Chapter 23: Damn Pirates
48th Year of Wanli, May 21st, night.
Manila had not seen rain for several consecutive days, the weather was oppressively heavy, and with dark clouds blotting out the moon tonight, a violent storm was imminent.
Alonso stood in the Governor’s Mansion gazing at the pitch-black sea surface, his mind unsettled.
These past few days, he had sent his subordinates to gather intelligence everywhere and dispatched warships to scout the seas around Samar Island.
There was absolutely no trace of Lin Qian and his “fleet”.
This might be proof that Lin Qian had spread false information; otherwise, a fleet of over a hundred ships vanishing like this on the sea surface would be too inconceivable.
……
In the bedroom, Catherine tossed and turned on the soft velvet mattress.
Her mind kept recalling moments from Lin Qian’s ship, leaving her feeling restless and disturbed……
“Anne.” Catherine called.
After a while, the door was pushed open and a maid entered holding a candle: “Miss Catherine?”
“Get me a canvas. I want to set up a hammock.”
Having served Catherine for a long time, the maid had seen all sorts of odd requests and was no longer surprised by something like rigging a hammock in the middle of the night. She agreed and withdrew to prepare.
“Wait.” Catherine stopped her. “Leave the candle and put it on the dressing table……yes, right there.”
In the middle of the night, placing the candle in front of the mirror struck the maid as eerie, but she mustered her courage to set it down and then withdrew into the darkness.
“Damn pirate.” Catherine cursed bitterly.
……
Nine hundred nautical miles away, Jellyfish Island, among the southern reefs.
Lieutenant General Juan’s telescope showed nothing but darkness. He lowered it helplessly and shouted to the lookout at the top of the mast: “Do you see anything?”
“Nothing at all, Lieutenant General.” The lookout’s voice replied.
The Silver Coin had been placed on the beach for three or four days, yet around Jellyfish Island not even a wooden board floating on the sea had been sighted.
Lieutenant General Juan felt like he had been fooled, but the governor’s orders had to be followed; he would continue surveillance here until water and food ran out.
“Damn pirate!” Lieutenant General Juan punched the railing.
……
Northwest of Lingayen Bay, watchtower.
Two Spanish soldiers were sitting on top of the tower playing poker.
As for watching the sea surface, a quick glance after each hand was enough.
If a fleet attacked tonight, its commander must have taken the wrong medicine.
With dark clouds blotting out the moon tonight, the sea surface was pitch black; navigating blindly, let alone finding the beach, would make it hard enough to prevent the fleet from colliding at sea.
“Raise, two rials.”
“Call.”
“Damn it!”
The two set down their cards. The loser stood up, facing the sea breeze, and took two gulps of rum.
Just then, a grain-of-rice-sized spark flickered on the pitch-black sea surface.
The soldier rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things from too much drink, and took two more gulps.
When he looked at the sea surface again, several more sparks had appeared. Those fire points were tiny, as if they might extinguish at any moment, but in the abyss-like dark sea, they stood out sharply.
“What do you see on the sea?” The soldier hurriedly pushed his companion’s shoulder.
His companion, counting rials, said offhandedly: “Drink less booze and you won’t have hallucinations.”
“It’s not a hallucination!” The soldier’s tone held some panic, for while he spoke, over a dozen more sparks had appeared on the sea surface.
These star-like sparks gradually arrayed themselves on the sea surface, slowly advancing toward the bay.
His companion grumbled to his feet and looked at the sea surface, freezing in place. The sparks were multiplying like a vast swarm of fireflies blanketing the sea surface, impossible to count. His lips trembled as he shakily said: “It’s ship lanterns!”
“Ship lanterns?” The soldier did not react at first.
“It’s the Pirate Fleet’s ship lanterns! Light the fire, sound the alarm!”
Firewood had long been prepared on the tower. The two poured oil on it, then ignited it with flint and steel. Flames instantly engulfed the wood along with the oil, and the pair hurriedly climbed down the ladder.
By the time their feet hit the ground, the entire top of the watchtower was wrapped in firelight.
Moments later, a watchtower fifteen li to the south lit up, followed by the one thirty li away.
The firelight pierced the thick darkness, rapidly relaying southward until the beacon tower outside Manila ignited.
In the Governor’s Mansion, Alonso saw the beacon tower’s flames, gripped his wine glass tightly, and repeatedly scanned the Manila Bay sea surface, but saw nothing.
Ten minutes later, a young officer rushed in: “Governor!”
“What happened?” Alonso asked urgently.
“It’s the fire from the northern watchtower—an alert from Lingayen Bay, Governor.” The young officer reported.
“Lingayen Bay?” Alonso furrowed his brow, thinking to himself: “Does this pirate called Lin Qian really have a fleet? Does he really dare attack Manila? Have I miscalculated?”
“Governor, I suggest sending the army north at once to intercept the enemy!”
“No.” Alonso gave a cold smile; after all, he had prepared for the Lingayen Bay direction long ago.
The navy at Manila Port now had only Holy Justice.
San Felipe was lying in ambush at Jellyfish Island, while San Juan and Nuestra Señora del Rosario, which had gone there together, were still en route back.
The remaining three warships—Fury, Golden Lion, and Silver Wolf—were anchored on the sea surface five nautical miles northwest of Luzon Island.
Per the original plan, upon sighting the watchtower signal, these three warships would sail southeast, charge into Lingayen Bay, and engage the Pirate Fleet in battle.
Though two of the three were caravels with limited firepower, Fury alone, a galleon, would suffice to crush the pirates.
This was the backup he had prepared, and unexpectedly it struck true at the critical moment, saving the situation.
Alonso pondered at length before gravely saying: “Army, hold position!”
“Yes, Governor!” The young officer saluted and withdrew with his orders.
In fact, Manila’s shore defenses and walls were enough to repel threats from the sea surface.
Moreover, the Manila Galleon remained anchored in the port; though an armed merchant ship, its firepower matched any ordinary warship.
Even if the enemy truly appeared in Manila Bay, requisitioning the Manila Galleon to support Holy Justice would suffice.
“Pirate, your end has come.” Alonso gazed northwest, took a leisurely sip of wine, and a smug smile curled his lips.
