On board the "Olympia", the argument finally ended. Dewey www.biquge.info Pen Fun Pavilion accepted Qin Lang's suggestion. Several transport ships in the fleet will leave Manila Bay and change their names as Qin Lang suggested, pretending to be munitions ships transporting supply ammunition. Of course, when the captains did this, they had to be careful not to be spotted by anyone - especially the German warships that were hovering at the entrance to Manila Bay.

The captains were ordered to leave immediately so that they could return during the day. So they didn't waste any time and immediately took action.

When they had done all their work, Dewey had time to ask Qin Lang a question that he was curious about. "How do you know that the Filipinos have a chance to capture the triangular fort? What did your soldiers say to you, Brigadier General. ”

"He told me that Natibida borrowed a thousand bombs from my army."

"Filipinos know how to blast?"

"I don't think they have that ability." Qin Lang said, "But those bombs are very simple to use, and of course they are also very dangerous. They can only be held in the hand or tied to the body, or placed on the ground, and cannot be thrown. ”

Dewey raised an eyebrow. Bombs that can only be held in the hand or strapped to the body...... If Qin Lang's explanation was correct, then what his soldiers were doing was too crazy. But even more crazy may be the Philippine army: the mercenaries never used that kind of bomb, and the Filipinos used five in one night. An attack that is indistinguishable from suicide...... God knows what's going on in those people's heads.

The rear admiral couldn't quite understand the Filipino's thoughts, so when Aguinaldo came to the warship with a big smile on his face to report the good news to him and Qin Lang, Dewey didn't understand what was worth celebrating in tonight's battle at all.

And he wanted to remind Aquinardo of that issue in a superficial way—and, of course, teasing. "How much did your army lose? I sincerely hope it doesn't take it too seriously, Mr. President. ”

"Of course, Mr. Major General." The President of the Republic of the Philippines replied, "Because of the new tactics devised by Captain Laurel, less than a hundred soldiers of the attacking force were killed." Therefore, General Natibida decided to promote this tactic in all his troops and will form special units dedicated to its execution. ”

"New tactics?" Dewey didn't understand.

"It is to select the bravest soldiers to rush into the middle of the enemy with bombs and detonate them" - the rear admiral glanced at Qin Lang, he smiled, as if he had expected this result - "It must be said that this tactic was very effective, it dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Spanish soldiers, so that they quickly stopped resisting. What Captain Laurel has found is a way for us to defeat the enemy at the lowest cost......"

Aguinaldo was enthusiastic and talked endlessly, but Dewey couldn't listen; At first, of course, he patiently listened to what seemed crazy to him, but after a while, he had to interrupt Aguinaldo. "Maybe I'm too worried, but I still want your troops to be ready. The Spanish army could launch a counterattack at any time to recapture the fortress. ”

Aguinaldo laughed more visibly. "The soldiers are ready, Mr. Major General. If the Spaniards fight back, we will pay them dearly. ”

"In that case, I don't have to worry about it." Dewey shrugged. Now, he knows what Aguinardo's confidence is about, and it makes him uncomfortable. Just out of politeness, he had to add: "I wish your troops success." ”

"Thank you, Major General."

"Mr. President, I would like to know if your troops have cleared the battlefield." Qin Lang suddenly interjected. His serious demeanor and serious tone made Dewey feel that he was not teasing or mocking anything, but the rear admiral knew that he meant that. "I need to get my soldiers into the fort in order to provide more prepared fire support to your troops." What is he implying for?

No matter what he wanted to do, Aguinardo's face suddenly became unnatural, twitching slightly, as if trying to control some kind of bad emotion. "I think your soldiers may have to wait a while, Mr. Brigadier General." Finally, he said, "The cleanup was a bit tough. ”

"Difficult?" Dewey glanced at the mercenary leader again, and he didn't react to this explanation, as if he knew Aguinaldo would answer like that...... Why?

Qin Lang didn't explain the reason - now is not the time. He simply nodded, indicating that he already knew and fully understood the difficulties of the Philippine army, and then said, "For some time, your troops will be forced to face a counterattack by the Spanish army alone, Mr. President." ”

"I'm expecting the Spaniards to fight back." Aguinaldo replied. That's what he meant, and the leaders of the Republic of the Philippines were expecting the Spaniards to strike back. As long as they leave the protection of the walls and moats, the valiant warriors with bombs can crush them all.

They'd better come out now.

However, from midnight until noon, the Spanish army never launched a counterattack. The officers wasted half the night arguing about who should wake up their governor, and when the chosen representative woke Augustine up, told him what had happened, and took him to the living room of the governor's residence, where the officer threatened Augustine that if he refused to go, then the officers would go to his bedroom - the Philippine governor flatly refused the request to retake the fort.

Augustine refused to spend his precious army and ammunition on a meaningless task, and even if it was lost, the gates were still guarded by bastions, which could not be attacked in a roundabout, and the defenses of Manila remained as strong as before, and there was no need to panic at all.

However, the senior military officers did not see it that way. Even without taking into account the morale of the army, it was a mistake to let the Filipinos capture the Triangle Fort. Now, the U.S. military is able to observe activity in the Old Town, and then the strange curved artillery they are equipped with will unscrupulously bombard any target that seems valuable.

Even, if it's worse, they can stop everything in the city with artillery fire, from the movement of troops to the shopping of citizens, turning Manila into a desperate, lifeless dead city. At that point, the defenders will have no choice but to surrender unconditionally.

But unconditional surrender was not what the officers wanted, what they needed was a decent peace.

They wanted that triangle fort.

The heated debate had been going on for the remaining half of the night and all morning, and thankfully, now it's finally coming to an end. "Your Excellency the Governor, we must make an attempt anyway, even if you don't agree." Lieutenant Colonel Osorio issued an ultimatum with a tough attitude.

"You can't threaten me!" Augustine replied, but his voice didn't quite convey what he meant. After a long quarrel, the sleep-deprived and weak Mr. Governor had exhausted his energy, and he was able to hold on only because of a few cups of coffee that were too strong to swallow. And now the effects of caffeine are almost gone.

Of course, the same is true of the senior officers, which is why they are so eager to end the argument, even at the expense of offending Augustine's authority.

"We have to do that." They all stood up.

Augustine saw that these people were not just verbal threats, they wanted to make threats a reality. "You stupid fools!" He roared angrily, but in the end, he could only compromise. "I'm only going to allow you to send one infantry company - just a company!"

Augustine knew he had to compromise. No matter what, as long as there is a first time, there must be a second time, and a third and a fourth time...... While it is also not a good idea to compromise in the face of threats, it is always better than officers taking the initiative to send in their troops. If that happens, he won't be able to control the army for the rest of the day.

In reality, however, he had no control over the army.

"One company, of course, Your Excellency the Governor, I will send only one." Colonel Campos replied first, and then the other officers also indicated that they would send only one company.

Then, the men immediately left to organize a counterattack; They've already lost too much time to keep grinding.

"Maniac!" Augustine cursed, went back to the upstairs bedroom, and went to bed to look for his badge of honor. Even though it's daytime, he needs to get some sleep.

So Mr. Governor is completely ignorant of what exactly his officers have done. To some extent, they did fulfill their promise, Colonel Campos sent only one company, Colonel García committed a company, and Lieutenant Colonel Sánchez still sent only one company...... This was their perfunctory Augustinian approach, with only one company of each regiment taking part in the counterattack, but the total strength was two battalions, and the supporting units were not included.

The officers were convinced that the only way to recapture the fort was to throw in so many troops, and Augustine's request was just a stupid joke that was utterly boring.

"That fool. It is hard to believe how Madrid could possibly appoint him as Governor of the Philippines. Lieutenant Colonel Osorio commented contemptuously, venting his frustration.

"Set him aside, Lieutenant Colonel." Campos withdrew his gaze from the soldiers who were forming the team, "We've handed over the troops to you, don't let us down." ”

"I will personally direct the troops to attack." The lieutenant colonel assured.

The Colonel nodded. "Good luck."

Osorio saluted him and walked towards his new unit. Under the watchful eye of the Filipino soldiers, the gates of Manila slowly opened. (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )