“The Spanish fleet will land at a place called Cabo Rojo, near Tampico.
Tampico is a fairly developed port, so it would make more sense for them to seize it with the army first and then bring the fleet in, rather than attack the harbor directly with their ships.
After all, they didn’t bring that many warships.”
For an expedition with no overland supply route, securing a port was essential.
That meant an attempt to capture Tampico was practically inevitable.
‘In the original history, Mexico used something close to a scorched-earth strategy around Tampico.
They evacuated the civilians and removed the food so the Spanish couldn’t obtain supplies or link up with local loyalists.
‘But I shouldn’t need to go that far.’
My defensive force was twice the size of the enemy we expected, and every soldier was equipped with an Eduardo rifle and Eduardo ammunition.
On top of that, I had forty cannons.
With that kind of firepower, we should be able to crush them head-on.
“Still, I’d prefer to take as many prisoners as possible while keeping the number of deaths to a minimum.”
Historically, Mexico had won after fierce fighting, but it had lacked the power to extract meaningful compensation.
It couldn’t force Spain to pay an indemnity or even immediately recognize Mexican independence.
A small military victory meant little when the victor had no money and no navy with which to enforce its demands.
Spain had invaded Mexico unilaterally, yet after losing, it accepted no responsibility and paid no compensation.
Spain did not recognize Mexican independence until 1836.
‘This time, Spain has invested much more in the invasion.
They won’t be able to walk away so easily.
‘More accurately, I won’t let them.’
Our defensive force numbered twelve thousand men, including two thousand elite troops Agustín I had maintained since the colonial era.
We had nine thousand infantry, one thousand artillerymen, and two thousand cavalry.
“General Sánchez, you know the effective range of the Eduardo rifle, correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.
I’ve fired it myself.
It’s an extraordinary weapon.
Frankly, I don’t think we need to worry too much about this battle.
Our advantage is overwhelming.”
General Sánchez showed almost no tension.
‘After experiencing the Eduardo rifle and ammunition firsthand, I can understand his confidence.
‘Still, we can’t become careless.’
War was unpredictable.
Anything could happen.
We continued toward Tampico while I reassured General Sánchez that Veracruz’s defenses were already strong.
“Now that the enemy’s naval reinforcements have increased, they may attempt a direct attack on Tampico.
But I doubt they’ll dare force their way into Veracruz.
For now, we’ll wait near Tampico.”
***
After replenishing supplies and resting in Havana, the Spanish fleet sailed the following day.
It was a major expeditionary force: two ships of the line, five frigates, three smaller combat vessels, and forty-five transports.
General Isidro Barradas, promoted to command the expedition, was convinced failure was impossible.
“Ten thousand soldiers.
There is no way Mexico can withstand this.”
The Mexicans might have numbers, but what did people who had only fought natives truly know about war?
The size of the expedition was not due solely to the King’s determination.
Many Spanish nobles whose Mexican properties had been confiscated had voluntarily contributed to the campaign.
Among the sons of noble families, enthusiasm for enlistment had become a fever.
Their ancestor Cortés had destroyed the Aztec Empire with only five hundred Spanish soldiers by exploiting the resentment of indigenous peoples who hated the Aztecs.
Surely history would repeat itself.
With the help of Spanish loyalists who must still remain in Mexico, they would destroy the Mexican Empire and turn the territory back into a colony.
Then they would recover not only their estates, but the interest on everything they had lost.
“Well… perhaps that’s going a little too far.”
At first, the army accepted a few dozen noble sons as officers, but it could not commission hundreds of them.
Aside from the sons of the highest-ranking families, the rest were assigned to the cavalry.
Since nobles were generally educated in horsemanship, they adapted reasonably well.
They hated the thought of serving as ordinary infantrymen, but cavalry service was acceptable to their pride.
It also eased the expedition’s financial burden somewhat.
Once they arrived in Mexico, Spanish loyalists were expected to flock to them, so the expedition carried enough spare weapons to equip those volunteers.
“As for food, we can requisition whatever we need locally.”
Their military supplies included twenty thousand muskets and fifty cannons.
Most of the weapons were old, some more than a decade in service, but the quantity remained formidable.
“With this strength, there is no way we can lose.”
“We’ll show those provincials what a real battle looks like!”
And so the Spanish reached Cabo Rojo.
“We could have sailed directly into Tampico and fought them head-on…”
“Aren’t we being overly cautious?”
The young noble officers whispered among themselves, but General Barradas disagreed.
“We must protect the lives of Spanish soldiers whenever possible.
Those young fools may think war is a game, but I won’t allow men to die needlessly.”
Spanish lives were valuable.
Besides, once the flag of Spain appeared, loyalists would surely come running.
***
The report brought back by our scouts was shocking.
“What?
Weren’t there supposed to be between sixty-five hundred and seven thousand?
And weren’t there only thirty transports?
Now there are forty-five!
Damn it…”
“What is the second informant we left in Havana doing?
He should have arrived at least two days ago.”
In an instant, our expected advantage of five thousand soldiers had shrunk to only two thousand.
Fortunately, we learned the truth before the battle began.
“We can probably still overpower them head-on, but our losses would be severe.
Most of the enemy soldiers are veterans with more combat experience than ours.”
The Spanish Army had fought through the Napoleonic Wars and Spain’s own civil conflicts.
Many of its soldiers had extensive battlefield experience.
Mexico had fought its War of Independence, but that was not the same as warfare between the great European powers.
It was time to change the plan.
We would evacuate Tampico, just as Mexico had done in the original history.
“The enemy will have to choose between attacking nearby settlements for supplies or continuing to ship provisions from Cuba.
They can’t supply ten thousand soldiers from Cuba forever.
Feeding an army that large won’t be easy.”
“General Sánchez, we’re moving into Tampico.
It looks like the plan has to change.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Our forces marched quickly into Tampico and immediately began evacuating the entire city.
“EVACUATION!
PACK YOUR BELONGINGS!”
“THE SPANISH ARMY IS COMING!
DON’T LEAVE FOOD IN YOUR HOMES!”
“NOT A SINGLE GRAIN OF CORN IS TO REMAIN!”
“How can you tell us to leave this suddenly?”
“This is wartime!
Please endure it until we defeat the Spanish Army!”
The citizens protested as soldiers ordered them to pack and leave immediately.
Then they were told that ten thousand Spanish soldiers were marching toward Tampico and would seize whatever they found.
At that, most stopped arguing.
I went out personally to persuade them.
“I know this is difficult!
But endure it for only a few weeks!
We will defeat the Spanish Army, and we will make them pay for invading our Mexican Empire!”
“We trust you…”
“Please win!”
Fortunately, Agustín I had maintained a good relationship with the people, and the citizens accepted my appeal.
Our forces evacuated Tampico without leaving behind a single musket or even a mouthful of food.
***
“Tampico is empty?”
General Barradas had dispatched scouts toward Tampico immediately after landing.
Their report was unequivocal.
The city had been abandoned.
“If they evacuated Tampico before we arrived, then they knew we were coming this way.
But how the hell did they discover our route?”
He had felt uneasy ever since the expedition’s plans changed, but securing a port remained essential.
“Search the road to Tampico thoroughly.
Make sure there are no troops waiting in ambush.”
If the Mexican defensive army already knew their position, an ambush was entirely possible.
‘I won’t be caught by such a basic trap.’
The young noble officers continued muttering about the delay, but Barradas ignored them.
Several hours later, the scouts returned.
“No ambushes on the road to Tampico?
Are you certain?”
“Yes, General.
We searched thoroughly.
There is no way an army is hiding anywhere along the route.”
“What kind of strategy is this…?
Is the enemy commander so inexperienced that he doesn’t understand even basic tactics?”
Despite his doubts, Barradas still had to secure Tampico.
When the expedition finally entered the city, it found nothing.
“I was told it was empty, but I didn’t expect them to leave absolutely everything deserted.”
Tampico felt like a ghost town.
There were obvious traces that people had lived there only recently, yet now not a soul remained.
There were no civilians to recruit, no weapons to seize, and no food to confiscate.
“I understand what they’re trying to accomplish, but at least we’ve secured our supply route without difficulty.
This changes nothing.”
The Spanish fleet had already begun unloading supplies in Tampico.
If carefully rationed, they had enough for at least two months.
“Send scouts in every direction.”
“That is the fatal weakness of such a strategy.
They cannot block every route.
If they disperse their forces to surround us, a thin cordon can easily be broken.”
While he considered the situation, a commotion in the distance interrupted him.
“What is all that noise?”
“General!
A group has arrived asking to join the Spanish forces!”
“Oh!
Already?
They truly are loyal!
General, we should arm them immediately.”
The young nobles were delighted, eager to distribute weapons to the newcomers.
Barradas stopped them.
“Wait.”
They had been in Tampico for only two days.
“And they’ve already come to us?
Suspicious.”
Barradas carefully studied the newcomers, a group of around ten criollos.
‘They don’t appear to have indigenous ancestry, but that alone isn’t enough to trust them.’
“Where did you come from?”
“We are officers who deserted the Mexican Army!
They knew Spain would attack here, which is why we reached you so quickly!”
They spoke urgently, but Barradas remained cold.
“Why should I trust you?”
“We can provide information!”
“Information?
I don’t know whether I can trust it, but speak.”
“The supreme commander of the Mexican Army is the Crown Prince.
He only recently graduated from the military academy.
He’s just twenty-one.”
“The Crown Prince?
Is that reliable?”
“Yes.
Emperor Agustín assigned General Jorge Sánchez to assist him, but that young prince does whatever he wants, and the general merely follows along.”
“Interesting.
You don’t sound particularly loyal to the Mexican Emperor.”
“Our loyalty belongs only to the rightful ruler of these lands, Ferdinand VII!
Please believe us!”
“General, surely we can trust them now.
Look at their faces!
They seem completely sincere!”
Barradas was irritated by the young noble’s interruption, but he could not simply ignore the mood of the officers and noble cavalrymen around him.
“If you were officers, you should at least know the enemy deployment.
Tell me—where is the Prince blocking our advance?”
“The Prince’s army is blocking the road leading toward the Mexican Plateau!”
If the sea blocked the east and the Prince blocked the south, the west and northwest remained open.
“I see… Only the southern route is blocked.
“I still won’t trust your word blindly.
I’ll send scouts.
If they confirm your information, I’ll formally accept you.
Is that acceptable?”
“Of course!
Verify it yourself!”
“Hmm… perhaps you really are loyal to Spain.
One final test.”
“You said you have no loyalty to the Mexican Emperor, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Then insult him.”
“…”
The supposed deserter hesitated for only a moment.
“AGUSTÍN I IS A DAMNED BASTARD!”
“Oh!
General, they’ve gone this far already!
Continuing to doubt them would be dishonorable.
I say we accept them now!”
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