The news that Yin Feng was fighting the Spanish at the North Fortress quickly spread to the soldiers of the marching First Brigade.
"The ship's owner is at North Fort."
"The captain is fighting the Greeks."
"The Ganlu people have surrounded our ship owner. Brothers, what should we do?" At this moment, Zhao Tie was already standing on the saddle of his riding horse like the cavalry, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"kill."
The marching Chinese soldiers all had fire in their eyes. The commander, captain, and sentry commander in the team took the initiative to stand up. They pulled out the Japanese sword as a command knife and held it high. They issued an order to their troops: "Everyone pay attention. Forced march. !Target: North Fortress.”
The First Brigade put aside heavy weapons and equipment such as cannons and passed directly through Manila City and headed straight for the Pasig River.
Immediately after the black guards crossed the river, the foreign mercenaries and cavalry regiments waded across the Pasig River in Manila. The heavy cavalry abandoned their armor and detoured to the east of the northern fort together with the light cavalry. They were in There, there was a sudden encounter with German mercenaries by a small river. Neither side was prepared for battle. They all encountered them suddenly while marching.
Most of the cavalry were from the thieves in Lu Shitou's hometown of Shandong. They had lived on horses for several years. They quickly adjusted their formation and drew an arc in front of the German mercenaries who quickly gathered into a square formation. There was no direct response. Instead, they used the "circle drawing" skill that the light cavalry were good at. They held revolver pistols and fired at the German mercenary positions from various German principalities and city-states within a few dozen steps. Then they moved in circles to load ammunition. When he rode up to the German mercenary phalanx, he fired again.
The German musketeers also started shooting. However, the European mercenaries had to fight with the Chinese cavalry here and could not surround the northern fortress.
The foreign mercenaries of the Chinese Army fought with the American troops of the Spanish Expeditionary Force at the ferry. They were unable to break through the enemy's lines for a while. However, the Chinese Army's troops arrived one after another. Some of them were soldiers from various places who came spontaneously to garrison. All the boats on the Pasig River were commandeered. Many people used makeshift rafts to cross the river.
Colonel Castel, the commander of the Spanish American Forces, was surprised to see that the entire Pasig River was suddenly covered with various tools for crossing the river. The entire river was filled with densely packed Chinese soldiers crossing the river. It didn’t take long. In a hurry The Li Kuiqi Artillery Regiment hurriedly set up cannons on the other side. The shells roared and fell on the heads of the American troops who were arrayed on the river beach to block the attack.
A second lieutenant covered his bleeding head and found Colonel Custer: "Colonel, we can't stop them. There are at least 5,000 people on the river crossing the river. Escape quickly. The enemy's cavalry has appeared behind us. "
It was about 50 miles from Neihu to the Bashi River. Most of the soldiers from the First Brigade of the Chinese Army arrived in less than an hour on a forced march. They immediately launched a forced crossing and desperately crossed the river to the north.
In front of the north fort, the Spanish regular army seemed to have kicked an iron plate. Three consecutive attacks failed. When the Spanish army braved the artillery fire of the Chinese army and rushed to the edge of the fort, they were blocked by a trench that was more than two feet deep and wide. Then they were knocked to the ground in pieces by the bullets fired by the fusiliers at the top of the city and the cannon shot. They finally broke through the trench with planks of wood and trees. The Spanish army was also blown up by grenades thrown from the fortress.
Commander Fonseca looked anxiously at his soldiers through the telescope. They were being beaten down in piles in front of the fortress.
"Report. The American troops have retreated. The ferry has been completely controlled by the enemy." A messenger came to report.
Army commander General Juan Marillo said anxiously: "Commander, send the Andalusian battalion up and attack again. We will definitely be able to..."
"No. Withdraw troops. We immediately retreat westward to the mouth of the Bashi River. Send cavalry to send orders to the German troops. Let them retreat too. Hurry." Alonso Fonseca issued the order without any doubt.
"Why?" General Marillo asked, stamping his feet unwillingly.
"It's too late today. Night has fallen. There is no time for a decisive battle. Gather your troops and prepare for a decisive battle tomorrow."
The Spanish army retreated in time. And it shrunk very quickly. It immediately disappeared from the front of the fort. This prevented the first brigade from crossing the river and had no time to start. The battle for the northern fort ended. The Spanish army was able to avoid fighting the enemy when it was physically exhausted. Decisive battle. But the morale of the Chinese army is strong.
To be honest, during this period, the Chinese army's forced crossing of the Pasig River and the attack on the Spanish army were all spontaneous actions without unified command. The old battalion staff had formulated some plans against the Spanish in advance. However, the Spanish's risky landing behavior This was not considered by the young officers on the staff. When Yin Feng came out of the east gate of the North Fortress, he looked like a clay figure; when he repelled the third Spanish attack, a watchtower that was destroyed by Spanish cannons was almost destroyed. He was buried alive.
When he took over the command of Zhao Tie and Mai De, some sporadic troops such as the Zhuang Ding team took the initiative to attack the Spanish army. However, the well-trained Spanish regular army still maintained a strict formation and density while shrinking the troops. The firepower. The Zhuang Ding team that rushed forward suffered a heavy loss.
Fortunately, Yin Feng had a clear mind: Although the Spanish army suffered a setback, it did not lose its vitality. He quickly ordered the troops to withdraw and return to camp.
The Chinese army camped outside the east gate of the North Fortress. Yin Feng came to the gate tower of the east gate of the North Fortress. Under the night and under the light of torches, he saluted the Chinese soldiers who were marching below.
His silent action led Zhao Tie and other senior officers behind him. They all raised their hands across their chests to salute the soldiers.
The Chinese soldiers shouted fanatically: "The captain is victorious."
"The captain is invincible."
"Long live."
"Kill all the relevant people."
More than 30 people of the black guards led by Magaro were killed in the battle across the river, and more than 20 people were injured. At this moment, under the influence of fanaticism, they shouted "Long Live", raised their flintlocks and fired into the sky.
"Pah, pah, pah."
The action of firing a gun immediately spread. The musketeers among the Chinese soldiers below imitated the black people and fired into the air.
To the north of the Pasig River, the area around the North Fort has become a carnival place. The Chinese army seems to be celebrating its victory in advance.
Early the next morning, in the foreign mercenary camp by the bus river, Yin Feng's personal advisor, Catholic Jesuit priest Lu Ruohan, was praying for the soldiers before the war. In front of the cross, mercenaries from Europe and Southeast Asia knelt down. Most of the people are Portuguese. Malays, British, French, Germans, etc. are among them. Some Catholics from the Chinese army also came here to participate in the prayer ceremony.
"Our Father in heaven will exact his justice. We will follow the path of Jesus Christ and approach him..."
Inside the east gate of the North Fort, a group of Taoist priests in yellow carried the statues of Mazu and Guan Gong one after another. They walked out of the city gate to the sound of playing and beating music and walked past the Chinese soldiers standing at attention. Big guys. They all knelt down and kowtowed, and in unison they praised Mazu for her blessings.
Empress Mazu was invited by the Mazu Temple in Quanzhou. It is said to be very efficacious. Most of the Chinese soldiers present were Mazu believers. Others worshiped Guan Gong. At that time, the Mazu Temple in Meizhou was the birthplace of Mazu. However, Quanzhou The temple is the birthplace of Mazu, and its achievements have spread overseas and protected Sheji. Therefore, the Mazu statue here was invited from Quanzhou.
On a temporary high platform, Mazu and Emperor Guan were worshiped side by side in a very disharmonious manner. Zhao Tie, on behalf of Yin Feng, stepped forward to light incense and worship. Then, he turned to face the soldiers, pulled out the Japanese sword from his waist, and shouted. One voice: "Kill the enemy. You will win."
…
In military history, with the development of weapons, the Spanish army developed tactics of coordinating hot and cold weapons. It organized light firearms soldiers into formations and mixed them with spearmen into several fixed columns in order to maintain the stability of firepower. When the front row of musketeers finished shooting and prepared to reload, the rear row of musketeers moved forward, stood on the firing line, and prepared to shoot. When such a large formation engaged in combat, the spearmen were the first to bear the brunt. This became a unique feature of the Spanish army. .So it is sometimes called the "Spanish Phalanx". For a long period of time in the 16th century, this well-trained phalanx enabled the Spanish army to support each other with matchlocks and spearmen in combat. The procedures were strict and invincible.
By the end of the 16th century, the power of this formation continued to increase as the proportion of musketeers increased. In addition, the lighter and more mobile arquebusiers almost completely became the backbone force adapted to small-scale battles.
At this moment, the Spanish infantry is deployed in a line. On the right is the Native American white troops, deployed close to the Pasig River beach; there is also a European mercenary unit on the left wing. There is also a 200-man sailor as a reserve. On the central front is 3,000 Spanish local regular troops. Artillery was deployed on both wings of the central formation.
The Spanish right wing is commanded by General Juan Marillo. The left wing is commanded by the German mercenary leader Colonel Hans. The central front is commanded by Commander Fonseca. He is also the commander-in-chief of the entire army.
The Spanish Grand Square in the center is the entire essence of the Spanish Asian Expeditionary Force.
Yin Feng, who was standing at the top of the city, put down his telescope. He sneered and said to the missionaries Lu Ruohan, You Wenhui, the first brigade commander Zhao Tie, the deputy brigade commander Mai De and others around him: "This is the so-called Spanish phalanx. It seems that .The Greeks are waiting for us to attack. So, let’s attack.”
The Chinese army, shouting long live, attacked.
To the south of the North Fortress, on the left wing of the Chinese army are the foreign mercenary camp and the Taiwanese indigenous barracks. Walking at the front of the team is the third battalion of the first regiment of the first brigade. There are a total of more than 1,500 soldiers along this route.
Attacking from the west gate of the North Fortress was Li Kuiqi's artillery regiment. A full 80 field guns of various types were pushed forward; following the artillery was the main force of the 1st Brigade, a total of 7 battalions of fusiliers. There are nearly 5,000 people, including artillery. On the right wing, there are two battalions of the First Brigade infantry, plus a battalion of fusiliers from Li Xing's third regiment, and five sentries of the Sailor Musketeers. There are 2,000 soldiers. At the same time Yin Feng regarded his guards and cavalry regiments as reserves. There were also more than 1,000 Zhuang Ding troops who came from various places. They were all deployed in the fortress as reserves.
Fonseca was observing the situation of the Chinese on a temporary high platform behind the Spanish phalanx. He was curious as to why two masts were erected in front of the Chinese army's position.
The priest accompanying the army was praying for the Spanish before the battle. The human prayer recited in Latin was very similar to what the foreign mercenaries of the Chinese army heard.
Suddenly, the artillery team in front of the Chinese army's central front fired a cannon. The shells bounced several times a dozen steps in front of the Spanish square, knocking over two Spanish spearmen.
Li Kuiqi stood at his command position. He looked up at the lookout on the mast and asked loudly: "What's the impact point of the bullet?"
Dozens of people were on the mast supported below. The best lookout invited from the naval fleet replied loudly: "Ten steps away from the enemy's position. Two steps to the left."
Li Kuiqi opened several rolls of paper in his hand. On them were printed the words "cannonball distance scale", "cannonball altitude table" and other words; this is a set of cannon shooting mathematical formulas calculated and deduced by the missionary Lu Ruohan and the four-person firearms team of the Ordnance Research Department. Table. Used to adjust the accuracy of cannon shooting.
After a simple calculation, Li Kuiqi ordered each gun to adjust the muzzle height and angle accordingly. As ten trumpeters on the North Fortress blew the long conch horn at the same time, 80 field guns in front of the Chinese army's position opened fire at the same time.
Li Kuiqi's artillery position is divided into two rows, front and rear. The 50 guns in the front row mainly fire solid iron bullets. The 30 guns in the back fire explosive grenades.
The artillery shells were fired at both wings of the Spanish square. At the same time, the two wings of the Chinese army attacked at the same time.
The Spanish's large phalanx was not adapted to attack. General Fonseca's plan was to wait for the Chinese to attack, then use the large phalanx to defeat the enemy's offensive, and then counterattack. In the previous battle under the city of Manila, the Spaniards launched an active attack. As a result, the battle was defeated. Fonseca and other senior Spanish figures did not realize that the Chinese army's flexible tactics were the key to victory. They just believed that under the same conditions of using firearms, the Spanish phalanx's defensive capabilities would be able to block the Chinese attack. They attacked the Chinese The military's understanding was limited to what Monk Dasmarinas said when he asked Mexico to send troops: There are many firearms and many people.
Monk Dasmarinas is still working hard in the coal mines of Taiwan. And the Spanish Expeditionary Force will face the most violent shelling on the field battlefield in the history of war.
Raindrops of artillery shells fell on the dense Spanish phalanx. The solid shells made bloody lanes, and the explosive shells exploded gaps in the position. The Chinese army, full of confidence in victory, first launched an attack on both wings. .
The left wing of the Chinese army, the foreign mercenary battalion and the Taiwanese indigenous barracks, followed closely behind the 500 fusiliers of the third battalion of the first regiment of the first brigade. They launched an attack on the Spanish American troops. The first regiment's five-gun light field gun belonged to the artillery sentry. The cannon and the ten cannons of the artillery regiment on the other side of the Pasig River simultaneously bombarded the American troops.
The Spanish army's artillery was concentrated in front of the large square formation and was engaged in an artillery battle with Li Kuiqi's artillery. It was unable to support the friendly forces on both wings.
The American troops, who suffered heavy losses at the ferry yesterday, were fired upon by two volleys of Chinese troops approaching within 100 paces a quarter of an hour after the battle began. The range and rate of fire of the Chinese flintlock guns exceeded that of the American troops' matchlocks. With only two volleys, almost all the musketeers on the front line of the American troops were lost.
The part of the American troops near the Pasig River Beach that was concentratedly fired by the Chinese army's artillery shells could not hold on at first. Half an hour after the war started, the right wing of the American troops collapsed. A group of sailor musketeers crossed the Pasig River and seized the Pasig River Beach. The foreign mercenaries gathered together and outflanked the right flank of the American troops. The third battalion of the first regiment on the front launched a bayonet charge. They passed through the sparse and incomplete Spanish spearmen array and rushed into the core of the American troops.
The battle situation developed unexpectedly fast. By the time Yin Feng turned his head, the American troops had basically collapsed.
He excitedly said to the guard captain Lin Yue, the Chinese Jesuit monk You Wenhui, and the Portuguese missionary Lu Ruohan: "Look, the American troops are finished. The messenger ordered the left wing commander Yang Dacheng to march to the mouth of the Pasig River and occupy the Spanish." The landing bridgehead, and then bypass the Spanish Grand Square on the front."
Lin Yue whispered: "The ship owner, representatives of the landowners and big businessmen are here..."
Yin Feng's face darkened: "Oh, they are here. Let them go to the top of the city. Come here and see how my army fights."