Chapter 408 The Blessing of the Paraguayans (Today
What a way to shoot yourself in the foot!
When the original copy of the "Treaty of Friendship and Trade between South China and Brazil" was presented to him, Zhu Xianhai couldn't help but say as he looked at the treaty.
"This is really shooting yourself in the foot!"
After that, he asked Zuo Zongtang to sit down and continued.
"Why did the British "kindly" support us in solving Uruguay?"
"Isn't it just with bad intentions! We are taking action against Uruguay, how can the Brazilians not intervene? The "Red Party" that is now in power in Uruguay is supported by the Brazilians. Once we take action, the Brazilians will definitely intervene.
.”
There are two parties in Uruguay, a small country at the mouth of the river. They are the "Red Party" and the "White Party". Since independence, they have not dealt with each other and have tried to undermine each other every day. In 1863, the White Party was in power in Uruguay.
As a result, the Red Party jumped out to rebel. Moreover, the Red Party had been supported by the Brazilian Empire for a long time. Unfortunately, the leader of the White Party at the time, Bernardo Bello, had a good relationship with Lopez Jr., so they sent troops to help. And this was also
Causes of the Paraguay War.
"The British have no good intentions, but we also need to solve the problem of Uruguay's exiled regime. Through this negotiation, we can leave the problem to Brazil and kill with a borrowed knife!"
Standing up, Zhu Xianhai walked around and said.
"The British wanted to provoke a conflict between us and Brazil by selling out Uruguay. We put Uruguay on the dinner plate and let the Brazilians eat the fat meat, which resolved the potential conflict with Brazil. By giving up Uruguay,
The relationship between us and Brazil has been eased, and we have got what we wanted. The only ones that have been sacrificed are the two small countries of Uruguay and Paraguay."
Walking to the map and staring at these two small countries, Zhu Xianhai sighed.
"This is the essence of the international political game - the weak are sacrificed and betrayed. And what about the big countries? What are they trying to do by carving up small countries to strengthen themselves through secret treaties? It's just time! Just like..."
Originally, Zhu Xianhai wanted to talk about Mao and San Dezi. Aren't the two families negotiating and signing a secret treaty to carve up Poland together? When Mao annexed the three Baltic countries, what was San Dezi doing? Of course, it was in the newly annexed Polish territory.
I danced and drank vodka with Da Maozi.
Then what?
In two years it will be "Barbarossa".
In fact, this is the essence of the international diplomatic game. Whether it is a so-called "treaty" or a "secret agreement", from the day it is signed, it is actually torn up for the future.
But if you want to tear it up, it will always take time!
"...In short, through this treaty, we have won at least ten years."
Zhu Xianhai deliberately emphasized the word "ten years". Time is all that Nanhua has always needed. As long as there are ten years, Nanhua can truly rise and become a powerful country. After all, whether it is the transportation of immigrants or the cultivation of talents,
, or industrial construction, all take time.
ten years!
Enough to complete two five-year plans!
"And what about the British and Brazilians? They just moved a rock. The only difference is that it will hit their feet sooner or later!"
Zhu Xianhai wanted to know how complicated the British expression would be once the British knew the news.
"The handsome and wise man!"
After complimenting him, Zuo Zongtang asked.
"Then the remaining problem is Paraguay. How does the commander-in-chief plan to solve the Paraguay problem?"
"Ultimatum!"
Zhu Xianhai continued to speak, with a smug tone in his voice.
"The conflict on the Paraná River is, on the surface, a conflict between us and the Brazilians, but in essence it is still a problem on Paraguay's side. We issued an ultimatum and asked them to explain this incident..."
Putting one hand on the map and pointing his finger at the capital of Paraguay, Apezón, Zhu Xianhai felt extremely comfortable. Now for the first time, he felt a sense of pleasure that he had never experienced before.
The pleasure of being a weak and powerful country!
You have finally become stronger. If you don’t bully others, you are worthy of your efforts!
Why do you work hard to become stronger?
Isn’t it just to bully others! Otherwise it would be boring.
…
The capital of Paraguay, Apezón.
This once prosperous Central American city has lost its former prosperity. On January 1, 1869, after the Allied forces occupied the city, robbery and murder filled the entire city. Even churches and foreign consulates could not
After being spared, the Paraguayans who stayed in the city suffered from the pain of bereavement and were ravaged by the military disaster again. The men were slaughtered and the women were raped. Even the nuns in the church were not able to escape the ravages of the Brazilians.
After the occupying forces burned, killed and looted the city, the Brazilian Emperor Pedro II sent his Foreign Minister Jose Parahos to Paraguay to take full charge of this matter. After arriving in Apezón, Parahos
The Paraguayan opposition was ordered to elect three leaders and establish the so-called "three-person government". However, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the so-called interim government is just a facade for the occupying forces.
The interim government also has another important task, which is to discuss armistice and land cession matters with the coalition forces. This is a later topic, but now this facade has to face another extremely real threat.
"...Because you have been updating, the Argentine troops stationed in Paraguay actually escaped. Their escape will inevitably pose a threat to South China. Therefore, South China does not recognize Paraguay's autonomy over its own territory and will send troops to clear out the troops stationed there.
Argentine troops in Paraguay.”
Before José Díaz de Bedosa had finished speaking, Cirillo Antonio Rivarola spoke.
"God bless, if this news gets out, the whole Paraguay will cheer, thank God, let them go dog eat dog!"
As the leader of the "three-person government", even if he was selected by the coalition forces, Cirillo Antonio Rivarola did not have any good impression of the coalition forces. When he learned that the Brazilian fleet was annihilated by the South Chinese, he even deliberately
Open a bottle of red wine to celebrate.
But that's all he could do, and he didn't even go to the Brazilian Army Headquarters to express his condolences. Being a traitor... no, it's not easy to be a traitor!
Now faced with the request of another country's army to be stationed, Cirillo did not reject it much. After all, Paraguay now has troops from three countries stationed, and one more is not much. Besides, they are here to fight the Argentines!
If you have too many lice, you won’t be itchy, that’s why!
"This must be just one of the conditions they offered! They must have other conditions, right?"
Carlos Loizaga, another member of the three-person government, asked directly.
"You're right, Carlos, they do have other conditions."
Jose picked up the "ultimatum" in his hand and said,
"In order to avoid this happening again, they asked us to reorganize the government. They appointed an official and asked us to appoint him as a cabinet member!"
"What?"
Faced with such a request, Cirillo and the others almost instinctively thought of a possibility - another group of gringos wanted to interfere in Paraguay's internal affairs.
Of course they instinctively want to resist, but how can they resist?
The Paraguay of today is not the Paraguay of the past.
Now they are the masters of human flesh.
"Hey, aren't we actually all identified by foreigners?"
After a while, Cirillo said with some sigh.
"We are not selling out what our country is not."
The answer is of course no, but it's just that it's not yet time for them to sell out. In fact, each of them knows it very well.
The reason why the Brazilians selected the three of them in the first place was to discuss reparations from various places. If they could not meet the Brazilian conditions, Brazil would definitely replace them.
"For Uruguay, this may not be a bad thing."
Cirillo thought for a while and said.
"At least, with their restraint, the Brazilians will definitely not dare to act as recklessly as in the past."
This is the helplessness of being a weak country. Even if they know clearly that those powerful countries are not well-intentioned, they can only force a smile and try to use one party against the other. But in the end they still have to pay the price.
Just like a weak beauty trying to deal with two strong men. She always has to pay a certain price.
"Indeed, I heard that the soldiers of the "Phoenix Legion" are very civilized, completely different from those barbaric Brazilians."
Cirillo said.
"God bless, if that's the case, it's really the luck of the Paraguayans."
------Digression-----
A book club group has been established: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.