Dominate the Country

Manila. The heart of the Spanish rule in Luzon.

Two hundred years ago, Legazpi landed in Manila Bay because it was a natural and excellent harbor. Then the Spaniards built a city here and established a fort on the south bank of the Pasig River - this is Manila. In the following days, they invaded and occupied the entire Luzon.

The fortress known as the Spanish Royal City has always controlled this land for two hundred years.

As an outsider, in order to suppress the local Chinese forces with deep roots, the Spaniards used naked massacres to achieve this goal.

In 1603, 1639, 1662 and 1686, the four massacres of the Chinese fully demonstrated the bloodiness and barbarity of the Europeans, and each time was worse than the Red River Massacre of the Dutch.

Under the dark rule of the Spaniards, the living environment of the Chinese in Luzon could not see the slightest light.

Zheng Chenggong was furious when he heard the news. While he was giving relief to the surviving overseas Chinese who had fled to Taiwan, he was organizing and preparing the army to attack Luzon. If Zheng Chenggong could live a few more years, the history of Nanyang might have really been changed. At that time, Luzon was in a state of panic, and the Spanish were all in danger. Because in addition to Zheng Chenggong, the Dutch also threatened the Spanish position in Luzon, and the Luzon natives on the island were also launching an anti-Western uprising.

Unfortunately, God was blind. At this juncture, Zheng Chenggong died of illness. His son Zheng Jing continued to govern Taiwan, and the matter of sending troops naturally came to nothing. It is said that Zheng Jing also prepared to conquer Manila twice in 1670 and 1671 in the Western calendar, but failed to send troops due to various factors.

In any case, the Spanish in Manila have lived a good life until now.

The 64-hectare Wangcheng District is surrounded by a 2.44-meter-thick and 6.7-meter-high stone wall. Roads, fortresses, churches, residential areas and schools, all living facilities are available, there is sufficient water inside, and there are warehouses full of grain. It was a real fortress city! It took almost 30 years from design to completion.

Since the day it was completed, the Royal City has become the administrative, military and religious center of Spain in Luzon. The oldest and earliest universities, churches and convents in Luzon are all located in the Royal City. Of course, the Spanish Governor's Office in Luzon was also established in the Royal City.

Spanish law stipulates that only legal "white people" can live in the Royal City. "White people" include Spanish Luzonians (Spaniards born in Luzon), Peninsular Spaniards (Spaniards born in Spain), Spanish-Malay-Han mixed-race people and Spanish-Malay mixed-race people. Based on racial discrimination and the social morality of the time, only male "white people" can marry non-white women; female "white people" cannot marry non-white people. All non-white women who marry Spanish men are automatically and legally classified as "white people". Naturally, they can also live in the Royal City with their husbands. However, unless they are adopted, illegitimate mixed-race children born to male Spaniards and locals cannot live in the Royal City.

The indigenous people, Malays, Han Chinese and mixed-race children can only step into the Royal City for work reasons. These people must return to their homes in the Binondo community outside the Royal City at sunset every day. The Spaniards also implemented very unfair taxation: white people were exempted from taxes; local indigenous people and Malays had to pay basic taxes; Han Chinese mixed-race children had to pay double the basic taxes; Han Chinese had to pay four times the basic taxes. If the Han Chinese want to obtain the same "equality" as the indigenous people and Malays, they must believe in one god.

As early as when Chen Han first extended his hand into Nanyang, he sent people to communicate with the Spaniards on this issue. At that time, the arrogant big duck chose to refuse unceremoniously, and as a punishment for this behavior and as a demonstration, it unilaterally announced that the tax rate on Chinese and Chinese businessmen would be doubled within three months.

Then Chen Han, who controlled the entire South China, announced that he would treat Spanish merchant ships "equally".

The Sulu issue was just a small outbreak of the accumulated contradictions between the two sides.

The Spaniards felt the "powerful combat" capabilities of the "backward Chinese warships" from the Battle of Sulu, and the Chinese army seemed to be more capable than the pure-blooded Spanish troops.

Anyway, the competition on the battlefield proved everything, and the arrogance of the Spaniards was dispelled.

Since Chen Han's infiltration in Southeast Asia has been carried out step by step, the Spaniards, who have blood debts with the Chinese, have been extremely vigilant. During this period, there was a period of large-scale evacuation of the Chinese, and the Spaniards were almost in the highest level of combat readiness. But the war did not happen, and many Chinese who migrated to Singapore, West Borneo and other places slowly returned to Luzon.

During the great exodus of the Chinese, the Spaniards deeply realized the importance of the Chinese to the economy. Although their population was small, these hardworking Chinese were the best medium for communication between the indigenous people and the white people. Without them, the indigenous people would be a piece of scattered sand, and large tracts of raw materials would still exist but it would be difficult to create objective economic benefits. Moreover, allowing white people to directly manage and contact the indigenous people would easily deepen the bilateral conflicts.

After the Chinese began to return in large numbers, the Spanish royal city was very tactful and adjusted the tax rate for the Chinese to the same level as the indigenous people.

The British and French alliance had not lasted for a few days, and the news of the North American War came. The Spanish Governor's Office in Manila, who was very clear about the relationship between his boss and France and Britain, was in a mess.

As expected, the British-French alliance in the Far East broke down in an instant, and the British took the lead in kneeling and licking China.

It was not until the outbreak of the Surabaya incident that Manila quietly breathed a sigh of relief, because the Chinese seemed to be pointing their spearheads at the windmill. Unlike the weak presence of the Spanish boss Gallic Rooster in the Far East, John Bull, a good friend of the Dutch, has a strong fighting power in India. India is close to Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

However, the current Spanish Governor of Luzon, Carlos, has not completely relaxed his heart, because the Chinese have withdrawn from Yogyakarta.

And as long as the war in North America does not stop, the French may get involved, and Spain will naturally not be immune, so they are in Luzon. It will be embarrassing.

During the previous Sino-British negotiations, Perrier of Nanjing kicked Guangnan out first to please Nanjing, regardless of the possible blame from Paris. Carlos saw it clearly. This clearly shows the weakness of the Gallic rooster in the Far East.

If Britain and France go to war, and Spain also enters the battle, it will be a disaster for Manila at the moment.

In Nanyang, facing the same pain as the Spaniards, the Dutch, is the bilateral relationship still an alliance?

The latter is the British ally in Europe for a hundred years.

Just when Carlos was worried, another bad news came. The war on the European continent really started. The Parisians declared war on London, and then the big duck followed suit and declared war on John Bull. This is a tragedy!

Because the original source of the news was Chinese, Carlos was unwilling to believe its authenticity. Although someone can prove that the Chinese who appeared in Nanyang was really a member of the original mission to Europe. And it doesn’t matter whether Carlos himself believes it or not, as long as others believe it.

When the news spread, the only two British merchant ships in Manila Port immediately left the port. Carlos sent special envoys to Batavia. They needed to communicate with the Dutch immediately and also contact the British office in Batavia. He didn't want to go to war with the British at all.

During the Seven Years' War, the British expeditionary force occupied Manila. After Spain intervened in the Seven Years' War as an ally of France, British Admiral Cornish and Lieutenant General Draper led a British sea and land joint force from India to the Philippines. On October 5, 1762, the British fleet entered Manila Bay and forced the Spanish garrison to surrender after a short battle. The British army immediately occupied Manila City, and according to the peace treaty signed the following year, Manila was returned to Spain.

The so-called solidity of the Spanish royal city is only relative. They are indestructible when facing the natives and the Chinese who lack weapons, but when facing a regular army, Manila seems vulnerable.

Carlos didn't want to be a prisoner, although he would not die. But the defeat sixteen years ago caused Manila to suffer heavy losses, and the memory is still fresh.

And what if China also attacked Manila at this time?

Britain and France went to war, a war between the first and second powers in the Western world, this is a disaster. In the previous Nanyang, the two arms worked together, and with the help of Spain and the Netherlands, they forcibly resisted the Chinese's big legs. Now the two arms started fighting themselves, and the Chinese's big legs kicked again, who can stop it?

Since the sense of crisis deepened, Manila has been constantly expanding its military forces, not only the pure-blooded troops transferred from the mainland or Mexico, but also a considerable number of colonial troops. Not counting the Manila fleet, there are more than 10,000 land forces, and counting the navy, the Luzon colonial zone has unprecedentedly reached nearly 20,000.

But such strength cannot give Carlos a little confidence. Because his ultimate enemy is China, which has a huge population of 200 million and a standing army of millions.

That ancient monster, like a giant beast, always weighed heavily on the hearts of every Spaniard.

"God bless Spain."

...

Lingayen Bay is not far from Manila, about 350 miles to the north. This is a very important place, connecting the Ilocos region and the Cordillera region. It is the northern gate of Manila and the dividing point between Central Luzon and Northern Luzon. Of course, this is also a place with a very developed agriculture, because it is located in the coastal plain, the land is vast and fertile, and the coastal fishery is also rich.

There are at least 10,000 Chinese living here, and a considerable number of Chinese mixed-race.

When Carlos' eyes were still looking at Batavia, he didn't know that after receiving the pigeon express-the news of the war between Britain and France, Chen Ming had already made a big cross in the position of Manila!

Chen Ming, who had "reviewed" the information again that day, had a violent desire for destruction in his heart.

He wanted to crush every Spaniard living on the earth into pieces!

Chen Liang issued an order very seriously. Before the large army was ready, the Military Intelligence Bureau would stir up an anti-Western wave in the Luzon Islands, so that Chinese from all over the country could take this opportunity to form a guard team to cover and support the subsequent landing of the army.

A few busy months passed, and now in Nanjing, Chen Ming's eyes turned back to the fighting in Korea and the increasingly fierce battle for cloth in Japan. But a sudden news gave him new motivation!

——The Surabaya incident just ended, and the fruit of Manila is ripe again. Britain and France went to war, a real war.

Chen Ming, who was not satisfied with the battle in Yogyakarta, was unwilling to wait for a quarter of an hour, and immediately issued instructions to the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Nanyang Navy.

Both of them immediately started to move.

The rapid response fleet that was supposed to return to Sandu'ao simply turned back to Zengmu Island. And the troops mobilized by the previous Surabaya incident did not need to return at all. As long as a thin layer of paper was covered over the murderous aura that had just been revealed, outsiders would only think that the action was a little slow.

China's battle against Spain will not only exist in Manila. Through the Bering Strait and along the North Pacific warm current, the entire New Spain Governorate is within China's offensive range. In this battle, Chen Ming hopes to tear the entire California off the chest of the big duck.

Anyway, China has to rely on this to get a perfect foothold in North America. If the big duck does not know what to do, they will only lose more.

Judging from Chen Ming's huge war goal, whether it is Lingayen or Manila, they are just appetizers. But doesn't the joy of a big meal start with appetizers?

So when Carlos was completely unaware, a huge anti-Western uprising broke out on Luzon Island.

These people were all thorns in the flesh that Chen Ming had cut out in advance. They could rebel against the Spanish today and the Chinese tomorrow. Or they all died cleanly.

Xie Qinggao's name also appeared in Chen Ming's eyes for the first time. This young man who had gone through the hard work to deliver the news would receive a gold medal to reflect the importance of the task he completed.

He brought Chen Ming the news of the great victory of Saratoga. The historical process of North America did not change with the appearance of Chen Ming. This is good!

He also brought back a lot of travel notes.

Chen Ming believed that Xie Qinggao would have enough money to publish his own writings as a reward for this mission, as long as he had the heart.

The natives of Lingayen gathered one or two thousand people. After the attack on Lingayen Port was blocked, they set their sights on Dagufan. It is less than thirty miles away from Lingayen. It is a small town, but there is a building that makes the Lingayen Chinese community hate it - a church.

The traditional Chinese thoughts and cultural concepts have nothing to do with monotheism, but under the rule of the Spaniards, many wealthy Chinese, including ordinary civilians, have to express their respect and piety to God in front of others. That is to better integrate into the society dominated by foreigners, for a better and easier life!

The Chinese in Luzon are no different from the Chinese in Batavia in this regard.

The more prosperous the economy, the more Chinese people are baptized, and even many Chinese families have really westernized over generations.

Considering the living environment and external factors, there is no difference between Manila and Batavia.

Just like China had set its goal to overthrow Tianfangjiao early on, Dabanya and Dafengche would certainly want all the natives, Chinese, etc. to share the same faith with them in order to better consolidate their rule.

The Chinese in Lingayen gathered a guard of more than a thousand people, many of whom were mixed-race, and many of them only had a yellow book. With Lingayen Port as the center, the Chinese villages distributed along the bay gathered teams with swords and guns. The Spanish officials in Lingayen Port had no way to consider how they suddenly turned out one or two hundred muskets, and even two small cannons, but just urged them to rescue the church in Dagufan.

Dabanya has always been very devout to monotheism. As the spiritual core of Spain, monotheism has also played a very important role in its colonial expansion. The two have been completely and closely integrated in the Spanish colonial area! The crazy expansion of the former and the promotion and help of the latter are inseparable. In the process of colonial conquest, whether it was missionaries with religious missions or militaristic adventurers, they were all inspired by the belief of spreading the gospel, and they were fanatical and pious, and they continued to move forward. Monotheism runs through the entire process of Spanish colonial expansion. Without the influence of this monotheism, it is hard to imagine that Spain's "colonial cause" would be so smooth. Although the role played by monotheism after the entire colonial society stabilizes is often very complicated.

A team composed mainly of mixed blood left Lingayen. They had 600 to 700 people, accounting for half of the number of Chinese guards assembled in Lingayen.