A drum beat came from the direction of the manor, a bugle sounded, and the officer shouted a command.
Yin Feng and others immediately lay down on the ground and did not dare to move. This place was too close to the manor, less than a mile away. If it were not separated from the dense forest by a small river, the Pampanga auxiliary soldiers might have searched this area.
Soon, a well-equipped Spanish infantry company lined up in three columns, walked out of the manor and headed north. The soldiers were wearing armor, with serious and fanatical expressions, and walked forward with confidence. The colonist militia also lined up in columns,
The formation set off in an orderly manner with high morale. Later, several large vehicles carrying ammunition and other heavy supplies also drove out of the manor gate under the protection of the indigenous auxiliary troops.
This team passed in front of Yin Feng and others, and the Pampanga auxiliary soldiers on both wings even passed 10 steps away from Yin Feng. Regardless of
Regardless of his position, Yin Feng had to admit that the Spanish army in front of him was indeed a strong force.
From the end of the 15th century to the middle of the 17th century, Spain was a powerful military power in Europe. For a long period of time, whether on land or at sea, Spain's military strength was at the forefront of Europe. In terms of military systems, military management, strategies and tactics, etc.
, Spain’s influence on Europe and the world has lasted for more than a century. The Spanish army is mainly infantry, which has a higher status than other arms and a higher salary than other arms. The infantry regiment organization adopted by the Spanish army is also the basis of modern infantry regiments.
pioneer.
The Spanish infantry regiment was a tactical unit of about 3,000 men. Each regiment had 12 companies, each with about 250 men. In the mid-16th century, the number of pikemen and arquebusiers in the company was equal. One company had a captain of 1
There are 1 second lieutenant and one non-commissioned officer, and 10 squad leaders. The infantry regiment is headed by a colonel, with a major, an adjutant, and several staff officers. The regiment leader has a guard composed of 8 spearmen. Each
There are 13 chaplains in the regiment. The medical staff includes one surgeon, one surgeon and one pharmacist. At the beginning, each infantry regiment consisted of several columns of varying numbers, and was eventually standardized to three columns. With spears
The formation of the infantry regiment composed of soldiers and arquebusiers is the famous "Spanish Phalanx". The Spanish Phalanx was very influential and soon became a model for European countries to follow, lasting more than 100 years.
What is strange is that Spain has been able to maintain its military advantage for more than 100 years, but there are almost no famous generals passed down from generation to generation. In fact, after the Spanish army formed a complete system, it became very inflexible, and all actions were determined by doctrine and system.
It is not easy for generals to bring out their personal qualities. However, the military training of the Spanish army is meticulous and the recruit training system is very complete. They are not stingy in rewarding military achievements, creating a group of soldiers with a fanatical professional soldier spirit. They have high morale in the war and a high degree of loyalty.
Self-confidence and a spirit of collectivism. With a fanatical sense of military honor and well-trained Spanish soldiers, they became the best soldiers in Europe at that time. They were proud of being professional soldiers. This was essentially the same as the mercenaries of other European countries at that time.
Difference. Therefore, the Spanish army can defeat any army under the same conditions.
Of course, in the Spanish infantry regiments, arquebusiers and spearmen are the main arms. In an era when firearms had not yet replaced cold weapons, spears were still extremely lethal weapons. At the end of the 15th century, Spain supported Naples in the war with France.
Spanish General Gonzalo de Cordoba was the first to use trenches to save troops. He also mixed arquebusiers and spearmen into a mixed organization, using spearmen to provide reliable protection for the arquebusiers, solving a long-standing problem.
A difficult problem in infantry combat.
In the 1620s, the Spanish invented the Mushtec musket, a heavy matchlock gun. The caliber of the gun is within 23 mm, the gun weighs 8-10 kg, and the range can reach 250 meters. This gun is placed on a wooden fork.
Shooting, it has great lethality and can penetrate enemy armor. However, this gun is complicated to operate and was replaced by the improved heavy musket by the end of the 16th century.
The current Spanish unit is mainly equipped with a relatively light type of matchlock gun. In addition, the spearmen are mainly provided by Pampanga auxiliaries.
Yin Feng carefully observed the Spanish army and found that the weapons of the colonial militia were relatively messy. It seemed that many of the muskets were not military standard weapons. There were also veterans holding heavy muskets with wooden frames, and some carrying several long guns. This made him feel very sad.
A complicated situation emerged: several Chinese Christians were also walking in the middle of the team, talking to the Spanish officers as they walked. These should be the Chinese translators of the Spanish army, working hard for the Spaniards who massacred the Chinese.
At this time, Major Cutre said softly on the side: "This is the Spanish long sword." He pointed to the front with his eyes. It was a young noble officer, riding on a horse, holding a protective handle and attaching it to the front.
The long sword on the gauntlet directs the troops to advance.
Courtre said in a whisper: "This officer is a captain at such a young age. He should be from a noble family, otherwise he would not have such a long sword. The style of this long sword with a cage handle is at least 100 years ago, and it must be his."
Family weapons. By the way, this is the heraldic accessory of the Aguna family in Madrid..."
He said in an odd tone: "If I hadn't met him here, I would have dueled him."
Yin Feng looked at him doubtfully, but the major refused to say another word and kept staring at the young noble officer with hatred in his eyes.
…
In the evening, Mai Xiaoliu and Magalo led 10 sailors and four servants from the Zeng family who could swim to carry Zeng Jingshan. Several servants from the Li Dan family accompanied Li Lihua and marched to the north bank of the Pasig River again in the dark;
The waterway retreated to the Xinxing ship, and then the Xinxing immediately went to the Badanyan coast to join the Fuxing, waiting for the arrival of Yin Feng and others.
Major Cutre insisted on staying with Yin Feng because he was familiar with the terrain and proficient in Spanish tactics.
Yin Feng followed the Spanish army with Major Cutre, Lin Xiao and several men from the Zeng family, plus 50 sailors, a total of 60 people, carrying 60 light matchlock guns and enough ammunition to fire the muskets 30 times.
They set off secretly. In fact, there were only 52 people who could operate these Portuguese light matchlock guns made in Siam, including Yin Feng. The remaining eight people were all clerks and servants of the Zeng family, and they voluntarily stayed to rescue Zeng Yue—
—This young and friendly shopkeeper is quite popular.
That night, the Spanish army camped near the Tondo Church, and sent out sentries and Pampanga scouts as far as the Del Monte Monastery five miles away. Apparently, they had learned from the surprise attack on Captain Gaspar in Binondo.
Lessons.
This caused a lot of trouble for Yin Feng's team. In order to avoid the Spanish sentries, they had to lurk in the forest on the edge of the swamp and endured mosquito bites for most of the night. After years of living at sea, the sailors had enough food to eat.
Well, physical training is carried out every day, and the body is very healthy and can withstand the fatigue of long journeys and late nights. The same cannot be said for the servants. In the morning, they all looked pale and couldn't hold on anymore, so they all dozed off.
In desperation, Yin Feng had no choice but to let the sailors eat some big biscuits for breakfast. Cutre sent the two most astute sailors out to conduct reconnaissance and brought back some water.
Not long after, a little sailor who went out for reconnaissance came back quickly. "Shipowner, a group of people is coming! It's the Tang people who have shaved their heads!"
"Are there no Spaniards?" Yin Feng asked quickly.
"No, there is a Tang man wearing a black robe of a Western monk who is also in the team. It's very strange."
Yin Feng looked at Lin Xiao and felt very strange: The Spanish army was nearby. How could any Chinese Christians come here at this time? He became curious and led a dozen people, fully armed, to bend over.
I walked through the forest and came to a stream on the edge of the swamp, and heard the noise of people in front of me.
About a dozen people were collecting water by the creek. A short and thin middle-aged man stood alone, wearing a Western-style tuxedo, looking up at the sky, with a worried look on his face and sighing. This is the current Chinese manager of Balian.
, Huang Kang.
He obeyed the order of the Governor of Manila and came to the Tondo Swamp where the Chinese gathered yesterday. He tried to make a last effort to maintain peace and called on the Chinese to disband and return to Balian. He could not even persuade his own son.
His eldest son Huang Da (Anthony) has become the leader of the Chinese Christians who gathered here to participate in the uprising. The big bosses of Zhangzhou, Chaozhou and Quanzhou Chinese, and the leaders of various guilds, in turn, persuaded him to join the uprising.
He was publicly recommended as the leader of all the rebel Tang people. After all, Huang Kang's prestige in Balian was won by his fairness and selflessness.
"Master Manager, please stay! There is no leader here. Each family has its own leader. People from all walks of life combine themselves and do not belong to each other. Only you can lead us all. Stay and start a war with the related people!"
Seeing that the crowd was furious and the conflict between the Chinese and the Spanish could no longer be reconciled, Huang Kang tried hard to persuade him all night, but to no avail.
"Although we Tang people are large in number, the related Rats have sophisticated weapons and sharp firearms. Their city walls are tall and strong. The cannons, muskets and bows and arrows fired from above will make it impossible for us to get close. We are unarmed and no one knows how to fight. At most
We have done piracy, and if we fight against these people who are accustomed to fighting and possess sharp firearms, we will suffer a loss: Lin Feng had such a strong army back then, wouldn’t it be impossible to capture Manila? And once the war started, the entire Luzon
Their troops will come from various places for reinforcements, and the natives will also help them, but you will not have anyone to help you. Without food, grass and weapons, you cannot persist here for a long time! Negotiate with the wax people.
Let’s negotiate…”
Some Chinese leaders stood up and shouted: "Master Manager, the Latins have already taken action, why are we still negotiating!"
"Look at the brothers around you, steward! Many of us have already died, and the killing has started long ago. The Greeks will never negotiate with us. The governor's order is to let us return to the place where we work, but
It’s not about negotiation!”
"Yes, yes, yes! No, let us continue to put our lives and property in the hands of these unfaithful Greeks and Japanese pirates as we did before. We are not willing! No! Never!"
When Huang Kang faced many Chinese people who had lost their fathers, brothers, nephews, and listened to their angry accusations, he felt that he was powerless and could do nothing. He could only repeatedly say empty words of comfort.
This morning, he rejected everyone's recommendation, left the Tondo camp with a heavy heart, and went back to report to Governor Pedro.
"Father! The Greeks will never believe you again! The war has already started, do you want to go back?" Huang Da persuaded his father to stay for the last time at the entrance of the passage paved with vegetation.
Huang Kang smiled bitterly, said nothing, turned around and walked towards Manila. After a few steps, he turned back with a surprisingly calm face: "Son, please pray to God to bless you. I don't know now.
Should I call him Batista or Huang Kang?" He went on the road again without looking back. Huang Da looked at his back and sighed.
Huang Kang's Christian name is Juan Battista de Vera. He got it when Father Salazar, the first Archbishop of Manila, baptized him. The surname "Villa" comes from the former Governor San
Diego de Vera, Huang Kang is his godson.
When Yin Feng saw him, he was on his way back to Manila. As soon as he returned, he was arrested by Governor Pedro and thrown into prison for inciting rebellion. Although Yin Feng sympathized with this man who was a leader between China and the West.
He was a tragic figure who suffered for a long time, but now he can only let him go - this is Huang Kang's fate: abandoned by his motherland, suspected by the Spanish colonists, and finally killed.
"boom!"
"boom!"
Bursts of gunfire rolled through the air in the north, and then the sound of musket shooting came intermittently. It came from the direction of the Del Monte Monastery north of the Tondo Church.
Yin Feng returned to the ambush site. The two sailors who had gone out for reconnaissance came back and rushed to report to him: "Captain, the Gansu people set off in the morning, marching north. Now, the native troops staying in the church are also
On the way there."
Half an hour later, Yin Feng and others stood on top of a hill and saw the high stone wall of Del Monte Monastery, as well as the thick smoke surrounding it, and hundreds of muskets firing intensively and frequently.
Countless Chinese people are flocking around the monastery.