33. Mariano and the Last Crusade (1855-1856)
33. Mariano and the Last Crusade (1855-1856)
After talking to the messenger of the Crusaders of Saigon, Emperor Andres was informed that Mariano Novales was inside Intramuros and requested a meeting with Andres.
Andres have not seen his brother for quite some time and was eager for a reunion with his brother. Mariano informed Andres that Hong Bao and his family who arrived in Cebu a few years back tried to appeal to Mariano, which Mariano rejected.
However, Andres was also informed that Mariano’s son, Alejandro, and daughter, Elena, joined the Crusade. Mariano’s son and daughter left a letter to Mariano. Alejandro was offered to be married with one of Hong Bao’s daughters, while Elena, who was an excellent physician, joined to help his brother.
Alejandro had no formal training in the military nor joined the military nor had a public education. However, Alejandro had the Novales name which can tap donations, recruits which the expedition needed. Alejandro had also excellent people’s skills. Mariano requested if he would be allowed to lead imperial troops to lift the siege in Saigon and bring home his children.
Andres had just demobilized the reserves and a large part of the army. The standing army shrank to 15,000. The rest were demobilized to the Army reserves.
Instead of using the Imperial army and navy, both Andres and Mariano funded a private expedition using their own personal money and donations. Andres believes this is a personal matter rather than the Empire’s problem. Using their combine wealth and the wealth of their family selling their own personal items, they were able to muster 3,000 troops, who were all veterans of Sino-Philippine war and enough ships for the expedition. Mariano will lead the expedition personally.
Mariano’s forces attacking Dai Nam/Vietnamese
The Dutch have been stalling the recognition of the New Guinea purchase despite the Sultan of Tidore willing to sell their New Guinea territories to the Philippines.
The trade routes to British India passes thru Dutch influenced Sumatra. Andres, frustrated with the Dutch, focused his attention to Sumatra. Andres wants threaten the Dutch in Sumatra while securing the trade routes for the Philippines, bases near the strait to deal with piracy in Straits of Malacca. Andres demanded control of certain areas which the Dutch rejected. Andres threatened the Dutch with invasion and expulsion from the East Indies. Andres sent a Philippine Imperial Navy fleet with steam Frigates and Ship of the lines both to deal with piracy and threaten the Dutch.
The recent collaboration between France and Netherlands in Belgium was not well received in Britain. Britain wants to limit Dutch and French Expansion in Asia, and make sure the Sultanate of Aceh, which produces half to the worlds pepper, continue to trade with the British.
The British spread the news to the Dutch that 200,000 Prussian and British trained Filipinos, with more than 1000 ships invading China. That 200,000 will invade the Dutch East indies if they do not sign the deal with the Philippines. The British warned the Dutch to sign the deal with the Philippines.
Andres did not follow up on his threat of invasion in 1855 and 1856. After demobilizing his army, he was more focused on consolidating whatever gains he acquired from East Asian nations, eliminate Chincese piracy and Chinese rebels, make China prosperous and squeeze Chinese wealth. However, he kept this information to himself, while making sure the Dutch believe British exaggeration and the threat of Philippine invasion.
He also started setting up naval posts in small islands, reefs in Dong Hai (East China Sea) and Nan Hai (South China Sea) to intercept pirates and control the seas.
Cheoljong of Joseon/Kingdom of Korea
Kingdom of Korea was setup near the status quo with the exception of Philippine and British traders, investors roaming the Kingdom. Kingdom of Korea was also encouraged to purchase British/Philippine goods.
Cheoljong ascended to the Korean throne in 1849. He was chosen by the Andong Kim clan. He was illiterate and made him easy to manipulate and control.
The Philippines let the Andong Kim clan dictate the Kingdom as long as British and Philippine interests are protected.
In Ryuku Kingdom, Satsuma daimyo, Japanese shogunate and their citizens were expelled by Philippine authorities. Qing China accepted Philippine control of Ryuku Kingdom.
The New Chinese armies along with the Qing Banner armies attacked Anqing in 1855. They were supported by a British-Philippine naval blockade of the city. Anqing which fell to Taipings in 1853, returned to Qing control with British and Philippine help in 1856.
The Qing Banner armies started reconquering Taiping strongholds along the Yangtze River. One New Chinese army was assigned to besiege Nanking in 1856. By end of the year, Qing forces retook Wuchang.
The Red Turbans tried to capture Guangzhou but the British intervened to defend Guangzhou. With the Red Turbans failing to capture the city of Guangzhou, they retreated to Guanxi Province chased by Qing Banner armies and a new Chinese army.
French, Crusaders and Mariano’s army in Dai Nam/Vietnam
The arrival of Mariano in 1856 and his army in Saigon lifted the siege. After a couple of days, the French also arrived with 2,000 troops and 14 ships sent by Napoleon II. Napoleon II does not want to alarm the British by sending a larger army nor does France have the logistics to support a larger army in Asia.
Instead of returning home to Cebu with his children, Mariano was convinced to continue the campaign to install Hong Bao encourage by his son and the arrival of French forces. His son Alejandro promised benefits for the Philippines including favorable trade to the Philippines and basing rights to the Philippines. The allied army, Crusaders, Mariano’s army and French forces attacked north until they reach Dai Nam capital of Hue. The French tagged along and de facto recognized Mariano as the allied leader since the Filibusters/Crusader army and Mariano’s army followed Mariano. Mariano had the reputation among Crusaders of eliminating Catholic enemies with his campaign versus Moro sultanates.
During the siege of Hue, Mariano died. He was last seen alive the previous evening dining with the French but did not wake up the next day and was declared dead. There was much speculation with his death, some believed he died of old age, some overeating, some believe it was an unknown sickness, while others believe he was poisoned.
With the death of Mariano, there was no employer for the private army except located in Manila whose orders was to bring Alejandro and Elena back home safely. The Crusader loyalty went from Mariano to the French. Alejandro attempted to convince Mariano’s private army that he was now their employer. The private army was mostly Philippine veterans of the Chinese war, and very loyal to Andres. He also tried to convince the Crusaders to follow him instead as the son of Mariano.
The French made a deal with Emperor Tu Duc. Tu Duc was to cede Saigon, the island of Poulo Condor and three southern provinces (Biên Hòa, Gia Định and Định Tường) to the French. Emperor Tu Duc legalize the free practice of Catholic faith within his territory. In return, the French will hand over Hong Bao and his family to Tu Duc and the withdrawal of the allied army.
The allied armies withdrew. The Crusaders have achieved their goal of protecting Catholics in Dai nam/Vietnam. The orders who joined and funded the Crusade was allowed to stay by the French in their new colony. The French also acquired a colonial territory. Tu Duc stopped the rebellion, taken Hong Bao and his family.
The body of Mariano was recognized as valuable and dangerous by both the French and Emperor Tu Duc since Mariano was seen a hero in the Philippines nor do they want Emperor Andres invading both Dai Nam and the new French colony in Cochinchina just to retake the body. It was decided that the body should be safely taken back to Manila. Alejandro had to be dragged to the ship in chains since he refused to return to Manila nor abandon Hong Bao and his betrothed. Elena, blamed herself for his father’s death and in tears, wished to accompany his father’s body back to Manila.
After talking to the messenger of the Crusaders of Saigon, Emperor Andres was informed that Mariano Novales was inside Intramuros and requested a meeting with Andres.
Andres have not seen his brother for quite some time and was eager for a reunion with his brother. Mariano informed Andres that Hong Bao and his family who arrived in Cebu a few years back tried to appeal to Mariano, which Mariano rejected.
However, Andres was also informed that Mariano’s son, Alejandro, and daughter, Elena, joined the Crusade. Mariano’s son and daughter left a letter to Mariano. Alejandro was offered to be married with one of Hong Bao’s daughters, while Elena, who was an excellent physician, joined to help his brother.
Alejandro had no formal training in the military nor joined the military nor had a public education. However, Alejandro had the Novales name which can tap donations, recruits which the expedition needed. Alejandro had also excellent people’s skills. Mariano requested if he would be allowed to lead imperial troops to lift the siege in Saigon and bring home his children.
Andres had just demobilized the reserves and a large part of the army. The standing army shrank to 15,000. The rest were demobilized to the Army reserves.
Instead of using the Imperial army and navy, both Andres and Mariano funded a private expedition using their own personal money and donations. Andres believes this is a personal matter rather than the Empire’s problem. Using their combine wealth and the wealth of their family selling their own personal items, they were able to muster 3,000 troops, who were all veterans of Sino-Philippine war and enough ships for the expedition. Mariano will lead the expedition personally.
Mariano’s forces attacking Dai Nam/Vietnamese
The Dutch have been stalling the recognition of the New Guinea purchase despite the Sultan of Tidore willing to sell their New Guinea territories to the Philippines.
The trade routes to British India passes thru Dutch influenced Sumatra. Andres, frustrated with the Dutch, focused his attention to Sumatra. Andres wants threaten the Dutch in Sumatra while securing the trade routes for the Philippines, bases near the strait to deal with piracy in Straits of Malacca. Andres demanded control of certain areas which the Dutch rejected. Andres threatened the Dutch with invasion and expulsion from the East Indies. Andres sent a Philippine Imperial Navy fleet with steam Frigates and Ship of the lines both to deal with piracy and threaten the Dutch.
The recent collaboration between France and Netherlands in Belgium was not well received in Britain. Britain wants to limit Dutch and French Expansion in Asia, and make sure the Sultanate of Aceh, which produces half to the worlds pepper, continue to trade with the British.
The British spread the news to the Dutch that 200,000 Prussian and British trained Filipinos, with more than 1000 ships invading China. That 200,000 will invade the Dutch East indies if they do not sign the deal with the Philippines. The British warned the Dutch to sign the deal with the Philippines.
Andres did not follow up on his threat of invasion in 1855 and 1856. After demobilizing his army, he was more focused on consolidating whatever gains he acquired from East Asian nations, eliminate Chincese piracy and Chinese rebels, make China prosperous and squeeze Chinese wealth. However, he kept this information to himself, while making sure the Dutch believe British exaggeration and the threat of Philippine invasion.
He also started setting up naval posts in small islands, reefs in Dong Hai (East China Sea) and Nan Hai (South China Sea) to intercept pirates and control the seas.
Cheoljong of Joseon/Kingdom of Korea
Kingdom of Korea was setup near the status quo with the exception of Philippine and British traders, investors roaming the Kingdom. Kingdom of Korea was also encouraged to purchase British/Philippine goods.
Cheoljong ascended to the Korean throne in 1849. He was chosen by the Andong Kim clan. He was illiterate and made him easy to manipulate and control.
The Philippines let the Andong Kim clan dictate the Kingdom as long as British and Philippine interests are protected.
In Ryuku Kingdom, Satsuma daimyo, Japanese shogunate and their citizens were expelled by Philippine authorities. Qing China accepted Philippine control of Ryuku Kingdom.
The New Chinese armies along with the Qing Banner armies attacked Anqing in 1855. They were supported by a British-Philippine naval blockade of the city. Anqing which fell to Taipings in 1853, returned to Qing control with British and Philippine help in 1856.
The Qing Banner armies started reconquering Taiping strongholds along the Yangtze River. One New Chinese army was assigned to besiege Nanking in 1856. By end of the year, Qing forces retook Wuchang.
The Red Turbans tried to capture Guangzhou but the British intervened to defend Guangzhou. With the Red Turbans failing to capture the city of Guangzhou, they retreated to Guanxi Province chased by Qing Banner armies and a new Chinese army.
French, Crusaders and Mariano’s army in Dai Nam/Vietnam
The arrival of Mariano in 1856 and his army in Saigon lifted the siege. After a couple of days, the French also arrived with 2,000 troops and 14 ships sent by Napoleon II. Napoleon II does not want to alarm the British by sending a larger army nor does France have the logistics to support a larger army in Asia.
Instead of returning home to Cebu with his children, Mariano was convinced to continue the campaign to install Hong Bao encourage by his son and the arrival of French forces. His son Alejandro promised benefits for the Philippines including favorable trade to the Philippines and basing rights to the Philippines. The allied army, Crusaders, Mariano’s army and French forces attacked north until they reach Dai Nam capital of Hue. The French tagged along and de facto recognized Mariano as the allied leader since the Filibusters/Crusader army and Mariano’s army followed Mariano. Mariano had the reputation among Crusaders of eliminating Catholic enemies with his campaign versus Moro sultanates.
During the siege of Hue, Mariano died. He was last seen alive the previous evening dining with the French but did not wake up the next day and was declared dead. There was much speculation with his death, some believed he died of old age, some overeating, some believe it was an unknown sickness, while others believe he was poisoned.
With the death of Mariano, there was no employer for the private army except located in Manila whose orders was to bring Alejandro and Elena back home safely. The Crusader loyalty went from Mariano to the French. Alejandro attempted to convince Mariano’s private army that he was now their employer. The private army was mostly Philippine veterans of the Chinese war, and very loyal to Andres. He also tried to convince the Crusaders to follow him instead as the son of Mariano.
The French made a deal with Emperor Tu Duc. Tu Duc was to cede Saigon, the island of Poulo Condor and three southern provinces (Biên Hòa, Gia Định and Định Tường) to the French. Emperor Tu Duc legalize the free practice of Catholic faith within his territory. In return, the French will hand over Hong Bao and his family to Tu Duc and the withdrawal of the allied army.
The allied armies withdrew. The Crusaders have achieved their goal of protecting Catholics in Dai nam/Vietnam. The orders who joined and funded the Crusade was allowed to stay by the French in their new colony. The French also acquired a colonial territory. Tu Duc stopped the rebellion, taken Hong Bao and his family.
The body of Mariano was recognized as valuable and dangerous by both the French and Emperor Tu Duc since Mariano was seen a hero in the Philippines nor do they want Emperor Andres invading both Dai Nam and the new French colony in Cochinchina just to retake the body. It was decided that the body should be safely taken back to Manila. Alejandro had to be dragged to the ship in chains since he refused to return to Manila nor abandon Hong Bao and his betrothed. Elena, blamed herself for his father’s death and in tears, wished to accompany his father’s body back to Manila.