Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 129 The situation suddenly changes and Brazil asks for peace!

Tortuga Island is located in the northwest of Haiti, with an area of ​​180 square kilometers, which is more than ten times the size of Flying Dragon Island.

After occupying Tortuga Island, Chen Sen and Hou Taiyuan transferred their main forces from Feilong Island to Tortuga Island, leaving only 120 people, a sailing warship and three armed merchant ships on Feilong Island as a small supply base and early warning point for the Chinese Independence Army in the Caribbean.

In September 1868, a revolution broke out in Spain, and Queen Isabella II was overthrown. When the news reached the Spanish colony of Cuba, the peaceful situation was instantly broken. Blacks and local whites secretly colluded, small-scale riots continued to occur, and the Cuban colonial government was in a state of panic.

As large-scale unrest in Cuba is imminent, Chen Sen is stepping up the training of soldiers to prevent the chaos in Cuba from affecting his own country. At the same time, he is sending personnel disguised as merchant ships to deliver news to Rio Grande do Sul to find out Li Mingyuan's next arrangements for the actions of Chinese soldiers in the Caribbean.

The war between the Brazilian Empire and Bolivia and Peru lasted for more than a month. When the war entered a stalemate, envoys sent by Bolivia and Peru first arrived in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, to persuade Paraguayan President Lopez Jr. to join the anti-Brazilian alliance.

After the Chinese Independence Army left Paraguay, Lopez Jr. sent troops to attack Mato Grosso state, but under the resistance of the local Brazilian army and subsequent reinforcements, the Paraguayan army did not gain any advantage and only occupied some insignificant land.

Lopez Jr. naturally did not want to return empty-handed when he sent troops on an expedition. After temporarily resolving the border dispute between Paraguay and Bolivia, he joined the anti-Brazilian alliance. The three parties signed an agreement to increase troops in the border areas at the same time and cooperate with each other to launch an attack on Brazil.

Brazil's main military forces are stationed in areas near Rio Grande do Sul and in the country. Although there are many soldiers stationed on the borders of Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay, they are scattered and the border area is long. The three countries' troops suffered considerable losses under the massive attack, and many small strongholds were captured. The three countries' troops concentrated their superior forces and headed deep into Brazil, temporarily ignoring the scattered garrisons.

The adventurous attack in which Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay put all their main forces into breaking the stalemate, and the danger of the Brazilian Empire's main force being completely lost immediately became apparent.

At the same time, envoys contacting the Chinese Independence Army arrived in Rio Grande do Sul. After three days of consideration, Li Mingyuan finally decided to join the alliance and send troops to attack Brazil.

The Chinese Independence Army had insufficient reserves of ammunition. After arriving in Rio Grande do Sul, they only purchased some ammunition at high prices from small European countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The total amount of ammunition could only support the launch of a medium-sized war.

It would take some time for the fleet that went to Europe to purchase machinery and ammunition to return. The British were hostile to the Chinese Independence Army and banned the sale of weapons and supplies to Rio Grande do Sul.

The dangerous situation of the Chinese Independence Army had not improved and they might face armed intervention from the British at any time. Launching an attack on the Brazilian army at this time would undoubtedly be a hugely risky adventure.

Huge risks also mean huge rewards. According to the original plan, after occupying Rio Grande do Sul, the Chinese Independence Army went on the defensive, and then used its military strength to force Brazil to recognize the fact that the Chinese Independence Army occupied Rio Grande do Sul. The two sides achieved a preliminary peace, and the Chinese Independence Army used the precious peace time to actively introduce Chinese workers from Cuba and North America to increase its own strength.

However, the situation changed too quickly. Li Mingyuan did not expect that Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay broke the deadlock in the war and invaded Brazil. Joining the anti-Brazilian alliance at this time would not only allow him to find allies temporarily, which would be beneficial for the Chinese Independence Army to gain a foothold in South America, but would also be able to strike at Brazil again, weakening Brazil's national strength and buying more time for the Chinese Independence Army to develop.

It was difficult to decide whether to join the war, but the news coming back from Europe and the Caribbean strengthened Li Mingyuan's determination to send troops.

With the outbreak of revolution in Spain, Britain's strategic focus would naturally shift to Europe, and there was also news coming from Europe:

British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli was impeached by the opposition and lost his position as prime minister. His successor was William Ewart, leader of the Liberal Party.

William Ewart advocated improving workers' treatment and carrying out domestic economic reforms, and had little interest in continuing to expand overseas colonies.

William Ewart, who was about to take office, brought good news to Li Mingyuan and the Chinese Independence Army. Shortly after Benjamin was impeached, British warships off the coast of Porto Alegre lifted the blockade of the port, and the Chinese navy could freely enter and exit the coastal areas of Rio Grande do Sul.

The danger was lifted, and Li Mingyuan immediately ordered the Chinese fleet and land forces to launch an attack on the Brazilian army from land and sea respectively.

1868 year 9 month 12 day,
The Chinese fleet raided Florianopolis and occupied the coastal ports.
On September 9, the Chinese troops attacking from Caxias do Sul captured Lajes and wiped out 14 local garrisons.

On September 9, the Chinese fleet raided Joinville. A Brazilian ironclad ship anchored in the port had no time to escape and was sunk by three Chinese Independence Army ironclad ships. A total of 17 large and small ships in the port were sunk, eight of which were sunk, and wooden warships were seized.

In the Battle of Rioinvia, the Chinese fleet used its superior naval power to raid the Brazilian fleet, but still suffered losses in the battle, with twelve wooden warships sunk, one ironclad ship severely damaged, and two ironclad ships slightly damaged.

The Chinese fleet trained at sea for more than two months. Under the training of Prussian instructors and some captured Brazilian naval officers, the crew learned simple operation of warships and some basic naval warfare tactics, but they were still some distance away from being a real army.

The Brazilian Navy also suffered heavy losses due to the huge losses of the Chinese fleet in Villa. The loss of more than 20 warships, especially the sinking of an ironclad, left the Brazilian Navy with only the last ironclad ship to maintain its appearance. The Chinese fleet, which had experienced a naval battle, had increased its practical experience, and there were two ironclad ships that could be put into combat. In terms of comprehensive strength, the Chinese Independence Army's maritime combat force surpassed the Brazilian Navy for the first time. Before the addition of new ironclad ships, the Brazilian Navy lost its maritime deterrent against the Chinese Independence Army.

If the land forces continue to advance after the Invia naval battle,
On September 9, Chapeco was captured, and on the 21th, the main Brazilian force stationed in Santa Teresa was surrounded in Bloomez.

On the 29th, the Chinese Independence Army launched a general offensive against the besieged Brazilian army. After a day of fierce fighting, at 30 a.m. on the th, the Brazilian defenders surrendered, and Santa Catarina State was declared to have completely fallen into the hands of the Chinese Independence Army.

Leaving behind a part of the troops to mop up the remaining Brazilian troops in Santa Catarina State, the main force of the Chinese Independence Army continued to advance. By October 10, the Guaraprava area in southern Paraná State fell under the control of the Chinese Independence Army, and the main force of 4 troops arrived at the city of Curitiba, the capital of Paraná.

Surrounded by enemies and losing territory, Brazilian Emperor Pedro II, under the pressure of various domestic factions, had no choice but to seek British intervention and proposed negotiations with Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and the Chinese Independence Army.

Britain was actively expanding its economic sphere of influence in South America, and the continued deterioration of the situation in Brazil was not in Britain's national interest. Therefore, after Brazil requested intervention, British warships quickly arrived in Curitiba to prevent the Chinese Independence Army from attacking the defenders in the city.

The war lasted for more than 20 days. The Chinese Independence Army occupied more than 100,000 square kilometers of land. The stored ammunition and combat supplies were exhausted. The offensive momentum reached its limit. Even if the British did not interfere, Li Mingyuan did not intend to continue expanding. The encirclement of Curitiba, including the occupation of as much land as possible in Paraná State, was to increase the weight in his hands and prepare for negotiations with Brazil for greater benefits.

When the British intervened in the war, the Chinese Independence Army, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia quickly stopped their advances and each sent representatives to participate in the negotiations led by the British.

(End of this chapter)