Total War: Restoration of the Ming Dynasty in Luzon

Zhu Jiheng was unaware of the situation inside Manila, because Zhang San had just infiltrated the city and had not yet had time to establish himself or gather intelligence.

He is currently receiving envoys from the surrounding Iloka tribes. After learning that the Kabugao tribe was the first to agree to form an alliance with the Ming army, many tribes also sent envoys to Linjiayan to present gifts to Zhu Jiheng.

Zhu Jiheng took these indigenous people, who shared a common enemy, very seriously. He specially wore the finest robes presented by Chinese merchants in the city and personally received Ma Kandong and others in the government office.

Outside the government office, baskets of rice, dried fish, fresh fruits, and even colorful tribal flags embroidered with simple totems, presented by the messengers, were neatly arranged.

The live pigs, still grunting and squealing, were also kept in bamboo cages. After receiving orders, the cooks worked together to drag the pigs out of the cages, preparing to take them to the back for slaughter and cooking.

Inside the hall, Zhu Jiheng sat upright in the main seat, striving to appear dignified. He listened as the interpreter translated the greetings from Makandong and the other envoys, then smiled and said:

"Welcome, emissaries of the Iloca. Facts will prove that your chieftain made a wise choice."

Following the tribal etiquette for receiving distinguished guests, Makandon knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and said in Irok:

"Your Highness, on behalf of my father and all the people of the Kabugao tribe, Makandong pays tribute to you. We bring you a gift of friendship and a hundred warriors willing to shed blood for our common enemy. Let us see for ourselves what kind of leader and what kind of army will be fighting alongside us."

Although the other envoys did not echo this sentiment, their hesitant glances revealed that they shared the same idea.

Zhu Jiheng understood that these indigenous people were not as foolish as stereotyped, nor were they easily fooled into going to the battlefield with a few words.

Words and a few gifts are not enough to truly win their hearts, much less to make them wholeheartedly devoted in the bloody battles to come.

Moreover, as a large tribe in the vicinity, the Kabugao tribe could not possibly only provide one hundred warriors. If they wanted to gain more reinforcements, they had to show their strength first.

"Very good." With that thought, Zhu Jiheng stood up, walked down the steps, and came to Ma Kandong. He was half a head shorter than Ma Kandong and his figure was far less imposing, but the confidence and temperament he displayed made the other party feel somewhat ashamed.

"That's a reasonable request." He looked directly into Macandon's eyes and said, "Only by putting your minds at ease can our alliance be truly solidified."

Having said that, he looked at his adjutant and ordered, "Have all the companies assemble at the fortress drill ground and take our guests to see the might of the Ming army."

"Yes, sir!"

The adjutant responded loudly and immediately went to issue the military order. Zhu Jiheng then smiled and gestured for them to proceed. The interpreter quickly informed them of the change of direction to the drill ground.

When they arrived at the fortress drill ground, apart from the necessary patrol companies, the three line infantry companies, the cavalry, and the four falcon cannons summoned to flex their muscles had all assembled and stood in neat formation on the drill ground, awaiting inspection.

The line infantrymen, dressed in red Western-style uniforms, wearing tricorn hats and carrying flintlock rifles with bayonets on their shoulders, stood tall and proud, their bayonets gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The cavalrymen, mounted on tall horses, also stood tall and proud, their eyes filled with fervent loyalty as they watched Zhu Jiheng slowly enter.

Macandon and his envoys stood at the edge of the training ground. At first glance, the impact of this army of only a few hundred men was far stronger than that of the larger Spanish armies they had ever seen.

The Ming soldiers stood in perfectly straight lines, completely silent except for the occasional snorting of their horses and the fluttering of their banners in the wind. This level of discipline was something they had never seen even in the regular Spanish army.

What truly caught their attention were the four cold, heavy cannons; their dark muzzles, like the lurking pupils of a monstrous beast, exuded a chilling and intimidating power.

The adjutant spurred his horse to the front of the formation, drew his sword, pointed it diagonally to the sky, and shouted in a booming voice, "Each company pays homage to His Highness!"

"May the Great Ming Dynasty prosper! Long live Your Highness!"

The soldiers roared in unison, their shouts like a tidal wave, shaking Ma Kandong and the others to their core.

Immediately afterwards, the drill began.

"Line infantry! Each company, raise your rifles, aim, and prepare for volley fire!"

At the officers' commands and the beat of drums, the infantrymen of the three companies quickly and neatly completed the actions of raising their guns and aiming.

They all aimed their guns at the scarecrow erected in the distance as a target, holding their breath and waiting for the order to fire.

"First rank, fire!"

With a flick of the officer's saber, the soldiers in the first platoon of each company pulled the trigger in unison, and a deafening roar suddenly erupted amidst the crisp sound of the hammers striking the ground!

bang bang bang-

Nearly a hundred flintlock muskets simultaneously spewed out scorching flames, and a deadly storm of lead bullets swept across the training ground, slamming into the scarecrow targets dozens of paces away.

Clipped grass and rotten hemp flew everywhere, many targets were hit and shook violently, and some even broke the wooden stakes and fell down.

The deafening gunshot sent shockwaves through Makandon and all the Elock messengers. Some even instinctively took a half-step back, their faces filled with uncontrollable horror.

They had seen muskets before, but never such a dense and perfectly synchronized volley.

On the training ground, after the first rank of soldiers finished firing, they knelt down on one knee without hesitation and reloaded on the spot, while the second rank of soldiers raised their guns, aimed, and filled the firing range almost at the same time.

"Second platoon, fire!"

boom--! ! !

The second salvo followed immediately. Before the smoke had even cleared, new plumes of white smoke rose again, and the remaining scarecrow targets were subjected to another baptism, shattering even more thoroughly.

The third wave of firing followed immediately.

Three rounds of firing filled the air with smoke that covered almost half of the training ground. The strong smell of gunpowder was pungent. As the echoes of the last round of gunfire reverberated between the training ground walls, the entire scene fell into a brief silence after the shock.

After the line infantrymen finished loading their weapons in an orderly manner, they stood at attention again, their faces stern and expressionless, as if the thunderous shooting they had just done was nothing special.

Ma Kandong's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at the firing range, then slowly shifted his gaze back to the silent red soldiers.

Some of his envoys had slightly parted lips, while others had blank stares; they were clearly still recovering from the shock of the live-fire exercise.

This is understandable, as line infantry tactics were not yet popular even in Europe at that time. Although formations existed, firing with dense formations of musketeers was almost suicidal.

Even the regular Spanish army couldn't fire such a dense volley, so it's no wonder it intimidated the indigenous people.