Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 315: The Coup

Pedro II, Baron Muritba and Baron Loreto sat on the balcony of the garden, looking towards the lake with their backs in a relaxed manner.

"Boom boom" a burst of white smoke filled the air, and a twin-lens camera with two cameras stacked together completed the framing and shooting under the operation of the court photographer Quim José Insley Pacheco. Pacheco was born in Portugal and immigrated to Brazil when he was young. While working in New York from 1849 to 1851, he studied and researched photography technology with Jeremiah Gurney and Matthew Brady. After returning to Brazil, he opened a studio in Rio de Janeiro, specializing in taking photos for the dignitaries of the Brazilian Empire. As a result, he met Pedro II and Princess Isabella, and maintained a good personal friendship with the two.

"Your Majesty, Baron Muritba, Baron Loreto, the photos have been taken. I will deliver them to you personally after they are developed in a few days."

Pacheco and his two assistants packed up the cameras and said, "I'm sorry, there are several guests who have made appointments at the studio today. I have to go back first and cannot stay in the palace to accompany His Majesty and the two barons."

"Dear Pacheco, please take care of your business first. Next weekend, Isabella and Count Iyo will hold a banquet at the Royal Estate outside Rio de Janeiro. Don't forget to attend then."

"Thank you, Your Majesty and the Princess, for your kindness. When the banquet is held this weekend, I will use the camera to leave a beautiful memory for Your Majesty, the Princess, and Count Iyou."…………

"Your Majesty, the peace talks between Britain and the Han Kingdom have failed. I heard that the Han negotiators have given up their efforts to save the talks and are preparing to leave Rio de Janeiro and return home in a week. The peace talks between the two countries have failed. The frontline areas bordering the Empire and Argentina may be hit by retaliatory counterattacks from the Han army. The Imperial Army must make plans in advance to deal with them."

After Pacheco left, Baron Muritba and Pedro II discussed recent events.

"The recent behavior of the Republicans and Democrats is very abnormal. In the past two weeks, the Imperial Internal Police Department discovered that Republican leader Morais and many Democrats have visited British Minister Austin privately many times. Your Majesty, Britain is the Empire's largest creditor. Most of the weapons and equipment of the Imperial Army and the ironclad ships of the Navy need to be imported from Britain. If the Republicans and Democrats make conditions that the British cannot refuse without the knowledge of the Imperial Central Government, then you and the Imperial Royal Family will be in great danger."

"The Brassaghan family has a solid friendship with the British Empire for three hundred years. It is impossible for the British to listen to the temptation of the Republicans' sweet talk and give up the alliance friendship with the Brassaghan family."

Pedro II shook his head and said, "Five days ago, when Britain and the Han Kingdom had just started peace talks, the British envoy Sir Austin made a special trip to the palace to promise me that the British Empire would always support the Brazilian government in resisting the illegal expansion of the Han people, and that Britain would not bypass Brazil to negotiate peace with the Han Kingdom alone."

"But, Your Majesty, the biggest crisis facing the Brazilian Empire is the riots and uprisings that have broken out in various parts of the country and the dissidents such as the Republicans and Democrats who are always restless. The first thing the imperial central government has to do is to quell the rebellion and crack down on the ambitious Republicans and Democrats who are plotting to subvert the country. Although the threat posed by the Han Kingdom to the empire is huge, it will not endanger the survival of the imperial government. Moreover, the Han Kingdom has just annexed Argentina and Uruguay and has no intention of expanding abroad for the time being. At this time, it is meaningless for the imperial government to continue to obey the orders of the British and stand in the front to deal with the most direct attack from the Han people.

I think the central government of the empire should participate in the peace talks with the Han people. Even if the British object, they should reach a temporary ceasefire agreement with the Han people, transfer the central government troops that are confronting the front line back to the country, increase the military strength of the central government of the empire, and deter those ambitious people who are ready to make moves. "

"Your Majesty, instability has already appeared in the army stationed in Rio de Janeiro. Dozens of middle and lower-level guards have gathered privately and secretly promoted republican and democratic ideas. The influence of the Republicans and Democrats is spreading to the army. If this trend is not curbed, in a few years, I'm afraid that the guards and defense forces stationed in Rio de Janeiro will not know whether they will obey your Majesty's orders or the instigation of the Republicans and Democrats!"

Baron Loretto was also worried. "Is the situation in the imperial army so serious?"

Pedro II frowned.

"It's very serious, Your Majesty. Since the end of the Paraguayan War, a number of secret groups have emerged in the Imperial Army and Navy. The more influential ones include the Knights of Brasilia organized by Lieutenant Colonel Eberle, the Officers Club organized by General Fonseca, and more than a dozen other factions with political views. These secret groups are very tightly organized, and it is difficult for outsiders to get their internal information without their approval."

"Baron Muritba, I now appoint you as the new commander of the Rio de Janeiro Military District. General Atrenota's 4000 city defense troops will be under your command. In addition, I grant you the power to supervise and investigate the Rio de Janeiro army. You are allowed to directly arrest officers and soldiers who intend to plan a rebellion without having to report to the Minister of the Army in advance!"

Pedro II realized the seriousness of the military problem and issued several orders in succession: "Order the gendarmerie headquarters to send special soldiers to conduct comprehensive monitoring of General Fonseca. Once there is definite evidence of General Fonseca's contact with dissidents such as the Republicans and Democrats, immediately report to the imperial center to apply for arrest!

Baron Loreto, I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the frontline army of Paraná State. You will set out in two days to take over the command of the 30,000 central troops on the front line. Without the orders issued by the Imperial Central Council and me, the frontline troops are not allowed to launch provocative attacks on the front line of the Han State without permission! "…………

After making rough adjustments to the military command and supervision systems, Pedro II sat alone on the balcony and opened a Portuguese version of "The Prince". He had been reading for less than ten minutes when he saw Baron Muritba running in in a panic.

"Your Majesty, someone in the Royal Guards is planning a coup. The troops guarding the palace gates have been replaced by Fonseca's men. Your Majesty, leave the palace immediately before Fonseca's men notice anything!"

Pacheco began working as a court photographer in 1855 and had free access to the Brazilian Royal Palace for 24 years. He not only had a good relationship with the royal nobles, but was also respected by most of the Guards because he often took photos of ordinary soldiers for free. When Pacheco left the palace, he accidentally discovered that there were several new faces in the Guards guarding the palace. He quietly found an officer he knew and asked a few questions. Pacheco sensed danger from the officer's kind reminder, so he pretended to leave. After walking more than a hundred meters outside the palace, he turned around and found a secret place to stop, waiting until Baron Muritba and Baron Loreto came out, and told the two of them the danger he had sensed.

"Go to the telegraph office. I want to contact the city defense forces in Rio de Janeiro and order General Atrenota to lead the city defense forces to eliminate the rebels stationed in the palace!"

"It's useless, Your Majesty. The telegraph office is controlled by the Imperial Guards. We can't send a telegram to contact the troops outside. Baron Loreto and Mr. Pacheco are rushing to contact Princess Isabella and General Garcia respectively. The troops in Rio de Janeiro are unreliable. Your Majesty must leave the palace immediately!"

"Okay, okay, we'll leave right away."

Pedro II panicked, and at the urging of Baron Muriteba, he hurriedly walked towards the back door of the garden. Unfortunately, Baron Muriteba's move to return to the palace aroused the vigilance of the Guards. After receiving the report from his men, Fonseca quickly decided to launch a military coup in advance. The Guards officers who originally planned to take action at noon that night, led their soldiers into the palace due to the sudden change. Other troops participating in the coup in Rio de Janeiro also mobilized their troops in a hurry at Fonseca's reminder to cooperate with the actions in the palace.

(End of this chapter)