Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 519: Battle Situation
In the front-line command center, staff officers frequently came in and out, reporting to Eberle on the latest attack progress of each unit.

"Report, the frontal attack force defeated the enemy in front and occupied trench No. 3. About 3200 enemy troops retreated to the rear trenches to continue resistance. Our front line has advanced about 2 kilometers."

"Report, the attack in the southwest has been blocked. Our army has suffered about 2000 casualties. General Carlos requests to temporarily suspend the attack."

"Report, the southeastern defenders launched a counterattack on our flank, and Colonel Sanel's troops are fighting fiercely with the enemy."

"Reply to the order, all units must not retreat a single step, and the 9th Division and the th Militia Brigade will be deployed to replace the defense line of General Carlos' troops and continue the attack. General Carlos' st Division will rest for half a day and resume the attack on the southwest defenders at am the next day."
Eberl looked calm and decisive as he issued combat orders one after another. However, his slightly trembling right hand still revealed his anxiety and uneasiness.

Anxiety and uneasiness come from many sources.

First, the naval power of the Republic of Brazil suffered a devastating blow. After adding the remaining ships captured from the Navy of the Republic of Brazil, the naval power of the Han Kingdom was greatly improved, and the naval strength grew to the first place in South America. The navies of Chile, the Empire of Brazil, Peru and other countries all opened up a gap with the Han Kingdom Navy. Looking at the entire Americas, only the US Navy was higher than the Han Kingdom in terms of total tonnage. The overall strength of the Han Kingdom Navy jumped to the same level as the US Navy. Even in the world, the total tonnage ranking of the navy has risen to the seventh in the world. The Han Kingdom not only surpassed the South American countries in terms of land forces, but also achieved a leading naval strength. Aibel could not help but worry about the growth of the Han Kingdom's military strength.

Secondly, half of the main forces of the Brazilian Republic were destroyed by the Han army, and most of the remaining field troops and hastily expanded second-line troops were gathered in the west, central and Rio de Janeiro to resist the attack of the Han army. The total number of troops left on the northern border and in the northern depths of Belmonte, Camaca, Itamaraju and other places was about 5, less than one-third of the remaining troops of the Brazilian Republic. On the Brazilian Empire side, in order to destroy the Brazilian Republic in one battle, a total of 12 troops were mobilized, 10 of which were used for front-line combat. At the same time,
Eberle applied to the rear to continue the third batch of mobilization and increase the reserve forces by another 3.

With twice the number of troops, they launched an attack on the defending Brazilian garrison. The war lasted for nearly a month with limited progress. In contrast, the Han army in Paraguay and the southern part of the Brazilian Republic was unstoppable, occupying the entire Paraguay as well as the states of Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, and São Paulo, and marched straight to the capital of the Brazilian Republic.

The combat effectiveness and comprehensive strength of the Han army were far superior to those of the navy. Facing the powerful offensive situation of the Han army and navy,

Eberle was worried that the Brazilian government would not be able to withstand the pressure and would abandon core areas such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo State and retreat to the central and northern regions.

Yes, although as an enemy, Eberle also hopes that Fonseca and other senior officials of the Republic of Brazil can hold on and resist the attack of the Han State. The reason is not difficult to analyze. The Han State is a far more powerful opponent than the Republic of Brazil. If the senior officials of the Republic of Brazil choose to retreat or be eliminated by the Han army, then the core areas of the central and southern parts of the Republic of Brazil will fall under the control of the Han State, and it will be almost impossible to recover the territory from the Han State.

The military actions of the Han State were restricted by Britain. However, in the last Argentine War, the Han State dared to risk British military intervention and forcibly annexed Argentina. What about this time? Who can guarantee that the Han State will not repeat the military adventure of ten years ago?
Furthermore, on the frontal battlefield, the Ilheus line had been slow to make a breakthrough, and the number of army troops that landed at the Belmonte port in the south of Ilheus reached 3. The ammunition and material supplies of the 3-strong army were all transported by sea, which put great pressure on the rear. Queen Isabella and the imperial government repeatedly urged the front-line troops to increase their offensive efforts and open up the land transportation and supply lines between Belmonte's troops and the rear.

The total number and transportation capacity of the Brazilian Empire's navy and cargo merchant ships were far inferior to those of the Han Kingdom. The responsibility of transporting supplies by sea for 30,000 people almost overwhelmed the government's finances.

Part of Eberle's anxiety and uneasiness came from the pressure from the government in the rear.

Finally, the intervention of the United States is a huge variable and threat. Will the American expeditionary fleet only intervene in the war between the Republic of Brazil and the Han Kingdom, or will it intervene in the internal disputes between the Brazilian Empire and the Republic of Brazil?

If the United States directly intervenes in the military dispute between the Brazilian Empire and the Republic of Brazil despite the accusations of international public opinion, the situation will become extremely unfavorable to the Brazilian Empire.

Not only will the sea control over the coastal areas of the Republic of Brazil no longer exist, but the huge fleet and some army units on board the warships will also become the key to determining the direction of the war.

"Belmonte," Eberle looked at an area marked in red on the map, frowning. If the US military intervened in the unification war in Brazil, landed in Belmonte, and blocked the sea areas along the route, then the 30,000 troops would face the risk of being cut off from retreat and annihilated.

Deducing the worst possible outcome of the war, Eberl's uneasiness quickly intensified. "Should we give up the radical offensive strategy? Change the campaign goal to recover the northern and central territories and further increase the territory actually controlled by the empire?" He began to waver in his strategic decision made before the war. While he was still hesitating, a piece of news brought by the naval liaison representative, Colonel Fernando, helped him make a decision.

"General, the Americans have intervened in the unification war within the Empire. On January 1, the U.S. expeditionary fleet landed on the eastern side of Tinare Island. The Imperial Navy fleet moved forward to stop them, but was attacked by the U.S. fleet. The fleet lost one main ironclad ship, two gunboats, and two wooden transport ships."

Fernando was sweating and said in a panic, "The army troops attacking Tinare Island are gradually withdrawing under the cover of the navy. Fortunately, the Americans did not continue to attack the evacuating fleet.

Count Deu has asked me to tell you that the Empire's home waters are threatened by the American fleet, and the navy can no longer provide support for the front-line troops. The Count recommends that you change the combat order, stop attacking the Brazilian Republic's garrison, and switch to defense on the spot. "

"No, the navy fleet cannot retreat! There are still 3 people in Belmonte Port. That's elite troops of the empire. We can't give up!"

Eberle roared loudly: "Since the U.S. Expeditionary Fleet did not attack the fleet evacuating from Tinare Island, it will not prevent our evacuation of Belmonte's offensive forces. The Navy must cooperate with the Army to complete the evacuation of Belmonte's front-line troops!"

"I'm sorry, General. Since January 1, the U.S. Expeditionary Fleet has imposed a blockade on the waters south of Tinare Island. The Navy tried to send ships to contact the Belmonte garrison, but they were all stopped by patrolling U.S. warships."

"Is there no other way to save it?"

"The Imperial Government lodged a solemn protest with the American Minister to the Empire! Her Majesty the Queen also urgently ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baron Perez, to seek help from the ministers of the British Empire, the German Empire, the French Empire and other countries."

"That's not what I want to hear. Protests are for government officials. What I want is a battlefield solution! Does the Navy have the confidence to break through the obstruction and blockade of the U.S. Expeditionary Fleet and successfully withdraw the troops on the Belmonte front line?"

"The navy has conducted simulations and found that the gap in strength between the two fleets is too great to do this."

"Bastards! Damn Yankees, damn republican rebels! Damn Orientals!"

Eberl was venting his anger hysterically. On the large table, documents, maps, telegrams, etc. were mixed together, and a large amount of paper was scattered on the ground.

“Belmonte’s 30,000 troops are the cream of the Imperial Army and must not be wiped out by Republican rebels!
Order: The First Division, the Second Division and all second-line militia units to end their rest and immediately join the attack on the enemy forces in Ilheus!
The frontline troops sent a small unit from the western mountainous area to Belmonte to convey the latest combat order, requiring the Belmonte frontline defenders to abandon the combat mission of occupying Itamaraju, and the entire army to turn around and march north to attack from the front and back with the frontline troops to eliminate the Illeus frontline defenders and complete the occupation and control of the area north of Belmonte. "

Even when the situation became unfavorable to the Brazilian Imperial Army, Heber still did not give up the idea of ​​seizing land from the Brazilian Republic.

“Colonel Fernando, no matter how many excuses the Navy makes, you must send some ships to convey the order to change the combat plan to the front-line troops in Belmonte. The 30,000 troops arrived in Belmonte under the escort of the Navy. If they are eliminated by the Republican rebels because their sea routes are cut off, the Navy will need to bear the responsibility and cost for this!”

"Yes, General. The Navy will dispatch guard ships at all costs to break through the blockade of the American fleet and convey the retreat order to Belmonte's frontline troops."

(End of this chapter)