Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 557 A Strategic Maritime Pass (Part 1)

On November 12, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the bay on the south coast of Santa Cruz Island, casting a tragic yet warm glow on the battered hull of the "Sea Falcon".

Major Sun Dingyuan stood on the shore, his gaze heavy as he looked at the warship anchored dozens of meters from the shore, and he couldn't help but sigh slightly.

Its once agile and fluid figure now appears so... disheveled and fragile.

In order to hold off the two Spanish warships, the Sea Falcon paid an astonishing price.

The once smooth and flat oak gunwales are now riddled with dents and cracks, as if they had been brutally torn apart by the claws of a giant beast.

The huge hole near the waterline on the port side, despite the sailors' best efforts to temporarily plug it, using up the last few spare planks and a large amount of hemp and asphalt to fill the gaps, still looked like an ugly scar, grinning menacingly.

Every slight ripple of the waves kept the sailors responsible for damage control on their toes. The pumps creaked almost nonstop as they painstakingly pumped the seeping seawater back into the ocean.

A 6-pounder cannon at the stern was completely overturned from its mount, its twisted metal parts mixed with charred wood chips, and had not yet been completely cleaned up.

Although the main mast still stood, a deep crack in its upper part, caused by a chain shot, made the entire mast look shaky and precarious. It was currently being tightly bound and reinforced with countless thick ropes, like a seriously wounded person being put in a heavy splint.

Several of the barres that used to hang the sails were broken, and the remaining intact sails were patched upon patched, drooping helplessly in the breeze.

Even more shocking was the deck; although the bloodstains had been washed away, they were still deeply embedded in the wood grain, turning an ominous dark brown.

The scattered broken rigging, twisted metal fragments, and makeshift medical supplies silently testify to the bloodshed of the one-on-two battle that occurred not long ago.

Even more heartbreaking was the loss of life. In order to hold off the two Spanish warships and create an opportunity for the "Haicang" to intercept the treasure ship, as well as to buy crucial time for the subsequent fleet to arrive, the officers and men of the "Haicang" suffered the heaviest losses since the start of the war.

After the battle, the accompanying medical officer reported that nine officers and men on board had been killed in action, thirteen were seriously wounded or disabled (some of the seriously wounded would die later), and the lightly wounded were found in almost every combat position. Lieutenant Lin Ce, the first mate, was wounded in the left arm by shrapnel, but he still insisted on commanding until the end of the battle.

Even the fleet commander, Sun Dingyuan, was wounded in the battle. His left arm was pierced by flying wood fragments and was currently wrapped in bandages and slinged in front of his chest.

Although they successfully captured the Spanish warship "San Felipe" (which was also badly damaged but still repairable) and two treasure ships, "Spirit of the Holy Spirit" and "Concepción," laden with gold, silver, and a large quantity of American specialties, another Spanish warship, "San James," which was brought up the rear, was riddled with holes when it surrendered, its keel twisted, and seawater was uncontrollably pouring into every crack.

After doing their best to transfer the prisoners and some valuables, the Xinhua officers and soldiers could only watch with mixed feelings as the enemy ship, which had fought so hard, slowly tilted and finally disappeared into the vast sea, bearing its wounds and glory.

Despite the abundant spoils, the heavy damage to the "Sea Falcon," the minor damage to the "Haicang," and the need for major repairs to the "San Felipe" made it highly unrealistic for the fleet to immediately head south and join up with Commander Wei Yingbin's main fleet.

Sun Dingyuan then took out the top-secret nautical chart issued by the Ministry of the Navy and searched for a suitable anchorage in the nearby waters.

After discussions with several officers, it was decided to travel to the Galapagos Islands, more than a thousand kilometers east of Guayaquil, for a short rest.

Earlier, while they were chasing the Spanish treasure fleet, they sped northwest and were already not far from the islands, at most a three to five day's journey.

After several days of cautious sailing, the outline of a strange and desolate archipelago came into view of the fleet.

Carefully avoiding the reefs, the fleet finally chose a huge bay on the south coast of a large island in the middle (Santa Cruz Island).

The "Haicang" took the lead in launching small boats to measure the water depth and eventually guided the damaged fleet slowly into this calm blue water.

The small island before us presents a strange scene that is wild, ancient, yet full of vitality.

The dark volcanic rocks form the main body of the coastline, rugged and undulating, as if frozen in the moment when the earth was first created.

Low shrubs and unusual cacti grow tenaciously in the crevices of the rocks, displaying a drought-resistant gray-green color.

The air was filled with the salty smell of the sea, the dry scent of plants, and an indescribable primal atmosphere.

Giant tortoises crawled slowly along the shore, casting indifferent glances at the uninvited guests.

Colorful iguanas lay on black rocks, basking in the sunlight. In the sky, flocks of strange and unusual seabirds flew by, emitting sharp and unfamiliar cries.

Everything here is completely different from the Americas or their familiar homeland of Xinhua.

The next morning, the sailors who had landed earlier returned and reported: "...about a mile west of the bay's inner side, we have discovered a wide, flat plateau near a stream with fresh water. The terrain is slightly elevated, providing shelter from the wind, and the open view makes it ideal for setting up camp!"

"Good!" The gloom that had been hanging over Sun Dingyuan's face for days finally lifted a little. "Except for the necessary personnel on duty, all officers, soldiers, and sailors from all ships, go ashore immediately! Set up tents, and move the wounded ashore for care and treatment. All the Spanish prisoners of war should also be brought ashore and put in charge of logging, leveling the ground, and building temporary camps!"

Soon, the beach became unusually noisy and busy.

Small boats shuttled back and forth, transporting personnel, tools, and supplies ashore.

Under the watchful eyes of the army officers and soldiers on board, the more than 300 captured Spanish sailors began to level the camp, cut down trees, move stones, and dig toilets and latrines.

The sounds of axes chopping wood, shouts, and officers' commands rose and fell, breaking the island's millennia-long silence.

By the afternoon, a simple temporary campsite had begun to take shape.

Rows of white tents, like mushrooms, were neatly arranged on the black volcanic rock plateau. In the center of the camp, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, and large cooking pots were set up.

The perimeter was fortified with felled tree trunks and thorns, forming makeshift barricades and sentry posts.

The seriously wounded were carefully placed in the best-equipped tents, with medical officers bustling about. In the evening, in the open space outside the newly set up command tent, Major Sun Dingyuan, Lieutenant Lin Ce, the first mate of the "Sea Falcon," Captain Zhao Songming, the captain of the "Haicang," the captain of the "Shunchang," and several other officers gathered around a few small tables, eating stewed turtle meat and drinking wine, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

The campfire crackled in the center of the camp, dispelling the chill of the South Pacific night, and the firelight illuminated tired but excited faces.

The stewed turtle meat has a rather rustic flavor, with a fishy taste and a hint of earthiness, but it is fresh and filling. When eaten with spicy liquor, it helps to dispel a lot of the fatigue from the past few days.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere became much more lively.

Captain Zhao Songming savored the taste of the wine, cut off a piece of meat with his dagger, shook his head and laughed, "The meat of this big guy is quite firm, but the taste... hey, it still can't compare to the freshness of the salmon in our Xinhua Bay. Besides, everything on this island looks rather strange."

Lieutenant Lin Ce replied, his tone filled with a sense of relief at surviving a close call: "It's good enough to have something to eat, Lao Zhao. Just a few days ago, the 'Sea Falcon' almost perished there. Being able to eat hot meat and drink wine here is already a blessing from the Goddess Mazu."

Captain Li Zhen of the "Shunchang" was a bit older and more composed. He took a sip of his wine and looked toward the bay.

Even here, you can vaguely see the crooked outline of the "Sea Falcon," like a stranded behemoth.

"First Mate Lin is right. The 'Sea Falcon' has made a great contribution this time, but it has also suffered a great loss." As he spoke, he looked at Sun Dingyuan. "Captain Sun, we need to organize manpower to find suitable timber for the mast and ship planks as soon as possible tomorrow. Although the trees on this island do not look like the giant trees inland, we should be able to find a few for emergency use."

Sun Dingyuan poked at the fire with a twig, and sparks drifted upwards, merging into the starry night sky.

The Southern Cross was exceptionally clear in the sky, a sight rarely seen in Xinhua Bay to the north.

“Yes, tomorrow morning, arrange for the carpenters to take the prisoners into the forest. We also need to keep replenishing the fresh water; the stream doesn't have a large volume, so we need to dig several more water storage pits.” He paused, then turned to look at the prisoner camp. “Keep a close eye on those Spaniards, make sure they don't cause any trouble. Those Spanish officers on the ‘San Felipe,’ especially Colonel Cruz, although they surrendered, you can't hide the resentment in their eyes.”

Army Lieutenant He Yongqiang snorted: "They dare! Anyone who dares to make a move, we'll kill them! Hmm, but the officer's caution is also reasonable. I'll have someone set up double guards in the prisoner camp to keep a close watch on them, and they'll all have to work hard to atone for their sins."

The topic naturally shifted back to the strategic discussion at noon.

Lin Ce took a sip of wine, his face flushed from the alcohol and the firelight. With the fervor of a young officer, he said, "Sir, what Captain Li and the others said during the day was absolutely right! This place, at first glance, looks desolate and godforsaken, but the location... wow, it's absolutely amazing!"

"We're going to take over all these islands, like gatekeepers guarding the gates to the Spanish gold mines, except we're not holding keys, we're holding machetes!"

His words drew a low chuckle.

Zhao Songming pointed at Lin Ce with the wine bottle: "Your analogy is a bit rough, but the point is valid. Think about what was on those two treasure ships... Goodness, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that the Spanish had plundered the south so ruthlessly. The gold and silver alone were worth millions, right?"

"Oh, and there are copper ingots and soft, silky alpaca wool, all worth a lot of money! If we can really take control of this island, every single ship they send from Peru and Chile will have to pass right under our noses!"

Li Zhen smiled and said, "The officers make it sound so easy, but occupying the island is easier said than done. Right now, we're just temporarily docked for repairs, so we don't need many supplies."

"If we're going to maintain a permanent presence, we'll need to build sturdy fortifications, barracks, and warehouses. We'll need a stable supply of water and food, and we'll also need to withstand possible storms and... and a possible attack from the Spanish. We'll need several fortifications, a necessary shipyard, and a large stockpile of supplies. All in all, it'll cost quite a bit!"

“Old Li’s words are a long-term plan,” Sun Dingyuan nodded. “But now that we’re here, we can’t leave empty-handed. Perhaps we should consider setting up our future development strategy for Xinhua and our long-term plans for the navy here.”

"Our encounter with the Spanish treasure fleet, followed by a pursuit and fierce battle, has left us in this state of disarray. I feel as if fate has somehow led us to this island. As I observe the island and compare it with the nautical charts, I feel more and more strongly that this place must not be allowed to fall into ruin!"

"These archipelagos are far from the mainland, and the Spanish simply abandoned them, but their location is absolutely crucial. Heading north to Mexico, east to Panama, and south to Peru and Chile, this place is practically a natural springboard and transit anchorage on the outer edge of the only routes!"

“It’s more than just a springboard!” Lin Ce added, “It’s only about 1,500 kilometers away from Lima and Callao, the core of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and even closer to Guayaquil.”

"If our Xinhua Navy fleet uses this as a forward base and completes its preparations, it can be at the city gates in less than ten days. Like a sharp sword, it will always hang over the Spanish people's wealth and lifeline!"

Sun Dingyuan picked up the wine jar, but didn't pour any wine; he just shook it slightly a few times. "What I talked about with Lao Li at noon wasn't just wishful thinking. I plan to include an investigation report when I write this battle report, including the strategic significance of this place, what I saw and heard, and preliminary survey suggestions, and then submit it to the Navy Ministry. We must make sure that the leaders of the central government and the Navy Ministry know about this place as soon as possible and take it seriously!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned serious.

They didn't expect that the fleet commander would actually take it seriously, turning everyone's unconscious banter into a formal report, requesting the central government and the Navy to occupy these desolate islands.

Moreover, judging from his tone, this is not just a battle report, but more likely a proposal to change Xinhua's strategic layout in Spanish America.

“If the central government decides to manage this place…” Lin Ce’s eyes lit up, “then the beating our ‘Sea Falcon’ took this time will have been well worth it! Hehe, we will be the first pioneers to develop this forward base.”

Zhao Songming also got excited: "That's right! By then, this won't be a temporary camp anymore. We'll have to raise our Xinhua flag and build our navy's own dedicated dock! Hey, what should we name this island? 'Dingyuan Island'? Or 'Zhenyi Island'?"

Sun Dingyuan smiled and waved his hand: "The name will be decided by the central command. Our navy's primary task is to establish a firm foothold. Starting tomorrow, in addition to repairing ships and improving the camp, we also need to send out reconnaissance teams in small boats to survey the surrounding islands, especially to find deeper and more hidden harbors, and to map the surrounding waterways. This archipelago is not small, and we need to figure out its details as soon as possible."

He raised his hand, filled his wine bowl to the brim, and then held it high.

"Gentlemen," he said, looking around at everyone, "our arrival on this deserted island is like an unexpected knock on a door. Behind that door may lie hardships and dangers, or endless opportunities. Whether we can grasp this key for the country and the army depends on how much foundation we can lay on this deserted island in the coming period."

The officers rose to their feet, raising their wine bowls high, their faces now flushed with pride, the effects of the alcohol replaced by a surge of exhilaration.

The wine bowls clashed heavily together, followed by a burst of enthusiastic cheers.

In the distance, the Spaniards in the prisoner-of-war camp gnawed on hard, dry bread, staring blankly at the tents where the Xinhua officers had gathered.

They simply couldn't understand why those pagans were so excited on this desolate archipelago that even God seemed to have forgotten, and why their eyes burned with such a scorching and ambitious light.
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(End of this chapter)