Chapter 35

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In the vast forests of Mindanao, a team dressed in dark green camouflage uniforms was moving through. The color of their uniforms blended well with the forest, allowing them to hide effectively. If one did not get close, it would be hard to spot them. This was the combat uniform designed by Long Yufei for the Feiyu Army. Initially, the colorful camouflage uniforms looked a bit ugly, and the soldiers found it hard to accept them. However, after subsequent training, the soldiers discovered the effectiveness of the camouflage uniforms and immediately changed their attitude, praising Long Yufei greatly.

This was especially true for the reconnaissance soldiers of the Feiyu Army. Their combat missions were already very dangerous, and the camouflage uniforms helped them hide in the forest, increasing their chances of survival.

Around the marching Feiyu Army, reconnaissance soldiers were spread out. Their main task was to promptly detect the native scouts and eliminate them, preventing the Feiyu Army's movements from being discovered. Although the Feiyu Army was not afraid of the natives, to annihilate the Mangabang tribe in one battle, secrecy was essential.

The stronghold of the Mangabang tribe was located in a large valley on Mangabang Mountain, about 50 kilometers from Feiyu City. In the plains, 50 kilometers was not much, and it could be covered in two days at most. However, in the forest, it was far from that. The Feiyu Army took four days to cover the 50 kilometers. During this period, the number of non-combat casualties reached over a hundred. Most of these soldiers were bitten by venomous snakes or insects. Many were saved due to timely treatment, but they lost their combat capability. A few even lost their lives. Without even seeing the enemy, they had already lost almost an infantry company, which made Long Yufei very distressed.

"Damn, this place is not fit for human habitation!" Long Yufei angrily cursed as he split a colorful little snake in half with his knife. No wonder Western colonizers abandoned Mindanao like old shoes; the living conditions here were indeed terrible. Only the natives who lived here could adapt; others probably couldn't. Even if the Westerners occupied the place, they couldn't make use of it, so they left it to the natives. However, Long Yufei believed that the Chinese had strong adaptability. Since the natives could survive here, the Chinese could also do it. Mindanao was rich in mineral resources, and Long Yufei was counting on these resources to support the future development of the Feiyu Company!

"Commander! This is already very good. This dense forest has always been a forbidden area for us Chinese! Initially, the Chinese were united, and we joined forces to repel the natives' attacks many times! However, once the natives failed, they fled into the forest. When we pursued them into the forest, the venomous insects and snakes alone caused us huge losses. It was very difficult to eliminate the natives! Later, the Chinese became scattered, which gave the natives another chance to bully us!" explained Liu Wu, the deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion.

Long Yufei nodded. When the Chinese were strong, the natives hid in the forest, and the Chinese couldn't eliminate them. When the Chinese became weak and scattered, the natives took the opportunity to come out of the forest and bully the Chinese. It was a classic guerrilla warfare! However, this time, Long Yufei would not give the natives another chance. The Mangabang tribe would be the first target of the Feiyu Army. After that, the Feiyu Army would launch attacks on the native tribes of Mindanao one by one, aiming to eliminate all of them. The natives would either be killed or become slaves of the Feiyu Army; there was no third option. In the end, the natives would be completely eliminated, and Mindanao would become the land of the Chinese!

After four days of arduous trekking through the forest, the Feiyu Army finally arrived at Mangabang Mountain, less than five kilometers from the Mangabang tribe's stronghold. Their luck was good, and they had not been discovered by the natives. Or perhaps, the native scouts had all been eliminated by the Feiyu Army's reconnaissance soldiers, allowing them to reach the heart of the Mangabang tribe's territory undetected!

"Commander! Ahead is the valley where the Mangabang tribe lives. According to our intelligence, most of the Mangabang tribe lives in the valley! The outer areas are the subordinate tribes of the Mangabang tribe! If we advance further, we will encounter the natives!" said Niu Meng, the commander of the 1st Brigade of the Feiyu Army.

Long Yufei looked at the sky; it was already afternoon. If they launched an attack, they couldn't finish before nightfall. Once it was dark, the Feiyu Army's firepower advantage would be lost. Therefore, he said, "Order all units to rest on the spot and maintain vigilance! Attack the Mangabang tribe early tomorrow morning, aiming to eliminate the entire tribe!"

"Yes, Commander!" Niu Meng nodded and quickly made the arrangements. Over 3,000 Feiyu Army soldiers were hidden in the forest.

Although it was still February, the forest was very humid. For Long Yufei, camping in the forest was a torment. The harsh conditions made him regret it a bit. If he had known, he would have stayed in Feiyu City to wait for news. Why suffer for the sake of heroism? However, he couldn't say that. Otherwise, the heroic image he had built among the Feiyu Army would be ruined!

Fortunately, there were many locals in the Feiyu Army, and they had brought plenty of insect-repelling herbs. Sprinkling these around the campsite effectively prevented the harassment of venomous insects and snakes. As for large wild animals, they were no match for the fully armed Feiyu Army soldiers. If it weren't for the proximity to the Mangabang tribe's stronghold, where the use of rifles could alert the natives, the Feiyu Army could easily hunt these animals!

The night passed quickly. On the morning of March 1st, just as dawn was breaking, the Feiyu Army began to move. After a simple meal of dry rations, the soldiers began to act according to the pre-planned strategy. To eliminate the entire Mangabang tribe, the 4 infantry battalions of the Feiyu Army divided into four directions, surrounding Mangabang Mountain. Although this made the Feiyu Army's forces in each direction somewhat weak, with the Feiyu rifles and Thunder Mortars, the Feiyu Army's firepower was greatly enhanced, making it easy to eliminate the natives!

By 7:00 AM, all units of the Feiyu Army were in position. At this time, the Mangabang tribe and its subordinate tribes were still quiet. These natives were lazy by nature and wouldn't get up to work as soon as it was light like the Chinese. They usually slept until they naturally woke up and only thought about food when they were really hungry.

At 7:20 AM, Long Yufei issued the order to attack. He himself followed the 1st Infantry Battalion, while the commander of the 1st Brigade, Niu Meng, went to command the 2nd Infantry Battalion. These two battalions had the heaviest combat tasks, blocking the two ends of the valley where the Mangabang tribe lived. The other two battalions were responsible for first clearing out the subordinate tribes of the Mangabang tribe!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The first to open fire were the ten Thunder Mortars of the 1st Infantry Battalion. The battalion's artillery platoon had six, and each infantry company had one, making a total of ten!

The 1.5-kilogram shells flew to the native tribes over 500 meters away. With the intense explosions, the thatched huts built by the natives were blown into the air. Many natives were killed in their sleep!

The natives panicked and ran out of their huts. They didn't know what was happening, and many even thought it was thunder. However, when the shells exploded around them, and natives were killed, they realized they were under attack. But this kind of attack was something they had never encountered before, and the natives ran around like headless flies.

Subsequently, the Feiyu Army launched attacks from four directions. When the crisp sound of rifles, like popping beans, rang out, the natives finally understood what kind of enemy they were facing. After the battle of Feiyu City, the Feiyu Army was already seen as devils by the natives!

One after another, the natives were killed, and the remaining ones knelt down to surrender. The sudden and fierce attack made it difficult for the natives to resist, and their will to fight was almost zero.

The first to be attacked were the subordinate tribes of the Mangabang tribe. These tribes mostly depended on the Mangabang tribe for survival, serving as a buffer. In the previous battle of Feiyu City, they also suffered significant losses. When the Feiyu Army soldiers in dark green camouflage uniforms appeared outside their tribes, shouting that surrender meant life, many of the natives gave up resistance. After all, even for the natives, being alive was the best outcome!

When the Feiyu Army launched the attack, the Mangabang tribe living in the valley was also awakened. Countless naked natives rushed out of their thatched huts. The intense explosions made them think the gods were angry, similar to when a volcano erupted. However, the subsequent gunshots made them realize it wasn't the gods' anger but an enemy attack!

"Damn Chinese, they actually dare to attack us in the forest? Warriors of the tribe, take up your weapons and prepare to fight the enemy! It's time to defend our tribe!" The chief of the Mangabang tribe, Sangton, was both shocked and angry. He calmed the frightened natives while issuing orders to resist!