Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 345 South Pacific Strategy
There are four main types of fish that are abundant in the coastal areas of Patagonia. One is the Argentine cod that lives in the Patagonian continental shelf and the mouth of the Rio de la Plata.

The second is the cod that lives near the southern coast of the Patagonian continental shelf and slope; the third, fourth and fourth fish are the South American squid and the Argentine soft-shelled squid respectively.

Four species of fish account for about 70 percent of the total annual fish catch.

In addition to the fishing and mining development industries, animal husbandry will be the third largest pillar industry in Patagonia. The majestic and steep Andes snow-capped mountains have brought precious water resources to the local area. At the foot of the Andes Mountains, which stretch for thousands of kilometers, the melted snow water gathers into broad rivers, nourishing the pastures and grasslands on both sides of the rivers.

The Chubut River, Neuquén River, Limay River, Lake Argentino and Lake Nahuel Huapi are the main rivers supplying water to the Patagonia region.

The Chubut River originates from the Andes Mountains in Rio Negro Province and flows roughly southeast. It turns northeast at Paso de Indias and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It is 810 kilometers long and can be navigated by small and medium-sized transport ships during the flood season. The surrounding basins of the Chubut River benefit from its irrigation and have fertile agricultural and pastoral land, which is suitable for raising livestock and growing fruit trees such as apples and cherries.

The Limay River is 380 kilometers long and has a catchment area of ​​61 square kilometers. It originates from the eastern end of Lake Nahuel Huapi at an altitude of 723 meters, and eventually merges with the Neuquén River to form the Negro River.

Nahuel Huapi Lake and Argentino Lake are both located in the southern part of Patagonia. Nahuel Huapi Lake is located at the eastern foot of Mount Tronado in the Andes. The lake is 767 meters above sea level. The lakeshore is winding, about 75 kilometers long, 10 kilometers wide, 300 meters deep, and covers an area of ​​544 square kilometers. The lake water is clear, and the islands are scattered. The largest Victoria Island is home to lush cold-zone plants, rich and diverse animal and plant species, lush forests, and beautiful scenery. It is one of the most suitable places for immigrants to settle in Patagonia.

Lake Argentino is located further south than Lake Nahuel Huapi and has a colder climate.

Lake Argentino is a huge glacial lake. The lake surface is 187 meters above sea level, with an average depth of 150 meters and a maximum depth of 500 meters. It covers an area of ​​1466 square kilometers. The lake water flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Santa Cruz River on the east coast. Glaciers such as Moreno and Uppsala extend into the lake, and the ice tongues break into countless icebergs floating on the lake.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and densely forested hillsides, the scenery is magnificent, and there are settlements built by Argentinians around the lake, making it a suitable gathering point for the country in the cold regions of southern Patagonia.

Patagonia is divided into two regions by the Andes Mountains. The eastern part of the Andes Mountains is directly connected to the La Plata Plain, making it easier for the country to mobilize troops to strengthen local armed forces.
The approximately 20 square kilometers of land in the west of the Andes Mountains are connected to the eastern region by only a few narrow mountain passes. Every time war supplies are transported from Shouzhou to Haizhou, they have to cross three or four hundred kilometers of uninhabited areas, climb over undulating peaks and crossroads, and then rely on alpacas, pack horses and other livestock to deliver the supplies to the garrison on the other side of the mountains.

In the early days of the occupation, the Haizhou garrison relied entirely on external supplies of food, clothing, medicine, guns and ammunition, and other materials, which resulted in high transportation costs. However, due to the large number of local pack horses and alpacas, the cost of using livestock as a means of transportation was relatively low, and the cost of maintaining the garrison on the Pacific side of Patagonia was not too staggering.

Haizhou faces the South Pacific Ocean, and its coastal areas are not far from the Chilean fishing grounds. Its fishery resources are no less than those of the eastern coastal areas of Patagonia. Therefore, it is a very cost-effective business to develop offshore fisheries in accordance with local conditions to expand fiscal revenue and reduce garrison costs.

The waters around Haizhou, as well as Easter Island, Samoa Islands, Nauru Island and other islands in the South Pacific waters west of Haizhou will be included in the scope of fishing.

Easter Island is about 3600 kilometers away from the South American continent. Dutch navigator Roggeveen first discovered and landed on Easter Day, April 1722, 4, and the island got its name from this. Since 5, Western colonists have begun to capture Rapanui people as slaves on the island. In 1805, Peruvian pirates came on eight ships and captured more than a thousand Rapanui people. Almost all the male Rapanui people were captured. These people were transported to Peru and sold to local slave owners.

Later, under the condemnation of international public opinion, the Peruvian government had to order the slave traders to release these Rapanui people, but only about 100 of them were left. On the way back to Easter Island, they contracted smallpox and died one after another. Only 15 people returned to their hometown. These 15 people also brought smallpox to Easter Island.

The last descendants of the legendary founding chief Hotu Matua died, as did all the chiefs and priests, leaving only about 100 residents on the island.

In 1863, French missionaries landed on Easter Island to preach. More than ten years later, the last batch of indigenous residents moved to French Polynesia. Easter Island was abandoned by the French and became an uninhabited island.

The surface composition of Easter Island is mainly stone, and the soil is shallow, which is not suitable for the growth of crops such as wheat and soybeans. Only low-nutrition plants such as sweet potatoes can be grown.

For the French colonists, Easter Island did not have the economic or strategic value to be built as a colony due to its remote geographical location, barren land, and long distance from the South American continent and other islands in the South Pacific.

However, for the Han government, Easter Island is located between Haizhou and the Samoa Islands. On the one hand, occupying the area can provide a foothold for temporary docking of distant-water fishing boats. On the other hand, there are few islands in the Pacific side of the South American continent. Easter Island, with an area of ​​160 square kilometers, is a rare medium-sized island among the several sesame-sized islands. In wartime, it can serve as a transit point for the naval fleet to maintain contact with the Samoa Islands.

Originally in history, the Chileans would declare ownership of Easter Island in 1888, but now, Li Mingyuan has made arrangements and ordered the navy to send two ironclad ships before March 1880 to occupy Easter Island first, leaving a small number of marines and exiled criminals to guard the island, and then continue with the transport fleet to take over the Samoa Islands and Nauru Island from the Germans.

The Samoa Islands are located in the middle of the Polynesian Islands in the South Pacific, so they have always been known as the "Heart of Polynesia". It has a total of 12 islands of various sizes, with a total area of ​​3144 square kilometers.

There are two large main islands: Savai'i, with an area of ​​1820 square kilometers, and Ubud, with an area of ​​1113 square kilometers. The area of ​​the Samoan Islands is the second largest island in Polynesia, only smaller than the Hawaiian Islands.

The Samoa Islands are volcanic islands with undulating mountains on each island. The highest peak is on Savaii Island, with an altitude of 1858 meters. There are narrow plains in the coastal areas of each island. The fertile arable land in the plains can ensure the normal food supply for immigrants.

Fiji, Tonga, French Polynesia and other areas in the central South Pacific were infiltrated and controlled by British and French forces. Only the Samoa Islands were finally under the control of the Han Dynasty because of the intervention of the Germans. Therefore, controlling and expanding the Apia port on the island and using warships, garrisons and immigrants to defend the Samoa Islands were the core of the South Pacific strategy.

(End of this chapter)