It has been more than two hundred years since the Lin family came to Luzon in the late Ming Dynasty. From this point of view, it is normal for the Qing rulers to ignore their requests for help. After all, from a legal perspective, they have no responsibility and obligations with the Qing rulers. As for the virtues of the Qing rulers, those who have responsibility and obligations are shirking, let alone such as those who have no incense at all.

In fact, all Chinese are proud. Although the Lin family has been in Luzon for more than 200 years, they have never intermarried with local indigenous people. The scope of intermarriage is limited to local Chinese in Luzon. This also makes the Lin family still retain the pure Han blood, which is particularly obvious in the residential structure. Although Luzon is now a Spanish colony, the Lin family's house still retains the traditional Chinese style, with a central axis symmetrical and square rigorous.

The entire Lin family compound covers an area of ​​more than 20 hectares. There are more than 400 people living in the Lin family. If slaves are added, the total number will be about 1,000.

At this moment, the mortal and warmth of the past is no longer seen in the courtyard. Almost every courtyard is playing a series of joys and sorrows. Some people are going to be sent to Ryukyu in advance, and some people are going to stay and fight the Spanish to the death. Maybe this farewell will be forever.

After arranging accommodation for Austin and others, Lin Xianghai finally returned to the back house. This place was in chaos. The ladies were crying and packing up the fine materials, while the servants were busy moving the large boxes and small cabinets to the carriage. Judging from the situation, it was probably not related to escaping, but it was similar to moving.

Seeing Lin Xianghai coming back, Lin Xianghai's wife and four concubines all surrounded him cryingly. The two concubines were still holding the uncrowned children. They had only one purpose, hoping that Lin Xianghai could go to Ryukyu with them.

"Master, we would rather give up this wealth of wealth in order to be safe for the whole family. Even if we escape from Ryukyu, why should we stay here and fight to death? No matter who loses or who wins or wins, it will have nothing to do with us in the future. Even if the master has the will to coexist with the old house, he still has to consider our orphans and widows--" Lin Xianghai's wife Zhang begged hard. Her mother's family was almost completely destroyed in the native riots three years ago. Zhang didn't want to experience the heart-wrenching pain again.

In fact, before the Spanish colonized Luzon, the relationship between the Chinese and the natives in Luzon was not very good. Before the Chinese arrived in Luzon, thanks to the rich natural resources in Luzon, the indigenous people did not need to work hard and could reproduce and relied on the gifts of nature. Without the threat of nature, the indigenous people naturally had no motivation to work. This situation lasted for many years, and it was not until the Chinese came to Luzon that completely changed the social structure of Luzon.

No matter when the Chinese are at that time, they have almost a natural instinct for the accumulation of wealth. Even if the Chinese come to Luzon, they are penniless and do not take many years, they can always save up a family business. Although this family business is earned by Chinese people through hard work, it seems quite unfair to the Luzon natives. Everyone is obviously the same and has nothing. Why do you build new houses and reclaim plantations? These should have belonged to us.

So when the Spaniards regard the Chinese as their opponents, they do not need the Spaniards to spend too much effort. The greedy natives aimed the butcher knife at the Chinese who were supposed to belong to the same front as them.

"Don't cry, I, Lin Xianghai, are fifty-four years old this year. I have eaten everything I should eat and seen. I have seven wives and twelve sons. I have reached the age of knowing my destiny. People often say that we Chinese are cowardly. I want to see who can easily occupy the family business that our more than ten generations have saved." Lin Xianghai was firm in his attitude. Even if the Spanish king came in person, Lin Xianghai would collapse the king's two teeth.

This process was a bit tortuous. Just four years ago, a bourgeois revolution broke out in Spain. Amadio I was forced to abdicate. Spain established the First Republic. Cuba also took the opportunity to be independent and established the United States of Cuba. Subsequently, the Bourbon dynasty was restored. Alfonso XII became the king of Spain and returned to China to succeed the throne the year before yesterday. It should be emphasized that the young Alfonso XII just turned 20 this year, and the Spanish domestic regime was controlled by Prime Minister Antonio Canovas del Castillo.

It is precisely because Spain has been turbulent in recent years that the United States has identified the target of "establishing authority" as Spain.

"Dad, let me stay too." Lin Xianghai's eldest son Lin Jianyi volunteered.

"You go to Ryukyu, from now on, you will be the head of the Lin family. Take good care of your mother, aunt and younger siblings." Lin Xianghai only left his second son Lin Jianan by his side. Although there may not be much danger in Luzon with them, they will definitely be safer in Ryukyu.

"Don't bring those big items, just clean up some fines and soft things. We are escaping, not moving, there is limited space on the boat, so thankful that you can send all the people." Lin Xianghai continued to instruct that the property in the Lin family compound is strictly speaking of Bai Qi, and it is already very good to bring some fines and soft things. Although Bai Qi is also a Chinese, Lin Xianghai knows very well that Bai Qi is definitely not a saint.

After giving the order, Lin Xianghai brought Lin Jianyi and Lin Jianan to Houzhai study, which was the brain center of the Lin family.

"Have you bought all the weapons you asked you to buy?" Lin Xianghai asked Lin Jianyi.

Before heading to Ryukyu, Lin Xianghai also made two preparations. It would be great if Bai Qi was willing to provide help, but Lin Xianghai did not place all hope on Bai Qi. If Bai Qi also ignored the Lin family's predicament like the Qing government, Lin Xianghai would not let go, anyway, all the people were dead, and Lin Xianghai did not want to disappear silently with the Zhang family and the Huang family.

Although the Lin family has only more than 100 immediate relatives, there are still more than 400 relatives in the neighborhood, and there are hundreds of servants in the Lin family. Even if they are not included in the Lin family's employees, it is not difficult to gather these people and gather a hundred people. As long as there are weapons, the Lin family may not have no power to resist.

To talk about the threat faced by the Lin family, the attacks of the indigenous people are not the main problem. The Spaniards are the main ones. The indigenous people are still reluctant to deal with the sporadic Chinese. It is harder to deal with the big families like the Lin family, but they have no organization and discipline than climbing to the sky. I am afraid that the Lin family can deal with the attacks of the indigenous people, but they cannot cope with the Spanish's strong ships and powerful cannons. Both the Zhang family and the Huang family disappeared like this, and Lin Xianghai did not want to repeat the same mistake.

"I bought some, but the quantity is not large, and I can't buy continuous guns. Most of them are clamping guns, and even flintlock guns are rare." Lin Jianyi looked sad. Obviously, the situation was not as optimistic as Lin Xianghai expected.

"Damn Dutch-" Lin Xianghai cursed. It seemed that if he wanted to deal with the Spaniards, he still had to rely on the assistance from Ryukyu.

Next to Luzon is the Dutch East India. Before gaining support from Ryukyu, Lin Xianghai hoped to obtain some weapons from the Dutch, even if he paid a high price for it.

The problem is that the Dutch are not fools. The Chinese are turning over in Ryukyu and Japanese salted fish. Although the Spanish in Luzon are indifferent, the Dutch in East India are also cautious. Although the Lin family bought weapons to deal with the Spanish, God knows whether this storm will affect the Dutch East India. In the Dutch East India, the Dutch’s concerns about the Chinese in East India are still higher than those in the Spanish in Luzon. Therefore, even if Lin Xianghai offered a sky-high price, the Dutch would definitely not sell better weapons to the Lin family.

Speaking of which, the Dutch did not have continuous guns to sell. Although Junma Weapons Company had already developed a bullet-barrel rifle several years ago, as of now, the popular mainstream weapons around the world are still single-shot rifles. The Dutch did not want the Turks. The Russians faced huge national defense pressure like that, and their rule in the Dutch East India was still relatively stable. Therefore, in this regard, the Dutch had no demand at all. Even the local Dutch army was not equipped with continuous rifles, not to mention the Dutch East India, just like Lin Xianghai knew, in the Dutch East India, the colonial army was mainly equipped with flintlock rifles, and only a part of the army was equipped with single-shot rifles. As for the more advanced light and heavy machine guns, only the Qing Dynasty had a small amount of equipment in the entire Far East.

In terms of weapon renewal, the Qing Dynasty has never been behind people. Perhaps it has been worried about whether it will be driven out of the Han people. The Qing government has never stingy in this regard. When the Gatling machine gun just appeared, the Qing government asked the domestic arsenal to imitate it. Later, because the problem of gunpowder residue could not be solved, it did not have large-scale equipment for Gatling. Now with smokeless gunpowder, the Qing government finally remembered the Gatling machine gun again. At present, a small amount of equipment has been started in the Qing Dynasty.

"Will we give us some assistance from Ryukyu?" Lin Jianan just turned 30 this year, and he is very young. He already has four sons, so he doesn't have to worry about his offspring.

"Although General Bai Qi of Ryukyu agreed to give us certain assistance, this will eventually be controlled by others. In the long run, we still have to have a solution to both sides." Lin Xianghai did not want to hang himself on a crooked tree. The help of Ryukyu only cares about Bai Qi's preferences. He gives him what he wants, and leaves if he doesn't want to leave. Lin Xianghai doesn't like this feeling of being controlled by others.

This is also a common problem for all successful people. Successful people always have a strong desire for control and do not like to see unstable factors and wish to eliminate all potential dangers in their buds. This is how Lin Xianghai is.

"Dad, in this situation, what other solutions can we have? We can only cooperate with each other and hope that General Bai Qi will be trusted." Lin Jianyi was a little pessimistic. If you ask for help, you must be aware of asking for help. It is normal for the Lin family to make some small moves in private, but if the people from Ryukyu find out, it will be dangerous. If Bai Qi abandons the Lin family in anger, the Lin family will have no hope.

"Yes, but I'm thinking too much. Only now can we work together. I think General Bai Qi still has a backup plan, so we may not have a chance to turn the tables." Lin Xianghai woke up in time. It is most taboo to cooperate in such things. If you accidentally mess around, the lives of the whole family will be in Bai Qi's hands.

Lin Xianghai probably didn't know that Bai Qi's back is the Far East Company, which is about to arrive in Ryukyu. If he knew that the US government had decided to declare war on the Spaniards, perhaps Lin Xianghai would not have asked for Bai Qi's door.

"How is the preparation at home?" Lin Xianghai returned to his senses and finally remembered to calculate his family's background.

"In addition to me, Jianmin, Jianxin and Jianyuan from the second uncle's family will stay. Our Lin family will leave more than 20 people, plus more than 300 servants in the family, it should be OK to get 400 people." Lin Jian'an was responsible for counting left-behind personnel, and the result was quite good. With the bonus of the Chinese local complex, there are quite a few people who voluntarily stayed.

This is still the premise that most people move to Ryukyu. If they are voluntarily, there will be more people left behind. After all, for the current Lin family, Luzon is their hometown. They were born and raised in Luzon, and going to Ryukyu is the real home. Especially for those older people, if they are not forced, most of them are willing to stay in Luzon, even if they will face the attacks of the indigenous people and the partiality of the Spaniards.

"Four hundred people are enough. When I was at sea, Lao Chen and I even raided. With these four hundred people, we cooperated with the weapons that Ryukyu supported us. Not to mention going to Manila, at least it would be no problem to defend our family business." Lin Xianghai finally recovered some confidence, and then we will see if Ryukyu is powerful.

Four hundred people sounded not many, but in fact, with the difference in equipment, four hundred people were already very good. A hundred years ago, with sufficient logistics, four hundred people could fight from one end of the American continent to the other end. During this period, the Spaniards had pitifully few troops in Luzon, and even the servants included only a few thousand. The situation of those servants was similar to the Dutch East India. Some even equipped the match-rope guns from hundreds of years ago. If they were given several months, the Far East Company would not need to take action. Just the hundreds of people in the Lin family compound could easily defeat the Spanish in Manila.

In the original history, the battle between the Americans and the Spanish was almost unhindered. Because the Spaniards were weak in their country, the Spanish Far East Fleet had not replaced warships for at least fifteen years. In the face of the new warships commanded by George Dewey, the Spanish Navy had almost no chance to leave the Port of Manila and let go, and was completely wiped out by George Dewey. As for the Luzon minion army, it lost the deterrence of the navy. The combat power of the minion army was infinitely close to zero. Before the US troops landed, the minion army was ready to surrender.
Chapter completed!