Chapter 3566
After the pre-war preparation meeting, there were only three days left for Bangui Camp to rest and recuperate. As the company commander, Zheng Agui could no longer take a peaceful vacation like an ordinary soldier. Out of his responsibilities, he had to start keeping statistics on the company's combat readiness and urge each squad and platoon under his command to prepare for war.
Considering the limited number of ships that can be used in subsequent operations, it may be difficult for the troops to obtain a stable supply of supplies after landing on the island. In order to avoid affecting combat operations, Zheng Agui decided to bring as much combat materials as possible to the island.
The Bangui Battalion tentatively plans to carry seven days of rations and combat supplies per person, but Zheng Agui hopes to increase this base to ten days to ensure that the troops' operations on the island are not affected by logistics.
The quartermaster of the battalion headquarters did not approve Zheng Agui's application because it would increase the amount of supplies that the entire Bangui battalion needed to carry when landing on the island by nearly half. Not only does this require recalculation and distribution of various supplies, but also the ships that carry the supplies have to be redeployed due to the substantial increase in weight.
As for giving special treatment to Zheng Agui's company alone, the battalion commander also bluntly said that it was even more impossible. If the situation in the same battalion was uneven, other companies would definitely be dissatisfied.
Zheng Agui had no choice but to find Xiao Zhengyang, hoping that he could support his idea.
"If you want to get three more days of supplies, that's fine, but this special treatment cannot be given in vain. When the time comes, you will have to show your performance to prove it."
After Xiao Zhengyang heard his intention, he also put forward a condition: "If your company brings three more days of supplies than others, it means that it needs to return less often for supplies and has a wider range of activities on the island. Then It should be reasonable to achieve more results than others, right?”
This is obviously a test of Zheng Agui's determination to fight. If he just wants more supplies to ensure that his company will not run out of food and starve during the operation, rather than for the purpose of increasing the effective combat time, then such conditions should be enough to persuade Retreat the other party.
However, Zheng Agui had already made up his mind before he came to Xiao Zhengyang. Hearing this, he did not hesitate at all and immediately expressed his position: "I will definitely attack with all my strength and not let you down!"
Xiao Zhengyang had the experience of fighting together with Zheng Agui, and he also knew that he was a real person. Since he agreed immediately, there should be nothing fishy in the process. If he prevents his subordinates from rushing to the front, it would appear that he is a bit too cautious as a commander.
Xiao Zhengyang got this job to prove his ability to his father and the outside world. He hoped that his troops would be as brave as possible, so that he could complete the mission within the thirty-day deadline he had scheduled.
If Zheng Agui can set an example, it won't be difficult to give him an extra three days of supplies.
So Xiao Zhengyang issued an order, and Zheng Agui finally got three days' worth of supplies as he wished.
However, his treatment is considered unique for the time being. Even if others want to imitate, they cannot replicate the personal relationship with Xiao Zhengyang, and they may not have the courage to negotiate terms with Xiao Zhengyang.
After receiving the supplies from the quartermaster, Zheng Agui felt much calmer. Now he has three days more supplies than other companies, and his flexibility in taking actions is definitely better.
However, Zheng Agui was not sure whether he could get more results. The destination was such a large island, and the area that the more than 100 people under his command could cover was extremely limited. If they were assigned to an area without enemies, Then the power will be useless.
The rest time ended quickly. On the last day, seven people from Zheng Agui's company returned from injury, which was basically in line with his previous estimate.
Several companies belonging to the Bangui Battalion set off from Beimen Port on multiple troop transport ships, escorted by six warships. Among the three islands that Bangui Battalion was responsible for, Zheng Agui's company was finally assigned to Sumba Island, which was the most southerly and closest to Beimen Port.
The good news is that they will arrive at their destination half a day earlier than the other companies. The bad news is that the island is quite large, only slightly smaller than Sumbawa, the largest of the three islands, and Sumbawa is made up of It would be relatively easier for two companies to land on the island than Zheng Agui's company.
"Sumba Island is 450 miles long from east to west and 160 miles wide from north to south. There are at least two large indigenous kingdoms on the island, with an estimated population of more than 10,000 people."
"This island was once the territory of the Dutch and was only occupied by the Spanish two years ago. Therefore, there are horses and iron tools brought by Westerners on the island. It is said that even the indigenous tribes have a group of armed cavalry."
"We don't have exact information about the relationship between the indigenous people and the Spanish, but we must be prepared for them to be linked together."
"Our battle plan is to first search ports and seaside settlements along the coastline, confirm the location of the Spaniards, and then launch an attack. This repeats until the Spanish on the island are wiped out."
Zheng Agui briefly introduced the situation to his squad platoon leader on the way, but the information currently known about the specific situation on the island is extremely limited, making it difficult to formulate a more detailed combat plan. We can only set a general direction first, and then make adjustments according to the actual situation when we get to the place.
Four days after setting off from Beimen Port, the troop carrier Zheng Agui's company arrived at its destination, Sumba Island.
The fleet separated two warships and a comprehensive supply ship, plus the troop transport ship Zheng Agui and his team were on at this time, as support during their combat mission on Sumba Island.
Zheng Agui remembered that Xiao Zhengyang had made a wish during the preparation meeting before the war, saying that if the Spanish fleet hiding here was discovered, the land and sea forces would work together to block the opponent.
But the actual situation is that the army and navy forces assigned here are very small, and they are obviously not enough to carry out the combat operations Xiao Zhengyang mentioned.
It's just that it's useless to complain now. Before discovering the exact location of the Spanish fleet, Xiao Zhengyang probably won't concentrate the limited warships on Sumba Island to cooperate with Zheng Agui's actions.
As for how to find areas on the island where people may live, Zheng Agui has rich operational experience. He ordered the fleet to approach the coast first and look for places where rivers flow into the sea.
Flood plains formed by rivers near the coast are often suitable areas for settlement. Especially foreign colonists, whether they are Western colonists or Haihan themselves, will give priority to such areas. If there is a natural harbor, it will be a big plus.
This is also an experience Zheng Agui summed up from his past island combat operations.
This rule undoubtedly worked well. Just over an hour later, the lookout soldiers on the mast discovered the first target. Not only did he see farmhouses and farmland on land near the river's mouth, but he even saw a cross on top of a church.
Apparently there was a colonial settlement built by Western immigrants nearby.