open sea

Chapter 346
Legazpi on the island of Cebu could feel his power slipping away.

It's like getting sailor's disease, you don't know what will rot on your body, but you know that one day it will all rot.

The current Philippine Islands is this kind of feeling for him, which makes him write and draw on the map all day long, but there is no way to restore the decline.

"Three Islands, Mindoro, South Luzon, Panay."

On the map of the Philippines that belongs to him, a large area is pressed by shells, which means that one-third of the entire Philippines has fallen into the enemy's hands, but he is helpless.

Regasbee didn't know that on the opposite side of the ocean with countless islands separated from Cebu, the physiological commander on Luzon Island was worried because of generals who had no experience in attacking ports. It was almost the same situation. There is no fear of generals who are good at guarding ports.

If they were relocated, the two commanders in the Philippine Islands might be able to have a good conversation, just like the phrase "war is opportunity" that Chen Mu often said to confuse people's hearts. A typical turnaround unique to the nautical age.

This is not to say that in the past he was a real shabby settler in the Iberian Peninsula, not at all.But without a doubt, if it wasn't for the age of great voyages, how could it be possible for him, as a governor, to control a large area of ​​land like a duke?

Holding the right luck and using courage and wisdom to make a world-shaking change in your life, this kind of person is often looked down upon by the real nobles because they turn around too quickly. It is not without reason.

Because they have no background, from this point of view, Chen Mu and Legasby are the same kind of people.

"Captain, it's actually very strange for your people to call you captain. If possible, I hope to appoint you as colonel after recapturing Manila." Regasby introduced to the new mercenary leader: "This is my business. Not trying to fool you, this army of biological humans is different."

The mercenary captain Diago took off the feather hat on his head. He wore a red scarf on his forehead, with old wisdom in his eyes, a big beard on his chin, and an old leather jacket and boots, with his shoulders slanted Wearing a black cloak, he looked like a Madrid swordsman.

But his saber is not a rapier, but an English-style long sword; he wears Timurid-style gray armor over his leather jacket, and there are loops of matchlock around his wrists.A wide-bladed dagger, a short machete, and a small dagger are inserted in the front waist, back waist, and boots, respectively. On the leather belt on the chest, there are two short muskets on the left and the right.

On the table at his feet rested a long arquebus.

He looked at Legaspi like he was looking at a poor man, and it looked like their Filipino governor was terrified by the biological man's onslaught.But there is also admiration in the eyes of pity - as a person in a high position, it is a noble character to be honest with a mercenary like him.

"170 spearmen, 130 two musketeers, 44 cavalry and one cannon, I can deal with any enemy." Diego said so, and asked Regasby: "To take back Manila, we must stick to it. Cebu Island, morale is low, at least one victory is needed."

"Victory depends on when the enemy comes. Use the port artillery to defeat their fleet, and stop their disembarking troops on the shore, and then win." Diego drew a circle on the map as the future battlefield, saying: "If I win, I hope that Your Excellency the Governor will faithfully pay me the commission."

"The money is enough for me to buy a piece of land in the Old Port so that my people can live there."

Regasby frowned and waved his hands in surprise: "You don't need to spend money on the Portuguese. I can draw a fertile plain for you in the Philippine Islands. There is a shortage of manpower here."

"When we win, you will not only get the share you deserve, but you will also get a piece of land rich in rice and sugarcane in Mindoro Island. The subordinates who performed outstandingly in the war will be awarded the rank of captain to command a ship. You It is possible to be appointed as a major, or even to become a colonel with outstanding merit."

Regasby is annoying when he hears about the Portuguese, especially here, where there are Portuguese lands everywhere, and he only controls one-third of the Philippines.

Even if Chen Mu hadn't come, he couldn't control the entire Philippines. Now Chen Mu stepped in and let all the north he had just controlled fall.

"Your Excellency, this is very tempting, but you only need to give me money."

Diego pouted, shook his head and said: "I joined your war because of money, not because I really think it is a wise choice to go to war with Ming. In fact, I am more inclined to negotiate peace with Ming. This battle will Protracted, the whole Philippines is no longer safe, Palembang is fine."

The bastard doesn't want to negotiate peace!
Regasby's eyes widened: "Do you think I don't know? Without the human trade, the Philippines is useless except to spread the glory of the Lord, but you know what is the greedy general of the human, and what is the condition of that stupid Chen Muyi? He wants 700 million taels of silver in compensation, 700 million!"

"That's not a general, that's a dirty bandit, bandit, pirate!"

Legasby's hysteria didn't resonate with Diego at all. He took a silver wine glass from the table, filled it, took a sip and squinted his eyes to enjoy it: "Good wine!"

"Calm down, Your Excellency." Looking at Regasby with a glass of wine, Diego raised his right hand and scratched his ear, and said, "Although it sounds similar to what you said, it doesn't matter, as long as you give me money , I will still support you in this war."

"As far as I know, in Mingli, there are not many generals like him who are keen on indemnity and don't care about face. Does the governor know face? I heard in India that Ming people have too much face. When you want to do something, most of the time Their officials will ask for money, and how much you give depends on how much face you give them."

"The more face you give, the less money you give. Is face a kind of respect?"

Diego sat on a chair without image, put down his wine glass and asked, "Have you tried it, give him some face, or find a way to give him some face for domestic officials, if you can't beat him, use political means to get it Victory, nobles should be proficient in these things."

Regasby shook his head, and said rather frustrated: "At the beginning of the war, I sent people to Fujian to bribe some of their commander-like officials, but it was useless, no one could disobey Chen Mu, those officials Now I am very worried about being transferred to the battlefield with a single order from him."

"Their province is as big as Spain. In two or three such provinces, Chen Mu is the most powerful person. If he wants, everyone will be at his disposal."

Diego understood.

He nodded knowingly, and spread his hands to Regasby, "Then what are you waiting for, isn't the most important thing you should do now is to raise 700 million taels of silver and send it to him?"

"What is there to worry about? If 700 million taels of silver are sent to the Ming Dynasty, they will make more raw silk, silk and porcelain, and the one-year flight can earn back so much, right? As long as the money is not in Chen Mu's hands, He'll have no more ships and guns to beat him next year."

(End of this chapter)