Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 540 The Army's Plans

August 7, 1642, Banderas Valley (now Puerto Vallarta).

The scorching sun beat down on the dry land of the Banderas Valley, and the air was thick with the mingled smells of dust, sea salt, sweat, and livestock.

The sea breeze blowing from the Pacific Ocean tried in vain to dispel the heat, but only stirred up more sand and dust, which lashed against the wooden fences and tents of the camp.

This former Spanish coastal village has now become a large military camp and a busy logistics transit base.

Ten days ago, the second batch of troops from Xinhua arrived in the Banderas Valley. This support force, consisting of the 4th Mixed Battalion of the Army, the 6th, 7th and 8th Mixed Battalions of the Reserve, and eight Indian auxiliary corps companies, had a total strength of more than 3,200 people.

In addition to the more than 800 Native American auxiliary troops sent from the Yongning Bay settlement, the total strength of the Xinhua Army gathered here reached 4,000, making it a formidable and powerful force.

With so many troops, we can't just waste our supplies and pay, nor can we just sit here idly in the sun.

Therefore, Major General Zhou Weifeng, Chief of the General Staff of the Xinhua Army and Deputy Commander of the Expeditionary Force, ordered each unit to plunder and attack the weakly defended coastal port towns of Mexico, organized by battalion and under the cover of naval warships.

Their objectives were clear: to collect grain, seize property, plunder livestock, and forcibly "relocate" Spanish residents.

While creating vast no-man's-lands along the coast, the Xinhua Army also spread the shadow of war to a wider area.

For a time, the entire Mexican coastal region was filled with fear and unease.

Everywhere the New China Army was at the forefront, forcing countless Spaniards to flee their homes and seek refuge in the interior.

However, the "profits" from the many coastal villages raided by the Xinhua Army were quite limited. After all, the Pacific side was not a densely populated area of ​​Spain. Not only was it sparsely populated, but it also did not have much accumulated wealth, and it did not even "reap" much surplus grain.

In stark contrast, the Xinhua task force, which had ventured deep inland several months earlier, was reporting a string of victories, continuously supplying the Banderas Valley with large quantities of spoils.

On May 1, the Xinhua Army captured Guadalajara. Just two weeks later, on May 15, a convoy of more than twenty horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts returned to the Banderas Valley.

When the receiving personnel pried open the wooden crates on the truck, the Spanish silver pesos, full of them, gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight, drawing gasps of amazement from the soldiers watching.

However, this is just the beginning.

In the following months, every ten days or so, a convoy would wind its way out of the eastern mountain road and into the Banderas Valley.

The cargo they carried was dazzling: tightly sealed chests of gold and silver, meticulously wrapped works of art, mountains of wool, stacks of tanned leather, wagons full of grain, noisy herds of cattle and sheep, and dejected Spanish prisoners strung together in long chains... The spoils of war came in an endless stream, and the entire camp almost turned into a bustling market, with the air filled with the smell of gold, silver, leather and livestock.

The front lines even sent several urgent messages urging: "Send empty vehicle frames over immediately! We've captured too many, and we don't have enough vehicles to go around!"

This tone was both a complaint and a boast.

Several special envoys from the Ministry of Finance who accompanied the army worked tirelessly to inventory and register these valuables.

A rough estimate reveals astonishing figures: the gold and silver coins alone are worth over 420,000 New Zealand silver dollars!

There are also a large quantity of gold bullion, silver ingots, copper materials, jewelry, and works of art.

In addition, there were more than 50 tons of wool, 8 tons of tanned leather, more than 8,000 precious furs (ironically, most of the precious furs were products smuggled out by Xinhua), more than 700 Andalusian horses, more than 1,200 cattle, and more than 4,000 sheep—in fact, the number of livestock seized was far greater than this, but due to the rugged and difficult mountain roads, it was difficult to transport them along the way.

It is roughly estimated that the wealth looted by the Xinhua Army in the Battle of Guadalajara was worth more than 1.2 million New Zealand silver dollars!

This not only fully covered the expeditionary force's military expenses for more than half a year and the compensation for officers and soldiers who were injured or killed, but also left a huge surplus.

More importantly, this army, which penetrated deep into the interior, "consumed very little" and basically achieved self-sufficiency in the war effort. Apart from a small amount of replenishment of weapons and gunpowder, food, cloth, and water were all obtained locally. As a result, the warehouses in the Banderas Valley were filled with "surplus" supplies transported from the mainland.

Inside the command center located in the town's church, the atmosphere was different from the noisy and lively outside; it was serious and focused.

Zhou Weifeng and several of his core staff officers were gathered solemnly around a large sand table depicting the topography of Mexico, discussing the upcoming battle plan. The sand table, which took half a month to complete, was exquisitely crafted, meticulously outlining the winding Pacific coastline, the steep Sierra Madre del Ciudad del Ciudad like the spine of a giant dragon running from north to south, and the undulating valleys and plateaus.

On the sand table, several crucial strategic locations are clearly marked with small flags of different colors.

Everyone's eyes followed Zhou Weifeng's slender baton as it moved across the landscape of mountains and coastlines on the sand table, the air thick with the weight of strategic considerations and weighing of options before making a decision.

"...In summary, the objectives of our army in the first phase of operations—to capture their key strongholds and harass the coast—have been achieved, but that is all. The Spanish have retreated inland, relying on their natural defenses. Our next step should be to target them..."

Zhou Weifeng's command was directed at a point on Mexico's southern coast: "Acapulco! Taking this place will not only give us control of an important port, but also seriously threaten surrounding towns and numerous inland trading posts. For the Mexican colonial authorities and many Spanish merchants, this will be a matter of life and death. This move will greatly deter Spain and lay the most solid foundation for our eventual peace through war!"

He paused briefly, his sharp gaze sweeping over each of his men: "If taking Guadalajara and Acapulco isn't enough to wake the Spaniards from their arrogance..."

His command baton swung sharply inland, slamming down on a spot near Mexico City: "Then we must deliver a devastating blow! Here... the Taxco silver mine!"

A low murmur of discussion arose inside the tent.

A major staff officer spoke up: "General, Taxco is the earliest silver mine developed by the Spanish. Although its output is not as high as Zacatecas, it is only 100 kilometers away from Mexico City. Attacking there is tantamount to putting a knife to the throat of the Spanish governor! The risk is extremely high, but if successful, the shock will be enormous."

“That’s exactly the effect we wanted!” Zhou Weifeng said decisively. “The Zacatecas silver mine is too far and dangerous, and it’s located in the mountains, making it easy to advance but difficult to retreat. Taxco is the best target, only about 170 kilometers away from the port of Acapulco.”

"Only by touching the royal family's purse can we truly inflict pain on the Madrid court! Only then can we force them to sit down for serious negotiations! This was also the main objective of the second phase of the war, and we must achieve it!"

"As for the risks..." Zhou Weifeng's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Half a month ago, the special task force commanded by Minister Mo in Guadalajara City defeated the Spanish army, killing, wounding and capturing more than 3,000 enemy soldiers. They also annihilated an entire cavalry unit of theirs. The Spanish army escaped to the small town of Tracpak with less than a thousand men."

"It can be said that the main force of the Spanish army has been severely damaged and can hardly pose a substantial threat to our army. Even if we penetrate into the heart of Mexico, we will not have to worry about the Spanish counterattack. At present, the Spanish are in a state of extreme weakness. If they want to recruit and train an army of several thousand people, given their efficiency and tight financial situation, it will take at least three to five months, or even more than half a year."

"General, could we attack Mexico City directly?" A young lieutenant staff officer immediately showed excitement in his eyes.

Zhou Weifeng smiled upon hearing this, a smile that carried both tolerance and the wisdom of someone with experience.

He pointed at the young officer and said, "Young people have ideas and drive, which is good."

“But…” he changed the subject, pointing his baton heavily at Mexico City on the sand table, “But Mexico City is the heart of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The Spanish have managed it for over a century, and it has a large population and strong defenses. Faced with our long-distance raid, they can easily conscript thousands or even tens of thousands of armed volunteers in the city, which will inevitably cause us to suffer a crushing defeat.”

His baton moved slowly along the various routes leading to Mexico City: "From here to Mexico City, the journey is long, requiring us to cross numerous mountains and pass through several major cities and strategic passes. Our forces are limited, and if we venture too far in, our supply lines will be stretched out indefinitely, making us vulnerable to enemy attacks."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over every officer present, finally settling on the young lieutenant: "War requires not only unwavering courage, but also the ability to assess the situation and weigh the pros and cons. Conquering cities and seizing territory is not the ultimate goal, but rather achieving the greatest strategic effect at the lowest cost, which is what a general should consider."

He patted the young officer on the shoulder: “Your idea is good, keep that spirit. But remember, true victory comes from precise calculation and patient waiting, not from momentary impulsiveness. What we need to do now is to devour the Spanish bit by bit, make them bleed and eventually have to submit, rather than charging headlong into their hardest bones right now.”

The staff officers nodded in agreement, with one adding, "The general is absolutely right. In the future, when our military strength is greater and our power is stronger, Mexico City will be ours sooner or later."

"Alright!" Zhou Weifeng stopped everyone's discussion and brought everyone's attention back to reality: "Next, you need to continue to refine and improve the next phase of the operation plan. You must submit a detailed plan for attacking the port of Acapulco and the Taxco silver mine before Minister Mo withdraws his troops and returns."

"I want to see that every aspect, including our landing site, troop deployment, fire support, advance route, and logistical supply line, has been simulated and all possible contingencies have been considered. Taking the port is just the beginning. The key is how to use it as a springboard to quickly expand inland, effectively deter the direction of Taxco, and even create opportunities for the final capture of the silver mine."

"Yes, General!" the officers replied sternly.

At this moment, a naval officer, led by the officer on duty, walked in, saluted, and handed over an official letter: "General, on the orders of the Commander of the Expeditionary Force, I am presenting the latest operational instructions from the Naval Headquarters."

His tone was calm, but his eyes revealed a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Zhou Weifeng took the so-called naval combat order with surprise, and after reading it for a while, his expression changed.

"Ha, is Old Wei trying to steal credit from our army?"
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(End of this chapter)