Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 533 Clash (Part 5)

The setting sun painted the ruins of Tara Manor a blood-red hue, and the evening breeze finally brought a touch of coolness, but it couldn't dispel the sweltering heat on the Spanish cavalrymen—the Xinhua convoy, laden with valuables, was already close behind them.

The manor's houses had long been burned down by the new Chinese, leaving only half of the charred stone walls and crooked wooden beams hanging in the air, like the ribs of a dead giant beast.

Several crows landed on the beam, tilting their necks and staring at the cavalry that had suddenly entered, occasionally letting out hoarse cries.

"Lieutenant Colonel, scouts ahead report!" A cavalry lieutenant galloped up, suddenly pulling on the reins. The warhorse snorted, and sweat dripped down its mane.

He wiped the sweat and dust from his face, his voice urgent: "The Xinhua convoy changed direction. They're no longer heading west, but have turned southeast at the Tara River crossing! The ruts are deep; the load looks really heavy."

Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez reined in his horse, raised his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding sunset, and looked southeast.

On the distant horizon, wisps of smoke rose, whether from the convoy or from cooking fires, it was hard to tell.

The seven hundred cavalrymen behind him had formed a loose formation, and many of them were leading their horses toward the dried-up well next to the manor, peering down into the well.

But this was mostly in vain, as the new Chinese had already thoroughly destroyed the estate when they left.

"Turn southeast?" Lieutenant Captain Rodriguez leaned closer, a few strands of straw still clinging to his wide-brimmed hat. "Are they crazy? To the west is the Amek Valley, which is open, but at least we can run at full speed. What's to the southeast? It's all abandoned manors and narrow valleys. Once we catch up, they won't even have a chance to turn around and run away."

“They’re not crazy, they’re scared.” Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez sneered, his riding crop lightly tapping his boots. “If they head west, we’ll catch up with them in less than two hours tomorrow morning.”

"Ha, no matter how fast a carriage is, can it be faster than our cavalry's warhorses? To the southeast are those manors they've destroyed, and narrow valleys like the San Martín Valley. They're probably looking for a place to hide and wait for reinforcements from Guadalajara."

“But how can they be sure that reinforcements will come?” The young cavalry captain Fernando frowned. He had a small scar on his cheek from two years ago when he fought against Indian rebels in the north. “Our main force is right outside Guadalajara. How can their garrison dare to send troops to support us?”

“They have no choice!” Alvarez dismounted, his boots crunching on the broken tiles. “The Ameca Valley is laid bare; their two hundred men are no match for our seven hundred cavalry. If we charge, their wagons will be smashed to pieces or set ablaze with fire arrows.”

"But the southeast is different. There are many abandoned plantations that can be fortified, and narrow valleys that can be used for defense. Do you remember the Indian tribes in Santa Fe who dared to resist? They were able to delay the battle for several days by using a simple camp and blocking the entrance with wagons and cattle."

“Lieutenant Colonel, according to the scouts’ report, that Xinhua convoy is only two or three leagues away from us. Should we pursue them tonight?” Rodriguez asked softly.

Alvarez shook his head: "No. The warhorses have been running all afternoon and are exhausted. Chasing them through the night could easily cause them to fall behind, and they might even be ambushed by the Xinhua people. Let the soldiers rest at the manor for the night, feed the horses, and set off again tomorrow morning. They won't escape!"

He paused, then added, "Order all scouts to keep a close watch on the Xinhua convoy and ensure they are aware of all their movements. But keep your distance; it is said that the Xinhua's muskets have a long range, so don't needlessly lose manpower."

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel!" The messenger saluted and rode away.
-

The abandoned manor quickly became lively and bustling. Soldiers unloaded their saddlebags from their horses, set up makeshift tents under the broken walls, and roasted salted meat around a campfire, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

Other soldiers, under the direction of their officers, were busy feeding the horses and checking their hooves, the clanging of metal against leather filling the air.

Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez sat on a smooth stone slab, watching the soldiers' excited expressions, and couldn't help but smile.

Ah, 150 large carts, even if only one-tenth of them are filled with gold and silver, that is still an astonishing fortune.

Although most of the property had to be handed over to the governor's district, just grabbing a handful and stuffing it into their pockets was enough to make every soldier a fortune.

As the commander, he might receive a reward from the governor or the king, and be promoted to a higher rank and position.

"Lieutenant Colonel, would you like something to eat?" Lieutenant Rodriguez handed over a piece of golden-brown roasted meat. "It's a bit salty, but it's better than dry bread."

Alvarez took the meat, took a bite, and the salty, astringent taste made him frown, but it also made him more sober: "Rodriguez, do you really think the new Chinese are just trying to hide?"

"Otherwise what?" Rodriguez chewed on his meat and mumbled, "They don't have enough troops, and their convoys are slow. What else can they do but hide and wait for reinforcements? Do you think they can set a trap? This is our territory. Where do they get their confidence?"

Alvarez didn't reply, but just looked towards the southeastern night sky.

The moon has risen, and its pale light shines on the distant valleys, like a thin veil.

He suddenly remembered General Toledo's words, "Wealth can be recreated, but well-trained soldiers are hard to replenish," and his heart skipped a beat for no reason, but he was quickly suppressed by the temptation of the upcoming military achievements and wealth.

The total strength of the new Chinese army is only 3,500 people. How many of them can be sent here?
Even if they were to set a trap for us, how much of a threat could it pose?

Silent all night.

Before dawn, bugle calls echoed through the manor. Soldiers, rubbing their sleepy eyes, hurriedly packed up their tents and saddled their horses, the neighing of warhorses and the clanging of metal breaking the morning's tranquility.

"Lieutenant Colonel, scouts report!" Pedro rode up from the southeast, his eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept all night. "The Xinhua convoy didn't stop at all last night! They were traveling with torches, their lights visible from miles away. They seem panicked and want to widen the distance as quickly as possible!"

"Good that you're panicking." Alvarez mounted his horse, drew his longsword, and pointed it southeast. "Order: All troops, accelerate! Catch up with the Xinhua convoy, reclaim the wealth that belongs to Spain, and obtain the glory we desire!"

"For His Majesty the King!" the soldiers shouted in unison, and seven hundred warhorses simultaneously reared up and galloped southeast.

Horse hooves pounded across the dew-kissed grass, splashing up sprays of water. In the morning light, the cavalry column resembled a silver torrent, rolling forward.

Three hours later, the scout ahead suddenly shouted, "I see it! The convoy is right ahead!"

Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez raised his binoculars, and a slowly moving black line appeared on the distant horizon—it was the massive convoy.

They seemed to have also noticed the pursuers behind them, and the group became even more chaotic and hurried.

The convoy stopped at the back, and several Xinhua soldiers were whipping the horses, trying to make the wagons turn sideways to form a blocking line.

"They want to leave the vehicle chassis as a cover!" Rodriguez shouted. "Lieutenant Colonel, what do we do?"

As we got closer, we could see more than ten horse-drawn carriages haphazardly placed in the middle of the road, forming a makeshift barrier.

About twenty Xinhua soldiers dressed in black uniforms hid behind the vehicle, their musket barrels coldly pointed in the direction of the pursuers.

"Dismount! First and second squads, flank them from both sides of the gentle slope!" Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez decisively ordered, not allowing the cavalry to directly charge the defensive line.

About a hundred Spanish cavalrymen quickly dismounted, split into two groups, and used the terrain for cover to outflank the wagon formation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The Xinhua soldiers behind the vehicle formation opened fire, and white smoke billowed out.

But at such a distance, most of the bullets futilely struck the ground or into the air, serving more as a warning and intimidation.

Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez held up his binoculars and calmly observed the situation ahead.

Soon, he saw that the Spanish soldiers on his left had successfully crossed the blocking range of the vehicle formation.

Almost simultaneously, a commotion broke out among the Xinhua soldiers behind the vehicle formation.

Seemingly realizing the danger of being flanked, they suddenly shouted and rushed out from behind the wagon formation, untied the horses they had hidden nearby, and fled in a disheveled manner to the southeast, not even caring about the Indian servants who were driving the wagons.

The dozen or so Native Americans who were left behind fled in panic, trying to escape the Spanish pursuit.

The Spanish cavalrymen cheered, spurred their horses, and charged swiftly toward the abandoned wagons.

A young soldier eagerly climbed onto a carriage and pried open a heavy-looking wooden box with his saber.

"Silver coins! Peso silver coins! My God, a whole chest full!" He grabbed a handful of shiny silver coins and threw them into the air, shouting excitedly.

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, and the soldiers swarmed forward, attempting to loot the valuables.

"Order! Maintain order!" Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez roared, spurring his horse into the chaotic crowd. "This is an enemy trick! They're trying to use the treasure to hold us back!"

"Lieutenant Leo, I order you to take thirty men and guard these wagons and valuables! Anyone who tries to steal them will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Soldiers, keep the pursuit! More wealth and military merits await us ahead!"

His voice, like a whip, shattered the soldiers' greed.

The chaotic group regrouped, but the air was filled with a mixture of excitement and impatience.

Xinhua people, you can't escape now!
-

(End of this chapter)