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

Chapter 121 Mining and Metallurgy Return to the Heart

No sooner had Zheng Mingsong left than Wang Liang's urgent voice came from outside the door: "General!"

Chen Feng was leaning back in his chair, having his blood-soaked bandages changed by Wang Muning, when he heard another steady footstep accompanying Wang Liang's footsteps outside the door. He called out, "Come in directly. Who did you bring?"

"It's Mr. Wu Yangzeng!"

Before Wang Liang could finish speaking, he had already pushed open the door.

In the dim yellow light of the kerosene lamp, a figure slowly walked in.

The man was in his early forties. His hair was cut very short, and he wore a clean, long, plain cloth robe with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms, revealing his well-defined knuckles.

Chen Feng took a closer look under the lamplight and his heart skipped a beat!

Wu Yangzeng?

The name flashed through his mind and then exploded like a thunderclap!

Yes!

He was among the first group of young children sent to study in the United States by the Qing government, and a top student majoring in mining and metallurgy at Columbia University!

In this era, with zero industrial base and a scarcity of top talents, Wu Yangzeng was a mining and metallurgical genius who could shoulder half the burden, and was exactly the pillar that the Chinese Free Army urgently needed!

Thinking of this, Chen Feng no longer cared about the fresh wound on his shoulder, nor did he have time to adjust the bandages on his arm. He immediately stood up, strode forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Mr. Wu, I have long admired your name! I never expected to meet you here today; it is truly a great honor!"

Without saying a word, Chen Feng grabbed his wrist and led him to the main wooden chair before sitting down opposite him.

Wang Muning quickly stepped forward, taking clean bandages and strong liquor to continue treating the wound. The stinging pain from the alcohol seeping into the wound made Chen Feng groan, but he was completely unaware of it. Zi Guang kept his eyes fixed on Wu Yangzeng, full of admiration for his talent.

After the two sat down, Wu Yangzeng carefully examined the young man in front of him.

At less than twenty years old, his eyes were sharp as knives, and he exuded the fierce aura of battlefield smoke. Although he showed a composure and maturity beyond his years, this was still far from the image of the author of "The Rise of Great Powers" that he had imagined.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a barely perceptible hint of probing: "I have previously read the Portuguese book 'The Rise of Great Powers'..."

The three essays on the West and the Netherlands are insightful and grand in scope, and I've always been curious about the author's erudition. Seeing them today, I was surprised to discover he's a young man in his early twenties—truly proving the saying "heroes emerge from among the young."

Chen Feng immediately knew that he had doubts, which was simply that he felt that someone of his age could not write such insightful articles about the world.

He remained calm and said to Wang Muning, "Muning, go to my bedroom and bring me the manuscript of the British chapter of 'The Rise of Great Powers'."

.

The manuscripts of the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch chapters were taken by Zheng Mingsong to send telegrams. After sending them, he held onto them and refused to return them, claiming that he was "studying them repeatedly." Fortunately, the manuscript of the British chapter had not been taken away.

Wang Muning responded and left. A moment later, he returned with a stack of manuscript paper covered in writing and handed it to Wu Yangzeng.

Despite the late hour and the sparse interior of the room, Wu Yangzeng immediately took the manuscript and began to peruse it by the dim light of the kerosene lamp.

The manuscript paper was filled with neat handwriting and vigorous strokes, and the sharpness and foresight in the words and sentences were consistent with the previous chapters.

The more he looked, the less doubt he had, and the more he was filled with deep shock and admiration.

The insights gained from this manuscript further convinced him that Chen Feng was a man capable of great things.

But when he looked up and saw the blood-soaked bandage on Chen Feng's shoulder and the pile of death reports on the desk, and then thought of the ongoing war in Luzon, his heart began to pound with anxiety.

Although the rebels had ideals and leaders, their foundation was too shallow, their resources were scarce, and they were surrounded by the Independent Army and the American army. If the war situation were to reverse one day, would all the knowledge they had acquired in their lives be wasted again?

He came here to test the waters and find a place to put his skills to use, but he still hesitated about risking his entire fortune to stay here.

Chen Feng wasn't in a hurry to urge him, letting him immerse himself in the world of the manuscript.

After changing the bandage, Wang Muning raised his hand and moved his shoulder. Although there was still some lingering pain, it was no longer a big problem.

Chen Feng picked up the reports on the table and began to deal with the backlog of official business.

This is the list of compensation payments for this battle. Qian Biao's handwriting is becoming increasingly neat, and the statistics are clear at a glance:

Due to the current financial constraints, those who died in battle will be paid two years' worth of military pay, with each family receiving a one-time payment of $60.

Once the situation stabilizes, the funds will be reissued, with priority given to second-line positions.

So far, 855 soldiers have died, requiring a one-time expenditure of $51300, and the number of those seriously injured and dying is expected to increase.

"When the cannons roar, gold pours in," Chen Feng murmured, his gaze sweeping over the numbers on the report.

This expenditure was equivalent to losing ten heavy gold bricks from his bedroom, but he didn't hesitate at all. He picked up his pen and signed his name at the end of the report, then instructed Wang Liang, who was standing beside him, "Many of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives this time were newly arrived Chinese immigrants. They left their homes and families to come here and gave their lives to the Free Army. We must not let them feel disheartened."

When you next transport goods back to the Qing court, bring the corresponding silver dollars and do your best to personally deliver the pensions to each family member!

"Yes, General!" Wang Liang replied in a deep voice.

Next is the intelligence department's expenditure ledger for last month.

The Chinese Free Army's intelligence network is now taking shape, with informants spread throughout core areas such as Malolos and Manila, and even spies planted in remote areas like Mindanao and Samar.

Chen Feng read through the ledger line by line, and after verifying that there were no false reports or misappropriations of key expenditure items, he signed at the end of the ledger.

During the conversation, light footsteps came from outside the door. Chen Feng glanced up and saw that it was Qin Yuzhou coming to report on official business. He then gestured for him to wait outside.

The room was quiet, with only the crackling of the kerosene lamp and the rustling of Wu Yangzeng turning the pages of his manuscript, making the night seem even deeper.

After an unknown amount of time, when Wu Yangzeng put down the last page of the manuscript, it was already broad daylight.

Morning light streamed through the cracks in the stone window, casting dappled shadows on the yellowed manuscript paper and illuminating his bloodshot eyes.

Chen Feng put down his teacup and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Wu, are there any errors or omissions in this article?"

Wu Yang rubbed his sore eyes, his voice full of admiration: "This article is incisive! From the institutional reform of constitutional monarchy to the capital accumulation of the enclosure movement, to the industrial revolution driven by the steam engine, even the implicit role of the Reformation in the liberation of thought is clearly analyzed. A strong industry leads to a strong nation, and technological advancement leads to national prosperity. General Chen's words are truly insightful!"

Chen Feng abruptly changed the subject, his tone earnest and firm: "Mr. Wu is a prodigy who studied in the United States, a top student in mining and metallurgy from Columbia University. Logically, the Qing court should entrust you with important responsibilities sooner or later. But I still dare to ask, would you be willing to stay in Luzon and help the Chinese community develop industry and commerce?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yang's gaze suddenly darkened, and complex emotions surged within his eyes.

His situation in the Qing court was far worse than that of his classmates.

Zhan Tianyou had already overseen the construction of the Tianjin-Luxembourg Railway and was renowned throughout the government and the country.

Ouyang Geng even went overseas to serve as the consul in San Francisco.

He was recalled by the Qing government seventeen years ago. He first worked as a casual technician at the Kaiping Mining Bureau, and later was transferred to the Rehe Silver Mine. However, due to government corruption and the deduction of funds at each level, even the best mines could only be put on hold. Despite his great skills, he wasted his time and failed to fulfill his ambitions in the corrupt system.

This frustration was precisely the reason he traveled to Luzon.

But if they really wanted to stay, realistic concerns flooded their minds like a tide: the Chinese Free Army camp was rudimentary and supplies were limited, Luzon was in constant turmoil, with the Independence Army eyeing them from the front and the US military lurking behind. The rebels' foundation was not yet stable, and they might be wiped out one day.

Is the hope I finally found going to vanish like a bubble once again?

He was not coveting the Qing court's empty fame, but he feared that in this chaotic world, there would ultimately be no peaceful place where he could realize his ambitions.

Chen Feng saw the hesitation in his eyes clearly, and immediately leaned forward, his voice low and powerful: "Mr. Wu, I know what you're worried about."

The Qing court couldn't tolerate your technology because they wanted a life of ease, while we wanted to survive.

Although the Chinese Free Army was small, it had iron mines, laborers, and compatriots who dared to fight and take risks.

While I dare not say that I can immediately conquer Luzon, I can guarantee that I will provide you with enough manpower and resources to build the best smelter and produce the hardest steel!

You couldn't even build a complete furnace back home, but here, I'll let you pursue your ambitions freely, without the slightest constraint!

He paused, then continued with a burning gaze: "The Qing court sees us as outcasts, and foreigners see us as prey, but we cannot belittle ourselves."

Mr. Wu, your lifelong pursuit of serving the country through technology does not necessarily have to be tied to the corrupt Qing Dynasty.

Here, every piece of steel you forge and every piece of machinery you manufacture is helping Chinese people gain confidence and build a solid foundation.

"One day in the future, when Chinese people can stand tall in Luzon, no longer oppressed or at the mercy of others, wouldn't that be a better way to realize your ambitions than wasting your time at home?"

After hearing these words, Wu Yangzeng's face showed a conflicted expression, and he repeatedly rubbed his hands on his knees.

He remained silent for a long time, then, as if having made a tremendous decision, he suddenly looked up, his eyes devoid of any hesitation, only resolute determination: "General Chen, then I will take the gamble! I am willing to stay in Luzon and dedicate myself to the cause of Chinese industry!"

"good!"

Chen Feng immediately clapped his hands and laughed, the lingering pain in his shoulder transforming into exhilaration. His voice was filled with fervor: "Mr. Wu's willingness to condescend is truly a blessing for our Chinese Free Army, and even more so for all the Chinese in Luzon!"

He stood up and walked to the table, saying in a deep voice, "Currently, the Free Army has a bicycle factory, a merchant ship repair factory, and an ordnance repair factory. Although they are not large in scale, they have a full complement of craftsmen and laborers."

In addition, we have taken control of a small iron mine, but the mining and smelting equipment is still waiting for delivery from Japan.

From this day forward, you will have full control over these industries. You are free to allocate manpower, resources, and funds as you see fit, without needing to consult me ​​on every matter.

However, there is one condition: you must report the industry's progress to me quarterly. If any major decision-making errors occur, we will discuss and adjust them together.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to Qin Yuzhou, who was waiting outside the door, and said sternly, "Immediately issue the order to appoint Mr. Wu Yangzeng as the Chief Industrial Advisor of the Free Army, in charge of all industrial, mining, and manufacturing affairs! Factory managers and mine supervisors shall all be under Mr. Wu's command; all necessary manpower and materials shall be allocated with priority, and anyone who dares to shirk or delay will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Yes, General!" Qin Yuzhou replied in a deep voice, his eyes full of curiosity about the new advisor.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yang was both moved and shocked.

He never expected that Chen Feng would trust him so much, entrusting him with all the core industries right away. This boldness and magnanimity were far beyond what the Qing court's incompetent officials could match.

My previous concerns vanished instantly in the face of this profound trust.

He stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Chen Feng again, and said with a do-or-die determination: "General Chen, rest assured! I, Wu, will do everything in my power to improve the technology and expand the factory. Within three months, I will ensure that the iron ore mine produces qualified iron ore; within six months, I will ensure that the smelting furnace produces high-quality steel, to build strong ships and powerful cannons for the Free Army. I will not fail the trust placed in me by the General, nor the expectations of the Chinese people!"

Seeing the fighting spirit burning in his eyes, Chen Feng felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

With this mining and metallurgical genius, the industrial foundation of the Chinese Free Army was finally able to lay its first solid foundation!