Chapter 1114: A crushing defeat (Second update, please subscribe)
When Emperor Zhu was in Daizhou, carrying a bag of Chinese medicine containing several kinds of Rehmannia pills, he was wondering if it would work. If not, he would get a tiger tonic.
Over there the Peruvian-Bolivia war has reached its final moments.
Almost at the same time when the imperial army entered Sucre, the floating troops bombed the Bolivian army led by Hilarion Daza. After a carpet bombing, the mighty army turned into scattered guerrillas all over the mountains.
Collapsed and fled.
I was dumbfounded.
"What's going on?"
Ergen, with his hands on his hips, looked somewhat depressed at the group of Bolivian soldiers who were squatting on the roadside with their hands on their heads. The captain of the search company of the 17th Division of the Imperial Army was now completely confused and he couldn't understand why things turned out like this.
"Sir, this... Actually, I still don't know what happened."
A platoon leader answered from the side.
"It all happened so fast. When we drove past here, before we spotted them, these guys immediately waved the white flag and demanded surrender. It seemed that these people might have been waiting for this opportunity. They cooperated very well from beginning to end and didn't even give us a chance to fire a shot. I still can't believe this is true."
Scratching his head, Liang Dahu answered.
"So do you know why they surrendered?"
"Sir, I don't know. I haven't asked."
"What!"
Ergen turned around and said loudly with an incredible look on his face:
"You mean you accepted the other side's surrender without knowing the reason? There are only a few of you. What if it's a false surrender?"
Is this guy really stupid or just pretending to be stupid? Doesn't he realize how dangerous this matter is?
"Now that I think about it, it's possible, but sir... they did surrender, sir."
Liang Dahu didn't understand why the company commander was so surprised, and he answered in a low voice with an innocent look on his face.
After hearing his subordinate's answer, Ergen couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
"Oh my God, why did I choose such an idiot as the monitor..."
It’s not that Liang Dahu is stupid, but... looking at the huge crowd in front of him, at least three or four thousand Bolivian soldiers, it is really hard to imagine that so many people would surrender to a dozen people.
"With so many people, you should have stayed alert first, and then waited for me to arrive, and then contacted the main force in the rear before accepting their investment. I really don't understand what you are thinking. Do you want to commit suicide? If they are pretending to surrender, you and your subordinates will definitely die. What do you want me to write on your death notice? Do you want me to tell your family that you are seeking death with your brothers like this? I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation now. You must know that any insignificant mistake of the commander may lead to the sacrifice of his comrades! This is not a matter of sending yourself to a military prison, but the lives of your comrades."
Erdao said angrily. What he was concerned about was not Liang Dahu alone, but the series of consequences that his risky behavior might cause, most importantly, the sacrifice of his comrades.
"Sir, please listen to my explanation, sir."
Liang Dahu broke out in a cold sweat and quickly answered loudly:
"It's not that I didn't know, but when these people saw us coming, I certainly kept my distance, but they actually took the initiative to throw their guns and cannons to the side of the road. When they raised the white flag, they started throwing their guns. I was afraid that these people would change their minds over time. You know, there are more than 4,300 people here, and I only have two armored reconnaissance vehicles and two three-wheeled motorcycles, which add up to only fourteen people. If they suddenly change their minds and attack us... then the risk will be even greater. So, I accepted it, but we really didn't dare to accept their surrender. You see, my armored vehicles are still parked on the side of the road. If they run, I will just shoot them and retreat while fighting..."
Liang Dahu explained stutteringly.
Fourteen men against four thousand?
He is not stupid!
"Is that so..."
Ergen glanced at the weapons thrown on the road in front of the two armored vehicles - rifles, cannons, and even several muzzle-loading guns.
My lord, what era is this?
"Forget it. Since you have made great contributions this time, I will let it go this time. Write a detailed report to the company commander later. I will report to the division commander and ask for credit for you."
In any case, a credit is a credit. Capturing more than 4,000 people... this is a huge credit!
"Thank you very much, sir. Everything is for Ming, for the empire, sir."
Liang Dawu finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing his superior's words.
"By the way, there is one more thing, sir. Their commander wants to speak to you."
Liang Dahu said.
"I was so mad at you. Bring him here. Thank God, those people really surrendered."
Ergen straightened his helmet, pulled the hem of his uniform, then puffed out his chest and waited seriously for the arrival of the surrendering Bolivian commander.
After a while, Liang Dahu led a Bolivian officer to Dougan.
"Sir, the prisoner has been brought in. He claims to be Major General Eliodoro Camacho of the Bolivian Army."
ah!
He is actually a general!
While Ergen was surprised, Liang Dahu said to the Bolivian major:
"General, this is the commander you requested to see, Captain Zhao Ergen."
Eliodoro Camacho obviously didn't expect that the imperial commander was just a small captain, and a mixed-race one at that. He was stunned for a moment when he saw the captain's rank and appearance on Ergen, and then saluted Ergen with a stiff expression.
"Major General Eliodoro Camacho of the Bolivian Army, respected Captain, I am now leading my troops to formally surrender to you. I hope you will give us prisoners of war the treatment we deserve."
"Oh, General Camacho."
As a Paraguayan, Ergen could of course understand Spanish. When returning the greeting, he looked the general up and down with great interest.
To be honest, Ergen had never seen many generals before, let alone one who surrendered voluntarily. This was the first one.
The general in front of him looked to be in his sixties or seventies, with typical Spanish looks, and not mixed-race. He had a large and exaggerated mustache under his high nose, which made him look quite majestic.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency the General."
Ergen smiled, raised his hand and saluted properly.
"But General Camacho, may I ask where President Daza is? As his general, you should know where he is."
"What...you know me?"
Eliodoro Camacho looked at the captain in surprise, how did he know him?
"Oh, and there's also General Narciso Campero, the commander of the Fifth Division. He and his troops are retreating to this area, right?"
The series of questions made Eliodoro Camacho look at the captain in disbelief. After a long pause, he spoke.
"Sir, I finally understand why you were able to win!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
