"This is the Fortress of San Carlos..."

Setting off from the camp, the Cang Qing Dewdrop went 13 kilometers along the river bank, and soon saw his destination for the trip, the San Carlos Fortress, on the north bank of the San Juan River.

Unlike the fortresses in the mature pioneer areas of Europe and the Caribbean, San Carlos looks more like a militarized garrison.

It is built at the onshore angle between the north bank of the San Juan River and the east bank of Lake Nicaragua, and is in an irregular fan shape, covering an area of ​​about two to three square kilometers.

Around the fortress, a solid city wall made of thick logs, seven or eight meters high, is as wide as 10 meters wide. There are towering thatched watchtowers on the walls, with a limited number of soldiers and a dozen artillery pieces scattered.

The artillery and soldiers were mainly arranged on the north and east walls facing the river. Obviously, the Spaniards also knew that the main threat of the Fortress of San Carlos could only come from the San Juan River.

San Carlos is still the key to trade connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Panama Canal of this era was still something in the dream, and adventurers would circulate the vast South America and take ships to and from the Strait of Magellan or Drake.

The larger number of businessmen, who follow the rules, will only choose a safe passage. That is, go ashore in Managua on the Pacific coast, transport 15 kilometers on land, then board a boat in Granada, cross Lake Nicaragua, enter the San Juan River from San Caroling, and follow the water to enter the Caribbean Sea.

These are the two most convenient ocean channels in the world today.

The land is at the forefront, and San Carlos naturally takes into account the function of tax cards.

It has a suspension bridge-like water gate at the mouth of the San Juan River. Any merchant entering and leaving Lake Nicaragua must register and pay taxes at the Port Authority of the Fortress. According to the benchmark price and tax form provided by Spain, comparing the category and nationality, the payment amount is 1.5 to 5 points.

To be fair, this tax rate is considered conscience compared to the current 10-15 points of trade tax, but setting up a tax card is an act that hinders trade and has long been disdained by maritime powers.

Spain still regards this as a treasure. Apart from the well-known fact that the Spanish are smarter than the people on earth, the only reason is probably that the country's own conditions are here.

There are two piers in San Carlos. The lakeside pier is in the city and is the main pier of the fortress. The riverside pier is one kilometer away from the city wall. There are only three symbolic twenty-meter plank roads. The breakwater is also compacted by soil, and there is no basic paving or flatness.

The Cangqing Dewdrop slowly moored into the No. 2 Plank Road by the river. Feeling the trembling of the bow of the boat touching the bank embankment came from under his feet. Lorraine lazily pulled down.

"Let's go, let's see the heroic spirit of the Iberian gangsters."

...

San Carlos sneaks into action.

As a compromise action to reconcile Nelson and Spencer's conflict, Lorraine did not have a very clear goal.

Walk around the city, stay and investigate the number of defenders and firepower. If possible, carry out some destructive actions within their capacity, from breaking the city? Joining the inside and outside to assassinating the officer? It is basically all his interest.

Therefore, when choosing escorts, Lorraine values ​​obedience and ability.

The Cang Qing Dewdrop 23 members, except Henna, Lef, Daniel, Freemanny and Bartot? There are eight native sailors responsible for pretending to be slaves? Leaded by a strong young man, Drogo Kao, and all of them have ten nationalities? Only the Drake Stormtroopers who do not have British people, equipped with short guns, swords and daggers? No sailor knife.

Is it to cover up the identity of the seaman without a sailor's knife? Similar to this, Lorraine's portable main weapon has also been replaced by a double sword to an umbrella sword.

However, the Spanish gentleman did not have the etiquette to bring an umbrella when he went out, and the umbrella sword could only be carried by Freemanny, who was a servant. Lorraine had another jewel-shaped sword on her waist, which was the spoils of Spencer's battle.

Different from the appearance of a stinging sword? The extremely gorgeous swift sword? The thin-body sword is more similar to the officer sword. Its style is simple, capable of stabbing and chopping. It is deeply loved by the masculine Holy Roman and Prussian nobles, and is also a common accessory for Spanish gentlemen.

The ship stopped and the boards were lowered.

Leaving the native sailors to rectify the mess on the deck? Lorraine, who had changed into tuxedoes, stepped on the shore of the dock, which was not solid, with her entourage.

bite……

An octagonal gold coin fell steadily in the pilot's arms, making the pilot's eyes lit up.

"Generous young master!"

"Beautiful flag language? Sir." Lorraine spoke in a skillful and precise Spanish. "I heard that San Carlos is a paradise in the rainforest? But I didn't expect that paradise would be so deserted..."

"You must have ignored the rainy season." The pilot showed his white teeth. "It will rain heavily here next month? Can the water on the San Juan River double? Then the next six months? San Carlos is a prosperous paradise."

"I actually came too early?"

"I'm afraid that's how it is."

Together with the common principles elsewhere, pilots at the docks are often the most relaxed and the lowest asking price intelligence dealers.

They are the best news in the city, knowing many things you will know sooner or later as long as you inquire, and through their mouths, it is the easiest channel to understand a place.

Lorraine soon learned that San Carlos was a military city.

There were only a small number of civilians in the city. The main body of the garrison was the Nicaraguan colonial army of two companies, with grenadiers, and a battalion (Fifth Company) of permanent civilian army, with line arrangements. In addition, there was a Brigentinian frigate called the San Carlos. There was 120 sailors, and they were anchored in the only water warehouse at the lakeside pier.

There are eight twelve-pound medium-sized shore defense cannons on the city wall, which are old-style cannons. Four of them are arranged on the south wall facing the river, and the remaining four doors are arranged on the east and west walls, facing the rainforest and Lake Nicaragua.

The commander of the garrison in the city was Antonio de Torresias, the Baron and the Colonel, who was also the commander of the local militia battalion. He had his own manor and slaves on the island of Zapatra on Lake Nicaragua, and was the only "master" in the city.

But his authority could not command the entire city's army, whether it was the San Carlos or the grenadiers from Grenada, they were his collaborators rather than subordinates.

Captain Carlos Major Francisco de Mara is the nephew of Admiral Mara, the Grenadiers Commander Gentry Regiment, and the wife of Major General Hawthorne, the Governor General Hawthorne, is not easily grasped by Commander Torrescias in terms of background and connections.

In addition to the family affairs of these big people, Lorraine also knew that the best risotto in the fortress was the lake risotto in the Titiari restaurant. The only hotel in the fortress was Aunt Portuyani. Her daughter Portuyani is the courtesan of the fortress. She is romantic and enthusiastic. She needs to pay an octagonal gold coin for a night, but she is definitely worth the money...

While the pilot was long-winding, Barto completed the registration for entry, Freemanny rented a carriage, and Leif volunteered to be the coachman. Lorraine interrupted the pilot at the right time, smiled and nodded, and rushed towards the fortress.

Watching the smoke and dust in the carriage drift further and further away, the port authority's registrar walked to the pilot.

"This season, there are not many wealthy masters like this, let alone come from the river..."

The pilot blew the octagonal gold coins in one mouthful and put them in his ears and listened quietly.

"Don't worry! The shift will be made in three days, Miss Portuyani, I'm here!"
Chapter completed!