Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 93 Post-War Distribution
Thank you brothers for your support.

Within one day, under the strong maintenance of the Chinese Independence Army, order was restored in La Paz.

The next day, in the castle that originally belonged to Ilvian, Li Mingyuan convened a meeting of the chiefs of the Indian tribes that participated in the battle.

"The quick victory in the battle of La Paz is inseparable from the sacrifices of the Indian warriors from various tribes. The purpose of summoning all the chiefs today is to fulfill the promise made before the war and distribute the spoils obtained by each tribe to everyone."

After Li Mingyuan finished speaking, the chiefs of the Indian tribes sitting on both sides could not help but get excited. Yesterday, the Indians who attacked the city suffered a total of 1,500 casualties, and the casualties of the participating tribes were about 100 to 200. The number of casualties of 100 to 200 people was within the tolerable range for the Indian tribes. By paying the casualties of 100 to 200 young and strong people in the tribe, they could get vital weapons and ammunition. In comparison, their efforts were completely meaningful.

"The Wulu tribe sent 400 soldiers, and 100 of them were killed or wounded during the siege. The weapons allocated to the Wulu tribe were 100 muskets, 5,000 rounds of ammunition, and 8,000 kilograms of food.

The Quchu tribe sent 600 soldiers to assist the Chinese troops in attacking the city wall during the attack on the north city, and they performed a great deed. Therefore, the weapons belonging to the Quchu tribe included 170 muskets, 8,000 rounds of ammunition, 10,000 catties of grain, and 500 silver dollars. "

There were twelve Indian tribes that participated in the siege of La Paz. Li Mingyuan announced them one by one in order of their merits. Every Indian tribe that was read out got the weapons and supplies they wanted. After reading out the names of the first eleven tribes, Li Mingyuan paused and read out the Indian tribe with the greatest merit.

"The Aymara tribe had the largest number of participants. During the battle, the Aymara warriors were not afraid of sacrifice. Under the command of the Chinese officers, they were the first to climb the walls of La Paz, posing a major threat to the enemy's garrison. With the cooperation of other siege troops, they successfully forced the enemy to split up to support the northern city of La Paz.

Therefore, among all the Indian tribes that participated in the war, the Aymara tribe deserved the most merit. In order to thank the Aymara tribe for their heroic fighting, 700 muskets, 20,000 rounds of ammunition, 50,000 catties of grain, 2,000 silver dollars were distributed, and every Aymara warrior who participated in the war would receive 30 acres of land. "

It is understandable that the Aymara people obtained more muskets and food than other tribes, because in the siege, the Aymara people showed the most courage and suffered the most casualties. Among the 1,100 Aymara soldiers who took part in the battle, 170 were killed and 248 were injured. The total number of casualties was close to half of the number of troops sent. They made great sacrifices to obtain more weapons and food than other tribes, and others could not refute it. However, it is unbalanced that the Aymara people obtained land that no other tribes had.

Regardless of which nation, land is the most important thing for local residents. Why did Tsarist Russia fall? It was because the greedy nobles swallowed up a large amount of land belonging to the common people, resulting in the people having no land to farm. Then the revolution broke out and pushed the Tsar off the throne.

Land is the foundation for the development and growth of each tribe. After more than 300 years of colonial rule by the Spanish, most of the indigenous Indians have become accustomed to farming life. Only in the harsh areas of the Bolivian plateau do local people still lead a nomadic life. Therefore, when the other tribes heard that the Aymara people who participated in the war could get 30 acres of land each, they immediately became dissatisfied.

"General, the Aymara people fought bravely and made great contributions. I have no objection to them getting land, but the Quechu tribe fought just as well as they did. Why can they get land while the Quechu warriors can only get some muskets and food?"

Chief K'chu, who thought he had made considerable contributions, said dissatisfiedly.

Li Mingyuan had long guessed the dissatisfaction of other Indian tribes, and this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Don't be anxious, Chief Kechu. Just listen to what I have to say."

Li Mingyuan smiled and comforted the chief of the Quchu tribe, and then said: "The Chinese Independence Army is not a force that turns its back on us. Before the uprising, we, like our Indian brothers from various tribes, suffered exploitation and oppression from the European whites. Now we have come to Bolivia to help our Indian brothers live a better life. And I believe that the chiefs have seen what the Chinese Independence Army did before. We will not favor a tribe just because it cooperates with us first, nor will we leave other tribes aside after winning a battle."

Li Mingyuan first said some good words, and when the tribal leaders below stopped talking, he continued: "The tribal leaders should understand that for more than 300 years, white colonists have been slaughtering and oppressing Indians. They took away fertile land and drove the Indians to barren and harsh places to fend for themselves. Now, the American continent of the Indians no longer belongs to the Indians. On this land, white people occupy a dominant position, and even the blacks who were originally treated as slaves have a higher status than the Indians. The blacks in Haiti have established an independent black country for more than 50 years, but the Indians, in Bolivia, there is no land that belongs entirely to the Indians.

I know that you all want to obtain land, but everyone must understand that in Bolivia, even if the Chinese independence army defeated the government represented by Melgarejo, the newly-elected Adolfo would still be a white man. Although he would have a gentle attitude towards the Indians, he would ultimately have to consider the interests of the white and mixed-race people behind him.

So, I can distribute some land far away from the city of La Paz to the Aymara people, but I cannot distribute the land to all the Indians who participated in the war, because that would not help you, but would harm you.

The Chinese Independence Army will stay in La Paz for a while and then leave. Without the cooperation of the Chinese Independence Army, will the newly-coming white people watch the land fall into your hands?
"

Li Mingyuan did not say the rest of the words, but after hearing Li Mingyuan's explanation, the Indian chiefs below also understood that the environment in which the Indian group was living was not optimistic. Why did they risk their lives to cooperate with the Chinese Independence Army? Wasn't it to seize weapons from the Bolivian army and defend the safety of the tribe?

But Li Mingyuan's words made them realize that the muskets in their hands could only increase the tribe's resistance, and the power comparison between the Indians and the European whites was still a world of difference. Because of Li Mingyuan's words, the joy of just being allocated weapons disappeared, and the Indian tribal chiefs in the hall also looked depressed, confused about the future of the Indians.

"General, the Indians treat the Chinese as their true friends. The Chinese will not stand idly by while watching the Indians suffer, right?"

The Aymara chief saw the reactions of the other Indian tribal chiefs, but he was not as pessimistic and disappointed as them, because the Indians relied on the Chinese Independence Army, and the Chinese Independence Army also needed the assistance of the Indians. Without the help of the Indians, it would be very difficult for the Chinese Independence Army to safely cross the thousands of miles of Bolivian Plateau. Therefore, the Aymara chief believed that Li Mingyuan must have a way to solve the Indians' plight.

"Chief Aymara is right. The Chinese Independence Army will not stand by and watch their friends in trouble."

Li Mingyuan looked at the Aymara chief approvingly and said, "The white people in Bolivia are very powerful. It would be unwise to confront them rashly."

Li Mingyuan paused, and seeing that the Indian chiefs on both sides were looking at him, he stopped hiding and said directly: "If we want to protect the interests of the Indians, we must first gather the scattered Indian tribes. Only by uniting all the Indian tribes can we strengthen the strength of the Bolivian Indians and make the white government dare not easily attack the Indians."

"There are many Aymara tribes in the north of La Paz. After returning, I immediately sent warriors from my tribe to contact other Aymara tribes."

"There are also Quechua tribes in the north of La Paz, and I will send people to contact them as well."

Chief Kechu continued.

Bolivian Indians mainly live in La Paz Province and Oruro Province in the Andes Mountains. There used to be many silver mines in the northern part of Varas Province, which attracted many white people to mine silver there. However, after more than two hundred years of mining, the silver mines in the north of La Paz have been exhausted, and most white people have moved away from the north of La Paz because they have no economic source. Now most of the people living there are Indians.

The northern part of La Paz is not far from the city of La Paz, and it doesn't take much time to contact the Indian tribes there. Moreover, after the news of the Chinese Independence Army's occupation of the city of La Paz spread, the Indians in the northern region would surely be encouraged and take the initiative to join the Chinese Independence Army.

There is no problem in contacting other Indian tribes. Li Mingyuan then put forward some suggestions that are extremely tempting to the Indians.

"It is difficult for the Indians to seize control of Bolivia, but at the very least, it is possible to occupy a piece of land where Indians are the majority and establish an Indian autonomous province."

"Establish an Indian autonomous province, so that we Indians can manage our own affairs!"

An Indian chief said excitedly.

"Yes, by establishing an Indian autonomous province, we can have our own land and no longer have to suffer from the contempt and oppression of the white people." The Aymara chief was also excited.

The establishment of the Indian Autonomous Province was not only a way to win over the Indians to continue serving the Chinese Independence Army, but also an attempt made by Li Mingyuan before moving to southern Brazil.

After independence, South American countries generally implemented a republican system, and the national concepts of Western countries were also initially introduced to the Americas. However, because the American countries are immigrant countries and the nation-state is still in the formation stage, Li Mingyuan was not sure whether Brazil would react strongly after the Chinese independence army occupied southern Brazil. Therefore, before that, he established the Indian Autonomous Province as an attempt. Based on the reaction of Bolivian whites, he inferred the intensity of the counterattack by the Brazilians who occupied Rio Grande do Sul in the future.

There are many Indians in the north of La Paz, and the Indian tribes participating in the Chinese Independence Army are not far from the northern region. Therefore, after discussion, the tribes unanimously decided to fully occupy the northern part of La Paz and establish an Indian autonomous province with the north as the center.

Of course, before establishing the Indian Autonomous Province, the Indians had to assist the Chinese Independence Army in annihilating the remnants of Melgarejo's forces and help the Chinese Independence Army transport logistical supplies.

(End of this chapter)