Chapter 57

On June 28th, the city of Castro was engulfed in thick smoke as warehouses, barracks, prisons, offices, and lumberyards were all set ablaze, destroying years of Spanish colonial efforts. As the raiding fleet led by Yunsheng No.1 departed, the cunning Xiao Bailang left some of the captured matchlock guns and cold weapons to the local Araucanian Indians. Many of the Araucanians scattered across Chiloé Island were often dissatisfied with Spanish rule, and if they could take advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble for the Spanish, Xiao Bailang would probably be grinning in his sleep.

After the fleet left, it began to head towards the Spanish colony of Chacao on the island. Chacao is located at the northern end of Chiloé Island, facing the Chilean mainland across the Chacao Strait. This small town is slightly larger than Castro and has a slightly larger population. On the evening of June 29th, the fleet appeared in the Chacao Strait, but due to heavy rain, the planned landing operation was forced to cancel. The entire fleet raised the Spanish naval flag and slowly passed through the Chacao Strait, then turned north towards Valdivia.

By the end of June, the Chilean coast was calm, but the waters off the Big Fish River were tense. Diego Garcia's task force had braved the cold winds of the vast South Atlantic but failed to locate Xiao Bailang's fleet. Furious, they had just returned to Buenos Aires when they heard the news that the Tartar fleet had sunk three Spanish coastal warships, effectively breaking the naval blockade against the Tartars.

Calmly, Diego Garcia had to admit that the navy alone could no longer resolve the conflict. If that was the case, then the army should take over. As long as the Tartar fortifications on land were captured, the war could be declared over.

At the end of May, two transport ships loaded with various military supplies safely arrived in Buenos Aires from Lima. In mid-June, a large batch of military supplies and 200 cavalrymen transported overland from Chiricas via Paraguay also arrived safely. By then, the Spanish war preparations were largely complete. Lieutenant Antonio Carlos, who arrived with the Peruvian cavalry, was appointed as the new Buenos Aires supervisor, responsible for all army affairs but under the command of Admiral Diego Garcia.

On June 28th, as Xiao Bailang's fleet was burning Castro, a large number of Spanish warships and transport ships gathered off the coast of the Big Fish River. Wang Qianian, stationed in the main gun emplacement's concrete bunker, closely observed the Spanish movements at sea. This time, the Spanish seemed to have committed their main forces, with over 20 warships and transport ships, a formidable lineup. However, Wang Qianian was confident in his own gun emplacements. The main emplacement had 24 guns, the second emplacement 8 guns, the third emplacement 8 guns, and the newly built fourth emplacement 6 guns, totaling 46 guns, including 8 terrifying 32-pound long-barreled cannons. Additionally, the emplacements were equipped with over 20 various types of light artillery to counter enemy infantry attempting to land and attack the emplacements. The total number of gunners exceeded 300, a record high.

Captain Li Yi, the commander of the main emplacement, was a former university physical education teacher who had spent considerable time studying artillery after the穿越. With extensive live-fire training, he had become an artillery expert among the穿越people.

"Attention, the Spanish seem to be attempting to force their way into the port. They probably still think we only have about 20 guns, ha, let's give them a surprise. Messenger, inform positions A2 to A8 not to fire without orders. They should only fire after position A1 and target the same point. Go and pass the message!" Li Yi said to the messenger while holding a telescope. Positions A1 to A8 were equipped with 8 32-pound heavy guns in a semi-enclosed emplacement, camouflaged to be the colony's main defensive weapon.

"The Spanish are moving!" the gun captain at position A1 suddenly shouted excitedly, standing on tiptoe to observe the situation outside the port through the firing port.

At this moment, the Spanish task force's "Bison" gunboat, under Diego Garcia's orders, led the way into the mouth of the Big Fish River, followed by the "Countess Alfonso," "Conquistador of Araucania," and "Glory." The four warships lined up in the outer sea, dropped their stern anchors, and aligned their starboard sides toward the port.

Diego Garcia stood on the bridge of his flagship, the "Rock of Cadiz," observing the port with a monocular. According to pre-war intelligence, the Tartars had built some gun emplacements in the port, with about 18 to 24 guns, the largest being 24-pounders, similar to those on his own warships. On paper, the Tartar gun emplacements were formidable. However, his fleet had over 250 guns, and even with only one side of the guns firing, they could still suppress or destroy the Tartar emplacements, as long as he was willing to accept some losses.

Lieutenant Antonio Carlos sat leisurely on the bridge, frankly disgusted with his nominal superior. A descendant of a pig herder, brutal and greedy, with no trace of elegance, and yet he could command him. God, something must be wrong! Carlos muttered to himself, hoping this short man would be thoroughly humiliated.

As if God had heard his plea, a Tartar gun emplacement on a small island at the river mouth opened fire. The iron ball, whistling out of the gun barrel, easily hit the "Countess Alfonso," anchored in the port, causing a small commotion.

"Good luck! First shot hit!" Ding Wei and Liu Dafa, who had taken over as the main and deputy commanders of the third emplacement from Lu Ming and Chen Tumu, looked at each other excitedly. "These bastards anchored to improve their accuracy, such arrogance will be their downfall."

However, their excitement didn't last long. The Spanish counterattack came quickly, with over 60 ship guns firing at the third emplacement. Most of the shells fell into the sea, but a significant number hit the island. The roof of the position where Ding Wei and Liu Dafa stood was hit by an 18-pound iron ball, killing a Charrua man carrying shells. Witnessing this, Ding Wei and Liu Dafa were momentarily speechless.

"Damn it, I won't believe it! The gun emplacement can't be outmatched by wooden ships!" Ding Wei, a tough man, rolled up his sleeves and started moving shells. The well-trained gunners quickly reloaded, and the guns roared, firing deadly shells at the sea. The 8 guns of the third emplacement fired in sequence, stubbornly engaging the Spanish.

Seeing that the four warships could not suppress the Tartar's forward gun emplacement, Diego Garcia ordered the "Bishop of Lima" and the "Inquisitor" to join the battle, increasing the number of Spanish warships to six and significantly enhancing their firepower. They carefully controlled the distance between their ships and the main gun emplacement, trying to keep their anchoring positions away from the enemy's guns.

"The third emplacement is in danger. If this continues, it will be destroyed. Li Yi, don't wait any longer. The flagship won't come up. Give the Spanish a surprise, they will be delighted to receive our 32-pound iron balls," Wang Qianian said.

Li Yi didn't say a word, simply walking to the 32-pound gun at position A1 and lighting the fuse with a torch. "Boom!" With a thick cloud of smoke, the 32-pound iron ball shot toward the enemy warships on the sea. The ball flew nearly a kilometer, passing over the deck of the "Inquisitor" at the rear and landing in the sea about ten meters off the port side of the "Bishop of Lima," sending a towering water column into the air.

After position A1 fired, positions A2 to A8 quickly followed, with two 32-pound solid balls hitting the "Bishop of Lima." One hit the toilet on the open deck behind the poop deck, and the other hit the starboard gun deck, causing significant damage to the 500-ton warship.

"Damn! Their 24-pound guns are firing, no... these aren't 24-pound guns, they're 32-pound! Damn it, the Tartars actually have 32-pound heavy naval guns!" Diego Garcia was finally shaken. His fleet had anchored under the muzzles of the Tartars' 32-pound guns, which was nothing short of suicide. "Quickly, first mate, take the launch to notify the 'Bishop of Lima' and the 'Inquisitor' to retreat!"

Diego Garcia held his monocular, staring intently at the 32-pound gun positions on the main gun emplacement. These guns were installed in well-protected semi-enclosed positions, with some camouflage on the outside. There were as many as 8 of these guns, and he couldn't fathom where the Tartars had so many large-caliber guns.

After the 32-pound guns fired, the 24-pound and 18-pound guns followed, concentrating their fire on the already damaged "Bishop of Lima." The dense barrage of shells rained down around the "Bishop of Lima," and the nearby "Inquisitor" was also hit by several shells.

The "Bishop of Lima's" bridge was hit by four shells, killing the navigator and the first mate. The captain continued to command, ordering the sailors to pull up the stern anchor and prepare to flee to the open sea. Another round of 32-pound shells came, this time with much better accuracy, with 4 shells hitting the ship directly. One shell miraculously hit the mainmast, completely breaking it, and the lookout in the crow's nest screamed as he fell to the deck. The foresail was hit by a chain shot from a 24-pound gun, causing extensive damage and rendering it almost unusable. The rigging room was also hit by two 18-pound shells, killing a sailor.

Only then did Admiral Diego Garcia realize that after two rounds of intense bombardment by the Tartars, the "Bishop of Lima" frigate had lost most of its ability to maneuver!