Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 552 The Hunt (Part Two)

On October 24, 1642, the port of Callao was shrouded in an eerie calm.

Inside the harbor, the warships of the Peruvian fleet and the treasure ships laden with gold and silver were quietly anchored, their sails neatly coiled up, like a group of imprisoned giants.

The water surface shimmered with a leaden gray luster, occasionally disturbed by swimming fish, creating ripples.

The cannons of the coastal defense battery still pointed menacingly at the bay's exit, but the soldiers' faces no longer showed the initial panic; instead, they displayed a numb, wait-and-see attitude.

Outside the harbor, several Xinhua warships flying the red flag of the five stars still loitered not far away, like patient hunting dogs, neither approaching nor moving away, but simply guarding the bay.

The atmosphere inside the city hall's meeting room was somber.

Seated around the long oak table were several of Callao's top decision-makers: Don Francisco de Toledo, special envoy of the Governor-General of Peru; Álvaro Mendoza, mayor of Callao; Colonel Juan de la Cruz, commander of the Peruvian fleet; and Colonel Diego Maldonado, commander of the port garrison.

“Gentlemen…” Toledo finally spoke, his voice echoing in the vaulted hall, “We have wasted nearly a month in this damned port. The Gaiañas fleet will not wait indefinitely in Bello, and if the wealth of Peru does not arrive on time, what will happen in Madrid…”

He paused, his long, slender fingers unconsciously stroking the governor's edict on the table. He didn't continue, but everyone present understood the unspoken threat.

Colonel Cruz, commander of the Peruvian squadron, cleared his throat, his face still bearing the minor scratches from the last naval battle: "Your Excellency, I understand your concerns. But we must face reality: the warships of the new Chinese far surpass ours in both speed and firepower. If the fleet rashly sets sail, it would be tantamount to handing over the king's wealth."

"So we're just going to sit here and watch those infidels swagger across our coastline?" Toledo's voice suddenly rose. "Do you know how many ducats the royal family loses every day of delay? His Majesty's army is fighting a bitter battle in Flanders, suppressing a rebellion in Catalonia, and confronting the French in Aragon. Every single silver coin is a matter of imperial honor!"

The meeting room fell silent, with only the cries of seagulls outside the window and the sound of waves crashing on the shore in the distance.

Colonel Cruz and Colonel Erdonado exchanged a helpless glance, to which the latter could only offer a sympathetic wry smile.

Fortunately, as the port garrison commander, he only needed to keep the new Chinese out, unlike Colonel Cruise who had to worry about how to break the port blockade.

“Perhaps…” Mayor Mendoza cautiously began, “the new Chinese are just bluffing. They’ve been blockading the port for over twenty days, yet they’ve never attempted to land. What does that mean?”

Colonel Cruz chimed in, "This shows they don't have enough ground forces. I agree with the mayor's assessment; the main force of the new Chinese is likely still fighting in Mexico, and this fleet is merely a surprise attack intended to cut off our supply lines. As long as we wait patiently..."

Toledo stood up abruptly, his robe sleeve sweeping across the documents on the table. "What's the point of all this? The Governor's orders are very clear: do everything in our power to break the naval blockade and safely escort the treasure fleet to Panama!"

"You must recognize the dire situation we are in. We have been behind schedule with the Gaianes fleet for over twenty days. Can you imagine the dire straits our homeland has become? The war has emptied the national treasury, and His Majesty the King and the Chief Minister are waiting for this silver to pay the soldiers' wages and purchase more weapons!"

"Without the influx of these riches, our Kingdom of Spain may face collapse on all fronts. Therefore, you should stop complaining about how powerful the warships of the new Chinese are, and stop doing nothing and letting the situation continue to deteriorate. We need countermeasures, we need to take action, and we need to change this passive situation."

He surveyed the crowd, his voice low and stern: "If Peru's wealth doesn't arrive on time, Madrid won't care what excuses you have. They'll only see results, or no results."

Colonel Cruz's face immediately turned extremely grim, and he stammered, "Mr. Envoy, we really can't launch a preemptive strike; that would be suicide! You probably haven't seen how they fight. That's not pirate tactics; that's professional naval warfare, and their gunners are highly trained, firing at three times the rate of ours. Our five best warships, within an hour..."

"So we're just going to cower in our shells like turtles?" Toledo asked sarcastically, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Let those infidels swagger around on our doorstep? Do you know what Madrid will think of us? '...a bunch of colonial officials terrified by infidel pirates'?"

Mayor Mendoza interjected, “Mr. Envoy, I understand your concerns. But Colonel Cruz is right. The risk of forcing our way in is too great; it would be tantamount to handing the treasure ship over to the new Chinese. I think if we wait another week or two, their supplies will run out. There is nothing on San Lorenzo Island. They have come from afar and must not have brought much with them. Once they run out, they will have no choice but to leave.”

“Yes, the Chinese can’t afford to hold out!” Colonel Cruz gave him a grateful look and quickly added, “Although the Chinese have occupied San Lorenzo Island, there is almost no food or other supplies on it, and even fresh water is very scarce. They simply cannot maintain a blockade for long. If we hold out for a little longer, they will definitely leave.”

“Hmph, you can choose to wait, but will the Gaianes fleet continue to wait for us in Bello Port?” Toledo questioned, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. “Will His Majesty the King allow us to wait idly like this?”

“Mr. Envoy, waiting may not be the best option, but it is the only option that can preserve the treasure fleet intact…” Colonel Cruise pleaded.

By hiding in the port of Callao and missing the rendezvous with the Gaiañez fleet, Spain was merely delaying the arrival of these riches on its mainland.

But if they risked leaving port, they might all be robbed by the new Chinese immigrants outside!

The meeting reached a stalemate. No matter how much the envoy Toledo threatened and persuaded him, Colonel Cruz refused to leave port, citing security concerns. This infuriated the envoy and made everyone present feel suffocated.

Just then, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.

A weary messenger rushed in, his uniform covered in dust, barely having time to salute. "Mayor, urgent news!" he gasped, handing Mayor Mendoza a report. "Three coastal villages six leagues north of Kayao were attacked by pirates last night! Baranca, Kanet, and Elmirador have all been sacked!"

Mayor Mendoza quickly scanned the report, his face turning pale: "What about casualties?"

“At least twenty people have died, and many more have been injured. Livestock have been stolen, stored grain has been looted, and fishing boats have been burned.” The messenger’s voice trembled.

"God!" Mendoza made the sign of the cross on his chest, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"Pirates? Are they English or Dutch? How many of them are there? What kind of ships are they using?" Commander Maldonado, the port garrison commander, asked urgently, leaning forward with his hand already on his sword.

The messenger shook his head, his lips trembling as he replied, “Not English, not Dutch… Their ships flew red flags with five stars, exactly like the Xinhua Fleet blockading the harbor. They first crushed the villagers’ will to resist with cannon fire, then sent soldiers ashore for organized looting. They burned down the church in the town of Baranca, and the village’s blacksmith shop was completely destroyed…”

The meeting room erupted in an uproar.

“New Chinese! They actually came ashore and attacked our village!” Maldonado said in shock, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Colonel Cruz suddenly realized something and muttered to himself, "The Xinhua are trying to... obtain supplies! They're preparing to sustain the war through war, and are planning a long-term blockade against us..."

Toledo slammed his fist on the table. “Gentlemen, the situation is far worse than we thought. It’s clear the new Chinese aren’t just passively waiting there; they’re plundering coastal villages to obtain the food and other supplies they need. This means they can stay here for months!”

All eyes were on Colonel Cruise.

His expression shifted between light and shadow, his fingers unconsciously tracing the patterns on the sword hilt, clearly indicating a fierce internal struggle.

After a long silence, when he looked up again, his eyes were filled with determination: "Gentlemen, it seems we have no other choice. We must take action, even if it puts our entire Peruvian squadron and treasure fleet in danger."

"Colonel, what do you plan to do?" Toledo felt a sense of relief, but still maintained a serious expression.

"A night raid, coordinated with the fire ships." Colonel Cruz took a deep breath and walked to the nautical chart on the wall. "Choose a moonless night to launch a surprise attack on the Xinhua Fleet with fire ships, while the main warships escort the treasure fleet to break through. If we can disrupt their formation, the treasure fleet has a high probability of being able to sail to Panama under the cover of darkness."

“Excellent!” Toledo's face showed a hint of relief. “I knew it; the Colonel's extensive experience in naval warfare would definitely help us get out of our current predicament.”

“But…” Colonel Cruz shook his head, his voice heavy, “this move is extremely risky. We are essentially handing our fate over to an omnipotent God… May God bless Spain!”

“God will bless us!” Toledo paused for a moment, then his expression hardened. “Spain’s honor cannot be tarnished, and the King’s wealth must be delivered. This is our… destiny.”

The meeting ended in a heavy atmosphere.

The officials left one after another, each with a complex expression of unease and determination on their face.

Colonel Cruz was the last to leave City Hall.

He stood under the colonnade, gazing blankly at the distant sea.

As the sun set, it gilded the sea with a blood-red edge.

“Colonel…” his adjutant approached quietly, “Do you really think this plan can succeed?”

Colonel Cruise did not answer immediately.

His gaze swept over the towering masts in the harbor and a group of blurry figures busy on the deck.

They were preparing for their upcoming voyage, perhaps also fighting for survival.

“Juan…” he began slowly, his voice so soft it was almost carried away by the sea breeze, “Sometimes, honor and duty compel us to do the impossible. Inform all captains that a combat meeting will be held tonight at 8 PM.”

He paused for a moment, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and gazed at the distant horizon.

"May God bless Spain!"
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(End of this chapter)