Wild North America 1846

Chapter 418 Uruguay Issue

The dragon slayer finally becomes the evil dragon!

More than ten years have passed, and the Tang Empire that emerged in North America has gradually become what I once hated.

Acting domineeringly and arrogantly, interfering in the internal disputes of neighboring weak countries, and playing a power game in which those who follow me prosper and those who go against me perish.

If their wishes fail, they will soon use crushing internal affairs, diplomacy and military force to attack, suppress, or even intervene directly, using overt and covert means to interfere wantonly in the internal affairs of small regional countries.

Why did the chaotic civil wars in the three small Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua break out so suddenly?

Why did the situation get out of hand?

Why were the government soldiers and police who went to suppress the situation so defeated that they were almost wiped out?

To say that there is no fame in this, no normal person would believe it.

But this is the tragedy of the weak countries in the region. Because these three small Central American countries were tightly embraced by the Tang Empire, they were poor and weak, and few European countries took them seriously.

I could only watch helplessly as the Tang Empire failed to surrender and forcefully marry me, and there was nothing I could do.

Now the Paraguay issue in South America is the focus of the American issues.

Count Juan Carlos, who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for several terms, is now over sixty years old and has silver hair. He is a meritorious veteran of the empire. But he is still mentally strong and serves as an important colonial minister in the new government.

One position.

The Tang Empire's desert expedition, its subsequent territorial governance, administrative personnel dispatch, urban management, taxation and other related affairs were all under the direct control of the Colonial Department, which was a veritable superior department.

Moreover, due to its responsibilities, the Colonial Department is involved in matters related to the management of overseas colonies, so it is inevitable that the responsibilities overlap with those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so it is not an exaggeration to say that it is half a Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the early Victorian era in Britain, there was a stage when the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office were merged into one, out of this consideration.

Therefore, it was smooth sailing for Count Juan Carlos, a veteran diplomat of the Tang Empire, to serve as Secretary of the Colonial Department.

He introduced the situation in South America and said;

"...

From the analysis of the above various signs, we can draw the conclusion;

Nowadays, the situation in South America is deteriorating, and the instigation and instigation of British forces are indispensable. Dark shadows appear from time to time behind it. Perhaps they are not just greedy for the mate tea specialty that is abundant in Paraguay, but also create trouble for the empire's southward policy.

considerations.

The focus of disputes in South America today is the Uruguay issue.

as we all know

In 1828, in order to resolve the territorial issues left over from the colonial era between Brazil and Argentina, a buffer state, Uruguay, was established between the two countries.

The independence of Uruguay has made Paraguay a truly landlocked country in South America, with no outlet to the Pacific to the east and the Atlantic to the west. The yerba mate produced in Paraguay must be exported to Europe through the port of Uruguay.

Therefore, Paraguay has always attached great importance to the relationship between the two countries and Uruguay, maintaining a close friendship with the White Party government Bernardo Bello.

March 1864

A military coup occurred in Uruguay. Caudillo General Venancio Flores, who belonged to the Red Party, led 630 soldiers into Montevideo, occupied various government ministries and overthrew White Party President Bernardo Bello.

.

Behind this military coup, there was direct support from Argentina and Brazil. The United Kingdom also played a disgraceful role here and quickly recognized the Red Party rebel government after the coup.

And all this

This made President Lopez of Paraguay extremely angry. He severely criticized Argentina and Brazil for their "imperialist policies" towards Uruguay, warned them not to destroy the regional strategic balance, and issued an ultimatum to the Brazilian imperial government.

A Uruguayan government that is hostile to Paraguay is tantamount to sealing off the entire Paraguay inland.

The lifeline of the country's economy is completely in the hands of the Red Party rebel government that is hostile to itself. The three hostile regimes of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay are colluding with each other. This has made Paraguay's strategic environment unprecedentedly bad. How can Paraguay's always proud President Lopez endure it?

Paraguay is known as the "Prussia of South America". After the death of its first president, Carlos Antonio Lopez, on September 10, 1862, Lopez Jr. took over the presidency, inherited his father's mantle, and implemented family dictatorship.

In order to suppress opposition forces and consolidate his ruling position, hundreds of opponents were thrown into prison, which was a very ruthless approach.

However, the Lopez father and his son were very good at developing the economy. During their time in power, the economy prospered, a large number of new public projects were built, advanced technologies from the Tang Empire and Europe were introduced to establish factories, and they vigorously expanded armaments.

After President Lopez Jr. took office, he carried out a large-scale reorganization of the 7,000-man army and implemented a plan to rapidly expand the army. This has rapidly increased Paraguay's military strength. Compared with its neighbors Brazil and Argentina, it is not inferior to, or even surpassed.

Of.

In early 1864, the total number of Paraguayan troops reached more than 30,000, and the army alone reached 25,000, including 30 infantry battalions, 23 cavalry regiments and 4 artillery regiments, equipped with advanced king-style rifles imported from the Tang Empire and more than 120

Colt three and six pounder field guns.

In addition, Lopez also attached great importance to the construction of the navy, requiring domestic shipbuilding companies to send personnel to study in the Tang Empire and build world-class steamships for use as warships and civilian ships.

It vigorously updated naval equipment and enhanced naval power.

The naval strength has increased significantly, with 1 naval battalion and 1 artillery battalion, and the fleet generally uses steam ships. Lopez's emphasis on the military reflects his ambition to increase Paraguay's influence in South America.

The biggest highlight is the import of two 1,500-ton steam iron-clad frigates from the Tang Dynasty, named "National" and "September 10" respectively. September 10th is the date of the previous president Carlos Antonio Luo.

On the anniversary of Pace's death, it can be seen that Paraguay attaches great importance to the navy's imported steam iron-clad warships.

May 2

The Brazilian Empire turned a blind eye to Paraguay's ultimatum and sent troops into Uruguay for military intervention to help the rebellious Red Party government suppress civil resistance. This was tantamount to a public slap in Paraguay's face.

in this case

Lopez ordered the Paraguayan navy to attack Brazilian merchant ships, sinking one, damaging three, and detaining 16 Brazilian merchant ships. This kind of military action was nothing more than adding fuel to the fire and putting the situation in South America in a dangerous situation.

According to the military’s assessment;

The war in South America is approaching, and it is inevitable that a regional war will break out. It just depends on whether it is a few months earlier or a few months later.

The increasingly fierce South American Uruguay problem is actually challenging the empire's hegemony in the entire Americas.

Does the Tang Empire have sufficient means and capabilities to maintain its regional hegemony?

Where do you stand?

Are there mature means of international mediation or significant influence to intervene in the situation?

Can the so-called Tang Empire version of the "Monroe Doctrine" be implemented, and how will it be accepted by American countries?

Report to Your Majesty;

Please allow me to speak boldly. This may be a real test of whether the Tang Empire can prove that it can maintain regional hegemony, and the British obviously cannot distance themselves from the relationship.

Just a little insight, and I respectfully request His Majesty’s Holy Judgment.”

Count Juan Carlos is indeed a veteran of the imperial diplomatic community. He has a thorough understanding of international issues and is able to see beyond the surface to see deeper things. He gave His Majesty a timely reminder.

Richard nodded slightly to express his approval, and extended his hand to indicate to Count Juan Carlos for some refreshments. This was the blessing of the Holy Grace.

Count Juan Carlos gratefully ate a piece of delicate plum biscuits, drank two sips of tea, and then sat back upright again, with no confusion at all. This was the sophistication of an old minister.

The Holy Spirit shows you grace, but you cannot be presumptuous on your own.

After achieving the de facto hegemony in North America, the Tang Empire has been making every effort to radiate influence throughout the Americas in recent years, including but not limited to economic trade, military equipment exports, finance and investment, and wooing pro-China forces, etc., in an effort to create a

Reliable back garden.

The Uruguay issue has evolved so far and is now facing the final moment of a showdown, which requires the Tang Empire to make a decision...

First, support Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Second, support Paraguay.

Third, we are helpless to deal with the situation in South America and let it go.

Fourth, forcefully intervene in this hot issue, use diplomatic pressure, military threats and other means to convince all parties, reduce the intensity of the evolution of the Uruguay issue, calm the situation, and even do not rule out the option of directly sending troops to Uruguay.

actually

The third and fourth options are only theoretical possibilities. It is impossible for the Tang Empire to be indifferent to the Paraguay issue, but it is also impossible to directly intervene by mobilizing troops. Doesn't it cost money to use the army?

The Brazilian Empire has sent troops into Uruguay to assist the Red Party rebel government in suppressing the rebellious people. Argentina has also sent a volunteer cavalry regiment to conduct direct military intervention in the situation in Uruguay.

in this case

If the Tang Empire chose the first option, there would be no need to directly send troops into Uruguay, because with the joint military intervention of Brazil and Argentina, the rebellious Red Party government had already calmed down the situation.

Uruguay is a small South American country with a population of just over 200,000 and is not worthy of a major war.

If the Tang Empire chose the second option, directly sending troops to intervene would be tantamount to declaring war on the Brazilian Empire and Argentina, using one enemy and three powerful forces to reverse the situation. This was not an appropriate solution in any case.

After all, the Tang Empire was not the father of Paraguay, and had no obligation to shoulder all the responsibilities. It spent money and troops to help Paraguay compete with its three hostile neighboring countries. Getting on the pole was not a business deal.

Richard thought about it carefully, then said with a playful smile on his face: "This South American series is really interesting. How is our desert expedition going?"

"Your Majesty, it has been 17 months since the desert expedition. The army and civilian armed forces have occupied about 1.55 million square kilometers of land in the southernmost part of South America. The local Indian population has reduced to less than 400,000. Because statistics lag behind, this is only a rough estimate.

, there is no authoritative and accurate figure yet." Marshal Dai Changfu replied.

"Well, you should do your own thing right now. The Atlantic Railway line hosted by the Colonial Office is a key colonial project, and the imperial government's funding will be focused on it. After establishing stable colonial villages and towns in the coastal areas, it should be vigorously promoted inland. Now

How is the immigration situation?" Richard asked.

Count Juan Carlos, Secretary of the Colonial Department, quickly replied: "The total number of armed immigrants and their families has reached more than 370,000, and it is expected that it will not be a problem to exceed 500,000 within the year. A total of 131 colonial villages, towns and cities have been established successively, and in the future

Push the focus further inland and into the Andes.”

"Very good. We should move forward steadily without being impatient. Within three years, the number of immigrants will reach more than 800,000, and the colonial rule in the newly occupied areas will be stabilized. This is our most important task at the moment, and we cannot be led astray by the British."

Speaking of which

Richard smiled confidently, tapped the table gently with his hand to emphasize the tone, and continued speaking word by word;

"Let the issue of Uruguay continue to ferment. Let's sit back and watch the fight between the tigers. We are not in a hurry to express our stance. The most precious friendship is only to provide help in times of need!"

Brazil and Argentina have always regarded themselves as major powers in South America and have shown considerable resistance to the olive branch extended by the empire. It is necessary to give them a blow at the appropriate time to let them know why the flowers are so red?

in south america

Supporting a little brother who is infinitely grateful and loyal to the Tang Empire, creating long-term troubles for Brazil and Argentina, and making these South American countries beg us, is in line with the fundamental interests of the empire.

The British influence is deeply infiltrated in Brazil and Argentina. Many white large estate owners are directly of British descent. They have inextricable ties with Europe and have a considerable say in politics. It is difficult for us to win over them.

In this case, it's better to start from scratch.

In South America, we will first create a big and aggressive problem for them (Paraguay), and then use other means to attack and weaken the current Argentine government and support the growth of pro-China forces.

And this will be a long-term diplomatic mission. The Colonial Department and the military can focus on following up and select talents from the Brazilian aristocrats and the children of wealthy Argentine families who are studying in universities in the empire for key training.

In the next few decades, we must persevere unremittingly.

On the current hot-spot issues in South America, the imperial government should not show any inclination for the time being, but should be patient enough to wait for the incident to become clearer.

The advantage of time is on our side, so there is no need to rush."

"Your Majesty is a saint, he is high above the temple and can see thousands of miles away. We are far behind." Several ministers bowed in unison and replied.

The Paraguayan government did send envoys to the Tang Empire to seek support, but taking an early stance now would only encourage the Paraguayan government to take military risks and take irrational war actions.

The best way is to practice Tai Chi for a while first. We can provide some support in terms of weapons and equipment and military instructors, but the government will not have a clear attitude to support which side, let alone support the Paraguayan government to use force to resolve the dispute.

All choices stem from President Lopez's own decision.

After tasting the bitter fruit of failure, you can't blame others.

(End of chapter)