Sharpe's Gold by Bernard Cornwell is the second book he wrote, in 1981, but it is the ninth in the chronological order of the series. This book relates Captain Richard Sharpe's mission to covertly seek and acquire Spanish gold for General Wellington, which is to be used for a secret project. The project is the last hope for stopping Bonaparte.

The war with Bonaparte is going poorly and Spain is all but lost. Captain Richard Sharpe and his Light Company of the South Essex Regiment march to Celorico on Wellington's orders after a boring patrol of the southern borders. He has problems on the way with a Provost Marshall, Lieutenant Ayres, so his original purpose for being called to Celorico is overshadowed by complaints to Wellington by Ayres.

Wellington requires Sharpe's expertise so Sharpe is only required to apologize to Ayres. After Sharpe gets his assignment from Wellington, he and his Company go to meet Major Kearsey in Almeida, to learn how to get the Spanish gold necessary to support the war effort. Kearsey says the gold is in Castejeda; however, he is under the impression that the gold will be taken to Cadiz to the Spanish, not to Wellington.

Outside of Castejeda, Kearsey wants to meet El Catolico by himself and is captured by the French, so Sharpe decides to rescue him. In a bold action, Sharpe's Company attacks the French with wild screams and rifles firing. He not only rescues Kearsey, but also Teresa and her brother, Ramon Moreno. Sharpe's Company retreats back to a gully and with Teresa's help, the group tricks the French into leaving and goes into Castejeda.

Sharpe meets El Catolico, a local partisan leader who considers the gold to be his, so he has hidden the gold and tries to claim the French took it. Sharpe must find gold and, through luck, Patrick Harper discovers it in a manure heap.

Sharpe holds Teresa hostage to get away from El Catolico and they head to Almeida with the gold. They are troubled by the partisans and French troops the entire trip. When the French seem to be winning, help arrives in the form of Captain Lossow and his German Cavalry who escort them to Almeida. Here Teresa and Sharpe become lovers and he promises her some gold for her people.

El Catolico is also in the fort and Major Cox, who is in charge of Almeida, and Major Cox tells Sharpe to give El Catolico the gold. Sharpe refuses, blows up part of the fort, and leaves with the gold.

Wellington gets 14,000 in coins, Teresa gets 1000 for the partisans. El Catolico had stolen 250, so Sharpe and the Company get 750 to spend. Wellington uses the gold to pay for building the Lines of Torres Verdras, which bars the Lisbon peninsula and stops the French advance.