The soldiers of the 500th Second Mixed Brigade and part of the Artillery Brigade separated from the troops heading west and continued on their way, arriving in San Pedro four days later.
At the turning of the Uruguay River, three stone fortresses are arranged in a triangular position. In the open space in the middle of the fortress, more than a thousand soldiers are divided into two parts and stand in full formation. A few dozen meters away from the troops, hundreds of heavy vehicles are piled up.
Full of weapons, ammunition and some medicine and food.
Wang Dashan, commander of the 1st Mixed Brigade, came down from the fortress tower and walked straight to the open space.
"Captain Zhou, Commander Wu, long time no see."
Wang Dashan rode up and greeted the two officers supporting the troops from a distance.
"Hello, Brigadier!"
The two men marched to Wang Dashan in unison.
"The 1st Regiment of the 3rd Regiment of the 2nd Mixed Brigade and the 2nd Battalion of the 105mm Howitzer Regiment of the Independent Artillery Brigade have been ordered to move to San Pedro. Please give instructions from the brigade commander!"
"Third Regiment, Second Artillery Battalion are on standby!"
Wang Dashan dismounted, stood up straight, and returned the military salute.
After completing the troop handover ceremony step by step, Wang Dashan smiled and said, "Was it a smooth journey here?"
"The troops sailed by boat before arriving in Passufundo, and the journey was uneventful. However, on the way from Passofundo to San Pedro, they encountered several small Argentinian troops, and their subordinates captured several Argentinians.
The soldiers learned through interrogation that there was fighting on the line from San Pedro to Morandi, and they were broken troops who escaped from Morandi.
Hearing that the war was tense in the border area, Shi Xia and Battalion Commander Wu were worried about San Pedro's safety, so they hurried on their way and arrived one day earlier than the time requested by the staff."
The leader surnamed Zhou said.
"The city of Morandi was captured by the Paraguayan army. The Argentine troops you encountered must have discovered that the southern area was unfeasible, so they took the risk of passing through our army's area."
Wang Dashan analyzed.
"My subordinates are worried that the Argentine troops will disrupt order in our territory and have ordered a group of soldiers to take them into special custody. Brigadier Wang would like to interrogate them again. Maybe he can get more information about the Argentine frontline troops."
"No need, Colonel Istigali, the commander of the Misiones front line in Paraguay, invited me to be a guest in Morandi. When I get there, I can directly observe the post-war battlefield in Morandi, assess the intensity of the battle, and capture several soldiers.
, and we can’t get any useful information from them.”
Wang Dashan rejected the suggestion of regiment commander surnamed Zhou. He glanced at the soldiers standing in the open space and felt something was wrong.
"Captain Zhou, are all your people here?"
When Wang Dashan heard the sentry report that reinforcements had arrived, he guessed that a formal war with the Argentines was about to begin. If a war started, the number of reinforcements would definitely not be less than 3,000, and even if the number of soldiers in the open space was not detailed, they would definitely not be
There were more than 1,500 people, which was completely different from what I had guessed.
"My men and Battalion Commander Wu's artillery battalion are all here. Another group of about 3,000 soldiers led by Brigadier Zhou separated from us halfway. We don't know their specific mission."
"Three thousand soldiers did not reinforce San Pedro, but turned in other directions." Wang Dashan secretly understood the meaning of the commander surnamed Zhou's words.
The troops separated midway and the level of confidentiality was high. Could it be that the real intention of the headquarters or the prince was to start a war with the Argentines in San Pedro? So what was the ultimate goal of the three thousand soldiers?
Wang Dashan frowned and couldn't think of a reasonable guess. At this time, the regiment leader named Zhou took out a sealed letter and said: "Brigadier Zhou left a letter before leaving, instructing his subordinates to go to St. Peter's
Luo Shi handed it over to Brigadier Wang."
San Pedro is a border area, and the telegraph lines purchased from Prussia have not yet been laid here. Therefore, the National Defense Forces temporarily rely on manpower to transmit military orders.
"I understand the prince's order. You go to the fortress to make repairs first. Tomorrow, Battalion Commander Wu and I will pay a visit to Colonel Istigali."
After Wang Dashan read the letter, he made some plans in his mind and made arrangements.
"As commanded"...
The next morning, Wang Dashan led a hundred soldiers on horseback and rushed to Morandi.
"General Wang, welcome to Morandi!"
At the top of Morandi City, the dense bullet marks and broken arms left by the fierce battles in the past few days still existed. Istigali personally greeted Wang Dashan at the city gate.
"Your army and ours are the staunchest allies. Colonel Istigali sincerely invites you, and I would like to honor you with the undue courtesy."
Wang Dashan said boldly.
"General Wang, the promotion order issued by President Lopez was passed to Morandi yesterday. His Excellency Istigali is now a major general of the Paraguayan Army."
The Paraguayan translator reminded.
"Oh, I didn't know that the general was promoted, so don't blame me!"
"It's okay," Istiga waved his hand magnanimously, his face filled with joy after being promoted: "The food has been prepared in the city, let's go to the city and chat slowly."
"General Istigali invites you first." Wang Dashan was half a step behind, and the two of them walked into Morandi City together.
Not only do Easterners like to discuss important matters at the dinner table, but most Western diplomats also exchange interests under the guise of holding banquets and evening parties.
Dozens of people were sitting together in the living room, but few people ate the food on the dinner table. The core of the banquet had always been Istigali and Wang Dashan.
"General Wang, the Argentine army has mediocre combat power and weak will. Now our army has defeated the main Argentine army in Misiones and the city of Morandi has been successfully recovered. The remaining Argentine army is panicked and embarrassed to fight. How can your army
Don’t you want to take advantage of the favorable opportunity created by our army to join the war against Argentina?”
The banquet is not as simple as eating and chatting, but Istigali's direct inquiry from the beginning was somewhat beyond Wang Dashan's expectations.
"The Misiones conflict is a war between your country and Argentina. Our military respects the positions of both countries and will strictly maintain neutrality. Unless the war involves our country's interests, it will not send troops."
Wang Dashan was ambiguous.
"The power to decide to start a war lies in the hands of His Majesty the Grand Duke of Rio Grande do Sul. I can understand that the general is cautious."
Istigali looked unconcerned, but said: "However, the news of your country's sales of weapons and ammunition to our army cannot be hidden from the Argentines. In their eyes, selling arms to Paraguay is violating neutrality and becoming an enemy of Argentina.
, even if your country does not go to war with Argentina, they will think that your country and Paraguay are accomplices and collude against Argentina."
"What the Argentinians think is their business. As a soldier, my duty is to fulfill the orders given by the Crown Prince. Naturally, relevant people will be responsible for other things."
"Politics has nothing to do with the military. I admire General Wang's principles of conduct." Istigali personally poured a glass of wine for Wang Dashan and said, "This is our specialty wine in Paraguay. General Wang, please taste it."
"Thank you General for the fine wine." Wang Dashan was not polite to him, took the glass and drank it down in one gulp.
After pouring three glasses of wine for Wang Dashan, Istigali said seemingly casually: "Your army has increased its troops to San Pedro twice. Could it be that we just stay aside and watch the show?"
"The two armies were fighting, and the crown prince was worried about causing unnecessary conflicts, so he sent additional troops to garrison San Pedro. The general didn't have to think too much."
After Wang Dashan answered, he asked: "His Excellency Mr. Lopez, the President of your country, has made numerous military exploits. He led the army and people of your country to defeat the powerful Brazilian Empire and recovered a large amount of territory occupied by Brazil. Based on the same military strength, the victory achieved by Mr. Lopez is completely
No less than Emperor Napoleon.
Mr. Lopez is known as the Napoleon of South America and has served the country well, so why not be a true Napoleon of South America?"
Istigali was suddenly shocked. This was the first person who told him that Lopez should be king. He was accustomed to the republican constitution of Paraguay for decades, and the monarchy hardly appeared in Istigali's heart.
However, he never imagined what Paraguay would look like if it implemented a monarchy.
"General Wang should not say nonsense. President Lopez is deeply loved by the people and will not act like a monarch."
"I'm just curious. General, please bear with me if I'm rude."
Wang Dashan told the truth that in his heart, monarchy is the correct political system. The Han nation has always had a monarchy system since the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. The country and the monarch are one. Without the monarch, the country will be in chaos.
?
Istigali's heart was not as firm as he said. Not to mention the second half of the 19th century, even the beginning of the 20th century, monarchy was still the mainstream system in the world.
In the South American continent, the national composition is complex, including indigenous people, white people, and black slaves. The United States vigorously supported the republican forces when the South American states became independent. There is no aristocratic foundation in the American continent. Various factors are mixed together, causing the republic to become the preferred system in South American countries. This
The rest of the world, whether in Europe, Asia or uncivilized Africa, was a monarchy, with the exception of South America, which has to be said to be a strange thing.
Wang Dashan's simple question disturbed Istigali's mood, and he had no intention of considering the main purpose to be proposed below.
The banquet ended hurriedly not long after it started. Istigali asked the soldiers to arrange for Wang Dashan and others to stay in the city, and he went back to his room to think alone.
