On Highway 1, which leads from the port of Orient to Dingyuanbao, a group of unkempt "beggars" is marching in columns, Spanish prisoners captured in the last war. 1 September was the last day of the release of the prisoners of war as agreed by both sides, so the more than 700 Spanish prisoners were being driven by the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the outside of Dingyuan Fort to be received by the Spaniards.

Today's weather is good, and the newly renovated ferry bridge in the east of Dingyuan Fort is full of soldiers from the first outpost of the infantry with loaded guns. They stared with a slight wariness at the staggering Spanish prisoners of war, who were unkempt and exhausted by a month of hard labor and a poor life. Major Antonio Carlos was a little dizzy and heavy-footed, and his life of only a few potatoes a day made him extremely weak, and he was even more disturbed by the noise of some of the religious and propagandists of the East Coast people next to him.

"Spanish friends, before I leave, I want to tell you a word, in this unjust war, why were you sent to the east coast to die? It's all because of the greed of the aristocracy, who hide in the bustling big cities, wear clothes made of oriental silk, drink wine from French wineries, eat deep-sea cod from La Plata, and chew the finest tobacco in Havana, but send you to the east coast to die! They are even stingy in paying you even a little. God, they must be agents of the devil. Friends, come to your senses, and stop being the puppets of these nobles who lie on your stomach and suck your blood. The war was a tragedy, a tragedy dominated by the noble lords of Peru. We can live together peacefully, we can be friends, but we shouldn't be enemies. Friends, go back and think about it, who is your real enemy? "Father Pedro, who was an official employee of the Investigation Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, gave a speech with all his might, trying to instill anti-Spanish ideas in these Spanish prisoners of war. It's a pity that the effect doesn't look very good, only a few Spanish prisoners of war are listening, and most of them are in a daze.

"I'm Lucio from Chile. Now I have taken refuge in the Supreme Lord, the only true god in this world worthy of my faith. Today I am going to talk to you about the decay of the Spanish Church, which I have personally experienced. On the island of Chiloé in southern Chile, I was instructed by Jesuit missionaries who ordered me to lead the police to forcibly sell goods they did not need, such as spectacles, to the indigenous Araucans, who had taken the proceeds back to the country privately. They bought land, workshops, and lived a luxurious life in the countryside of Granada. In addition, some of the depraved clergy even had affairs with nuns, oh, what a shocking thing. They really should have been sent to the Inquisition in Madrid, not to the innocent peasants. Friends, abandon this rotten and depraved church, and let us return to the correct faith - the true God of the Supreme Laojun, the righteous faith will never go out of style! Lucio said in a comical gossip robe. However, he received less response than Father Pedro, and most of the Spanish prisoners of war looked at him with fear and bewilderment.

"Ahem..."Lieutenant Leo, who was standing at the crossing of the bridge, reminded the handover officer of the East Coast Republic - Liu Yun, the head of the Prison Administration Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with some dissatisfaction. Liu Yun smiled slightly, and casually said a few words to Pedro and Lucio, and the two undisciplined guys immediately shut up. Liu Yun picked up a few pieces of paper in his hand, on which was written in Spanish the list of all Spanish prisoners of war, and this traverser, who had worked hard all day to learn the Chinese languages, spoke fluent Spanish and said slowly to Lieutenant Colonel Leo: "Okay, then now the handover will officially begin." Lieutenant Leo, this is the list of all the prisoners of war, a total of 718 people, please take a look. ”

"718 people?" Lieutenant Leo frowned, "I remember that when we negotiated before, the number agreed on both sides was 767 prisoners of war. Now there are only 718 people, and where are the 49 people? I had to take everyone away. Liu, you know the truth, this makes me very embarrassed. ”

"No, Lieutenant Leo, there are no 767 people, only 718 people. In fact, we were wrong before, it's as simple as that. Liu Yun still had the same smile on his face.

Lieutenant Leo looked at the prisoners of war who were tortured to the point of not being human, then at Liu Yun, and then at the first outpost soldiers who were loaded with guns, sighed, didn't say anything more, and wrote a handover sheet and handed it to Liu Yun very happily.

"Lieutenant Leo, I've heard from some of my friends in La Plata that you're about to become the sheriff of Colonia Town?" Liu Yun looked at Leo, who was writing with his head down, and asked tentatively.

Leo raised his head in amazement, looked at Liu Yun, and said with a wry smile: "I have to say, people from the East Coast, you are very well-informed. Yes, I was transferred here punitively because of the humiliating defeat, perhaps because some people did not want to see me return to Lima again. ”

"Ha Luha, don't worry, Mr. Leo, you are a friend of our East Coasters, and we East Coast people will not treat our friends badly." Liu Yun laughed and said, "You see, the sky in La Plata is so blue, and the air in Buenos Aires is so fresh. Perhaps, your career as a Colonia sheriff is not as bleak as you think, and in that city of gold, I think many of those who target you will weep with regret. ”

Lieutenant Leo did not speak, lowered his head and continued to write. After a long time, he whispered, "East Coast people, sometimes it's terrible to think about you. I don't see exactly what the future holds for you in La Plata, but my instincts tell me that La Plata is currently drifting away from the Kingdom. But... Who cares? Governor Gutiérrez? Baron Bravo? Or Mr. Manuel Ignacio Rodríguez, with whom you have close ties? Hehe, well, East Coasters, I admit you won. In reality, I don't want to interfere or know how many shady secret deals there are between you, but please don't treat me for a fool. ”

There is no shortage of people who understand in this world. For example, the inconspicuous Lieutenant Leo in front of him, although he did not know the connection between the native-born white elite of the La Plata area and the Crossing Crowd, he succeeded in guessing the matter with his experience and wisdom. In fact, Manuel's son, Álvaro, is currently a guest at the Commerce Department in Port Oriente. This guy represents dozens of elite native-born white families in the La Plata area, and is an integral part of the Commerce Department's next ambitious smuggling plan.

In the eyes of the Ministry of Commerce, the abundant timber (especially high-quality hardwood resources), horses, cheese, leather, wool, tallow, livestock and other materials in the La Plata region will provide a solid foundation for the economic development of the East Coast Republic of China. In addition to these readily available supplies, since the La Plata region could also trade with Lima, it was not insignificant that the East Coast Republic could indirectly import saltpeter, sulfur, graphite, mercury, iron, copper, lead, tin and other strategic materials from other parts of Peru through the transfer of these native whites. Otherwise, do you think that Gao Mo and others are so desperate to persuade the Spaniards to open a small trade window, what is the picture? It's not for the sake of these critical supplies that are lacking in the East Coast region.

The profits generated by such a large material transaction will also be amazing. So it's no wonder that these white natives of La Plata jumped up and down so cooperatively, because the lion's share of the profits must have been shared with them by the East Coasters. Of course, in addition to them, a large number of colonial officials, soldiers and even missionaries in the La Plata region are also sharers, and they will also receive their share.

For example, Lieutenant Leo in front of him, he is the incoming sheriff of Colonia Town, and it can be said that the two sides of the transaction have to try their best to win over. Because neither side will honestly do the designated legal business, if there is a more serious sheriff, then everyone will not be comfortable. Therefore, for Lieutenant Leo, there are only two ways for everyone to either let him in or kick him out, there is no third way to choose.

"Well said, Mr. Leo." Liu Yun slapped his palms and exclaimed, "Many people are arrogantly encroaching on the interests of the kingdom while accusing others of being illegal. This is ridiculous! The trade between La Plata and the East Coast was a positive for both sides, as the people of La Plata could no longer endure the exploitation of the greedy Lima merchants, and we could buy their goods at a reasonable price. What a perfect trade of mutual benefit, which must be God's will to guide us to do so! ”

Leo smiled and didn't speak. I saw that he struggled to make a few strokes, signed his name at the end of the document, and then handed the receiving document to Liu Yun.

When Liu Yun took the document, he whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Mr. Leo can visit Mr. Álvaro Rodríguez in Buenos Aires before taking office, I am sure that there will be a lot of common topics between you." After speaking, he quietly stuffed a "giant panda" (100 yuan coin) into Leo's palm.

Leo clutched the gold coin tightly in his palm and nodded imperceptibly.

After the handover of the prisoners, Lieutenant Leo and several of his men, escorted by two platoons of soldiers from the first outpost, took more than 700 Spanish prisoners to the port of Rocha to board and leave.

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