Chapter 405: The Blessing of the Paraguayans (four updates today, please subscribe)
What a way of shooting oneself in the foot!
When the original copy of the "Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between South China and Brazil" was placed in front of him, Zhu Xianhai couldn't help but speak while looking at the treaty.
"This is truly shooting oneself in the foot!"
After that, he asked Zuo Zongtang to sit down and continued.
“Why did the British ‘kindly’ support us in solving the Uruguayan issue?”
"It's just ill intentions! We took action against Uruguay, so how can the Brazilians not intervene? The Red Party that is in power in Uruguay is supported by Brazilians. Once we take action, the Brazilians will definitely intervene."
Uruguay, a small country at the estuary, has two parties, the "Red Party" and the "White Party". Since independence, they have been at odds with each other and have been trying to sabotage each other every day. In 1863, the White Party was in power in Uruguay, but the Red Party rebelled. The Red Party had long been supported by the Brazilian Empire. Unfortunately, the leader of the White Party, Bernardo Bello, had a good relationship with Lopez Jr., so he sent troops to help. This was also the cause of the Paraguayan War.
"The British have bad intentions, but we also need to resolve the issue of Uruguay's regime-in-exile. Through this negotiation, we can pass the problem on to Brazil and kill with a borrowed knife!"
Zhu Xianhai stood up and paced while speaking.
"British people wanted to provoke conflict between us and Brazil by selling out Uruguay. We put Uruguay on the plate and let the Brazilians eat the fat meat, which resolved the potential conflict with Brazil. By giving up Uruguay, our relationship with Brazil was eased, and we also got what we wanted. The only thing that was sacrificed was the two small countries of Uruguay and Paraguay."
Walking to the map and staring at the two small countries, Zhu Xianhai sighed.
"This is the essence of the game of international politics - the weak are sacrificed and betrayed. And what about the big countries? What are they trying to achieve by dividing up small countries and strengthening themselves through secret treaties? It's nothing but time! Just like..."
Originally, Zhu Xianhai wanted to talk about Da Mao and Sandezi. Didn't the two families negotiate and sign a secret treaty to jointly divide Poland? When Da Mao annexed the three Baltic countries, what was Sandezi doing? Of course, he was dancing and drinking vodka with Da Maozi on the newly annexed Polish territory.
Then what?
In two years it will be "Barbarossa".
In fact, this is the essence of the game of international diplomacy. The so-called "treaties" or "secret agreements" are actually meant to be torn up in the future from the day they are signed.
But if you want to tear it apart, it will always take time!
"...In short, through this treaty, we have gained at least ten years."
Zhu Xianhai deliberately emphasized the word "ten years". Time, what Nanhua has always needed is just time. As long as there is ten years, Nanhua can truly rise and become a powerful country. After all, whether it is the transportation of immigrants, the cultivation of talents, or industrial construction, it all takes time.
ten years!
Enough to complete two five-year plans!
"And what about the British and Brazilians? They are just moving a stone. It's just a matter of time before they hit their feet!"
Zhu Xianhai wanted to know how complicated the British people’s expressions would be once they knew the news.
"The Marshal is wise!"
After complimenting, Zuo Zongtang asked.
"The remaining problem is Paraguay. How does the Marshal plan to solve the Paraguayan problem?"
"Ultimatum!"
Zhu Xianhai continued speaking with a complacent tone in his voice.
"The Paraná River conflict is a conflict between us and the Brazilians on the surface, but it is essentially a problem for Paraguay. We issued an ultimatum and demanded that they explain the incident..."
Placing one hand on the map and pointing his finger at Apezón, the capital of Paraguay, Zhu Xianhai felt extremely happy. For the first time, he felt a kind of pleasure he had never experienced before.
The pleasure of being a strong country bullying a weak country!
I have finally become strong, so I should not bully others and do justice to my efforts!
Why work hard to become stronger?
It's just to bully others! Otherwise it would be so boring.
…
The capital of Paraguay, Apezón.
This once prosperous Central American city has lost its former prosperity. On January 1, 1869, after the Allied Forces occupied the city, robbery and murder filled the entire city. Even churches and foreign consulates were not spared. The Paraguayans who remained in the city, after suffering the pain of losing their loved ones, were ravaged by the war. Men were massacred, women were raped, and even the nuns in the church could not escape the ravages of the Brazilians.
After the occupying forces burned, killed and looted the city, Brazilian Emperor Pedro II sent his Foreign Minister Jose Parajos to Paraguay to take full charge of the matter. After arriving in Apezón, Parajos instructed the Paraguayan opposition to elect three leaders to form the so-called "three-person government", but anyone with a discerning eye knew that the so-called interim government was just a facade for the occupying forces.
The interim government also has an important task, which is to discuss armistice and land cession with the coalition forces. This is a story for later. At the moment, this facade has to face another extremely real threat.
"… Because of your constant updates, the Argentine troops stationed in Paraguay actually escaped. Their escape is bound to pose a threat to South China. Therefore, South China does not recognize Paraguay's autonomy over its own territory and will send troops to wipe out the Argentine troops stationed in Paraguay."
Before José Díaz de Bedoza could finish his words, Cirillo Antonio Rivarola spoke up.
"God bless you, if this news gets out, the whole of Paraguay will cheer for it, thank God, let them fight each other!"
As the leader of the "three-man government", even though he was chosen by the coalition forces, Cirillo Antonio Rivarola had no good feelings towards the coalition forces. When he learned that the Brazilian fleet was completely wiped out by the South Chinese, he even opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate.
But that was all he could do. He even had to go to the Brazilian Army Headquarters to express his condolences. It's not easy to be a Han... no, it's not easy to be a Brazilian traitor!
Now facing the request of another country's army to move in, Cirillo is not too opposed. After all, there are already troops from three countries stationed in Paraguay, and one more would not be too many, especially since they are here to fight the Argentines!
It's the same reason why you don't feel itchy when you have too many lice!
"This must be just one of the conditions they offer! They must have other conditions, right?"
Carlos Loizaga, another member of the three-member government, asked bluntly.
"You're right, Carlos, they do have other conditions."
Jose picked up the "ultimatum" in his hand and said,
"In order to prevent this incident from happening again, they asked us to reorganize the government. They designated an official and asked us to appoint him as a member of the cabinet!"
"What?"
Faced with such a request, Cirillo and his colleagues almost instinctively thought of a possibility - another group of foreigners wanted to interfere in Paraguay's internal affairs.
Of course they instinctively want to resist this, but how can they resist?
The Paraguay of today is no longer the Paraguay of the past.
Now they are at the mercy of others.
"Hey, weren't we all pointed out by foreigners?"
After a while, Cirillo said with some emotion.
"We are not selling out our country by doing this."
The answer is of course no, but now is not the time for them to betray. In fact, each of them knows it very well in their hearts.
The reason why the Brazilians chose these three people was to discuss the compensation issues of various places. If they cannot meet the Brazilians' conditions, Brazil will definitely replace them.
"For Uruguay, this may not be a bad thing."
Cirillo thought for a moment and said.
"At least, with them in their hands, the Brazilians will no longer dare to act recklessly as they did in the past."
This is the helplessness of being a weak country. Even if they know clearly that those powerful countries have bad intentions, they can only put on a brave face and try to use one side to fight against the other. But in the end, they still have to pay the price.
Just like a delicate beauty trying to maneuver between two strong men, she always has to pay a price.
"That's true. I heard that the soldiers of the Phoenix Legion are very civilized, completely different from those barbaric Brazilians."
Cirillo said.
"God bless you, if that's the case, it would be really lucky for the Paraguayans."
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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