How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 108: Do Not Be Afraid (1)

"Timber coming down!"

Wheeeeeeee!!

I cut through trees with a chainsaw while others chop with axes or move around clearing away logs.

"C-can I pass through?"

"It's fine. Everyone keep your distance."

After a while, as people step back, Oitotan slowly starts the steam tractor. Since it's a 'steam' engine, it takes quite a while to start.

Boom boom boom!

But after waiting patiently, the tractor finally moves with a thunderous sound.

As it tears up the ground where tree roots are tangled, completely plowing the earth, nearby workers cheer at the impressive operation before heading off to chop down more trees elsewhere.

It was an ordinary evening.

I approached Oitotan, who was struggling to change direction, and asked:

"How's the performance of the newly made attachment?"

"It's fine. The plow blade seems to be working well."

Good. This is already our second tractor, and the performance isn't bad.

Moldboard plows, disk plows, and various other plows suitable for this soil are being tested smoothly.

Especially the disk plow.

Thanks to this plow, which wouldn't have been developed until the distant future, we were able to quickly clear and develop this area full of tree roots.

Since disk plows are originally suitable for developing untamed land that is hard, rough, and full of trees and stones, it was perfect for our situation.

Even without a tractor, this type of plow pulled by horses wouldn't be bad.

At this rate, it seemed we could cover a significant portion of the land cleared by the excavator. I nodded with satisfaction as I looked around.

Now it's July 1598.

The settlement has two tractors, one cultivator, and one excavator.

Not a bad achievement. I was walking toward the excavator that had been set aside to clear trees when I happened to look toward the beach.

Lanterns carried by those guarding the coast swayed here and there.

Beyond them, far away near the horizon, faint lights twinkled like stars.

They were the lights of fishing boats.

Some fishermen who had come over from England seemed to be catching salmon, sea trout, sheepshead, and other fish in this area.

Thanks to them, our food shortage had been greatly alleviated, but...

'It's still not enough.'

Because we absolutely lack skilled fishermen who can go out to sea.

It was fortunate that the natives didn't have the technology for mass fishing, so the waters were teeming with fish. Going far out to sea on boats helped secure a certain amount of food.

Anyway.

Everyone was working hard for the survival of this community. Myself included, and them too.

I can't be lazy either.

Vrrrrrrrrrm!

As I moved the excavator to clear scattered timber...

"AAAAAGH!"

Suddenly, a scream rang out.

...What's going on?

==

The Spanish colonial empire was enjoying an era full of glory and gold.

Its current king was Philip II of the Habsburg dynasty (Habsburgo in Spanish pronunciation).

The empire ruled by this meticulous, clever, and detail-oriented man was enjoying continuous prosperity.

Although his Habsburg relatives in Central Europe constantly checked his power,

The Netherlands rebelled disgracefully,

In France, some Protestant converted to Catholicism and took the throne,

And the Papacy too, cleverly riding on top of these complicated diplomatic relations, irritated him...

Still, a large ship is not easily rocked by high waves.

In fact, in the grand power struggle within Europe, King Philip II of Spain was achieving fairly good results.

During his reign, Spain defeated the Ottomans and emerged as the undisputed leader of the Catholic world. Indian slaves were liberated, and the brilliant Renaissance culture was transplanted.

There were several bankruptcies, but these were minor issues. The wealth flowing in from the New World continuously replenished the empire.

...Of course, treasure naturally attracts vermin like sweet food.

For example, flies.

Or ants.

Or England.

Still, he did not let his attention be distracted by pests like England. He avoided the mistake of missing the big picture by focusing on small matters.

His attention remained on Central Europe and Italy, where the Papal States were located.

"...Hmm."

He occasionally devoted time to handle accumulated matters regarding the war with England all at once.

In writing, fitting his meticulous personality.

"Hmm..."

Although his complexion had somehow worsened lately... believing it to be nothing serious.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

Thus, several orders flowed into the Council of the Indies in Seville, and then were dispatched to the West Indies colonies, evading English eyes.

"...His Majesty commands that you focus all efforts on checking the Virginia colony. His Majesty has expressed adequate satisfaction with achievements thus far, and ultimately commands you to defeat those barbaric heretics and lead the Indians to the right faith."

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"..."

"..."

"..."

The colonial authorities who received Philip II's orders fell into deep thought.

"...To defeat the heretics."

"This surely means to prevent the expansion of the Virginia colony itself."

"To block Virginia, we need to strengthen Florida, so it might be best to continue the current approach..."

"No, no. His Majesty said we must 'ultimately defeat those barbaric heretics.' We must come up with an active countermeasure!"

"Hmm..."

"Isn't that right? Does anyone here know the exact population of the Virginia colony?"

"..."

"Then, does anyone know the strength of the Indian Emperor's forces?"

"...No."

Looking back, information about the Virginia colony was mysteriously veiled.

After observing the Virginia colony from a distance several times, they discovered that at least thousands of Indians and Englishmen were residing there.

They also concluded that a direct landing operation on that land was clearly impossible, as it was thoroughly armed with hundreds of cannons.

However, all other information remained unknown.

Exactly how many people lived in that land, and how many of them were Indians.

What kind of person the Indian Emperor was, how vast his empire was, whether he even existed.

What resources came from their land, how large that 'aluminum' mine was.

They knew hardly anything properly.

That's right.

They knew absolutely nothing about a colony of that size.

Considering that Spain had planted eyes and ears all over England... a rather chilling conclusion emerges.

"...Are you saying England also knows nothing about their own colony?"

"Strictly speaking, Virginia isn't even England's colony.

According to the treaty between the 'two countries,' the English have only been granted the right to freely operate within the Emperor's territory and the right to purchase land."

"But there must be people going back and forth? Just think about that fellow Drake..."

"I've heard that a trading company owned by Baron Raleigh has a monopoly on all trade between Virginia and England. No information leaks from there."

"..."

The more they pondered, the more chilling it became.

Their heads throbbed with pain.

They knew nothing!

"Damn it, whatever we do, we need to gather information first."

"We should at least send an expedition there."

"...An expedition? Any Spaniard would be killed immediately."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"What about recruiting Englishmen or people of other nationalities and sending them..."

"...Wait!"

"What is it?"

Someone exclaimed as if they had come up with a breakthrough idea.

"I've got it! There are people who are Spanish but can freely enter and exit Virginia!"

"Who are you talking about?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...The slaves."

Aha.

There was a way to catch them off guard.