Jia Hao didn't know anything in his heart, and now he could only be sure that the San Diego Castle was about to arrive, and it would not be until early September at the latest. But how the battle will end, he is not sure. Many questions still lingered in his mind, such as how many people would die on his side, including how many British and Chinese troops, how many servant troops, and how many Chinese laborers. And the biggest question is how many Spaniards will die, and this number determines what kind of answer he will give to Li Xi.

Clinton was ashamed and said: "The Spaniards are very stubborn, they think they will be brutally killed, everyone mobilizes, and my persuasion has no effect." ”

He was sent by Jia Hao to deliver an ultimatum to the Spaniards, but it was clear that his Briton status would not help in this task, and perhaps it would be counterproductive.

"According to Europa's rules of engagement, we have done our duty......".

Clinton did not understand the stubbornness of the Spaniards, and in his opinion, the Chinese and the Europa people followed the same laws of war, and even the Chinese's understanding of the laws of war was much older than that of the Europas. Let's just say that in modern times, when Zheng Chenggong attacked Taiwan, didn't he allow the Dutch to surrender and let the remaining defenders leave safely?

"This battle is not only a battle of interests, but also a battle of faith."

Jia Hao muttered to himself in a low voice, this is Li Xian's point in the edict, and because Jia Hao cares very much about grasping the proportions of the war, Li Hao will rest assured that he will hand over the overall situation of Luzon to him.

For such trust, Jia Hao was unwilling to accept Clinton's suggestion and threw away all scruples.

With a depression in his heart, Jia Hao climbed to the lookout and overlooked the battle situation on the front line.

The castle of Santiago, originally like an awe-inspiring and inviolable goddess, is protected by impregnable stone walls, jagged bastions and countless cannons, with all the unshakable indifference of the world, lying at the junction of the sea and the river.

But now, in addition to the sea side, three walls have collapsed in all directions, and the fortresses covering the theme have also turned into piles of rubble, at least more than a dozen cracks, and there is no reliable defense on the front of more than 2,000 yards combined. What was once a fort behind the city walls is now the last line of defense.

The Anglo-Chinese army was approaching the moat from the north and east with a parallel trench system, and there was also movement on the Pasig River to the west, and after suppressing the enemy's artillery fire with Fengyun cannons, the Anglo-Chinese army dragged the sea boats abandoned by the Spaniards to the mouth of the river, connected them side by side, anchored on the river, and built a pontoon bridge. This was a feint to prevent the Spaniards from freeing up their forces and piling them up to the north and east. But if you can find an opportunity here, the feint will also turn into a real attack.

Unless the gods descend to earth, anyone with a normal intellect can see that the castle of Santiago is finished.

Beyond the broken walls, inside the castle, countless people were shuttling back and forth, digging trenches and piling up breastworks. In the telescope, the scene was blurry, but the Spaniards' determination to resist to the end was very clear.

Jia Hao's heart was half of a blazing fire, and it was generally a gloomy thundercloud. Of course, he wanted to completely erase the Spaniards and comfort the Chinese who had been slaughtered for more than a hundred years and the British and Chinese soldiers who had died since the war. But Li Shi's mention, as well as his own understanding of this battle, told him that this was not the best ending, and that since he had made such a sacrifice, he had to get the best benefits.

"Yo Hongmao is still resisting, is it still holding on to those forts?"

A loud voice sounded, Hu Hanshan came, and brought with him a "red-haired" Colonel Gonzalez who already considered himself a "Western traitor". Seeing that Santiago was already so miserable, the colonel closed his eyes tightly and secretly said that his sins had deepened, and that it was all his own,...

"Those batteries, you navy has a way?"

The accuracy of the Fengyun cannon and other artillery is not so high, if you want to pull out those batteries behind the city wall, you have to rely on human lives to fill them, Jia Hao naturally expects the navy to help, but he just asks casually.

"Hey, we can do it!"

Hu Hanshan's eyes lit up, the navy had been cultivating for two or three months, most of the ships had been repaired, and the manpower was also being remediated.

At his command, the navy became lively again, and one warship after another docked and unloaded something. Two days later, two or three feet high earthen platforms were erected around the castle of Santiago, and a door so small that it could hardly be called a cannon in the war here was carried on the platform. ,

"What is this?"

Clinton became interested again and wanted to go to the Tutai for a closer look, but was stopped by an interpreter, saying that this thing was strictly kept secret, and Keqing wanted to see it, unless he became a British and Chinese citizen.

Clinton shrugged his shoulders, he had a good impression of Yinghua, but it did not mean that he was about to give up his motherland, and at the same time, he did not think that such a small artillery could have any magic.

Then he wavered, and more than 20 two-inch guns were loaded onto the artillery carriage of the army's four-inch guns, like large wire-loaded guns, and bombarded them incessantly two miles away, knocking the batteries behind the city wall into smoke and dust, separating the gun carriages, and splashing the human body. Just by looking at the smoke and dust that was almost entirely concentrated on the turret, you can see how accurate these small cannons are.

"The Seris..., it's the Seris, it's ......."

Clinton was completely speechless, and could only sigh so mechanically. What are these Spaniards thinking?

can see the center of the castle, civilians and soldiers are still desperately building another line of defense, Hu Hanshan also sighed.

"If you want to be martyred, if you want to be holy, if you want us Chinese to become the public enemy of the whole Europa, the mind of the fanatical believers is really unfathomable."

After receiving the news that Fan Sihai learned from the insider, Jia Hao shook his head, the fourth brother's expectation was indeed correct, this was really a battle of faith.

Then, the hole card given by the fourth brother also had to be used, I really don't know how people will comment on this war a hundred years later.

Jia Hao summoned Fan Sihai, and after a while, Fan Sihai nodded, his face was not much surprised: "Before leaving, His Majesty also explained to Xiao and the people, and it seems that he is indeed going to act like this." ”

Jia Hao said with a calm face: "This matter has nothing to do with Your Majesty, it is my Jia Hao's decision." ”

Fan Sihai was taken aback, and said in a low voice: "This matter is very related, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for the governor to bear it." ”

Jia Hao shook his head: "Your Majesty has not given me this order, I am the governor of Luzon, whether you need this strategy or not, it is up to me to decide!" ”

He stared at Fan Sihai: "This is also your opinion, and it has nothing to do with Your Majesty." ”

Fan Sihai was stunned for a moment, and suddenly smiled: "Okay! Good! Since the governor has such a mind and dares to take on such a responsibility, how dare I, Fan Sihai, follow without attachment! ”

The discussion between the two did not fall into the ears of others, but in Hu Hanshan's eyes, it seemed that they were struggling with something, and with Hu Hanshan's understanding, he was afraid that he was still worried about the death and injury of the soldiers. In the past two or three months, the army has suffered 6,000 or 7,000 casualties, and the total number of servant troops is as high as 20,000, which makes Hu Hanshan have a strong resonance. The Spaniards continue to resist, and that number is likely to rise even higher.

He angrily voiced his claim: "Send someone to persuade you to surrender!" Tell them that if they don't descend, don't blame us for being polite! ”

Isn't that nonsense.......

But then Hu Hanshan's words made everyone's foreheads sweat, "Let the craftsmen build stone throwers, and once they don't accept the ultimatum, they will smash the corpses of the people who died in the epidemic into it, and see how long they can hold on!" ”

Clinton said secretly, what a devil, Colonel Gonzalez shouted in his heart, this guy is Diaboro Saddle, that's right, I have already seen his true face!

"Colonel Gonzalez, in order not to let your people face such a fate, would you like to go to the castle of San Diego and hand over this ultimatum?"

Jia Hao did not hesitate to accept Hu Hanshan's proposal, in his opinion, this is also an effective way to break the opponent's fighting spirit, and at the same time so that the Spaniard will not see the hole card he handed out as weak.

"Behold, as soon as we are united, the Lord sends down the gospel and intimidates the infidels, so that they begin to tremble under our strong will. Okay, I will organize another Mass to praise the power of my Lord ......".

On August 26, in the Basilica of San Agustín in the Castle of Santiago, Archbishop Aruso said to Governor Lebando. In the past two days, the artillery fire of the British and Chinese troops has weakened a lot, even though the outer wall of the castle has been cracked everywhere, revealing countless gaps, and most of the forts of the castle have been destroyed, but the British and Chinese troops have not launched a general attack.

The archbishop attributed the silence of the Anglo-Chinese army to the increasingly frequent rains of the past few days, which, of course, were God's shelter for his people.

The Governor of Lebando seemed to have something to say, but when the archbishop heard this, he opened his mouth, and finally only said: "Lord bless the ...... of Spain". ,

Leave the cathedral and head back to your own Doge's Palace. In the middle of nowhere, a group of well-dressed gentlemen were waiting restlessly, and when they saw him enter, they surrounded him.

"Your Excellency, what does the Archbishop say?"

"Would the archbishop be willing?"

Governor Lebandu looked around at everyone and shook his head slowly, and everyone suddenly sighed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment of life and death, and we have to show the greatest courage!"

The Governor suppressed the despair of the men, and he saw as if the eyes of the people were crackling with fire.

"For the safety of my family, for the ...... of Spain."

He gritted his teeth and said the last two words: "Interests!" ”

Everyone was silent for a while, but they were still a little frightened, many humanitarians, Manila has always been the church in control of the real power, what can we businessmen do?

It is true that in Manila, the governor is not the boss, even the army is under the control of the church, and the archbishop is the uncrowned king.

The governor clapped his hands, and a man came in through the door, causing a murmur from the crowd.

It was Colonel Juan who came in, and he whispered resolutely, "Not everyone wants to follow those religious madmen...... ”

On the morning of August 27, the Church of San Augustine, where the Archbishop of Aruso and the bishops of the dioceses gathered to celebrate a Mass for all Spaniards at this last moment, to strengthen their fighting spirit and to calmly face death.

When hundreds of soldiers, led by Colonel Juan, surrounded the archbishop and all the top members of the church, most of the officials and dignitaries in the church had not yet come to their senses.

The archbishop, however, seemed to come to his senses, his face pale, and he forced himself to say calmly: "Don't be intimidated by that traitor to Gonzalez! We have been protected by the Lord, and those despicable tricks of the Chinese will not be able to disintegrate us!

It is not clear whether it collapsed, but the minds of most of the people present were on the verge of collapse, and Colonel Gonzalez, who had been captured the day before, entered the castle as a Chinese envoy, declaring that if everyone did not surrender, the Chinese would follow the example of the Mongols that day and throw the bodies of the sick and dead into the castle.

"They mean it! Damn, why are you still resisting! ”

Colonel Gonzalez's frightened expression, his pale countenance, greatly shocked all those present at the time.

This is indeed a threat more terrible than death, but if the archbishop and the church continue to hold on, and the ordinary people are not able to control their own destiny, they will wait for the archbishop to say what the archbishop will say. While the officials and dignitaries gathered in the cathedral, thousands of civilians also gathered outside the church, waiting for the archbishop to guide them.

"They want us to be captured, and once we surrender, they will not heed any promises and will inflict more cruel crimes on us! ...... you, you mortals, dare to doubt me, our church, and my lord's guidance!? ”

The archbishop calmly reprimanded the soldiers who surrounded him, causing the other to bow his head in shame.

"The archbishop is right! Can't trust the Chinese! ”

"It's all death anyway, it's better to keep your loyalty to my lord!"

"There is still hope for surrender, how can you give up hope so casually?"

But no one let him go, and in the church, the people split into two factions and quarreled fiercely.

"Hopefully! That's right, there is hope! ”

A voice took over the hall, it was the Governor of Lebandu.

"I can give everyone a glimmer of hope! I got a top-secret message from an absolutely reliable source! ”

Governor Lebando scanned the crowd with a fierce confidence in his words.

"Regardless of the future of Manila, Chinese policy is to maintain normal trade with us in Spain, and they want ......."

"They hope that the galleon trade will continue."

This sentence was like an earth-shattering shock, and everyone felt extremely ridiculous, as if the bloody killings in the past few months were like a joke.

But because it's so ridiculous, everyone believes it, and that's common sense, isn't it? Faith? Isn't it absurd to have a belief that strongly deviates from interests? ,

After a long silence, officials and businessmen came out one after another, and they solemnly said: "The fate of the Spaniards in Manila cannot be held in the hands of a few, and all have the right to choose their own destiny, which is also the right given to everyone by my lord." We demand, by voting, to decide our future as a whole. ”

The archbishop and the ecclesiastical people were still in extreme shock, and Governor Lebando hastened to say: "I agree! This has nothing to do with the church. In addition, the church has played a highly suspicious role in the previous conflict with the Chinese in Manila, so I decided that the first vote would be to decide whether to detain all church members pending trial and to clean up the church's negative influence in the military. ”

Without long hesitation, the cries of "I agree" and "approve" came one after another, and the Church's control over Manila Spain also collapsed in this wave.

"Archbishop! This is betrayal! ”

"We should rise up and fight!"

The priests and bishops were driven into the corner of the church, still holding out hope, and looked at Archbishop Arusso, but the old man smiled slumply.

"The Holy See's war has not yet begun, but it has been lost, just as the Holy See has suffered for centuries. Look at those faces, businessmen, all the businessmen who jumped out were businessmen! Their minds are full of money and interests, how can they be expected to wage a holy war with the Chinese. ”

The Catholic laughed and laughed with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I am wrong, heretics, heretics, money-worshippers, who have corrupted the glory of my lord, and I curse them ......."

No matter how the archbishop cursed, when Fan Sihai passed the news that "the Chinese wanted to keep the galleon trade route" to the Spanish merchants who had close ties with the Chinese merchants, and Gonzalez sent a formal signal that the Chinese would not hesitate to destroy the resistance with biological and chemical weapons, the will of the Spaniards finally collapsed. No one could withstand the hard and soft sides, and those who could withstand the church were overthrown by the merchant faction, led by the governor, and the conscience of the army such as Colonel Juan.

The ensuing vote was a formality, with more than 90 percent of the people in favor of surrendering, but in order to leave reliable evidence, Governor Lebando and others still insisted on voting in a regular manner, so the fall of Santiago Castle was postponed to September 1.

"Colonel Juan, seeing you again, what are you here for this time?"

Jia Hao asked lightly, the other party smiled wryly and took off his hat and saber, then stood upright, bowed his head, bowed, and held the saber with both hands, with an extremely standard posture.

Colonel Juan said: "Your Excellency Marshal, on behalf of all Spaniards in Manila, I formally surrender to you ......" (to be continued)