It was difficult for Aragones to answer this question honestly as to why the reinforcements that had finally been invited did not save the local people.
He couldn't tell the people that the reinforcements were actually treating them as cannon fodder and had no intention of fighting the Haihan Army. The armed fleet has been watching outside the bay, waiting for the Haihan fleet to run into an ambush when it leaves the bay.
Of course, it’s hard to say who is waiting to see what happens. But the commanders on both sides were obviously cautious and would not take rash action.
But as a result, the local immigrants caught in the middle are out of luck. Morgan wanted to lure the enemy deep into the bay and kill them by repeatedly attacking settlements, but DeSantis hoped to rely on local armed forces to consume the combat effectiveness of the Haihan Army as much as possible and win a little bit for his own fleet. Battlefield advantage.
Once the people realize that they are just expendables in this war, rather than objects of government protection, the Aragones family's local rule foundation will inevitably be shaken.
However, Aragones, who is caught in the cracks, has nothing to do about the current situation. He can neither make the Haihan people take the initiative to withdraw their troops, nor can he make DeSantis obey his orders. He can only watch the situation worsen step by step.
Haihan's attacks on settlements gradually increased from once every other day to once a day. The target of the attack also slowly transitioned from the outer fortifications to indiscriminate bombardment of the entire settlement.
Although the intensity of the attack was not great, the number of casualties in the settlements was still increasing day by day, and the people's resentment was also growing. Some even thought that it would be better to surrender directly to Haihan to avoid unnecessary casualties.
DeSantis's fleet is still anchored outside the bay. Although Aragones continues to request him to send troops to rescue, he still seems to be in no rush to intervene in the local armed conflict.
The local people became increasingly dissatisfied with the inaction of reinforcements. Many people refused to continue to provide supplies to the fleet, and some gentry also asked Aragones to explain the huge expenditures he had made to request support.
Ten days after the reinforcements arrived in San Diego Bay, Heihan took the initiative to request a meeting with Aragones. Even though he knew that the other party's purpose was probably to persuade him to surrender, the anxious Aragones had no choice at this time. If he refused to meet, he would be rejecting the possibility of an armistice, and he could no longer afford more losses and could only Bite the bullet and agreed to meet with Morgan again.
As expected, after the two sides met, Morgan went straight to the point and made clear his intention to persuade him to surrender.
"Surrender to our country now, and the safety of you and your family, as well as your family's local property, can be preserved. But if you give up this opportunity, you will only be treated as prisoners of war, and may be sentenced to death and confiscated. All property in your family’s name”
After hearing Morgan's threat, Aragones still refused to admit defeat: "Your Excellency has not defeated us on the battlefield, but you are already thinking about what will happen after the war. Are you too anxious?"
Morgan smiled and said: "Do you think the fleet outside the bay can really save you? If they had the confidence to fight us on the battlefield, they wouldn't have waited outside for ten days and dared not enter the bay."
When Aragones heard this, his expression changed drastically. Although he did not expect the news of the arrival of reinforcements to be hidden from his opponents, the information revealed in Morgan's words clearly meant that the Haihan Army had already grasped the movement of the fleet when it first arrived. It’s probably no secret that DeSantis has set up an ambush outside the bay.
Morgan continued: "I have a suggestion. Since we are all waiting for this fleet to enter San Diego Bay, let's work together. You bring the fleet in and leave the rest to me. After everything is over, no matter what How about you stand on the side of the winner no matter who wins?”
Aragones was stunned when he heard this, and it took him a while to react. If DeSantis wins, it goes without saying that this battle is definitely one of Spain's few overseas victories in recent years. As a local magistrate, Aragones can reward him for his merits after the war. Get some benefits. If the Haihan people win, then Aragones will be able to cooperate and avoid liquidation after the war, thereby preserving the family's property.
But there is a problem. The fleet outside the bay does not obey Aragones's orders. Even if the Haihan people have great magical powers, they probably cannot think of this. Although Aragones agreed with Morgan's suggestion in his heart, he knew that he could not drive DeSantis' fleet into the Gulf to fight.
"This is unrealistic." Aragones shook his head and rejected Morgan's suggestion: "Since it is a war between two countries, how can it be carried out according to your script!"
Morgan said: "Then let me tell you a realistic possibility. I will capture two of your towns, and then conscript all the Spaniards, including you, as slaves and send them to the mountains in the north to work as miners for the rest of their lives. Spend time in a tunnel that never sees the light of day.”
"The fleet outside the bay will not rush into the bay to rescue you at all. They will turn around and go south, go back and tell the governor that everything will be over when the fleet arrives here. They fought bravely, but still failed to recapture the bay."< br>
"Perhaps your king will reward the commander of the fleet for this, and you, after losing everything, have to live as a slave for a while, and then die quietly of the illness caused by fatigue."
"Your family will not receive any honor for your resistance, and will not even appear in historical records. The Kingdom of Spain does not need this kind of shameful history, and it will not let victims like you become a negative example of overseas colonization. .”
Aragones' face became even more ugly, because he knew that what Morgan said were all situations that were very likely to happen next. DeSantis will not fight to the death to save him, and the Kingdom of Spain does not need a loser like himself.
Morgan continued: "The suggestion I just gave is the only solution that allows you and your family to survive with dignity. You refuse to surrender because you still have unrealistic expectations for the fleet outside the bay. Then let me prove to you how ridiculous this expectation is!”
Aragones was silent for a long time before speaking: "How can I trust you to protect me and my family?"
Seeing that the other party finally relented, Morgan grinned and said: "If you believe it, you will live, if you don't believe it, you will die. You can choose for yourself, and I will be responsible for delivering the results."
Aragones said: "But I don't have the authority to command that fleet. The commander is someone else. I can't let the fleet sail into the bay to fight you."
Morgan was well prepared for this: "If you can command that fleet, I will let you and the fleet surrender together. Why bother with so much trouble! Listen, that fleet is staying outside the bay. Of course, we also have some expectations for the situation, hoping that a fighter will emerge that is favorable to them. What we have to do is to create such a fighter and let them come in. ”
Aragones was puzzled: "Since you are confident of defeating this fleet, why don't you just rush out and fight?"
Morgan responded solemnly: "Because the result I want is not to defeat this fleet, but to destroy it."