novelhk Chapter 40 Conquest of Manila
Chapter 40 Conquest of Manila
After the breach, the remaining Spanish defenders were stunned by the explosion and had no time to organize an effective defense before being overwhelmed by the ferocious onslaught of the Ilocos.
The defenders on the city wall were also affected by the explosion. When the Ming soldiers climbed the city wall using ladders, they saw many soldiers kneeling on the ground, covering their ears and wailing in pain. Their eardrums were almost shattered by the sudden explosion, and blood flowed from their ears.
At the same time, the other three gates also heard the huge explosion from the Palian Gate, which seemed to be the signal for a general attack. All three gates were under fierce attack by the Ming army and were unable to spare any extra soldiers to support the Palian Gate.
The Chinese people in the Palian district also heard and felt the explosion. Looking at the smoke and dust rising from the direction of the city gate, they quickly realized what had happened.
Without prior agreement or unified command, the long-suppressed humiliation, fear, and hatred were completely ignited at this moment by the earth-shattering explosion and the faint shouts of killing!
"The city gates have fallen! The royal army has stormed in!"
"Kill the Western barbarians! Welcome the royal army!"
"Let's fight them!"
The spark finally landed in the powder keg, igniting the entire Palian district and causing it to boil over. Countless Chinese people poured out of the narrow houses, shops, and alleys like a tidal wave, wielding kitchen knives, wooden sticks, carrying poles, iron shovels, and even dismantled door latches and stones, roaring as they charged at the Spanish soldiers and tax collectors who had oppressed them in the past.
Before the Spanish soldiers who rushed to the Parian Gate could react, they were overwhelmed by the surging crowd and instantly beaten to death with clubs and torn apart with knives and axes.
Those mixed-race people and indigenous people who took advantage of the Spanish's power also faced retaliation; their shops were vandalized and set on fire, with flames shooting into the sky.
Some of the more composed or courageous Chinese leaders began to organize themselves, leading the young and strong into several groups to take action.
One force rushed toward the Parian Gate, attempting to join the Ming army entering the city; another force split up to attack nearby small Spanish garrisons and outposts, seizing weapons; and yet another force blocked the main roads leading into the city from the Parian district, intercepting any Spanish reinforcements that might come to suppress the rebellion and preventing the fleeing Spanish soldiers from escaping into the Chinese community and causing damage.
Caught between attacks from both inside and outside, the morale of the Spanish defenders collapsed completely under the combined pressure of the devastating explosion and the "betrayal" by the Chinese within their ranks.
Many soldiers dropped their weapons and knelt down to surrender to the Ming army that had stormed into the city, or fled desperately toward Santiago Fortress.
Europeans and mixed-race people also mingled among them, fearing retaliation from the Chinese, and fled with their families to the fortress still under the control of the garrison.
However, the remaining garrison inside Fort Santiago, upon receiving news that the city gates had been blown open, immediately closed the gates and raised the drawbridge.
The terrified garrison commander knew that with the city in ruins, a Chinese riot underway, and the governor's fate unknown, it was extremely risky to let people into the fort, especially those European civilians and mixed-race children with their families, who were in a panic and could bring chaos and danger into the fort.
"The governor has ordered! Hold the fortress! Anyone who opens the gates without permission will be killed on sight!" the officer roared from the fortress wall, though he had no idea where the governor was, or whether he was alive or dead.
Thus, countless fleeing soldiers and civilians who had reached the foot of the fort were kept out by the merciless iron gates and the cold moat.
They pounded on the fortress gate in despair, crying, pleading, and cursing, but the only response they received was the muzzle of a musket, equally filled with fear and vigilance, peering out from behind the crenellations, and the officer's repeated, cold orders.
Some tried to turn to other city gates or find boats to escape by sea, but the city was already under the control of Ming troops and Chinese righteous people, with shouts of killing and pursuit everywhere.
In despair, some people threw away their weapons and took off their conspicuous military uniforms or European-style clothing, trying to blend in with civilians or those who had surrendered. However, they were quickly identified by the vengeful Chinese and met a tragic end.
Manila was in chaos. Governor Juan, inside the Governor's Palace, saw the scene through the window. He turned pale and slumped into his chair.
He knew it was all over.
Manila, the cornerstone of Spanish rule in the Far East, collapsed in his hands in such a tragically almost mythical way.
He didn't even organize a final resistance; he simply dismissed the governor's guards who were trying to protect him as he broke through, and alone, amidst the ever-approaching shouts of battle, he ended his life with the governor's sword, a symbol of power.
Soon after, the governor's mansion was captured by Ming troops and Chinese righteous people. The righteous people hated the greedy governor, so they tied his body with ropes and dragged it through the streets, hurling insults at him.
The colonial flags of the Kingdom of Spain were also lowered and thrown into the burning pyre, where they were consumed by the flames.
As a large number of Ming troops entered the city, the battle within the city quickly turned into a one-sided pursuit and purge. Under the guidance of the Chinese, the main force of the Ming army systematically occupied various strategic points, including armories, granaries, and docks, encountering minimal resistance.
Upon learning of the governor's suicide and the loss of the outer city, the morale of the garrison at Santiago Fort plummeted, and they sent envoys to negotiate surrender with the Ming army.
Fort Santiago is triangular in shape and constructed of palm wood and rammed earth. It is bordered by the Pasig River to the north, guarding the river mouth, and by the sea to the west. To the southeast lies a swamp, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Without the assistance of warships, attempting to forcibly conquer Fort Santiago would certainly come at a considerable cost.
Therefore, after receiving the report from his subordinates, Zhu Jiheng pondered for a moment and instructed the front line to accept the surrender of the defending troops.
He also stated that as long as the garrison surrendered and handed over their weapons, they would be pardoned for their previous crimes, their personal property would be preserved, and they would be allowed to leave Manila by ship with their families.
After receiving assurances from the Ming army, the defending troops hesitated and ultimately chose to surrender. A huge white flag was raised on the top of the fort, and the city gate slowly opened.
At this point, all organized resistance within Manila was quelled.
Before dusk, the Ming army completely took control of the entire city of Manila. To prevent looting and harassment of the people within the army, he ordered the cavalry and some line infantry to be organized into a temporary military police force to patrol various parts of the city.
If anyone is found robbing or harassing the people, regardless of whether they are Chinese or foreign, or of high or low status, they will be dealt with according to military law.
In addition, senior Spanish officials, officers, and soldiers, including three members of parliament, were captured, held in centralized custody, and registered.
The captured artillery, muskets, ammunition, grain, gold and silver, and other valuables were piled up like mountains. Even before they were counted, the sheer scale of the collection was astonishing.
As dusk fell and night descended, sporadic cries, chases, and looting continued to occur in the shadows, but the torches and shouts of the Ming army patrols and military police quickly suppressed the chaos.
In the Parian district, the Chinese community lit lights and began to clean up their shattered homes and collect the bodies of their loved ones. The air was thick with a complex mix of grief, hatred, and the joy of surviving a catastrophe.