The Wind Rises in 1898: Becoming a Warlord Starting in Southeast Asia

Chapter 108 Reporter Interview

Manila Water Tower Fortress, the highest point in the north of the city, has brick and stone walls up to one meter thick. The lookout post and machine gun emplacement on the top of the tower overlook several kilometers. The tower is surrounded by trenches and barbed wire. 300 defenders hold the choke point tightly, and the attacking side can only attack uphill with no room for maneuver.

Along the Marikina River, dozens of outposts and bunkers formed a crossfire network along the riverbank, and key crossing points were mined. Each outpost was manned by 50-100 people, blocking the main water and land routes.

The Kalamba military camp, a logistics hub in the north of the city, is surrounded by wooden fences and artillery positions. It is garrisoned by 1500 mobile infantrymen with ample ammunition and food supplies, ready to support surrounding outposts at any time.

Smith smiled. "I'll chair this meeting. The Independent Army is strong; they've taken three strongholds. Your Free Army only needs to capture one!"

Chen Feng immediately cursed in his heart: "You son of a bitch, trying to use this as a bargaining chip to extort bribes again?"

Connor, who was standing to the side, rarely spoke up, reminding him, "Mr. Smith, you promised before that you wouldn't assign the Free Army any assault missions."

Smith's smile vanished instantly, and he spread his hands, saying, "I can't do anything about it. It's an order from the Army War Department. The only thing I can do is let Commander Chen choose the outpost first."

All four are tough nuts to crack!

Unlike the defenseless natives of the past, each stronghold was equipped with machine guns and artillery; charging in head-on would be suicide!

Chen Feng frowned, rapidly calculating on the map in his mind, then suddenly looked up at Connor: "What is your navy's mission in this battle?"

"Cooperating with the U.S. Army's operations." Connor shrugged helplessly.

"So, there's no naval gun support on the northern battlefield?" Chen Feng's voice instantly turned cold.

"Hmm!" Connor nodded slightly.

Chen Feng immediately roared, "No way! Without naval gun support, my Free Army will never go and become cannon fodder!"

"That's not up to you," Smith sneered, his tone threatening.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Feng's eyes, and his tone was undisguisedly threatening: "We're a community of shared interests. If you don't help me, none of us will have an easy time."

His words directly implied that the two men were involved in embezzlement and bribery, and that if exposed, they would definitely face a military court-martial!

Smith's expression changed slightly as he glanced in the direction of the office building, as if he had some concerns.

He pondered for a moment and said, "The army's mission cannot be changed, but Connor can think of a way to send a warship over for support."

Connor also glanced at the office building and nodded, saying, "The main battleships can't be moved; at most, we can send one cruiser."

Olympia!

Four 203mm breech-loading guns, with a maximum range of 12.8 kilometers, provide sufficient firepower to support your assault.

Smith looked at Chen Feng and said firmly, "Chen, this is the greatest sincerity we can offer. You can't refuse anymore!"

Chen Feng did not respond immediately; his mind was already engaged in precise calculations:

The Kalamba military camp was directly excluded. It was 15 kilometers from the coast, which was beyond the effective range of the Olympia's main guns and its accuracy was greatly reduced. Without naval gun support, 1500 mobile infantrymen could wear down the Free Army.

The Manila Water Tower fortress was no match. The one-meter-thick brick walls were useless against high-explosive shells, and armor-piercing shells were too slow. By the time a breach was blasted open, the Free Army would have become sitting ducks for the machine guns on top of the tower, their flesh and blood filling the hole.

The request to establish a checkpoint on the upper reaches of the Marikina River was also rejected. The river is winding, the Olympia has a deep draft and cannot enter shallow waters. Long-range gun coverage would be obstructed by trees, making it impossible to lock onto targets, let alone provide support.

After filtering through all the options, only the San Juan del Monte defense line remained!

A glint suddenly appeared in Chen Feng's eyes. This seemingly toughest nut to crack was precisely the only stronghold where the Olympia could unleash its full power!

The defensive line runs close to the lower reaches of the Marikina River, only 8 kilometers from the deep waters of Manila Bay, within the effective range of the Olympia's main guns, where the optical rangefinder can accurately lock onto the target.

The earthen and wooden fortress was as fragile as paper in the face of a 136-kilogram high-explosive bomb. The four main guns fired two rounds per minute and could level the outer fortifications in half an hour.

The defensive line extends along the riverbank, and the Olympia can flexibly adjust its position at the river mouth. Its 360-degree rotating turrets cover the entire defensive line, leaving no blind spots.

As for the Spanish defenders' field artillery?

The Olympia's turrets, with their 152mm thick armor, could withstand counterattacks, and if a safe distance was maintained, enemy coastal defense artillery simply couldn't reach them!

"I choose the San Juan del Monte defense."

Chen Feng suddenly looked up and stared straight at the two of them: "But I have three conditions:

First, the Olympia must provide artillery coverage on the day of the attack, focusing on bombarding the fortified groups and field artillery positions, with each fortified group hit by at least three main guns.

Second, we will use light signals for communication. I will set up markers on the riverbank. When the campfire is lit, we will continue the attack. When it is extinguished, we will cease fire. You must strictly follow this order!

Third, the military aid you promised must be doubled, and you must provide a sufficient number of machine guns and artillery.

Smith and Connor exchanged a glance. Seeing how accurately Chen Feng had calculated things, and with their own reservations, they could only nod in agreement.

At 9:00 sharp, the wooden door to the conference room was pushed open, and Smith walked in with two adjutants, and the meeting officially began.

Chen Feng followed him in and glanced around. The representatives of the Independent Army were already sitting on one side, six or seven people occupying half of the long table.

Liu Hengfu was among them. Although he was the commander-in-chief of the southern front, he sat quietly in a corner with his eyes downcast, clearly having little say.

All eyes of the Independent Army were focused on the wheelchair-bound man at the head of the group.

He was dressed in a neat white shirt, with a lean face but sharp, eagle-like eyes; he was none other than Apollinario Mabini.

Chen Feng understood.

This man came from a poor family and was admitted to the law school of the University of Manila through self-study, but had to drop out of school due to polio and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

He insisted on Philippine independence and refused to be subservient to foreign powers, but he disagreed with Luna's political views and strongly advocated for centralized power.

He also drafted the core provisions of the "Maloros Constitution," aiming to weaken local warlords and Aguinaldo's cronies and establish a civilian government.

More importantly, his fear of the US military was even deeper than Luna's.

Liu Hengfu caught a glimpse of Chen Feng, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment but didn't dare to greet him.

Mabini actually smiled at Chen Feng, seemingly unaware that his commander-in-chief, Aquinado, had his arms and legs broken by Chen Feng.

Smith took the head of the table, placed his hands on the desk, and got straight to the point: "You have all received the Army's operational plan. Now, allocate the four outposts north of Manila."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mabini turned to Chen Feng and tentatively asked in English, "Your army only needs to capture one stronghold. Which one does General Chen prefer? You can choose first."

That's exactly what I wanted!

Chen Feng sneered inwardly, immediately stood up, glanced at the map on the table, and declared loudly, "I choose the San Juan del Monte defense line!"

Upon hearing this, the Independent Army erupted in chaos, their faces contorted with mocking sneers as they whispered amongst themselves: "Are they crazy? Choosing San Juan? That's a defensive line personally overseen by the Governor of Basilio!"

"Ten times harder to attack than the Kalamba military camp! Two thousand regular troops, trenches and fortifications everywhere—the Free Army is courting death!"

"Near its mouth, the Marikina River is over fifty meters wide, and the banks are lined with fortifications. How did they manage to cross it?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Mabini's eyes, clearly not expecting Chen Feng to take on this most difficult task, disrupting his plans.

He suppressed his smile and feigned concern, reminding him, "General Chen, the Marikina River is a treacherous and difficult river to cross. Shouldn't you reconsider?"

"No need!"

Chen Feng pulled out a chair and sat down.

Smith tapped the table: "Now that the Free Army has chosen the San Juan del Monte defense line, the remaining strongholds will be allocated to the Independent Army. Mr. Mabini, does your army have any objections?"

Mabini took a deep breath, suppressing his surprise and doubt, and slowly said, "No objection."

He had already calculated in his mind: if Chen Feng could take San Juan, he would clear the biggest obstacle for the independence army; if he couldn't take it, he could weaken the Free Army with the help of the Spanish army. No matter the outcome, the independence army would not suffer any losses.

Chen Feng watched all of this with a cold smile in his heart.

These people each had their own ulterior motives, only wanting to use others to weaken their opponent, unaware that he had already calculated the Olympia's advantage in naval guns. What seemed like the toughest bone was actually a piece of fat meat!

The meeting proceeded very quickly, and after the assignments were completed, everyone got up and left.

Liu Heng deliberately lagged behind, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but when Mabini glanced back, he immediately swallowed his words and quickly left.

Chen Feng was about to take his leave when Smith waved him off, saying, "Chen, there's something else I need to ask you."

"What is it?" Chen Feng sat back down in his chair.

"A beautiful young reporter is coming to interview your Free Army and Malolos." As soon as Smith finished speaking, a blonde girl walked into the conference room.

She was in her early twenties, tall and curvaceous, wearing a custom-made khaki field uniform made of rare Egyptian long-staple cotton. A wide leather belt cinched her waist, and her long golden hair was styled into a bun with a small pearl hair clip. Silver-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, making her look both capable and sophisticated.

"Hello, Commander Chen! I am Elizabeth Roosevelt, a war correspondent for The New York Times." The girl extended her fair right hand, her smile bright.

"Hello, Ms. Elizabeth." Chen Feng gently shook her hand, but was secretly thinking to himself.

Is this woman crazy?

War correspondent?

Or did they come from the Free Army?

Zhang Xiuwu is still forcing indigenous prisoners to work day and night, and secretly burning the bodies of the dead. If she finds out that the Free Army is carrying out genocide...

Those guys who advocate the Chinese Exclusion Act while calling themselves "civilized" would probably tear him apart, wouldn't they?

Thinking of this, Chen Feng shook his head sharply: "Miss Elizabeth, the war is still unsettled and there are soldiers everywhere. Your precious body is not worth taking such a risk."

"rest assured."

When Elizabeth smiled, the corners of her eyes had a sharp curve, showing no trace of fragility. "I've been on the Cuban battlefield for the first half of the year. I'm not one of those delicate aristocratic ladies from New York."

Before she finished speaking, she took out a small notebook and a fountain pen from her pocket, the pen tip hovering over the paper, her eyes fixed intently on Chen Feng: "Commander Chen's English is more fluent than that of Chinese people who have lived in New York for a long time. I heard that you are from Qing Dynasty. Where did you learn it?"

Is this a direct jump into the interview?

Chen Feng inwardly felt a headache coming on, and replied perfunctorily, "I haven't been in Luzon for long, and I learned English from the local Chinese. Maybe I have a bit of a talent for languages."

Elizabeth pulled up a chair and sat down, her pen gliding across the paper. "I also heard that when you arrived in Manila Bay on May 1st, your ship was hit by the Spanish navy. It's truly a blessing from God that you survived such a shipwreck!"

What?

A stray bullet from the Spanish Navy?

Chen Feng curled his lip, knowing that Connor was definitely making this up. After all, it was really too embarrassing for the US Navy to hit a passenger ship!

As for God's favor?

It's clearly a miracle from our ancestors!

He patiently dragged over a chair and said in a deep voice, "That's right. The Spanish are foolish and arrogant, daring to attack civilian ships."

Elizabeth quickly scribbled a few lines of elegant English on the paper:

Commander Chen Feng, a Chinese man, is as handsome as a novel protagonist!

They survived a brutal attack by the Spanish Navy on May 1st.

Is it a gift from God, or a mysterious power from the East?

When she looked up, the curiosity in her eyes was almost overflowing: "I heard that you led a team of a thousand men and gained a foothold in just one month, and even repelled the counterattack of the Spanish colonial army?"

Were those indigenous prisoners victims you rescued from the colonial army?

"7

coming!

Chen Feng felt a chill run down his spine, his fingers tightening subtly at the seam of his trousers, but his expression remained calm and composed.

This woman had indeed done her homework thoroughly, knowing everything about the indigenous prisoners of war, and she even had a kind of benevolent filter on her!

He composed himself, a perfectly timed wry smile appearing on his face, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Rescue? I suppose so."

Those natives were originally Spanish laborers, whom I rescued after defeating the colonial army. However, everything was in ruins; the camp needed roads to be built, and the mines needed manpower. I could only ask them for help to some extent, just to give them food. It was better than starving with the Spanish.

This statement is half true and half false; it acknowledges the fact that the indigenous people work, while packaging their forced labor as a benevolent act of taking them in.

Elizabeth blinked, and the pen moved even faster:

China's infrastructure spending power is now confirmed!

Chen Feng took in the indigenous prisoners of war and had them participate in road construction and mining in exchange for food rations. This is the light of humanitarianism in war!

They're much better than those New York councilors who just shout slogans!

She seemed particularly satisfied with the answer, but then abruptly changed the subject, getting straight to the point: "I heard from the liaison officer who picked you up last night that there was a strange burning smell at your camp's small dock last night. Were they handling special supplies?"

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat!

This woman has such a keen sense of smell, she even needs to ask about this?

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and said slowly, "Oh, that's dealing with livestock that died of disease."

"Luzon is such a humid and hot place. Pigs and sheep can easily get sick if we're not careful. If we don't burn them in time, it could cause an epidemic. Then it won't just be us soldiers who suffer; the local people will be in trouble too."

He deliberately emphasized the words "native" and "plague," and met Elizabeth's gaze calmly, without showing the slightest bit of guilt.

Anyway, the lie was plausible, and she couldn't very well dig up the ashes to verify it, could she?

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully, paused her pen on the notebook, and wrote a line that almost made Chen Feng spit out his tea:

The campsite has an extremely high level of hygiene and disease prevention awareness!

Burning sick animals to prevent epidemics—Commander Chen Feng not only knows how to fight, but also understands people's livelihood!

I suggest the US Army copy this!

She put down her pen, suddenly stood up, and looked intently at Chen Feng, as if she had discovered a new continent: "Commander Chen, I want to go to your camp immediately!"

"See for yourself your infrastructure construction sites, see the indigenous people you've taken in, and those sanitation measures you mentioned... that can protect against the plague!"

Oops!

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat.

It's easy to fool her verbally, but if she actually goes to the camp, won't she be exposed?

Zhang Xiuwu and his gang of rough men, how could they know anything about disguise?

The natives' emaciated appearance and the faint smell of burning corpses were enough for Elizabeth to spot the flaws if she paid a little attention!