Total War: Restoration of the Ming Dynasty in Luzon

Chapter 45 The Banquet

After a long silence, Colonel Mendoza finally made his final decision and addressed the crowd:

"Summon all officers and soldiers' representatives; I want to explain the situation to them. Then, send envoys to negotiate with the Ming army and inquire in detail about the specific terms of surrender. We must be responsible for those who are still alive."

When Colonel Mendoza's decision spread within the fortress, it quickly caused a huge uproar.

Some wept bitterly, feeling their honor as soldiers had collapsed; some remained silent, secretly relieved to have saved their lives and belongings; and some angrily clamored to fight to the end, but were quickly dissuaded by their comrades.

Soon, the white flag for negotiations was raised at Cavite Fortress. Upon seeing the white flag, the captains of the Ming warships on the distant sea all ordered the cancellation of the planned bombardment and waited for the envoys from the defending army.

Before evening, Colonel Mendoza personally boarded a two-masted fast ship and set sail to negotiate with the Ming army.

On the Ming side, the chief negotiator was Lü Qianfan, a fifth-class ship captain. Before setting sail, he had already received instructions from Zhu Jiheng and, when facing Colonel Mendoza, he made a firm demand:

First, the garrison at the fortress must surrender all weapons and ammunition, destroy or hand over artillery, and retain only the military flag within a specified time.

Secondly, the garrison officers and soldiers, as well as civilians within the fortress who wished to leave, could retain their personal belongings and, under the supervision of the Ming army, board disarmed Spanish warships. They would then leave the Luzon Sea under the escort of the Ming navy and head to the nearest Spanish stronghold, such as Cebu or the more distant Spice Islands.

Anyone who refuses to surrender or attempts to destroy weapons will be considered an enemy and will be killed without exception.

Colonel Mendoza had no objection to the demands made by the Ming army, or rather, he knew he had no room for negotiation. The fact that the Ming army was able to retain the military flag that represented honor was already a sign of their mercy.

Therefore, after carefully reviewing the terms and confirming the precedent of the safe departure of the garrison at Fort Santiago, he finally signed his name on the surrender agreement.

Zhu Jiheng, who was still organizing a banquet in Manila, was unaware of all this at the moment.

At this time, he was hosting a banquet for tribal chiefs and prominent Chinese elders in the city at the governor's mansion, as planned.

All the invitees were aware of the importance of tonight's banquet, and they all dressed in their best attire, entering the banquet hall with mixed feelings.

The hall was brightly lit, and the long table was laden with captured Spanish wines, abundant local tropical fruits, and dishes carefully prepared by the Chinese chef.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, but many chieftains had no appetite for it.

Zhu Jiheng sat upright in the main seat, his gaze calmly sweeping over the faces of each guest. The Bangbanya leaders, led by Magbanu, had complex expressions, a mixture of deliberately restrained arrogance and barely concealed curiosity; the representative of the Ilock people, Makandong, appeared more submissive, his eyes filled with awe; and several elderly Chinese people could not hide their excitement, their backs ramrod straight, their faces beaming with pride.

After the guests were led to their seats by the waiters, Zhu Jiheng coughed lightly, drawing everyone's attention to himself. He raised his wine glass and said in a gentle voice:

"Gentlemen, this humble feast is held today to thank our allies for their concerted efforts in destroying the Western barbarian stronghold! This victory has brought peace to the people of Luzon, both Chinese and barbarians, all thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, the assistance of our righteous citizens, and the cooperation of our chieftains! Gentlemen, let us drink this cup to the brim!"

Whether they understood Zhu Jiheng's words or not, everyone quickly raised their glasses, echoed his words, and drank the wine in one gulp.

Zhu Jiheng put down his wine cup, feeling the pungent liquid go down his throat. His expression turned serious, and he said:

"However, it is easy to break through a city, but difficult to defend it. In the past, the Western barbarians controlled the entire Luzon from Manila, not only with their strong ships and cannons, but also with their governance, taxation, and trade. Although the Western barbarians have been defeated, the remnants of the enemy are still watching from all sides, the people's hearts need to be appeased, and order needs to be established. Now that we have removed the tiger's teeth, we should think about how to govern this newly established land, so that the people can live in peace, all industries can be revived, and all directions can submit to us."

He paused, his gaze falling on several elderly Chinese people, and said, "The Chinese community in Luzon has long suffered from the exploitation of the Western barbarians, enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, with their hearts set on their homeland. Now that the royal army has arrived, we should sweep away these deep-seated ailments. I intend to abolish all the exorbitant taxes and levies imposed by the Western barbarians, rectify the administration, rename Manila as Luzon Prefecture, and appoint officials to govern it. These officials will be recommended by you, the most virtuous and respected among you, to assist in governing the Palian district and the affairs of the Chinese community. In the future, this can be extended to the entire island."

Chinese righteous people should be rewarded according to their merits, just like Han soldiers and natives. Land and shops should be reclassified according to merit and existing contracts.

Upon hearing this, several elderly Chinese men were moved to tears, rose from their seats, and prostrated themselves, saying, "Your Highness is benevolent! We will do our utmost to serve the Ming Dynasty and bring peace to our homeland!"

Zhu Jiheng gestured for them to stand up, then turned his gaze to the indigenous leaders with their various expressions and said, "As for you chieftains and your warriors, I will remember your contributions in the battle."

The spoils of war are being counted and calculated by Lieutenant Chen and his men. They will be distributed fairly within three days according to the merits and casualties of each unit, and he will never break his promise!

When we entered the city earlier, some of our tribesmen went astray, looting and disturbing the people. Fortunately, most of our leaders were wise and righteous, restrained their people, returned the loot, and punished the ringleaders. I am very pleased with such actions that put the overall situation first. Those who obeyed the order will receive a bonus when the spoils are distributed!

He already knew that the Bangbanya tribe had taken the lead in returning the looted property and apologizing, so his attitude was mild.

After hearing the interpreter's account, Makandong and the other chieftains, including Magbanu, immediately bowed and declared, "We will obey your orders, restrain our people, and dare not commit the offense again!"

The other party offered a way out, pointed out the previous events, and hinted at rewards and punishments, so they had no choice but to accept it.

Zhu Jiheng nodded slightly, then changed the subject, his tone becoming solemn: "Luzon is not just Luzon of our Great Ming Dynasty, but also your native homeland. The tyranny of the Western barbarians has been eliminated, and I wish to govern this island together with you all, sharing peace. I intend to abolish the heavy corvée labor and poll tax imposed on the various tribes by the Spanish, and each tribe will enjoy the right to self-governance according to its traditions."

Upon hearing about the abolition of Western oppressive policies and the granting of autonomy, the leaders' eyes lit up, as this was one of their most desired core interests.

"However," Zhu Jiheng emphasized, "each tribe must respect the Ming Dynasty's calendar and acknowledge me as the ruler of Luzon. Each tribe's warriors can select the best to be incorporated into the local militia, where they will be trained and commanded by our officers. Their provisions and pay will be provided by the government treasury, and together we will protect the peace and tranquility of our homeland."

In the event of feuds or armed conflicts between departments, all such incidents must be reported to me or an official I appoint for adjudication; private revenge is strictly prohibited! Furthermore, all trade and commerce must adhere to unified laws and regulations, ensuring fair transactions; extortion and blackmail of passing merchants are forbidden. This is the foundation of long-term stability and security; I hope you will all strive to uphold it!

Magbanu and other key leaders quickly exchanged glances. Although they were slightly uncomfortable with the fact that the local soldiers would be trained and commanded by the Ming army, compared to the naked exploitation and enslavement by the Spanish, Zhu Jiheng's conditions were quite favorable, especially the abolition of exorbitant taxes and the recognition of autonomy, which were what they had long dreamed of.

Moreover, having witnessed the Ming army's swift and decisive actions and unfathomable strength, they understood that this was the best outcome they could achieve.

If the Ming army wanted to exploit them like the Spanish, it's hard to say whether they could successfully resist.