Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 269 Influence
"Mr. President, urgent message from the front line!"

Inside the Buenos Aires Presidential Palace, a young staff officer ran into Mitre's office in a panic.

"Is this a report from the Santa Fe front? Has Delgado been evacuated?"

Mitre said anxiously.

"The city of Santa Fe has been completely lost, and General Delgado has committed suicide!"

"What? This is impossible! There are 12,000 soldiers in Santa Fe City. They are all the best soldiers of the federal government. How could they be wiped out so easily by the enemy?"

Mitre was very excited. He snatched the telegram from the staff officer's hand, glanced at it quickly, and his expression changed drastically.

"Why? Why didn't Delgado defend Santa Fe? Twelve thousand soldiers? I gave you twelve thousand men, why didn't you defend it?"

Mitre muttered to himself, his old face looking sickly pale because of excessive emotion.

The staff officer stood aside and did not dare to interrupt, but after he stayed for five or six minutes, he suddenly found that Mitre's complexion was becoming more and more abnormal. The pale color quickly covered his entire face, and his old and dry hands were shaking more and more violently.

"Doctor! Call the doctor quickly!"

The staff officer realized the seriousness of Mitre's physical condition and immediately shouted loudly. ...

After more than a dozen doctors and nurses tried their best to rescue him, Mitre gradually regained consciousness after being in a coma for four hours.

"What's the situation outside? Where have the Han troops advanced to?"

After Mitre regained his senses, he asked with his dry and old lips.

"After the Han army occupied Santa Fe, they sent a vanguard of 5,000 people to march along the Paraná River. Two hours ago, the defenders of Paraná City reported that they had engaged in a firefight with the enemy."

"What is the situation in Uruguay and at sea? Are the Han troops continuing their attack?"

After listening to his official's words, Mitre felt a little relieved and continued to ask.

"In the Uruguayan direction, after the Han army occupied Paisandu, they did not divide their forces to occupy the surrounding areas, but slowly advanced southwards."

A tall and thin Argentine general explained in a low voice, "According to the reports from intelligence personnel scattered in the enemy-occupied areas, the Han troops in the Uruguayan direction should be short of supplies and ammunition. They slowed down their advance probably in order to reunite with the logistics troops."

"How many armed personnel do we have scattered in the enemy-occupied areas? Can we destroy the Han army's logistics troops before the two armies meet?" "Han's logistics and transportation troops are heavily defended. Our army has launched attacks on small Han logistics and transportation teams many times, but none of them have achieved good results."

After the tall and thin general finished speaking, he was worried that the unfavorable development of the war would affect Mitre again, so he continued to explain, "Although the Han army took advantage of our army's unpreparedness to occupy the city of Santa Fe, the vast territory in the south of Santa Fe and Paisandu is still under the control of our army. In addition, the new soldiers recruited by the president a few days ago have already taken shape after a few days of training. If we add those new soldiers to the regular army, the total number of federal troops can be restored to the pre-war level. With the support of the new soldiers and the bold command of the president, the Han army will definitely be driven out of Argentina by us."

"I underestimated the offensive capabilities of the Han army. If we had sent troops to reinforce Delgado in time, Santa Fe City would not have fallen into the hands of the Han army."

"The Han army was well prepared. The responsibility for the fall of Santa Fe City does not lie with you, President."

Hearing Mitre's words of self-defense, the Argentine general spoke up to persuade him.

"I was wrong and did not truly realize the combat potential of the Han army. I know this clearly in my heart and I don't need you to persuade me."

Mitre coughed softly and continued, "Since the war began, the federal government has lost more than a dozen cities, including Paisandu and Santa Fe, and has lost more than 20,000 soldiers. The 40,000 young men recruited by the government have not yet formed combat effectiveness. Under the current situation, it is difficult to resist the attack of the Han army by relying solely on the remaining troops of the federal government, so I plan to ask for help from Brazil and Chile, and implore the two countries to send reinforcements.

Esquero, the important task of getting help from the two governments is now on you. I hope you won't let me down."

"Mr. President, Chile is at war with Bolivia and Peru. Is it unlikely that we can ask them for reinforcements?"

The official who was named stood up and asked in confusion.

"The British have close relations with Chile. If the Chileans do not agree to send troops to rescue, you can talk to the British diplomats in Chile. I believe that the British will not watch the Han Kingdom annex Argentina."

Chile itself has limited military strength. When the country participated in the Guano War, the Chilean government was very likely not to intervene in the war between Han and Argentina. However, Chile's economy and politics were influenced by the British, and the British had deep commercial interests in South America. Whether it was Chile, Argentina or Brazil, there were shadows of British businessmen. In order to enjoy the exclusive commercial interests in South America, the British did not hesitate to instigate Brazil and Chile to launch the Paraguayan War and the Guano War successively. Now Argentina and Uruguay are facing the danger of national extinction. As long as the British still want to play the game of balancing power in South America, they will not sit idly by and watch Argentina and Uruguay perish.

Mitre ordered his officials to ask for help from the governments of Chile and Brazil, showing a more compromising attitude, with the federal government he represented giving up economic and even political interests in order to obtain the British nod of approval. The British would then take the lead in organizing the Brazilian and Chilean troops to rescue Argentina.

Without the motivation of interests, Britain, Chile and Brazil would not help Argentina overcome the current difficulties. Therefore, in order to preserve national security under the attack of Han troops, Mitre was ready to sacrifice some of his interests.

The Patagonia Desert is a disputed area between Chile and Argentina. If Chile is willing to send troops to rescue, Mitre is willing to cede the Patagonia region to Chile. Similarly, if the attack of the Han army is repelled, Mitre is also willing to recognize that Uruguay belongs to the Brazilian Empire. The Argentine government will no longer interfere with the merger of the Brazilian government and Uruguay, but will persuade Britain to help. After solving the crisis facing Argentina, Mitre does not mind fully opening up the domestic market to Britain. After all, although commercial interests are important, they are not as important as the survival of the country.

Mitre did not tell other officials about his plan, but only told Escro, who was about to go on a diplomatic mission to the two countries to ask for help.

Going to Chile and Brazil to request reinforcements was a forced choice, but if the betrayal of national interests was revealed to more officials at this time, it would very likely cause division and chaos within the Argentine government. The Argentine federal government had reached a critical juncture of life and death. For the sake of the country's future, Mitre chose to take the blame for betraying national interests alone, rather than shifting the responsibility to his subordinates to absolve himself.

(End of this chapter)