On November 1, 1651, preparations for spring sowing were in full swing. In the vast land outside Yu'er Township, a group of herdsmen who have migrated from the coastal areas are grazing a large herd of Wujiang sheep, riding horses and dogs, and galloping on the grassland full of wildflowers.

Beside them, a group of Scottish peasants in shabby linen shirts glanced at them only slightly, then sighed in a low voice and went about their work with their heads covered. Although they were very envious of the life of those old East Coast residents, they also knew that this was not the life they could enjoy now, and they would need to work on this land for another five years before they could apply for East Coast citizenship, and before that, they could only endure it.

Seriously, though, they don't regret crossing the ocean to make a living on the East Coast because their life was so bad. Barren land, greedy merchants, and brutal lords had almost drained them of their last possessions, and in order to pay their taxes, men had to go out to work, while women had to stay at home and do the hard work in the fields—even pregnant mothers.

And due to malnutrition and overwork, mothers often give birth to babies who are weak. At this point, the good race was degraded, and disease, poverty and hunger enveloped the whole family. Coupled with the unrest and increasing taxes imposed on them by the English, it became inevitable that they would go out to earn a living—most to the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and a few to the New World (usually single men). Of course, some of them came to the pagan country of the East Coast.

Compared to the precarious life of their compatriots in the New World of North America (East Coast Propaganda Team), the Scots who came to the East Coast were in a much better situation, at least there were no English people who discriminated against and hated them. Although the life is as heavy as it is. But you can eat oriental bread (zuò steamed buns made from cheap flour with bran), fish soup, bacon meat, vegetables, and sometimes (usually once a month) some alcohol, which is much better than most of your fellow North Americans, who suffer from hunger most of the time. Therefore, they are relatively content, and they do not go out of their way to cheat and cheat, because it is not worth it.

"They built the docks, the walls, the warehouses, the forts, the offices, the houses, and some of the canals." Liao Xiaoyao, the commander of the Wujiang District Garrison, rode on a war horse of a divine horse. Looking at the Scottish expatriates who were bent over and working hard. In a slightly admiring tone, he said: "They work hard, and with very few supplies they can satisfy, and if there is some more wine and meat, then they can jump with joy." The country has now entered a period of rapid development. There is a huge shortage of people on the various construction sites, and I can't imagine how much work would have been delayed without these foreign workers. ”

"Our country has only been developing for 20 years, and many things cannot be completed in 20 years, because we are too anxious and demanding." Tian Xing, who was about to set off to buy slaves in the Hejian region, rode on his war horse, raised the beaver fur hat on his head, and said, "However, enslaving these aliens is nothing, in fact, we have been very lenient to them. Will they survive in Scotland? Some of them still have wives and children. I've seen those kids, skinny, weak, and malnourished. Now that they can enter the preparatory class of the Corps Fort and regulate their bodies while studying, and they will have the opportunity to change the fate of themselves and their families in the future, God has been generous enough to them, and they have no reason to complain about anything. ”

Liao Xiaoyao nodded, rode his horse and took a few steps forward, and some Scots who were working on the side of the road immediately stepped aside. They took off their straw hats and bent them very low. His sweaty face was full of anxiety and suspicion. They were frightened by a large group of Ministry of Internal Affairs policemen in black uniforms who followed behind Liao Xiaoyao, and these fierce and impersonal "black-skinned" policemen had always been the devil in their hearts.

"The local State Development Administration only has 20,000 or 30,000 yuan a year, what is this money enough for? Fortunately, with these cheap consumables, the Directorate ate of Development avoided the poor financial situation caused by paying unnecessarily high wages. Liao Xiaoyao looked at these cowering Scottish laborers, and knew in his heart that as the construction work deepened, the oppression and plundering of these people by the National Development Administration and the Wujiang District Administration would be further deepened.

The East Coast Republic of China did not have any laws to protect their rights and interests, they were in a state of de facto powerlessness in the eyes of the law, and they were so helpless that they could only passively face the oppression of the foremen. Perhaps, only physical damage is the limit of their oppression and plundering! Liao Xiaoyao even suspected that if it were not for the need to attract more immigrants to the East Coast to earn a living, the grandchildren of the General Pioneer would have squeezed these Scottish laborers like the rivermaidens, cruelly providing only a food supply that would guarantee their "animalistic minimum standard of living", and then making them work day and night until they died of exhaustion or disease.

"Recently, the Spaniards have established towns in Paraná and San Michele (Rosario) and have begun garrison drills, supposedly in preparation for the removal of the Crandi rebels in the Inter-River region. This time, if you take people to the other side of the river, you need to be more careful, and you can withdraw decisively if necessary. Don't worry too much about the life or death of those Krandi, just pay attention to the living force that brings us back. Liao Xiaoyao had already taken his eyes back from those Scots at this time, and only listened to him tell Tian Xing. The small 200 armed patrol police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs police brought under Tian Xing's hands are almost already most of the armed forces in the Wujiang area, and there is no room for any mistakes.

It had been more than half a year since the Spaniards established settlements in Paraná and San Michel, where they moved hundreds of "gentlemen" (peninsulars, mainly from Andalusia) from the Old Continent and then set up settlements in both places. According to information circulated from some Spanish merchants who were friendly with the people of the east coast, a fortress made of thick logs had been erected in each of the two places, and a newly formed regiment of Mestizos (about 1,200 men) was stationed in San Michel, apparently with the intention of controlling the link between the middle and lower reaches of the Paraná River and ensuring the security of the Paraguay-Santa Fe basin, the most prosperous part of the La Plata region.

As for Buenos Aires, although it was the headquarters of the general of Buenos Aires, it was obviously not the focus of the Spaniards' defense, because it was repeatedly warned, the essence was lost, and it was vulnerable to the east coast using the superior naval encirclement and attack, so the Spaniards did not want to waste their precious troops, and decisively withdrew the focus of defense to Santa Fe - and San Michel is the gateway to Santa Fe.

In Paraná, an unrecognised regiment of Crandis was also actively training - the Spaniards were limited to a maximum of 500 troops east of the Paraná River in the Treaty of Valladolid - whose goal was apparently to establish a foothold in the area and then to gradually infiltrate the east, relying on the logistical assistance provided by the city of Santa Fe, to clear the local outnumbered anti-government Crandis in order to counter possible infiltration of the area by the East Bankers.

In the past two or three years, perhaps it was the behavior of the East Bank army galloping across La Plata during the war, which stung the sensitive nerves of the Spanish king. He began to order emigration to La Plataga, focusing on an area that had previously been neglected by them, and all eyes seemed to have been focused on rich Peru.

The king obeyed, and from the second half of 1649 onwards, the Spaniards exiled many citizens of the reconquered Catalonia to the New World, where the Catalans had previously declared their affiliation with King Louis of France. These exiled Catalans, now scattered across a vast area from Asunción to San Michel, farmed and fished, built forts, and traded with the relatively rich regions of Paraguay and Tucumán.

Naturally, the Spaniards could not hide from the East Coasters in La Plata, but they did not care, the troops at the hands of the Spaniards could not be compared with the East Coasters in terms of numbers, training, equipment and logistical supplies, and it was still easy to pick them up. However, the relationship between the East Coasters and the Spanish colonial officials was acceptable because of the Peruvian smuggling trade, so it was ignored for the time being.

But it's right to be careful, and it's not surprising that anything happens in the chaotic river-to-river region. The two sides do business as business, but it doesn't mean that there is no friction and small movements, so it's right to be careful, Tian Xing also agreed. The numerous Krandi tribes in that place were fighting against each other—this was more or less a factor of the people on the east coast, because the large quantities of the river slaves they had purchased objectively contributed to this conquest—the small two hundred heavily armed policemen led by Tian Xing might still be in danger if they encountered the small moves of the Spaniards.

"I'll be more mindful of this, and I'm not going to trade with those strange and suspicious tribes, God knows if they've been bought by the damned Spaniards." Tian Xing tightened the reins of the horse in his hand, and watched a horse team full of goods slowly approaching, so he turned his head to Liao Xiaoyao and said, "Thank you Commander Liao for your concern, I will try my best to lead the team to set off, and strive to buy more Hejian slaves to come back and support the construction projects in this area." In addition, the commander's ship is requested to be ready to respond to emergencies at any time. (To be continued)