bullyxtreme Chapter 71 The Fleet's Mission
Chapter 71 The Fleet's Mission
After seeing Connor off, Chen Feng returned to his bedroom, sat down at his desk by the window, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and fell into deep thought.
The biggest problem right now is not a lack of troops or equipment, but a lack of talent.
The repair shop is manageable. The Zheng family can recommend a knowledgeable shop manager, recruit some Chinese blacksmiths and carpenters, and gradually train skilled workers. Eventually, it will be able to get running.
But those five Spanish steam merchant ships really gave him a headache.
It requires not only someone knowledgeable in navigation and management to take the lead, but also a trusted core confidant who can fully implement one's will.
Names flashed through my mind: Tian Gang was brave but lacked shrewdness; Qian Biao was steady but knew nothing about maritime affairs; Jack wasn't loyal enough and could only do odd jobs...
When the name "Wang Liang" appeared, Chen Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted towards the door, "Send Wang Liang to see me!"
A short while later, a series of hurried footsteps approached, and Wang Liang ran in, covered in sweat.
With the expansion of the Free Army, he has been promoted from platoon leader to company commander. Now he is riding high and has long been determined to follow the Free Army. He always leads by example in training his troops, and the discipline of his soldiers is among the best in the company. He is a key officer to be cultivated.
Chen Feng got up and walked out of the bedroom, gesturing for him to sit down, and then waved for the guard to bring over a pot of hot tea.
Wang Liang plopped down on the stool, picked up his teacup, and gulped down two mouthfuls. The tea slid down his throat, and he wiped the sweat from his brow, asking urgently, "General, did you summon me for a combat mission? Are we going to attack the strongholds around Manila?"
Chen Feng sat down opposite him and asked in a calm tone, "How's leading the troops lately? With over 140 men under your command, are you managing?"
"Absolutely no problem!"
Wang Liang straightened his back, chest puffed out, and said with a hint of urgency, "My company is smaller than the others, but the brothers are very enthusiastic about training. I'm thinking of personally going to Manila to recruit some new soldiers to expand our ranks!"
Chen Feng nodded approvingly; this drive was exactly what he needed.
He changed the subject, getting straight to the point: "I heard you used to be a seaman? You sailed many routes in the South Pacific and could even read nautical charts?"
Wang Liang was taken aback, a look of confusion on his face. He scratched his head and said, "General, how did you know? I did indeed spend more than ten years making a living at sea, starting from the lowest level as a handyman and working my way up to a sailor who could read nautical charts and handle common sea conditions. But... why are you asking this? Our Free Army is an army; are we going to fight naval battles?"
"It's not about fighting a naval war, it's about building a fleet."
Chen Feng got straight to the point, "The Americans gave me five 500-ton Spanish steam merchant ships. I want you to take the lead and command this fleet."
"What?"
Wang Liang's expression changed drastically. He stood up abruptly, shaking his head repeatedly. "General, you absolutely mustn't! I'm just an ordinary sailor. At most, I can read nautical charts and handle some storms. I don't even have the confidence to be the captain of a single ship, how dare I lead an entire fleet on a trading mission? If I mess this up and delay your important business, I will be guilty beyond measure!"
"Please sit down."
Chen Feng laughed and said, "You were able to lead more than 140 soldiers who were originally a disorganized bunch to be disciplined and have good combat capabilities, which shows that your management skills are not a problem; if your navigation skills are not good enough, we can make up for it."
Now that the US military has blockaded the Luzon shipping route, many veteran sailors have lost their livelihoods, and many have even joined the Free Army. If you select some experienced veterans from among them to be captains and first mates, and then recruit some skilled sailors and repairmen in Manila, the fleet can be set up very quickly.
Upon hearing this, Wang Liang did not answer immediately. Instead, he sat down again and fell into deep hesitation.
With the support of the U.S. military, the Chinese Free Army is developing rapidly. As a core officer, I have followed Chen Feng in battles across the country. In the future, I may achieve great success, be promoted to a high rank, and have unlimited potential.
However, if he were to switch careers to lead a fleet and leave the system of leading troops into battle, his future status would likely be far inferior to that of his colleagues like Tian Gang who charged into battle.
But then I thought about it again. Being a captain and venturing out to sea was my childhood dream, otherwise I wouldn't have spent more than ten years adrift at sea.
More importantly, the general chose him out of so many officers; how could he betray that trust?
Moreover, the fleet is the foundation of the Free Army, and the general's emphasis on it suggests that its future importance may not be less than that of the officers leading the troops.
After a moment's hesitation, Wang Liang raised his head, his eyes filled with determination, and asked, "General, when will our fleet set sail? Which route will we mainly take? What goods will we be selling? I'd like to make some preparations in advance."
Seeing that he had relented, Chen Feng's face lit up with joy, and he said loudly, "The U.S. Navy has opened the Manila Bay trade route to us, and entry and exit are tax-free for three years."
During this period of war, sugarcane, tobacco, and Manila hemp from Luzon cannot be sold, and prices have plummeted. Meanwhile, the Qing government faces a shortage of supplies along the southern coast of China, so it can make money no matter what it transports there.
But remember, making money isn't the top priority. Your core mission is to lead the fleet to transport goods from Luzon to the Qing Dynasty's southern coast, and then take the opportunity to recruit families with young and able-bodied men to immigrate here, expanding our population base.
Wang Liang frowned, somewhat worried: "But we're still fighting the Spanish here. I'm afraid the people of Fujian and Guangdong won't dare to come after hearing about the war in Luzon. Besides, the journey is long and the risks are great."
Chen Feng already had a plan for this problem, as the information he had researched in his previous life was still vivid in his mind.
As early as the Kangxi era, people from Fujian and Guangdong relied on "piglet boats" to cross the ocean to Southeast Asia to make a living, even if it meant risking their lives.
After the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government lost all prestige. Local militias and bandits ran rampant, and coastal piracy was rampant. The government either turned a blind eye or colluded with bandits to oppress the people, who were already living in misery.
In the past two years, South China has been hit by drought, floods and typhoons. Many prefectures and counties have suffered from crop failures. Landlords have raised rents, and farmers have had to sell their children or flee their homes. In addition, the influx of foreign cloth and goods has caused many small-scale craftsmen to lose their jobs. Everyone has long been desperate.
More importantly, in the past, the Spanish "piglet boats" charged 5-8 silver dollars per person for the journey, which was a huge sum of money that could buy 100 catties of rice and feed a family of three for a month. Many people could not even afford it.
The biggest attraction now is that the Free Army is covering the travel expenses.
As for the war in Luzon, given the Qing government's lack of information, most people had no way of knowing about it.
"Don't worry, as long as we cover the travel expenses and give them a way to make a living, plenty of people will be willing to come."
Chen Feng smiled and continued confidently, "When you arrive in South China, we will give priority to recruiting young adults aged 18 to 45. If you are willing to immigrate with your whole family, we would be even more eager to do so."
The Free Army would provide them with seeds and farming tools, and each person would be allocated 3 acres of farmland. The first three years would be rent-free, and all the grain and sugarcane grown would be theirs to keep.
I will also fund the construction of Chinese private schools, where their children can study and learn a trade for free, so that everyone can come with peace of mind and live comfortably.
After hearing this, Wang Liang's concerns were largely alleviated, and he pressed on, "What if the Qing government obstructs us? If we recruit people to immigrate privately, won't they treat us as traitors and attack us?"
"They're too busy taking care of themselves to concern themselves with this."
Chen Feng didn't take it seriously. "Right now, the Qing officials are busy with reforms and choosing sides, while local officials are either trying to curry favor with the powerful or single-mindedly trying to make money. They are all corrupt to the core. The people in South China are desperate and prone to uprisings. They would love for you to take these poor people away as soon as possible to relieve the pressure on the local area. They might even help you cover it up."
"Alright! General, I'll do it!"
Wang Liang slapped his thigh, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "The southeast monsoon is blowing now. It only takes 3 days one way from Luzon to the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong."
Give me three days to hand over the troops, recruit sailors, and then take possession of the ships. At the latest, I will return with the first group of immigrants in ten days! If I am late, you may punish me according to military law!
"Maritime risks are unpredictable, so military law is unnecessary; a safe return trip is the top priority."
Chen Feng waved his hand, his tone becoming serious, "Go and hand over military affairs to Qian Biao now, go to the logistics department to collect start-up funds, and immediately head to Manila to recruit veteran seamen and sailors. Give priority to those who are familiar with the Fujian-Guangdong shipping route and know some martial arts, so they can handle any problems that may arise."
Three days later, go directly to Cavite to find the US military liaison officer. Connor will be waiting for you there to receive the ship and handle customs procedures.