Chapter 1164: The Silly Prince Strikes Back!

"Fall in! Fall in! Close-order square! Close-order square!"

"All companies, attention — check your firearms, bayonets, and ammunition."

The twelve battalion commanders under the four regiments — the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth — of the Ming army's Young Guard Corps all had their hands on the hilts of their sabers as they paced back and forth in front of their respective battalion squares, from time to time shouting orders.

Before them, the twelve battalion-level squares were already drawn up in perfect order. Clusters of torches flickered, and rows of bayonets caught the firelight, flashing a daunting gleam through the night.

The four regiments of the Ming army's Young Guard Corps were ready for battle!

The makeshift Third Regiment that Don Juan José had placed in the central valley had long since been mobbed into total annihilation by these four regiments' absolutely superior strength. The gunfire and explosions heard earlier had actually been deliberately staged by Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren to mislead the Spanish.

Most of the Ming officers and men had spent the afternoon conserving their strength and sharpening their edge — all for launching the decisive offensive against the Spanish tonight!

Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren still did not know that Zhu Cihuan had stumbled into a stroke of romantic luck, and that even his career, which had been stuck in a hopeless slump, had taken a turn for the better. They still thought that silly prince was about to give his life for the country any moment now. Oh — well, in his situation, that still counted as giving himself to the country, didn't it? And once given, it would be for a lifetime!

Although Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren did not really care whether Zhu Cihuan lived or died — everyone knew this silly prince was not in the Son of Heaven's good graces, and now that he had swindled the Retired Emperor out of his retirement money, he was probably a fellow nobody loved or pitied! Still, as subjects of the throne, Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren had to make an effort to rescue the silly prince. It was a matter of attitude!

Only with the right attitude could they prove they were loyal subjects!

Apart from the matter of attitude, tonight's general assault was also a matter of life and death for the four Young Guard infantry regiments that had advanced more than eight hundred li.

If they could not break through the long valley the Spanish were holding to the death, their losses would be catastrophic. Behind them lay more than eight hundred li of mountain roads, with virtually no possibility of resupply along the way — apart from fishing, hunting, and plundering Indian tribes, there was no other option — and they might also be pursued by the Spanish! Wouldn't a retreat like that cost them three to five thousand men?

So retreat was out of the question. They could only push forward at any cost! Break through the Spanish defenses, charge all the way into the Satsuma River valley, force the Shimazu clan to surrender, and then sweep across all of California!

Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren had by now moved up to the forward position at the northern mouth of the long valley. Behind a hilltop, they were listening to Zhang Cheng, commander of the Sixth Regiment, report on the enemy situation. The commanders of the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Regiments were also here, all waiting for Qi Yuanbi and Yu Daren to give the order to attack.

"At least four to five regiments of Spanish army! Plus a considerable number of Japanese samurai attached to them. Those Japanese soldiers are extremely fierce — better fighters than the Spanish! Half the firearms they use are flintlocks, and the other half are matchlocks. In addition, there are six 6-pounder cannon! Breastwork fortifications have already begun to be constructed, running from the slopes on both sides all the way down to the bottom of the long valley. But no trenches have been dug, and no abatis either.

From interrogation of prisoners, we've learned that there is another line of fortifications at the southern mouth of the long valley, held by roughly one regiment of Spanish troops. In addition, two regiments of Spanish troops and over a thousand Shimazu troops are besieging the Honpuku-ji temple where His Highness is holding out. Commander, Chief of Staff — we must launch the assault immediately, or His Highness will be in danger!"

Qi Yuanbi glanced at Yu Daren.

"Commander, twelve battalions are already ready and can launch successive waves of assault at any time!"

The four regiments had sixteen battalions in all. Four were already stationed at the northern mouth of the long valley and in the recaptured camp, while twelve more could be committed at any time. But the width of the valley before them was limited — there was no room to deploy twelve battalions at once, so they could only attack in successive waves!

Qi Yuanbi nodded. "Has the order of assault been set?"

"It has!" said Yu Daren. "All battalions are already in position."

"Then begin! Before dawn tomorrow, we must charge into the Satsuma River valley! Even if we have to fill the Spanish defenses level with human lives, we will flatten them! Understood?"

"Understood!"

The four regimental commanders under him all saluted, turned, and left.

They all understood this logic. The Young Guard Corps had come on a forced march of eight hundred li, and from the start there had been no turning back. Moreover, how much fight the Spanish and the Japanese attached to them really had — everyone already knew that from last night until now.

As long as the Young Guard Corps' ten thousand-plus officers and men went all out, there was no reason they could not take it!

The four regimental commanders each headed toward their own regimental headquarters. Each regimental headquarters had also moved up to the front line, positioned directly behind the twelve infantry battalions preparing to launch the assault.

With bursts of shrill suona horns, the Young Guard Corps' night attack began once more!

Under the moonlight, the cold gleam of steel rippled like waves. The several hundred officers and men of the first infantry battalion to charge onto the battlefield advanced at a measured pace, marching in step, pointing straight toward the northern mouth of the long valley.

When the northern mouth of the long valley erupted in battle again, the Marquis de Gaspard was waiting in a tent outside Honpuku-ji for Shimazu Mitsuhisa and his daughter Shimazu Nozomi. According to the orders he had brought, the Japanese soldiers originally attached to the two regiments under de Velasco's command, as well as the Japanese soldiers in Satsuma Valley Castle, had all been concentrated and handed over to the Shimazu father and daughter. Together with the Japanese samurai previously commanded by Shimazu Nozomi, they totaled just over two thousand men.

The old marquis had ordered them to break contact with the Ming troops at Honpuku-ji, rest for one night, and report for battle under the Duke of Florida early the next morning.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa had received the order at dusk and left. It was now deep into the night — why had he not yet returned to report? Could it be that, blinded by the darkness, he had taken a wrong turn? Couldn't they light torches? How stupid!

The Marquis de Gaspard yawned; he truly could hardly hold off his drowsiness any longer.

A man of his age could not go night after night without sleep the way he had when young. If he wore his body out, he might well meet the Lord ahead of schedule... Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard the sound of dense footsteps outside.

Had Shimazu Mitsuhisa finally arrived?

The moment the Marquis de Gaspard thought that he could give a few instructions and then immediately go to bed, his mood improved considerably. He rose from his camp bed and strode out of the tent.

The moment he stepped out, he realized something was wrong. By the moonlight, he seemed to see a great dark mass of people surging toward his camp!

What was going on? Who were they? Why were they not carrying torches?

Just as he was wondering, the German mercenaries guarding the camp had already called out in stiff Spanish: "Who are you people?"

"We are samurai of the Shimazu clan, come by order to pay our respects to His Excellency the Marquis de Gaspard!"

Someone among the newcomers answered loudly in Spanish.

The Marquis de Gaspard thought to himself: Why has Shimazu Mitsuhisa brought all the Japanese samurai here to me?

By now two Germans had already gone forward with torches raised. By the light of the torches, the Marquis de Gaspard saw that among a crowd of little dwarfs there stood a burly giant in full armor and helmet. The giant seemed to be carrying a very long spear over his shoulder.

Who is this man? The Marquis de Gaspard was somewhat puzzled: How could he be so tall?

At that very moment, the burly giant suddenly let out a great shout, then leveled his long spear and pointed it straight at the camp of a German mercenary cavalry regiment where the Marquis de Gaspard stood.

What was he doing? Before the Marquis de Gaspard could react, the two German mercenaries who had gone forward were already shouting: "Attack! Attack! The Japanese are the enemy!"

The Japanese are the enemy?

The Marquis de Gaspard gave a start. Just as he was about to do something, he saw a flash of fire ahead, and then felt two heavy blows to his chest. Immediately after, unbearable agony and deafening gunfire arrived together!

This is bad — by the time the Marquis de Gaspard fell, he already knew it was bad. The Japanese had turned traitor and switched sides. New Spain was now doomed to a crushing defeat!

And it seemed I am about to meet the Lord very soon! No, wait — perhaps I might meet Satan instead! My sins are many! And there are no indulgences for sale now... What a swindle!

(End of Chapter)