Joining forces with the Brazilian Empire to implement the battle plan to eliminate the main force of the Brazilian Republic's navy means an expansion of the scale of the war.
War is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, war can expand the scope of local territory and improve the cohesion of the country. On the other hand, prolonged war will also have a certain degree of negative impact on the national economy and industrialization.
Before the war broke out, Li Mingyuan and the main local officials and generals were most inclined to use a rapid local war to control the scale of the war within the territory of Paraguay. At the same time, they would use about three months to deal with the Brazilian Republic's army that entered Paraguay.
Then complete the strategic mission of the Paraguay War and successfully bring Paraguay into the scope of local rule.
However, the intervention of the Americans increased the variables of the war and made it more difficult to implement Han's original strategic plan.
Under such unfavorable circumstances, if the Han Dynasty wanted to achieve its established strategic goals and not be forced to accept the negative changes brought about by the intervention of the Americans, it could only choose a more powerful counterattack and increase its attack on the Republic of Brazil.
The intensity of the attack made the Republic of Brazil understand that if it does not respect the wishes of the Han Dynasty and insists on pulling an external power into southern South America, it will face a determined counterattack from the Han Dynasty!
"The British do not want us to bring the war to the territory of the Republic of Brazil, but now the situation has changed. The Republic of Brazil has colluded with the United States. In order to temporarily prevent the United States from entering the southern part of South America, it is necessary to expand the war on the mainland.
scale, and at the same time taught the Republic of Brazil a profound lesson, letting them understand how stupid it is to ignore local interests and drag the United States into the gaming field of South America without authorization!"
According to the changes in the strategic situation, after issuing the latest combat instructions to the Asunción Front troops and the Paraná River Basin Front troops, Li Mingyuan continued: "The entire Paraguay battlefield continues to be deployed in accordance with Plan No.
The garrison troops on the front line of Lana State have entered the first level of combat status from today and are always ready for battle. Once the local navy completes the mission of attacking the Navy of the Republic of Brazil and the news of severely damaging or destroying the Navy of the Republic of Brazil reaches the front line, the garrison troops will
Immediately follow combat plan No. 3 and launch an attack on the Brazilian Republic’s defenders on the Paraná side!”
"Yes, Your Majesty!" After listening to Li Mingyuan's order, dozens of high-level generals standing in the room stood up to respond.
"The core combat mission of the Los Angeles (Santa Catarina) garrison is to occupy Parana state, and according to changes in the battlefield situation, advance to Sao Paulo state, Minas Gerais and other places to occupy and destroy Brazil.
The ruling foundation of the core control area of the Republic, search for all property, resources, and population that are beneficial to local development! We must use a fast and fierce war to completely eliminate the ability of the Brazilian Republic to cause trouble for the local side, and strive to implement the next step for the local side.
Stage strategy plan to create favorable conditions!”
"Your Majesty, expanding the scale of the war may lead to intervention from the British. Now the mainland is in a head-on confrontation with the United States. If we offend the British again, will it cause the international situation faced by the mainland to further deteriorate?"
Tang Jingsong said worriedly.
"The Americans stepped in and disrupted the situation in South America. I believe the British should also have a headache now."
Li Mingyuan said calmly: "Although we must pay attention to the attitude of the British, we do not have to tie our hands and feet because of constant scruples. By bypassing the British and directly launching an attack on the Republic of Brazil, we may indeed encounter British intervention."
, but not only the local side participated in the Paraguay War, didn't the Republic of Brazil also get involved? Since the Republic of Brazil did not hold back its ambitions and sent troops to Paraguay one step ahead of us, then when the war situation on the Paraguay front line became tense, in order to save the paraguayan
With the more than 100,000 main troops restrained by the local army, the Republic of Brazil may take the lead in responding to the situation like the previous time, breaking the dilemma on the Paraguayan battlefield and providing us with a powerful excuse to march into the territory of the Republic of Brazil."
"Your Majesty means to use the more than 100,000 Brazilian Republic troops trapped in Paraguay as bait to force the Brazilian Republic to take actions that are beneficial to the local side to expand the scale of the war?"
"In general, this is the idea. However, for specific implementation, we still need the assistance of the military and political officials installed by the Brazilian Empire in the Republic of Brazil."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. For the great cause of the empire, I will definitely strengthen communication and coordination with the Brazilian Empire."
Li Mingyuan's other father-in-law, the father of the concubine Li Yina, Silva expressed his position.
"Your Excellency and Chief Tang are responsible for the contact with the Brazilian Empire. After the matter is settled, I will fulfill the promise I made some time ago and confer you the title of hereditary noble of the empire and restore the noble status of the Calaveras family."
"Thank you for your grace!"
"For those who sincerely serve the empire, the empire will treat them equally, regardless of whether they are Chinese or white."
Li Mingyuan was quite satisfied with the performance of his father-in-law, and added, "If there are families in the Republic of Brazil or the Empire of Brazil that are willing to cooperate with or serve the empire, you can also contact them on behalf of the empire."
"His Majesty's reputation has spread widely in South America. More than 20 old families, such as the Dias family in the Republic of Brazil and the Jimenez family in the Brazilian Empire, all hope to establish closer ties with the empire and are willing to use their families as
In the name of your Majesty, I will be loyal to you."
"Very good. You will be responsible for contacting these families. If they want to return to the mainland in the future, you can also be responsible for making arrangements."
"As you command, Your Majesty."......
After the war matters were properly arranged, Li Mingyuan then shifted his focus to the economic aspect.
The Han Dynasty was founded on military power. In the past two decades, the total military expenditure of the army and navy has been on an upward trend.
The total military expenditure in 1870 was 5.81 million Chinese yuan, of which 4 million was spent on army military expenditures and 1.81 million Chinese yuan was spent on navy military expenditures.
In 1875, the total military expenditure was 7.5 million Han Yuan, the Army military expenditure was 5 million Han Yuan, and the Navy military expenditure was 2.5 million Han Yuan.
In 1880, military expenditures were 10 million Han Yuan, and military expenditures for the army and navy were 6.5 million and 3.5 million Han Yuan respectively.
Before the outbreak of the Paraguay War, at the end of 1888, the military expenditure of the Han Army and Navy exceeded 20 million Han Yuan for the first time and reached 23 million Han Yuan. The navy's military expenditure also reached a level equal to that of the army for the first time.
Although the total amount of military expenditures increases year by year, due to the rapid increase in Han's economic strength, the proportion of total military expenditures has always been controlled within the range of 26% of the total national fiscal revenue.
In 1875, the total fiscal revenue of the Han State was 20 million Han Yuan, and in 1879, the total fiscal revenue increased to 50 million Han Yuan.
In 1888, total fiscal revenue exceeded the 100 million Han Yuan mark, reaching 107 million Han Yuan.
The country's total fiscal revenue has doubled several times in the past two decades, and military expenditures have also increased several times.
The proportion of fiscal funds invested in military construction and industrial construction maintains a fragile balance. Based on the current overall economic level of the Han State, if the proportion of military expenditures exceeds 30% of the total fiscal revenue, then the proportion of fiscal funds invested in the Han State will be
Continued development of industry, education and other industries will also be severely affected.
For the Han State, which has a weak foundation, every war is a decisive battle related to the fate of the country. It uses the power of the whole country to launch a war, and it is difficult to stay in front of powerful countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. It takes advantage of the complex changes in the international situation to try its best.
Get more chances to win the war.
Victory in the war will obtain land and resources that are urgently needed for the country's future development. However, if the war fails or suffers a major setback, on the one hand it will mean that the rising momentum of the Han Kingdom will be suppressed and the morale of the people will be hit. On the other hand, it will also mean that the possibility of expansion will be suppressed.
By strangling, Han lost the opportunity to continue to expand, and in turn lost the autonomy to become a world power and independently control the country's destiny.
People's ambitions always change with the growth of strength, and the same is true for Li Mingyuan's ideals. From the initial rescue of the Chinese workers in South America, to the establishment of an independent country belonging to the Chinese, to leading the people to work hard, and gradually leading the Han Dynasty to become a world power.
, strong country.
Li Mingyuan, who is accustomed to being a citizen of a big country, is unlikely to be satisfied with being a monarch of a small country who obeys the mercy of great powers. Just like the citizens of small countries in the West do not understand the will of the big countries in the East to unify and expand, Li Mingyuan cannot understand those who are hesitant to move forward.
There is no idea of a spiritual leader of the country.
Of course, for Li Mingyuan, the process is not that easy if he wants to lead the country to rise through foreign war.
Twenty years have witnessed rapid development of armaments. Increasing military expenditures is one aspect of increasing the chances of winning a war. Controlling the scale of wars and reducing the financial consumption caused by wars is another important factor that affects the outcome of wars.
On February 13, 1889, various central departments of the Han Dynasty held a special meeting to formulate war military expenditures.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the Audit Department and other departments jointly formulated three war expenditure plans.
Plan No. 1 estimates the total military expenditure to be 24 million Chinese yuan, and the duration of the war to be 2 to 3 months (expenses for the security war after the occupation are calculated separately).
Plan No. 2 estimates total military expenditure to be 50 million Han Yuan, and the duration of the war to be 6 to 8 months.
Plan No. 3 estimates total military expenditure to be 130 million Chinese yuan, and the duration of the war to be 1 to 2 years.
Calculated based on the local fiscal revenue of 107 million Han yuan at the end of 1888, the military expenditures of Plans No. 1 and 2 are within the acceptable range. However, if the scale of the war expands and the war lasts for more than one year, then the impact on the local economy will be
, will be very serious.
Taking into account the negative impact of the prolongation of the war, Li Mingyuan weighed it for a moment and told Zhao Yan, the Minister of Finance: "The Ministry of Finance must make a response plan if the war lasts for more than three months and prepare in advance for the expansion of the scale of the war.
The required financial funds. If the national financial funds are insufficient, funds can also be raised by issuing national bonds and encouraging national donations."
"Your Majesty, the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire have been in contact with the imperial court. They are willing to provide a batch of loan funds to support the Paraguay War in the mainland."
"Forget it, excessive introduction of Germany and Austro-Hungarian capital will be detrimental to the development of local national industry, and it may also cause dissatisfaction with British capital."
Li Mingyuan said: "Tell Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire for me that Han is grateful for their good intentions, but the current scale of the Paraguay War is within control, and we have no need to borrow funds from foreign countries for the time being."...
