this time. In case the enemy counterattacks, their numbers are a bit small.
Captain Yang Dacheng was only 20 years old. He was originally a farmer near Quanzhou. In the 32nd year of Wanli, Quanzhou was hit by a hurricane and flood. His family was completely destroyed by the disaster. He was the only one left to survive. After that, the Chinese Company came to Quanzhou to bring him and his family. A group of orphans were all recruited to Taiwan.
He volunteered to be a soldier because he could make more money. At this time, he took a brief look at the terrain and immediately decided to pull up the suspension bridge first. Because there were still piles of related wax soldiers on the plain to the west of the city. Running here, facing these guys who are just running for their lives, it is difficult to block the city gate with more than 30 people on hand when facing threats in the city.
Yang Dacheng's team guarded the west city gate for an hour. They repelled several insurrectionary attacks and waited for the main force to arrive without any danger. Yang Dacheng was promoted to the commander of the third battalion on the spot by Yin Feng because he was the first to enter the city.
Li Kuiqi's artillery battalion tried their best to push the artillery cart as fast as the infantry. Finally, some soldiers of the third regiment captured the Spanish artillery team and sent the horses and donkeys pulling the artillery cart away. It was given to the artillery battalion. Li Kuiqi finally caught up with the brigade. The artillery position was deployed on a small high ground on the bank of the Bashi River 300 steps away from the city wall of the Royal City - this area had been surveyed by agents of the China Company a few months ago. .
More than 30 artillery pieces fired intensively, immediately suppressing the artillery fire of Cigli Fort. The remaining dozen or so Spanish gunners on the fort abandoned the fort after the death of the gunner, climbed down the city wall, and merged into the tide of rebels. He had to run for his life. Li Kuiqi only fired one round of shooting, and the enemy stopped. This made him feel very unsatisfied.
At this time, the messenger came running up holding a red flag: "Batalion Commander Li. The President ordered your artillery team to enter the city quickly."
"What? Is the city gate open?" Li Kuiqi was ordering his men to put away the gun mounts and prepare to maneuver. He was shocked when he heard this.
"Yes. The brothers from the 1st Regiment and 3rd Battalion have already seized the west gate." the messenger replied.
Li Kuiqi cursed loudly: "Damn it, it's useless to have anything to do with the Rats. I'm even planning to use my cannon to blast the city gate."
Almost at the same moment, the North City Gate was opened by spies of the Chinese Company. The Third Infantry Regiment of the Chinese Company Guards also entered the Intramuros of Manila.
Governor Aguna on the top of the city has lost the ability and interest to speak. Flames and thick smoke have been erupting everywhere in his city. Thick smoke is also billowing from the direction of Nihonmachi. A large number of Japanese immigrants have fled from the residential area. On the walls of Manila The open space between the Bashi River and the Bashi River was wantonly massacred by foreign hired evaders.
Governor Aguna stood up expressionlessly. The colorless Fernando opposite said: "Old friend, let's go down together to face our fate. May God bless you."
In February of the thirty-fifth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty and in March of 1607 AD, Manila, the capital of the Spanish Empire's Philippine colony, changed hands. In this battle, more than 650 Spanish regular troops died in the battle. More than 1,500 indigenous soldiers died in the battle. The rest include More than 400 colonist veterans, Japanese Allied Forces, etc. were also killed. It was probably the largest military defeat in the history of the Spanish colonies.
The remaining broken troops were unable to escape. They were intercepted by the Sailor Musketeers of the Chinese Company and the Allied Mountain Tribe Army at the mouth of the Neihu Lake. They finally surrendered.
Yin Feng rode a tall horse and stood at the city gate to review his troops as they entered the city.
There is no doubt that Spanish rule in the Philippines has been ended. From now on, this place will be ruled by the Chinese.
Back then, as soon as Yin Feng arrived on Luzon Island, he was busy rescuing people and escaping. He had no chance to enter the city of Manila. Now, he was outside the city gate, sighing with emotion at the city that he had stepped on. He looked around. The results of more than three years of hard work were right in front of him. He actually felt more timid about being close to home.
There are some wetland trees with white flowers growing in the swamp pond next to the moat. Li Lihua noticed Yin Feng's gaze and whispered beside his horse: "The name of Manila City comes from this kind of wetland tree with white flowers. .It’s called d. Look, these white flowers are blooming. They look like pairs of bright eyes looking at you.”
Yin Feng smiled. He pulled her onto the horse and held her in his arms: "Let's go into the city and let everyone see how Miss Li conquered Manila."
Chen Di looked behind and shook his head. However, almost all the soldiers of the Chinese army were in boundless joy and excitement. Whatever Yin Feng did, they took it for granted. Thousands of arms raised their guns and shouted: "President leads
Ten thousand victories. Ten thousand victories." The soldiers lined up through the city gate. Together with Yin Feng, they entered the largest colonial stronghold of the Spanish Empire in the Far East.
Van Leyden watched the Chinese cheering for victory not far away. He smiled bitterly and said to his companions: "Look, we helped build such a powerful army. God only knows whether they will become ours."
opponent."
The fellow Dutch mercenary smiled and said: "You didn't think of it until now. I am really willing to see the Chinese occupy Luzon. In any case, it is better than letting the damn Spaniards occupy it."
You Wenhui leaned on the crenellations on the city tower and looked at the plain where the smoke had not yet cleared. On the city tower, he drafted a report to Baradas and Father Matteo Ricci, the bishop of the Chinese Diocese of the Jesuits. The opening line of his report read: "China
People have begun a new era of relying on armed forces to develop overseas..."
Yin Feng immediately announced a curfew after entering the city. The Chinese army searched for Spanish whites everywhere. The black slaves were collectively detained in the Manila Cathedral, while the whites were all escorted out of the city and imprisoned in a temporary concentration camp on Binondo Island. Since Spain
People always like to lock the Chinese in a closed community. Now let them have a taste.
Secondly, Yin Feng dispatched troops to attack everywhere and seized all Spanish manors and plantations, including the land owned by the Catholic Church; in the Philippines, the church is actually the largest landowner. Yin Feng also divided the military merit into the implementation details of the land.
The plan was announced. For example, all soldiers who were allocated land must fight for the company for ten years before they could receive the full land allocation, etc.
Then Yin Feng prepared to organize a court to try those criminals who participated in the massacre of Chinese three years ago.
"Why should there be any trial? Just burn them all." Zhao Tie, who had more than a dozen uncles and brothers died at the hands of the Spanish, was very confused. He almost slammed the table and asked Yin Feng. Among his troops.
Originally, Manila had the largest number of escapees. Most of the middle and lower-level officers escaped from Manila. Therefore, they were the most murderous in this battle. Countless manor churches were burned down along the way. This prompted You Wenhui to constantly come to Yin Feng to complain.
"Commander Zhao Tie." Yin Feng shouted sternly. Zhao Tie stood at attention and saluted instinctively. His face turned red. He said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, captain. My old Zhao has this temper..."
"No. It's not your words, but the actions of your men. Did you allow them to burn down St. Augustine's Cathedral?"
"Yes. It's that Ordinary Church. It's just because the priest inside is scolding us..."
St. Augustine Church was the first church built after the Spanish occupied Manila. After it was built in 1571, it was almost burned down by Chinese pirates led by Lin Feng. After being rebuilt due to a fire in 1599, it became a stone Baroque style church building. Later generations
It is one of the cultural heritage sites of the United Nations. Now, even if Yin Feng wants to visit it, he can't. It was burned down by fire by Zhao Tie's men. This is probably its fate. In the end, it will end up in the hands of the Chinese.
"There are at least a hundred women and children imprisoned among the Spaniards in Binondo. Do you plan to burn them too?"
Zhao Tie lowered his head and said: "Cut the grass and root out the roots. Not many of these white devils are good people."
"There are not a few. Then there are a few. We killed all the women and children indiscriminately. Isn't this the same as those people who have relations with each other?" Yin Feng stepped forward and patted Zhao Tie's thick shoulder, smiling. Said: "I promise that everyone who has anything to do with that massacre will not escape punishment. When the time comes, you will perform the punishment ceremony. How about. However, you'd better restrain your subordinates. This city is ours now. It’s the company’s property. They have their own share of what they burned. Do you understand?”