At 3:48 pm on September 14, 1889, Zhang Wenlian, commander of the 1st Regiment of the 1st Mixed Brigade, led the detachment to Villarrica Railway Station.
More than an hour later, at 4:46 pm, the 9th Division commanded by Major General Getulio appeared on the road two kilometers away from the town of Mbokayadi.
At 5:07 p.m., the Brazilian army passed through the roadblocks set up by the Han troops with tree branches and gravel, and approached 600 meters directly in front of the Mbokayadi defensive position.
"The Han army must have just occupied Villarrica, and their engineers are still building fortifications at the forward position."
Major General Getulio observed the scene on the Mbokayadi front line through a monocular telescope while arranging: "Colonel Barnett, take out a battalion of troops from your army and take them from the Han army.
The right wing of the defense line launched an attack without receiving an order to stop the operation, and no one in the attacking troops was allowed to retreat!"
"Understood, General, I will assign the Sixth Battalion to assume offensive duties."
Bamet, commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 9th Division of the Army of the Republic of Brazil, said favorably.
"The Sixth Battalion is a mixed force composed mainly of black soldiers. It is most suitable to use them to test the military deployment of Han's forward positions."
Major General Getulio nodded and agreed: "However, don't make things too obvious. Once the general troop deployment of the Han country's forward positions is ascertained, the feint attack troops will be withdrawn. After all, the Sixth Battalion
It is also a unit of our Ninth Division, and the soldiers of the Sixth Battalion suffered too much loss, which is not good for the Ninth Division."
"Don't worry, General, nothing will go wrong."
After listening to Getulio's words, Barnett quickly returned to his troops after making the promise, and then handed over the task of feint attack to the Sixth Battalion of the Second Regiment.
At 5:19 p.m., after ten minutes of hurried repairs, Barnett ordered the Sixth Battalion of the Second Regiment of the Ninth Division of the Brazilian Republic to launch an attack on the Han's forward positions.
"Bang bang z bang", when they were still more than 200 meters away from the Han's forward position, the nervous Brazilian soldiers opened fire rashly.
"Maintain the offensive formation! Enter within 100 meters of the forward position before shooting!"
The Brazilian officer who was walking behind the attacking force, holding a pistol while observing his own attacking formation, shouted loudly.
"Battalion Commander, Captain Prudente is injured."
The loud warning from the commander of the 6th Battalion had not yet taken effect, but bad news came.
"The Han forward position did not launch a counterattack, how could Captain Prudent be injured?"
"The captain just accidentally broke his leg."
The soldiers reported truthfully.
"What a fool!"
The commander of the Sixth Battalion was so angry that he cursed, and You Zi said in confusion: "I need an explanation! If Captain Prudent can't find a good excuse for his cowardly behavior! I don't mind sending him to see God myself!
"
"Immediately order Captain Prudent to withdraw from the front line, and Lieutenant Badloff will take over the command of the second company!"
"Yes, Major!"......
At the front of the Mbokayadi position, the feint attack launched by the Sixth Battalion of the 9th Brazilian Division suffered a complete failure before it was fully launched, just like the poor command ability of their superior officers.
Heavy machine gun bullets and artillery shells were flying everywhere. The soldiers lined up in a dense attack formation were struck by the dense firepower network, like ears of wheat in the wind, being struck and fell down.
At 5:40 pm, the commander of the 6th Battalion, Major Demolais Barros, who had been standing in the safest position on the battlefield and commanding the soldiers to attack, returned intact, and the unlucky man who was temporarily designated as the commander of the front-line offensive front by him returned intact.
, was hit by a heavy machine gun bullet and died on the spot.
A feint attack intended to test the strength of the defenders at the Han's forward positions turned into a one-sided massacre as soon as it started. More than 400 soldiers who were responsible for the offensive were killed in the battle and 169 were injured. Only those who followed
Next to Major Demolais, more than 100 soldiers who were supervising the team escaped the attack and evacuated without injury along with their commander.
"General, the firepower of the Han army is too strong. The attacking troops were beaten back before they even got close to the forward position."
Major Demores, commander of the 6th Battalion, had just returned to his camp and rushed to the temporary headquarters to report to Major General Getulio.
"The Han defenders have strong firepower, and the number of soldiers used to defend Villarrica must be quite large. Just relying on the 10,000 soldiers of the 9th Division to attack Villarrica will not be beneficial."
Major General Getulio had previously stood watching the battle not far from the forward battlefield and witnessed with his own eyes the entire process from the launch of the attack to the defeat of the Sixth Battalion. Therefore, after listening to the report of Major Demolais
, he did not blame the other party.
"Colonel Gaspar, truthfully report today's battle between the Ninth Division and the Han army to General Rodriguez, and ask General Rodriguez for his specific instructions and requirements for our army's next operation."
"Yes, General."
Colonel Gaspar remembered the instructions given by Major General Getulio and immediately asked: "There is still more than half an hour until dark. Will our army organize another attack before dark?"
"The Han defenders have strong firepower and the number of defenders is unknown. The risk of organizing troops to launch an attack again is too high. There is no need for us to do so."
"But before the advance troops set off, General Rodriguez gave you a fatal order that Villarrica must be captured. Now the Han army is one step ahead of us and takes control of Villarrica in advance. If you just launch a test
I am afraid that if we stop the attack on Han’s forward positions in order to conduct a sexual attack, General Rodriguez will be dissatisfied.”
"Today's situation is quite special. The army controlling Villarrica must be an elite force in the Han army. Their combat effectiveness and weapons and equipment are several times more powerful than the Han army we encountered ten years ago. With such a situation
When an elite force fights, we must be extra careful!
I believe that when General Rodriguez leads the main force to join us and sees the combat effectiveness and powerful firepower of the Han army on the opposite side, he will understand why I made the decision I made today."
Major General Getulio looked solemn and said righteously: "I am responsible for the lives of 10,000 soldiers of the 9th Division. If General Rodriguez wants to be held accountable for the failure of the offensive operation, then let him come to me.
I am willing to replace the 10,000 soldiers of the Ninth Division and bear the responsibility for the defeat of the entire battle!"
"The main responsibility for not occupying Villarrica as planned does not lie with you."
Colonel Gaslpa flattered us: "You led us on a rapid march towards Villarrica without wasting a minute on the way. The loss of Villarrica is not your responsibility. If we really want to pursue it, we can only blame the guy."
The Chinese army set off earlier than us, so General you can’t be blamed.”
"Yes, General, you should explain to General Rodriguez the real reason why Villarrica was lost. The entire responsibility cannot be placed on you alone."......
Several trusted officers began to persuade them, trying their best to find various excuses to shirk the responsibility for the loss of Villarrica. After hearing the persuasion from his subordinates, Getulio was originally nervous because he was worried about being punished.
My mood gradually calmed down.
"I personally bear certain responsibilities for not following the battle plan formulated by General Rodríguez to capture Villarrica. The Han army set off early and rushed ahead of us to capture Villarrica, which was also placed in front of us.
fact.
General Rodriguez did not march with the advance troops, and he may not know much about the situation on the front line. Therefore, we should clarify both aspects of the situation to General Rodriguez, and then wait for General Rodriguez's response.