ATPnovel Chapter 79 Initial Strategy for Two Wheels
Chapter 79 Initial Strategy for Two Wheels
On the morning of June 11, a fine drizzle fell obliquely, weaving a gray, hazy sky that soaked the fields in northern Luzon into a muddy mess.
Chen Feng was wearing a coarse linen raincoat, and rainwater dripped down the hem, spreading a small dark water stain on the horse's back.
The warhorse he rode was a fine Arabian breed captured from the Western Army; its hooves were wide and it remained steady even when treading through the mud.
Qian Biao and Pang Li, who followed behind, were not so relaxed. The two rode ordinary local horses, and their horsemanship was ridiculously rusty.
Qian Biao gripped the reins tightly, his buttocks swaying from side to side on the saddle. Cold sweat mixed with rainwater dripped down his forehead, and his trouser legs were already soaked with mud.
Pang Li simply assumed a horse stance, hunching over with both hands tightly around the horse's neck, afraid of stumbling and falling into the muddy swamp by the roadside. His inner thighs were burning from the chafing, but he gritted his teeth and refused to utter a sound.
"Master, why is riding a horse more tiring than lifting a hundred-pound stone lock?" Pang Li asked, panting heavily, his words somewhat indistinct.
Qian Biao smiled wryly from the side: "Brother Pang Li, you should be content! It's better than the last time I hiked through the night. Back then, I was so stuck in the mud that it took me ages to pull my feet out. I slipped and slid every three steps, and by daybreak I had lost both of my shoes."
Chen Feng reined in his horse, turned around and looked at the two men's comical appearance, his brows furrowing slightly.
How could I have forgotten my bicycle?
The difficulty of manufacturing this item is practically tailor-made for the current Free Army!
The chassis could be forged from wrought iron, and there happened to be an abandoned iron mine in the area controlled by the Free Army. Selling it directly was inconvenient, and the price was driven down to a very low level by Western merchants.
Since there are too many raw materials to use for repairing and manufacturing firearms, they can be used to make bicycle frames.
The structure of the pedal and chain is not complicated. Peter used to be a key technical staff member in a gun factory and was proficient in mechanical principles. As long as he could get his hands on the prototype, disassemble and study it, it would not be difficult to replicate it.
There's no need to worry about patents either; I specifically researched relevant information when I was writing novels in my previous life in order to advance my technological skills.
Although bicycle patents are held in the United States, most of them are improvement patents. The core structures such as the frame, wheels, pedals, and brakes do not involve any patent barriers.
The only problem is the rubber.
However, they should be able to purchase it through the Zheng family's channels.
Crucially, a large-scale U.S. military landing in Luzon is imminent!
Their operations on the island would inevitably require convenient and flexible means of transportation.
Horse-drawn carriages are too cumbersome and unsuitable for marching in mountainous terrain. Warhorses are expensive and require a lot of food and fodder. Bicycles, on the other hand, are lightweight and durable, require no food and fodder, and can travel through narrow mountain roads. If they were to be transported from the Americas across the ocean, their price would be outrageously high.
If a bicycle factory could be built here, the US military would be its first major customer!
Connor is greedy by nature. As long as there is profit to be made, he will definitely buy in large quantities. In that case, gold and silver will flow into the pockets of the Free Army without end.
Thinking of this, Chen Feng reined in his horse, turned around, and asked, "Have you ever seen a bicycle before?"
Pang Li and Qian Biao exchanged a glance and shook their heads in confusion.
"It's a two-wheeled device that you ride on and pedal to move forward," Chen Feng added.
Pang Li was still completely confused, scratching his head: "Two wheels? Won't it tip over? Master, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Qian Biao's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had remembered something, and he tentatively asked, "Is the general referring to the Sicreta? We all call it a two-wheeled vehicle!"
I've seen these before in Manila. Spanish colonial messengers rode them, and they were incredibly fast. Some wealthy Chinese kids also bought them, but they all treated them like toys; I never saw anyone use them for travel. I heard they were very expensive, more expensive than a cow!
Chen Feng nodded slightly, then asked, "Are there any bicycle factories in Luzon?"
"Never heard of it." Qian Biao shook his head firmly. "These things are all imported from the West. They are ridiculously expensive. Ordinary people simply cannot afford them. Only colonial soldiers and rich kids can afford them."
That makes things much easier!
We've finally found our first sustainable source of funding.
Moreover, it's a big business that can boost industry and improve people's livelihoods!
Chen Feng was secretly delighted and immediately ordered: "Once we arrive in Marolos, have your intelligence personnel buy a few bicycles and send them back to the camp so that Peter can quickly master the imitation technology."
I want to build Luzon's first bicycle factory, not only to meet our own needs, but also to sell to all of Luzon and Southeast Asia!
"Yes, General!" Qian Biao replied in a deep voice, his eyes filled with excitement.
Pang Li, listening from the side, was completely confused, but he knew this was incredibly good news, and quickly nodded, "Master, don't worry, once I get that bicycle, I'll personally guard it and won't let anyone touch it or break it!"
Qian Biao suddenly pointed to the muddy dirt road under his feet, his face showing difficulty: "General, it is the rainy season now, and the road is slippery and muddy. It may not be very convenient to ride a bicycle, right? Look at this road, it is full of potholes. If the wheels get stuck, it may be difficult to pull them out."
"The sun will always shine again!" Chen Feng smiled nonchalantly.
Even during the rainy season, it doesn't rain this heavily every day.
The U.S. military may postpone the procurement due to muddy roads, but that guy Connor will definitely find a way to solve it.
Malolos is now several times more bustling than before. Long lines of natives have formed at the city gates, undergoing searches by the Independent Army soldiers. The city walls are also filled with sentries, and the soldiers are fully armed.
"General, shall we enter the city now?" Qian Biao asked in a low voice.
"No rush."
Chen Feng shook his head, his eyes serious. "Qian Biao, you go into the city first to gather information, contact Connor, and confirm whether the U.S. Marines have entered the city."
"Understood!" Qian Biao nodded, dismounted, patted the mud off his body, straightened his clothes, and disguised himself as an ordinary Chinese vendor, blending into the queue at the city gate.
Pang Li stayed by Chen Feng's side, gripping the ghost-headed saber at his waist, and warily surveyed the surrounding crowd. He whispered, "Master, there are too many people here. Should we find another place to wait?"
"No need," Chen Feng said calmly. "The more conspicuous the place, the safer it is."
He deliberately rode a tall horse, dressed in a smart short outfit, with a Western military knife at his waist. He looked neither like a merchant nor an ordinary soldier, but rather exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. Although the independent army soldiers were curious, they did not dare to approach and question him easily.
About half an hour later, Qian Biao reappeared at the city gate, followed by a familiar figure.
Connor, dressed in a Marine Corps uniform with a revolver at his waist and his usual roguish smile on his face, taunted from afar, "Chen, I never expected you to be so timid! You actually had to wait for me to pick you up before daring to enter the city?"
Chen Feng chuckled as he dismounted, his tone relaxed: "There's an old Chinese saying, 'A wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall.' Malolos is the territory of the Independence Army. If we weren't friends, I wouldn't be taking this risk today."
Connor gave a thumbs up and laughed, "With the U.S. Marine Corps backing you up, you definitely won't lose out this time."
However... I do admire you quite a bit, for daring to ask for 50% of the seats in the legislature. Now, many people in the independence army are clamoring to kill you!
Especially Aguinaldo's close associates, who said you wanted to divide the Philippines and threatened to teach you a lesson.
"Can they kill me?" Chen Feng's tone was calm, without a trace of sarcasm, but rather carried a hint of probing.
Connor immediately patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry! With me here, no one will dare to touch you."
"I hope so." Chen Feng smiled, said no more, and strode towards the city gate.
A squad of U.S. Marines, dressed in neat uniforms, carrying rifles and with serious expressions, were already waiting at the city gate.
Seeing this, the Independent Army soldiers on duty naturally did not dare to search each person as they would ordinary natives. They only glanced at them symbolically before letting them pass, and even gave Connor an awkward military salute.
Upon entering the city gate, the Zheng Family Trading Company, located at the Golden Port, was bustling with activity. Indigenous and Chinese customers came and went in an endless stream, their languages mingling together in a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
Connor led the way, explaining as they walked: "This city has become much more lively since the Spanish were driven out. Our Marine Corps barracks are temporarily using the former Spanish colonial army barracks, and the venue for the Declaration of Independence ceremony is the nearby Barrasóí Church."
When the topic turned to the Barasoyin Church, Connor's tone suddenly became somewhat strange. He stared intently at Chen Feng and asked, "Chen, what exactly was your purpose in venturing into Malolos City those past few days? I heard that you also wandered around the Barasoyin Church several times."
Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat.
It seems Connor already knows about the gold treasure hidden beneath the church, but he's not sure if he was the one who did it.
That sum of gold was worth $58, equivalent to 185 million silver pesos, more than the amount Liu Hengfu had painstakingly raised for the independence army. With such a huge fortune, Connor could not help but be tempted.
If he were to confirm that the gold was in his possession, this guy would definitely make exorbitant demands and extort a hefty sum.
With that thought in mind, Chen Feng's expression remained unchanged as he said seriously, "I'm here to gather intelligence on the Independent Army and, incidentally, expand some business channels."
Connor's gaze remained fixed on his face. Seeing that he looked calm and showed no sign of abnormality, the suspicion in his eyes subsided slightly: "Chen, did you know? There are hundreds of kilograms of gold treasure hidden beneath this Barasoyin Church. It was stolen by a mysterious force on the very night the Independence Army attacked the city."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Chen Feng feigned surprise, his tone full of resentment, "Hundreds of kilograms of gold?"
How much is that worth?
Which mysterious force has such great capabilities?
How could they possibly steal the gold right under the noses of the Independent Army?
Why didn't you say so sooner?
If I had known about this gold, I shouldn't have destroyed the San Antonio supply depot; I should have just come and robbed this treasure.
If we split the profits 50/20, wouldn't we all make a fortune?