Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 516 Brazilian Empire
On January 1890, 1, in Ilheus, central Brazil, as the war did not progress as expected, the new commander of the Brazilian Empire's Army, General Eber, personally arrived at the front line to inspect and command.

"General Inacio, is there any new progress on the front line?"

In a front-line command room converted from a fortress, General Heber asked the front-line commander, Army Lieutenant General Inacio Lula da Silva.

“Since December 12, the day the war was officially declared, the imperial army has successively occupied Itubela, Marau, Itakare and other places, and the number of casualties in the troops is about 19.”

"Why haven't you breached the Ilheus Line yet?"

“General, the frontline troops arrived in Ilheus on December 12 and officially launched the offensive on December 30. As of January 12, the frontline units had launched more than 31 attacks on the enemy, seizing six forts, nine trenches, and five outer defense lines from the Republican rebels. It is expected that 1 enemy troops will be eliminated. The troops will attack the defense line as a whole and advance 10 kilometers.

However, the enemy relied on trenches, fortresses and permanent fortifications to resist step by step. Every kilometer our army advanced forward, we had to pay the price of hundreds of casualties. In addition, the enemy had more heavy machine guns and medium-caliber artillery than our army. When the front-line troops launched a charge, they were easily hit by heavy enemy firepower. Forced attacks resulted in heavy casualties and a great blow to the morale of the troops.

"Were the weapons, equipment and ammunition supplies from the rear not transported to the front line?"

Eberl turned his attention to the generals in charge of the transportation of logistical supplies.

“报告将军，根据女皇陛下和陆军部指示。12月15日，3万杆步枪、17挺重机枪、60门各型火炮以及两个基数的弹药通过海上运输，补充至前线驻军各部。1月3日，第二批1.2万杆步枪，6挺重机枪，10门75毫米野战炮，6门105毫米榴弹炮，40万发步枪子弹、17万发重机枪子弹、3000发各式炮弹通过后方铁路干线运输至伊列乌斯。

On January 1, the last batch of 8 sealed old rifles and 1.6 old artillery pieces were transported to various front-line units by rail.

At present, the weapons, equipment and ammunition materials expected to be used in the front-line operations have basically been transferred. Only the last batch of about 1.8 new rifles, 37 artillery pieces and six bases of ammunition are left in the military warehouses of El Salvador. Without the order of Her Majesty the Queen and the Military Committee, the last batch of weapons and equipment cannot be moved lightly. "

"Guards, record the order and submit an application to Her Majesty the Queen and the Military Committee, requesting that 2 base ammunition, 6000 new rifles, 3 105mm howitzers, and 8 75mm field guns be dispatched to the front line for consumption and replenishment of the front-line troops."

"Yes, General!"

The guard wrote down the order and quickly walked towards the telegraph room on the other side of the headquarters.

“Gentlemen, the Republican rebels are superior to the Empire in terms of population, military, weaponry, etc. They also occupy the most prime land in Brazil and more than 80% of the mineral resources.

The longer the time is delayed, the more power the Republican rebels will gain by selling out national interests, and the greater the advantage they will have over the empire. Therefore, while the rebels are at war with the Orientals, we must seize the precious time and launch an all-out attack on the rebels, striving to eliminate the rebels in one battle and restore the unity of the empire. "

Eberle said in a serious tone: "I understand the difficulties and challenges faced by the frontline troops. I also know that the troops have fought bravely for more than 20 days and the results achieved are not easy. However, for the unification and rejuvenation of the empire, I hope that you will try your best to overcome them, not be afraid of sacrifice, and eliminate all enemies that stand in the way of our advance!"

"Yes, General!"

Eberl pointed out the importance of the battle and left no room for maneuver, so the generals attending the meeting had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree.

After the division of Brazil, the Brazilian Empire, which was dominated by the young military, imitated the policies of the Han Dynasty and carried out a series of radical reforms. First, it took back the land distributed to blacks, put down the rebellion launched by blacks, Indians, and mixed-race blacks, and repatriated more than 30 blacks and mixed-race blacks who participated in the rebellion to Portugal's African colonies.

Subsequently, the economic and political policies were reformed to restrict monopoly in the fields of land, mining, and industry, protect the interests of the class headed by small and medium-sized landlords and soldiers, and redistribute the land and wealth confiscated from the rebellious blacks, Indians, and mixed races to the soldiers who joined the army and the conservative officials and nobles who supported the royal family. The reform measures launched by the young group led by Eber strengthened the cohesion of the Brazilian Empire to a certain extent and restored the support of the people in northern Brazil for the royal family.

However, compared with the Brazilian Republic, the Brazilian Empire established by the remnants of the royalists had inherent disadvantages.

The first is population. After the Second Paraguayan War, by the beginning of 1890,
The population of the area actually controlled by the Republic of Brazil dropped from 660 million to about 600 million, and the population of the area controlled by the Brazilian Empire dropped from more than 230 million to 200 million.

Second, the comparison of the number of troops. After the loss of nearly 10 troops on various battlefields, after emergency mobilization, the total number of field armies, militias, and reserve forces in various parts of the Republic of Brazil was about 17. The number of field armies and militia forces of the Brazilian Empire increased from 8 before the war to 12.

Third, the distribution of mineral resources. More than 80% of the mineral resources such as iron, copper, aluminum, gold, and manganese are distributed in the Republic of Brazil. The northern region occupied by the Brazilian Empire does not have an advantage in other mineral resources except tungsten. (The two southern states of Brazil, which are rich in coal resources, are in the hands of the Han Kingdom and are not included.)
Fourth, due to the lack of mineral resources such as coal, iron, and copper for industrial development, the economic development of the Brazilian Empire was mainly based on light industries such as textiles, printing and dyeing, food, fisheries, animal husbandry, and planting. Although it learned from the Han Dynasty and focused on supporting emerging industries such as chemicals, electricity, and machinery, unfortunately, due to the lack of funds and correct research and development direction, the emerging industries that were highly anticipated did not make effective progress.

Unlike the Brazilian Empire, the Brazilian Republic obtained high fiscal revenue by selling its mineral resources and vigorously introducing capital from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and other powers. Therefore, it dared to invest a lot of money in the construction of the navy and the army. However, unfortunately, the Brazilian Republic suffered a military blow from the Han Kingdom after its split. The navy that had accumulated strength for ten years was completely wiped out, the army lost more than half of its troops, and the territory of several states in the south was attacked and occupied by the Han army.

The tragic blow that befell the Republic of Brazil was a blessing in disguise for the Brazilian Empire. If the Brazilian Republic had changed its marching strategy and prioritized the army and naval forces accumulated over the past decade on the side of the Brazilian Empire, the Brazilian Empire would have found it difficult to withstand it simply by relying on its size advantage.

Therefore, it is precisely because we understand the objective gap between the Brazilian Empire and the Brazilian Republic that
Only then would Eberle issue inhumane combat orders to the commanders of the front-line troops.

"Everyone, the tempo of operations on all fronts must be accelerated.

Colonel Fernando, please tell Count Deu that the army attack force on Tignare Island needs greater support from the navy. I hope the Count will withdraw two main ironclad ships from the Salvador naval port to participate in the battle against Tignare Island. "

Eberle looked at the Navy liaison representative, Colonel Fernando, in the command room and spoke.

"Okay, General, I will convey your advice to Count Deu."

"General Rousseff's 2-man 6rd Division of the Imperial Army, 2nd Brigade of the Militia, th Brigade, and other units bypassed Ilheus and boarded ships to land at the port of Belmonte. They have successively occupied Porto Seguro, Itabela, and other places. As of yesterday, they have captured the Itabela train station. Starting today, they are expected to follow the main railway line to Itamaraju and occupy this important railway fulcrum leading to the central region of the Republic of Brazil.

There are about 8000 troops stationed in Itamaraju, well-equipped and well-defended. In order to defeat the enemy as soon as possible and achieve the goal of eliminating the Republican rebels, I plan to continue to send 10 troops to the Itamaraju front. General Temer, your troops are stationed in the area closest to the coastal port. Inform the officers and soldiers of your troops that at am the day after tomorrow, the entire army will board transport ships and land at Belmonte Port to reinforce General Rousseff. "

"Yes, General!"

"General Inacio, we must also strengthen our offensive on the Ilheus defense line. The Americans have clearly intervened in the war in South America. If the situation changes and Ilheus is still in the hands of the Republican rebels, the offensive forces in the Itamaraju direction will face the risk of being attacked from both sides and their retreat cut off. We must eliminate the defenders in front of us within half a month."

"General, isn't half a month too urgent? Can you give us more time?"

"It must be 20 days at the latest. It cannot be postponed any further."

"As you command, General."
(End of this chapter)