BSI Chapter 14 US Military Movements
Chapter 14 US Military Movements
"Where do we go next?" As soon as Zhang Xiuwu finished speaking, all the strong Chinese men around him looked over.
Chen Feng pondered for a moment, then asked the crowd, "Does anyone know the movements of the US military?"
"I know!"
A young man with short hair stepped forward.
The man looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, very honest, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"Come over here and talk to me first."
Chen Feng called him to his side and asked gently, "Don't be nervous. What's your name? How old are you?"
"Replying to the general, my name is Qian Biao, and I just turned seventeen this year," Qian Biao replied with his head down.
Chen Feng then asked, "Where were your ancestors from? How long have you been in Luzon?"
"My ancestors were from Huguang. My grandfather couldn't survive because of the Taiping Rebellion, so he came to Luzon to make a living," Qian Biao answered honestly.
Although this person was nervous, he answered fluently and is a promising talent.
Chen Feng nodded to himself and made up a story: "Then we're practically from the same hometown. My mother is from Huguang. How long have you been in the conscription camp? Where did you hear about the American military movements?"
Hearing that the person in front of him was from his hometown, Qian Biao relaxed a lot, but his voice was still hurried: "General, I have been in the conscription camp for three days. This afternoon my uncle came to see me and said that the US military landed at the Cavite naval base this morning."
"Cavite?"
Chen Feng frowned.
Zhang Xiuwu immediately added, "Cavite is southwest of Manila, and it's across the sea from our village."
"southwest?"
Chen Feng had a bit of a headache.
We're heading northwest towards Manila now. If we're going to find the US military, we'll definitely pass through Manila.
Qian Biao added, "General, I also heard from my uncle that Corregidor Island has been occupied by the US military, and that US fleets have been spotted off the coast of Malolos."
"The city of Malolos is very close to my village," Zhang Xiuwu suddenly interjected.
Chen Feng's face instantly lit up with joy: "Let's go back to the village first."
When Zhang Xiuwu heard that they were going back to the village, his eyes lit up: "I'll lead the way."
Chen Feng shook his head and said, "Let Li Chenghua lead the way. You should first take stock of how many people we have and how many weapons and supplies we have."
"Fine!" Zhang Xiuwu replied reluctantly, clearly not wanting to do such chores.
Hearing the perfunctory attitude, Chen Feng became quite uneasy and asked Qian Biao again, "Judging from your tone, you should be able to read?"
"I recognize two or three hundred characters."
"Alright, go help Zhang Xiuwu make a register. It doesn't need to be too complicated, just include names and ancestral homes." After Chen Feng finished speaking, he quickened his pace, walked to Vinal's side, and tore off the rag stuffed in his mouth.
"Are you going to hand me over to the Americans?" Vinal asked urgently, glancing back repeatedly in the direction of Manila.
Chen Feng chuckled softly: "Stop looking. The main force of the reinforcements has gone to chase after the Independent Army. No one can come to rescue you in the short term."
"What exactly do you want?" Knowing that his life was not in immediate danger, Vinal's tone became much firmer.
Chen Feng patted his cheek and chuckled, "You know I'm going to hand you over to the Americans, right? So tell me, how many guns are you worth?"
"snort!"
Vinal turned his head away, not wanting to discuss his net worth.
"Fine, don't say it if you don't want to. Anyway, when word gets out, you'll only be worth five guns. It's not me who will be embarrassed." Chen Feng curled his lip, deliberately provoking him.
As expected, Vinal fell for the trap and angrily said, "Am I, a dignified colonel, only worth five guns? A hundred times that would be enough. My family paid the Americans more than five hundred guns in ransom. Don't let the Americans get away with this."
"Ha ha!"
Chen Feng laughed loudly: "Fine! Then I'll ask the Americans for five hundred guns, not a single one less. You better behave yourself these next few days, don't go looking for trouble."
"Brother Chen, I've finished the statistics!" Zhang Xiuwu suddenly approached with Qian Biao.
Chen Feng shook his head, signaling him to be quiet. Only after they were some distance away from Vinal did he ask, "How was it?"
"There are a total of forty-nine men, seventeen guns, thirty-three standard-issue curved knives, and over one hundred rounds of ammunition," Zhang Xiuwu said, while Qian Biao took out a piece of paper.
"Tian Gang, Kong Yunfei, Ren Dayong, Ding Junkai, Wang Liang? Why are these five names written in larger letters?" Chen Feng asked, holding the letter with a puzzled expression.
Qian Biao explained in a low voice, "General, those five were with you to intercept the pursuers. I acted on my own initiative..."
Chen Feng waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "It's alright. Don't call yourself a villain in front of me in the future. We Free Army soldiers are all brothers."
"I understand, General!" Qian Biao nodded vigorously.
Chen Feng picked up the list, pondered it for a while, whispered a few words to Zhang Xiuwu, and then instructed, "Have everyone gather here."
The able-bodied men had walked for two hours in the rain and were somewhat unwilling, but because of Chen Feng's previous performance, they did not dare to object directly. It took them five or six minutes to complete the assembly.
Chen Feng picked up the letter, walked to the front of everyone, and began to read out each person's name aloud.
"Tian Gang!"
"arrive!"
"Kong Yunfei!"
"exist!"
"I'll answer from now on!"
Chen Feng gave a reminder, then continued reading until he had called everyone's names before he started talking about the important matter.
"Brothers, I have written down your names! From today onwards, you are no longer conscripts to be driven at will, but members of the Chinese Free Army!"
"I know you're tired, and I'm tired too! Running in the downpour for two hours, no one could withstand that."
At this point, Chen Feng paused, looked at Zhang Xiuwu standing at the side of the group, and raised his voice to ask, "What if we're tired? Should we just get a good night's rest?"
"No!"
Zhang Xiuwu, fully aware of his role as an actor, shouted in response: "Those damn Spaniards will definitely chase us after the rain stops. If we stop here to rest, we'll all be killed."
"I'm not afraid of being tired, nor am I afraid of dying, I'm only afraid of being tortured and killed like pigs and dogs by the Spanish!" Tian Gang roared.
Chen Feng nodded slightly and continued shouting, "Damn Spaniards, damn colonial government, we are human beings, not slaves!"
"We are human beings! Not slaves! Not pigs or dogs!" Tian Gang shouted, raising his fist.
Zhang Xiuwu glared at him, thinking to himself, "This is clearly my job, why does this old guy always try to show off?"
Despite these thoughts, he still followed up by waving his fist and shouting, "We are human beings! Not slaves! Not pigs or dogs!"
"We are human beings! Not slaves! Not pigs or dogs!"
......
The able-bodied Chinese men present all raised their fists, their shouts deafening.
Chen Feng gestured for everyone to quiet down, and then said loudly, "I know some people are afraid of death, but I want to say that following me might mean death, while staying here or fleeing back to your hometown will definitely mean death."
Because the Spanish will never let you go!
Of course, some people definitely won't believe it!
Those who do not believe may leave now; I will not stop them.