I was a general in South America

Colombian lives are worth less than toilet paper.

Beside the campfire, Lucas held a bowl of "wild mushroom" soup and discussed trading supplies with Ashel.

The meal consisted of 25 meals, including rice, corn, beans, a small amount of canned meat, oil, salt, and sugar.

200 tarpaulins, 50 military-grade waterproof tarpaulins, and 600 packs of cigarettes.

3000 tablets of antibiotics, 6000 tablets of antimalarial drugs, and the remaining portion consisted of antidiarrheal medication and disinfectant.

Of course, all the weapons and ammunition that Lucas had promised beforehand were also included.

There seem to be many different kinds of items. Apart from the medicines, which are a bit more difficult to obtain, the total value of all the items would not exceed $10.

Asher's troops needed this little bit of supplies to hide in the forest during the rainy season for two or three months.

"Ashel, are you from Barranquilla or Bogotá?"

Once the deal is agreed upon, it's time to close the distance.

To Lucas, the other person's accent sounded northern, and they casually mentioned the names of two major cities.

From beginning to end, Ashel didn't seem like someone from the countryside. Even in his simple military uniform, his spirit and demeanor didn't resemble that of a country bumpkin.

"Bogotá, you're asking me where I was born, where I finished university, whether I joined the guerrillas, or which unit I belong to...?"

1986年哥伦比亚文盲率超过18%，3000万人口大学生数据不到30万，大约1%的入学率。

This was the result of the government's literacy campaign in 1982, the expansion of local universities, and the implementation of five years of compulsory education.

At Asher's age, anyone who could finish university in that era was considered a top talent in all of Colombia.

The family that could afford to support him through his studies must be considered a high-class family in this country, if not extremely wealthy.

The ultimate goal of South American rich kids: to start a revolution!

Lucas smiled, not denying Ashel's guess... He was indeed very curious about its origins.

It's not surprising that he could win someone's favor through his talent, but he also felt very comfortable with Ashel.

Some people can't stand each other even after a lifetime of friendship, while others can appreciate each other even after just meeting.

Seeing this, Ashel smiled and took a sip of mushroom soup: "I study philosophy at the National University..."

Columbia National University is the school where its famous alumnus, Nobel laureate in literature Gabriel García Márquez, studied.

According to Ashleigh, Lucas also knows most of the story.

Both his parents were university professors, a typical intellectual family... In 1966, Ashel, who had just graduated from university at the age of 22, happened to be there when the Colombian Civil War broke out.

At that time, not only Colombia, but the whole of South America was exporting the "red" revolution.

At that time, public opinion was wavering between "blue" and "red," as if the whole country was unable to find the right future.

As one of the few college students in the country, he enlisted in the army hoping to contribute to the country, but he witnessed his unit colluding with right-wing military organizations to massacre innocent villages, which was then reported by the media as the work of anti-government forces.

At that moment, Ashel's worldview crumbled.

All of Colombia knows that the right-wing warlords are supported by the CIA.

From that point on, Asher believed that "blue" could not save Colombia, and that the weak and impoverished Colombian farmers were like lambs to the slaughter in their presence.

In order to win the war and suppress public opinion, they can commit all sorts of horrific atrocities.

After being discharged from the army, he contacted several like-minded college classmates and secretly joined the anti-government guerrilla force.

"And you? I can see that you're different from those soldiers. Most of them aren't soldiers; they're parasites sucking the blood of the Colombian people."

Ashleigh looked up at Lucas and said, "When exchanging resumes, it's natural for you to say a little and I to say a little."

The environment has changed too quickly in recent years, and he has accumulated a lot of bitterness in his heart. He can't reveal too much to his subordinates in the army. The original team of 500 people has now dwindled to less than 200 people. Ashel is also unaware of the justice he has been upholding.

Is it still justice?

Given his experience and his guarded nature, he shouldn't have told Lucas so much.

But a faint voice in his head told him that this person in front of him could be trusted...

"Rapid Reaction Force, Third Team, Second Lieutenant...Kali."

Ashel was unaware of the latest news from Manizales, but he did know a little about the rapid reaction force.

The new unit was being formed under the leadership of the Southern Command. Lucas looks quite young, no wonder he doesn't have that damned coca smell...

Especially after the other party refused the white deal, Ashel couldn't help but think of his younger self.

Being young is great!

Without waiting for Lucas to ask a question, he started talking to himself.

"I belong to the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Times have changed... I know the general is doing this for survival, but I cannot accept that we are doing this for the Colombian people, yet we are getting involved in things that are dragging them into a quagmire?"

If the war is to continue through white-collar transactions, what is the point of any victory?

So I led my troops away from Bogotá. Unfortunately, I wasn't a good leader, and more and more soldiers couldn't hold on and chose to leave. If it weren't for you, I don't know how much longer I could have held on.

For the first time, a slightly confused look appeared in Ashel's sharp eyes, but he quickly returned to normal.

Those who study philosophy are prone to getting stuck on both ends.

However, Ashir also illustrated the current situation of anti-government armed groups: without industry and without economic resources, they cannot sustain a continuous war.

In a poor country, even if you loot every village, how much material stuff can you actually plunder?

In order to continue the fight, the only option is to find a way to make money. What can Colombia do to make money? ... Cocaine is the only option.

So, according to Ashel, times have changed... The troops that once believed in saving the country have gradually shown a tendency to evolve into armed criminal organizations.

This is not just FARC, but a microcosm of the entire era.

"What will you do if we don't reach a deal?"

Lucas suddenly asked a question, and Ashel was stunned upon hearing it... After hesitating for a long time, he sighed and said, "I am not afraid of death, but I must take the remaining 178 men and the captured cocaine to the general and try to see if we can exchange them for some supplies."

Although they belonged to two different camps, Lucas sincerely admired people like Ashleigh.

As those around him abandoned their principles one by one, he still held firm.

Perhaps in this dirty era, his bottom line will be slowly eroded, but he has already surpassed many beasts in human skin.

"Costa, I've left him my phone number. He'll prepare the supplies you need, and you can contact me through him in the future."

"Of course, as a friend, Ashel, you have to send someone to escort us out of the mountains."