Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 140: Manila Royal City

Old Manila

Wang Haigou, the secret agent with his hat pulled down, and a wealthy merchant were walking through the streets one after the other. He looked back at the towering royal city in the distance, and his deep eyes revealed an indescribable meaning.

Intramuros, Manila, is a city within a city that was built by the French in 1573. It is surrounded by tall and strong walls and is an absolute fortress.

The Royal City was designed as a star-shaped fortress. The Royal City area, covering an area of ​​64 hectares, is surrounded by a 2.44-meter-thick and 6.7-meter-high stone wall. It was completed in 1606 and immediately became the core area of ​​the French colony.

There are more than a dozen magnificent Catholic churches in the royal city, as well as the Governor's Palace, schools, Spanish-style apartments and residential areas, and a large number of palaces and mansions.

Only white people are allowed to live here, and mixed-race people serving white people must leave before sunset, and strict prohibitions are enforced.

Throughout Luzon

The local Chinese were at the bottom of the oppressed class, being exploited by the Franks and subject to the harshest taxes.

The French Brigade Law stipulates;
Local whites were exempt from tax, indigenous people were subject to a basic tax, mixed-race Chinese were taxed twice, and Chinese were taxed four times.

This is also the rule that makes the Chinese living in Manila most angry. The arrogant French people want to take every last penny, but they have to bow their heads because they live under the eaves.

This gave Wang Haigou great convenience, allowing him to use channels to instigate dissatisfied Chinese businessmen to become his secret agents for gathering information and spread his spies throughout Manila.

The two men came into the house, took off their hats and placed them on the table.

Wang Haigou asked;
"Brother Kang Cheng, have you figured out the deployment of the troops in the royal city? This is very important. Once the general leads his army to attack, whether he can capture the fortified city depends on this."

"Brother Gou, don't worry. I'm collecting information through the brothers who work as waiters in the royal city. Many of them only know basic Spanish and can't communicate with those white soldiers."

"What should I do?"

"We can only take it slow and make a rough estimate by observing the daily patrols and guard duty of the white soldiers on the city walls."

"Is it possible to plant an insider?"

"Impossible. Every day, everyone entering the royal city is rigorously searched at the city gates. The same number of people who enter must be allowed to leave. Otherwise, the white people will be alerted and a large-scale manhunt will be launched."

"Is it so strict?"

"Haha... Do you think a mere twenty-something Frankies who have ruled here for three hundred years don't have their own methods? Once the Royal City is closed, no one can break in. Even if they cause chaos outside, it's useless."

"It's really tricky. We need to think of a solution."

"Through our observations over the past few days, we have indeed discovered a defensive loophole in the royal city. It's here... on the city wall near the Passi River."

As the sea merchant Wang Kangcheng spoke, he picked up the tea tray on the table and started setting it up.

The Royal City is a star-shaped fortress castle, close to the Passi River. The exit of the Royal City is on the old city side, and white sentries are on high alert every day.

Wang Kangcheng used a tea tray as the royal city, placed several teacups around it as protruding bastions, and took a broom and placed it next to it as the Pasi River.

He pointed to the area along the Passey River and continued, "There is a small team of white sentinels here. When they are on guard in the evening, there are about 40 of them in total, and they are specifically responsible for this section of the city wall.

Because it is close to the river
It is a long parallel wall, about 330 meters long. According to my brother's observation, these white sentinels usually do not come out when they are on guard at night.

Instead, they stayed in the watchtowers at both ends. When the moonlight was good at night, they could see the other end from one end and be on guard by staying in the watchtower.

Actually

Visibility is poor at night. If a person wearing black clothes carefully crawls through this middle section of the city, there is a 70% to 80% chance that he will not be discovered.

Below this section of the city wall is the back garden of the Frankies, which is rarely visited and can be well hidden.

How long can you hide?
Is there a suitable place to hide?

This has not been clarified yet, and our people cannot go deep into there.

These Frankies are very vigilant and do not allow waiters to move around freely. They must serve within the scope they specify, otherwise they will be severely punished.

For example, when serving in the master's house, you are limited to the kitchen, living room and back garden on the first floor. You are not allowed to enter other places or search around at will.

So my brothers can only watch from a distance, remember what they have learned, and come back to describe it in detail.”

"Okay, I understand. Have your brothers keep watching. This is very valuable information." Wang Haigou's expression became serious when he said this. He patted the shoulder of merchant Wang Kangcheng and said,

"My general wishes to emulate the example of our predecessor, Zheng Chenggong, and lead a large army to recapture the Luzon Islands, returning them to the command of our Chinese people, expand our territory in the South Seas, and establish an unprecedented achievement.

Now we have established ourselves in Mindanao, accumulating strength and looking north.

This is a rare opportunity, Brother Kang Cheng must seize it, follow the general's footsteps, rise up in rebellion, overthrow the colonial rule of the Franks and the foreigners, and return to the righteousness of China.

Every little bit of contribution will be remembered.

When the army marches north, I will definitely recommend Brother Kang Cheng for merit, so that overseas wanderers can also bring honor to their family.

Keep the secrets during the operation and don't make mistakes."

Wang Haicheng solemnly clasped his fists and replied, "I am a humble commoner, honored by your trust and invitation to join the chess game. I will repay your kindness with my life and will not hold back or skimp on anything." "Very good! Continue to strengthen intelligence gathering within the royal city, and report any significant discoveries to me immediately."

"Please rest assured, Brother Gou. Haicheng will definitely fulfill his mission."

"it is good!"

Wang Haigou nodded solemnly. The sea merchant he developed also had the surname Wang. He could actually talk about his family tree with him, and they were distant brothers of the same generation, so he naturally felt more intimate with him.

He picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of water into it, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then gave a few more instructions.

He picked up the hat and put it on his head, walked to the door and looked around carefully, then lowered his head and quickly walked away along the street, disappearing into the crowd.

Jinling City

Ever since Zheng Guohui decided to lead his troops south, various orders from the General's Office flew in all directions, and preparations were made in full swing, with troops converging on Chongming Island.

A large amount of supplies also gathered on Chongming Island, mainly gunpowder, tung oil, pig bristles, and cloth, but not weapons.

Zheng Guohui placed large orders for both rifles and artillery from the American-owned Wan Guo Tong Bao Trading Company. In mid-May, fleets from North America arrived one after another, bringing with them a large number of machinery, equipment, weapons and guns.

Several more fleets will set off later and will arrive in late May and early June, including four new ironclad gunboats.

This evening

After a busy day, Zheng Guohui returned to his mansion. It was already late May and the weather was getting warmer.

Zheng Guohui was sweating a lot. With the help of several maids, he took off his clothes and was left with only his inner clothes. He walked to a side room and prepared to take a bath.

The lady came out of the moon gate with several maids. She had just heard the news that the master had returned and came here immediately.

"Master, wait a minute!"

"Oh... Madam, what do you want to call me for?" Zheng Guohui stopped and turned around to look at her.

One of them is tall and handsome, the other is graceful and elegant like a lotus. Standing together, they are a perfect match in appearance and must be a perfect couple.

Zheng Li came forward and gently helped Zheng Guohui straighten his clothes, smiling and saying;

"I had the kitchen stew some soup this morning, put it in the well and chill it, waiting for the master to come back and enjoy it.

I guess the master is hungry now, so I will ask the maid to bring it to him before he takes a bath. It won’t be too late to take a bath after he has used it.

If she faints, it will be my fault for not taking good care of her."

"Madam, you are so considerate and considerate. I have gained weight in the past few months, which is proof of that."

"But the master is about to go on a long journey, and I really don't want to let him go. I just want to have the master's child, which is at least a wish." When Zheng Li said this, her eyes couldn't help but turn red.

It has been less than four months since I married into the Zheng family. My master led his army all the way to Southeast Asia to fight against the barbarians, and he was away for years.

Seeing that the day of separation is not far away, how can Zheng Li bear to leave?

Zheng Guohui smiled when he saw this. No wonder his wife had been pestering him in the bedroom for some time. Even after being rejected again and again, she still tried her best to please him.

He reached out and gently stroked his wife's delicate face, saying softly, "This temporary separation is only for a long and peaceful life. Madam, please wait for me at home. When the master has conquered a great kingdom for you, he will take you to Southeast Asia in a colorful dragon boat."

Hearing Zheng Guohui's simple love words, Zheng Li's heart was filled with burning emotions. She no longer cared about her usual reserve and threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Master, what virtue and ability do I possess..."

"No need to say, madam. You and I are one. My glory is your glory, my territory is your territory. Just wait at home peacefully. I will surely return victorious."

"I believe it, I believe it..."

It is said that women are made of water. They cry when they are happy, they cry when they are sad, and they cry when they are lonely.

Zheng Li's delicate hands, like spring onions, tightly embraced Zheng Guohui, and her crystal tears fell freely, soon wetting her clothes.

Seeing this, Zheng Guohui was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, so he whispered, "Madam, I'm all sweaty after going out. Can we talk after I take a bath?"

"No... Master, I don't want to leave you for even a minute."

"Well... we can't just stand here, can we? Madam, please come to my side room with me. I'll have a mouthful of soup and chat with you slowly. I won't neglect you."

"Then I want to hold the master in my arms." Zheng Li turned into a clingy little goblin at this moment, no longer caring about her usual dignity as a mistress.

After all, she is only 16 years old, and her girlish nature has not been completely eliminated. She will sprout and grow at the right temperature, and her growth cannot be stopped.

Zheng Guohui could only be held by her as they walked into the side room. Then the maids came in one after another carrying cups, plates and bowls to serve the master and mistress with soup and snacks.

Life in this gentle land is extremely comfortable. The whole family revolves around the master and his wife, taking care of them in every possible way.

But such days will soon be over. Zheng Guohui can't wait to put on his armor again, lead his troops to Southeast Asia, trample the French and foreigners under his feet, and establish an unprecedented achievement.

Only our Chinese civilization has a boundless reach!
(End of this chapter)