Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 541 The Navy's Plans

In 1527, the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Saavedra's fleet discovered a natural bay while exploring the Pacific coast.

Nestled against verdant mountains and facing the vast Pacific Ocean, this bay boasts deep, wide waters, providing shelter from wind and waves, making it a rare natural harbor.

Saavedra immediately named the place after his hometown of Manzanio and established the first colonial outpost on the high ground south of the bay, raising the flag of the Kingdom of Spain.

After more than a century of development and construction, the Port of Manzanillo has become one of the two most important ports on the Pacific coast of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (the other being the renowned Port of Acapulco).

The port area extends along the natural contours of the bay, with stone-built wharves and warehouses. Near the port, there is a gun emplacement with several cannons to protect the area.

Every day, horse-drawn carts from agriculturally prosperous regions such as Colima and Jalisco transported goods such as corn, tobacco, cocoa, and leather to this place, where workers loaded and unloaded them onto ships for shipment to various parts of Mexico and even across the Pacific trade routes.

Thanks to its important location on the Pacific trade route, the Port of Manzanillo not only serves as a regional trade hub, but also as a backup and supply port for the Port of Acapulco, providing support for the famous "Manila Galleon" that travels between Manila and Acapulco.

When large sailing ships are delayed by storms or other accidents, the port of Manzanillo becomes an important safe haven and supply station for them.

Of particular note is the abundance of forest resources in the area surrounding the port of Manzanillo, which produces high-quality timber. This led to the establishment of a sizable shipyard at the port very early on.

At its peak, this shipyard was one of the most important shipbuilding bases for Spain on the Pacific coast (the other being the shipyard in Cavite, Philippines). It not only built and repaired small and medium-sized vessels traveling between ports along the Pacific coast of the Americas, but also provided necessary repair services for the Manila galleons.

The shipyard echoed with the sounds of axes and chisels all day long, and the air was filled with the fragrance of pine and oak.

However, in the past decade, with the decline of trans-Pacific trade, the Manzanillo shipyard has inevitably declined.

Orders dwindled, skilled craftsmen left one after another, and the shipyard's docks gradually fell into disrepair. Only a few master craftsmen still held onto their ancestral skills, barely managing to keep the shipyard running.

When news of Xinhua's declaration of war against Spain reached the Pacific coast, the local Spanish colonial authorities were immediately thrown into a panic.

Due to the lack of naval power, most Spanish merchant ships were forced to seek refuge in various ports, and the port of Manzanillo thus accommodated seven or eight merchant ships of varying sizes.

These ships were moored close to the dock, and the crew members anxiously watched the sea day and night, fearing the sudden appearance of the Xinhua Navy.

The port's garrison also strengthened its defenses, but the rudimentary fort only had eight cannons deployed, four of which were old and limited in power—8-pound cannons—making the overall defense quite worrying.

Sure enough, on a misty morning, ten warships flying the Xinhua flag suddenly appeared at the entrance to the bay.

After two days of fighting, the Xinhua Army finally took control of the port at the cost of more than 60 casualties.

Spanish merchant ships hiding in the harbor were also captured, and their cargo became spoils of war for the Xinhua Army.

The shipyard, which had almost come to a standstill, was also occupied. The remaining thirty-odd Spanish and mixed-race shipbuilding craftsmen were gathered together and, under the supervision of Xinhua Navy engineering officers, the shipyard began to resume some of its functions, providing repair and maintenance services for Xinhua Navy ships.

After capturing the port of Manzanillo, the Xinhua Navy immediately developed it into an important forward base.

A temporary command post, supply warehouse and maintenance base were set up in the port, and ships performing missions at sea also took turns to carry out maintenance and rest here.

General Wei Yingbin, Minister of the Navy of Xinhua and Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, also moved his command post here to direct and coordinate the offensive of the army and navy and to transmit the latest operational orders.

Inside the harbor, five sleek and agile "Haiyan-class" cruisers, two large armed merchant ships, and two supply ships were making final preparations for their voyage, their sails crisscrossing and figures bustling about. Meanwhile, in the naval command headquarters temporarily set up in the former port municipal hall, Wei Yingbin stood before an unfolded nautical chart, deep in thought, considering the upcoming battle plan.

On the nautical chart, he heavily marked the route from the Mexican coast to the Isthmus of Panama and then to Callao with charcoal.

"Are they still sticking to their original plan?" Wei Yingbin sighed slightly and asked softly.

The adjutant, Chen Ze, who was standing by, immediately replied, "Commander, General Zhou of the Army said that the troops suffered heavy casualties after the fierce fighting in Guadalajara, and their weapons and ammunition also need to be replenished. After withdrawing and returning to the Banderas Valley, they urgently need a month or two of rest."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, General Zhou also mentioned that Panama is currently in its rainy season, plagued by disease, and the terrain is muddy, making it unfavorable for large-scale troop movements. He insisted that we should first proceed with the original plan to capture Acapulco, then the Tutasco silver mines. After completing this phase of objectives, we can then divide our forces to conquer Panama and Peru."

“They’re really stubborn!” Wei Yingbin frowned and said helplessly, “Acapulco and the Taxco silver mines are just pieces of flesh for the Spanish. Once they’re cut off, they’ll feel the pain.”

"However, Panama is the Spanish silver transport route, their lifeline. If we block it, they will be in shock. September is the crucial time for them to transport Peruvian silver. If they miss this opportunity, who knows how much wealth from the Americas will flow into Madrid next year to replenish their strained finances."

Chen Ze cautiously replied, "Commander, General Zhou's words are not entirely without merit. Our army brothers have penetrated deep into the Mexican interior, captured Guadalajara, and fought a grueling three-month battle; they have indeed endured great hardship. Furthermore, the climate and environment in Panama are extremely harsh, and forcing an expedition at this time would be extremely risky. Besides, without the main force of the army, relying solely on our navy..."

"So what if we only have the navy?" Wei Yingbin turned around, staring intently at Chen Ze. "Does that mean that without the army, our navy can only watch the show at sea? Aren't our few 'Haiyan' ships, plus the armed merchant ships, enough to intercept or even capture the Spanish treasure fleet? Even if we can't take Panama City, cutting off their sea transport lines will be just as deadly!"

As he spoke, he walked to the window and pointed to the fleet that was gathering in the bay: "Look, our warships have just been repaired and replenished, and their morale is high. The army can rest, but our navy cannot sit idly by!"

The command center fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of waves and the noise from the dock in the distance.

Wei Yingbin took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and pointed to the location of the Isthmus of Panama on the nautical chart: "The Madrid court relies on these ships of silver every year to support their European dominance. If we can intercept even one or two of these 'treasure ships,' it will not only be a heavy blow to Spain's finances, but also greatly deter the enemy and boost our morale. This strategic significance is far greater than capturing one or two more Mexican towns!"

Chen Ze looked at the crucial transport route on the nautical chart, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded: "What the minister said is quite right. However, without the cooperation of the army, it will be difficult to land a ship and occupy a port or establish a stable stronghold. Relying solely on maritime interception is subject to many variables, and the fleet will be at sea for a long time, which will require resupply and maintenance..."

“So we need to bring some marines,” Wei Yingbin interrupted him, his tone decisive. “We will draw three hundred soldiers from the port to form a landing assault force. We don’t aim to capture major coastal cities and ports; we only need to seize some remote anchorages or small supply points when necessary, or conduct small-scale landing raids to disrupt the enemy’s vision.”

He returned to his desk, picked up his charcoal pencil, and quickly wrote down an order: "Pass down the order! Inform the Army Command that our naval fleet will sail south in three days according to the latest operational plan to carry out the mission of disrupting trade routes and intercepting Spanish treasure ships. Leave the two 'Seagulls' and three armed merchant ships under their command to assist in the defense of Manzanillo and the subsequent Acapulco operation."

"Order to the fleet: All ships heading south must complete all preparations for departure within three days, and ensure sufficient supplies and ammunition. All crew members who are resting are recalled to their ships to await further orders!"

"Order the 6th Mixed Battalion of the Port Reserve: Immediately dispatch three companies, carrying light weapons and landing equipment, to each of the main warships!"

Orders were quickly recorded, repeated, and transmitted.

The atmosphere in the command post instantly became tense and urgent, with officers coming and going frequently and the footsteps of messengers echoing in the corridor.

“If we win, they’ll say it was a wise decision. If we lose…” Wei Yingbin said softly.

“If we fail, they’ll say it was a reckless adventure by our navy,” Chen Ze continued.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yingbin smiled and said, "Heh, whether it's wise or reckless, let a glorious victory prove us right."

His gaze fell once again on the shipping route to Panama and Callao, his eyes even more determined.
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(End of this chapter)