**Chapter 40**
**California Crisis (2)**
The first button of the grand plan was successfully sewn.
Pakú began preparing for the next plan.
“Next, we attack the mission.”
He revealed his plan to the Chumash.
“Already? There are Mexican soldiers at the mission.”
Soldiers are stationed at the missions to control the natives.
Since they cram thousands of natives into one mission like animals and force them to work, there are quite a few soldiers.
Some thought Pakú’s plan was hasty, while others agreed.
“We need to liberate our fellow tribesmen from this hellish life as soon as possible!”
There were 600 turn muskets in Los Angeles.
They didn’t have enough gunpowder. They could raid various settlements while conserving gunpowder, but Pakú didn’t plan to fight a long war.
“The mission’s defenses will get stronger over time. We need to attack before the Mexican army arrives and liberate as many of our fellow tribesmen as possible.”
“Hmm. I agree with Pakú.”
“Me too.”
The liberation of their fellow tribesmen.
They agreed because they had all experienced a painful life at the mission.
“Then let’s prepare. We’ll hold the warriors’ funerals after we liberate our fellow tribesmen.”
Dozens of Chumash warriors died during the attack on Los Angeles. They needed to hold a funeral according to tradition, but Pakú postponed it.
It was a race against time.
It’s unthinkable to hold a funeral for those who died fighting for the tribe without the warriors, but the warriors needed to set out immediately after preparation.
‘The fate of the tribe depends on this, so please wait a little longer, brothers.’
The 600 muskets and 200 horses acquired in Los Angeles were added to the Chumash forces.
“The first target is the Santa Barbara Mission.”
“Ah, our homeland.”
Santa Barbara, the land where the Chumash had lived for thousands of years.
It had become a mission, a hell where thousands of their fellow tribesmen were forced to work.
“We’re starting there?”
“Yes, it’s the least prepared right now. We’ll hit the big one first.”
They roughly treated the wounded and filled their stomachs with the food they had taken.
Then, they learned how to use muskets and were allowed to fire them only once or twice for practice.
2,000 warriors attacked the Santa Barbara Mission.
It had only been two days since the news of the attack on Los Angeles spread.
They were just starting to prepare.
“They’re already here!”
The scout they sent just in case returned. The Chumash were about to attack.
The missionaries and the officers of the garrison were taken aback.
They hadn’t realized how painful it would be to waste a day.
“Damn it. I told you to hurry up.”
The 300 soldiers guarding the mission hurriedly issued weapons and built a simple stockade.
Then, it happened.
Neigh-
“Charge!”
“Waaaah!!!”
It started with the Chumash cavalry. 400 warriors on horseback began flanking left and right.
The mission officer deployed 100 soldiers in front, 50 on each side, and 50 in the rear. 50 were in reserve.
The front line began engaging the Chumash musket squad.
Bang bang bang bang bang!!
The Chumash musket squad outnumbered them, but there was a huge difference in their musket proficiency.
Bang bang bang bang bang!!
The Chumash warriors armed with cold weapons endured the hail of bullets and pressed forward resolutely.
It was a simultaneous attack based on overwhelming numerical superiority.
Dozens of warriors were shot instantly, but they charged even more fiercely.
“Kill the mission bastards and save our fellow tribesmen!”
“Waaaah!!!”
It was a battle they were destined to lose from the start. They outnumbered them fivefold, and even if you only count the musket soldiers, the Chumash outnumbered them. But the mission couldn’t surrender.
“Those bastards are going to kill us all. There’s no point in surrendering!”
Father Carlos, who could be considered the representative of the mission, was the most prominent figure opposed to surrender.
“We must never surrender!”
How had he treated the natives? The natives would kill him brutally.
“We can’t let the soldiers die like this.”
The officer had also been wronged, but he was someone who felt a responsibility to plead for the lives of the soldiers if they were going to die anyway. He ignored Father Carlos, who could be considered the head of the area.
“Surrender.”
The mission soldiers raised white flags. The Chumash warriors were excited by the adrenaline of battle, but Pakú calmed them down.
“Wise. You surrendered, so we won’t kill you. Except for one.”
Pakú said with a cold face.
“Wh… What!”
Father Carlos’ face turned pale when he heard that.
“I can’t forgive you. Father Carlos.”
The officer was already pretending not to see. No one would help him.
Father Carlos was dragged away by the Chumash warriors.
“Aaaagh!”
Thump-
Father Carlos, who had been screaming, soon fell silent.
“Now, let’s go liberate our fellow tribesmen!”
That day, Chumash people were working in the vast farms and ranches, sweating profusely. But something was different. Someone approached and delivered good news.
“What? You captured the mission?”
“That’s right! We did it!”
“Oh…”
The Chumash people who had been suffering from harsh labor at the mission burst into tears.
“Mother! Your worthless son, who ran away alone, is back!”
“Son. I’m so glad. I’m so glad.”
The Chumash began to unite.
“This isn’t the end. We’ll attack the next mission in succession. The wounded will stay behind.”
Pakú led the warriors to their next destination.
1,500 of the 4,000 Chumash tribesmen liberated from the Santa Barbara Mission joined the warriors.
3,300 warriors set out, excluding the dead and wounded.
They liberated the San Luis Obispo Mission, right next door, and the Santa Cruz and San Jose Missions, which stretched along the coastline.
‘We’ll liberate everyone, not just the Chumash tribe.’
From this slavery-like shackle.
Pakú was now dreaming bigger dreams.
***
Things were much different from when I traveled back and forth to California before.
The roads that had been paved for the Rios Express stagecoaches were in good enough condition for the army to travel on.
They were all riding horses and had spare horses, so they were also fast.
The distance from Mexico City to Los Angeles is about 2,500 km. We covered that distance in 5 weeks.
It was a non-stop sprint.
A small settlement came into view.
“Let’s rest here today.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The residents’ faces brightened when the imperial army arrived. Someone shouted.
“The Crown Prince is here!”
“What? The Crown Prince? Is that true?”
They welcomed the Crown Prince and the army, who had been trembling with anxiety.
“This is ‘Los Naranjos’?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! That’s right. I heard that you gave it this name, but I’m curious if it’s true.”
“That’s right. I named it myself. But I don’t see any orange trees yet? This is a good place to grow oranges.”
“Ah… We’re just starting to harvest enough food to survive, so we haven’t planted orange trees yet. We’ll prepare as quickly as possible.”
“No, you can decide according to your own circumstances. I’ll stay here tonight.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!”
Los Naranjos.
After it became American territory, it became the city of Anaheim in the administrative district called ‘Orange County’.
‘It won’t happen in this world.’
I named it with the determination that it would never be taken away.
Los Naranjos is right next door to Los Angeles, so we’re almost there.
“Does anyone know anything about the natives’ whereabouts?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. No one seems to know their whereabouts. …Oh, I heard they’re a tribe called the Chumash.”
“The Chumash.”
To be honest, I don’t know the name. Even in the Mexican history books I read in my previous life, major tribes like the Comanches are mentioned, but not the names of smaller tribes.
They’re just lumped together as California natives, and it’s said that they’re about this big.
But I know where they’ll target.
‘Santa Barbara. That’s where the mission is. They’ll target that. They took only goods after raiding Los Angeles, so it’s clear.’
They have a grasp of reality and a strategic leader. We can’t just let them be.
‘I guess I don’t have time to wait for the cannons to arrive.’
The next morning, I reassured the people of Los Naranjos and moved to Los Angeles.
The appearance of the town was better than I expected.
“There’s hardly any damage.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems they only took the goods.”
The residents of Los Angeles, who had been more anxious than the residents of Los Naranjos when the army arrived, were relieved. But there was a slightly different atmosphere.
“Your Majesty, can’t I join the army? My father has passed away.”
“….”
Anger.
It was hatred for the natives who had suddenly attacked, killed the heads of many families, and taken away all the goods they had worked hard to cultivate and all their belongings.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you join this operation. If you want to join the regular army, go to the recruiting office.”
I couldn’t accept people who were filled with nothing but revenge into the army. They seemed to be unable to protest in front of the Crown Prince, so they went back disappointed.
‘I need to say something. I need to comfort them as the Crown Prince.’
I ordered them to gather the people of the city.
Most of the people living in Los Angeles gathered when they heard that the Crown Prince was going to give a speech.
“Today, we gather in deep sorrow and loss. Seeing the streets of this city filled with sadness, my heart aches with deep pain. I offer my deepest condolences to the lives we have lost and their families and friends.”
First, I expressed my condolences.
“This tragedy has left a wound on all of us. But I promise you, justice will be served for this incident, and those who are responsible will not escape their responsibility.”
Since it hadn’t been long since the tragedy had befallen the city, there were no loud cheers or reactions. But it seemed like everyone’s expressions had improved a little.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t stay overnight in Los Angeles.
“Let’s go right away. I think I know the enemy’s destination.”
I told the cavalry commander and the infantry commander.
“The enemy’s destination? Do you know where it is?”
“The mission. They’ll have gone to attack the mission. We need to leave as soon as possible.”
I had no intention of wiping out all the natives or enslaving them. But now that things have come to this, peaceful coexistence is out of the question.
Carrot and stick.
A strategy created to make animals behave as you want, but ironically, it works very well on humans who created it. It’s a strategy that works between individuals, between groups, and between nations.
This strategy doesn’t work if the stick is weak, the carrot is weak, or both are weak. If both the carrot and the stick are strong, it’s not easy to resist.
‘It’s a bit awkward to say it directly in modern society, so I’ll say it a bit more subtly. Reward (incentive) and punishment (penalty).’
It’s time to whip out the stick.
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