Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 454 Untitled
1889年9月14日下午3时48分，第一混成旅一团团长张文廉率领先遣部队抵达比亚里卡火车站。

More than an hour later, at 4:46 pm, the th Division commanded by Major General Getulio appeared on the avenue two kilometers away from the town of Mbokayadi.

At 5:7 p.m., the Brazilian army broke through the roadblocks set up by the Han troops with tree branches and rubble, and approached to 600 meters in front of the Mbokayadi defensive position.

"The Han army should have just occupied Villarrica, and their engineers are still building fortifications at the front line."

Major General Getulio observed the scene on the front line of Mbokayadi through a monocular and arranged: "Colonel Barnett, take out a battalion of troops from your troops and launch an attack from the right wing of the Han army's defense line. Without receiving an order to stop the battle, no one in the attacking force is allowed to retreat!"

"Understood, General. I will arrange for the Sixth Battalion to take the offensive mission."

Bamet, commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 9th Division of the Army of the Republic of Brazil, flattered.

"The Sixth Battalion is a mixed force composed mainly of black soldiers. It is most appropriate to use them to test the military deployment of the Han country's frontier positions."

Major General Getulio nodded and agreed, "But don't make it too obvious. Once we have found out the general deployment of the Han army's frontier positions, we can withdraw the troops that are making the feint attack. After all, the Sixth Battalion is also a unit of our Ninth Division. If the Sixth Battalion suffers too much loss, it will not be good for the Ninth Division."

"Don't worry, General, nothing serious will happen."

After listening to Getulio's words, Barnett made a promise and quickly returned to his own troops, and then handed over the task of the feint attack to the 6th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment.

At 5:19 p.m., after a quick ten-minute rest, Barnett ordered the Sixth Battalion, Second Regiment, Ninth Division of the Republic of Brazil to launch an attack on the Han State's frontier positions.

"Bang, bang, bang." When they were more than 200 meters away from the Han front line, the nervous Brazilian soldiers rashly opened fire.

"Keep the attack formation! Open fire once you are within 100 meters of the frontline position!"

The Brazilian officer who was walking behind the attacking force, holding a pistol and observing his own attack formation shouted loudly.

"Captain Prudente is injured."

The loud warning from the commander of the Sixth Battalion had not yet taken effect, but bad news arrived.

"The Han frontline didn't launch a counterattack, so how could Captain Prudent be injured?"

"The captain just accidentally broke his leg."

The soldier reported truthfully.

"What a fool!"

The commander of the Sixth Battalion cursed angrily, and still said, "I need an explanation! If Captain Prudente can't find a good excuse for his cowardly behavior! I don't mind sending him to see God myself!"

"Immediately order Captain Prudent to withdraw from the front line, and Lieutenant Badlov to take over the command of the Second Company!"

"Yes, Major!"... At the front line of the Mbokayadi position, the feint attack launched by the 6th Battalion of the 9th Division of Brazil suffered a complete failure before it was fully launched, just like the poor command ability of their superior officers.

Heavy machine gun bullets and artillery shells flew everywhere. The soldiers lined up in dense attack formations were hit by the dense firepower network and fell down one after another like ears of wheat in the wind.

At 5:40 p.m., Major Demorais Barros, the commander of the th Battalion, who had been standing in the safest position on the battlefield to command the soldiers to attack, returned unharmed, while the unlucky guy who he had temporarily designated as the commander of the front-line offensive was hit by a heavy machine gun bullet and died on the spot.

A feint attack aimed at testing the strength of the Han Dynasty's frontier defenders turned into a one-sided massacre as soon as it began. Among the more than 400 soldiers responsible for the attack, 76 were killed and 169 were injured. Only more than 100 soldiers who followed Major Demorais and served as the supervisory team escaped the attack and evacuated unharmed with their commander.

"General, the firepower of the Han army is too strong. The attacking troops were beaten back before they even approached the front line."

As soon as the commander of the 6th Battalion, Major De Morais, returned to his own camp, he hurried to the temporary command post to report to Major General Getulio.

"The Han defenders have strong firepower, and they must have a lot of soldiers defending Villarrica. It would be useless to attack Villarrica with only 10,000 soldiers from the Ninth Division."

Major General Getulio had been watching the battle not far from the front line and witnessed the entire process of the Sixth Battalion from launching the attack to being defeated. Therefore, after listening to Major De Moraes' report, he did not blame the other party.

"Colonel Gaspar, report to General Rodriguez the situation of the battle between the Ninth Division and the Han army today, and ask General Rodriguez for the specific instructions and requirements for our army's next battle."

"Yes, General."

Colonel Gaspard remembered the instructions given by Major General Getulio and immediately asked, "It's still more than half an hour before dark. Should our army organize another attack before dark?"

"The Han defenders have strong firepower and their numbers are unknown. It is too risky to organize another attack. We don't need to do this."

"But before the advance troops set out, General Rodriguez gave you a death order to take Villarrica. Now the Han army has taken control of Villarrica ahead of us. If you just launch a tentative attack and stop attacking the Han frontier positions, I'm afraid General Rodriguez will be dissatisfied."

"Today's situation is rather special. The army that controls Villarrica must be an elite force in the Han army. Their combat effectiveness and weapons and equipment are several times stronger than the Han army we encountered ten years ago. When fighting against such an elite force, we must be doubly careful!
I believe that when General Rodriguez leads the main force to join us and sees the combat effectiveness and powerful firepower of the Han army, he will understand why I made this decision today. "

Major General Getulio said solemnly, "I am responsible for the lives of 10,000 soldiers of the Ninth Division. If General Rodriguez wants to hold someone responsible for the failure of the offensive, let him find me. I am willing to take the blame for the failure of the entire battle on behalf of the 10,000 soldiers of the Ninth Division!"

"The main responsibility for not occupying Villarrica as planned does not lie with you."

Colonel Gaspar flattered: "You led us on a rapid march to Villarrica without wasting a minute. It is not your fault that Villarrica was lost. If we really want to investigate, we can only blame the Han army for setting off earlier than us, not you, the general."

"Yes, General, you should explain to General Rodriguez the real reason for the loss of Villarrica. You can't put all the responsibility on yourself."…………

Several trusted officers began to persuade him, trying their best to find various excuses to shirk the responsibility for the loss of Villarrica. After hearing his men's persuasion, Getulio's nervous mood, which had been caused by fear of punishment, gradually calmed down.

“I personally bear some responsibility for not occupying Villarrica according to the battle plan formulated by General Rodriguez, and it is also a fact before us that the Han army set out early and occupied Villarrica before us.

General Rodriguez did not march with the advance troops, and he may not be very familiar with the situation on the front line, so we should clarify the situation on both sides to General Rodriguez, and then wait for further instructions from General Rodriguez. "…………

(End of this chapter)