Four hundred and fortieth chapters just around the corner
The development of the domestic situation in Paraguay not only affects the strategic deployment of the Han government, but also arouses the sensitive nerves of important officials of the Brazilian government.
In the former Royal Palace of Rio de Janeiro, now the official residence of the President of the Brazilian Republican Government, President Fonseca of the Republic, Speaker of the Parliament Morais, Field Marshal Peshoto, Navy Commander Ferreira and others gathered together to prepare for how to deal with the chaos in Paraguay.
issues and conduct in-depth discussions.
The meeting officially began, and no one among the senior military and political officials sitting around the round table took the initiative to speak and offer their opinions. Therefore, as the convener and leader of the meeting, President Fonseca of the Republic of Brazil knocked on the table with his pipe.
He opened his mouth and said: "I think everyone is somewhat familiar with the recent changes in the situation in Paraguay. Today we are gathering together to hold a meeting to solicit your opinions on how to deal with the changes in the situation in Paraguay. What do you want to say?
, you can ask anything you want to ask on the spot without any scruples.”
After the words fell, everyone in the meeting hall still had a cautious and pensive expression on their faces, and no one opened their mouth to take Fonseca's words and continue.
"Marshal Peixoto, what do you think of the domestic coup in Paraguay?"
The atmosphere in the conference hall was solemn, and Fonseca had no choice but to turn his attention to his partner, Field Marshal Peixoto, hoping that the other party could provide him with advice worth learning from.
"The Army of the Republic has anticipated the possible political turmoil in Paraguay. However, according to the Army's analysis and speculation, Lopez Jr.'s coercive rule in Paraguay should be able to continue for another three to five years. However,
The sudden death of Lopez Jr. disrupted the advance deployment of the Republic Army. Prior to this, the Republic Army's strategic plan was to first concentrate its main forces on wiping out the remnants of the royalists. After the civil war ended, the central and northern coastal areas were returned to the jurisdiction of the Republican government.
Later, he took advantage of the collapse of the Lopez family's regime to launch a war against Paraguay."
"So, Marshal Peixoto, I want to know whether the current Republican Army has the strength to defeat the royalist forces and regain the central and northern coastal areas?"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, the earliest time the Army planned to launch an attack against the Royalist forces was July 1890. Now, it's one year and one month ahead of schedule, and the Army's combat preparations, recruitment and training have not been completed.
Completed, at this point in time to launch a full-scale attack on the royalist armed forces, the Republic Army has no absolute certainty of victory."
"What about the Navy? In the past six or seven years, the Republic Navy has successively acquired four advanced armored cruisers. The total tonnage of naval ships has approximately doubled compared to the period before 1880. Can the Republic Navy be able to undertake the main combat tasks?
, assist the army in launching a comprehensive attack on the royalist armed forces?"
Not getting a satisfactory answer from Peixoto, Fonseca pinned his hopes on the navy to deal with the royalist armed forces.
"I disappoint you, Your Excellency. Although the Republic Navy has added many new warships in the past ten years, and the total tonnage of naval ships has gradually exceeded the tonnage of the navy under the name of the royalist armed forces, the situation of the Republic Navy is completely different from that of the army.
Differently, the officers and sailors of the Republic Navy at all levels are white. They not only exclude non-white officers and sailors from entering the navy, but also openly and covertly disobey the orders sent by the republican government to supervise the officers entering the naval fleet. Moreover, because of the naval officers, the sailors are in the empire.
Although they had various privileges during the period, a large part of them still had illusions about the royalists. Some senior naval generals and officers even had private connections with the royalists.......
There are not a few naval officers and sailors who sympathize with and tend to be armed by the royalists. With the current situation of the Republic Navy, I do not think that the Republic Navy has the ability to attack the royalist armed forces."
"The profound influence of the royalists on the navy is a historical issue left over after the split between the North and the South. This issue is relatively complex and cannot be handled roughly or left alone."
Fonseca looked grave and ordered: "Install supervisory officers within the naval fleet, and the actions of sailors from other ethnic groups must continue. As long as the control of the main warships of the navy is in the hands of the republican government, those old-fashioned officers and sailors will
Can't afford the storm."
"Okay, Your Excellency, the Navy will cooperate with the port guard force to strengthen the supervision of ship officers and sailors."
After inquiring about the relevant situation of the army and navy in turn, and concluding that the original strategic plan of attacking the royalists as a priority was no longer feasible, the parliamentary topic returned to the Paraguay Incident.
The time is not ripe to launch a full-scale attack on the royalist forces.
Political turmoil broke out in Paraguay in advance, and the offensive opportunity in the north-central coastal direction was lost. At the same time, in the direction of Paraguay, another opportunity was given to regain the territory and boost domestic popular sentiment. Fonseca realized that if war is inevitable, then
The most suitable direction for the Brazilian Republic to break through is Paraguay.
Paraguay's domestic economy is on the verge of collapse. The two parties that control the main military forces are accumulating strength and preparing for a final decisive battle in order to compete for Paraguay's supreme power.
Paraguay has a sparse population, with a total population of only more than half a million, and nearly 50,000 people have been forcibly recruited into the army.
Once the civil war starts, the originally small army will concentrate on fighting near Asuncion. Then, the defenseless western and northern areas of Paraguay will become a playground for the Army of the Republic of Brazil to wreak havoc.
Using superior forces to launch an attack on northern Paraguay, which has no defense force, the possibility of victory is extremely high. However, even if the Republic of Brazil faces Paraguay alone, it has the advantage of comprehensive crushing.
However, neither Fonseca nor the officials and generals sitting in the hall dared to make the decision to send troops to attack Paraguay before receiving support from Britain and eliminating the threat from the Han Dynasty to their own army.
Fonseca was waiting for a piece of news. Peixoto, Morais and other senior officials of the Brazilian Republic sat in their seats without saying a word, also because they were waiting for a decisive piece of news. Before hearing that news, even if Fonseca
No matter how rich and vivid his speech is, no one will give him a clear response.
The meeting lasted from morning to evening, and at seven o'clock in the evening, a telegram from the British Legation reached Fonseca's hands.
"The British agreed to our conditions. The British Minister made a commitment on behalf of the British government to support the government of the Republic in principle in regaining its territory and fighting the just war against the Lopez regime. The British side will provide diplomatic and material support to the government of the Republic to ensure that the war is limited to
Within the territory of Paraguay, other countries are not allowed to spread the war to the territory controlled by the Republic!"
Fonseca got the British promise and excitedly announced to the others.
"What about the Han? Will the Han army ignore the principles of belligerence set by the British government and send troops to attack the mainland of the Republic when the Paraguay War breaks out again?"
Peixoto still had concerns in his mind.
"The Han government may ignore the belligerent principles set by the British and launch an attack directly on the mainland of the Republic. However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just issued a public statement clearly promising not to intervene in the Paraguayan Civil War. According to the number of times we have met with that group of Orientals,
The experience of the war infers that although they are full of ambitions for the territory of the Republic, their guarantees are generally worthy of belief."
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Brazil stood up and explained.
"The British have expressed their attitude, and the Han government has also made a clear diplomatic statement. Then, even if the Han army also intervenes in the war after the Republic army enters Paraguay, as long as the Republic army is fast enough and can catch up with the Han army,
Destroy the remaining Paraguayan troops and occupy Asunción,
The Han army could not get a big advantage in front of the heavily defended Republic army."
After hearing two pieces of good news one after another, Fonseca's confidence greatly increased and he said happily: "Even if we consider the worst outcome, the Han army attacks fiercely, and the Republic's army cannot withstand the Han army's attack and is forced to withdraw to defend its homeland. Then
At that time, the British could also rely on the security guarantee promised by the British to force the Han army to stop the offensive before the border.
Winning the Paraguay War will bring huge gains. Even if it loses, it will be able to protect the territory of the Republic from being invaded by the Han Dynasty. No matter whether it loses or wins, the Republic will have guarantees. Therefore, I believe that the government of the Republic should take the initiative to intervene in the chaos in Paraguay and use Paraguay to its advantage.
opportunity to disperse domestic forces, regain occupied territory, and resolve Paraguay’s military threat to the southern border areas of the Republic.”
"I agree with your Excellency the President. The strength gap between the Republic and Han is getting bigger and bigger. Simply passive defense cannot solve the threat of Han to the Republic. Instead, we will take advantage of the civil strife in Paraguay to occupy Asunción and separate the Republic and Han.
Pushing the country's confrontation line forward to the central Paraguay River basin area will be of great benefit to the Republic's future homeland defense strategy."
"The Han army is fierce in combat. If the Republic's army is unfavorable in fighting on the front line, I think we should adhere to the principle of preserving strength. If the army's progress is frustrated, then we should retreat decisively, withdraw the Republic's army to the mainland, and retain the effective strength of the Republic's army."......
With the endorsement and guarantee from the British, the confidence of the officials and generals was restored and they put forward their own suggestions one after another.
"When sending troops to Paraguay, the priority is to preserve our strength. If we can win, we will fight. If we cannot win, we will retreat decisively. Marshal Peixoto's suggestion is very good."
Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, Fonseca said with satisfaction: "It is completely reasonable and reasonable to send troops to Paraguay to recover the occupied territory. I believe that all civilized countries in the world will definitely support the Republic's just war."......
