Chapter 129 The situation suddenly changes, Brazil seeks peace!
Tortue Island is located in the northwest of Haiti, covering an area of 180 square kilometers, more than ten times the area of Feilong Island.
After occupying Torti Island, Chen Sen and Hou Taiyuan transferred the main forces from Feilong Island to Torti Island, leaving only 120 people, one sailing warship and three armed merchant ships on Feilong Island.
It serves as a small supply base and early warning point for the Chinese Independence Army in the Caribbean.
Time entered September 1868, when a revolution broke out in Spain and Queen Isabella II was overthrown. The news spread to the Spanish colony of Cuba, and the calm situation was instantly broken. Blacks and native whites secretly collaborated, and small-scale riots continued to occur.
The Cuban colonial government was in dire straits.
Large-scale unrest in Cuba was imminent. On the one hand, Chen Sen stepped up training of soldiers to prevent the chaos in Cuba from spreading to himself. On the other hand, he sent personnel disguised as merchant ships to deliver news to Rio Grande do Sul to find out Li Mingyuan's next plans for the Chinese soldiers in the Caribbean.
The war between the Brazilian Empire and Bolivia and Peru lasted for more than a month. When the war entered a stalemate, envoys sent by Bolivia and Peru first arrived in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, to persuade Paraguayan President Lopez Jr. to join the anti-Brazilian alliance.
After the Chinese Independence Army left Paraguay, Lopez Jr. sent troops to attack Matogue Grosso. However, due to the resistance of the local Brazilian army and follow-up reinforcements, the Paraguayan army did not take advantage and only occupied some insignificant land.
Lopez Jr. naturally did not want to return in vain when he sent troops on an expedition. After temporarily resolving the border dispute between Paraguay and Bolivia, he joined the anti-Brazilian alliance. The three parties signed an agreement to increase troops in the border area at the same time and cooperate with each other to launch an attack on Brazil.
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Brazil's main troops are stationed in the area near Rio Grande do Sul and within the country. Although there are many soldiers stationed on the borders of Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay, they are dispersed and stationed in the long border area. They suffered considerable losses under the massive attack by the troops of the three countries. Many soldiers were stationed on the border.
The small strongholds were captured, and the troops of the three countries concentrated their superior forces and went straight to the deep areas of Brazil, temporarily ignoring the scattered garrison points.
Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay broke the stalemate in adventurous attacks with all their main forces, and the dangers of losing the main force of the Brazilian Empire were immediately revealed.
At the same time, envoys who contacted the Chinese Independence Army arrived in Rio Grande do Sul. After three days of consideration, Li Mingyuan finally decided to join the alliance and send troops to attack Brazil.
The Chinese Independence Army had insufficient reserves of pills. After arriving in Rio Grande do Sul, they only purchased part of the ammunition at high prices from small European countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The total amount of ammunition could only support the launch of a medium-sized war.
It would be some time before the fleet that went to Europe to purchase machinery and ammunition returned. The British were hostile to the Chinese Independence Army and banned the sale of weapons and supplies to Rio Grande do Sul.
The dangerous situation of the Chinese Independence Army has not improved, and it may face armed intervention by the British at any time. At this time, launching an attack on the Brazilian army is undoubtedly a risky adventure.
The huge risks also mean huge gains. In the original plan, after occupying Rio Grande do Sul, the Chinese Independence Army went on the defensive, and then used military strength to force Brazil to recognize the fact that the Chinese Independence Army occupied Rio Grande do Sul, and the two parties achieved preliminary peace.
, while the Chinese Independence Army used the precious peace time to actively introduce Chinese workers from Cuba and North America to increase its own strength.
However, the situation changed too quickly. Li Mingyuan did not expect that Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay would break the war deadlock and invade Brazil. Joining the anti-Brazilian alliance at this time would not only temporarily find allies, but also help the Chinese Independence Army gain a foothold in South America, and at the same time be able to fight again.
Brazil dealt a blow, weakening Brazil's national strength and buying more time for the Chinese Independence Army to develop.
It was difficult to decide whether to join the war or not, but the news coming back from Europe and the Caribbean strengthened Li Mingyuan's determination to send troops.
When a revolution breaks out in Spain, Britain's strategic focus will naturally be invested in Europe, and news is coming from Europe.
British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli was impeached by the opposition, and his position as Prime Minister was not guaranteed. His successor as Prime Minister was
Liberal leader William Ewart.
William Ewart advocated improving workers' benefits and carrying out domestic economic reforms, and had little interest in continuing to expand overseas colonies.
William Ewart, who was about to take office, brought good news to Li Mingyuan and the Chinese Independence Army. Shortly after Benjamin was impeached, the British warships off Port Alegre lifted the blockade of the port, and the Chinese navy could freely enter and exit Rio Grande do Sul.
Lanzhou coastal area.
When the danger was lifted, Li Mingyuan immediately ordered the Chinese fleet and land forces to launch attacks on the Brazilian army from land and sea respectively.
September 12, 1868
The Chinese fleet raided Florianópolis and occupied the coastal ports,
On September 14, the Chinese troops attacking from Caxias do Sul attacked Krajes and wiped out 3,000 local garrison troops.
On September 17, the Chinese fleet raided Joinvia. A Brazilian ironclad ship anchored in the port had no time to escape and was sunk by three Chinese Independence Army ironclad ships. A total of 23 large and small ships in the port were sunk and eight ships were sunk.
, fifteen wooden warships were captured.
In the Battle of Invia, the Chinese fleet attacked the Brazilian fleet with superior water power, but in the battle, they still suffered losses of twelve wooden warships being sunk, one ironclad ship being seriously damaged, and two ironclad ships being lightly damaged.
The Chinese fleet trained at sea for more than two months. Although the crew learned simple operations of warships and some basic naval warfare tactics under the training of Prussian instructors and some captured Brazilian naval officers, there was still a long way to go before they could truly become an army.
If the Chinese fleet suffered huge losses, the Brazilian Navy was also severely damaged. It lost more than 20 warships, especially the sinking of an ironclad ship, leaving the Brazilian Navy with only the last ironclad ship left to support its appearance. The Chinese who had experienced a naval battle
The fleet has gained actual combat experience, and there are still two ironclad ships that can be put into combat. In terms of comprehensive strength, the maritime combat power of the Chinese Independence Army has surpassed the Brazilian Navy for the first time. Before adding new ironclad ships, the Brazilian Navy lost control.
The maritime deterrent force of the Chinese Independence Army.
After the naval battle of Invia, the land forces continued to advance,
On September 21, Chapeco was captured, and on the 25th, the main Brazilian force stationed in the state of Santa La Tarina was surrounded in Blume.
On the 29th, the Chinese Independence Army launched a general offensive against the besieged Brazilian army. After a day of fierce fighting, at 10 a.m. on the 30th, the Brazilian defenders surrendered, and the state of Santa Catarina was declared completely in the hands of the Chinese Independence Army.
Some troops were left to mop up the remaining Brazilian troops in Santa Catarina State. The main force of the Chinese Independence Army continued to advance. As of October 4, the Guara Prava area in southern Paraná State fell under the control of the Chinese Independence Army. The main force was 40,000.
People arrived at the gates of Curitiba, the capital of Paraná.
Faced with enemies on all sides and losing territory in succession, Emperor Pedro II of Brazil had no choice but to seek British intervention under the pressure of various domestic factions, and requested negotiations with Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and the Chinese Independence Army.
Britain is actively expanding its economic sphere of influence in South America. The continued deterioration of the situation in Brazil is not in the British national interest. Therefore, after Brazil made a request for intervention, British warships quickly arrived in Curitiba to prevent the Chinese Independence Army from attacking the defenders in the city.
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The war lasted for more than 20 days. The Chinese Independence Army newly occupied more than 100,000 square kilometers of land. The ammunition and combat materials stored in it were exhausted. The offensive momentum reached its limit. Even if the British did not interfere, Li Mingyuan did not intend to continue to expand and surrounded the warehouse.
Ritiba, including occupying as much land as possible in Paraná State, is increasing the weight in its hands to prepare for greater benefits in negotiations with Brazil.
The British intervened in the war, and the Chinese Independence Army, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia quickly stopped advancing and each sent representatives to participate in the British-led negotiations.
