ATPnovel Chapter 85 The Bishop's Visit
Chapter 85 The Bishop's Visit
As soon as Shi Lingxi finished speaking, she turned around, pushed open the door, and left, her skirt sweeping across the threshold and creating a gentle breeze.
Zheng Mingsong picked up his now slightly cold teacup, his expression complex: "Brother Chen, are you really planning to build a bicycle factory? The situation is chaotic right now, with the American forces, the Independence Army, and the Spanish locked in a stalemate. Building a factory at this time is very risky!"
He paused, his tone growing increasingly grave: "In the past, to maintain tight control over Luzon, the Spanish absolutely forbade the Chinese from developing industry. Back then, some Chinese wanted to set up a sugar refinery; they had just purchased the equipment when it was shut down on charges of treason, and the owner was exiled to South America. If the American army really wins..."
Chen Feng waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "Then let's wait until they win! If the Chinese don't control the real economic lifeline and don't have real industrial strength, they will always be at the mercy of others, without even the leverage to negotiate!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Mingsong nodded slightly, clearly enlightened by these words, and then asked, "Brother Chen, let me ask you one more question. If Aquinado really agrees to all your conditions, are you really going to jump on the Independent Army's ship?"
Let me make this clear first: if the United States truly intends to colonize Luzon, and the independence army proves to be utterly ineffective, my Zheng family will absolutely not gamble with the fate of our entire family. Please understand this.
This frankness precisely demonstrates that the relationship between the two is deep enough that there is no need for pretense.
Chen Feng nodded understandingly: "My goal, Chen Feng's goal, is to truly liberate the Chinese in Luzon, not to use them as stepping stones on the road to power. If the Americans sweep through after landing, we will of course have no choice but to endure for the time being and plan our next move, but we will never make unnecessary sacrifices. Of course, Aguinaldo will never agree to that!"
"Then I'm relieved!"
Zheng Mingsong let out a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing.
Chen Feng then changed the subject: "Of the three major Chinese families in Luzon, is the Wang family truly devoted to the Spanish?"
"The Wang family has made a fortune over the years by smuggling opium into China for the Spanish. They've long lost the backbone of the Chinese people. I heard they're also in contact with the American military." Zheng Mingsong curled his lip, his tone full of disdain.
"Traitor to the Chinese!" Chen Feng slammed his fist on the table, causing the porcelain cup to vibrate.
Zheng Mingsong helplessly spread his hands: "There's nothing we can do. They've latched onto the foreigners' coattails, and nobody can touch them."
"Hmph! We'll deal with them sooner or later." A ruthless glint flashed in Chen Feng's eyes. He had already made up his mind that once things were settled here, he would have the intelligence department gather comprehensive information on the Wang family. This cancerous tumor had to be removed.
"Brother Chen, I have some matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer." Zheng Mingsong stood up, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
"Brother Zheng, please go ahead!" Chen Feng nodded in response.
Watching Zheng Mingsong's figure disappear outside the door, Chen Feng immediately summoned Qian Biao and Pang Li, and said in a deep voice, "You've been listening for so long, tell me your thoughts."
Pang Li scratched his head, his temper very impatient: "Master! I think that Sister Shi is a true heroine, daring to act; on the other hand, Young Master Zheng is too lacking in courage, only thinking of watching and waiting when things happen."
Qian Biao pondered for a moment before replying, "General, I believe that Young Master Zheng is a steady and thoughtful man. While Miss Shi is courageous, she is indeed somewhat impulsive. The Independent Army may seem powerful now, but it may not be able to withstand the superior ships and cannons of the American forces. If the Independent Army fails, the Shi family, as staunch supporters, will inevitably face utter ruin."
Chen Feng glared at Pang Li and earnestly admonished him: "You can't just look at the surface when doing things! We live in a chaotic world, so we must first weigh the interests of all parties in order to gain a foothold."
He looked at the two men and analyzed them one by one: "Zheng Mingsong's primary concern is the inheritance of his family and the livelihood of hundreds of people, which doesn't allow him to take any risks. So even if Aquinado really agrees to my conditions, he certainly won't follow the independence army to the bitter end if he turns against the US military in the future. That's only human nature."
"And what about the Shi family?"
Chen Feng then changed the subject, "They are descendants of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. They fled here to escape the Qing government's pursuit. The Shi family doesn't have deep roots in Luzon, and their power isn't top-tier. Even if they actively sided with the US military, they wouldn't be valued and wouldn't receive the same treatment as us and the Zheng family. That's why they wholeheartedly support Luna. After all, only when the Independence Army is in power can they, as meritorious officials, gain real influence."
His tone softened a bit: "Of course, whether it's the Zheng family's wait-and-see attitude or the Shi family's radical approach, although both are for their own interests, at least they didn't betray their own kind and become lackeys of foreigners like the Wang family did. That alone deserves respect."
Chen Feng had barely finished speaking when there was a knock on the door.
Boom boom boom!
Pang Li ran to open the door and saw a Western priest standing there.
The man was about fifty years old, wearing a worn black priest's robe with a silver cross pinned to his collar. He wore a ring with an unfamiliar emblem on the ring finger of his left hand. The hem of his robe was covered in mud, indicating that he had traveled in the rain.
Behind him followed two armed guards dressed in church-specific uniforms, wearing black bodysuits over dark red short robes, with exquisite swords at their waists and short pistols slung over their shoulders, their expressions solemn.
The priest, with a gentle smile on his face, glanced at the three people in the room before finally settling on Chen Feng. He said in fluent Mandarin with a slight Fujian accent, "General Chen, I apologize for disturbing you."
He bowed slightly and continued in a calm tone: "I am Jesus de Lara, the Spanish Archbishop of Luzon, and have come here on behalf of the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, Mr. Basilio, to deliver a cooperation proposal concerning the future of Luzon to the General."
The Governor hopes to unite the General's Free Army and Mr. Aguinaldo's Independence Army to jointly resist the impending American landing and safeguard the peace of Luzon.
Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on him.
This bishop's decision to venture into the territory controlled by the Independent Army was by no means reckless.
Although the independence army in 1898 claimed to be anti-Spanish, a large number of indigenous soldiers were Catholic. The church had deep roots in the rural communities, and even though some high-ranking members of the independence army hated Spain to the core, they dared not easily kill bishops who could influence the hearts and minds of the people.
More importantly, the Spanish-American War had entered a critical stage. Although the independence army controlled most of the rural areas of Luzon, it was unable to capture Manila. Faced with the impending landing of the US military, there was indeed a potential need to temporarily join forces with Spain, which gave the bishop the opportunity to pass safely.
Chen Feng raised his hand calmly: "Your Excellency, you have come from afar, thank you for your hard work. Qian Biao, serve tea."
Bishop Lara nodded his thanks and entered the room. The church guards behind him did not follow, but stood guard at the door.
After he sat down, he immediately took out two documents from his leather briefcase and handed them out with both hands: "The Church and the Governor's Office have heard about the negotiations between the General and the Independent Army. But the sincerity of the Church and the Governor's Office is far greater than the General imagined. This proposal will definitely satisfy the General."