January 1, 1909, one o'clock in the afternoon, inside the Venezuelan Presidential Palace.
"The Kingdom of Brazil has declared war on us, damn it, it's all Castro's fault.
It's all this stinky shit's fault. He was the one who provoked the Kingdom of Brazil and declared it illegal when it was first established.
Now it’s okay, it caused a war in Venezuela, and I’m going to take the blame for him.”
Originally, the current president of Venezuela, Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón, was happily celebrating New Year's Day, but he soon received a blow in the face, lost all motivation, and only felt that a disaster was coming.
After receiving Brazil's declaration of war on Venezuela, Juan was struck by a bolt from the blue, furious and filled with resentment.
But he does not resent Brazil, but vents his anger on his predecessor, President Jose Cipriano Castro Ruiz.
In Juan's view, everything that is wrong is Castro's fault.
Now, he regrets very much that he was too kind and too indecisive, and did not launch the coup until December. The coup should have been carried out earlier.
"What do you think we should do?"
Juan Vicente Gomez looked at the confidants who helped him come to power through a coup, and they are now also various high-ranking officials and ministers in Venezuela.
"President, we can't defeat Brazil, so hurry up and sue for peace!"
General Francis was the first to react and proposed to his military leader, Brazilian President Juan.
"Yes, sue for peace quickly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and contact the Brazilian ambassador immediately."
Juan is the military leader of Venezuela and the president who came to power through a military coup. Naturally, he knows everything about the military situation.
Venezuela's military power is limited to suppressing the country. Facing Brazil, the strongest country in South America, Juan knows that there is no chance of winning.
The Venezuelan army and navy have a lot of outdated weapons, and even use a large number of weapons from the Napoleonic period. With this level of military weakness, if you really want to fight Brazil, it is simply an egg hitting a stone.
The best way now is to take advantage of the 24-hour war declaration period to quickly seek peace.
If a war breaks out, Venezuela will not be able to last for a month, or even less. Juan came to power through a coup, and his popular base is very weak, with only a bunch of Caudillos supporting him.
Caudillos, what is this?
Damn it if you can rely on it!
Juan still doesn't know and understand these guys. Facing Brazil, the largest country in South America, they are just helpless and will not support his war at all.
These people know that the war will be lost. If they support Juan and Brazil is liquidated, the Caudillos will not be able to bear it.
Juan is very self-aware and cautious in his actions. Historically, he has been the dictator of Venezuela for 27 years.
"President, peace is impossible and Brazil will not accept it.
Ambassador of Brazil, the declaration of war that came this morning is about recovering the territory they so called lost. This territorial claim is almost equivalent to half of our country’s territory."
Foreign Minister Billon is still somewhat politically alert, and he understands that Brazil is well prepared this time.
The Kingdom of Brazil not only wants to retaliate against Venezuela for its previous interference in politics, but also wants Venezuela to spit out half of its land. This battle must be fought.
How can we get half of Venezuela’s territory without fighting? And the current military government cannot directly give away half of Venezuela’s territory without resisting. This is something that shakes the foundation.
Juan had no choice but to yell at Bilong angrily.
"Then what do you think we should do!?"
After listening to Bilong's words, Juan also realized that Brazil would not be kind this time. He came here for the land, but he had no other method and could only be helpless and furious.
"You usually don't brag to me one by one that you are very powerful and that you are my most capable assistant. What about now?"
Juan was frightened by the war launched by the Brazilian general. He was so angry that he had no choice but to yell at his men.
"You stupid asses.
Now is the time to use you, you can come up with a solution!"
Facing the boss Juan Vicente Gomez Chacon, everyone could only bear it silently when he asked angry questions.
Brazil is too powerful. People like them only know how to cause trouble. Their enemies are all in Venezuela. How can they face such a big foreign enemy like Brazil? They can’t come up with a solution for a while.
"President, we have only one way now, which is to ask Britain, France, the United States and Germany to intervene."
Bilong is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Although he was panicked just now, he quickly thought of a simple but very useful method.
In today's world, small countries are threatened by powerful enemies and can only seek shelter from other powerful forces. Of course, this shelter comes at a price.
But now is not the time to consider the cost, because if Brazil comes over, they will be directly affected and may even be in danger of their lives.
Venezuela's price is just to cede some interests to Britain, France and the United States. Brazil wants their lives this time.
"Bilong, you still have a way, and it is indeed right to choose you as the foreign minister."
Juan, who had angrily criticized Bilon just now, now praised Foreign Minister Bilon.
The Foreign Secretary's current method is the most effective and most likely way to save him. There is no other way except this.
"Hurry up and contact the four major powers, Britain, France and Germany, and ask them to intervene and prevent Brazil from starting a war.
As long as there is no war, any interests you want are easy to talk about and can be discussed."
"President, Britain and we have a dispute in the Essequibo region of Guyana. This..."
"I know that the territorial claims of the United Kingdom are recognized."
What time has it been!
Is it time to consider territorial disputes? I'm almost dead, but I still tell Juan about the country's territory and immediately recognize it to the British. I can get anything in exchange for help.
"Billon, tell the British that we give up the disputed territory of Guyana, and ask them to help us. Whatever benefits we need can be negotiated."
"Yes, President"
Faced with the president's authorization, Bilong certainly had no objection to betraying national interests and quickly left to contact the four major powers.
Bilon is a high-ranking official of the dictatorial military government. He is a grasshopper on a rope with the current government. Saving Juan is also saving himself. His life and future are much more important than Venezuela.
……
No. 10 Downing Street.
"Venezuela also knows that the world’s hegemon is Britain!
Are they usually very violent? Now that Brazil wants to beat them, they are scared like quails, begging us to intervene, and betraying national interests. This was not the case before.
When asking for the Essequibo region, they put national interests above heaven!"
Herbert Henry Asquith, the British Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party who took office in 1908, scoffed at Venezuela's request for help.
"First of all, Your Excellency, do we want to help Venezuela?" the Foreign Secretary asked.
"Help Venezuela?
What are the benefits of helping this country? Brazil plays an important role in South America. What is Venezuela? A little lamb.
The Kingdom of Brazil is very ambitious now. It is a great thing to announce that it wants to be the leader of South America. It must be supported.
I remember the Monroe Doctrine in the United States. America belongs to Americans. It is so arrogant that we in the UK can turn a blind eye.
The rise of Brazil is a good thing and we should support it."
Help Venezuela, Herbert Henry Asquith was a fool to do that.
According to him, it would be better for Brazil to swallow up the small country of Venezuela, so that the Brazilian territory will face the United States across the Caribbean Sea and become a direct rival.
"Warn the United States not to let them interfere in this matter.
We in the UK, by tolerating the expansion of American influence in Central America, are already tolerant of them. Don’t push your limits and extend your hands to South America.
By the way, notify Germany and France and ask them not to help Venezuela.
In fact, I think they know what to do and will not help Venezuela.
When Brazil becomes stronger, it is a good thing for us in Europe. There is only one strong country in the Americas, the United States, which is definitely not a good thing for Europe."
***The author has something to say***
Today is the first day of December. Thank you for voting so much and thank you for your support!
This chapter has been completed!