Wherever the center of the typhoon went, there was basically heavy rain. After avoiding the danger in the center, the fleet returned to the sea area where they had landed the last time on the morning of the third day. It was noon, and it was raining heavily. The dim light was not much different from the evening.
The fleet followed the predetermined communication method and fired two red and one green signal flares to the place where the landing team was. The observers and officers looked nervously in the direction of the sixth base. Some of the trees on the shore had been broken in the wind, and the sea was full of broken branches and leaves that had been blown into the sea. Such a vast sea could be reduced to such a state. It was obvious how much the typhoon had ravaged this place.
Five minutes passed, and there was no response from the shore. The fleet continued to fire the signal flares. Ten minutes passed, and there was still no response from the shore. The fleet continued to fire the signal flares. Fifteen minutes passed, and everyone felt a little uneasy. The tonnage of the fleet was relatively small, and the 200-ton frigate had a shallow draft. The frigate took the lead to approach the shore, and then lowered the small boats to send people ashore to check.
At this moment, a red signal flare rose into the sky from behind the distant forest. Although it did not last long, it was extinguished very quickly. But it was enough to prove that the comrades of the troops were still holding their positions.
After the small boats landed, they quickly brought the comrades of the landing site back to the warship. The comrade looked like a drowned rat, and his skin showed the white and wrinkled appearance of someone who had been soaking in the water for too long.
"Are there any casualties?" the political commissar asked immediately.
"Some were injured by branches, and some comrades got sick because they were soaked in the rain too much. Please get them to the ship quickly! "The comrade who came back to report said wearily.
"Did the enemy attack?" Even though he knew that this was very stupid, he still had to say it when it was necessary. With the level of the Liberation Army, it was impossible for them to march and fight in a typhoon, let alone the Sixth Army of Spain.
"I did not see any enemy from beginning to end. If it wasn't for so many rubber bags when we landed, I'm afraid the troops would have been finished. "The comrade who landed the sixth said this and was so sad that he almost cried.
There was a large proportion of southern comrades in the troops, and some of them were navy personnel who were responsible for guiding the landing. Before the typhoon came, they at least saw the problem in advance. The troops immediately moved to move the small boats left on the shore to the lee of a small high ground. Everyone temporarily cut down the trees around the camp to use as pillars, and stored their weapons in rubber bags. Rubber bags, which served as air sacs, were filled with sand to form walls.
Just as the preparations were completed, the typhoon arrived. Eight hundred soldiers hid behind a simple fort, enduring the ravages of nature. The wind was so strong that it was more than a meter thick. Even the sandbags supported by wooden stakes were blown over. The comrades could only use all their strength to hold the temporary wall so that the only wall that could withstand the strong wind would not collapse. There were no days or nights. In the end, many comrades simply fell asleep with their backs against the wall.
Without this simple fortification, without this wall to resist the strong wind, who knows where the 800 people would have been blown to. After enduring the terrifying gale with great difficulty, everyone eagerly waited for the fleet to return. Seeing the signal flare, the comrades immediately responded. Even though it was raining heavily, the comrades of Team 6 were still crying loudly.
This was really a touching story. It was too easy for a typhoon to blow people away. If one didn't have someone to rely on in such a storm, only death awaited them. Originally, no one dared to say too much, but in fact, their hearts were already extremely uneasy. He did not expect the troops to persevere in such an environment, and there were no major casualties.
The fleet continued to discuss whether to continue the battle or retreat first. The comrades of the Sixth Army who followed the fleet were not unscathed. The ships rose and fell violently, and most of the Sixth Army was seasick. God knew how long the rain would last, and it was completely imaginable how difficult it would be to attack in the rain.
The commander of the Sixth Army said in a hoarse voice, "We have difficulties, but don't tell me the enemy doesn't have difficulties? When we went south to Guangdong, we chose a rainy season. At that time, we only had fire caps. The rifles of the Manchu Qing couldn't fight in the rain at all, so we won a great victory. Now, they are all fixed bullets, and the metal shells are not afraid of water. If we attack now, we will catch the Spaniards off guard! "
The senior officers had all participated in the great march south to Guangdong. Although the hardships at that time were impressive, in retrospect, the hardships at that time were the achievements of the current Liberation Army. The commander of the Sixth Army's face was a little green, and he felt like he was made of noodles. But he tried his best to straighten his back, and his bloodshot eyes were still firm.
"We will first send some troops near the port to board the ship. The boarding troops will seize the enemy's fortifications at the port. Then the fleet will enter the port and cooperate with the Sixth Army to occupy the port. "The commander of the fleet was very polite, but also very firm.
Not every army could withstand a typhoon like the Liberation Army. Since they could withstand a typhoon, the navy had no doubt that the Sixth Army would not be able to seize the port.
The new boarding operation began again. This time, they did not plan to send all 4200 people up. Instead, they chose the troops who were not seasick and still had combat strength. A total of more than 600 people were organized. More than 400 of the troops who had already boarded the ship and still had combat strength advanced to the new boarding location.
Braving the heavy rain and the danger of hitting the rocks or sitting on the beach because they were not familiar with the sea conditions, the navy began to implement a new round of boarding plan.
The soldiers did not have any spare time this time. Those who did not row the ship had to use their steel helmets to scoop out the rainwater from the ship. And the soldiers of the Sixth Army, who had only eaten instant noodles, canned luncheon meat, and canned fruits for the past three days, dragged the artillery, crossed the woods and mud, and stubbornly advanced to the predetermined location.
The military uniform had long been soaked, and it was cold and heavy to wear. The ground was uneven, and the soil was soft. Sometimes, when the scouting troops in front stepped in, they had to spend a lot of effort to pull their feet out of the mud.
The red military flag had also absorbed enough rainwater, and listlessly turned into a bunch and drooped down. Many of the soldiers in this army who had experienced fatigue, pain, and hard work were a little listless when they walked. But they were not knocked down by these.
The weapons and ammunition in the thick rubber bags placed on the artillery were still dry, and the movement of the troops was still orderly. Everyone did not care about each other. When their comrades could not walk anymore, someone went forward to support them. When the artillery wheels sank into the sand, everyone went together to pull it. Even if the military flag could not be fluttered in the wind, the flag-bearers still carried the military flag and walked in front of the troops.
These soldiers in green uniforms, this China army marched toward their destination, the Port of Manila, without stopping.
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