socalfunplaces Chapter 37 The Enemy is at the Gates
Chapter 37 The Enemy is at the Gates
Zhu Jiheng's army marched south, and villages and communities along the way surrendered to him.
Along the way, they also encountered intelligence delivered by Zhang San's men, which reported the conscription order issued by Governor Juan and the news that reinforcements from the Cavite fortress had arrived in Manila.
In addition, Zhang San also mentioned that there was an undercurrent of discontent among the Chinese community in the Parian district, and their dissatisfaction with the Spanish was already rising. It was just a spark away from igniting this powder keg.
"As expected, the Western barbarians have begun mobilizing their troops to prepare to defend Manila." After reading the secret letter, Zhu Jiheng said to his officers, "Currently, only the garrison in Cavite has arrived, so we still have enough time. If we continue to delay, and more Western troops arrive in Manila, then the risk of conquering Manila will become much greater."
Upon hearing this, the officers were filled with admiration for Zhu Jiheng's decision to send troops despite opposition, and they all agreed.
As the Ming army marched south, surrounding tribes that wanted to gain a share of the spoils or seek revenge against the Spanish also sent warriors to join them.
Most of the tribal villages or colonial settlements loyal to Spain did not have the courage to resist when they saw the Ming army coming in large numbers and surrendered on their own initiative.
Only a few tribes and strongholds chose to put up a stubborn resistance, but they were quickly breached by the Ming army's dozen or so cannons. All those who resisted were slaughtered as a warning to others, and the survivors were used as cannon fodder for forced labor.
Their resistance also had some effect; those who escaped earlier reached Manila first and reported the news of the Ming army's southward advance to the colonial authorities.
Upon receiving the news, Governor Juan was both shocked and furious. In a fit of rage, he transformed into a master of desktop cleanup, sweeping everything off the table while cursing:
"Damn rebels! This is a blatant disregard for the kingdom's dignity!"
However, he also knew that his impotent rage could not change reality. The governor hurriedly ordered a citywide curfew, and all Spanish soldiers and local servants were sent to the city. He also forcibly conscripted young Chinese men to move supplies, prepare defensive equipment, and strengthen the city's defenses.
Documents flew back and forth in the governor's office, and messengers frequently left the city, urging the Western Army from various places to come to the rescue, and issuing another conscription order to the surrounding vassal tribes.
Panic gripped the city, and rumors spread like wildfire. The Chinese in the Palian district also guessed what was going on from the Spanish's high level of vigilance. They appeared compliant, but in reality, they were eager to try. Some of the bolder ones were already secretly plotting, just waiting for the sound of cannons outside the city.
In the atmosphere of high alert, relations between the Spanish and the Chinese deteriorated further, with constant conflicts. The Spanish viewed almost every Chinese person as a spy communicating with the rebels, while the Chinese feared that the Spanish might turn on them at this time.
As the Ming army closed the distance to Manila, voices calling for action against the Chinese were heard inside the Governor's Palace.
Some members of parliament who already held Chinese in contempt openly suggested to the governor that they should suppress the unruly Chinese in the city before the Ming army arrived outside the city, in order to ensure that there would be no future troubles.
However, the rational members of parliament immediately refuted their proposal, saying that it was not the right time to escalate the situation. If all the Chinese in the city were forced to join the rebels, Manila would be even more difficult to defend.
After all, after more than 20 years of development, the proportion of Chinese people in the city is not to be underestimated.
The governor listened to the members of parliament's heated debate, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. Just then, a hawkish officer slammed his fist on the table and shouted:
"Your Excellency, we can't hesitate any longer! Those Chinese are like poisonous snakes. If we don't get rid of them now, they'll bite us the moment the rebels fire their cannons! Think of the massacre more than twenty years ago—who can guarantee they won't hate us because of that?"
The atmosphere in the room became even more somber when the topic of the massacre of Chinese people was brought up.
Governor Juan was torn. He knew of the potential threat posed by the Chinese, but he also knew that the city's garrison was already insufficient. He had to defend against the powerful enemy outside the city and suppress the thousands of Chinese inside, who were probably already like frightened birds. His forces were stretched thin.
More importantly, he had a feeling that taking action against the Chinese at this time might be exactly what the rebel leaders wanted, becoming the last straw that would force the Chinese to completely side with the rebels.
"Enough!" the governor finally spoke, his voice hoarse but undeniably authoritative. "A full-scale crackdown on the Chinatown now will only plunge us into a desperate situation of fighting on two fronts."
"Pass on my orders: Strengthen patrols and surveillance in the Palian district, especially at the main entrances and exits, and double the number of sentries. All able-bodied Chinese men will continue to be forcibly conscripted and organized into auxiliary teams, under the strict supervision of our people. They will be responsible for transporting the wounded and supplies, and are not allowed to carry any weapons. The Chinese in the city will be dealt with primarily through deterrence and control for the time being."
He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "If the city walls are truly breached, or if there are signs of a large-scale riot among the Chinese, then... there's no need to show any mercy!"
The order was issued, and the tense atmosphere in Manila intensified.
Spanish patrols are appearing more frequently on the narrow streets of the Palian district, violently breaking into homes to search and arbitrarily arresting so-called "suspicious individuals."
The conscripted young Chinese men, under the whips and shouts of Spanish soldiers, numbly carried heavy defensive equipment, their eyes filled with suppressed anger.
For a time, everyone in the Parian district felt insecure, and the Chinese people's resistance was not suppressed but instead intensified.
On November 15th, the Ming army advanced to within ten miles of Manila, separated from the city by a river. Without boats, the Ming army could not risk the firepower of Fort Santiago to cross the Pasig River.
Therefore, Zhu Jiheng led his army south, advancing eastward along the Pasig River, and eventually built a pontoon bridge to cross the river at a section far from Manila.
Governor Juan realized the Ming army's intentions and decisively sent a small number of troops to try to interfere with the Ming army's bridge construction progress, but they were driven away by the Ming army firing cannons.
On the 17th, the entire Ming army crossed the river and arrived outside the Palian Gate in West Manila that afternoon.
When the Ming army arrived, Chinese people around Manila gathered to respond. They drove out and killed the Spanish tax collectors, raised the banner of righteousness, and crowded in front of the Ming army. Some even brought makeshift ladders to help the royal army climb the city.
Zhu Jiheng stood at the front of the battle line and saw such a scene of popular support and enthusiastic participation from the Chinese people. He was filled with pride and wanted to order his troops to attack the city immediately.
But the fortified walls of Manila City in front of him made him give up the idea. There was a protrusion on both sides of the Palian Gate, with black cannon muzzles and moving figures vaguely visible on it.
If the siege is launched directly before the two defensive cannons are destroyed, the city will definitely suffer heavy casualties. Moreover, the defending army will also move most of its troops here when they see them deployed here, making the siege even more difficult.