Chapter 402: The Brazilian Emperor with Internal and External Troubles (Second update, please subscribe)

February is the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro. At noon on February 27, it was raining 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 engages the South China Navy in the Parana River!"

"Admiral Inacio da Fonseca is dead!"

"Seven warships of the fleet sank, two were damaged and stranded..."

"More than 2,000 naval officers and soldiers were killed..."

"The surviving officers and soldiers became prisoners!"

…

What does all of this sum up to?

In fact, it can be summed up in four big words - the entire army was annihilated!

"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 China Army from entering Paraguay, it even suffered unprecedented losses. One frigate, four coastal defense ships, and four gunboats were either sunk or damaged and stranded.

Well, the whole army was annihilated!

"After losing that fleet, there is no one in the entire Parana River who can stop the attack of the South China Army..."

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 ambassador there has confirmed the news once again. They have protested to us through the ambassador and said that they will never stop their advance because of our obstruction. If necessary, they will enter the entire Paraguay."

When Foreign Minister Count Joseph Parajos mentioned the protest of the South China Army, his tone was full of helplessness. This protest was a choice to further expand the war.

"Originally, we just wanted to use the fleet to prevent them from entering Paraguay. It was more of a test, but who would have thought that they simply ignored our threats? According to the report of the officers who escaped back, after Admiral Inácio da Fonseca sent a flag signal asking them to stop advancing, they not only did not evacuate, but continued to land. The admiral then ordered the fleet to fire warning shots at the land, and then the South China 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 did a conflict occur? Before this, I said that our goal is to block, guard, and enter the area occupied by the Argentines to create a fait accompli, not to declare war! But what about now? Why did they open fire?"

The fundamental reason why Pedro II was so annoyed was that his original intention was not to go to war with the South China, but to prevent them from entering Paraguay.

Of course, this kind of prevention was not achieved through war, but through a display of strength. But who knew that the navy would fire at them first.

Why are they firing?

No one can answer this question, and the person who could answer it has died in the naval battle.

In fact, Pedro II could vaguely guess the answer in his heart, but he was unwilling to face that answer.

Someone is planning to start a war!

Who is it?

Of course, it is the soldiers whose power has expanded rapidly in the war. For them, the end of the war is definitely not a good thing. They long for the war to continue, so that they can gain wealth, power, and everything they want in the war.

They even want to overthrow the empire in the future! At least for those Republican officers, 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 are equipped with large-caliber Gatling machine guns, which fire small explosive projectiles that are prohibited by the St. Petersburg Declaration!"

Once again, Nanhua’s violation of international public law was exposed. It was an international convention signed two years ago by representatives of 17 countries including Britain, Austria-Hungary, and Russia who attended the International Military Committee meeting in St. Petersburg, prohibiting the military from using any explosive projectile lighter than 400 grams.

"This machine gun can fire at a rate of 200 rounds per minute, or even faster. The dense and accurate fire can easily destroy wooden warships. We can protest to the International Military Committee and demand..."

Without waiting for the Minister of War, Marquis Caxias, to finish his words, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Joseph Parajos, spoke.

"What's the use? General, South China is not a signatory country, and now we have to consider what will happen if we allow the situation to continue?"

What will happen next!

Either the war will escalate further and a full-scale fight will break out with the South China Army in Paraguay!

Or resolve it through diplomatic negotiations.

If it is the former, what will Brazil face?

The long war continues indefinitely.

The abolitionist trend in the country was becoming more and more intense. At the same time, due to dissatisfaction with domestic politics and anti-government policies, many officers became republicans and formed secret societies to try to overthrow the monarchy. At the same time, the black slaves who joined the army in the war also demanded the fulfillment of the promise of liberation.

If the war continues, the officer corps that has grown stronger during the war will further expand, and the power of those Caihe officers will only become stronger and stronger. This will not only be detrimental to the stability of the empire, but may even destroy the entire empire.

As he thought about these questions, Pedro II found himself completely overwhelmed by an unprecedented fear.

If the war continues, I will lose everything!

He even had some doubts that the naval battle on the Paraná River was instigated by officers who wanted the war to continue!

"As we all know, we spent 614 million Brazilian reals on this war and incurred an additional foreign debt of more than 56 million pounds. Now the empire's finances are overwhelmed. 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.

"Since our attempts have failed, then all that remains is left to diplomatic negotiations! Count, I think you should go to Buenos Aires as soon as possible to negotiate a solution to these problems, and negotiate with them on the Paraguayan issue."

No one objected to His Majesty's decision. They certainly knew that the empire was now facing internal and external troubles. From any perspective, going to war with South China was undoubtedly an extremely unwise choice.

After all, for Brazil, at least now, Brazil no longer has the capital to wage war.

asked Count Joseph Parajos, the foreign minister.

"Your Majesty, what about Paraguay? Where is our bottom line when negotiating with them? And what if they ask us to stop our military operations in Paraguay?"

Count Jose Parajos let Pedro II think for a moment and then spoke.

"Our bottom line remains unchanged. As for Paraguay, we should solve the problem there as soon as possible. That madman has been deserted by his friends and relatives, and his failure is inevitable..."

(End of this chapter)