sovbooks Chapter 87 Suspicion of a Lackey
Chapter 87 Suspicion of a Lackey
The next morning, a light drizzle still enveloped Marolos, the pattering raindrops hitting the oil-paper umbrellas and splashing up tiny droplets.
Holding an umbrella, Chen Feng trudged through the muddy road and headed straight for the nearby U.S. military camp.
The camp exudes an American-style relaxed atmosphere.
Some soldiers leaned against the tents smoking and chatting, some were shirtless and wiping their guns, and others were squatting on the ground playing cards and joking around, showing no signs of tension before battle.
But Chen Feng knew perfectly well that this laziness was just a facade.
The U.S. military's combat effectiveness does not rely on superficial discipline, but rather on superior equipment, systematic training, and strong logistical support. When it comes to fighting to the death, it is far superior to the rabble of Luzon.
Connor's barracks office was right in the middle of the camp, and he was lounging in a wicker chair, leisurely sipping coffee, looking quite content.
"Colonel Connor, General Chen is here to visit." Frank knocked gently on the door, his tone respectful.
"Come in directly!"
Connor rose from the wicker chair, picked up an empty cup, and slowly turned the coffee grinder. Amidst the hissing sound of grinding the beans, he casually chuckled, "Chen, the coffee you recommended to General Dewey was indeed quite good. Want to try some?"
Kopi Luwak?
Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately lost his appetite. He waved his hand, his tone playful: "Connor, things are at their most urgent, and you still have the leisure to drink coffee? The Spaniards are about to chop off your head."
"They want to chop my head off every day!"
Connor shrugged dismissively, still fiddling with the grinder handle, his face completely unconcerned. "There are so many people in Luzon who want to kill me, they could stretch from Manila to Malolos. One or two more won't make a difference."
Chen Feng pulled over a wooden stool, leaned forward, and said with a half-smile, "This time is different."
Yesterday, the Spanish Archbishop of Luzon, Larra, came to my door, trying to persuade me to cooperate with them. He offered incredibly generous terms: a duty-free port, a church estate, a seat in parliament—you name it. And the proof he wanted from me was to cut off my head and offer it to the Spanish as a token of loyalty!
"What?"
Connor was so startled that he dropped the coffee pot, spilling brown coffee all over his trousers.
He knew better than anyone that if Chen Feng really made a move, he would have no chance of survival except to hide in the military camp.
Chen Feng glanced at his flustered and bewildered appearance and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "If I really wanted to hurt you, would I have just walked over here and told you?"
Connor finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and chuckled dryly as he wiped the coffee stains off his trousers. "Yeah, right! We're friends who'd risked their lives for each other, you wouldn't actually kill me. But seriously, did that old fox Lara really say that?"
"Friends would never harm you." Chen Feng's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Lara not only tried to win me over, but also said that Aguinaldo has agreed to their autonomy agreement and will no longer seek complete independence."
As he spoke, he laid out in detail the three conditions proposed by the bishop, as well as the calculations behind them, without concealing anything.
After listening, Connor raised an eyebrow and said, "These conditions are indeed tempting! A duty-free port, three estates, 15 seats in Congress, and the repeal of the industrial ban—even America can't offer Chinese people such generous treatment. How can you not be interested?"
Chen Feng withdrew his feet from the edge of the table and asked in a deep voice, "As far as you know, if the United States really controlled Luzon, what kind of treatment would it offer to the Chinese?"
"We haven't fallen out with the independence army yet. If it really comes to that, at most we'll give you tax breaks and open up some industries that Spain prohibits Chinese from participating in, such as sugar refining and timber processing."
Connor shrugged, his tone somewhat frank, "This is the truth for the sake of friendship. These conditions are useless to you talking to me about; we have to wait for the big shots in Washington to make the decision. I can't make that decision myself."
They still treat Chinese people as second-class citizens, so they'll never be able to turn their lives around!
Chen Feng sneered inwardly, but he also knew that the Chinese Free Army was currently weak and its foundation was not yet stable, so he could only endure it for the time being.
A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. Once I've developed my strength, I'll turn against these colonists sooner or later!
"Do you think Aquinado will agree to Lara's conditions and accept limited autonomy?" Chen Feng changed the subject.
Connor, who clearly had more comprehensive intelligence, immediately shook his head: "Aquinado might agree, but the leaders of the Independent Army would never agree."
"Tell me more about it?" Chen Feng asked, intrigued.
Connor sat back in his wicker chair and said slowly, "The landowners behind Aquinado have long been eyeing the church's land. Once they reach an agreement on autonomy with Spain, there's no hope of getting the land."
Luna is a radical revolutionary, and the Katipunan under his control has always been committed to independence and would never recognize limited autonomy.
Liu Hengfu's Chinese armed forces had a blood feud with the Spanish, and there was no possibility of cooperation between them.
Meanwhile, in the conference room of the Provisional Commander-in-Chief's Office of the Independent Army, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.
Aquinado sat in the main seat, his fingers stroking the ruby on his ring, and said in a deep voice, "General Liu, stop trying to persuade us! The strength of the Chinese Free Army is not enough to secure more than five seats in parliament."
I promised five, already out of consideration for your years of leading the Chinese community in the fight for Philippine independence. If Chen Feng doesn't sign the Declaration of Independence, there will only be three spots left for the Chinese community.
He was in a terrible headache. Chen Feng had somehow managed to get his two major military commanders to force him to abdicate.
Even Liu Heng-fu, who has never been particularly concerned about the number of seats for legislators, refused to budge this time.
If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let him go to the Free Army in the first place, causing myself so much trouble!
Aquinado waved to stop Luna and Liu Hengfu from arguing, and continued, "I acknowledge that the Chinese have made great sacrifices for the cause of independence, but the Philippines does not belong solely to the Chinese and Tagalog people, but to all ethnic groups. As Commander-in-Chief and the future President, I must consider the interests of everyone."
"Then what should you say when you talk to the Spanish about autonomy?"
Luna couldn't help but retort.
After seeing through Aguinaldo's ambition, he wanted to turn against him immediately, but he had to endure it for the sake of the overall situation of independence.
Currently, only this person can barely hold all the forces together.
Liu Hengfu, his face also filled with resentment, said, "The Spanish have been massacring Chinese people for hundreds of years; their blood debt remains unpaid. I will never cooperate with them!"
I just want to use this autonomy agreement to negotiate with the Americans!
Aquinado rubbed his throbbing forehead and explained, feigning exhaustion, "Let them sign a formal agreement with our soon-to-be-established interim government, a written pledge supporting the independence of the Philippines!"
He did want to talk to the Spanish about limited autonomy, but this idea was met with strong opposition from all the large landowners behind him as soon as it was put forward.
Those people have long coveted the church's land; how could they possibly allow an autonomy agreement to hinder their interests?
Therefore, he had to put the proposal on hold for the time being.
"A formal agreement should indeed be signed to prevent them from turning against us later and colonizing us like Spain did." Luna frowned.
"The agreement must be signed, but the number of parliamentary seats for Chinese people must be raised again!" Liu Hengfu refused to budge.
Aquinado's face darkened, his tone threatening: "Five is more than enough! Otherwise, the other major clans will not agree. Either the total number of seats in the council will be increased, or the Chinese will not have any political status in the future government."
Liu Hengfu fell silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "I will work on Chen Feng to persuade him to sign the Declaration of Independence for the ten spots."
"Six!"
Aquinado slammed his hand on the table, his tone softening slightly. "I'll work on the Tagaloo people and get another spot made available. That's the biggest concession I can get. If we keep fighting, we can't fight against the ever-watchful Americans."
Luna frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "The sacrifices made by the Chinese are evident to all. Since we can't give up our spots, could we compensate them in other ways? For example, perhaps a few years of tax breaks, or the allocation of a self-governing region?"
Aquinado refused without hesitation: "Autonomous regions are out of the question, but tax breaks are negotiable."
"Six seats for legislators, five years of tax breaks, and the Balangai area currently controlled by the Liberal Army and the surrounding mountainous region will be designated as a Chinese autonomous region," Liu Hengfu said.
Aquinado stared at him for a long time, his mind racing.
That mountainous area is barren and of little value. It wouldn't hurt to give it to the Chinese, as long as it can keep them in check. A temporary compromise would be worthwhile.
He finally nodded and said, "Okay! But it must be a marriage alliance! Chen Feng must marry my cousin or my daughter, becoming a son-in-law of the Philippines. This is my final condition. If he refuses, it means he has no sincerity in cooperating and only wants to become a lackey of the Americans. Don't blame me for not heeding your pleas then!"