Wild North America 1846

Chapter 418 The Uruguay Problem

The dragon slayer finally becomes a dragon!
More than ten years have passed, and the Datang Empire that rose in North America has gradually changed into what he once hated.

He acted domineeringly and arrogantly, intervened in the internal disputes of neighboring weak countries, and engaged in a set of power games in which those who follow us prosper and those who oppose us perish.

If the will is not fulfilled, crushing internal affairs, diplomacy, and military power will soon be used to fight or suppress, or even directly intervene. Both overt and covert methods will be used to wantonly interfere 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 erupt so suddenly?
Why did the situation get out of hand?
Why were the government military and police who went to suppress the government so violently beaten that they were nearly wiped out?

If there is no famous trick in it, even a little normal person would not believe it.

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

He could only watch helplessly as the Tang Empire failed to submit to a forced marriage, and there was nothing he could do about it.

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

Count Juan Carlos, who had served as foreign minister for several times, is now over sixty years old, with silver hair, and is a meritorious veteran of the empire.But still in good spirits, he served as an important Colonial Secretary in the new government.

The Tang Empire's desert expedition, its follow-up territorial management, administrative personnel dispatch, city management, taxation and other affairs are all under the direct control of the Colonial Department, which is a veritable superior department.

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

In the early Victorian era in England, there was a period when the Foreign Office and the Colonial Ministry were merged into one because of this consideration.

Therefore, Count Juan Carlos, a veteran diplomat of the Tang Empire, served as the Minister of the Colonial Department, and it went smoothly.

He introduced the situation in South America and said;
"...

From the analysis of the above signs, we can draw conclusions;

Today, the situation in South America is deteriorating, and the instigation and instigation of the British forces are indispensable. There are shadows flashing behind them from time to time. Perhaps they are not only greedy for the specialty of yerba mate, which is rich in Paraguay, but also causing trouble for the empire's southward policy. considerations.

The focus of the dispute in South America today is Uruguay.

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

The independence of Uruguay has made Paraguay an out-and-out landlocked country in South America. It has no outlets to the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

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

April 1864

A military coup took place in Uruguay when 630 soldiers led by General Caudillo Venancio Flores, who belonged to the Red Party, stormed Montevideo, occupied various government departments and overthrew the White Party President Bernardo Bello .

Behind this military coup, there was direct support from Argentina and Brazil, where Britain also played an ignominious role, recognizing the Red Party rebel government soon after the coup.

And all this

President Lopez of Paraguay was extremely angry, severely accused Argentina and Brazil of their "imperialist policy" towards Uruguay, warned them not to disrupt the regional strategic balance, and issued an ultimatum to the Brazilian imperial government.

A Uruguayan government that is hostile to Paraguay is tantamount to blocking the whole of Paraguay in the interior.

The country's economic lifeline 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 have colluded with each other. This has made Paraguay's strategic environment unprecedentedly harsh. How can the always proud President Lopez of Paraguay bear it?

Paraguay is known as "Prussia of South America". On September 1862, 9, after the death of the first president Carlos Antonio Lopez, Lopez Jr. took over the presidency, inherited his father's mantle, and implemented family dictatorship.

In order to suppress opposition forces and consolidate the ruling position, hundreds of opponents were thrown into prison, and the methods were quite harsh.

However, the Lopez father and son were very good at developing the economy. During their administration, the economy prospered, a large number of new public works were built, advanced technologies from the Tang Empire and Europe were introduced to build factories, and their armaments were greatly expanded.

After President Lopez Jr. took office, he carried out a large-scale reorganization of the 7000-member army and implemented a plan for rapid military expansion. This allowed Paraguay's military strength to increase rapidly, and it was not inferior to its neighbors Brazil and Argentina. Of.

At the beginning of 1864, the total number of the Paraguayan army reached more than 30000, and the army alone reached 25000, including 30 infantry battalions, 23 cavalry regiments and 4 artillery regiments. Colt three-pounder and six-pounder field guns.

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

It vigorously updated its naval equipment and enhanced its naval power.

This has greatly increased the strength of the navy. With 1 sailor battalion and 1 artillery battalion, 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 1500-ton steam iron-clad frigates of the Tang Empire, which were named "National" and "September 9th". The anniversary of Pace's death shows that Paraguay attaches great importance to the navy's import of steam ironclad warships.

5/2

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 is tantamount to publicly slapping Paraguay in the face.

under these circumstances
Lopez ordered the Paraguayan navy to attack Brazilian merchant ships, sinking one, injuring three, and detaining 16 Brazilian merchant ships.

According to the military assessment;
The pace of the South American war is approaching, and the outbreak of a regional war is inevitable, but it is just a few months earlier or a few months later.

The Uruguay problem in South America, which is intensifying today, is actually challenging the empire's hegemony in the entire Americas.

Does the Tang Empire have sufficient means and capabilities to maintain its regional supremacy?
Where are you standing?

Are there sophisticated means of international mediation or significant leverage to intervene in the situation?
Can the so-called Tang Empire version of the "Monroe Doctrine" be implemented, and how well will it be accepted by the American countries?

To Your Majesty;

Please allow me to boldly say that this may be a real test of whether the Tang Empire can prove itself to maintain regional hegemony, and the British obviously can't get rid of the entanglement.

Just a little bit of insight, I respectfully ask Your Majesty for the Holy Order. "

Count Juan Carlos is indeed worthy of being a veteran of the empire's diplomatic circles. He has a penetrating view of international issues and can see deeper things through the surface. He reminded His Majesty in a timely manner.

Li Cha nodded his head slightly to express his approval, and stretched out his hand to signal Count Juan Carlos to have some refreshments. This is the blessing of the Holy Grace.

Count Juan Carlos gratefully ate a delicate plum biscuit, drank two sips of tea, and then sat back upright with his upper body upright again.

The Holy One shows grace, but you can't let yourself be presumptuous.

After gaining the de facto hegemony in North America, the Datang Empire has been making every effort to radiate influence to the entire America over the years, including but not limited to economic trade, military equipment export, finance and investment, and wooing pro-China forces, etc., trying to build a Reliable back garden.

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

First, support Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Second, support the Paraguayan side.

Third, the situation in South America is helpless and left to its own devices.

Fourth, forcefully intervene in this hot issue, use diplomatic pressure, military threats and other means to subdue all parties, reduce the heat 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 remain indifferent to the Paraguay issue, but it is also impossible to directly intervene with troops and mobilize 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 rebels, and Argentina has also sent a volunteer cavalry regiment to directly intervene in the situation in Uruguay.

under these circumstances
If the Tang Empire chose the first option, there was no need to send troops directly into Uruguay, because the rebellious Red Party government had already quelled the situation under the joint military intervention of Brazil and Argentina.

Uruguay is a small country in South America with a population of just over 20, so it is not worth fighting.

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, and turning the situation around with one enemy and three strong forces. This is not an appropriate way anyway.

After all, the Tang Empire is not Paraguay's father, and it has no obligation to take all the responsibilities on it. Spending money and troops to help Paraguay fight against the three hostile neighboring countries is not a business.

Li Cha thought about it for a while, and said with a playful smile on his face; "This South American comic is really interesting. How is our desert expedition going?"

"His Majesty; the desert expedition has been in the past 17 months. The army and civilian armed forces have occupied about 155 million square kilometers of land in the southernmost part of South America, and the local Indian population has decreased to less than 40. Because of the statistical lag, this is only a rough estimate. , there is no authoritative and accurate figure." Marshal Dai Changfu replied.

"Well, I still do my own thing well at the moment. The Atlantic railway line hosted by the Colonial Department is a key colonial project, and the imperial government will focus on funding. After establishing stable colonial villages and towns in the coastal areas, we should vigorously advance inland. Now How is the immigration situation?" Li Cha asked.

Count Juan Carlos, Minister of the Colonial Department, quickly replied; "The total number of armed immigrants and their families has reached more than 37. It is expected that more than 50 people will not be a problem within the year. There are 131 colonial villages and cities established one after another. Follow-up Push the focus inland and deep into the Andes."

"Very good. We will move forward steadily without haste. Within three years, the number of immigrants will reach more than 80, and the colonial rule in the newly occupied areas will be stabilized. This is our most important task at present, and we cannot be led astray by the British."

Speaking of here
Li Cha smiled confidently, tapped the table lightly with his hands to emphasize his tone, and continued word by word;

"Let him continue to ferment the Uruguay issue. Let's sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. We are not in a hurry to express our position. Only giving charcoal in the snow is the most precious friendship!

Brazil and Argentina have always regarded themselves as big countries in South America, and they have shown considerable resistance to the olive branches extended by the empire. It is necessary to knock them at the right time, let them know why the flowers are so red?

In South America
It is in the fundamental interests of the empire to support a younger brother who is infinitely grateful and loyal to the Tang Empire, to cause long-term troubles for Brazil and Argentina, and to make these South American countries ask us.

The influence of the British in Brazil and Argentina is very deep. Many white manor owners are directly British-born whites. They have inextricable ties to Europe and have a very important voice in politics. It is difficult for us to win over.

That being the case, it is better to start anew.

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

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

In the next few decades, we must persevere and persevere.

Regarding the current hot issues in South America, the imperial government should not show any tendency for the time being, and must be patient enough to wait for the incident to become clear.
The advantage of time is on our side, so don't worry. "

"Your Majesty is a sage, who lives above the temple and sees thousands of miles. We are far behind." Several close ministers bowed together and replied.

The Paraguayan government did send envoys to the Tang Empire to seek support, but the early statement will only prompt the Paraguayan government to take military risks and take irrational war actions.

It is the best way to do Tai Chi Push Hands for a while first. We can give 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 resolve disputes by force.

All choices come from President Lopez's own decision.

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

(End of this chapter)