socalfunplaces Chapter 29 Triumph
Chapter 29 Triumph
As the battlefield was gradually cleared away, the system's reward announcement appeared before Zhu Jiheng even before the battle report.
Congratulations on your first victory!
The danger has temporarily subsided, but that doesn't mean we can relax. Keep pushing forward towards Manila!
[Settling your victory reward.]
You have acquired 2 line infantry (240)
You have obtained 2 skirmishers (120)
You have obtained 2 Falcon Cannons (8)
As the system notification faded, Zhu Jiheng remained calm. This small reward was no longer enough to move him. He simply nodded silently and then put the system out of his mind.
Not long after, the details of the spoils from this battle were reported to Zhu Jiheng.
In this battle, the Ming army captured 148 Spanish-style matchlock muskets, of which 107 were intact and usable, and 28 were damaged and repairable.
There were also more than 300 pieces of cold weapons, including swords, waist knives, and spears, two bronze 6-pound cannons with more than 30 solid shot and five gunpowder barrels.
Regarding armor, there are more than eighty sets of breastplates, helmets, etc., and a number of leather armors.
In terms of supplies, more than 900 Spanish gold and silver coins, more than 10 barrels of Spanish and Mexican liquor, and a certain amount of tobacco were seized.
The captured grains, including corn, rice, and cured meat, were enough to feed more than a thousand people for ten days. There were also 43 cattle and horses, some of which were injured, four damaged supply wagons, and a number of documents and maps belonging to the Spanish army.
Regarding prisoners of war, three Spanish officers, 183 soldiers, 315 indigenous servants, and more than 30 non-combatants, including clerks, craftsmen, and servants, were captured.
After reporting the results of the inventory, Lieutenant Chen added, "As His Highness instructed, apart from military equipment, gunpowder, and mules, horses, and oxcarts that need to be centrally allocated, 30% of the goods, provisions, and wine have been distributed to the various Ilock tribes on the spot. The compensation for the 31 fallen Ilock warriors has also been handed over to their respective tribal leaders, and their remains will be escorted back to their hometowns for burial by their tribesmen."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jiheng quickly calculated in his mind that the battle had yielded fruitful results, especially the more than one hundred intact matchlock guns and two light cannons, which greatly replenished Lin Jiayan's military equipment.
Although matchlock guns are not as advanced as flintlock guns, they are excellent after modification or as training or backup weapons. The two light cannons are an unexpected bonus, as they are more mobile than falcon guns.
More importantly, the nearly two hundred Spanish regular army prisoners and indigenous servants who joined the army could be extracted from the prisoners a great deal of intelligence about the military, politics and economy of Manila and even the entire Philippine colony.
The captured indigenous soldiers served two purposes: one was to be used as forced laborers or cannon fodder, and the other was to be used as intermediaries or persuaders to turn the wavering indigenous tribes to the Ming army.
Thinking of this, Zhu Jiheng smiled with satisfaction and said to his adjutant:
"Lieutenant Chen, you handled this matter well. All captured military equipment and supplies must be properly stored and transported. Upon returning to Linjiayan, they must be immediately stored and registered, and then centrally managed by the Queen. The prisoners must be strictly guarded and kept in separate cells. Upon returning to Linjiayan, immediately organize capable personnel to interrogate them day and night until they reveal all the information they know."
"Yes, sir!"
After agreeing, the adjutant thought of something else and asked, "Your Highness, the Western Barbarian commander was killed by a stray arrow, and his body has been found. Should we cut off his head and build a mound of heads with the rest of the fallen Western Barbarians to deter the villains?"
"Build a mound of skulls?"
Zhu Jiheng was stunned when he heard those three words. However, his bloodlust made him subconsciously want to agree, but he realized something as soon as the words were on the tip of his tongue.
"No." He shook his head and said in a deep voice, "There are still many Chinese compatriots under the rule of the Western barbarians. If building a mound of corpses angers the Western barbarians and causes them to take up their swords to vent their anger on the Chinese, it is not something I want to see."
Based on his understanding of the Spanish, or rather, European bandits, if he were to build a mound of skulls, the Spanish might actually vent their anger by killing the Chinese under their rule.
Of course, it's not that if he didn't do this, the Spanish wouldn't indiscriminately kill innocent people. Only by showing enough strength could he make the Spanish wary and not dare to target Chinese people at will.
Upon hearing Zhu Jiheng's words, the adjutant realized what was happening and readily agreed.
The army rested for another night at Snake Kiss Gorge, and at the crack of dawn the next day, they set off in a grand procession, escorting prisoners and laden with spoils of war, back to Linjiayan.
Unlike their deliberate concealment when marching south, the returning north column was filled with the joy of victory and high morale. Ming army battle flags fluttered high, and the Ilock warriors proudly displayed their spoils of war. The news spread like wildfire in all directions.
When the triumphant procession appeared outside Lingayen, the entire town erupted in celebration.
Zheng had already received the news of the victory sent back by fast horse and organized the Chinese people in the city and the soldiers left behind to go out of the city to welcome them.
People beat drums and gongs, and brought food and drink, eager to catch a glimpse of the victorious army. The cheers were especially deafening when they saw the dejected Spanish prisoners and the captured weapons and flags.
"We won! We won!"
"Long live the Ming Dynasty!"
"Your Highness is mighty!"
Countless Chinese people watched this scene with tears streaming down their faces. Many of them had ancestors and fathers who had died tragically under the swords of the Spanish, and they had endured humiliation for many years. Now, they finally saw the once invincible Spanish army being defeated and captured and paraded through the streets. The humiliation and hatred that had been suppressed for many years seemed to be released in the cheers.
Zheng, leading Consort Chen and several children, stood at the front of the welcoming crowd. Watching Zhu Jiheng, who was riding at the head of the procession and looked exceptionally brave, she finally felt relieved after a long period of anxiety, and tears of relief and pride welled up in her eyes.
Zhu Jiheng reined in his horse before the city gate, accepted the cheers of the crowd, raised his hands, and said loudly:
"Fellow countrymen! The day before yesterday, our Great Ming army dealt a crushing blow to the Western barbarians at Snake Kiss Gorge, beheading their general, capturing their soldiers, and seizing their banners! We have displayed the might of our Celestial Empire! This is the first great achievement of our Great Ming in liberating Luzon and sweeping away the stench of barbarians!"
An even more enthusiastic cheer erupted in front of the city gate, the sound almost lifting the wooden palisade wall.
After the cheers subsided slightly, Zhu Jiheng continued, "This victory is due to the bravery and bloodshed of our soldiers, the united efforts of our allies in the Ilock region, and the staunch support of our people, especially the elders and folks of Linjiayan! This is clear proof of the unity and solidarity of our Han and non-Han people in resisting foreign aggression!"
His words were carried further afield by several loud-voiced soldiers, each sentence eliciting a thunderous response.
"Indeed!" Zhu Jiheng's tone shifted abruptly, his voice rising abruptly. "The Western barbarians are tyrannical and will never learn their lesson from a single defeat. The Western governor of Manila will surely be enraged and mobilize a large army for revenge!"
The crowd gradually quieted down. After the initial excitement, the shadow of reality returned, and many people showed worry on their faces.
"But so what?!" Zhu Jiheng suddenly raised his voice, turning around and pointing to the proud and upright soldiers behind him: "The Battle of Snake Kiss Gorge has already proven with the blood of the Western barbarians that our Great Ming army cannot be easily insulted! Our Chinese people and our allies among the tribes of Luzon cannot be conquered!"
He looked south, his gaze sharp as lightning: "They want war? Then let them fight! I, Zhu Jiheng, and my soldiers will live and die with Lin Jiayan! We will live and die with all of you, my elders and fellow countrymen! From this day forward, Lin Jiayan will no longer be a colony at the mercy of these Western barbarians, but a fortress of our Great Ming in Luzon that will never fall! A sanctuary for all who refuse to be enslaved by the Western barbarians!"
"No matter how many Western barbarians come, or what kind of formation they display, wherever the dragon flag of my Great Ming Dynasty flies, that will be the place where they fall and die! Fellow elders, are you willing to join me in defending this homeland, protecting our compatriots, and ensuring that the Western barbarians never dare to look north again?!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"We swear to follow His Highness to the death! We will protect Ling Jiayan!"
"Long live the Great Ming Dynasty! Long live Your Highness!"
The fervent shouts swept through the entire venue once again, and Zhu Jiheng found himself surrounded by a sea of cheers, feeling that the people's hearts were his to command!