diymy Chapter 68 False Reporting and Embezzlement
Chapter 68 False Reporting and Embezzlement
Connor seized the opportunity to interject: "Chen, Commissioner Smith has been stationed in Hong Kong for many years. He not only speaks fluent Mandarin, but also knows a bit about Confucian classics and is extremely familiar with Chinese culture. I'm sure you two will have a very fruitful conversation!"
These words seemed like a compliment, but they actually had a hidden meaning, and Chen Feng sneered inwardly.
So-called familiarity with Chinese culture, is it just a matter of learning some tricks of opportunism, bribery and paving the way?
His expression remained unchanged, but he carefully observed Smith out of the corner of his eye.
He was around forty years old, dressed in a perfectly pressed suit without a single wrinkle, with his slicked-back hair so shiny that even a fly couldn't land on it, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable. He was clearly a meticulous and extremely difficult person to deal with.
"Specialist, please!"
Chen Feng stepped aside to lead the way, his tone still calm, "The camp is simple, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."
"Let me take a look first." Smith stepped forward and followed, his eyes scanning the surroundings like searchlights, not wanting to miss any detail.
The ranks on the training ground were neat and uniform, and the soldiers held their guns with standard and powerful postures.
The rifles on the weapon rack were polished to a shine and arranged in an orderly fashion.
Although the defensive fortifications were simple, they were full of practical ingenuity, with the angles of the firing ports and the depth of the trenches carefully designed.
His attendants immediately pulled out paper and pen and quickly took notes, noting down even the production markings on the ammunition boxes, the spacing between the watchtowers, and the stacking of supplies in the logistics area, with meticulous attention to detail bordering on obsession.
"very good."
At each stop, Smith would nod in praise, but his tone was flat and expressionless, leaving one wondering whether his words were genuine admiration or just polite formality.
Chen Feng kept a close eye on his expression, but he already had a plan in mind.
The US military's trip, ostensibly for observation, was actually a reconnaissance mission. If it appeared too weak, it would be treated as a dispensable pawn.
If you show too much strength, it will arouse suspicion. Only by having just the right amount of strength can you gain the greatest benefit.
Connor, standing to the side, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, constantly giving him meaningful glances, sometimes raising his eyebrows to signal him to restrain himself, sometimes pursing his lips to indicate that he should cooperate, looking both comical and embarrassed.
Before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Chen Feng invited everyone into the stone house and instructed the servants to serve the Free Army's daily meals.
Rice mixed with corn, served with a simple meat broth, with a few pieces of fatty meat floating in it—simple yet filling.
Smith didn't mind at all, picked up his spoon and started eating, even praising, "The broth is so flavorful, much better than the canned food in the barracks."
Chen Feng took a sip of the meat soup and tentatively asked, "Commissioner Smith, you were a U.S. Army general and have seen a lot. In your opinion, what aspects of our soldiers' training could be improved?"
"Your soldiers are very spirited and disciplined, far surpassing any Qing soldiers I have ever seen."
Smith looked up, his face calm and composed, and continued, "I have been out of frontline command for many years and now only handle intelligence verification. How dare I presume to teach a West Point elite like Frank? Besides, training that suits the US military may not suit the Chinese Free Army. Adapting to local conditions is the right way."
Even adapting to local conditions is done with precision, which shows that they have indeed put in a lot of effort to understand Chinese culture.
Chen Feng's spirits lifted, and he pressed on, "What the Commissioner said is absolutely right, exactly what I was thinking. Could the Commissioner then reveal a bit about the next phase of the Chinese Free Army's mission? Is it to cooperate with the US military to contain the main force of the Spanish colonial army, or is there another plan?"
"Specific operational plans need to be drafted by the War Department and then submitted to the President for approval. I am currently only responsible for verifying capabilities and have no authority to know the details."
Smith smiled, then abruptly changed the subject, his eyes sharpening. "However, Commander Chen, there's something I'm curious about. The current troop strength in your battalion seems quite different from the five thousand soldiers reported by Colonel Connor!"
Chen Feng glanced at Connor, who froze instantly beside him. Connor's face was pale and his eyes were darting around, clearly indicating that his weak point had been hit.
He calmly withdrew his gaze and replied without revealing any flaws: "We just received our pay today, and I granted leave to some soldiers whose families live in Manila and Batangas to visit their families. Firstly, this allows them to reunite with their families and alleviate their homesickness; secondly, it also allows them to gather information about the city and prepare for subsequent operations. Not all personnel in the battalion are on duty."
"Is that so?"
Smith put down his rice bowl and said slowly, "I just roughly counted, and the training grounds, sentry towers, and logistics area combined have less than a thousand people. Did you really give four thousand people a leave of absence all at once? That's just too illogical, isn't it?"
Seeing this, Connor could no longer sit still and quickly interjected to smooth things over, his voice trembling slightly: "Commissioner, you may not know! The camp does indeed only have two thousand regular soldiers stationed there; the rest are militia! The Chinese in Luzon have been oppressed by the Spanish colonial army for hundreds of years and have long since reached their limit. At a single command, all the Chinese men in the surrounding villages and towns can take up arms and fight. It can be said that the entire population is a soldier, and their fighting power should not be underestimated!"
"militia?"
A hint of amusement flashed in Miss's eyes. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Chen Feng with a half-smile, saying, "In that case, I will report five thousand men to the Army War Department. The staff will formulate a suitable battle plan based on your capabilities. I believe Commander Chen will be able to handle it."
"Five thousand people?"
Chen Feng's heart sank, and a surge of anger welled up inside him, almost making him unable to suppress the urge to refute.
Damn it!
With a force of 5,000, according to the US military's operational logic, the next step would probably be to send them to attack the fortified cities around Manila!
That place was well-defended, had a large number of troops, and was equipped with heavy artillery. Even the US military itself was unwilling to take on this tough nut to crack, and actually wanted to use the Chinese Free Army as cannon fodder and send them to die in vain!
Upon hearing this, Connor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, secretly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and giving Chen Feng a look that said, "Don't meddle, just agree quickly."
How could Chen Feng tolerate this?
This is a matter of life and death for all the soldiers in the battalion, and we must not let the American army control us!
He immediately put down his chopsticks and firmly retorted, "No! Commissioner Smith, absolutely not!"
The militia and the regular army are worlds apart! They lack proper armed training, are mostly armed with machetes and hunting rifles, and have very few decent rifles. Their tactical coordination is also scattered and unfamiliar. Their strength cannot be measured by the standards of a regular army!
Reporting like this will only lead the War Department to make a misjudgment and assign us tasks that are impossible to complete. In that case, it will not only affect the overall deployment of the US military, but also cause our soldiers to sacrifice their lives in vain, which is a huge loss!
Upon hearing this, Smith simply smiled without saying a word, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
Connor panicked immediately!
He knew that if he couldn't change Smith's mind, Chen Feng would definitely turn on him on the spot, and then his false report of troop strength and attempt to monopolize the aid supplies would be completely exposed.
Those are weapons and ammunition worth tens of thousands of US dollars. Not only will he lose his position as colonel, he might also face a military court and go to jail!
He hesitated for a moment, then quickly said to Smith in English, "Commissioner Smith, I'm going to the restroom. Would you like to come along?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking of going."
A smug glint flashed in Smith's eyes. He immediately got up and followed Connor out of the room, giving Chen Feng a meaningful look before leaving.
Chen Feng watched the two figures hurrying away, secretly pleased with himself.
Connor misrepresented troop strength, intending to pocket the extra aid supplies.
He had previously hinted that he had bribed Smith to pull strings, but now that his scheme is about to be exposed, he's finally willing to use some of the ill-gotten gains to shut up!
That old rascal, he's really got a good plan.
Before long, the two returned to the stone house.
Smith patted his stomach with a satisfied look on his face, as if he had really satisfied his physiological needs, with a faint smile on his lips.
Connor, on the other hand, was ashen-faced, his lips twitching slightly, his eyes filled with pain and resentment, clearly having been ripped off.
Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Chen Feng waved to the guards to serve tea.
Smith picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and said unhurriedly, "Commander Chen is right. The militia lacks weapons and systematic training, and going to the battlefield would be tantamount to sacrificing themselves in vain."
The United States is a civilized nation and would never disregard human life.
Upon returning, I will truthfully explain to the Army War Department the differences between the militia and the regular army.