The towering Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert without rain for a long time, the mysterious and long-standing Inca civilization, and the invasion of Western civilization brought about by Spanish colonial rule for hundreds of years... All of this is combined to form a unique flavor of South America, which is barren, quaint and pure.

In the wilderness era when Spanish colonists did not arrive, most civilizations in South America were concentrated on the west side of the continent, because only here was suitable for large-scale farming operations, and only here could a civilized country relying on farming appear.

The eastern part of South America is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, the Amazon jungle. For the backward productivity of ancient people, the endless tropical rainforest is an insurmountable natural barrier. Any human reclamation behavior cannot defeat the vigorous vitality of nature.

The farmlands reclaimed by slash-and-burn cultivation often turn into new jungles after a rainy season. The crops such as corn, peppers and sowed by people through hardships may be covered by countless dense vines and disappear without a trace before they can get harvest.

Therefore, in the history of human beings in South America, whether it is the ancient Inca countries or the Mayan civilization, the core areas of their civilization are mostly close to the west, which is now Chile, Peru, Bolivia and other regions, while Ecuador, Colombia and other regions northward were more influenced by northern Indian civilization at that time.

For thousands of years, the civilizations of this land have been passed down from one another. People are watching over each other. They have a common language, a common religion, and a common clan relationship. However, Spanish colonial rule has divided all this.

When nationalism emerged and the independence movement swept across South America, the descendants of these sun gods discovered that the long-standing bloodline had been broken, the country and borders had shattered the common civilization for thousands of years, and the army and war completely broke them.

Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, the countries in South America that were the first to escape Spanish colonization, did not get a happy life after independence. On the contrary, they got a war. People fought bloody and cruelly for the rich struvite and saltpeter resources in the Atacama Desert.

In this war, Bolivia and Peru reached an alliance. They wanted to teach Chile a lesson and ultimately dominate all the minerals in the desert.

The war broke out in 1866. The Three Kingdoms fought in the narrow Tarapak area. Since there was only a very narrow area between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, it was difficult for the army to mobilize greatly. At that time, the Navy of the Three Kingdoms was also very weak and could not carry out large-scale landing operations.

The war suddenly turned into a protracted tug-of-war, and countless military fortresses were built in the Iquik region, and the war suddenly became a game of siege and villages.

This is a battlefield that makes all Western military strategists feel extremely troubled. People really can't think of any good way to attack them unexpectedly.

If we open the topographic map of South America, we will find that the Andes Mountains put everything in South America in two. The narrow coastline to the west is the main battlefield for the Three Kingdoms' Battle, and the Amazon rainforest to the east is the mountain range. Whether it is a mountain range with an average altitude of more than 3,600 meters or a tropical rainforest full of mud, they are the most taboo dead places for military strategists.

The Pacific Ocean is west of the battlefield, but unfortunately, none of the three countries are maritime powers, and the limited ship tonnage cannot support large-scale military mobilization at all.

The war suddenly turned into a protracted tug-of-war. In real history, war broke out in 1866, and it was not until 1884 that the peace treaty was finally signed.

In the minds of the Chinese, if a war has been fought for 18 years, the country is probably on the verge of collapse. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has fought for more than ten years, and the population loss in the Jiangnan region is close to hundreds of millions. So will the entire country be dead after 18 years of war in South America?

But the reality is very funny. When Tang Lei and Tietoutuo secretly boarded the port of Antofagasta on a small boat, they were stunned by the harmonious scene in front of them.

After more than three months of long trip, more than 10,000 veterans of the South China Kingdom finally saw the coastline of South America. However, such a large-scale army could not enter Chile's territory at will, which would scare these people. Tang Lei and Tietoutuo took a boat alone to leave the large army and came to Antofagasta to hold a secret talk with Major General Silapizo, Chen Yonglu and Weng Derong.

As for the ten thousand troops and fleets, they were moored on St. Felix Island, waiting for later orders.

Tiedouda and his friends wore cloaks common to South American Indians, hid their faces inside. Walking on the street, no one cared about this group of people.

Antofagasta is the most important port in northern Chile. It was once owned by Bolivia and was later occupied by Chilean troops, becoming the city closest to the front line.

But Tietou Tuo could not smell the smell of gunpowder from the city. The market was filled with potatoes, corn, peppers and various fruits and vegetables. The citizens bargained calmly and did not have the anxiety of being in the war at all.

Teams of alpacas passed by, and taverns were everywhere on both sides of the street. Drunk people were playing poker and cigars in their mouths.

"Damn! Tang Lei, are you lying about military affairs? How can this smell of war? Are you messing with us..."

Tang Lei said speechlessly, "You don't understand, the people here are just like this. When you see this group of people fighting in person, you will know what's going on... In front of you is the tavern where we want to join. Yesterday I had already joined Major General Silapizzo's people, let's wait here..."

Pushing open a shabby wooden door, the smell of alcohol and tobacco inside almost made them smell bad. The dirty tavern is a messy drunkard, the ignorant waiter, and the dim light makes people feel like they are trapped in a western film.

Tang Lei and his group walked into the room and it suddenly became quiet. The stranger's breath made everyone in the tavern turn their heads and look at them, their eyes full of vigilance.

"Don't pay attention to them. These people who have been in the tavern for a long time are all a group of waste. They are not engaged in production and rely on women to support them. They go to the battlefield to make money and work hard. They are timid... They are optimistic about their own wallets. This is a group of professional thieves, gangsters and amateur robbers!"

Tietoutu glanced at them contemptuously, "I understand, it turns out that the world goes the same everywhere, and scoundrels are everywhere like flies..."
Chapter completed!