Chapter 38

It was already the end of January 1633. Despite being mid-summer, Uruguay remained pleasantly cool, with a maximum temperature of no more than 25 degrees Celsius, only causing a light sweat. The 82 soldiers of the First Platoon of the First Battalion of the New Army marched in two columns through the vast hilly terrain southwest of Big Fish Lake. On their left, right, and front were the cavalry units commanded by Platoon Leader Chang Kaisheng, while the rear was a line of supply troops.

With the thriving smuggling trade, the number of horses owned by the穿越众 (穿越者) rapidly increased. Currently, over 120 warhorses were being raised on a newly established pasture east of Big Fish Lake. To train the seeds of the future cavalry, the Army Department, with the approval of the Executive Committee, expanded a cavalry platoon based on the original reconnaissance squad of the First Battalion. The cavalry platoon was provisionally divided into three squads, each with one squad leader and ten soldiers. Additionally, there was a platoon leader and a deputy platoon leader, totaling 35 people, with 35 horses. Each soldier was equipped with a newly standardized 1633 flintlock pistol, a 33-乙 type flintlock rifle, and a 1932 military saber, making them well-armed.

The platoon leader of the cavalry was Xu Yu, and the deputy platoon leader was Leonid Fyodorovich. Apart from the officers and a few non-commissioned officers, the rest of the 3 squads were former Ukrainian Cossacks. They were under the command of Chang Kaisheng's First Platoon of the Infantry and played a significant role in capturing the Charuans along the shores of Big Fish Lake.

In addition to the cavalry, the logistics and engineering units were also mobilized as part of the pilot program. The engineering unit consisted of one squad, with 16 people including the squad leader, equipped with one 1633 flintlock pistol, eight 32-甲 type flintlock rifles, 16 engineering shovels, 16 axes, 8 saws, and other tools. The logistics unit had one platoon, equipped with 10 large wagons, 24 draft horses, one 1633 flintlock pistol, and 12 32-甲 type flintlock rifles, totaling 26 people.

Besides the regular troops, this detachment also included 10 students from the Dingyuan Army Officer School, specializing in infantry, cavalry, engineering, and logistics. These teenagers did not participate in combat but observed and learned, while also drawing maps.

In total, the detachment commanded by Chang Kaisheng numbered 169 people. With the addition of a large number of logistics units, the detachment's operational capability was greatly enhanced. They had already crossed Big Fish Lake and advanced for two days into the hilly terrain to the southwest. Unfortunately, their luck was poor, and they had not found any Charuan villages or settlements along the way.

The endless hills were tiring to look at. Deputy Platoon Leader Jiang Zhiquing, who also served as a staff officer, adjusted his slightly tilted military cap and repeatedly compared his hand-drawn map. He was a cautious person and very concerned about his reputation. He did not want the entire detachment to get lost in the vast hilly grasslands due to his mistake.

Chang Kaisheng was also getting frustrated. He was not a patient person. A few days ago, the Third Platoon had captured a large Charuan village within a day's march northwest of Big Fish Lake. They decisively attacked, capturing the village with only one death and three minor injuries, taking over 100 captives, and receiving praise from the Army Department.

As the only fully staffed platoon leader in the First Battalion, Chang Kaisheng, who always considered himself the best in the Army, could not stand this stimulation. This time, he led a large detachment south to search, but whether it was bad luck or something else, they had been out for more than two days without finding any large or small settlements, which made Chang Kaisheng's face lose some of its luster.

"Where are we now?" Chang Kaisheng unbuttoned his military uniform, slightly irritated, and asked.

Jiang Zhiquing flipped through his hand-drawn map and thought for a moment before saying, "We should be about 10 kilometers from Rocha Lake, between the hills and the coastline, heading southwest. We are probably no more than 3 kilometers from the coastline."

"What do you mean 'should be' and 'probably'? Is that what a staff officer should say? Old Jiang, why can't you get rid of that cautious and timid old habit of yours!" Chang Kaisheng glared at Jiang Zhiquing, who smiled awkwardly.

"Rocha Lake? We've come so far." Chang Kaisheng ignored him, pondered for a while, and then ordered, "The entire army will rest for half an hour. After the rest, we'll withdraw. Damn it, I won't play hide and seek with those barbarians anymore. The cavalry should be on alert. This is an area frequently patrolled by Portuguese slave traders and smugglers. Be careful!"

The soldiers had been marching for several hours and were quite tired. They took out salted beef, soybeans, and cool water from their canteens, eating and chatting. The logistics soldiers also unloaded many drinks and food from the wagons for the soldiers to use, and the student soldiers helped.

After about twenty minutes of rest, a rumbling sound came from the sky. Chang Kaisheng looked up and saw a clear sky with no clouds. Just as he was puzzled, a thought flashed through his mind. Damn, that's not thunder, is it? Could it be cannon fire?! He turned his head and saw Deputy Platoon Leader Jiang Zhiquing also looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Chang Kaisheng stood up and saw several cavalrymen galloping towards him, with the leading one being the first squad leader of the cavalry, Army Lieutenant Xiao Baitu.

Xiao Baitu dismounted nearby, then quickly walked to Chang Kaisheng, saluted, and reported, "Report! The second squad of the cavalry has discovered a Portuguese slave trading team and two smuggling merchant caravans fighting with the Spanish near the southwestern coastline. The Portuguese are in a disadvantageous position and are retreating in our direction, expected to be 15 minutes away. Additionally, there is a large sailing ship in the sea, flying the flag of the Kingdom of Spain. That's all!"

Chang Kaisheng was alarmed and pushed Xiao Baitu, cursing, "Where's Xu Yu? Damn his ancestors, they only discovered the enemy 15 minutes away. What the hell has he been doing? We can't even withdraw now! I'll have the Army Department skin him alive when I get back! Lieutenant, I got it. Go find your platoon leader and have the cavalry gather. The rest, form up! Since we can't avoid it, let's go forward! I want to see what the Spanish are made of."

Ten minutes later, when Chang Kaisheng led the main force of the First Platoon in a combat formation from behind a low hill, the battle was almost over. The Portuguese were scattered and fleeing in all directions, while the Spanish were divided into small groups pursuing them.

"Load... Ammunition!" Chang Kaisheng drew his 1932 command saber and nervously ordered.

The sound of loading and cocking rifles filled the air. Jiang Zhiquing looked at Chang Kaisheng and then at the front, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing.

The First Platoon of the Infantry was arranged in five rows, with the soldiers loaded and ready, watching the front intently. The hammers of the 32-乙 type flintlock rifles were cocked, ready to fire at any moment.

The Spanish were getting closer, so close that the patterns on their varied and disordered uniforms were visible. The squad leaders frequently turned to look at Chang Kaisheng, but he stood motionless, leaning on his command saber.

A gentle breeze brought the smell of gunpowder and blood. Chang Kaisheng's face was serious, sweat trickling down his cheeks and gathering on his chin before dripping onto his dark blue uniform.

These are the Spanish!

Chang Kaisheng was not a reckless man. Although his usual behavior gave the impression of being rough and bold, he was actually very measured. He knew that although Spain was in decline, it was still a formidable power, and the Executive Committee dared not provoke it at this stage. Therefore, he only had the soldiers form a defensive line but did not dare to order them to fire, as he could not bear the responsibility.

The fleeing Portuguese were about to pass through a gentle slope when they suddenly saw a group of soldiers in blue uniforms and black-brimmed caps standing on the slope. These soldiers held rifles and wore military sabers, standing in neat and silent rows. The Portuguese, who frequently did business in Tartan Port, immediately recognized the troops and quickly moved to the sides to let them pass.

Chang Kaisheng did not stop them but ordered the soldiers in the first row to raise their rifles. He continued to lean on his command saber, nervously watching the movements of the small group of Spanish soldiers pursuing them.

The Spanish, in the heat of the chase, suddenly saw an unknown army appear in front of them. The commander was startled and hesitated. Suddenly, a shot rang out from the side, and a soldier, whether out of nervousness or some other reason, fired at the opposite side.

A soldier in the first row fell. Chang Kaisheng, who had been watching the Spanish intently, instinctively shouted, "Five rows, fire! Ready... Fire!"

"Bang, bang, bang..." The first row of 15 32-乙 type flintlock rifles fired a volley. As they reloaded, the second row of soldiers moved forward, raised their rifles, and fired...

By the time all five rows had fired a volley, the battlefield, shrouded in smoke, had no standing figures. About 20 Spanish soldiers were killed, lying on the grass.

On the right front hill, the cavalry, seeing the battle had started, knew they could no longer hesitate. The 35 cavalrymen, led by Xu Yu, who had been absent for a while, shouted "Victory" and joined the battle. They fired a volley with their 1633 flintlock pistols and then charged into a group of about 20 Spanish soldiers with their gleaming sabers. The Spanish, whose formation was disrupted by the cavalry, scattered and fled, calling for help from their comrades.

Chang Kaisheng sighed inwardly, knowing the situation was now beyond repair. Damn it, I've fought, so what? Taking advantage of the Spanish being scattered from chasing the Portuguese and unable to regroup, Chang Kaisheng and the remaining 81 soldiers of the First Platoon formed a neat line and advanced, shooting at the scattered Spanish soldiers on the battlefield.

"First row, turn left, ready... Fire!"

"Second row, run to the right, full row, ready... Fire!"

"Third row, turn right, ready... Fire!"

The superior performance of the 32-乙 type flintlock rifles was evident. Light, with low recoil, fast firing rate, and long range, they were far superior to the Spanish matchlock muskets. When encountering small groups of Spanish, they would fire a volley from beyond the range of the matchlock muskets, forcing the Spanish to retreat. The fleeing Spanish were then cut down by the cavalry.

In just half an hour, over 100 Spanish soldiers on the battlefield were mostly killed or wounded. The remaining 50, with their retreat to the sea blocked by the cavalry, had no choice but to surrender to the First Platoon's main force, which was ready to fire.

The Spanish ship in the sea, seeing the situation was hopeless, possibly fearing that the First Platoon's soldiers would use the small boats to capture the ship, hastily set sail. After firing a few shots at the shore, creating several craters, it reluctantly turned and sailed away.

The remaining student soldiers, engineering soldiers, and logistics soldiers of Chang Kaisheng's detachment quickly arrived. Chang Kaisheng had them collect the Spanish weapons and bind the 56 captives together with ropes.

The cavalry, after a brief search and alert, quickly returned. In the battle, four of them were killed, all Cossacks. On the First Platoon side, three soldiers were killed, with no injuries. At least 60 Spanish soldiers were killed on the battlefield, with the first 20 or so killed in the volley, and the remaining 40 killed or cut down while fleeing.

Chang Kaisheng, Jiang Zhiquing, and Xu Yu looked at each other, realizing that this incident had escalated significantly.