Chapter 74

Due to the main force of the Spanish army being annihilated, the land battles had largely come to a close. On the evening of July 20th, the Executive Committee held a meeting, and the attitudes of the committee members were largely consistent: to end the war as soon as possible. Since the Spanish formally declared war at the end of February, the prolonged conflict had drained the resources of the穿越众 (穿越者, "Crossers").

During the war, various supplies were rapidly consumed, especially gunpowder and lead bullets, which were particularly worrying. Two-thirds of the pre-war gunpowder stock had been used up, and the remaining one-third could not withstand many more battles. Additionally, coal, steel, grain, cloth, and meat were also heavily consumed, with many supplies reaching critically low levels. Moreover, due to the missed farming season, the large-scale wheat planting planned for the autumn and winter had been delayed, causing significant damage to the Crossers' food reserves.

The numerous villages and workshops in the Dingshanyuan reclamation area were also severely damaged, with many facilities completely destroyed. Some were destroyed by the Crossers themselves to prevent the Spanish from using them, while others were destroyed by the Spanish. The reconstruction work was a heavy burden.

In short, the war had impoverished the Crossers and disrupted their development process, even causing a slight regression. Therefore, almost all committee members demanded immediate negotiations with the Spanish to end the war as soon as possible. Of course, the negotiations with the Spanish required a negotiating entity, i.e., what identity the Crossers would use to negotiate with the Spanish. Some suggested continuing to use the name of the East Shore Company, while others felt that the Crossers now needed to establish a country.

"Our country was established in the iron and fire of the war against the Spanish. This war is our founding battle. This battle must not only make the Spanish recognize our existence but also recognize our country!" said Bai Siwen, the Judicial Commissioner, very enthusiastically. As a lawyer skilled in rhetoric, he had been envious of the military personnel who had gained prominence due to their recent victories. Therefore, he decided to take a different approach, strongly pushing for the establishment of a country to boost his own presence and popularity.

The Executive Committee could not suddenly make a decision on such matters, and Bai Siwen was not alone in his efforts. He also gained the support of the Civil Affairs Commissioner Xiao Mingli and the Education Commissioner Du Wen. Thus, the Executive Committee Chairman Ma Qianzu decided to release the news and seek more opinions from the Crossers, and if necessary, convene a general assembly to discuss and decide.

On July 21st, the unfortunate Captain Torres once again served as a messenger, delivering a peace negotiation proposal from the Executive Committee to Diego Garcia, the commander of the Spanish expeditionary fleet near Rocha. Meanwhile, the idea of establishing a country continued to gain momentum among the Crossers and received widespread support. This was not because Bai Siwen and others had high popularity and support, but because the Crossers genuinely had this need.

With the situation at this point, the Executive Committee could no longer remain silent and began to issue documents, soliciting opinions from all Crossers on issues such as the country's name, emblem, flag, anthem, and political system.

On July 25th, after repeatedly verifying the defeat of the Spanish army, Diego Garcia finally accepted the reality. He dispatched Navy Lieutenant Falcao and Army Lieutenant Leo as negotiators to the old Spanish campsite north of the Big Fish River to prepare for ceasefire negotiations with the Crossers. At this time, the Crossers' negotiating team was also determined, consisting of four people: Foreign Affairs Commissioner Gao Mo, Judicial Commissioner Bai Siwen, Army Commissioner Peng Zhicheng, and Navy Commissioner Wang Qinan.

As for the recent heated discussions about establishing a country, it now seemed to be a trend, with almost all Crossers demanding formal establishment. The remaining few were indifferent. The national anthem, flag, and emblem were still unclear, but the country's name was decided. The Executive Committee chose the most popular option: the Republic of East China. Other names, due to their low popularity, were not adopted by the Executive Committee.

Therefore, on July 26th, the four-person delegation of the Crossers negotiated with the Spanish under the name of the Republic of East China. Before the negotiations began, Foreign Affairs Commissioner Gao Mo formally protested to the Spanish, demanding that they officially refer to the Crossers as the Chinese or East Shore people, and reject misleading terms like Tartars. The Spanish, somewhat subdued by their defeat, politely indicated no problem with this.

Before the negotiations began, the Spanish also declared that the Peruvian Viceroy had only granted Admiral Diego Garcia the authority to cease hostilities, not to sign a peace treaty. Therefore, any results of the ceasefire negotiations would need to be approved or signed by the Viceroy in Lima to take effect. Gao Mo and others expressed understanding of this.

After the formal start of the negotiations, the two Spanish negotiators were relatively pragmatic. The Crossers had previously shown them Spanish prisoners repairing damaged houses and workshops under guard outside Dingshanyuan, so the two did not propose any unrealistic or unrealistic conditions. They only made three proposals: 1) Both sides immediately cease all hostile actions. The area near Rocha Port becomes a demilitarized zone, the Spanish fleet withdraws to the sea outside Rocha, retaining only some liaison personnel in the简易港口 (simple port), and the East Shore cavalry currently patrolling nearby must not attack Rocha Port. 2) Neither side pays reparations, and the territories remain as they are. The Spanish recognize the East Shore's legitimate rule over the land on both sides of the Big Fish River and a 50-mile extension. Other territorial claims are considered illegal. 3) Immediate release of all prisoners of war. A total of 767 Spanish prisoners captured in various battles must be fully released, and the East Shore must not delay for any reason. Additionally, the personal property of the prisoners must be returned, and weapons, armor, and horses belonging to the Spanish Kingdom must be promptly returned.

Gao Mo and others had no major objections to the first point, as the current situation was already a de facto ceasefire with the East Shore lacking a navy and the Spanish lacking an army. As for Xiao Bailang's commerce raiding fleet, it had been selectively forgotten.

Regarding the second and third points, Gao Mo and others strongly opposed. They agreed that neither side should pay reparations, but the territory of the Republic of East China should not be limited to the current small area. The region east of the Uruguay River and south of the Jialaer Mountains should all be the legitimate territory of the Republic of East China. As for the prisoner issue, the Republic of East China would not consider releasing prisoners without compensation; the Spanish would need to pay a ransom, the amount of which could be discussed. The weapons, armor, and horses of the prisoners, as spoils of war, would not be returned by the Republic of East China.

After refuting the Spanish peace terms, Gao Mo and others added several points: 1) Given that the Spanish and Jesuit missionaries had failed to effectively civilize the indigenous people of the East Shore, the Republic of East China had the right and obligation to educate, protect, and supervise the Charrúa and Guarani people, and the Spanish must not interfere violently. 2) The Spanish must not impose a trade embargo or trade barriers on the Republic of East China in the La Plata region, and both sides should engage in friendly trade. 3) The Republic of East China enjoys special rights in Tierra del Fuego. After paying a certain fee, the Republic of East China can develop the mineral, timber, fishing, and livestock resources of Tierra del Fuego, and its ships can freely dock there, with the Spanish not setting obstacles without cause. 4) The Republic of East China has the right to free navigation in the Strait of Magellan, the Uruguay River, and the La Plata River.

The two Spanish negotiators looked at each other in dismay at these additional points. They instinctively felt that many of these conditions were impossible to approve. Anyone who agreed to all these conditions would likely be hanged by the Inquisition, as they would be considered bewitched by the devil.

The first round of negotiations ended in an unpleasant manner. The two Spanish representatives left with stern faces, preparing to return to Rocha Port to report the progress of the negotiations to Admiral Diego Garcia. As they left, the stirring "Victory Belongs to the Army March" was playing outside the negotiation venue, and Army Commissioner Peng Zhicheng was leading a group of army officials to inspect the victorious troops of Liao Meng's detachment.

The Third, Fifth, and Sixth Companies of the Army, the First Artillery Company, the pikemen, and the cavalry were lined up, accepting the inspection of the army officials. The victorious young men were full of fighting spirit, their neat uniforms, bright sabers, tall warhorses, and fluttering flags left a deep impression on the two Spanish negotiators.

Especially when the inspection ended, and all the soldiers shouted three times, "Victory! March to Buenos Aires!" the two Spanish negotiators, though they did not understand what they were saying, recognized the words "Buenos Aires." After hearing this, their faces turned so dark they seemed to be dripping with water.

Without saying "goodbye" politely, the two Spanish negotiators mounted their horses, crossed the Big Fish River, and galloped south.