In January 1643 in the Western calendar and in December of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen in the Eastern calendar, Zheng Zhilong led the Zheng army's main land division of about 20,000 people, 500 battleships, and 500 auxiliary ships to land in Luzon.
The purpose of this landing is not to ask for an explanation from the Philippine Governor Coquilla. The ultimatum time has passed, and Mr. Zheng wants to ask for it back with interest on behalf of a certain prince!
The Philippine Islands eat everyone, and so do the people on the islands. No matter they are local indigenous people or Spaniards, anyone who dares to resist will not survive!
Before sending troops, Zheng Zhilong had already discussed with a certain prince how to divide the cake.
The land and population belong to the imperial court, and Luzon will be used as a base to grow food in the future.
Except for the Ming merchants, those who could be shipped and taken away were regarded as the military expenses awarded to Zheng Zhilong.
In support of Zheng Zhilong's operation, a certain prince allocated 200 anti-ship missiles and 200 black shark mines free of charge.
In addition, 100 new bronze cannons, 5,000 flintlock muskets, 500 revolver rifles and related ammunition were sold to Zheng Zhilong.
In order to prevent Zheng Zhilong's soldiers from getting sick while fighting in the tropics, 10,000 boxes of Shushuang and 100 bottles of Zhenling, as well as some other medicines, were given free of charge.
In terms of food and salary, Zheng Zhilong had to raise his own funds, and the court was powerless.
But it doesn't matter, the Spanish are extremely rich, Zheng Jun can be self-sufficient locally.
The blood of tens of thousands of Ming merchants, their families and servants will not be shed in vain. Ming people overseas are not abandoned sons and daughters, let alone wandering ghosts.
Zheng Zhilong mobilized his troops this time to avenge them!
The conditions offered to Coquilla are simple, either a compensation of 10 million taels of silver or an unconditional surrender!
Apart from this, there is no third way!
Zheng Jun's fleet soon surrounded a total of thirty-four large ships anchored in Manila Bay, including those encountered in the outer sea and quickly ran back, and completely blocked the exit of the bay.
Although all of them are large ships with more than five to six hundred materials (three materials equal to one ton), and even merchant ships are equipped with no less than twenty naval guns.
The fishing boat, which had no combat effectiveness at all, was ignored at this time. Without firewood and other fire starters on it, it could not be an arson boat.
However, the strength of the two sides is not at the same level at all, and the Spaniards still try to defend themselves against the enemy.
In order to show off his force, Zheng Zhilong dispatched forty guided missile warships during the exchange of fire, and conducted an almost one-on-one "roll call"!
Soon, the Spanish captain and sailors finally saw the legendary "Eastern Dragon" with their own eyes!
One after another, holding black smoke and orange flames, they rushed towards their own warships.
The battle lasted for about half an hour before the winner was decided, and all the Spanish ships began to burst into flames.
Although Zheng Zhilong still wanted to capture some for his own use, he gave up his previous thoughts in view of the other party's stubborn attitude.
We must also use this display of firepower to let the Spaniards understand that the days when you were domineering in Luzon are gone forever!
A fire burning from the outside of the hull is difficult to control by the crew, and there are a large number of gunpowder barrels stored inside, making it prone to explosion accidents.
Nine ships were blown into pieces on the spot and quickly disappeared from the water.
It was impossible for the remaining ships to escape, and the crews abandoned the ship one after another to escape, leaving the empty ship gradually engulfed by the fire until it was burned into bonfires.
In the face of the "Harpoon" anti-ship missile equipped with an explosive warhead, the seemingly powerful Spanish warships were completely defenseless, let alone those armed merchant ships.
Zheng Zhilong did not order the torpedo to be fired because it was still a secret weapon that had never been seen.
At the critical moment, he will be able to perform extraordinary feats, but he seems to be of no use against such weaker enemies.
By attacking the Castle of Geranze in the first place and the city of San Salvador in the second place, Zheng Jun had already accumulated a certain amount of experience in siege.
The siege of Xiyi's castle was no longer as irritable and anxious as before, but he was very patient.
In particular, Zheng Zhilong received 5,000 soldiers and horses trained by the prince, and his land warfare capabilities were greatly improved.
With these elites participating in the battle, Zheng's army, from landing on the beach to extending to the hinterland, fought in a precise and orderly manner, becoming more and more like a regular army.
This was Zheng Zhilong's goal. He couldn't last so long, wearing the attire of an official and an army, fighting like a pirate, rushing up like a swarm of enemies when he encountered them.
Zheng Chenggong did not come with the army. His first priority right now is to learn more skills from the prince. This is the top priority.
More importantly, Zheng Zhilong obtained the information through the surviving Ming merchants in Manila.
There were not many defenders in the entire Manila area, with only two thousand Spanish troops and less than five thousand natives.
As long as the Spaniards are beaten into Santiago Castle, the soldiers outside will not be afraid at all.
If the two sides are facing each other, it would be as easy for one's troops to defeat them as it would be to defeat Sun Tzu.
For this reason, Zheng Zhilong could adapt to the situation by referring to the battle plan given by the prince.
Whether Coquilla retreated into the castle with his remaining troops, or chose to run away into the jungle, Zheng Zhilong had corresponding countermeasures.
The first step is to annihilate the enemy fleet in Manila Bay and open up a suitable landing site.
Secondly, the Marine Corps was sent to land on the beachhead, consolidate the beachhead position, and gradually launch exploratory attacks into the hinterland.
Finally, contact local informants and mobilize Ming Shang to use them as a guide to gradually annihilate the enemy troops outside the castle.
After completing these three steps, the siege of Santiago Castle begins.
Although this castle is still under construction, it does not seem to be as strong as the Geranje Castle built by the Dutch.
However, it is not easy to capture this fortress without suffering large-scale casualties on one's own side.
Unless Coquilla chooses to surrender voluntarily, a long siege will still have to be carried out.
The reason why Zheng Zhilong chose to attack Manila in January in the Western calendar is that February to April is the local dry season.
Luzon is located in the tropics, and the average temperature in Manila is around 30 degrees throughout the year.
The dry season is not as bad, but it is much better than the rainy season.
Otherwise, the army will be soaked in water, and with the coming storm, they will probably have to withdraw temporarily and come back later.
At sea, Zheng Zhilong is the undisputed overlord of the entire eastern waters.
After landing, due to the large number of Spanish cavalry and their strong maneuverability and impact, the Zheng army did not dare to underestimate the enemy.
The last time we attacked the generals, we suffered a similar loss. The opponent was still mainly infantry.
This time, the generals of the Zheng Army were reminded repeatedly by Zheng Zhilong in advance that anyone who dared to advance alone would never be able to go to the front line again.
Zheng Jun's tactics this time were very simple. They used fleet firepower to protect the beachhead and prevent Xiyi from driving the landing troops into the sea.
Assemble the tanks on the beach. Once you have dozens of tanks, you can push them in the nearby area!
Tanks can suppress cavalry, which Zheng Zhilong saw with his own eyes during the Luanhe Battle.
Even if they are as powerful as the Donglu Iron Cavalry, they can't defeat a large number of tanks.
No matter how brave and skilled the Spaniards are, they are nothing more than the Donglu cavalry.
If the cavalry could destroy tanks, that would be a new thing!
In fact, after the Spanish cavalry broke through a tank formation and lost nearly a hundred cavalry, they never launched a similar attack again.
The Zheng army used tanks as the vanguard, followed by a large number of heavy armored infantry.
If the Spaniards could not knock out the tanks, they would have nothing to do with the infantry behind them. Instead, they would be killed and wounded repeatedly by the infantry with flintlocks and grenades.
"Uncle, a local businessman came to reward the army!"
"Oh? Are they all Mingshang?"
"Exactly!"
"please!"
Zheng Zhilong was not afraid that these people would poison the food of the soldiers, because many Ming Shang family members were in Manila and other places on the island.
"Cao Min and others pay their respects to uncle!"
"Everyone, please get up quickly! It doesn't have to be like this!"
"Cao Min and others have been waiting day and night, and finally Master Wang is here! Thank you uncle for sending troops to rescue us, otherwise Cao Min and his family would have died under the sword of Xiyi."
"Everyone has suffered. The people of Ming Dynasty are living under the iron hooves of Xiyi, just to make a living. I can't bear it, and the prince wants to avenge the death of people of Ming Dynasty, so he specially ordered me to send troops to Luzon. Alas! I arrived late and failed to save the lives of many compatriots. I feel very uneasy. I feel guilty!"
In front of so many fellow villagers, some Ming people were even Zheng Zhilong's fellow Fujianese who had sent people to give him information, so they had to put on a show no matter what.
"The prince is very kind and compassionate, and the uncle understands the righteousness well. Saving Cao Min is like fire and water. Cao Min and others are extremely grateful to the prince. They are grateful to the uncle and have nothing to repay. They come here to offer some meat and food. I hope uncle will not Be disgusted!"
"Where! Where! These two things are exactly what the army lacks! Are there any fruits and vegetables?"
"Uh... Cao Min and the others were worried about uncle... so they didn't bring him!"
"Oh! I will never disdain the gifts from my father and fellow villagers. It cannot be regarded as a gift, it must be bought! Buy it at the market price, and I will not let you lose money!"
When you come, you scrape the ground, and the scraping is still the territory of your compatriots. Spread the word, whether it is good or bad.
Nothing can be done too much for Aboriginal people.
To fellow countrymen, we still need to show necessary kindness.
We can no longer act like pirates. We are now a regular army and the Ming Dynasty King's Division!
As long as Luzon is captured, he will become the Marquis of Zhenhai.
As a person who is about to be promoted to a Marquis, Zheng Zhilong must seek a good reputation no matter what.
"How can this be done?"
"Yes! Yes! You can't do it! Cao Min and the others came here sincerely!"
The mighty Ming Dynasty Zhen Haibo sent troops to rescue him, but he still had to spend money to buy the food he sent?
In the eyes of these local Ming merchants, this is really unheard of, but it is much better than those ferocious Xiyi!
"Don't misunderstand me. I have led my troops to attack the castle of Geranje before, and the city of San Salvador in the north of Dongfang. They were all protracted battles. Today, the Spanish Red Barbarians have been operating here for many years and have built a castle. It is expected that it will not be a quick victory. If the battle lasts for more than a hundred days, the army will have to be resupplied on the spot. If you live here for a long time, I also hope that you will provide me with fruits and vegetables. They will be purchased at market prices and will not be charged on credit. The officers and men of Bodai’s armed forces would like to express their gratitude!”
Anyway, all the expenses after the war will be paid for by the Spaniards and local indigenous people. Zheng Zhilong is very generous this time.
If the useless king of Spain, who is ambitious but not talented, doesn't want to spend money to redeem his people, then this governor and a group of his subordinates will be waiting to be sent to mine!
The way to recoup military expenses is simple. In a market as big as Luzon, Zheng's is the only supplier, and the profits therein...
Anyone who dares to transport locally produced goods to Luzon without Zheng's permission will wait until the ship sinks and people feed the fish!
This was allowed by the Crown Prince, so Zheng Zhilong had enough confidence not to let his work go in vain.
The gold mine belonging to Zheng Zhilong in Qiongzhou has begun to produce gold, but the speed is too slow, and it was dug astray before.
"Since uncle is like this, Cao Min and others are disrespectful. However, uncle must not spend money to buy this batch of food. It is all for our sincerity!"
"That's good! I thank you all for your generous donation! When the army defeats the Spanish Red Barbarians, you will no longer be bullied by outsiders in Luzon. The Crown Prince has already issued an order to develop the Luzon Islands. Wherever they operate, all industries are exempt from tax for the first five years, and only need to pay 10% tax for the next five years. After ten years, 20% tax will be charged. Except for the land on the island that has already been owned by you and the special military important places, All can be purchased again. If you report someone who is treason or collaborating with the enemy, and it is verified to be correct, you can get the corresponding reward. The prince said that the king's landing in Luzon was to educate the indigenous people, spread civilization, establish order, and finally establish a country that belongs to our Ming people. The paradise of kings!”
What Zheng Zhilong didn't say further was that anyone who dares to stop Master Wang from establishing the Paradise of Kings here should be prepared to die!
"The prince is wise and mighty!"
"The prince is truly a blessing to Wan Min!"
"I will definitely burn incense to worship the Crown Prince!"
After hearing what Bo Zhenhai said, everyone felt that the prince wanted to bring Luzon under the jurisdiction of the imperial court.
This means that these people are no longer the relics of the Ming Dynasty, and everyone is extremely excited.
Some people even plan to donate their unmarried daughters to repay God's great kindness.
"..."
This is okay, every household in the capital is like this, if you can't stop it, just let it take its course.
Regarding this kind of thing, Zheng Zhilong also heard about it when he was in the capital, and it was the same as his family worshiping Mazu.
"Uncle, the airship is ready and can take off!"
"Okay! Take off immediately!"
"yes!"
After Zheng Zhilong finished his instructions, he led a group of merchants to watch the airship take off.
The Spanish Red Barbarians do not have such magical weapons. Once the airship takes off, all the happenings around it can be seen at a glance.
The airship dispatched by Zheng Zhilong does not need to go to the front line to fight, but is responsible for observing the enemy's situation at high altitude.
The pilot used a pencil to refer to the map, draw an outline of the surrounding combat situation, then add it to the notebook and throw it down.
Looking down at the battlefield from a high altitude is a three-dimensional image, which is definitely more macroscopic than looking at it from the ground.
Zheng Zhilong was afraid that the airship would be hit by Xiyi's artillery fire, so he did not dare to take command in the air. It was enough to receive intelligence on the ground.
"Auspicious!"
"A work of incredible craftsmanship!"
"Master Wang will definitely defeat Hong Yi!"
The local Ming merchants who saw the airship were naturally shocked and stretched their necks to look up.
The airship's paint still has a huge shark mouth on the front with a "ming" logo in the middle.
Zheng Zhilong brought a number of steam engines to quickly inflate the airship.
"what is that?"
"Oh my God!"
"my God!"
"Monkeys from the Ming Dynasty used flying evil objects!"
The Spanish defenders in the castle suddenly became uneasy when they saw a monster appearing in the sky.
They definitely didn't have anything similar here, but the enemy did, which made the defenders feel more pressure.
There is no doubt that this is a weapon that has never been seen before. It is condescending, but quite terrifying.
