The meeting decided that the Republic's army would officially send troops to attack the Philippines on April 1. Before that, the army had begun preparations for military operations in full swing.
Of course, such a large-scale military operation cannot be easily swept under the rug.
Although Zhao Xuening sent people to spread a lot of smoke bombs about military exercises and the eastward strategy, he could imagine that the Spanish businessmen doing business in Lanfang would definitely spread the news back to the Philippines.
As for whether Manila will believe these smoke bombs or uncover Lan Fang's true purpose, Zhao Xuening doesn't care much anymore.
To put it bluntly, Lanfang's military strength has greatly exceeded that of the Spanish in the Philippines. If the target was only the Spanish, Zhao Xuening would only dispatch two battalions of about 6,000 troops, and would not dispatch 20,000 troops to attack them. .
To a large extent, Zhao Xuening dispatched two corps and two main navy fleets to launch military operations against the Philippines in order to deter the local forces in the Philippines.
During the period when Spanish rule collapsed and Lanfang's ruling order had not yet been fully established, a large number of troops were needed to demonstrate Lanfang's military presence in the Philippines, and several appropriate annihilation campaigns were needed to eliminate some ambitious people and tell them that Lanfang I didn’t come to the Philippines to do charity.
On the eve of the dispatch of troops, Zhao Xuening finished work several hours earlier for the first time and returned to the inner house next to the president's office, much to the surprise of Anne, who was taking care of little Anton for dinner.
"Why did you come back so early today?"
While wiping the food residue from the corner of Anton's mouth, Annie looked at Zhao Xuening in surprise.
"We are going on an expedition tomorrow. Come back early tonight to stay with you. It may take several months before we can come back."
Zhao Xuening changed out of his coat and put on the casual clothes he wore at home, washed his hands, and came to Annie. He first hugged Annie and kissed her, then leaned down and picked up the cute little Anton.
"Anton, do you miss your father?"
Anton's big eyes stared at Zhao Xuening without saying a word.
"How old is Anton? It's already great to be able to talk about mom and dad. What else do you want him to say?"
Anne gave Zhao Xuening a charming look, picked up the small spoon and put another spoonful of sticky food into Anton's mouth. Anton licked his mouth, looking very cute.
Zhao Xuening hugged Anton and shook him around, then showed a little regretful expression.
"It's a pity that children should grow the fastest at this time. If I can accompany Anton every day, I can see how Anton grows up. When I come back in a few months, Anton may have already grown up." I’ve grown so big that you may not even recognize me.”
"Then you stayed there for so long?"
Annie took Anton away from Zhao Xuening's arms and put him back on the small chair. She stood up and stroked Zhao Xuening's face, showing a slightly lonely expression.
"If you go for such a long time, I will be very worried about you and miss you very much."
"Of course I'll miss you too."
Zhao Xuening hugged Annie: "But who made me the president? Who made me the leader of millions of people? Your husband is such a man with a strong sense of responsibility. They trust me and give me power. I can't betray their trust."
"You are their president, but you are also my husband. We haven't had a good date for a long time..."
"I know, Annie, you have worked hard these days."
Zhao Xuening caressed Annie's face and smiled: "When I conquer the Philippines, we will be stable for a long time. At that time, I will find a comfortable sunny beach in the Philippines, and we will go on a beach vacation as a family and have a date. How about it?"
"It will take a long time..."
"It won't be long."
Zhao Xuening held Annie, and Annie nestled in Zhao Xuening's arms. The two didn't speak for a while, just enjoying the silence quietly.
The next day, Zhao Xuening got up early, and Annie also got up early, prepared breakfast for Zhao Xuening, helped him change into formal military uniform, and kept telling him to pay more attention to safety and other things.
Zhao Xuening also took her advice, left the White House, and embarked on the journey of destiny.
On April 1, the second year of the Republic of China, the Lanfang Army and Navy Forces took the oath to go out for battle at the Seoul Military Port. President Zhao Xuening personally led the attack again. The huge joint army and navy fleet set off from the Seoul Military Port and headed northeast, crossing the Sulu Islands and then Turn north and go straight to Manila.
Such a huge military operation naturally cannot hide from the eyes of many people, but the previous smoke bombs still played a certain role. Because there is no official public information, even if Lanfang's army has gone out, some people still think that this is a large-scale military operation. Maritime exercises.
This kind of drill has been going on since the days of Lanfang Company and happens several times every year. In the eyes of many people, it is not surprising.
The mature training system can actually act as a smoke bomb for military operations at this time. It can be said that God helps those who help themselves.
Therefore, it was only three days away from Manila Bay that the Manila Governor's Office finally received some information with strong tendencies.
This intelligence believes that Lanfang's army is too close to Manila Bay, which may not be a good sign, and may have military intentions.
It’s just that the Governor-General of Manila has doubts about this matter, or is unwilling to believe it, because since the copper mine war that year, the Governor-General of Manila has not provoked Lan Fang for a long time. How could Lan Fang take the initiative to attack Manila inexplicably? Woolen cloth?
The Copper Mine War was indeed initiated by the Governor-General of Manila. He wanted to get a share of the Japan-Korea trade route controlled by Zhao Xuening. However, Zhao Xuening and his main force beat him severely. Not only did he not get a share, Instead, several copper mines were lost.
Since then, Manila has regarded Zhao Xuening as a scourge and is afraid to avoid him. It has no thoughts about him at all and only wants to coexist peacefully with him.
However, the trees wanted to be quiet but the wind kept coming. This time, they couldn't escape.
The Governor of Manila, Jose, was not too willing to believe that the Lanfang army was coming for him. He would rather believe that this was another military exercise. Although he quickly ordered the navy and army to mobilize for defense, he also ordered the mobilization of more militia teams. Manila helped defend, but he still expected it to be a false alarm.
But unfortunately, his wishful thinking was meaningless.
When Lanfang's army was only one day away from Manila Bay, he had to desperately believe that Lanfang's army was coming for him, and such a large army was obviously not here for a visit.
Jose's men were all extremely nervous and mobilized various troops to strengthen the defense. However, Jose still did not give up the idea of peace and sent people by boat to contact Lanfang's army, hoping to find out the purpose of Lanfang's army and work hard Fight for peace.
However, the people he sent never came back. The main fleet of Lanfang Navy also sailed into Manila Bay and took the initiative to open fire on the Spanish navy stationed in Manila Bay. A naval battle between the two sides began.
Going back two hundred years, at the end of the 16th century, Spain was still the world's largest naval power. Its powerful Armada suppressed Europe and bullied Britain, which was still a second-rate country at the time.
Time flies, and at the end of the 18th century, Spain was already a second-rate country. Both its army and navy had basically lost the possibility of competing in the world. In terms of combat effectiveness and weapons and equipment, they had completely lagged behind the advanced European level.
The Spanish army in Madrid is like this, let alone the Spanish army as far away as Manila. This "regular army" composed of a small number of Spanish white soldiers and a large number of mulattoes, blacks, and Indians really cannot be relied upon by Manila to fight against Lanfang. .
This was clearly demonstrated in the copper mine war three years ago.
Manila's only hope is that the navy can provide some strength, but Lanfang's navy is not a weakness, but a strength.
Zhao Xuening once again used the classic long snake formation tactic, arranging the main battleships of the Lanfang Navy in a row, connected end to end, bombarding the Spanish Navy ships with powerful firepower, thoroughly implementing the strategy of using the strong to bully the weak, and using more to bully the less. Code of War.
The Spanish Navy naturally responded with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It also arranged its main battleships to line up in a long snake formation to attack the Lanfang Navy. However, because the number of battleships was too small and their firepower was insufficient, the Lanfang Navy attacked its own battleships not long after the war started. It was riddled with holes.
As a last resort, General Porter, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Navy, could only use proximity tactics with light gunboats and cruisers to get close to the Lanfang Navy battleship and then launch a bombardment. He even sent fireships to approach the Lanfang Navy. It was just a matter of luck.
However, the Lanfang Navy had too many numbers, too strong firepower, and too much advantage. It was difficult for Spanish ships to get close to the Lanfang Navy. In just half an hour, five light ships were destroyed by the Lanfang Navy and sank to the bottom of the sea.
Subsequently, more Lanfang navy ships poured into Manila Bay, approaching the Spanish navy's main ships from both wings, firing cannons as they approached, and they had the idea of approaching from both wings and completely eating this fleet. General Porter saw it In this way, you know that this battle can no longer be fought.
Lanfang's advantages are too great, and his own disadvantages are too great.
"General, there are too many ships on the other side. Our firepower is seriously insufficient, and we don't have enough artillery shells! Moreover, many sailors have jumped ship and escaped!"
An officer panicked and ran behind General Porter, who was standing on the deck observing the battlefield with a telescope, and told General Porter the plight of the Spanish navy.
General Porter is not blind, of course he knows the situation on the battlefield.
Like the army, the main component of the Spanish navy stationed in Manila is not white Spanish soldiers, but is filled with blacks, mulattoes, Indians, and a large number of Filipino natives, and even Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.
It's a complete hodgepodge of ethnic groups.
Moreover, the Spaniards did not regard these people as their own people at all, but as second-class and third-class citizens. They ignored the military pay they owed and did not pay them. They often beat, scolded, humiliated, and physically punished them.
It's okay to fight with the wind and bully the weak, but when it comes to fighting a strong opponent, these guys will definitely become like birds and beasts.
After some ships in the front were sunk by the Lanfang navy, the ships in the rear were shaken one after another. There were even deserters on the battleship that General Porter was riding. They jumped into the water in a hurry, snatched the escape boat, and rushed to the port desperately. slide.
Some white soldiers on the ship raised their guns and fired in an attempt to prevent more people from escaping, but it was of no use.
In front of him was the approaching Lanfang navy, and around him and behind were the army that was about to collapse. General Porter was helpless, and under the astonished gaze of the officers around him, he took out a pistol, pointed it at his neck, and pulled the trigger.
With a bang, General Porter ended his life, and the surrounding officers and soldiers were dumbfounded.
Why did you commit suicide before the war was over?
You committed suicide, what should we do?
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PS: It’s snowing and it’s too cold. I ate a pack of pork bone noodles in the morning, added three slices of luncheon meat, and beat an egg. My body finally warmed up, so I’ll add another chapter~
