Chapter 1658 Attacking Manila (8)

The Haihan Army's use of maps in military operations was basically unparalleled in this era. Haihan also established a special database for this purpose. Especially the nautical maps, which were particularly valuable in the Age of Discovery, were more precise.

This is information that far exceeds that of the Western colonial countries. Haihan was able to rise into a maritime power in the South China Sea and the entire Far East in just a few years, partly because of these priceless map data.

The Haihan Navy has always been very dependent on maps. This trend has naturally spread to the army. Especially when fighting in unfamiliar areas like Manila, maps are an indispensable tool. Takahashi Minami's command style is similar to that of his immediate superior.

Qian Tiandun is in the same line, so naturally he will not ignore the role of the map, and uses it as the main reference for troop deployment.

This area in the south of the city is a mixture of Han immigrants and local aborigines, as well as a few manors built by wealthy Spanish people outside the city. There are also many commercial institutions like Chaosheng Store, all of which have been built one after another in the past few decades.

It is impossible to say that there is any regular urban layout after the completion of the construction. Fighting in this environment, it is indeed difficult for the troops to form formations. For the defenders who are good at fighting in square formations, this is a very unfavorable restriction. And

For the attackers, the biggest problem is probably that they are unfamiliar with this area. Although there are maps as a reference, they still need guidance from people who are familiar with the local conditions.

One of the wartime functions of these personnel sent by the Military Intelligence Department to lurk in Manila was to act as field guides for the army that attacked here. Even if they did not know the current specific deployment status of the Spanish defenders, they relied on their familiarity with the local environment.

, which is enough to save the Haihan army attacking this area a lot.

Fang Peng quickly stepped forward and pointed out to Gao Qiaonan several high points on the map with a wide view, open areas where troops could be gathered, and several paths leading from this urban area to the south gate of Manila. As for the Spanish defenders in the city

Fang Peng believes that the official requisitioned a manor belonging to a wealthy Spanish businessman near the city gate. This key information cannot be understood by the commander just by looking at the map. It is indeed necessary

With insiders like Fang Peng providing help, Gao Qiaonan began to dispatch troops and assign combat tasks after discussing with several of his officers.

During this period, Ran Tianlu finally had some time to spare. After confirming his identity, the military did not ask him to participate in the next operations like Fang Peng and others, but allowed him to choose whether to stay in the store or retreat to the rear.

Ran Tianlu thought that the war situation was favorable to Haihan at this time. If he wanted to evacuate, this would not be the right time to evacuate. Besides, there were many valuable goods in the store, and he was still thinking about bringing Father Blanco's goods.

Deliver the batch of things to the chief and earn a great contribution for yourself. At this time, you cannot take the initiative to give up the opportunity.

Ran Tianlu wants to stay here as an intelligence officer of the Security Bureau, and naturally no one will object. Although the business store has been temporarily requisitioned by Gao Qiaonan as a headquarters, the military will not forcefully drive away the original owner for this reason.

, not to mention that this master is not an outsider. They are all colleagues working for the Executive Committee. Of course, Ran Tianlu also deserves a share of the credit for this war going so smoothly.

However, Gao Qiaonan was busy directing the battle at this time. Even if Ran Tianlu wanted to report to him about the church property, Gao Qiaonan had no time to pay attention to such matters that had nothing to do with the battle. Ran Tianlu didn't want to be idle, so he went to help count the prisoners.

There are still dozens of confused Spanish soldiers locked up in the inn. Ran Tianlu can speak Spanish, so if there are any problems, he can translate and communicate in the middle in time, so that these prisoners can be escorted to the rear as soon as possible.

The special operations battalion commanded by Gao Qiaonan was indeed worthy of the title of Haihan's ace unit. After entering the city, it quickly took control of the battlefield and compressed the Spanish control area to the north bit by bit.

For the Spanish defenders, the result of spreading to various parts of the city for defense is to be defeated by the enemy forces one by one. However, if they want to gather together to use square formation tactics, there is not such a large space in the city, and after gathering together, it seems that

It is more vulnerable to the heavy weapons used by the Haihan Army.

This not only refers to the light and flexible small-caliber field artillery, but also the grenades that the Haihan Army gradually began to use frequently in combat. This type of anti-personnel weapon that is thrown and then explodes near the target is of great help to Spanish soldiers hiding behind street fortifications.

It is simply inexplicable. Even if they did not show their heads and go out to be the target of the Haihan people, they would be blown to pieces by the grenades that suddenly fell from the sky. Especially the Spanish soldiers who moved in groups would often be guarding a certain barricade at the same time.

They were attacked by several grenades thrown from a distance, and the wooden shields in their hands could provide limited defense. They often could not completely block the shock waves and shrapnel when the grenades exploded, and even caused more casualties than the shelling.

Of course, the cost of this new type of individual weapon is not cheap. The Haihan Army affirmed its military value after trials on the Liaodong battlefield. The arsenal in Sanya has only begun mass production, but the production capacity is still extremely limited. It is also used by ordinary troops.

There is not a large amount of equipment. Only ace armies such as special operations battalions, which have spent countless military expenditures, can equip large quantities of such weapons.

Before launching the offensive, Takahashi Minami received ten boxes of grenades totaling 200 rounds, all of which were distributed to the front-line attack teams. The combat effectiveness of this weapon did not disappoint Takahashi Minami. In the special environment where army artillery was inconvenient to enter,

The power of grenades can be used as artillery to a certain extent, and the shells can still bend and refract.

After using about one-third of the ammunition, the Spanish defenders were showing signs of collapse. Although the temporary fortifications and barricades they built before the war could block the rifle fire of the Haihan Army, they could not withstand grenades and artillery shells.

It doesn't have a very good defensive effect. If you don't retreat in time, you will be dead.

Although Francis was very unwilling to accept such a battle situation, the battle reports that came back one after another gave him no hope of making a comeback. The 1,300 soldiers deployed in the area south of the city, after just one hour of fighting,

He had already lost about 30% of his manpower. Such a high casualty rate made it impossible for Francis to invest any more troops. Although he had thought that there would be huge casualties in urban street fighting before the war, he did not expect that there would be huge casualties.

It's such a one-sided situation. If we continue to fight with the Haihan Army at this pace, even if we pull the entire Manila garrison over, it will only last three or four days and it will be over.

Will the Haihan Army withdraw from Manila in three or four days? Francis believes that this is obviously impossible. As long as they still occupy the initiative on the battlefield, they will definitely not leave here easily. This war between the two countries,

There must be a complete defeat of one side to declare the end. And Francis is now increasingly unable to remain optimistic about the outcome of this war.

Seeing the wounded and dead being constantly transported off the line of fire passing by him, Francis decided not to drag on any longer. He had to withdraw his troops into the city as soon as possible to avoid more unnecessary deaths and injuries.

"The Spaniards have given the signal to withdraw!"

This movement was immediately noticed by the front-line Haihan Army and reported to the fire line headquarters located in Chaosheng Commercial Store. Gao Qiaonan did not show too much joy at this, but ordered that the city area be carefully cleaned up immediately.

, all persons with suspicious identities must be detained - this list mainly comes from intelligence provided by the Ministry of Security, and mainly includes some local pro-Spanish figures, both indigenous and Han.

Although these people are not militants and are unlikely to rise up to resist Haihan, they all have deep interests with the Spaniards in the city. They may make some extraordinary moves, so they should be temporarily imprisoned.

Relatively safe.

The person who made this arrest list was naturally Ran Tianlu, who was most familiar with the local situation. Ironically, most of the people he put on this list were because he often met at churches in the city.

Remembered by him, this was regarded as one of the evidences of close contacts with the Spanish. Father Blanco in the city probably never dreamed that the person he entrusted would not only swallow up the property entrusted by the church, but also

He planned to catch up with him the group of believers he had managed to develop locally.

In fact, Ran Tianlu personally has no hatred for religion. Although he went to the church for the purpose of gathering information, over time he also listened to some of the priests' daily sermons. Although he did not believe that the gods believed in by the Spanish were more powerful than the gods in the East,

I also understand that the missionary work of Spanish priests to the people of Manila is ultimately to maintain local colonial rule, but I still agree with the part of the teaching that persuades people to do good. But since the above asked him to make a list of "dangerous persons" in advance

, then he must do his best to complete this work.

However, in order for the people on the list to be confirmed, Ran Tianlu, an insider, must act as a guide, so now he finally had something to do. He led a group of Haihan soldiers who looked like wolves and tigers, and began to follow the map in the city.

Apprehend these people.

Of course, this is Ran Tianlu's contribution, but in this way, Ran Tianlu's identity as a leader will naturally be revealed to the world. He will no longer be able to stay here as an ordinary businessman in the future, which makes him happy and happy.

While getting more credit, I can't help but feel a little sad that my identity has changed in this way.

But then there were even more things that made Ran Tianlu feel embarrassed. Most of the people he led to arrest also knew him, and some of them still interacted with them on weekdays. Seeing that Ran Tianlu turned into an accomplice of the intruder, it was inevitable that something would happen.

A vivid picture of the various situations in the world. There are staunch people who angrily call Ran Tianlu a "traitor", and there are also "smart people" who beg for mercy from him, and even hope to establish a relationship with the Haihan people through him. Some people, in order to keep themselves safe, immediately

He took out his gold and silver property in order to bribe Ran Tianlu and the Haihan soldiers he brought, and let him go after accepting the property.

Of course, there are one or two families who are unwilling to surrender and try to resist with force, but this attempt can only lead to harsh blows. The soldiers have received clear instructions from the headquarters before this battle.

Any armed resistance encountered during the process can be shot to death, and they will naturally not be polite when encountering this situation. The few unlucky guys who tried to resist with guns and machetes were almost instantly killed by the extremely vigilant Haihan soldiers.

Shot to death.

Although Ran Tianlu has received some basic military training, he is not a soldier who is accustomed to life and death after all. He is still not used to this kind of scene and is a little frightened. However, he is currently in a state of war and time waits for no one, so he does not dare to

Asked to stop and rest, I can only bite the bullet and continue to complete this unsatisfactory job.

The special operations battalion did not try to pursue the Spanish troops who quickly retreated into the city, because the Spanish set up several artillery pieces on both sides of the city gate, and the light infantry had no choice but to pursue them. Waiting for the artillery troops to transport the field artillery into place

By that time, all the Spanish troops outside the city had withdrawn, and even the artillery at the city gate had been withdrawn. It was obvious that the Spaniards had completely given up on resistance measures in the southern part of the city and had reduced their defense line to the line of the city wall.

"How is the progress of the east and west routes?" Seeing that the overall situation in the south of the city has been decided, Gao Qiaonan also became concerned about the war situation in other areas.

According to the pre-war division of labor, the special operations battalion commanded by Takahashi Nan served as the main offensive force from south to north in the middle route, the Nanhai Special Operations Group commanded by Roger was responsible for attacking the east route, and Wang Tom's Marine Corps was responsible for attacking along the coastline.

Launch an offensive on the west route. The special operations battalion is the main attack direction, and the other two sides are feint attacks. However, if the resistance encountered by the special operations battalion is too strong, the feint attack may be transformed into the main attack, and the special operations battalion will also play the role in time.

Play a feint role to attract the enemy's attention.

However, due to the internal response measures deployed in advance by the Ministry of Security and the Military Intelligence Department in the south of the city, the special operations battalion actually did not encounter too strong obstacles in the process of attacking this urban area. It only took less than half a day to basically clear this area of ​​​​the city.

defensive power.

"The East Route Army is progressing slightly faster than us. It is said that the east of the city is vast and sparsely populated. They have not encountered any decent resistance and have already advanced to the city." The adjutant immediately reported to Gao Qiaonan the military information he had just received.

Report: "The Western Route Army only advanced to a place two miles away from Manila City and stopped because they could not bypass the shore defenses of Manila Port. The command did not want to waste time and effort to attack the shore defenses, so they ordered them

There is no need to continue marching for the time being.”

"The Navy has been in the limelight for a long time. We can't let them take the credit all the time!" Takahashi Minami felt a little gloating about the Marine Corps being forced to stagnate: "Go and inform the headquarters that our troops have arrived at the city. Please ask for instructions."

Next steps.”
Chapter completed!