Chapter 50

After March, the number of ships docking at the port gradually decreased. During this period, Blanquito Almeida came from São Vicente, bringing 500 tons of coal and some agricultural products. He frankly told the穿越者 (穿越者 refers to the time travelers or settlers from the future) that the Viceroy of Peru had put enormous pressure on them, and after March, trade between the two parties would be suspended, with all matters to be discussed again after the war. However, he also assured them that the immigration from the Far East would not be affected.

Apart from the Brazilians, only some Baltic people who were not well-informed remained. After crossing the vast ocean and enduring great hardships, they suddenly found that all trade had ceased. The穿越者 were fully engaged in producing cannons, armor, and muskets, and even if they had extra equipment, they had no intention of selling it. Fortunately, the various goods they brought sold for good prices, so they did not make the trip in vain.

From late February to early April, the穿越者 received over a hundred heads of livestock, 500 tons of coal, 120 tons of pig iron, 850 barrels of gunpowder, 100 tons of lead, and other supplies. Additionally, there were over 500 immigrants from Ukraine and Livonia. By April 15, Spanish warships appeared at sea, beginning to enforce a blockade, intercepting all kinds of ships entering and leaving the port. Thus, trade was finally completely cut off.

However, the Spanish ships did not intend to force their way into the port. Perhaps they were waiting for their main fleet, or perhaps they realized that it would be foolish to force their way into a well-defended port under the watchful eyes of four forts with over 40 cannons, especially when the enemy clearly had several long-barreled heavy guns.

The Executive Committee was steadily fortifying the city, expanding the armed forces, and stockpiling war supplies, and the Spanish were clearly doing the same. Thus, both sides were currently in a stalemate.

There was no fighting on land, but the hunting at sea never stopped.

April 20. Clear, 6-level west wind.

The "Eagle of the East Coast" and the "Yunsheng No. 1" formed a two-ship formation, drifting in the southeastern waters outside the entrance to the Strait of Magellan. They had been wandering here for several days, trying to capture Spanish supply ships or lone warships, but the Spanish clearly did not let them have their way. During this period, a Spanish fleet did pass through the Strait of Magellan, but it consisted of 8 large warships and several supply ships, making it a formidable force. Even if the "Yunsheng No. 1" tried to engage with its high speed, it would not have fared well.

Xiao Bai Lang and Wang Tie Chui were chatting in the captain's cabin of the "Yunsheng No. 1." This old partnership had reunited in this room filled with memories after more than two years, and the strong sense of temporal dislocation made both of them feel somewhat nostalgic.

"Wang, you and Old Han have had a tough two years. To be honest, when I went to Dingyuan Fort, I wanted to take you both, but I couldn't bear to leave the "Yunsheng No. 1" in the hands of amateurs, so I left you both in the navy. I didn't expect that this would delay your careers, sigh," Xiao Bai Lang said, taking a sip of water.

"Well, it's not a big deal," Wang Tie Chui said with a bitter laugh. "It's just that Wang Qian Nian left us idle for a year. What can we do, given that we all have the Transportation Department label on us? When the navy was first established, to put it bluntly, Wang Qian Nian was a lone figure. So he always had a wary eye on our group of "Yunsheng No. 1" crew members who stuck together, which is understandable. I thought that since he had no one, even if he didn't want to use us, he would have to. But he started from the coastal artillery and the navigation school, and slowly built up a situation. As a result, we were left on the sidelines, hehe. At least he still had some conscience and remembered us this time after leaving us idle for so long."

Xiao Bai Lang was speechless and pretended not to notice the subtle complaint in Wang Tie Chui's words, laughing it off. At this moment, the newly appointed first mate, Ruben de Mello, came in to report: "The lookout on the mast has spotted signal flags at the signal station on the coast."

"What?!" The two immediately perked up. After wandering around for so many days, they finally found a soft target. They immediately left the captain's cabin and went to the deck to observe. On the hillside by the coast, a tall tree trunk stood, and at its top, a red triangular flag was fluttering in the wind. Indeed, there was a situation!

"When was it spotted?" Xiao Bai Lang asked, his tone slightly urgent.

"Just now!" de Mello said, "The lookout on the mast just spotted the signal flags." He pointed to the mast, where the strong sea wind was making it sway. Inside was a navigation school intern, a cadet from Ireland named Gavin.

Xiao Bai Lang nodded and smiled at Wang Tie Chui. "Wang, business is here. You're the captain, so you command."

Wang Tie Chui didn't hesitate and began giving orders: "First Mate de Mello, lower the main sail and the foresail; Old Han, start the engine. Everyone to your stations, prepare for battle. Also, hoist the red battle flag and the green follow flag to remind the 'Eagle of the East Coast' to stay close."

The "Yunsheng No. 1" then began to sail northeast at a low speed of 3 knots. The "Eagle of the East Coast" clearly also observed the situation on shore and closely followed behind. According to the efficiency of the shore-based information transmission, the enemy ships would take about a day to reach the eastern entrance of the Strait of Magellan, which was enough time for everyone to intercept them.

...

Outside the eastern entrance of the Strait of Magellan, the wind was high and the waves were rough. Two Spanish ships were sailing together. The 400-ton armed merchant ship "Brave Enrique" was at the back, and the 200-ton warship "Toledo Fanatic" was leading the way. The two ships had set sail from Lima and endured great hardships to finally pass through the narrow and dangerous Strait of Magellan, entering the vast South Atlantic. This area was still considered relatively safe by the Spanish, as no other power dared to openly challenge the authority of the Kingdom of Spain, except for the occasional Dutch, British, or French pirates.

However, their smiles soon faded. Two unidentified ships appeared from the southeast. The leading ship looked quite tall and had a high building-like structure in the middle. The front part of the deck had a mast that could apparently carry three sails. However, what puzzled the Spanish the most was that this ship was approaching at a high cruising speed of 3-4 knots without any sails. Behind it was a smaller three-masted ship. Both ships had raised a red flag with two crossed short swords and a hawk diving downward in the middle.

The two ships clearly did not intend to come for a friendly visit. The busy crowds on the deck and the black cannon mouths made that clear. The Spanish immediately decided to turn north to try to escape from these two hostile ships, as their weak firepower could not match the two powerful-looking warships.

"Head into the wind, full speed to escape," the captain of the "Toledo Fanatic," Diego, ordered with a serious expression. "We must safely deliver the Viceroy's envoy to Buenos Aires. As for the 'Brave Enrique,' we can only pray to God for their safety."

The "Toledo Fanatic" was a small warship that had been in service for over a decade, belonging to the Peruvian local fleet. The sailors were well-trained from years of dealing with British and Dutch pirates along the western Pacific coast. They immediately adjusted their sails and began zigzagging to head into the wind. However, their efforts were in vain, as the tall ship was approaching at a relative high speed of 4 knots without raising any sails, and the distance between them was rapidly closing.

"God, that must be a devil's ship," Captain Diego crossed himself repeatedly. "Gentlemen, prepare for battle!"

"The Spanish are running! Ha ha, they don't even realize their slow speed won't help them escape," Wang Tie Chui laughed, holding a telescope. "Old Han, follow them. Gunner, fire warning shots when we're in range."

"Boom! Boom!" The bow guns had not yet entered range, but the port-side gun crews had already started firing at the slow and clumsy armed merchant ship "Brave Enrique." The Spanish showed their tenacious fighting spirit, with the few 6-pound and 8-pound guns on the armed merchant ship quickly countering, and some Spanish army soldiers on the deck firing matchlock guns.

"Leave this ship alone, it won't escape! Let Lu Ming deal with it. We focus on the warship in front, don't let it escape!" Wang Tie Chui ordered.

The "Yunsheng No. 1" quickly approached the "Toledo Fanatic," and the two 12-pound and two 8-pound bow guns fired the first round amidst the rolling waves. Most of the shots missed, but a chain shot aimed at the mast strangely hit the enemy's stern, though it did not seem to cause much damage.

"Again!" By now, the "Yunsheng No. 1" was gradually alongside the "Toledo Fanatic," and some of the broadside gun crews joined the firing. Especially the 24-pound heavy gun, which showed its extraordinary power as soon as it joined, with a massive iron ball hitting the enemy's side deck, creating a large hole and even injuring some sailors on the deck with splintered wood.

Soon, 18-pound and 12-pound guns joined the firing, and the intense cannon fire almost completely destroyed the enemy's starboard side. The few 8-pound shells from the enemy only knocked off some sandbags hanging on the "Yunsheng No. 1"’s sides. Before these remaining guns could fire again, the 24-pound gun on the "Yunsheng No. 1" fired grape shot, turning everyone on the enemy's starboard deck into sieves.

"Ha ha! What a relief!" Wang Tie Chui laughed. "What? They still won't surrender? Good, they have spirit! Come on, finish them! Sink her!"

The booming cannon fire sounded again.

On April 20, 1633, in the South Atlantic outside the Strait of Magellan, the Spanish armed merchant ship "Brave Enrique" and the small warship "Toledo Fanatic" were sunk, with over 260 people, including the Viceroy of Peru's envoy, the Viscount Fernandez, and 150 army musketeers, drowning in the cold South Atlantic waters.

PS: Just got back. The computer is fixed, and I have to work overtime tomorrow, so I won't say much. I'll go write now.

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