Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 73 Decisive Battle: Climax ([-])

The infantry formation, which was already on the verge of collapse, was killed by the cavalry, and the Spanish musketeers finally lost the courage to continue fighting.They broke up and fled towards all corners of the battlefield.The cavalry battalion spread out in rank units and chased after the fleeing Spaniards.The heavy arquebus in the hands of the Spanish musketeers was completely turned into a firestick at this time. The fleeing crowd and panic made them have no courage to stop and reload and shoot. They shamefully showed their backs to the chasing cavalry .

Lan Guo breathed a sigh of relief, and the Spanish musketeer phalanx on the opposite side finally collapsed.The feeling of queuing up to be shot is not so pleasant. Lan Guo, who is wearing a full-body armor with tight protection, can't help but want to retreat at certain times, let alone those who only wear a thin military uniform from Germany and Poland. new recruits.

I really don't know how they survived, it really is a group of numb war animals, Lan Guo secretly spat.At this time, the commander in front sent an order: Formation!Turn left (right) halfway to attack the Spanish spearmen.

The casualties of the left and right flintlock formations in the previous confrontation were not too large. At this time, most of the platoons were still maintaining their combat effectiveness. The casualties of the officers and non-commissioned officers were negligible due to their thorough protection.They directed the soldiers to start marching in line, the drummers continued to play "Victory Belongs to the Army March", and the eagle flag was still flying high.At this time, Lan Guo was a little amazed at the good luck of these flag bearers and drummers. They had no casualties in the previous shooting and shelling.Originally thought that their chances of survival were negative, but now they suddenly discovered that they didn't even have a trace of gunpowder smoke on their faces.

The Spanish spearmen were also in a state of semi-collapse at this time. The soldiers in front were still fighting, but the soldiers behind had already started to turn around and run away. galloped backwards.

"Raise the gun...aim...ready, release!" Lan Guo switched back to the saber at this time, and with the sound of the copper whistle, puffs of black smoke floated over the queue, and the Spanish spearmen screamed. fall down.At this point they couldn't care about anything else, and everyone started to turn around and run away, even the officers joined the fleeing crowd.

Facing the chaotic and crowded flow of enemies, the spearmen who had fought hard for a long time excitedly plunged their spears from the back into the bodies of these enemies who were no longer able to resist.Some clever Spanish spearmen threw away their weapons and begged for surrender on their knees, but the red-eyed Charuyas did not accept surrender at all. They mercilessly stabbed their sharp spears into these kneeling begging for mercy. poor man's throat.

"Reload! Free fire!" Zhu Liang gave the last order to the musketeers, and the battle was decided.All that remained was to kill and capture as many Spanish soldiers as possible, so that they could no longer resist.What else can the Spaniards who have lost their army do?Maybe it's just a hasty end to this rash war.

An hour later, there were no more organized Spaniards on the battlefield.At the time of departure, only a few dozen of the more than 650 Spanish soldiers fled into the hills to the south, and most of the rest were killed or captured.More than two hundred dejected Spanish captives sat shivering in the cold wind, surrounded by Charuya spearmen holding spears and watching them eagerly.These Spaniards lost their confidence and will to fight. They were as pitiful as a group of lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

Lieutenant Torres, who was covered in mud, sat in the cold mud with shame on his face. He had no thoughts at all at this moment. He no longer thought about making achievements or getting ahead. Enos Aires, returned to his den to lick his wound quietly.In the final stage of the battle, when the gauchos hesitated to move forward, it was he who led the last Peruvian cavalry to launch a decisive attack on the cavalry battalion.After this short assault failed, Captain Torres, who was lucky enough to fall off his horse, was captured by the cavalry battalion.Having died once, his state of mind changed quite a bit. He felt that he was extremely weak at this moment, and he only wanted to end this war that he would not want to recall for the rest of his life, and return to Buenos Aires quietly. lis.

A pair of long cowhide military boots that were also covered in mud stopped in front of Captain Torres.Captain Torres raised his head in a daze. The first thing that caught his eye was dark blue military trousers with a red border in the trouser seam, then blue military uniform, white canvas military belt, cowhide belt, ammunition bag, pistol holster, and saber , red epaulettes, black brim big cap...

Lan Guo stood in front of Captain Torres, looking at the prisoner with scrutiny.Seeing the other party raised his head, he asked in English: "Spanish Army Captain Juan Cruz Torres?"

Torres looked at him blankly, without speaking.

Lan Guo choked, and then said to an army sergeant behind him: "Then he must understand French, ask him in French."

Upon hearing this, the Swiss sergeant said to Captain Torres in French: "Captain Juan Cruz Torres, Lieutenant Rango, the victor, kindly announces to you that we can now set you free on condition that You bring back this letter to Major Antonio Carlos, do you accept such a condition? I have to take the liberty to remind you that if you don't want to waste your life in a dangerous mine, you'd better accept this Task."

Captain Torres's eyes lit up, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Yes, I am happy to be your messenger."

……

Major Antonio Carlos looked at the letter written in scribbled French in his hand. The letter was not long, and the meaning expressed was very simple. It was to ask Antonio Carlos to immediately lead the remaining about [-] Spanish troops on the north bank. Surrender unconditionally. In exchange, the generals will guarantee that their lives and personal property will not be violated.

Major Carlos had never felt such pain and humiliation at this moment.Yesterday, after discovering that the Tatan army had entered the south bank of the bridge, Major Carlos immediately selected the main force to cross the river overnight, and broke out immediately after repelling the Tatan army.He has even ordered his artillerymen to destroy the 8 naval guns outside the walls of Dingyuan Castle, making them unusable for the Tatans.

Although he had expected that the breakout operation might not be too smooth, in any case he did not expect that the 650 soldiers he had carefully selected would be defeated so quickly.Major Carlos watched the entire battle in the barracks. In less than two hours from the beginning to the end of the battle, his troops were completely wiped out. What's more tragic is that they haven't caused much damage to the Tatans. .

This is really a memorable and heart-wrenching fiasco!The reasons for the failure can be said to be various, such as the low morale of the soldiers due to the cut off of supplies, the weak fighting will of the soldiers caused by the pampered colonial life for many years, the backward equipment, the extreme lack of flintlock guns and high-quality cannons, and the tactical thinking of cavalry The backwardness, ignorance of the real situation of the enemy, and so on.From the chief inspector and governor at the top, to the provincial and municipal officials and grassroots officers below, from the navy to the army, the kingdom has made too many mistakes.The superposition of all these mistakes has achieved the brilliant victory of the Tatan people, but what is left to themselves is the bitter fruit of defeat.

Well, let's face it!Major Carlos took a deep breath. Nearly 400 of the more than 200 officers and soldiers staying in the camp on the north shore were still sick. In addition to the unreliable gauchos who had returned from defeat, this group of old, weak, sick and disabled would not be able to survive anyway. It can't stop even a round of attacks from the Tatans.Things have come to this point, and it is unrealistic to seek a decent surrender.It was lenient enough for the Tartans to guarantee the safety of the lives and personal property of all those who surrendered, and to allow officers to keep their swords.If he refused this condition, the Tartans might be able to break through their weak camp with a little effort.And more importantly, the soldiers no longer have the desire to continue fighting.After experiencing a series of nightmare failures, the only thing these soldiers from La Plata think about at the moment is to leave this cold, damned, hopeless place as soon as possible and return to the warm place of La Plata. Home to go to family reunion.

"Captain Torres, go and announce the order of unconditional surrender to the soldiers on my behalf. There is no need to continue fighting. The Tartans will not kill us. God is with us." Major Antonio Carlos said weakly Said to Captain Torres standing in front of him.

Captain Torres saluted silently, turned and left.

At 7:20 noon on July 12, Major Antonio Carlos, the supreme commander of the Spanish La Plata Expeditionary Force, announced his unconditional surrender.Under his order, the 412 Spanish army officers and soldiers and 75 gaucho cavalry who were still in the barracks surrendered their weapons, armor and horses, and then marched out of the barracks to accept the care of the victors.In addition, about 50 gaucho cavalry who were unwilling to surrender rushed out of the barracks and fled towards the vast grassland in the northwest.With a harsh winter and attacks by the savage Charuya natives awaiting them, the chances of their safe return to La Plata are slim.

The news of the surrender of the Spanish Army spread all over the country immediately.The people were ecstatic. The shadow of war that had been floating on their heads for nearly half a year was finally cut off a large part, and a complete truce was just around the corner.

(End of this chapter)