Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 52 Manta

Chapter 52 Manta
"In this operation, safety is the top priority, everything else is secondary. If the raid fails and we encounter fierce resistance from the town's militia, there's no need to act recklessly; retreat immediately to the sea."

Around ten o'clock in the evening, the stars were dim, the night was as dark as ink, and the sparkling sea water made bursts of soft humming sounds, as if telling people something.

After a hearty meal, the first group of more than 20 sailors who were preparing to dive across the port were ready and standing on the deck, waiting for instructions from Captain Luo Zhenhui.

It is better to say that it is an earnest exhortation than a lecture. The words reveal endless care and a bit of caution.

These people must not suffer any casualties. Even if they are Spanish sailors, he will be heartbroken if a few of them are killed or injured.

"Captain, don't worry!" Major Meng Shengxin, the former navigator, saluted him solemnly and tightened his grip on the assault rifle. "With our powerful firepower, even if there's a Spanish army stationed in this town, we're confident we can crush them."

"Don't underestimate the enemy!" Luo Zhenhui said seriously. "Don't think that just because you have three... muskets, you can look down on all enemies before you. Besides, our ammunition is already low, and it won't withstand the consumption of a fierce battle. Remember our army's usual enemy policy: strategically despise the enemy, but tactically, take him seriously!"

"Yes, Captain!" Meng Shengxin was startled when he heard the captain mention the ammunition for the assault rifle.

I almost forgot, assault rifle ammunition cannot be refilled!

Because the "Breaking Waves" is a training sailing ship, not a true combat ship.

Therefore, not only was the entire ship not equipped with any weapons and equipment, but there were also very few close-combat weapons carried on board.

There were only four assault rifles and two standard military pistols on board. As for ammunition, there was no basic ammunition like in combat guard or combat training.

Each assault rifle only has three magazines and 120 rounds of ammunition. In this way, the four rifles carry a total of 12 magazines and 360 rounds of ammunition.

However, after more than a year of consumption, he had fired more than 60 bullets - even when he first arrived on Qiming Island, he had the luxury of using an assault rifle to hunt a few times - so the number of bullets was less than 300.

This time when he came to Spain to hunt, he only brought three rifles, and the number of bullets was only eight magazines, with 240 rounds.

If we really had to go ashore and fight a fierce battle with the Spaniards, we would probably use up all the ammunition in one wave.

Of course, in addition to the three assault rifles, the "Wavebreaker" also carried thirty modified muskets, more than twenty daggers, a dozen spears, and dozens of "earth bombs" made from cans, which could be used in critical moments.

However, it is best to avoid such direct confrontations as much as possible.

Because the "Break the Waves" cannot afford such consumption.

"Not only are we running low on rifle bullets, but we're also running out of diesel on the boat." Luo Zhenhui muttered to himself as he watched the two small boats slowly rowing towards the shore under the faint moonlight.

"It won't be long before this 'Wavebreaker' truly becomes a pure sailing ship!"
-
Starting from the 16s, the Spanish royal family promulgated a series of laws prohibiting trade between overseas territories, let alone trade with hostile European countries, in an attempt to promote and strengthen trade between overseas colonial territories and the mainland, thereby safeguarding the overall interests of the kingdom.

In other words, the Spanish hope that the hens in their "henhouses" will lay as many eggs as possible in the nest, rather than randomly abandoning them in the courtyard (colony) or in the wild (abroad).

In fact, huge trade profits sometimes prompt merchants to break through policy restrictions.

For example, the trans-Pacific galleon trade, which was done in secret but not in concert.

For example, the cocoa trade between Mexico and Venezuela (Venezuela during this period included the current Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama).

For example, the smuggling trade along the Atlantic coast is rampant.

Pedro del Alamober was a trader who repeatedly broke the royal trade ban. However, he did not engage in the booming Atlantic smuggling trade, nor did he participate in the lucrative trans-Pacific trade. Instead, he secretly engaged in the cocoa trade.

During this period, coffee had not yet been developed, tea was still a drink for high-end people, and cocoa produced in Venezuela became a drink for the general public.

Venezuelan plantation owners hoped to exchange their cocoa for Mexican silver, thereby increasing their ability to import manufactured goods, particularly those smuggled in from abroad.

Although this practice conflicted with the strict ban of the royal family, the increasingly weakened suzerain government was unable to stop it.

Pedro, having found a business opportunity, immediately seized it. After uniting several powerful shareholders, he quickly opened up trade channels here by relying on his family and their network of relationships.

Commissioned by local Mexican merchants, he would come to Venezuela twice a year with large amounts of gold and silver, directly contact local cocoa plantation owners, purchase cocoa from them at extremely low prices, and then organize merchant ships to transport it back to Mexico.

Due to the need to avoid inspections and audits by the colonial governments of both places, the cocoa trade routes generally avoided the strictly regulated Atlantic coastal areas and chose the more loosely regulated Pacific routes.

That is, it is loaded on ships in Guayaquil and then sails north all the way to the ports on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Ten days ago, Pedro took a boat from Acapulco Port to Guayaquil, preparing to contact local cocoa plantation owners to discuss the purchase of a batch of cocoa.

However, he turned to Manta on the way and has stayed there ever since.

Because he wanted to meet his lover, Mrs. Plutarco, there and spend a wonderful Christmas with her. In the past few days, Mrs. Plutarco, who had been widowed for many years, was so tender and affectionate to him that he could not move his legs at all and could not walk, so he did not hesitate to let the group of eager cocoa plantation owners in Guayaquil wait for him.

After a disastrous banquet, Pedro once again fell into the passionate and warm embrace of Mrs. Plutarch and lost himself.

However, just as he was falling into a coma, the quiet town of Manta suddenly began to "make noise".

The constant barking of watchdogs, the dull and suppressed footsteps, the occasional exclamations, the low and majestic shouts, and the shattering sounds of broken doors and windows gradually woke up the quiet and peaceful town.

He opened his confused and puzzled eyes, and saw Mrs. Plutarch's naked and plump upper body, and subconsciously groaned in pain.

Are they going to "torture" him again?

"My dear, it seems outside..." Mrs. Plutarch looked panicked, "It seems like someone fired a gun and someone screamed. Oh, God, are the Native Americans from the suburbs sneaking in?"

"Hmm?..." Pedro was still confused.

Indian?

Sneaking in?
How can it be!

This is a coastal town, not a village or parish in the inland mountains. How could Indians rush into the town and cause trouble?
"Honey, it's okay." Pedro looked at the white spot in front of him, swallowed his saliva, and subconsciously reached out to grab her, but the power in his body had been exhausted, and he was unable to do anything.

He sat up, leaning against the cushions at the head of the bed, gently holding Mrs. Plutarch in his arms, and whispered soothingly, "Don't worry. Even if Indians really come to cause trouble, the mayor and the sheriff will organize the militia to drive them away. As for us, there's even less to worry about. The three Mestizo guards I brought with me are quite skilled and more than enough to protect us. ... All right, little darling, go to sleep. It's late."

I feel so weak in the knees and arms that I don’t have the energy to care about anything else!

Even if the Indians really come to kill me, let me die in this gentle embrace.

Anyway, I can’t run even if I get out of bed.

"Bang! Bang!"

Not long after he lay down, two gunshots were suddenly heard from the yard, followed by loud shouts and low curses.

"boom!"

Just as the two of them hugged each other in shock, there was a sudden loud explosion and a bright orange light flashed in the yard.

"what!……"

A shrill scream suddenly broke the tranquility of the courtyard.

"Oh, God! They're...pirates!"

"Bang! Bang!..."

As screams were heard, two more gunshots were heard.