"For Great Spain!"

"For His Majesty the Great Philip IV!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

It's the birthday of King Philip IV of Spain, and on the lawn of the Doge's Palace, located in the heart of Fort San Petro, hundreds of military officers and the most prominent figures in the castle gathered to celebrate their king's birthday.

Today, Field took off his military uniform, and put on a splendid gown, and a few delicate suspenders made of gold thread hung from his left chest, shining in the light, and many women and young ladies who had been invited to the party gathered around Field, amused by his not-so-funny jokes.

Captain Mitchell, who was holding a glass of wine, looked at the proud Spring Field, and said to Castro with envy and jealousy: "Our Excellency the Governor looks very happy tonight!" ”

Castro glanced at Field, who had a faint look of jealousy in his eyes, and smiled slightly: "Captain, if one day you are lucky enough to be the governor, you can also enjoy all this!" ”

Mitchell laughed self-deprecatingly: "Dear Colonel, I have to say that your words are very tempting, but you have forgotten that unless some blind nobleman is willing to marry his daughter to me, a person like me without any noble blood can probably become a captain at the top." ”

Castro stopped talking, Westerners admired the theory of descent, believing that a person's status and achievements are determined from the moment of birth. The son of a nobleman is born a nobleman, and the son of a commoner can only be a commoner no matter how hard he tries, which is an invisible but real ceiling.

Take the army as an example, an officer from a civilian background like Mitchell is generally at the top when he becomes a captain, even if he has a special opportunity, he can only become a colonel-level officer at best, as for the general, don't think about it, it is the private land of the nobles, and a civilian cannot become a general anyway. So that's where Mitchell's complaint comes in.

Castro sighed lightly and patted Mitchell on the shoulder: "Okay, dear Mitchell, a person's birth can only be determined by God, and not every nobleman can become a governor, if you always complain all day because of this, you will never be happy for the rest of your life." ”

Mitchell pursed his lips, although he was still unwilling, but he didn't say anything, just raised his glass to Castro and drank the wine in the glass, and then casually put the wine glass on the tray in the hands of the waiter who passed by him, and took the glass again.

Seeing Mitchell's appearance, Castro couldn't help frowning: "Mitchell, it stands to reason that today is His Majesty's birthday, I shouldn't stop you from drinking, but you'd better drink less, after all, there are more than 20,000 troops of the Ming Kingdom stationed outside our city, and they may attack us at any time, I don't want the officers under my command to get drunk one by one when the Ming soldiers attack again." ”

From the beginning of the meeting to now, this is the fifth cup Mitchell has drunk. His face was already slightly reddened, and he sneered: "Mr. Colonel, since you know that today is His Majesty's birthday, then you should understand the purpose of His Excellency the Governor's convening of this reception today.

Besides, those Ming troops have already been frightened by our fortified cities and artillery, and they haven't even had the courage to approach us since this week, so what else do you have to worry about? ”

Castro's face immediately sank, "Captain Mitchell, don't forget that you are a soldier, how can you not have the least vigilance?" Regardless of whether the Ming people will attack us or not, as long as they do not withdraw from Cebu Island for a day, we cannot take it lightly for a day. ”

"This should not be said to me, a young captain, but to His Excellency the Governor."

It stands to reason that Castro, as Field's deputy, is not an exaggeration to be called the second-in-command of Cebu Island, and on weekdays, even if he gives Mitchell two more dares, he would not dare to contradict him like this, but today's frustration, coupled with some alcohol, Mitchell can't help but be much bolder when he speaks.

However, after Mitchell said this, Castro also fell silent, as Field's most trusted deputy, of course he knew the current situation in Fort San Petro.

If at the beginning, the Spanish soldiers and civilians in Fort San Petro were still afraid of the menacing Ming army, then with the passage of time and the inaction of the Ming army outside the city, this fear is gradually disappearing, and now there are even officers in the castle shouting the slogan of gathering 2,000 main forces and dozens of artillery pieces to rush out of the city to annihilate the Ming army outside the city in one fell swoop.

Fortunately, Field was not confused, and reprimanded the brainless officer severely. However, with the silence of the Ming army outside the city, Field's vigilance gradually relaxed, and tonight's drinking party was a signal released by him.

In addition to appeasing the officers and military spirits under his command, he is also telling the soldiers and civilians in the city that the Ming army outside the city has nothing to be afraid of.

At this time, Field was contented, holding a beautiful and plump lady in his arms, and dancing on the grass to the elegant music. They were so close that they could only see the two of them hugging each other tightly when they looked over.

Seeing that Field was in a good mood, the noblewoman took the opportunity to ask, "Your Excellency, can you tell me when our fleet will come back to take us back to our homeland?" ”

Listening to the soft voice of the noble lady and smelling the strong perfume in his nose, Field only felt a sense of relief, the wife of a merchant who had just arrived in Fort San Petro more than three months earlier.

Originally, they had purchased a batch of Luzon specialties and Ming silks, and were ready to return to China in the next few days, but they never thought that the Ming army would suddenly attack, and the young woman and her husband would be stranded in Fort San Petro.

Although Field tried his best to reassure the people and soldiers in the castle that the Ming army was vulnerable, even if the Ming people had great ability, it would be impossible to attack Fort San Petro.

But the merchants also have their own difficulties, the Ming army has indeed not launched another attack these days, but everyone knows that this is only temporary, after all, everyone knows that the Ming people have spent so much energy to throw tens of thousands of troops to Cebu Island, they are not here to travel, right?

Now there are more than 20,000 Ming troops outside the city, on the other hand, there are more than 3,000 soldiers killed in the entire castle of Fort San Petro, even if the whole city is mobilized, it is only in the early 5,000s, and there is no comparison with others, and they can also increase their troops at any time, so their chances of winning are too slim.

At her husband's instigation, the young woman pestered Field to ask for an update, and it would be better if she could find an opportunity to slip back to her homeland, even if it was not unacceptable to add a little green to the top of her head.