Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 560 A Strategic Maritime Pass (Part Four)

November 30, 1642, Luzon, Nantong Fort (now Zamboanga City).

Although it was late November, there was no hint of the northern chill on the coast of Mindanao. The gentle sea breeze, carrying a salty and fishy smell, swept across the peninsula (Zamboggan Peninsula), making people feel incredibly comfortable.

This military fortress, located at the southern tip of the peninsula, is gradually recovering and becoming vibrant again after a brief period of fighting.

The morning sun bathed the rough earthen and stone walls of the fortress in a crimson hue, and a bright red five-starred flag fluttered in the wind atop the watchtower, replacing the Spanish royal flag that had once flown there.

Not far from the fortress walls, the azure sea washes over the beach with gentle, lapping waves.

On the vast plains, the figures of early-rising farmers could already be faintly seen moving among the fields.

Inside the fortress walls, a different scene unfolded: a group of Xinhua militiamen, dressed in light armor and carrying muskets, were conducting drills under the guidance of their instructors, their shouts and footsteps echoing across the empty square.

Dozens of Spanish prisoners, under the command of their overseers, were clearing a messy open space to build houses for the incoming new immigrants.

In a corner, craftsmen were repairing and reinforcing the warehouse door with clanging and clattering.

In the former Spanish municipal office, Liang Fushui, the head of Nantongbao, sat at a rough wooden table, flipping through several pages of account books with a furrowed brow.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" Wu Yongnian, the steward in charge of agricultural reclamation in Nantongbao, knocked on the door and stood somewhat reservedly in front of Liang Fushui.

He was an immigrant from Fujian, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a dark complexion, thick knuckles, and dressed in a coarse cloth outfit covered in mud, looking like an old farmer.

“Old Wu, sit down!” Liang Fushui pushed the account book aside and pointed to the stool opposite him. “A document has been sent from Xinhua (now Manila) saying that a new batch of Ming immigrants will be sent over after the New Year, about 180 people.”

"Adding our current population, that's over four hundred mouths to feed. We'll have to put in a lot of effort to ensure everyone goes hungry. Although the special district will allocate some grain, it's not a long-term solution. I've called you here to quickly finalize the planting plan for this winter and next spring."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yongnian's spirits lifted, clearly indicating that he had already considered the matter.

He leaned forward and said confidently, “Don’t worry, sir. I have looked this place carefully. Although it is a wild and desolate place, it is a treasure. The climate here is similar to that of Luzon Island. It is hot and humid all year round. Although wheat and potatoes cannot be grown here, it is very suitable for rice, sweet potatoes and corn.”

"Especially the latter two, they are both high-yield and tolerant of poor soil, and their growing period is short. For example, sweet potatoes can be harvested in three or four months after the vines are planted, which is the best solution for an urgent problem."

As he spoke, he dipped his finger in tea and drew a simple diagram on the table: "The gentle slope to the northeast of the fort is high, with dry soil, good drainage, and plenty of sunshine, making it perfect for growing sweet potatoes and corn. As for rice, the alluvial depression near the river mouth can be easily cultivated with a little work, such as diverting water and building canals. Harvesting two rice crops a year is not difficult at all."

Liang Fushui listened attentively, nodding occasionally, his eyes showing approval: "Good, good, good! It's rare that Old Wu planned so early, which saves me a lot of trouble. Everything will be done as you say. As for manpower, everyone will be at your disposal. In addition to all the immigrants in the fortress participating in land reclamation, don't let those Spanish prisoners be idle. Assign them all the heavy and hard work. Oh, by the way, are the tools and seeds all ready and sufficient?"

"Reporting to you, sir, the sweet potato vines and corn seeds brought from Luzon have been properly stored, and some rice seeds have also been prepared. However... there is still a slight shortage of iron farm tools needed for land reclamation."

"I will apply to the colony area for permission to prioritize the allocation of hoes and plowshares when the next supply ship arrives," Liang Fushui said firmly. "Old Wu, Nantongbao is the foothold for Xinhua to establish itself on this island. Only when the land is cultivated well and the granaries are full can we truly establish a foothold and have the confidence for subsequent development. I entrust this matter entirely to you!"

Wu Yongnian quickly cupped his hands and replied, "Sir, I will certainly live up to your expectations and make sure that lush green crops grow around our fort as soon as possible!"

"My lord, a small group of people has arrived outside the fortress. Judging from their attire, they are local natives. The leader claims to be an envoy from the Sultan Kingdom of Ma Jingda Nao, and requests to enter the fortress to see you."

As they were talking, a militiaman on guard of the village wall rushed over to report.

“An envoy from the natives?” Liang Fushui paused for a moment, then a cold smile appeared on his lips. “Well, they’ve finally arrived. Bring them in, and be a little more polite.”

A moment later, three natives entered, led by a militiaman.

The leader was a native nobleman, with a white turban wrapped around his head, wearing a long robe, with a solemn face and a scrutinizing and reserved look in his eyes.

Behind him were two dark-skinned, thin but extremely fierce guards, with jewel-encrusted wavy scabbards at their waists (the short swords had been taken away), their expressions wary and ruthless.

"In the name of Allah, may peace be with you," the messenger, who appeared to be a local nobleman, said in heavily accented Malay, his right hand on his chest and a slight bow.

A translator who was nearby and had some knowledge of Malay quickly whispered the message to Liang Fushui.

“I am Unai, the scribe of His Majesty Sultan Kudarat,” he introduced himself, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. “I have come to convey His Majesty’s decree by order of the great Sultan Maguindanao, protector of the followers of the True God, and Lord of Mindanao—Sultan Kudarat.”

After hearing the translator's message, Liang Fushui paused for a moment, then turned to look at the translator carefully.

"...to convey His Majesty's decree"?
What do you mean?
Do you consider us, the new Chinese, to be subjects of your small, indigenous nation?
“Please speak, envoy!” he said in a cold voice, taking a deep breath.

Unai cleared his throat, his voice booming with an unquestionable authority: "This land, from the winding rivers to the deep jungles, from the coastline at our feet to the distant mountains, has been the indisputable territory of the great Sultan Kudarat since ancient times."

"The Spanish were thieves who desecrated and stole our land. Now, God has shown His might, and they have been mercilessly driven out. This is a great joy. Our Sultan greatly admires your courage in defeating our common enemy."

"However, the departure of the Spanish bandits does not mean that outsiders can occupy this place at will. You have built a fortress and stationed troops here without permission, which has violated the authority of His Majesty the Sultan."

"His Majesty the Sultan is merciful. As long as you promise to dismantle the fortress and withdraw all personnel and ships from the area, our two sides can still coexist peacefully and even conduct friendly trade."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent, with only the mournful sound of the sea breeze whistling through the cracks in the window.

Liang Fushui looked at Unai with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "I understand what Your Excellency means. Nantong Fort, which we, the new Chinese, seized from the Spanish with our blood and lives, needs to be demolished immediately, and then we must leave this place. Is this what Your Sultan means?"

“Yes,” Unai nodded expressionlessly. “Only in this way can you Chinese win the forgiveness of our Sultan and gain our friendship.”

"Back when the Spanish occupied this place, did your Sultan also say these words to them?" Liang Fushui chuckled twice.

"..." Upon hearing the interpreter's message, Unai's expression immediately changed, and he looked over with a gloomy gaze. Liang Fushui smiled and continued to answer unhurriedly, "My envoy, I think you may have made a mistake. This fortress was originally called Pilat Fortress, and it was built by the Spanish."

"In June of this year, our Xinhua people fought a bloody battle to seize this land from the Spanish. This land was not seized from the Sultanate of Maguindanao, so how can there be any talk of 'unauthorized occupation'?"

Unai's face darkened: "Chief Liang, the Spanish are invaders. They seized our coastline and built fortresses, like thorns stuck in our flesh and blood."

"We have been fighting them for this for over a decade! This land, whether forcibly occupied by the Spanish or seized by you new Chinese, has always belonged to the great Sultan Kudarat. Now that the Spanish have been driven out, this land should be returned to its rightful owner."

Upon hearing this, Liang Fushui couldn't help but laugh: "My envoy, you must understand that this fortress is a spoil of war that we obtained with our blood and sweat. How can one take back what belongs to another and then hand it over to someone else?"

"Moreover, as far as I know, the Spanish have occupied this fortress for more than ten years. During this time, the Kingdom of Guizhou has attacked it many times, but has never been able to conquer it. Now that we have removed this thorn in your side and solved a major problem for you, not only have you not offered a word of thanks or reward, but you have even come to drive us away. This is a bit unreasonable."

"Do you think that Xinhua is easier to bully and manipulate than the Spanish?"

These words, though seemingly casual, bluntly pointed out the fact that the Maguindanao people had been unable to conquer the fortress in the past, making Unai somewhat embarrassed.

He took a deep breath and raised his voice: "Chief Liang, the Spanish are wolves, are you new Chinese bandits? What do you intend to do by replacing the Spanish and occupying this place? Do you also want to colonize and expand this land like them, squeezing out the living space of our indigenous people?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. The two guards behind Unai clenched their fists instinctively, their whole bodies tensing up, while the Xinhua militiamen standing on both sides raised their muskets.

Liang Fushui waved his hands to both sides, signaling the militiamen to remain calm.

“Envoy Unai, the primary purpose of our Xinhua in coming to Southeast Asia is to seek survival and development, and to live in harmony with all sides. Moreover, we are fundamentally different from the Spanish. The Spanish crossed the ocean to plunder, and also to spread their one and only God. Those who obey us prosper, and those who oppose us perish.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and pointed to the militia training inside the fortress and the fishing boats faintly visible on the distant sea. "Look," he said, "we built this city, settled here, and hunted and fished here to live in peace and create a better life. We brought not only swords and firearms, but also plowshares, seeds, and craftsmanship. We are willing to live in peace with the surrounding ethnic groups, engage in fair trade, and exchange goods."

He turned around, his gaze sharp: "As for what you said about squeezing your living space... Envoy Unai, the land here is vast enough, and the resources here are abundant enough to accommodate all kinds of creatures."

"We, the new Chinese, value 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do' and 'make the best of a good situation,' and we also seek peace and tranquility in our communities. As long as you do not provoke us or engage in hostile acts, we will never easily start a war. This Nantong Fort will become a hub for maintaining peace and promoting trade, rather than a bridgehead for invasion and colonization, as the Spanish did."

"Therefore, please go back and tell your Sultan that we, the Xinhua people, occupy this place to eliminate the remaining Spanish forces and ensure the smooth flow of maritime trade routes. We have no intention of actively becoming your enemy. However, if you misjudge the situation and think that we Xinhua people are as easily bullied as the Spanish were when they first arrived, or even attempt to threaten us with force..."

Liang Fushui paused, a strange glint flashing in his eyes, and raised his voice a few decibels: "Then please, Sultan, consider this carefully. Our Xinhua was able to sweep through the entire Luzon region within two years, uprooting the Spanish, and even conquering this fortress that the Spanish had built up over several years in a single day. We are not pushovers that everyone can bully!"

"The sharpness of our Xinhua army and the strength of our military are far beyond what the Spanish of the past could match. If your Maguindanao Sultanate takes any forceful actions and threatens our Nantongbao with force, or even resorts to violence, then don't blame us for not warning you!"

Upon hearing the interpreter's message, Unai was so enraged by these strong words that his face turned ashen, and the guards behind him glared at him angrily.

"Good! Very good!" Unai stood up abruptly. "I will deliver Chief Liang's words to His Majesty the Sultan verbatim! I hope you will not regret your arrogance today! Let's go!"

Having said that, he left the council hall in a huff, accompanied by his guards.

"Sir, should we..." Militia Captain Chen Sangen watched their departing figures, stepped forward, and slashed with his hand as if it were a knife.

"Ha, even when two countries are at war, they don't kill envoys. Our Xinhua is a civilized country, and we don't practice such despicable methods," Liang Fushui shook his head and said dismissively.

"Will their departure lead to a large-scale attack on our Nantong Fort by the local army?" Chen Sangen asked worriedly.

"Them?" Liang Fushui said dismissively. "Back then, this fortress was only garrisoned by less than a hundred Spaniards. The natives attacked it for more than ten years, but did they ever manage to capture it?"

"But if the natives besiege us, we won't be able to farm outside..."

“Then let’s build more forts and expand our territory inland,” Liang Fushui said. “I don’t believe these natives can mobilize enough manpower and resources to attack our fortified strongholds!”

"Sir, but we don't have many people!"

"Population?" Liang Fushui looked at him strangely. "If you said that my New Continent is short of people, then there's nothing to say. But what kind of place is this?... It's Luzon!"

"In the past, when the Spanish occupied this place, thousands upon thousands of people left their homeland and came to Luzon every year. Now, our Xinhua has taken its place and implemented various immigration incentive policies. Even if we do not actively recruit immigrants, we are afraid that no fewer than tens of thousands of Ming Dynasty citizens will cross the sea to join us this year!"

"As long as we have enough food, why should we worry about not having enough people to fill our Nantong Fort?"

“Sir…” Chen Sangen said with a bitter face, “Although many immigrants arrive every year, the priority for colonization is to fill Luzon Island! Our place is remote and desolate, surrounded by indigenous forces. How could we possibly gain favor from above…”

“What do you know!” Liang Fushui rebuked, “The location of Nantong Fort that we occupy is so crucial, how could it not be favored by the Commissioner? Hmph, this place is a vital seaport, a hub connecting all directions, and the cornerstone for future development of the islands in the South China Sea. Its potential for development is limitless.”

"Huh?" Chen Sangen's eyes widened, his expression one of disbelief. "Is this place really that important?"

Liang Fushui shook his head, ignored it, and continued to handle his official business.

“Xiao Liang, you must remember that if Nantong Fort is managed well, one day we can use it to expand south to the Spice Islands, west to Borneo, and north to protect the core of Luzon. This is a strategic layout that will affect Luzon for decades to come, and it can be said that moving one part will affect the whole body.”

"Furthermore, it serves as a springboard and outpost for reaching that vast and unknown continent further south... The weight of the future rests on your shoulders."

Ten days ago, when he came from Xinhua to take up his post, Han Jian, the commissioner of the colonization area, gave him earnest advice, and his words of earnest exhortation still echoed in his ears.

This explanation, rather than being an expression of expectation and encouragement, is more like a weighty strategic delivery.

We have to take this spot!
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(End of this chapter)