After the 10,000 Peruvian troops leading the way led by Datini were annihilated and captured, the 20,000 Chinese troops in the ambush left some soldiers to guard the seized supplies. The other soldiers, led by Li Mingyuan, escorted the Peruvian prisoners toward Arequipa.
The ambush battle lasted for three hours. About 2,000 of the 10,000 Peruvian troops in the front took advantage of the cover of darkness to escape from the battlefield. The remaining soldiers died in 1,000 battles, and 6,000 soldiers, including Dartini, were taken prisoner.
The 6,000 soldiers captured by Datini and the Chinese Independence Army were of little use, and killing them would not only result in no benefits, but would also lead to enmity with the Peruvian side.
Therefore, Li Mingyuan took advantage of the Peruvian army's defeat and marched into Arequipa again, using the prisoners in his hands to force the Peruvians to redeem them with supplies.
Datini led 30,000 Peruvian troops to southern Peru to regain the lost territory, and brought a large number of horses with him to transport troops and supplies.
The Chinese Independence Army no longer lacks food supplies, but the more draft horses and other livestock the better.
As we all know, during the long-distance march of the troops, pack horses can be used as a tool to transport supplies and reduce the logistics pressure on the troops. On the other hand, pack horses themselves are good food. When the troops encounter a food crisis, they can serve as emergency food and help
The troops weathered the storm.
Six thousand Peruvian prisoners According to Li Mingyuan's idea, one pack horse is exchanged for one prisoner. Six thousand people are six thousand pack horses.
As a Peruvian general, Dardini could exchange for a thousand pack horses, which added up to seven thousand pack horses. However, through interrogation of the captured Peruvian officers, Li Mingyuan learned that there were 10,000 pack horses in Arequipa, so he set the price
Increased to 10,000 draft horses.
It was dawn, and after marching in the middle of the night, nearly 20,000 Chinese troops escorted Peruvian prisoners to the gates of Arequipa.
The Peruvian soldiers who escaped early passed the news of the defeat to the Peruvian generals guarding the city. So when the Chinese troops arrived, the city gates of Arequipa were closed tightly, and the city walls were filled with Peruvian soldiers who were on guard.
"Tell them that we are returning their general this time and will not attack the city."
After receiving the order, a cavalryman rushed out from the Chinese troops, rode to the city gate, and shouted to the Peruvian troops defending the city.
"General, the rebels asked us to exchange horses for General Dartini and the captured soldiers."
On the city wall, a Peruvian officer reported what he heard to Lustuart.
Dartini's attack on the Chinese Independence Army failed, and half of the 20,000-strong army was lost. Even he himself became a prisoner of the Chinese Independence Army. Fearing that the Chinese Independence Army would retaliate in anger, Dartini's deputy general invited Lou Stuart into the city.
, assist in defending the city,
Except for Dartini, Lustuart had the highest military rank, so the remaining Peruvian army, headed by Lustuart, commanded all the Peruvian troops in the city to defend the city.
Lustuart looked carefully at the city for a while and found that the Chinese Independence Army did not carry siege artillery, and he felt much more at ease.
Although he informed the Chinese Independence Army yesterday, Lu Stuart could not completely believe that they would keep their promise.
And now that the Chinese Independence Army does not carry heavy artillery, it proves that they really have no intention of attacking the city again, but just want to use the Peruvian soldiers on hand to obtain more benefits.
After eliminating the risk of the Chinese Independence Army attacking the city, Lou Stuart said: "I can leave the packhorse to them, but I must ensure the safety of General Dartini."
The 10,000 packhorses in the city belonged to Dartini's troops. By exchanging them with the Chinese Independence Army, Lou Stuart suffered no losses at all, so he decisively agreed.
The transaction between the two parties was successfully completed. Li Mingyuan looked back at Arequipa City with mixed feelings in his heart.
Abandoning the occupied territory and re-entering an area surrounded by powerful enemies to establish a base is a process that must be full of dangers.
Brazil and Argentina are the first and second largest countries in South America, and their weapons and equipment are much stronger than Peru's today.
Once the Chinese Independence Army takes over Rio Grande do Sul, it will inevitably face long-term hostility from Brazil. Therefore, in the early days of establishing a base area for the Chinese Independence Army, it is likely to be attacked by Brazil at any time.
Facing a powerful enemy in a corner, Li Mingyuan was mentally prepared for the Chinese Independence Army to pay heavy casualties.
Although he moved to southern Brazil and faced various difficulties in the early stages, Li Mingyuan still chose this path.
Brazil and Argentina have been locked in the Paraguay War for three years. The long war has severely damaged the economies of both countries.
Moreover, Brazil, which has just been independent for several decades, has been troubled by domestic separatist forces. Independence incidents have occurred one after another in some provinces under the country.
Taking advantage of the moment when the Brazilians are at their weakest to occupy Rio Grande do Sul at this point in time is undoubtedly the most beneficial to the Chinese independence army. After occupying Rio Grande do Sul, the independent Chinese will not have to face the troubles in southern Peru.
Southern Peru has a large population. Arequipa alone has a population greater than the entire Chinese Independence Army.
With the minority ruling the majority, the Chinese Independence Army may temporarily have the upper hand. However, after a few decades, when the older generation of Chinese grow old and the Chinese's force is insufficient to rule and intimidate the Peruvians, the Chinese will suffer a tragic end.
However, establishing a country in southern Brazil does not have this shortcoming. The three states in southern Brazil are sparsely populated. The Chinese independence army that first occupied one state can gain a foothold there, and then gradually expand its sphere of influence, eventually forming a country that cannot be ignored...
Five days later, Li Mingyuan led the vanguard of the field army across the dividing line between Peru and Bolivia and entered Bolivia.
Bolivia is located on the Andes Plateau, with a valley area in the center with developed agriculture and many large cities concentrated here. The northern part of the plateau has fertile land and is a populated area; the southern part is a dry desert area with sparsely populated areas, with only a few scattered areas due to the development of minerals.
town formed.
The current location of the Chinese Independence Army is in central Bolivia, on a grassland near La Paz.
After five consecutive days of forced march, most of the Chinese soldiers felt tired, so Li Mingyuan ordered the troops to stop and repair.
Unfolding a map of Bolivia, Li Mingyuan introduced to a group of senior officers of the Chinese Independence Army sitting on the grass:
"To the west of us is the city of La Paz in Bolivia, where the Bolivian army responsible for guarding the border between Peru and Bolivia is stationed.
According to reports from brothers in the reconnaissance battalion, there are 3,000 troops stationed in La Paz, which poses no threat to our army's operations."
Li Mingyuan briefly explained the situation in La Paz, and then said: "The situation of the troops is different from that in Peru. Now our first task is to rush to Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, within the planned time, and work with the Paraguayans to kill the Brazilian army.
Therefore, in Bolivia, the troops are not allowed to actively provoke the local army."
After Li Mingyuan finished speaking, he glanced at everyone and said, "Do you all understand?"
"clear."
"What should we do if the Bolivians take the initiative to attack us?" After the response, a Chinese officer asked.
Li Mingyuan heard the voice and knew it was Li Dawei, the cavalry brigade commander, so he turned around and said with a smile: "The enemy took the initiative to attack, so of course he fought back. Is it possible that he didn't fight back or scolded him? The Chinese Independence Army does not have this tradition."
Li Dawei asked the question knowingly, which caused a burst of laughter from the Chinese officers.
"Okay, we have to go on a journey in the afternoon, so let's take some time to rest." Li Mingyuan waved his hand, and the Chinese officers gathered around dispersed.