BSI Chapter 41 The First Appearance of the Iron Rainbow
Chapter 41 The First Appearance of the Iron Rainbow
The rain drizzled, and the stench of blood filled the air.
Chen Feng watched the Marines carrying the bodies, his brows furrowed.
Who was this attack targeting?
Targeting oneself?
Probably not!
He had a grudge against the indigenous people, but it was impossible for them to have such elite assassins.
The Spanish were even less likely to do so. If they wanted to target us, they could simply send troops to capture us within the city; there was no need to resort to assassins to launch a sneak attack.
"Could it be Connor?"
The thought had barely formed in Chen Feng's mind when it was immediately rejected.
This man is a representative of the US military. With the war raging, no one in Luzon, except for the Spanish colonial army, dares to offend him easily.
"Then it can only be him!"
Chen Feng's gaze gradually focused, finally settling on Zheng Mingsong.
Outsiders may not know the details of the Zheng family's internal affairs, but the fact that Zheng Mingsong, the eldest son, was excluded from the war-torn front lines of Marolos is itself strange, clearly indicating that someone within the family does not want him to have an easy time.
He rarely goes out, so today's trip out of the city to keep the appointment is the perfect opportunity to strike.
The Zheng family had deep roots in the Chinese community, so it was not difficult for them to recruit assassins from within the Qing court's territory.
Zheng Mingsong felt a chill run down his spine from the gaze and subconsciously tightened his collar: "Brother Chen, is there something wrong with me?"
"I feel like these people are after you." Chen Feng didn't want his investment to go down the drain, so he spoke his mind directly.
Zheng Mingsong shook his head without hesitation: "Absolutely impossible! My Zheng family has been doing business for hundreds of years and has always been based on integrity. We never make mortal enemies with anyone; the family is also very harmonious internally, and we would never kill each other for the position of family head."
Seeing his resolute tone, Chen Feng said no more.
After all, you can't see into someone's heart, and outsiders can never truly understand the Zheng family's affairs.
The group traveled through the night, and only reached the seaside along the winding path at the break of dawn.
"We've finally arrived!"
Connor breathed a sigh of relief, pointed to the merchant ships moored in the deep water and laughed, "I'm soaked to the bone, I need to go up and take a shower and change my clothes."
Chen Feng looked up and saw it was the same merchant ship as before, but the waterline was noticeably shallower, indicating that there was very little cargo left on board.
Before long, the merchant ship lowered the connecting boat and rowed towards the shore.
After boarding the merchant ship, Chen Feng quickly took a hot shower, arranged by Connor.
The rain stopped sometime ago, and the rising sun leaped above the sea, its golden rays piercing through the clouds, creating a rainbow on the horizon.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Chen Feng felt a sense of relief and joy as he faced the cool sea breeze.
He looked toward the coast and, in a daze, realized that this place was not far from where he had first landed when he arrived in Luzon. He could even vaguely see the braid he had cut off back then being washed ashore by the waves and tangled on the rocks.
"Chen, I have to admit, you look much more handsome in a suit than I do now. If you went to a party in America, those ladies would definitely stare at you." Connor had changed into a military uniform, and his right ear was tightly wrapped in gauze.
After last night's battle, his attitude was completely different; he even started joking.
Chen Feng chuckled and retorted, "Were you always more handsome than me?"
"certainly!"
Connor, on the other hand, was extremely confident and nodded vigorously.
"You still have the leisure to joke around? Is it appropriate for me to meet General Dewey in this outfit?" Zheng Mingsong walked over quickly, his face full of embarrassment.
His original clothes were covered in mud, and he was now wearing a US soldier's training uniform.
Connor laughed and said, "Of course it suits you. Our uniforms are much more presentable than your previous mismatched outfit."
Chen Feng nodded in agreement: "They're even more energetic."
"Fine! There's no other way anyway. But I always feel like I'm a service soldier standing with you guys." Zheng Mingsong shrugged helplessly.
Chen Feng glanced at it; it did indeed look very similar, but he reassured her, "You're overthinking it!"
As the three chatted and laughed, the merchant ship sped towards Corregidor Island.
"This...this is your newest warship?"
When the massive hull of the USS Indiana came into view, Zheng Mingsong was stunned and muttered to himself, "It's more than a decade larger than the Spanish warships. No wonder they were so easily defeated."
Connor, his face full of smugness, chuckled, "We've brought three warships like this. You're quite knowledgeable, unlike Chen, who's so unsophisticated that he thought warships like this were commonplace. He didn't show any surprise when he saw them last time."
Chen Feng touched his nose, thinking to himself that the Indiana-class battleship he was referring to only had a displacement of 10288 tons, while he had personally seen aircraft carriers with a displacement of nearly 100,000 tons in his previous life.
"These naval cannons are so huge, if they were to fire a few shots at Manila, the city walls would probably collapse instantly," Zheng Mingsong said, still marveling at the sight.
Connor said in a serious tone, "There are many civilians in Manila. We Americans are a civilized country and would never kill innocent people indiscriminately."
Shit!
There are many coastal defense guns near Manila, with calibers larger than those of the Indiana-class battleships. If they were to engage in close-range fire, it's hard to say who would be destroyed!
Chen Feng silently grumbled to himself, but did not expose him.
The three were very lucky; after boarding the Indiana, they learned that George Dewey happened to be available.
Connor went in to report the situation first, and it was a full half hour later before he came out and said, "Chen, the general will see you first."
"OK!"
Chen Feng nodded slightly, straightened his suit jacket, and stepped into the reception room.
George Dewey, with a pipe in his mouth, gestured towards the chair in front of him and complimented, "Chen, your clothes fit you perfectly!"
"Thanks!"
Chen Feng walked to the desk, but instead of sitting down immediately, he continued to speak loudly in English: "General Dewey, it's good to see you again."
First of all, we would like to thank you for your generous donation of weapons and military funds, which enabled our Chinese Free Army to quickly gain a foothold.
Secondly, we must thank the US government for sending you and your troops across the ocean to bring civilization and hope to Luzon, allowing us Chinese to finally see the dawn of freedom.
Finally, I would like to thank the great American people; it is their kindness and integrity that nurtured a general like you and this invincible army.
His flattery was resounding and forceful.
George Dewey burst into laughter: "Hahaha, sit down! Chen, what you said is very much to our liking. You should have the opportunity to give a speech at the U.S. Congress. Americans appreciate people who know how to be grateful the most."
Chen Feng really wanted to go.
After Xiaoze went there, he made a lot of empty promises and directly obtained hundreds of billions of dollars in aid.
However, whether or not George Dewey could speak to Congress was not up to him; it required the approval of the US president.
Chen Feng suppressed the jumble of thoughts in his mind, plopped down in a chair, and said sincerely, "If such an opportunity truly arises, I will be truly grateful to you."
George Dewey ignored the question and instead asked, "Chen, what is the next direction of your Free Army's operations?"
Chen Feng did not answer, but instead asked, "General Dewey, what are your plans for us?"