20demayo Chapter 63 Japanese Pirates Visit the Camp
Chapter 63 Japanese Pirates Visit the Camp
During this time, Qian Biao had already thoroughly investigated the three men's backgrounds through casual conversations.
Peter was a key technical staff member at the Philadelphia Arms Factory, skilled in handling rifles and disassembling machine guns, making him a perfect candidate to lead the establishment of the armory.
Jack is a retired naval petty officer. He knows everything about ship navigation and hydrographic calculations. He doesn't need it now, but it will be his trump card sooner or later.
The most valuable one is Marilyn, with a natural intelligence sense. She is a codebreaker in the Pacific Fleet's intelligence department, and she is capable of training intelligence personnel and building intelligence networks all by herself!
Chen Feng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his mind racing with calculations, and he immediately saw through the three men's thoughts.
Marilyn's anxious gesture of rubbing the hem of her clothes revealed her eagerness for a remittance to save her mother.
Peter and Jack exchanged hesitant glances. Although the three-year construction period was long, it was a hundred times better than being prisoners of war and doing hard labor.
"What are you hesitating about?"
Chen Feng suddenly spoke, his voice low but penetrating, "If you serve diligently for three years, in addition to your agreed salary, each of you will receive an extra $2000 bonus upon completion of your term!"
"What?!"
Peter jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing with excitement, and grabbed Chen Feng's hand: "Chen! This is like a windfall! I only make $40 a month in America; it would take me fifty months of saving every penny to accumulate $2000!"
"The Chinese Free Army received not a single penny from many people."
Chen Feng smiled and gave him a firm handshake. "I just didn't make the conditions clear before. I, Chen Feng, always mean what I say."
Marilyn bit her lip, hesitated for two seconds, then suddenly looked up: "We need a contract, with all terms clearly written in black and white!"
"It's already prepared for you."
Chen Feng called out to the door, and a soldier immediately rushed in with paper and pen in hand.
Marilyn took the pen and paper and bent down to examine them. The salary, work period, and remittance deadline were written down clearly. After confirming that everything was correct, she signed first.
Peter and Jack followed closely behind, the sound of their pens gliding across the paper crisp and clean.
Chen Feng put away the contract, casually stuffed it into his clothes, and immediately ordered: "Marilyn and Qian Biao go to the intelligence department; Peter and Jack, immediately take ten apprentices to repair firearms, revitalize the existing weapons within a week, and start preparations for the armory simultaneously! We're going to make our own guns and our own cannons!"
"Yes, sir!" Peter and Jack responded in unison, their voices so loud they could pierce eardrums. Marilyn's tone was slightly calmer, but the hesitation in her eyes had vanished.
Chen Feng had just stepped out of the wooden house, and before he could even feel the mountain breeze, Tian Gang came rushing in like a gust of wind, his voice urgent: "General! The sentries outside the mountain report that a Japanese man has come specifically to see you, saying he wants to pay you a visit!"
Japanese?
Chen Feng paused in his steps.
Aoki Nobuyuki's face, plastered with a fake smile, instantly flashed into my mind.
Why did that old Japanese devil find us?
That night in the church cemetery, his group did not reveal their identities from beginning to end. After that, they launched a surprise attack on the San Antonio supply depot. He could never have guessed that the gold had fallen into the hands of the Free Army. Could it be that he came to test the waters?
Chen Feng thought for a moment, but still had no clue, so he ordered, "Let him in. Set up three times the number of sentries along the way. Don't let him wander around. Keep a close eye on his every move!"
A moment later, Aoki Nobuyuki entered the valley under the escort of two soldiers. His deliberately slowed pace concealed a probing intent, and his gaze swept over every spot like that of a hawk.
On the drill ground, the soldiers trained in the rain, their bayonets gleaming in the rain, their shouts echoing through the valley. Their fierce spirit was more intense than any other independent army he had ever seen.
On the hillside, watchtowers are scattered about, with sentries standing ramrod straight, their eyes scanning the distance with piercing gazes, ready to sound the alarm at the slightest disturbance.
His gaze suddenly fixed on a wooden hut. Just then, soldiers opened the door to unload supplies. The outline of stacked wooden crates flashed by. Although he couldn't make out the words, he instantly deduced from the tight security and the heavy weight of the crates that they contained military equipment and ammunition, and in considerable quantities!
"These aren't just bandits; they're clearly an elite force. Sooner or later, they'll become formidable opponents on Luzon!"
Aoki Nobuyuki's heart trembled violently, and his steps slowed by half a beat. It wasn't until the warrior led him into the stone house and he looked up to see the person in the main seat that his pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed in surprise, "It's you! Chen-san!"
Chen Feng sat still, a cold smile creeping across his face: It seems the plan to steal the gold medal hasn't been exposed yet.
He gestured to the bench beside him: "Mr. Aoki, please sit down."
Aoki Nobuyuki, true to his veteran spy reputation, quickly transformed his surprise into a warm smile, rubbing his hands together in admiration: "Mr. Chen, you're truly a hidden talent! I saw your exceptional skills on the ship and knew you were no ordinary person. I never imagined you'd build such a formidable force in such a short time!"
"They're just a group of Chinese trying to survive in this chaotic world," Chen Feng chuckled, waving for his guards to pour him tea.
Aoki Nobuyuki took the iced tea, sipped it, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp light. His tone was exaggerated to the extreme: "Mr. Chen is too modest! The Chinese Free Army bravely captured Balangai Village and became famous in one battle; then they destroyed the San Antonio warehouse, cutting off the Independent Army's supply line. Such courage and strategy make them worthy of being called heroes in troubled times! I have long admired them and came here to pay a visit. I never expected to find an old friend!"
This old Japanese devil is just spouting platitudes, what is he really trying to do?
Chen Feng sneered inwardly, but remained calm on the surface, gently rubbing the rim of his teacup: "Mr. Aoki, you've come all this way, surely not just to offer a few words of admiration? Speak frankly, I, Chen Feng, am straightforward and don't like beating around the bush."
Aoki Nobuyuki put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a more sincere tone: "To be honest, ever since I heard about Chen Sang's deeds, I have wanted to visit him. However, the situation was turbulent recently, and I was afraid of disturbing him by coming rashly. Now, seeing your army's formidable defenses and the bravery of your soldiers, I am even more convinced that Chen Sang will surely make a name for himself in Luzon in the future."
He paused, then changed the subject, seemingly testing the waters but actually setting a trap: "I'm just a little curious, the San Antonio warehouse is an important supply point for the Independent Army, why would Chen Sang take such a risk? Isn't he afraid of making a complete enemy of the Independent Army and being attacked from both sides?"
"Mr. Aoki has misunderstood."
Chen Feng put down his teacup and said calmly, "The intelligence I received at the time was that the warehouse was still in the hands of the Spanish, which is why I launched the raid. Later, when the independence army sent people to ask, I explained the truth to them that it was all a misunderstanding."
The Americans will never admit that they were behind it until they have completely broken ties with the independence forces.
The independence army is currently focused on dealing with the Spanish colonial army, so even if they don't believe it, they can only accept this "misunderstanding" with a heavy heart.
Aoki Nobuyuki narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing this explanation, but he didn't press further. Instead, he changed the subject: "Does Mr. Chen plan to establish a long-term presence in Luzon?"
"Of course! If I can't establish myself in Luzon, where else can I go?" Chen Feng replied calmly.
A glint of greed flashed in Aoki Nobuyuki's eyes, and he immediately laughed, "Mr. Chen has lofty ambitions! However, the situation in Luzon is complex. The American forces are eyeing us covetously, the independence army has deep roots, and the Spanish are still plotting against us. For the Chinese Free Army to gain a foothold is as difficult as climbing to heaven!"
"so?"
Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, deliberately feigning a seeking look, "Mr. Aoki, you must have some insightful opinions to offer today?"