When Vivanco headed to southern Peru to confront the constitutionalist movement of Ramon Castilla, Elías was assigned the governorship of the northern Peruvian provinces. The internal Peruvian conflict was still undecided between the military factions of the country: Vivanco's and Echenique's against Castilla's and San Román's.
The passage describes a situation where Vivanco is engaged in a conflict with Ramon Castilla, and as a result, Elías is given the governorship of northern Peru. The internal conflict in Peru remains unresolved, involving different military factions.