Setting the stage

First Friday of June 1880.

This is the scheduled welcoming party for the new Governor General. I know that this is just a make up party to get to know me or arrest me right away. The new Governor General may be planning to end the biggest potential threat in Manila, Maharlikan movement. The Spaniards are aware of our movements, but they chose not to crush us yet because it may be a waste of their resources even if they win. As long as we are not touching any Spaniards, they just let us go. But I know, they are cooking something.

"Looks like the new Lakan will not be showing any time soon?" The Spanish lieutenant said.

"He better not, or else it will be his end. And we'll have an easy win." The new Governor General said.

"We estimate that they can muster an army of 800 based on our informants, while we have around 2,000 well-trained and equipped soldiers here in Manila alone. They have no match, we can just crush them any day we like." the Spanish lieutenant said.

"No, not yet. If that new Lakan will not show tonight, we'll have more than enough reason to storm their estate. That will be their end and without any resistance from the natives." the new Governor General said.

Both the Governor General and the Spanish lieutenant are waiting for Lakan Marco at the gate entrance of the Governor General palace.

A moment later...

"Pardon me for being late for the event. However, I cannot follow you gentlemen inside because of fear for my life. I know that once I step inside that door, that will be the end of me. So, I wonder, what do you want to talk about Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera. We can talk here." Marco said.

"Lakan, you know that this is an inapproriate place. We are not foolish enough to assasinate you inside the palace since it will spark a nationwide rebellion. Come, lets enter together and discuss for any possible negotiation." Fernando said.

"No, thank you. I do not need to talk about anything with you. So if there is anything, we can talk here. Please be frank now Governor General." Marco said.

"What a cocky bastard are you! I just wanted to greet you but here you are, being cocky to me, the Governor General. I'm the representative of the King of Spain here if you are not aware, I am the law here. Apologise and pay, or I will call the guards to arrest you." Fernando said.

"Oh, I forgot my manners. Forgive this ignorant subject, Governor General. I am in the wrong. Please accept this pouch of money as a token of apology." Marco sarcastically said then bowed.

"You ruined my mood. Leave now! I don't want to see you anymore. We will also increase our taxes to your estate, remember that!" Fernando said then walked away with his lieutenant.

I also walked away. He probably acted like that all of a sudden when Fernando saw my snipers pointing at him and obviously with a lot of crown staring at us. He just let go of me due to those factors. If he can't deal with us sooner, he'll milk us some money instead. At least now I'm aware of his hostility to me, I have a reason to raise my alert level in our estates.

I did not directly went home, I stopped at the commercial district for a while to do a little shopping. I am actually just luring the soldiers sent my the Governor General to follow me. I want them to create a scene in this crown place so that I can gain more sympathy and more people to join my cause.

After an hour of walking around, the soldiers just followed me but didn't took initiative to arrest me. Probably, they know that I'm not alone. Just a few meters from me and the Spanish soldiers, my spies are also on a standby. Those spies of mine are also assassins, trained at the mountains of Cordillera by the best Igorot fighters.

I became bored of walking around the Commercial district, but I can't go home yet. I decided to flirt with the beautiful Nihonjin woman that I saw at the front of a pub.

"Konnichiwa, watashi wa Marco. May I know your name ojou-san?" Marco asked the Japanese young lady in Nihonggo.

"Wow, it's cool that you know Nihonggo too! By the looks of you, you don't look like Japanese. You look more like a mestizo. My name is Ozawa Mari, nice to meet you." Mari shaked hands with Marco.

"Would you perhaps want my service? We can talk more inside. But I'm expensive, you know." Mari said to Marco.

I followed Mari inside the pub and flirted with her until sunset. I paid her and went outside to find that the Spanish soldiers are not here anymore. By then, I decided to directly go to the official port of Manila to secretly recruit sailors at the sailor's pub there while moon is up then went home after recruiting 80 people and 120 sailors who will come on the next days.

The next morning, I arranged them as additionals under Uncle Martinez. If I had nothing to do, I usually do jogging 10 to 15 laps around the estate and just basic strength and endurance training.

1st week of July 1880

"Lord Marco, our 8 ships has returned from Hongkong carrying 1,800 British rifles with 100 ammo each rifle, 900 revolvers with 50 ammo each gun and 12 long-range artillery with 20 rounds each. The extra ammunition of guns and the long-range artilleries are said to be gift by the Queen Victoria. She also expressed her support through telegraph and she expects us to be under the British protectorate."

A messenger soldier said.

"Lord Marco, the German shipment carrying our weapons are expected to arrive this week!" Another messenger soldier arrived.

A few moments later, Mautak also arrived in my Study room. He also bring news.

"The Japan Imperial authority relaxed our trade with them. They gave us preferential treatment while trading in Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo. They also proposed that they will supply us ammunitions and Murata series rifles, in exchange, they want us to be under the protection of the Emperor of Japan and access for Japanese to settle, travel and conduct business here. What is your decision, Lakan Marco?" Mautak said.

"Accept it, but demand more from them like additional finance, war weapons and technologies. We need to take advantage of them as much as we can. Also bring Manalili with you. Train her more in business diplomacy. Thats all." Marco said.

"Understood, Lord Marco. I will take my leave now." Mautak bowed and left.

I know that four decades from now, World war 2 will erupts and Japan will be one of the key player of the Axis. I need to weaken the Imperial Japan by receiving more from them rather than giving more. As much as possible, I don't want them to abuse more people and to prevent the 2 atomic bombs later. I need to make this country powerful.

"Lord, Chief Martinez sent you a message." A messenger soldier arrived and gave the letter.

'Aha, as expected of him.' Uncle Martinez said that he finished training 5 naval officers including my cousin because of their high potential, only experience can teach them now. Those five men are at my disposal now. However the rest of the sailors and a few naval officers are still on progress.

I then wrote another letter with a brief message.

'Uncle, send those 5 naval officers to my courtyard tomorrow mid-noon.' Marco wrote in his letter.

I also wrote another quick letter addressed to Tumarong.

'Come to my courtyard with your lieutenants tomorrow mid-noon.' Marco wrote in his letter.

"Give this letter to Tumarong." Marco ordered to his guard.

Next day, Mid-noon.

"I welcome you all, everyone you may take your seat. I asked our cook for a banquet dishes for us. Eat to your hearts content." Marco said.

After eating lunch, the real meeting commenced.

"Tumarong, I want to know the status of your assignment." Marco said to Tumarong.

"Speaking to mighty Lakan, our armies across the archipelago are half-ready. But I can assure you that they will be battle ready before the end of July." Tumarong replied to Marco.

"Good. I want you to cause commotion and taunt the Spanish forces to go outside Manila using our forces stationed in Calamba, Laguna. Use any method or plan you can to successfully lure a at least 60 percent of the Spanish soldiers. The target schedule will be on the first week of August. By then, you have one week to do that.

"Yes, Lord." Tumarong said.

"As for the Naval officers, once the Spanish forces clashed with our forces outside of Manila, you will seize all of the Spanish ships including the Spanish merchant ships. Then, take the ships out of the port and invade Corrigedor Island at the entrance of the Manila bay. You will then fortify the island and gain naval control over the region. Are we clear in that?" Marco instructed the Naval officers.

"Yes, great Lord!" the Naval officers said in unison.

"This task will test your team work, each of you will lead 100 sailors. Seize the day, take our first Naval victory." Marco said to the Naval officers.

"We will not disappoint you Lord Marco." Five naval officers said in unison.

"Good. And about the 3 lieutenants of Tumarong, the three of you will lead the assault to capture the whole Capital. Each of you will lead 600 men, you need to secure the Eastern district, Commercial district in the center, the Spanish district in the south and take control of the port. I will take charge of 1200 men to siege the Governor General's palace. Of course, I will expect you to coordinate properly and seize victory before the end of the day. However, if things doesn't go with our plan, rally to the governor general's palace and we'll rush to conquer the palace in a short time. Do not disappoint me." Marco instructed the army lieutenants.

"Yes, Lord Marco." The lieutenants said in unison.

"Now that you know the plan, I expect you formulate your strategy later. I will also send you the weapon's list available for your men and head to the armory to fetch your weapons and ammunitions. The logistics will function before the battle." Marco said.

"That will be all, dismissed." Marco said.

After that meeting, the 5 naval officers together with the 3 army lieutenants conducted a joint operation planning. They formulate various of strategy and tactics to outsmart the Spaniards. The Spaniards may pull off something unexpected, they are well-equipped and experienced in combat. All of their soldiers are either from New Spain (Mexico) or Cuba.

I went directly to my study and wrote letters to various of people.

"Manalili, block all channels of communication of the Spaniards in Manila. Block them until we retake Manila next month." Marco wrote in one of his letter.

A few moment after completing all the letters, Dodong appeared out of nowhere.

"Sabotage all the Spanish caravans, cargo ships, storages and commit arson to Spanish supply establishments throughout the archipelago." Marco said.

"You're observation skills seem sharper than before. How are you Lord Marco?" Dodong said.

"I'm fine, did you copy what I said Dodong? That is important for the overall outcome of our campaign." Marco said.

"Oh yes, yes. Why so serious? I heard what you said and it will be done sooner than you expect. So worry no more." Dodong said in a sly tone.

"By the way, how was the reconnaissance?" Marco said.

"They are already on high alert. They're not that stupid to not notice our big movements. The Spanish sent a reinforcement request to Acapulco (in Mexico)."

"So did the Spain sent reinforcements? When will we expect it to arrive?" Marco asked in worried tone.

"Of course, Fernando Primo will expect for nothing. New Spain heard not a word from Philippines. We sabotaged the messenger ship at Zambales." Dodong said to Marco.

"Good, now move your shadows in the Capital." Marco said.

Dodong nods and faded away to the shadows.