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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-7/limahong_image.webp" alt=""Limahong/>
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(An artist concept of Limahong)
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<p>
Li-ma-hong  also known as Lin Feng or Li Tao Kiem, was born in the port town of Tiuchiu in the province of Cui Tam.  

At an early age he manifested a martial spirit and joined a band of corsairs which for a long time had been the terror of the China coasts. On 

the demise of his chief, <b style="font-size:1em;"><i>Tai-La Ong</i></b>, he was unanimously elected leader of the buccaneering cruisers. At 

length, pursued in all directions by the imperial ships of war, he determined to attempt the conquest of the Philippines. Presumably the same 

incentives which impelled the Spanish mariners to conquer lands and overthrow dynasties, the vision of wealth, glory and empire, awakened a 

like ambition in the Chinese adventurer. 
</p>
<p>
In his sea-wanderings he happened to fall in with a Chinese trading junk returning from Manila with the proceeds of her cargo sold there. This 

he seized, and the captive crew were constrained to pilot his fleet towards the capital of Luzon. From them he learnt how easily the natives 

had been plundered by a handful of foreigners, the probable extent of the opposition he might encounter, the defences established, the wealth 

and resources of the district, and the nature of its inhabitants.
</p>

<p>

His fleet consisted of 62 war ships or armed junks, well found, having on board 2,000 sailors, 2,000 soldiers, 1,500 women, a number of 

artisans, and all that could be conveniently carried with which to gain and organize his new kingdom. On its way the squadron cast anchor off 

the Province of Ilocos Sur, where a few troops were sent ashore to get provisions. Whilst returning to the junks, they sacked the village and 

set fire to the huts. The news of this outrage was hastily communicated to <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1674/the-romance-of-juan-de-salcedo-and-lakandolas-niece-dayang-dayang-candarapa" class="news_link" title="Juan Salcedo">Juan Salcedo</a>, who had been pacifying the Northern Provinces since July, 1572, and 

was at the time in <i>Villa Fernandina</i> (now called Vigan). Li-ma-hong continued his course until calms compelled his ships to anchor in 

the roads of Cagayan (Ilocos coast), where a few Spanish soldiers were stationed under the orders of Juan Salcedo, who still was in the 

immediate town of Vigan. Under his direction preparations were made to prevent the enemy entering the river, but such was not Li-ma-hong's 

intention. He again set sail; whilst Salcedo, naturally supposing his course would be towards Manila, also started at the same time for the 

capital with all the fighting men he could collect, leaving only 30 men to garrison Vigan and protect the State interests there.  With the 

remainder he reached the coast at Parañaque, a village seven miles south of Manila. Thence, with tow-lines, the 400 soldiers hauled their 

junks up to the beach of the capital.
</p>

<p>
On November 29, 1574, the squadron arrived in the Bay of Manila, and Li-ma-hong sent forward his Lieutenant <span style="font-size:1em;font-weight:bold;">Sioco</span>, a Japanese, at the head of 600 fighting men to demand the surrender of the Spaniards. A strong gale, however, 

destroyed several of his junks, in which about 200 men perished.
</p>

</p>
Already at the village of Malate the alarm was raised, but the Spaniards could not give credit to the reports, and no resistance was offered 

until the Chinese were within the gates of the city. <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3120/mart-n-de-goiti-his-legacy-as-a-conquistador-in-the-philippines" class="news_link">Martin de Goiti</a>, the <i>Maestre de Campo, practically military governor</i>, second in 

command to the Governor, was the first victim of the attack. The Chinese cut off Goiti's ears and nose and presented them later to Li-ma-

hong.  Goiti's wife was badly wounded but survived.
</p>


<p>
The flames and smoke arising from his burning residence were the first indications which the Governor received of what was going on. The 

Spaniards took refuge in the Fort of Santiago, which the Chinese were on the point of taking by storm, when their attention was drawn 

elsewhere by the arrival of fresh troops led by a Spanish sub-lieutenant. Under the mistaken impression that these were the vanguard of a 

formidable corps, Sioco sounded the retreat. A bloody hand-to-hand combat followed, and with great difficulty the Chinese collected their dead 

and regained their junks.
</p>
<p>
In the meantime Li-ma-hong, with the reserved forces, was lying in the roadstead of Cavite, and Sioco hastened to report to him the result  of 

the attack, which had cost the invader over one hundred dead and more than that number wounded. Thereupon Li-ma-hong resolved to rest his 

troops and renew the conflict in two days' time under his personal supervision. The next day Juan Salcedo arrived by sea with reinforcements 

from Vigan, and preparations were unceasingly made for the expected encounter. Salcedo having been appointed to the office of <i>Maestre de 

Campo</i>, vacant since the death of Goiti, the organization of the defence was entrusted to his immediate care.
</p>
<p>
By daybreak on December 3,  the enemy's fleet hove-to off the capital, where Li-ma-hong harangued his troops, whilst the cornets and drums of 

the Spaniards were sounding the alarm for their fighting men to assemble in the fort.
</p>
<p>
Then 1,500 chosen men, well armed, were disembarked under the leadership of Sioco, who swore to take the place or die in the attempt. Sioco 

separated his forces into three divisions. The city was set fire to, and Sioco advanced towards the fort, into which hand-grenades were 

thrown, whilst Li-ma-hong supported the attack with his ships' cannon.
</p>
<p>
Sioco, with his division, at length entered the fort, and a hand-to-hand fight ensued. For a while the issue was doubtful. Salcedo fought like 

a lion. Even the aged Governor was well to the front to encourage the deadly struggle for existence. The Spaniards finally gained the victory; 

the Chinese were repulsed with great slaughter, and their leader having been killed, they fled in complete disorder. Salcedo, profiting by the 

confusion, now took the offensive and followed up the enemy, pursuing them along the sea-shore, where they were joined by the third division, 

which had remained inactive. The panic of the Chinese spread rapidly, and Li-ma-hong, in despair, landed another contingent of about 500 men, 

whilst he still continued afloat; but even with this reinforcement the morale of his army could not be restored.
</p>
<div class="image-550">
<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/limahong_port.webp" alt="An artist illustration of the Port of  Li-ma-hong" />
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(An artist illustration of the Port of  Li-ma-hong)
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<p>
The Chinese troops therefore, harassed on all sides, made a precipitate retreat on board the fleet, and Li-ma-hong set sail again for the west 

coast of the island. Foiled in the attempt to possess himself of Manila, Li-ma-hong determined to set up his capital in other parts. In a few 

days he arrived at the mouth of the Agno River, in the province of Pangasinán, where he proclaimed to the natives that he had gained a signal 

victory over the Spaniards. The inhabitants there, having no particular choice between two masters, received Li-ma-hong with welcome, and he 

thereupon set about the foundation of his new capital some four miles from the mouth of the river. 
</p>





The story of Li-ma-hong and his failed attempt to conquer Manila in 1574