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

Chapter 116 No End in Sight

"Has the southern offensive suffered a setback?"

Chen Feng frowned, but then seemed to have figured something out, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. "This is not good news, but... Connor is probably secretly happy."

Tian Gang was stunned, not understanding what he meant.

Chen Feng didn't explain further, but simply shook his head slightly.

The U.S. Army has been unable to make any progress and achieve its strategic goals, so it has no leverage to compete with the Navy for credit.

At that point, we'll have no choice but to follow Connor's original plan: use Bishop Larra to persuade the Spanish colonial government to surrender. The navy will be able to take control of Manila without lifting a finger, which is exactly what Connor has always wanted.

He snapped out of his reverie, looked at the communications officer, and asked in a deep voice, "Did Connor say what our next course of action is?"

"Reporting to the general, Connor has ordered us to remain in place and await further instructions!" the communications officer replied, standing at attention.

"Stay put?"

Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, and a plan instantly formed in his mind.

The meaning couldn't be clearer: the southern front will most likely continue its offensive despite the difficulties, but given the current situation, a breakthrough is impossible in the short term.

Once the army is exhausted, the U.S. Navy will naturally take over and regain control of the Battle of Manila.

Thinking of this, he immediately ordered: "Arrange manpower immediately! Carry all the seriously wounded onto the ship and transport them to the temporary camp on the other side of the river for resettlement."

The bodies of our fallen comrades should be carefully collected, wrapped tightly in canvas, and transported away together; not a single one should be left behind!

"Understood!" Tian Gang responded and immediately organized the surviving soldiers to take action.

In the trenches and on the beach, the soldiers endured their own pain and carefully lifted their seriously wounded comrades.

The bodies of the fallen brothers were placed in pre-prepared body bags and slowly carried to the riverbank.

Just then, a small boat rowed over from the opposite bank, and Elizabeth stood at the bow, her face very pale.

The platoon of Marines, rowing several small boats, still followed closely behind, their expressions wary as they scanned their surroundings. However, their gazes toward the blood-red beach held a more complex meaning.

As soon as the boat docked, Elizabeth stepped off the slippery mudflats.

The curiosity and excitement that had filled her eyes before had vanished, replaced by a deep sense of reluctance.

She still clutched the small notebook in her hand, but the frantic writing she had been doing before was gone. She just unconsciously stroked the cover, muttering to herself, "Too cruel... war is just too cruel."

She had previously hoped to move readers with a shocking report, but now, seeing this land soaked in blood and witnessing the loss and mutilation of those young lives, her professional ambitions were instantly wiped out.

She looked up at the Manila Water Tower Fortress still shrouded in smoke in the distance, then looked down at the bloodstains at her feet and said softly, "My reporting topic can no longer be about heroism and bravery... It should be changed to promoting peace and letting more people see the horror of war."

Chen Feng happened to hear this and was suddenly stunned.

Does that mean all the previous photos were taken for nothing?

The scene of him fearlessly charging forward?

The image of Free Army fighters braving gunfire and charging through the death zone.

Does this mean these things can't be published in the newspaper?

That won't do!

Just as Chen Feng was about to speak, Elizabeth muttered, "However... we should use more impactful photos to promote peace, so that the members of Congress can see what war really brings."

As she spoke, she raised her camera again and began taking pictures of the wounded soldiers and corpses.

Finally, she pointed the camera at several Spanish prisoners who were receiving basic first aid.

Their faces were filled with exhaustion and fear. One of the young soldiers was only seventeen or eighteen years old, and his arm wound was still bleeding. His eyes were full of longing for his hometown.

Elizabeth put down her camera, took out the small notebook that was almost crumpled to pieces, and her pen flew across the paper, the handwriting trembling slightly but unusually firm:

There are no victors in war, only broken lives and fragmented souls.

The ferocity of charging forward is not a celebration of war, but a means to end it.

May the world remember that peace is a luxury bought with blood.

After finishing writing, she closed the notebook, looked up at Chen Feng not far away, paused for a moment, and then said softly, "Your soldiers are brave, but you are even braver!"

You are fighting not only for the freedom of Chinese people, but also for the interests of America.

As a war correspondent, I will never allow your contributions to be overlooked.

At the same time, I hope you can lead the remaining soldiers to survive. I hope that after this battle, you can all return to the homes you want to return to, without having to carry guns or shed blood anymore.

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng paused, glanced down at his still-bleeding wound, then swept his gaze over the exhausted figures on the beach. After a long silence, he managed a bitter smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Thanks for your kind words!"

"Colonel Connor has sent me to the Olympus. After that, I'll be returning to the United States, and it may be a long time before we meet again. Good luck!"

Elizabeth carefully tucked the notebook into her bosom, waved to Chen Feng, and turned to walk towards the small boat moored by the river.

The surging waves slowly pushed the boat away from the shore.

She stood at the stern of the boat and couldn't help but look back. The sea breeze tousled her hair and made her cheeks burn.

Good heavens!

Elizabeth, are you crazy?!

How could someone fall for an Asian man covered in blood and leaning on a rifle?

He had previously vowed to write peace reports, but all he can think about is the image of him drawing his sword with his left hand and charging into battle. He's hopeless!

What a pity! We're so far apart, and he might have forgotten all about me by the next time we meet—this reporter who only knows how to exclaim in amazement while holding up binoculars!

This silly, fleeting feeling should probably be locked away in a drawer along with some film!

She gazed at the figure standing on the blood-red beach, growing smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, until it became a complete black dot.

The sea breeze, carrying the stench of blood, blew in, yet she couldn't help but smile slightly, silently adding in her heart: I wish you survival, and I also wish that the report I write when I get back will go viral and bring a glimmer of peace to the world!

Chen Feng stood there, watching the ship gradually disappear into the water, before slowly turning his gaze away.

I have to say!

Miss Elizabeth is very interesting; she's the most interesting woman I've ever met since I traveled through time.

She's neither rigid nor spoiled, just a bit too talkative...

Unfortunately, we will be separated by thousands of miles in the future, and we don't know when we will meet again.

Headquarters of the Spanish colonial army.

"Chen Feng! Chen Feng!" Basilio slammed the battle report on the table in anger, his bloodshot eyes almost spitting fire.

His position was already precarious, and Larra kept urging him to surrender. He only managed to hold on because of the strong defenses of Manila.

But now the southern front is impregnable, and the US military and the independence army have been unable to break through it for a long time. However, the northern defense line, on which he had placed high hopes, was torn open by a group of inferior Chinese!

How could I possibly swallow this insult?

He slammed his fist on the table and roared at his adjutant, "Draw a regiment of reserves and retake the San Juan del Monte defense line at all costs! I cannot allow centuries of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines to be destroyed in the hands of a Chinese!"

Northern Front Independent Army Command.

Luna held the casualty figures coming from the front lines, listening calmly to the messenger's report that "Chen Feng is seriously injured and unable to provide support."

The generals around him angrily denounced the Chinese Free Army for failing to come to their aid, but he pondered for a long time before raising his hand to interrupt: "General Chen has suffered heavy casualties, we should not be too demanding. Prepare a good dose of external medicine and send it to General Chen separately as a token of our condolences."

Cavite Naval Base.

Inside the meeting room, Merritt's gray beard trembled violently as he incredulously flipped through the battle reports: "Their equipment is inferior to the Independent Army, and even more so to ours, yet they became the first force to break through the Spanish defenses!"

Dewey chuckled softly, holding his coffee cup, his tone tinged with sarcasm: "The talent I've discovered isn't bad, is it? Heavy casualties in the army would be a net loss. How about we go with the navy's plan?"

Merritt's eye twitched; he understood this was a mockery of his lack of ability yet insisting on taking credit. He immediately slammed his hand on the table and ordered, "Order all troops to intensify the attack on the southern outer defense line this afternoon! We cannot allow a Chinese armed force to steal the credit!"

Independent Army Southern Front Command.

"We can't keep going!"

Liu Hengfu kept complaining, "How can our flesh and blood withstand the heavy coastal artillery of Spain?"

Mabini sat upright in his wheelchair, his gaze deep and unfathomable, and said in a deep voice, "This is an order from the Americans! If we don't fully participate in the attack, what right do we have to enter Manila in the future?"

He paused, his tone growing increasingly serious: "If the Americans completely control Manila, no one will dare to stop the calls for colonization within the country."

Then, his tone softened: "What Chen Feng, a Chinese man, can do, I believe you, Liu Hengfu, are no less capable than him. I'll be waiting for your good news this afternoon."

Manila Chinese Chamber of Commerce

The roar of Indiana-class battleships and coastal artillery was deafening. Suddenly, the merchants hiding in the basement heard shouts outside: "Chen Feng has won! The San Juan del Monte defense line has fallen!"

Instantly, the pent-up excitement burst forth, and everyone burst into tears and embraced each other.

"I always said that Chinese people are in no way inferior to Spaniards!"

"We should prepare a feast to welcome the king's army!"

Wu Tingchen hurriedly stepped forward to stop them: "General Chen has already instructed us that the Spanish are by no means easily defeated; we must not act rashly!"

The distant Marolos Commander-in-Chief's residence.

Aquinas was still bedridden due to multiple injuries.

The short, stout Aoki Nobuyuki chuckled, "I'm absolutely certain that the gold is in the Free Army camp! Now that their main force has been taken to Manila by the US military, it's a golden opportunity. We'll split it evenly then!"

Aguinaldo's eyes blazed with hatred. He gave a cold laugh and suddenly roared, "Bardomello! Lead the troops out immediately and raze the Free Army camp to the ground, leaving no one alive!"

Outside the door, Isabella, who was carrying a basin of water to change her dressing, was startled and almost dropped the copper basin.

She suppressed her panic, quickly retreated to her room, trembling as she wrote a note. Then she quietly slipped into the back garden, threw the note at the neighbor's house, and deliberately coughed three times as a warning.

In the next room, a middle-aged Chinese man rushed over upon hearing the noise. He picked up the note, glanced at it, and his expression changed drastically, his pupils constricting.

>