Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1251 Natural Barriers

Undoubtedly, among the existing cities in Portuguese Brazil, San Vicente must be a relatively backward and poor area, including the Diocese of Sao Paulo on the inland plateau, whose population, transportation, commerce, and agriculture and animal husbandry are relatively developed. Compared with Pernambuco and Bahia in the north, it is still far behind.

The city's white population was only over 1000 at this time, and even including the mixed descendants of whites, a few free Indians and slaves, the total population of the entire Port of San Vicente did not exceed [-].Compared with the status and reputation of its capital, this population is indeed somewhat disproportionate.

However, to some extent this is also normal.Due to Brazil's special coastal geographical features (the coastal plain is extremely small and inaccessible to the vast interior), most of its population actually lives inland.They set up plantations there to grow sugar, tobacco and cotton, while cutting down trees, grazing cattle and sheep, and living a relatively primitive medieval manor-style life, which actually fits the "three views" of the Iberians.

Because of this, the city is nothing more than a commercial distribution center and the seat of colonial institutions in Brazil's general jurisdictions.Planters in the inland areas transported large quantities of output to the coastal port cities by ox cart or small boat, bargained with wholesalers, and at the same time looked for opportunities to buy some slaves or other Old World goods, and then returned to the inland areas. The manor closed its doors to live its own life.All in all, this is a relatively backward slave manor economy, and all social classes are not very active. It seems that there is a stagnant pool, and the feudal atmosphere is extremely strong.

Tragically, due to the small size of the coast of San Vicente - the mountains divide the later state of São Paulo into two parts, the coast and the interior - the city has very limited room to develop, from the large population many years ago. Spread to the St. Paul mission on the inland plateau.With the religious schools built by the missionaries as the center, the white colonists continued to open up and build their own plantation manors, and then acquired slaves through conquest or purchase to develop the economy.

Therefore, you now know how embarrassing the Port of San Vicente is in the entire General San Vicente area.This city with little room for development was completely isolated by the vast hinterland and became a commercial window, nothing more.What is even more painful than this is that due to the inland Sao Paulo area blocked by mountains and surrounded by swamps, the traffic conditions from the Port of San Vicente to the inland area are very simple, and most of them are mule and horse roads built on the hillside. , unlike Pernambuco and Bahia, where there are rivers connecting the inland and seaports, nor is it like Rio de Janeiro, where the terrain is flat and there are roads. In short, it is very difficult. sluggish and relatively sparsely populated.

"There are really not many people in the city. Excluding those who were killed and injured by us, and those who fled in the chaos, there are only six to seven thousand people left in the city. And many of them are people who have not had time to escape, such as the Brotherhood of Charity Religious groups such as , St. Francis and St. Antony's Knights of the Third Order (also part-time credit institutions, making commercial loans to plantation owners at 7000% annual interest), they are all unstable factors, really lying on grass." Wearing Yang Liang in the khaki lieutenant's uniform came back from the outside with a saber in hand, and said angrily.

Xiao Xi and the others lived in the East Bank Commercial Station that was originally located here, not the Governor's Mansion, which symbolized the power center of the entire region.Their most elite Second Mixed Battalion was transferred into the city and stationed in an abandoned Brazilian barracks between the Governor's Mansion and the East Bank Commercial Station; Some of the important coastal defense forts went to the city to seize and count the spoils; as for the former Qing army prisoners who were killed or injured in the daytime battles, these people went to the suburban manors to "tax" and buy things under the supervision of the East Bank staff. Yes—well, the money for buying things is naturally not real money, but the printed military tickets before departure. It is said that the total amount of printing exceeds 300 million yuan, and it has been sold in the east coast at a rate of [-]% off. A small portion went out.I believe that after the news of the capture of San Vicente Port comes back, some speculators who bought military tickets will come to purchase goods soon. Bayonet endorses their purchases.

"All those who did not escape will be charged a poll tax, ten yuan per person. Those who cannot pay will be locked up first, and will find a way to transport them back to the country when a ship comes." Xiao Xi, who was drinking yerba mate tea, said immediately after hearing the words.To be honest, the poll tax of ten yuan is not cheap. Apart from officials, businessmen, plantation owners, and military officers, I am afraid that not many people can afford this money.Once this tax policy is implemented, most of the people except for whites and some whites of mixed race will be locked up by people from the east coast, and this is obviously one of Xiao Xi's goals - local infrastructure projects are too short of labor Well, how can we not take some people back?But it’s not okay to take people into custody, so it’s much more convenient to use the poll tax method to “justify” arrest people and go back.

"In addition, business organizations or individuals, including the Brotherhood of Charity you mentioned just now, will be seized first, and then carefully screened later. I remember that these two religious groups have loaned money to the Almeida family, probably for money. They have a lot of money, so they should be arrested and tortured first. These missionaries don’t spread the Gospel of God well, but lend money in violation of the Pope’s order, but they lend money very diligently. If they don’t catch them, they will vomit. How about some blood?" Xiao Xi greeted the adjutant and served Yang Liang a cup of tea, and then continued to order: "There are also cash and taxes worth 4 to 16 yuan in the treasury of the Governor's Mansion, and the poll tax can also be collected A total of 30 yuan, and the silver deposits in some "unowned" warehouses in the dock area, add up to more than [-] yuan. Well, let's see, all the Brazilian businessmen and missionaries in the city don't want more, Let them apportion more than [-] yuan in cash to us, and give me a total of [-] yuan. The Ministry of the Army will send someone to collect the money after a while. Chief of Staff Mo is currently sitting in the telegraph office of Zhenhai County, paying attention to all places. In the battle situation, the loot is one of the key points. Captain Yang, we are under a lot of pressure to generate income, so we have to be cautious."

"The people sent to the manor outside the city can probably get back 3 to [-] yuan. Those guys from the Qing Dynasty have very black hands, and they won't stop until they are three feet high." Yang Liang took a sip of tea, haha He smiled and said: "It's really a lie. It's disappointing to get back so much money by calling San Vicente. You know, this is the capital city of the region. It's really shabby."

"If you want to get money, people, and things, you still have to find a way to go deep into the inland, otherwise you will always have limited income." Xiao Xi pondered and said: "St. Paul's Diocese is located on the plateau behind the mountain. The intelligence personnel who completed the staff travel there said that the light is very sufficient and the climate is very mild (after all, it is a plateau). Moreover, the local area is also a very unique red-purple soil, which is deep and porous, rich in humus, very suitable for all kinds of The growth of crops—especially commercial crops—is a good place. Let’s put it this way, if it weren’t for the poor traffic conditions, the isolation between the Diocese of St. Paul and the Port of San Vicente, the local plantation economy It will definitely develop greatly, instead of being half-dead like it is now. Therefore, after rectifying here, we still have to find a way to send troops deep into the diocese of St. Paul, which is the most densely populated and richest area under the jurisdiction of General San Vicente. You can also get more money.”

"Okay, but we have to wait until the second batch of landing fleet arrives, right?" Yang Liang said, "Now that the navy's main fleet has gone north, I don't know when the mainland will be able to organize the second batch of transport ships. But It is estimated that it will be soon, Rio de Janeiro is now like a beautiful woman who has been stripped naked, and can no longer hide the eyes of others. Two mixed battalions of the army, preferably with a county security regiment, add up to about 30 troops, It is enough to level it. It is also a good city. It is about the same size as San Vicente. It is not a problem to scrape more than [-] cash. Moreover, the transportation between Rio de Janeiro and the hinterland is relatively convenient. When the army goes deep inland It is also more convenient to march, which is a great advantage."

On the second day after the East Coasters occupied San Vicente Island, that is, on June 1660, 6, most of the Second Mixed Battalion of the Army, led by Major Xiao Xi, crossed the sea and set foot on the land on the opposite bank. , and then pushed inward along the plain until it reached the eastern foot of the Mar Mountains.

Here they encountered a natural barrier, separated by mountains from the narrow coastal plain.The officers and soldiers of the Second Mixed Battalion searched for a long time, but failed to find a suitable route for the army to march. Finally, in desperation, they could only follow the mule road that the Brazilians used to take, and circled a long circle among the high mountains. It was only a few days later that they arrived at the Tiet River—they also encountered an attack on the way. The attackers were suspected to be the famous St. Paul's flag team. More than ten people were killed or injured.Of course, they didn't please themselves. Under the dense and precise volley of guns fired by the people on the east bank, they also left a large number of corpses on the hillside.

On June 1660, 6, while Major Xiao Xi sent people back to San Vicente Island to ask for reinforcements, he collected food, grass and taxes on the banks of the Tiete River, and spent tens of thousands of yuan on military tickets to buy various specialties (the process was of course not very peace out).It's not that he doesn't want to make progress, but that the Mar Mountain Range is really a huge natural barrier that separates the two parts of the people on the east coast. They must bring reinforcements from the sea as soon as possible, otherwise they can't control this vast land.

(End of this chapter)