Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 583 Contact (Part 3)

On November 4, 1643, before the chill of early spring had completely faded in the Southern Hemisphere, the turbid waters of the Cruces River, carrying snowmelt from the Andes Mountains, rushed around a precipitous hill.

At the top of the hill stands Crucesburg, the most important military stronghold and tribal council center of the Araucanians (who prefer to call themselves Mapuches) in south-central Chile, like a silent giant overlooking this ravaged land.

Moreno, a senior agent of the Americas Division of the Xinhua Intelligence Agency, rode across a bridge made of thick logs and heavy planks, escorted by a small squad of fierce Araucanian cavalry, and entered the renowned fortress.

He reined in his horse and paused briefly, calmly surveying his surroundings.

The fortress was larger than he had imagined; it was less a simple military outpost and more a large settlement that had developed around its defensive fortifications.

Its main structure consists of sturdy wooden fences and rammed earth walls. The walls are thick and high enough to withstand cavalry charges and arquebus fire. Wooden watchtowers are built on the walls, where Araukan warriors armed with spears and maces patrol and guard the area.

The fortress's only entrance was a heavy wooden drawbridge that could be raised and lowered, spanning a moat formed by diverting water.

The entire defensive system was built according to the terrain, layer upon layer, and had obviously been tempered by years of war, which was enough to make the Spanish colonial army, which lacked heavy artillery, pay a heavy price.

Moreno assessed that if the Xinhua army attacked in the same way, as long as they dragged a few heavy cannons down to the foot of this hill, the seemingly sturdy wooden and earthen walls probably wouldn't hold out for long.

More than two thousand people live inside the fortress, making it a rare "large city" in this sparsely populated region of Chile.

Besides the soldiers and their families, there were also a large number of artisans and farmers who depended on the area.

The domed wooden houses called "Lucas" stand side by side, their roofs covered with thick reeds, from which wisps of smoke rise, mingling with the smells of earth, wood, and livestock.

The air was filled with the simple sounds of blacksmithing, the smell of leather tanning, the buzzing sounds unique to the settlements, and the occasional bark of a dog.

At the heart of the fortress is a spacious rammed earth plaza, its ground firmly trodden, with an ever-burning bonfire in the center, symbolizing the tribe's life and unity.

Moreno was led directly to the tallest longhouse at the end of the building.

The houses are constructed from massive timbers and rammed earth, with roofs covered with thick thatch that can withstand wind and rain. Colorful feathers symbolizing tribal authority and wooden plaques engraved with mysterious totems hang at the entrances.

The Araucanians have resisted Spanish colonial rule for nearly a century, but they have never been able to, and perhaps never intended to, form a centralized state.

Their political structure is a loose tribal alliance, and their political and military centers constantly shift with the changing situation and the ebb and flow of power within the alliance.

At that moment, the hearth in the center of the longhouse crackled, and the flickering firelight reflected on the faces of the chief of Araukan and a shaman sitting in a circle, as well as on the pile of gifts Moreno had brought—five fine flintlock muskets, ten gleaming steel knives, fifty sharp spearheads, a barrel of precious gunpowder, and twenty bolts of thick woolen cloth.

These supplies were of immense value to the Araucanians, who had long been under Spanish trade blockade and were extremely lacking in metal weapons and firearms.

The Araukan tribal alliance operates under a "multi-headed leadership system," where major decisions require consultation among the tribal chiefs.

At this time, the two most influential chiefs were Juan Manqueant and Kulimank.

Juan Manqueant, a dignified old chief with a calm face and eyes that reflect the wisdom accumulated over the years.

It was he who represented the tribal alliance in signing the controversial Treaty of Kirikina with the Spanish, advocating for a temporary peace in exchange for a respite and an end to a century of bloody conflict.

He even tacitly approved the Spanish colonial presence at Valdivia Castle and Chiloé Island south of the Biobío River in exchange for valuable trade routes to alleviate the tribes' shortage of supplies.

However, this policy was seen by many radical members of the tribe as a compromise with the Spanish colonizers.

The other, Chief Kulimank, was young and vigorous, full of vigor, like a sharp sword eager to be drawn.

The grotesque scar on his face, running diagonally from his brow bone to his jaw, is a testament to years of fighting.

He firmly advocated for the complete expulsion of Spanish forces from Chile and the restoration of the ancestral lands of the Araucanians.

At this moment, looking at the gift Moreno brought, his eyes shone with undisguised fervor and joy.

The old shaman, sitting among the many chiefs, clad in a colorful feathered robe and with his face painted with mysterious symbols, is the spiritual pillar of the tribe.

He held a pivotal position within the tribal alliance, and his words were trusted by all the Araukan people.

Years earlier, it was his prediction that "the Spanish will eventually be defeated by a more powerful force from afar" that greatly boosted the morale of the Araucanians, prompting several large-scale military mobilizations that dealt a heavy blow to the Spanish colonial army.

At this moment, his eyelids were lowered, and his withered fingers were twirling a string of prayer beads made of some kind of bone, as if he were immersed in communicating with the gods.

Moreno stood before the fire pit, and through an Araucanian man who understood Spanish, he said: "Honorable chiefs, wise shamans, on behalf of the Republic of New Continent China, I pay the highest tribute to the Mapuche people who have been brave and unyielding in defending their homeland for a century."

He turned to the side and pointed to the gifts behind him: "We have heard of your heroic fight for freedom and are well aware of the profound suffering brought by the Spanish colonists. These weapons and supplies are the initial proof of our friendship."

“We are well aware that your lack of naval power makes it difficult for you to eradicate the Spanish cancer on Chiloé Island and Valdivia Castle. In this regard, Xinhua’s navy can provide the necessary support to drive the Spanish forces out of your coast.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the leaders present, and continued, "At the same time, in order to truly improve the lives of the Mapuche people, we are willing to engage in completely unrestricted 'free trade' with you."

"You may exchange your products for any goods we provide, including weapons, ammunition, food, cloth, ironware, medicine, and various hardware tools. Our trade will be based on absolute fairness, without discrimination, without exorbitant taxes, only honest exchange and common prosperity."

Chief Kulimank's excitement was almost overflowing; he leaned forward unconsciously, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Friends from afar!" His voice boomed. "Your arrival fulfills the shaman's prophecy. This January, at the mouth of the Biobio River, your navy dealt a severe blow to the Spanish fleet, and the news has already spread like wildfire throughout our land."

"We have also heard that in the far north, the Spanish have suffered one humiliating defeat after another under your attacks. We have a common enemy, and you are our most reliable friends. Yes, we are willing to cooperate with you to deal with the greedy and brutal Spanish."

Several younger chiefs beside him echoed his sentiments, expressing their willingness to fight alongside the new Chinese.

The atmosphere inside the longhouse suddenly became lively.

Out of courtesy and in return for the generous gift, the Araucanese also presented Moreno with several heavy, gleaming gold ores and twenty bundles of high-quality alpaca wool.

However, when the topic turned to specific joint military operations, Kulimank's tone became more cautious: "Launching a full-scale attack on the Spanish is like lighting a wildfire on the steppe; it requires all tribes to prepare sufficient fuel and blow the wind in the same direction."

He glanced at the silent Chief Mankant and the shaman with his eyes closed. "This will require us to spend some time coordinating the interests of all parties within the alliance and mobilizing every warrior who can fight." The loose alliance system of the Araukan people meant that no major decision could be made overnight.

However, just as the atmosphere was getting heated, Chief Juan Manqueant, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but his words were like a piece of ice thrown into a fire pit, instantly cooling down the heated atmosphere.

“Mr. Moreno, the gifts you have brought are indeed generous, and the offers are very tempting.” Manqueant’s gaze was sharp as a knife as he stared straight at him. “But please forgive the frankness of an old man who has experienced betrayal. We Mapuche people once believed the lies of the Spanish who wore a mask of friendliness, only to be rewarded with endless plunder and slaughter.”

"So, I have to ask you here, after you Chinese helped us drive out the jackal that is Spain, will you... turn around and become another lion that is even fiercer, more greedy, and more difficult to resist? Will you also covet the land we have lived on for generations, and drool over the minerals buried in our mountains, and ultimately turn us into objects to be enslaved and driven away?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the longhouse fell silent. Even Kulimank temporarily suppressed his excitement and looked at Moreno with a serious expression, waiting for his answer.

After hearing the translator's message, Moreno remained expressionless and calmly met Mancant's scrutinizing gaze.

"Chief Manqueant's concerns are reasonable. Any nation that has experienced betrayal has the right to remain vigilant. But I can assure you, and everyone here, that Xinhua and Spain are fundamentally different."

"We have come here after traversing thousands of stormy seas, with the ultimate goal of ending Spanish colonial rule and breaking their unjust trade monopoly system."

"To be honest, we have no interest in establishing colonial rule in this remote land. It would be a huge and costly burden with limited returns, rather than a sustainable source of wealth for us."

"As for wealth..." Morelo smiled and shook his head, saying, "Yes, Chile's gold and minerals are indeed tempting, but for Xinhua, they are insignificant and do not arouse our interest in the slightest. Because Xinhua is rich beyond measure, our land is vast and boundless, and our people are prosperous and healthy. We have no intention of occupying or wantonly plundering some remote border areas."

“We are committed to the far greater and more stable benefits that can be obtained through fair, sustainable and large-scale trade than through war, plunder and cruel enslavement. Enslavement breeds resistance, endless killing and hatred, and plunder has an end, but trade is perpetual.”

"Our enemy is Spain, and our goal is to share the prosperity brought by trade. If we break our promise, we will lose the trust of potential allies throughout the Americas, which would be a strategic loss that we cannot afford, and it is not the act of a wise man."

His answer was clear and his tone was sincere, which seemed to effectively quell the doubts in most people's minds.

However, Moreno keenly noticed that the wariness deep in Mancant's eyes, accumulated over decades of trials and tribulations, had not completely dissipated.

Moreno was then politely led to a prepared cabin to rest.

No sooner had he left than an argument erupted inside the longhouse.

Chief Juanmanqueant looked at the tribal chiefs present and spoke slowly, his voice still carrying a trace of lingering worry: "Kurimank, my brother, and all the other chiefs, the gifts from the new Chinese are indeed generous, and their promises sound very appealing."

"But shouldn't we be more cautious? The Spanish are jackals, coveting our land, rivers, and minerals in the mountains. But who can guarantee that these new Chinese immigrants aren't another pack of jackals, harboring the same goals and intentions as the Spanish?"

He walked to the pile of gifts, picked up a steel knife, and ran his fingers along the cold blade: "Did they really provide weapons so generously to help us become stronger, just out of selfless friendship? There is no such thing as prey falling from the sky!"

“I fear that they want us to bleed to death, weaken the Spanish for them, and then they can easily reap the rewards, or even… swallow us up when we are exhausted?”

“I’m afraid that after we’ve done everything in our power to drive away the jackals in front of us, we’ll be faced with a lion that we can’t possibly fight back against. That would be an even darker, more irredeemable abyss for all the Mapuche people!”

Mankerant's words immediately struck a chord with many people's deepest anxieties.

“Mankerant, are you blinded by the ‘peace’ with the Spanish?” Kulimank suddenly stood up and retorted passionately, “You say they are lions? But don’t forget, they come from the far north, a full two months’ sea voyage from Chile.”

"The vast ocean is our best shield. How can they, like the Spanish, build towns on our land, relocate residents, and permanently occupy our homes?"

He walked up to Mankerant, his gaze intense: "As for wealth, yes, we have gold in our land, minerals in our mountains, and furs in our forests. But look at what the new Chinese have brought!"

He pointed to the woolen fabrics and steel knives, saying, "Their quality far surpasses the inferior goods the Spanish used to appease us."

"If their sole aim is to plunder wealth, why don't they just seize the Spanish treasure ships laden with gold and silver? Why don't they occupy the wealthy towns the Spanish have already built? They have everything they want there! And what do we have here? Besides the courage of freedom fighters and vast barren hills, what do we have that would make them so covetous?"

He turned to all the chiefs and old shamans, his voice heavy with sorrow yet firm: "My friends, look at our current predicament! This land of Chile, left to us by our ancestors, has long been impoverished and its people scattered after decades, even centuries, of blockade, attacks, and plunder by the Spanish!"

"If we don't seek a strong external ally and make use of all available resources, we will sooner or later be gradually devoured by the Spanish until we are completely consumed."

"For survival, for the continuation of our people, and for the honor of our ancestors to not be extinguished in our hands, even if the new Chinese have other motives, even if they are the legendary navigators who made deals with the devil, we must now choose to cooperate with them."

"We must first deal with our most pressing and brutal enemy—Spain!"

At this moment, the old shaman, who had been keeping his eyes closed and silent, slowly opened them. His voice was low, but it had a strange penetrating power.

"Fire and iron come from afar..." His aged voice echoed in the longhouse, "The 'powerful force' foretold in the prophecy has manifested. The ancient course of the river is changing; resisting the flood may lead to destruction, while yielding to it may find new life. But..."

As he spoke, he looked at Mankerant and Kulimank, “Whether this brings blessings or disasters depends not only on the hearts of our guests from afar, but also on our own wisdom and choices.”

"This is not a simple matter of rejection or embrace. We need to observe with the eyes of an eagle and wait for more inspiration from nature and the spirits of our ancestors... At the same time, we also need to sharpen our spears and prepare to meet the storms that may come."

The shaman's words temporarily put an end to the heated debate, but only postponed the final decision.

Kulimank knew that although he had garnered considerable support, Mankant's concerns also represented the voices of a segment of the tribes.

The decision to launch an immediate large-scale attack on the Spanish could not be reached in a short time; the tribal alliance needed time, more communication, and a balance of interests.

When Moreno was invited back to the longhouse, he could clearly sense that the atmosphere was different from before; it lacked the initial enthusiasm and was replaced by a more cautious demeanor after careful consideration.

Kulimank, on behalf of the alliance, once again expressed his sincere gratitude to him and agreed in principle to further cooperation with Xinhua, including the possibility of receiving maritime support and conducting preliminary trade trials.

However, he was more subtle and reserved in his wording regarding any specific military plan involving the joint action of multiple tribes: “The esteemed envoy of Xinhua, launching a full-scale attack on the Spanish is a momentous decision concerning the fate of all Mapuche tribes.”

"Therefore, we need to coordinate the interests and personnel mobilization of all parties within the alliance. Please give us some time to persuade all our brothers and unite all our forces. When the time is right, we believe that our spears will surely be pointed at our common enemy!"

Moreno nodded calmly, understanding the complexity and deliberation inherent in this tribal alliance politics.

However, the purpose of this initial contact has been achieved, the seeds of cooperation have been sown, and the bridge of communication has been initially built.

The rest is to patiently wait for the right opportunity and subtly exert influence to gradually push this loose Araukan tribal alliance to eventually side with Xinhua.

They wanted to firmly drive a wedge into Chile, a region where Spanish colonial power was weakest.
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(End of this chapter)