Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 56 Outside the City
After the exercise, Li Mingyuan led the cavalry brigade to circle the Andes twice, captured three Andean condors, and set off back.

A long-distance raid and transfer is a huge and tedious project, which requires preparation of everything, including personnel transfer, medicine procurement, food and material supply, etc.

According to preliminary estimates, including the 30,000 Chinese workers returned by Peru, the total number of Chinese who transferred in will reach 150,000.
The one-time transfer of 150,000 people put too much logistical pressure on them, so Li Mingyuan divided the 150,000 Chinese into three groups, with 8,000 people taking captured warships and merchant ships to cross the sea directly to Rio Grande do Sul Province in southern Brazil.

The organized field army of nearly 40,000 set out ahead of schedule with the aim of defeating the Brazilian army and navigating the way for follow-up troops.

The garrison troops and Chinese labor logistics personnel set out last. After the field army defeated the Brazilian army and opened up the road to southern Brazil, they moved to Rio Grande do Sul to settle down.

In terms of medicine, in addition to using the gold in his hands to purchase Western medicines, Li Mingyuan also organized more than 30 Chinese medicine doctors to collect medicinal materials in the plantation.

After the Chinese arrived in South America, they not only brought Chinese lifestyle habits, but also brought traditional Chinese medicine to South America.

When Spain ruled South America, the colonists introduced a large number of Chinese doctors from the Philippines, and then transplanted oriental medicinal herbs to Peru and other places for cultivation.

So Li Mingyuan didn't have to spend much effort to collect the necessary herbs from the nearby plantations.

In terms of food, the entire southern region of Peru was occupied by the Chinese Independence Army, and the looted food was enough for the Chinese troops to reach their destination.

In addition to food, medicine and other daily necessities, Li Mingyuan also planned to move all the small munitions factories in Arequipa.

The Arequipa Arsenal produced rifles, bullets and small artillery.

The military factory is small in scale but has complete facilities. After transporting these equipment to Rio Grande do Sul Province, the Chinese troops can establish a preliminary military industry and produce arms using local materials.

The weapons and equipment of the Chinese Independence Army relied on foreign purchases. Although Li Mingyuan had a lot of gold, during the initial period after arriving in Rio Grande do Sul, the Chinese army was likely to be sanctioned by Britain, the United States and other countries and would not be able to obtain weapons replenishment. At this time, the importance of having a small military factory became apparent.

There are one hundred core workers in the Arequipa Arsenal. When transferred, they will be loaded onto the ship along with the machinery and equipment of the arsenal, while the large amount of gold will be escorted by the garrison troops.

"Liu Pu, what do the soldiers think of the transfer?"

After sorting out the arrangements for the transfer, Li Mingyuan turned the question to the soldiers.

“Although everyone is reluctant to leave where they live now, they still agree to move to southern Brazil.”

"After staying in Peru for several years, it's normal to feel a little reluctant to leave suddenly." Li Mingyuan nodded.

"Prince, there have been some bad phenomena in the army recently. Some of the laborers who joined later have been slacking off in their training, and some have even been secretly smoking opium."

"Soldiers smoking opium? When did this start?" Li Mingyuan frowned and said, trying hard to suppress his anger.

The Qing Dynasty was tyrannical and used literary inquisitions and castration to spiritually enslave the Han people. Many Chinese people were not enterprising and did not dare to resist the oppression of the Qing Dynasty. They smoked opium to numb themselves. In the end, they were seen by foreigners as despicable people wearing rat tails and smoking opium. Then they were defeated by the Japanese, whom they had always looked down upon, and were given the humiliating label of the Sick Man of East Asia.

When Li Mingyuan came to this world, he was powerless to do anything about the things happening in mainland China. He never expected that there were people smoking opium in his own army. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He wanted to rush out immediately and shoot all the soldiers who smoked opium.

"The soldiers who smoked opium were from the garrison. When they were working in the mines, the mine owners lured them to smoke opium. During this period, there was no war in the army, so they were free and became addicted to opium again." Liu Pu explained carefully.

"If you don't smoke opium on your own initiative, it's understandable." Li Mingyuan's expression was much lighter. "But you can't start smoking opium. Liu Pu, start investigating how many people in the army smoke opium tomorrow," Li Mingyuan said, changing the subject.

"Yes, Prince, but what should we do with these opium smokers?"

"Isn't it difficult to deal with them? Gather all the opium smokers together to quit drugs." Li Mingyuan sneered.

"I understand." Liu Pu knew from Li Mingyuan's expression that those who smoke marijuana would not have a good end, but he did not say much, because smoking marijuana not only destroys a person's willpower, but also seriously affects the soldiers' combat effectiveness and the morale of the troops. Only by removing those soldiers who smoke marijuana from the army can the discipline of the army be rectified.

"Liu Pu, let the people below take care of the investigation of marijuana use. Come with me outside right now."

"Okay." Liu Pu agreed.

Li Mingyuan went back and changed into a military uniform worn by an ordinary soldier, and headed out of the city with more than a hundred guards.

The sun was shining brightly, and the area outside Arequipa was crowded with pedestrians. Teams of Chinese troops rode pack horses and pulled horse-drawn carriages towards the city, while groups of local Peruvians were walking out of the city with their children.

After Li Mingyuan occupied the city of Arequipa, he did not impose many restrictions on ordinary Peruvian people. As long as they honestly handed over a portion of their food and did not confront the Chinese Independence Army, the Chinese troops would not harm them.

Anthony was also among the crowd leaving the city. After occupying Arequipa, Li Mingyuan fulfilled his promise and released Anthony and his wife.

Anthony served as a supervisor in the Chinese Independence Army and had no access to the core secrets of the Chinese troops. By releasing him, Li Mingyuan was not worried that he would pose a threat to the Chinese Independence Army.

Not only Anthony, but also the tens of thousands of Peruvian troops captured by Li Mingyuan will be released slowly. Manuel sent news that the trading materials and personnel requested by Li Mingyuan have been prepared. A week later, the two parties officially traded.

When Li Mingyuan gets what he wants, he will leave Peru and hand over tens of thousands of Peruvian prisoners and the mining area in southern Peru to Pedro.

"Anthony, what's wrong with you? Aren't you happy to leave the clutches of these barbarians?" Mary, holding some simple gifts, asked in confusion when she saw her husband Anthony looking towards the city of Arequipa with nostalgia.

"No, I'm just a little emotional." Anthony shook his head.

"My dear, don't be a supervisor for others anymore. It's too dangerous here. Let's go back to Prussia." Mary was scared to death by the Chinese Independence Army's occupation of southern Peru. As soon as she came out of Arequipa, she couldn't help but want to go back to her hometown in Europe.

"Honey, Europe has been at war for years, and we won't have a good life if we go back. We'd better stay in Peru. Last time I helped the Chinese troops enter the city and made great contributions. They gave me some money. We can buy a large piece of land again and build a big villa." Anthony Anwei said to his wife.

"The Peruvians won't recognize you and arrest you, right?" Mary was not dazzled by the beautiful picture described by Anthony, and asked worriedly at the first moment.

"Don't worry, baby. I was just helping the Chinese scouts get into the city. The Peruvians didn't notice me."

"God bless us, I hope we won't encounter these barbarians again in the future." Mary said, making the sign of the cross on her chest.

"No, they are about to leave," Anthony said, pointing at the Chinese people on the road.

"Honey, let's go quickly. It will be troublesome if they change their mind." Mary didn't want to stay here for a minute, and hurriedly pulled Anthony away.

(End of this chapter)