Chapter 157 The Threat from Argentina (Third update, please subscribe)
A ship can bring a new country!
In South America in 1860, no one would doubt this. After all, all the South American countries were established with the help of European immigrants.
What can the huge "Great Eastern" bring to the American Company?
Of course, it is the continuous influx of immigrants.
It only takes a few hundred thousand immigrants and a country will be born in the south of Argentina!
For Mitre, this was undoubtedly unacceptable.
"The Great Eastern can transport thousands of immigrants at a time, and tens of thousands of people from Europe every year. In ten years, its population will be no less than that of Paraguay or Uruguay. By that time, even if we don't want to, we will have to face a strange country..."
Mitre said with a frown on his face.
"Is this Elizabeth and the others' conspiracy?"
Almost subconsciously, Mitre still believed that this was a conspiracy of the former nobles before independence.
"They are trying to recreate a colony and a country in the unclaimed land in the south by bringing in immigrants. God knows, those lands belong to Argentina! So..."
Mitre said, looking up at Davis Douglas.
"Ameriya Company must pay taxes to Argentina. At the same time, we must also send customs there, and..."
Why did Mitre make such a decision after just a few months? In one word - no money!
Although his forces have repeatedly defeated Urquiza's troops since last year's military coup, a surge in fiscal spending is draining the province's wealth, which is why he will seek foreign loans.
Compared to loans, the big fat sheep right next to you is more tempting!
In the past, I only knew that the fat sheep was rich, but I didn't know he was so rich that he could spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to buy a boat. Since he is so rich, it is reasonable for him to pay some taxes.
After thinking for a while, Mitre said.
"You go to San Antonio Bay on my behalf and tell the board of directors of America Corporation that they have two choices. The first is to recognize that the location of San Antonio Bay Company is Argentine territory. The second is to recognize the central government of Buenos Aires. The third is to pay the overdue taxes..."
After Mitre stated a series of conditions, he thought for a while and then said.
"Davis, you take the navy ship. We can put some pressure on them at sea. After all, it takes time to build a navy. But be careful. They have coastal defense batteries and fortress guns. Keep a certain distance! Our goal is to show strength and make them surrender through deterrence!"
In fact, Mitre did not ignore the attention of the American Company. He was also collecting intelligence through some channels. For example, as far as he knew, in addition to having a security force mainly composed of "indigenous people", the company also built a fort at the entrance of San Antonio Bay. It was even equipped with the most advanced Armstrong cannon!
However, what he did not know was that the two cannons were placed at the mouth of Nanhua Bay, ostensibly to defend against the invasion of "pirates", but in fact, to guard against the threat of the Argentine Navy.
With the "exposure" of Nanhua, contact with the outside world is inevitable. In the future, it is hard to say when the Argentine Navy will "appropriately" visit Nanhua. They will certainly notice the two 110-pound Armstrong cannons - the most advanced breech-loading rifled guns in the world, and a new type of naval gun finalized by the Armstrong Company two years ago.
For Nanhua, which is located on the seaside, a fort or fortress is an indispensable facility to protect Nanhua.
In fact, at the entrance of Nanhua Bay, there is a simple artillery battery with several old-fashioned muzzle-loading smoothbore cannons on it.
But their power is certainly not comparable to that of the two breech-loading rifled cannons. Rifled cannons have a long range and great power, and are absolutely devastating to wooden-hulled warships.
Nowadays, only force is the most reliable. Without force, Nanhua is nothing but fat meat in the mouths of others!
But sometimes, even with the use of force, it will still attract other people's prying eyes.
"Is Mitre crazy?"
After receiving the information sent by Domingo, Zhu Xianhai’s first thought was - Mitre is crazy!
"He's actually going to send the navy over!"
"What?"
Elizabeth asked in confusion, eyes wide open.
"Is his war with Urquiza over?"
"He doesn't need the navy at all in his conflict with Urquiza, so he sent the navy here to show off his power to us!"
Zhu Xianhai raised his eyebrows.
"It's not just a show of force, it's also a declaration of sovereignty, to get us to recognize that this is Argentine territory."
"So what are you going to do? Accept or reject?"
Elizabeth asked.
"If you accept it, from now on, this place will be part of Argentina, and all problems will be internal problems of Argentina. Even if there is a war in the future, it will be an internal conflict of Argentina."
"Internal conflict?"
With the corners of his lips raised slightly, Zhu Xianhai sneered.
"Elizabeth, what is the premise of this internal situation? It is..."
Pointing to the color of his skin, he continued.
"This is the internal premise. Otherwise, it is definitely not an internal issue for them. Skin color... divides us into two groups. Even if we become part of Argentina, when conflicts occur in the future, which side will other countries stand on? It must be the side of Argentina, or the side of the European Argentines. We..."
Shaking his head, Zhu Xianhai smiled coldly.
"They will never accept the yellow race taking control of Argentina's political power, and from the perspective of future development, there is no possibility of peace between us and Argentina. After all, the Pampas is large, but it cannot accommodate two countries!"
It's not that it can't accommodate two countries. It's that both sides are determined to get it. Who would give up such a fertile grassland?
Anyway, Nanhua will never give up. Nanhua that gave up that prairie would have no future. That prairie was related to the future of Nanhua and the survival of millions, even tens of millions, of Chinese immigrants. They had to fight for it no matter what.
"Ah, it seems that this is the only way!"
Elizabeth let out a long sigh, looking somewhat helpless. She had anticipated future conflicts with Argentina, but she had not expected that the conflict would come so soon.
"It's the only way!"
(End of this chapter)
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