Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The blockade of Manila Bay has lasted for five days.

The sea breeze still carried the humid heat characteristic of the tropics, but what loomed over the Spanish colonial authorities was a despair more scorching than the blazing sun.

The fast ships sent by Governor Fajardo to request aid were either intercepted and detained by the Great Xia warships, or they dared not even leave the blockade.

Meanwhile, reinforcements from New Spain in the Americas have been nowhere to be seen, like a mirage.

In the operations room of the "Azure Dragon," Zheng Zhilong and Wang Dashan calmly analyzed the situation, referring to maps and intelligence reports.

"My lord, the Western barbarians have lost their will to fight."

Wang Dashan pointed to the Manila city defense map, "Their main warships are all holed up in the harbor. Although they have many shore guns, the morale of the defenders is low, and most of them are conscripted natives and mixed-race men, making them easy targets. According to prisoners, the city's food supplies are only enough for a month. This city can be taken in a day or two!"

Zheng Zhilong slowly shook his head, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "General Wang, although Manila is not an impregnable fortress, a direct assault will inevitably result in casualties. The main purpose of our army's mission is to 'punish' and to demonstrate our national power, not to seize territory and become kings. Luzon is a long way away, and it is not advisable to stay there for too long."

He walked to the porthole, gazing at the faint outline of Manila in the distance, his eyes deep: "Moreover, there are still several thousand surviving Chinese in the city. If we launch a forceful attack, we will all perish, which is not Your Majesty's intention. The Western barbarians are already like turtles in a jar; there is no need to rush."

"Then what is your opinion, Lord Marquis?" Wang Dashan asked.

"Negotiations have broken down, and the blockade has failed. Since Wen won't listen, let's teach him a lesson."

A fierce glint flashed in Zheng Zhilong's eyes. "Order: The fleet to advance and bombard the coastal defense batteries at the mouth of Manila Bay! No need for a direct assault; simply destroy their firepower, cripple their defense system, and intimidate them!"

"Furthermore, send Marines to land, eliminate scattered strongholds in the bay, rescue imprisoned Chinese, and burn Western ships in the harbor! But remember, attacking the city is strictly prohibited, and civilians must not be harmed!"

"Yes, sir!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

On the morning of the sixth day, the Great Xia fleet, like a giant beast awakened, tore apart the tranquility of the sea.

Led by the four main warships "Azure Dragon", "White Tiger", "Vermilion Bird" and "Black Tortoise", more than ten new warships lined up and anchored about one kilometer away from the Manila Bay port artillery battery.

"Target: Enemy left flank artillery position—Fire!"

"Target, central artillery battery—fire!"

"Target, right flank artillery position—fire!"

Zheng Zhilong's orders were concise and ruthless.

In an instant, dozens of "Yuanfeng" heavy cannons roared in unison! The shells, like black meteors, streaked across the sky, whistling as they slammed into the coastal defenses that the Spanish were so proud of.

This was a massacre with no suspense whatsoever.

The cannons of the Spanish fortresses were already far inferior to the new ships of the Great Xia in terms of range and rate of fire. In addition, the morale of the defenders collapsed and the gunners scattered and fled.

The Great Xia fleet's shells precisely covered the gun positions, ammunition depots, and observation posts.

The wooden gun carriages were easily torn apart, and the brick and stone gun emplacements were blown to pieces. Orange-red fireballs rose one after another, and thick smoke quickly covered the entire bay entrance.

With just two salvos, the coastal defense system at the mouth of Manila Bay was paralyzed.

The remaining Spanish cannons were either destroyed or rendered "dumb," leaving them with no power to fight back.

"Landing forces, move out!" Zheng Zhilong ordered again.

Dozens of landing craft, which had been waiting on the flanks, carrying Wang Dashan's most elite "Selection Battalion" and "Divine Machine Battalion" soldiers, quickly stormed the beach under the cover of artillery fire.

These soldiers were equipped with flintlock muskets, spears, and steel sabers, and moved with lightning speed.

Instead of heading straight for Manila, they quickly raided several isolated Spanish outposts and warehouses in the bay, rescuing hundreds of imprisoned, ragged, and emaciated Chinese survivors.

Upon seeing their homeland's army, these compatriots were overwhelmed with mixed emotions of sorrow and joy, prostrating themselves on the ground and weeping bitterly.

"Fellow countrymen, don't cry! We're going home!" Wang Dashan personally comforted the crowd, ordered his men to distribute the dry food and water he had brought to his fellow countrymen, and arranged for them to be sent onto the transport ship in batches.

At the same time, the Daxia Marines also raided several Spanish armed merchant ships anchored in the bay, which were defenseless and burned to the ground.

The towering flames illuminated Manila Harbor as if it were daytime, shattering the last illusions of the Spanish in the city.

Governor Fajardo witnessed all of this through a telescope from inside the governor's palace.

He saw the shore artillery destroyed, saw groups of Chinese people being rescued, and saw ships burning in the harbor.

He knew that resistance was pointless.

Manila may be able to hold out for a while thanks to its city walls, but the city's food supply is only enough for half a month, and morale has collapsed, making a riot a real possibility at any time.

More importantly, he was afraid—afraid that Zheng Zhilong would use gunpowder to blow up the city walls like he had done to the Dutch in Taiwan, and even more afraid of the revenge of the tens of thousands of innocent souls.

"We can't delay any longer... If we delay any longer, Manila will be finished..." Fajardo slumped in his chair, his face ashen.

On the seventh day, a white flag was raised shakily over the walls of Manila.

Zheng Zhilong did not enter the city, but instead ordered his men to set up tables and chairs in front of the two armies and arrange their formations.

When Fajardo arrived for negotiations with several disheveled officials, escorted by soldiers, he didn't even dare to look Zheng Zhilong and Wang Dashan in the eye.

At the negotiating table, Zheng Zhilong held absolute initiative. He proposed more specific terms than before, but the core remained the same: severe punishment of the perpetrators, huge compensation, and protection of the rights of Chinese people.

Fajardo tried to bargain, but under Zheng Zhilong's cold warning of "immediate siege," he ultimately accepted everything.

The Manila Agreement was signed, and its main contents are as follows:

I. The Spanish and Philippine colonial authorities publicly apologized to the Great Xia Empire and the victimized Chinese for the "Xuanji Eight Years Anti-Chinese Massacre" and compensated the Chinese with 100,000 pesos (equivalent to 70,000 taels of silver in Great Xia).

Second, the masterminds of the massacre shall be severely punished. Governor Fahador shall be dismissed from his post and sent back to the country for trial. All officers and indigenous leaders involved in the massacre shall be handed over to the authorities of Great Xia for punishment.

Third, ensure the safety of life and property of Daxia expatriates on Luzon Island, granting them the same legal status and business rights as Spaniards. Allow Daxia to establish a consulate in Manila to protect its expatriates.

IV. After the signing of the agreement, the Great Xia army will lift the blockade of Manila Bay and will no longer take military action against Manila City.

Zheng Zhilong fulfilled his promise of "punishment" and stopped while he was ahead.

He did not launch a full-scale attack on Manila, thus avoiding casualties in street fighting and saving face for the Spanish colonial authorities, allowing them to maintain their rule over the colony and thus fulfill the agreement for a long time.

This is a sophisticated political and military tactic—it severely punished the aggressors without completely dismantling their ruling structure, thereby maximizing the protection of the long-term interests of the Chinese community in the Philippines.

A few days later, the Great Xia fleet, carrying the first batch of indemnity silver, along with rescued compatriots, punished murderers, and its formidable military prowess that shook the South Seas, set sail northward.

On the surface of Manila Bay, only a city of terrified Spaniards and a humiliating monument blackened by gunfire remain.