The heavy rain stopped, and the strong wind that roared all night vented its pent-up emotions and gradually turned calm. The sky above the head was still gray, with thick, gloomy dark clouds migrating and rolling near the river bank, as if preparing for the next time.
The more violent wind and rain breeds strength.
On both sides of the river bank, wherever the storm passes, there is a mess.
Collapsed and tilted wooden houses and brick houses, children staying near the houses, crying and shouting, and Paraguayan women with bare feet and shabby clothes, running back and forth in the flood...
The power of nature was truly displayed in front of little Lope's eyes, but compared to the scene he saw before him, the damage to the fleet and the subsequent reports from all parties made him even more worried and anxious.
Two transport ships sank and five were damaged. 39 soldiers fell into the water during the night storm and were missing. The situation in Togrosso do Sul continued to deteriorate. An infantry battalion under the second division was attacked by Indian armed forces, and the major battalion commander was seriously injured.
He died, and the entire infantry battalion lost 127 soldiers. The remaining soldiers, led by a captain officer, were forced to retreat backwards.
The situation at the front and rear was becoming increasingly unfavorable to the Lopez regime. Before little Lopez could digest the impact of the two bad news he heard yesterday, Lieutenant General Francisco Isidoro, Chief of Staff of the Paraguayan Army, took a telegram and said,
Come to him quickly.
"Sorry, Your Majesty, please forgive me for disturbing your rest at this time."
"Tell me, where did the telegram come from?"
"We have just received a telegram from General Hopkins. A border guard team of the Army's Fourth Division captured three black people trying to escape to the area controlled by the Brazilian army while on patrol. Those three black people
They were all carrying weapons, and the soldiers of the security team also searched them and found a military map showing the deployment and garrison of the Royal Army in the southern area of Goiás state."
Lieutenant General Isidoro said as he handed the telegram to Lopez Jr.
"Is the information true?"
After reading the contents of the telegram, Lopez asked calmly.
"General Hopkins is 100% certain that the original black Brazilian community in southern Goiás state has private contacts with the Brazilian army."
"I understand. I'm ordering General Hopkins not to disturb those black people, and for the time being, pretend that this matter has never happened."
"However, the black people in Goiás State have made contact with the Brazilian border guards. General Hopkins is worried that the southern part of Goiás State may be suddenly attacked by the Brazilian army. Your Majesty, you know that the southern part of Goiás State
There are only 8,200 men in the Fourth Division under General Hopkins. If the Brazilian army, with the assistance of the southern black community, launches a sudden attack, it will be difficult for Hopkins to complete the important task of defending the southern territory of Goiás with the existing force.
.”
"The current situation within the kingdom does not allow us to fight the Brazilians in the other direction. Let's endure it for a while. After the rebellion in Mato Grosso do Sul is resolved, those ungrateful black people will feel
Punishment from the Paraguayan Army!”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The old lion still retains the majesty of the grassland overlord. Even with his prestige, strength declining, and his physical condition getting worse and worse, Lopez still has an incomparable power among other generals in the Kingdom of Paraguay that he controls.
that power.
Lieutenant General Isidoro obediently accepted Lopez's instructions, stood silently behind him, and tried his best to play the role of a loyal general.
"Go back, I'm a little tired."
After sitting on the bow deck for more than 20 minutes, little Lopez stood up and looked up at the black heart that filled half of the sky, but suddenly felt a heavy sense of fatigue: "Is it another storm?
"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
His consciousness gradually blurred, and the calls beside him became smaller and smaller. When little Lopez woke up again, the environment he was in had changed from water to land.
"Your Majesty, you are awake."
"Where am I?"
"This is Concepcion. Yesterday you suddenly fainted on the ship, and the fleet encountered a storm again. For your safety, Dr. Doug recommended that you be transferred to land for treatment. The fleet also temporarily docked to avoid the storm.
Repairs will be carried out at the port near Concepción."
Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Isidoro stood two meters away from the bed and explained respectfully.
"Dr. Doug, how is my physical condition now?"
After understanding what happened when he was in coma yesterday, little Lopez turned his attention to Dr. Doug who was nearest to him.
"Your Majesty, the cold and wet weather on the Paraguay River, the bumpy water, and the crude environment have aggravated your condition. For your health, I suggest that you suspend your plan to go north to command the war, rest in Concepción, and adjust for five to seven days.
After the condition is initially under control, we will return to Asunción and receive comprehensive treatment."
"No, the soldiers on the front line need the leadership of their king. I can't abandon my commitment to the soldiers on the front line and return to Asuncion halfway."
Little Lopez struggled to move a little and said resolutely: "I know my physical condition. It's just because of the humid and cold weather. There is a small problem. After a few days of rest, it will be fine.
The transport fleet and the soldiers on board are temporarily repairing in the port for three days. After three days, if my physical condition improves, I will accompany you to continue moving to the north. If after three days, my health recovers slowly, Isidoro will
Vice Admiral and Navy Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Falcon led the transport fleet to set off first, while I stayed in Concepción and temporarily set up a central headquarters to direct the frontline counter-insurgency war."
"His Majesty……"
Doctor Doug wanted to persuade him, but little Lopez stopped him.
"According to my arrangement, General Isidoro and General Falcon went back to arrange the transport fleet and the repair work of the soldiers.
Lieutenant Colonel Mandeili and the cavalry battalion took over from the 1st Guards Regiment and were responsible for the security of the port camp.
Colonel Alonso is responsible for contacting the commander of the Concepcion garrison."
"Yes, Your Majesty."......
Several generals and officers were called and accepted the order, and then left Lopez's room one after another.
On the fourth night when the transport fleet moved to the port of Concepción, which was the day before the transport fleet was scheduled to depart, little Lopez stayed in the port camp to rest and recover, but his condition worsened again.
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weakness in the limbs! The intense pain from the limbs to the chest gave little Lopez the closest to a real perception of his body: "I'm afraid I won't be able to survive this time."
As the oil is about to run out, little Lopez has to consider the most urgent question even if he has all kinds of regrets in his heart: "What will Mrs. Lynch and their children do after she dies? What will be the fate of the Kingdom of Paraguay?"
manage?"
"Guard! Guard!"
Little Lopez let out several hoarse shouts due to the stimulation of pain.
"His Majesty!"
When the guard in charge of security outside the house came in and saw little Lopez lying on the bed, struggling in pain, he immediately shouted to other guards: "Go and notify Doctor Doge and Lieutenant Colonel Mandeili!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lopez's condition deteriorated extremely, and dozens of guards near the core area of the camp hurriedly sent messages to other directions.
"Your Majesty, please hold on a little longer, Doctor Doug is already here."
Two or three minutes later, the cavalry battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Mandeili and Doctor Doug, who lived nearby in the vicinity of Lopez, rushed to the scene.
Lieutenant Colonel Mandeili replaced a soldier, carefully leaning Little Lopez's upper body against his own, and said anxiously: "Doctor Doug! Treat His Majesty quickly!"
"It's too late, it's too late."
Among the noisy sounds, little Lopez's weak breathing came.
"I can't survive this time. After I pass away, I hope you can support Carlos like you supported me."
Little Lopez held on for his last breath and told Lieutenant Colonel Manley: "The combat plan to support Mato Grosso do Sul was immediately suspended, and the third division stationed in Puerto Casado was ordered to support the second division's retreat.
, temporarily agreed to the political demands of the Indians and promised to give the Indians the same rights as the Mestizo people (Indo-European mixed-race people).
General Hopkins, commander of the Fourth Division, was ordered to shrink his troops and strengthen alert against Brazil.
Ordered Major General Ames Washburn, commander of the 2nd Brigade stationed in Concepcion, to lead the troops of the 2nd Brigade to join the Guards and return to Asunción together, and then accept the command of Carlos.
"
After explaining a few important things intermittently, little Lopez's blue-brown eyes gradually lost their sparkle: "Tell Carlos...let him...improve the...relationship with Han...and make sure not to...
……as an enemy…”
The oil lamp with dim light was knocked to the ground, and the glass cover was broken everywhere.
Outside the open door, a breeze blew in, and the remaining lights couldn't help being fiddled with by the breeze, exhaling the last trace of warmth.
Like a broken oil lamp on the ground, little Lopez, who had exhausted his last energy, reached the end of his life and finally closed his eyes with reluctance to leave this world.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!......"
The shouts of the officers and soldiers echoed in the vast room, but there was no response from the Paraguayan leader.