Chapter 80 of 100

Chapter 80

13 min read3,291 words

On the No. 1 Highway leading from Dongfang Port to Dingyuan Fort, a group of disheveled "beggars" was marching in a column. These were the Spanish prisoners of war captured during the last war. September 1st was the final day agreed upon for the release of the prisoners, so these over 700 Spanish prisoners were being escorted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs police to the outside of Dingyuan Fort, where they would be handed over to the Spanish.

The weather was nice today, and the newly repaired ferry bridge at the eastern side of Dingyuan Fort was lined with fully armed soldiers from the First Outpost. They watched the Spanish prisoners, who were staggering as they approached, with a wary eye. The prisoners were disheveled, their spirits drained by a month of hard labor and poor living conditions. Lieutenant Antonio Carlos's head was spinning, and his steps were heavy. The meager diet of a few potatoes a day had left him extremely weak. The incessant chatter of some religious and propaganda personnel from the East Bank only added to his distress.

"Spanish friends, before you leave, I want to tell you one thing. Why were you sent to the East Bank to die in this unjust war? It's all because of the greed of the nobles. They hide in the bustling cities, wearing clothes made of Eastern silk, drinking wine from French vineyards, eating deep-sea cod from the La Plata, and smoking the finest tobacco from Havana, while sending you to die on the East Bank! They even begrudge you the slightest reward. Oh God, they must be agents of the devil. Friends, wake up! Don't be puppets for these blood-sucking nobles. This war is a tragedy, a tragedy orchestrated by the nobles in Peru. We can coexist peacefully, we can be friends, but we should not be enemies. Friends, think about it, who are your real enemies?" Father Pedro, an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Investigation Bureau, shouted hoarsely, trying to instill anti-Spanish Kingdom ideas into the prisoners. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be working; only a few prisoners were listening, while most were in a daze.

"Cough, cough..." Lieutenant Leo, standing at the ferry bridge, reminded the East Bank Republic's handover personnel, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Prison Administration, Liu Yun, somewhat discontentedly. Liu Yun smiled slightly and said a few words to Pedro and Lucio, and the two immediately shut up. Liu Yun picked up a few sheets of paper with the names of all the Spanish prisoners written in Spanish. This man, who had been diligently learning various languages, spoke fluent Spanish to Lieutenant Leo: "Alright, let's start the handover now. Lieutenant Leo, here is the list of all the prisoners, a total of 718 people. Please review it."

"718 people?" Lieutenant Leo frowned. "I remember the number we agreed on during the negotiations was 767 prisoners. Why only 718 now? Where are the other 49 people? I must take everyone. Liu, you know, this is very difficult for me."

"No, Lieutenant Leo, there are only 718 people, not 767. We made a mistake before, that's all," Liu Yun said with a smile that never left his face.

Lieutenant Leo looked at the prisoners who had been tortured beyond recognition, then at Liu Yun, and then at the armed soldiers from the First Outpost. He sighed and said nothing more, quickly writing out a handover document and handing it to Liu Yun.

"Lieutenant Leo, I heard from some friends in La Plata that you are about to take up the position of magistrate in Colonia?" Liu Yun asked, probing, as he watched Leo write.

Leo looked up in surprise, smiled bitterly, and said, "I must admit, East Bankers, your information is very good. Yes, due to the humiliating defeat, I have been punished and reassigned here. Perhaps some people don't want to see me return to Lima."

"Haha, don't worry, Mr. Leo. You are a friend of the East Bankers, and we East Bankers do not mistreat our friends," Liu Yun laughed. "Look, the sky in La Plata is so blue, and the air in Buenos Aires is so fresh. Perhaps your career as the magistrate of Colonia will not be as bleak as you imagine. In that city of gold, I think many people who are against you will regret it bitterly."

Lieutenant Leo said nothing, lowered his head, and continued writing. After a long while, he said softly, "East Bankers, sometimes I think you are truly terrifying. I can't see how the future of La Plata will be shaped by your influence, but my intuition tells me that La Plata is drifting further away from the Kingdom. But... who cares? Governor Gutierrez? Baron Bravo? Or Mr. Manuel Ignacio Rodriguez, who has close ties with you? Haha, well, East Bankers, I admit you have won. Reality is what it is, I don't want to interfere or know about your secret deals, but please don't treat me like a fool."

The world is never short of wise people. For example, the unassuming Lieutenant Leo, who, though he didn't know about the connection between the criollo elites of La Plata and the East Bankers, had successfully guessed the situation with his experience and wisdom. In fact, Manuel's son Alvaro was currently a guest at the Ministry of Commerce in Dongfang Port. This man represented dozens of criollo elite families in La Plata and was an essential part of the Ministry of Commerce's ambitious smuggling plans.

In the eyes of the Ministry of Commerce, the abundant resources of La Plata, such as timber (especially high-quality hardwood), horses, cheese, leather, wool, tallow, and livestock, would provide a solid foundation for the economic development of the East Bank Republic. In addition to these resources, since La Plata could trade with Lima, the East Bank Republic could indirectly import strategic materials like saltpeter, sulfur, graphite, mercury, iron, copper, lead, and tin from other regions of Peru through these criollos, which was of great significance. Otherwise, why would Gao Mo and others work so hard to persuade the Spanish to open a small trade window? It's all for these essential materials that the East Bank region lacks.

Such large-scale trade would generate enormous profits, which is why the criollos of La Plata were so eager to cooperate. The lion's share of the profits would definitely be shared with the East Bankers. Of course, in addition to them, many colonial officials, military personnel, and even missionaries in La Plata would also share in the profits, receiving their fair share.

For example, Lieutenant Leo, who was about to become the magistrate of Colonia, was an official that both sides would try to win over. Neither side would want to conduct strictly legal business, and a strict magistrate would make things difficult for everyone. Therefore, there were only two options for Lieutenant Leo: either join in or be removed, with no third option.

"Very well said, Mr. Leo," Liu Yun clapped his hands and praised. "Many people occupy the kingdom's interests while accusing others of being illegal. How absurd! Trade between La Plata and the East Bank is beneficial to both sides. The people of La Plata no longer have to suffer the exploitation of greedy Lima merchants, and we can purchase their goods at reasonable prices. What a perfect mutually beneficial trade, it must be God's will guiding us to do this!"

Leo smiled but said nothing. He signed his name at the end of the document with a few strokes and handed the receipt to Liu Yun.

When Liu Yun took the document, he whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Before you take office, you can visit Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez in Buenos Aires. I believe you will have a lot in common." He then quietly slipped a "Panda" (100 yuan coin) into Leo's hand.

Leo tightly clenched the gold coin in his hand and nodded almost imperceptibly.

After the prisoner handover was completed, Lieutenant Leo and his subordinates, escorted by two platoons of soldiers from the First Outpost, took the over 700 Spanish prisoners to Rocha Port to board a ship and leave.

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