Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2465 "Search"

Those few days in early January 1703 were difficult for King Philip V of Spain.

The Management Committee of the Republic of China on the East Coast of China lodged a solemn representation through the ambassador in Madrid, accusing pirates of Spanish nationality or the Kingdom of Spain for robbing a merchant ship on the East Coast, and they still have witnesses. In addition to all the crew members on board, there are also Businessmen from a neutral country (the Principality of Courland) testified that they had seen pirates flee into the port of Gibraltar.

The East Coast Ambassador made three demands: [-]. Immediately arrest the fugitive pirates throughout the country; [-]. Compensate for the loss of [-] pesos to the merchant ships on the East Coast; [-]. Due to the well-known judicial corruption, the East Coast Navy does not trust the Spanish government, so they will send " Professionals" entered the Bay of Gibraltar to monitor developments.

In fact, if the people on the east coast did not make the embarrassing third request, Philip V would have agreed to the first two points.It's nothing more than just catching a few pirates to take the blame and pay some money.However, the nature of the east coast navy stationed in Gibraltar to "monitor" the development of the situation is completely different!Philip V subconsciously believed that this was a military invasion, but he did not dare to admit it, because he would declare war on the east bank, but in any case, he would not let the military boots of the people on the east bank set foot on the land of Gibraltar, so Strongly urge people on the East Coast to revise the third condition.

The East Coast ambassador sneered and went back to send the letter.He is like a mirror in his heart. What Special Envoy Sheng and the navy want is the control of Gibraltar. If you directly veto this, how can the negotiation continue?This time, he also saw more clearly the nature of the weakness of the Spanish government.Someone made such a disrespectful request, and instead of sternly rejecting it, you accepted the first two—undoubtedly, the arrest of unwarranted criminals and compensation are still extremely insulting—and then coyly said Not accepting Article [-] and asking for amendments is simply amazing.

The ambassador quickly spread the news to Ceuta.As expected, Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Yafu and Lieutenant Colonel Liu Zhen (Sheng Dehong still visited Milan) unanimously rejected the request of the Spaniards, and temporarily recruited two ships from the South China Sea Transportation Company to deliver goods here. The 650-ton flute-shaped ship began to load various combat materials into the cabin.They wanted to give the Spaniard ten days to answer, and if they didn't agree, they would have to move freely.However, considering that the Marine Battalion had only [-] troops and the reinforcements promised by the Army had not yet arrived, they were afraid that the Spaniards would call in a large army to defend, which would increase the difficulty in vain, so they asked the ambassador to continue to make false claims with Philip V, and Ceuta was ready to dispatch at any time.

On January 1, another 11-ton large clipper cargo ship was seized. Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Yafu and the Marine Battalion all boarded the ship, and then a navy ironclad warship ("Bianliang"), two Under the cover of a Jieqi-class escort gunboat and two "Star"-class light cruisers, they left the port of Ceuta at one o'clock in the morning the next day, and rushed straight to the other side of the strait.At this time, the ambassador of the East Coast was still arguing with the Spaniards in Madrid, negotiating this fictitious pirate robbery.

Three hours later, this small fleet arrived at the eastern promontory of the Bay of Gibraltar (that is, the part occupied by the British later generations), and then chose a remote corner to anchor in the sea.The five battleships turned off their lights, and slowly cruised around in a low-key manner to prevent people from approaching without knowing it.

At 06:30 in the morning, Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Yafu's small boat arrived at the coast last.The sea water was a bit cold, and everyone was drenched from waist-deep water all the way through.But the brothers in the marine battalion have long been used to this kind of training, it's drizzle!They quickly tidied up, and then retrieved their weapons, ammunition and equipment from the small boats pushed ashore, lined up on the beach, called names, and became familiar with the tasks.

Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Yafu pushed away the hot water handed over by the adjutant.He has always been designed as a tough guy, but he doesn't need these things!After hearing the reports from several company commanders, Zhou Yafu took a bottle of spirits, raised his neck and drank two sips, then waved his hand and said, "According to the plan, set off first!"

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It was already dawn, and Santana pushed open the gate of the post, ready to stand guard at the post.

Carlos, who was supposed to be in the middle of the night, didn't know where he went, maybe he went home.Recently, his child was sick, coughing non-stop, and had a fever at night. Carlos may have slipped home to take care of the child.

Santana tightened his military uniform full of holes expressionlessly, and walked forward slowly.The weather was too cold, and the clothes on their bodies were very thin, which could not resist the cold wind at night. This was the reason why the brothers who were on guard at night always slipped away.As God testifies, His Majesty Philip V ascended the throne and proclaimed himself queen, and he said that he would repay all the owed wages and buy a new set of winter and summer military uniforms for everyone.But it has been almost a year, and not only has not a single word of salary owed, but even the military uniform has disappeared.

It must be the quartermaster's fault!That son of a bitch, I didn't know how many hairs and hairs I had in the past, but this time I even got ink in the military uniform, it's so terrible!If an enemy comes over in the future, I will definitely not listen to his order to protect him.Of course, some people said that no money was really allocated this time, and the only funds were spent on the troops who went out to fight. It was impossible for them, the second-line garrison troops, to grab any resources.Santana couldn't distinguish the authenticity of this kind of news, he could only subconsciously hate the quartermaster who was closest to him, after all, this person really cheated everyone a lot.

It would be seven o'clock in the morning, but the visibility was poor because of the heavy fog.Santana removed the rifle from his back, but did not charge or reload it, as if doing so only for a little psychological comfort.This place is only about a hundred meters away from the sentry post he was going to. There is a large-caliber heavy artillery there. There is a hut under the ammunition where the ammunition is stored. It was bitterly cold and unbearable.What?Can't start a fire where the ammunition is placed?fuck it!Everyone has been in arrears of half a year's military pay, why bother so much!

Thinking of this, Santana grinned silently.The situation has been tense recently, and all the officials are in panic all day long, trying to find ways to transfer them away.Those who really couldn't be transferred, pretended to be sick and went to the clinic in the town to lie down.After such a situation became common, the commander of the battery was furious, and personally sat at the gate of the clinic in the town to diagnose whether the officers and soldiers who came to "see a doctor" were really sick, and a big joke was made for a while.

The lieutenant commander of Santana's post ran away.This greasy-faced boy with a noble face has been an officer since he was born, but he seems to lack courage.In fact, Santana was very puzzled, knowing that he would not get any military pay, why did these noble children come to join the army?Is it worth paying for your own expenses in the military just to get a chance to get ahead?Anyway, it is difficult for Santana to understand their thoughts.

He was already very close to the gun position, and Santana had already seen the thick gun barrel protruding hideously towards the sea in the morning mist.He involuntarily quickened his pace, but just as he was about to reach his destination, he suddenly stopped.On a very cold day, drops of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"I surrender," he yelled in Spanish, and deftly tossed the old arquebus to the ground.

Several men with bayonet rifles stepped forward quickly, kicked him to the ground, then took out ropes, tied them tightly, and threw them into the cabin under the gun emplacement.In the cabin, several artillerymen had been tied up, their eyes were full of fear, they were shivering, not knowing what to do.

Everyone is not an ignorant fool.Light blue military uniform, barrel-shaped military cap, who doesn't know that this iconic military uniform is from the East Coast?Undoubtedly, this must be the large-scale invasion of Gibraltar by the East Coast Navy!Everyone's life is miserable, and they were arrested before they had time to react, and they don't know what will happen to them—it should be better than falling into the hands of murderous pirates, right?

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"Everyone, move faster!" Lieutenant Colonel Zhou Yafu watched with satisfaction as the soldiers of the marine battalion checked the map and occupied the artillery positions of the coastal defense fort one by one.Without a fort, Gibraltar is a tiger with its teeth pulled out, and it no longer poses a threat to naval warships.

The fog is also affecting people on the east coast.Because they are not very familiar with the terrain, it is very inefficient to feel around in the fog.But generally speaking, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, because almost all the Spanish defenders have become blind, and the heavy fog has become the best cover for the people on the east coast. It only took more than an hour for the marine battalion to go to thousands of tigers, and they controlled the landing area and almost All emplacements.The warships moored in the open sea can finally come in!

At nine o'clock in the morning on January 1th, the fog had begun to clear, and the coastline of Gibraltar slowly revealed its true colors. The ironclad battleship "Bianliang" sailed northward along the coastline, its black muzzle pointed directly at the small town on the shore.

On the shore, a total of [-] officers and soldiers of the Marine Battalion carried rifles and rode bicycles produced by BMW Bicycle Company, along a relatively smooth road by the sea, rushing toward the town like flying.They moved very quickly, like a long blue dragon, heading towards areas that the British of later generations had not touched.

At 9:40 in the morning, gunshots rang out at the entrance of the town.Don't worry, that's the brave East Coast lads shooting.Most Spaniards are still in the dark, and don't know what's going on outside.The officers and soldiers on the east bank who rode bicycles at a fast speed just shot down a few Spanish soldiers who were "lucky" to find them.

It was just after ten o'clock in the morning.Most of the officers and soldiers on the east bank threw away their bicycles, and then rushed into the town separately under the command of the officers.They must seize the precious time to disperse, surround and defeat the enemy as much as possible before the enemy fully reacts. At the same time, they must control various key points in the town, block traffic, and control the situation in the shortest possible time.

The military operation code-named "Search" has entered a critical moment!

(End of this chapter)