Chapter 405 The Brazilian Emperor with Internal and External Troubles
February is in the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro. At noon on February 27, it rained heavily. Although the heavy rain dispelled the sultry heat in the city, it could not blow away the restlessness in people's hearts.
"The fleet engaged the South China Navy in the Paraná River!"
"Admiral Inacio da Fonseca is killed!"
"Seven warships in the fleet were sunk, and two were damaged and stranded..."
"More than two thousand naval officers and soldiers were killed..."
"The surviving officers and soldiers became prisoners!"
…
What does it all add up to?
In fact, it is just four big words - the whole army is destroyed!
"The fleet has failed!"
The report from the Minister of War made Emperor Pedro II feel a little dizzy. Not only did the fleet fail to complete the task of preventing the South Chinese army from entering Paraguay, it even suffered unprecedented losses, including one frigate, four coastal defense ships, and four
The gunboats were either sunk or damaged and ran aground.
Well, the whole army is destroyed!
"After losing that fleet, no one in the entire Paraná River can stop the Nanhua Army's attack..."
The report from the Minister of War, Marquis Caxias, did not mention the most dangerous thing - Nanhua could even threaten the Brazilian army in Paraguay from the river!
"Isn't their naval fleet in Buenos Aires?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, the main force of their fleet is indeed there. Our local ambassador once again confirmed the news, and they have protested to us through the ambassador, and they said they will never stop their march because of our obstruction. If
If necessary they will enter all of Paraguay."
When Foreign Secretary Count Joseph Parahos mentioned the protests of the South China Army, his tone was full of helplessness. Such protests were a choice to further expand the war.
"Originally, we just wanted to use the fleet to prevent them from entering Paraguay, and it was more of a test. But who would have thought that they would not pay attention to our threats at all. According to the report of the officer who escaped, in the Navy of Inacio da Fonseca
After the admiral sent a signal asking them to stop advancing, instead of evacuating, they continued to land. Then the admiral ordered the fleet to fire warning shots on land, and then the Nanhua escort gunboats launched an attack on the fleet!"
"It's just that the gunboat..."
Pedro II's expression became a little complicated.
"They just used gunboats! Why, there will be a conflict. Before this, I said that our goal is to block, warn, and enter the area occupied by the Argentines to create a fait accompli, not to declare war! But now?
Why the fire?"
The fundamental reason why Pedro II was so angry was because his original intention was not to have a war with South China, but to prevent them from entering Paraguay.
Of course, this kind of prevention was not through war, but through a display of strength, but who knew that the navy would actually fire at them first.
Why are they firing?
No one can answer this question, and those who can answer have died in the naval battle.
In fact, Pedro II could vaguely guess the answer in his heart, but he was unwilling to face the answer.
Someone is planning to start a war!
who is it?
Of course, they are those soldiers whose power expanded rapidly during the war. For them, the end of the war is definitely not a good thing. The war they long for can continue, and they can gain wealth, gain rights, and obtain what they want during the war.
Everything you own.
They even want to overthrow the empire in the future! At least for those republican officer corps, the continuation of the war is definitely a good thing.
That's why they deliberately started this war!
"Your Majesty, although their gunboats are not large in tonnage, they do have large-caliber Gatling guns. That type of machine gun fires small explosive projectiles banned by the St. Petersburg Declaration!"
Once again, South China's violation of international public law was revealed. It was signed by representatives of 17 countries including the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, and Russia who attended the International Military Commission meeting in St. Petersburg 2 years ago, prohibiting the military from using anything lighter than 400 grams.
International Convention on Explosive Ordnance.
"This kind of machine gun can fire at a rate of 200 rounds per minute or even faster. The dense and accurate gunfire can easily destroy wooden warships. We can protest to the International Military Commission meeting and demand..."
Before the Minister of War, Marquis Caxias, could finish speaking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Joseph Parahos, said.
"What's the use? General, Nanhua is not a signatory, and what we have to consider now is what will happen if the situation is allowed to continue?"
What will happen next!
Or the war will expand further and fight with the South Chinese army in Paraguay!
Or resolve it through diplomatic negotiations.
If it is the former, then what will Brazil face?
The long war continues indefinitely.
Nowadays, the abolitionist trend in the country is becoming more and more intense. At the same time, due to dissatisfaction with domestic politics, communist policies, etc., many military officers have become republicans and formed secret societies in an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. At the same time, those who fought in the war
The black slaves who joined the army also demanded that the promise of emancipation be fulfilled.
If the war continues, the officer corps that grew during the war will further expand, and the power of those Caihepai officers will only become stronger and stronger. This is not only detrimental to the stability of the empire, but may even ruin the entire empire.
.
When thinking about these problems, Pedro II found himself completely enveloped in an unprecedented fear.
If the war continues, I will lose everything!
He even had some suspicion that the naval battle on the Parana River was instigated by those officer corps who wanted the war to continue!
"As we all know, for this war, we spent 614 million Brazilian reals and incurred an additional foreign debt of more than 56 million pounds. Now the empire's finances are no longer able to bear the burden. The only reason for us to continue this war is to defeat
Lopez, if a war breaks out between us and South China because of Paraguay, it would be extremely unwise for us!"
Taking a deep breath, Pedro II said.
"Now that our temptation has failed, let all the rest be left to diplomatic negotiations! Count, I think you should go to Buenos Aires as soon as possible to negotiate and resolve these issues, and negotiate with them on the Paraguay issue.
Negotiate.”
No one objected to His Majesty's decision. Of course, they knew that the empire was facing internal and external troubles. From any point of view, it was undoubtedly an extremely unwise choice to break out a war with South China.
After all, for Brazil, at least now Brazil no longer has the capital to fight a war.
asked Count Joseph Parahos, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"Your Majesty, what about Paraguay? Where is our bottom line when negotiating with them? And what if they ask us to stop military operations in Paraguay?"
Count Joseph Parahos asked Pedro II to think for a moment, and then said.
"Our bottom line remains unchanged. As for Paraguay, let's solve the problem there as soon as possible. That lunatic has already deserted his family and his failure is doomed..."