Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 475 Rainy Season
On the morning of October 10, in Asuncion, the tightly closed city gates slowly opened, and a team of cavalry ran out of the gate and then dispersed to the surrounding areas to deliver orders.

The weather was terribly gloomy. Before three o'clock in the afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a loud thunder.

"It's raining. The rainy season has arrived."

Feeling the rain on his body, an adult man wearing traditional Paraguayan clothes, lying in a hilly forest, whispered.

"Be patient for a while, the target we are waiting for should be arriving soon."

A man dressed similarly, in his thirties, with a scar on his face, said, "Sapcaí is about 20 kilometers from Union. According to the intelligence we received from Union this morning, the messengers from Asuncion will not stay in Union for more than three hours. We estimate that they should be arriving soon."

"Is there something big going on in Asuncion? I have been in Paraguay for more than two months, and this is the first time I see Brazilians sending so many messengers to deliver news."

"Wait a little longer. Once we catch the messenger and interrogate him, we'll know."

As the scarred man spoke, he stroked a crossbow on the right and reminded, "The Brazilian messenger will arrive soon. Everyone, follow my orders. Zhou Jianye, Wu Xiangwen, Hong Zhengping, the three of you cooperate with me to aim at the horses and shoot. Try not to hurt the messenger."

"Understood, Lieutenant."

Each of the three people who were named had a crossbow placed on their right hand side. Not far away from the three people, if you look carefully, you can also find several adult men dressed similarly.

The rapid clatter of horse hooves landed in the small puddle on the side of the road, stirring up a cloud of mud.

"Here we come, everyone get ready!"

Two Brazilian messengers wearing light white military uniforms and carrying bulging backpacks on their backs were riding on horseback, not noticing the figures peeking at them from both sides of the path.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh". Several crossbow arrows shot towards the center of the path, aiming directly at the two horses under the messenger.

"Plop!" The military horse was hit by a crossbow arrow. In great pain, it raised its hoof and threw the soldier on it to the ground.

"Get out there and catch them!"

The scarred man jumped up, threw away the crossbow in his hand, pulled out a pistol hanging between his legs, and rushed to the path!

"Bang!" A messenger tried to stagger and stand up, but then he felt a violent blow and fell back into the mud.

"Take out the ropes and tie them up. Be careful not to damage the backpacks they are carrying. The things inside are useful!"

The scarred man held down a messenger who had fallen to the ground and commanded: "Leave a few people to finish the job, and the others will escort the prisoners back to the camp."
In Paraguay, especially in the south, along the Paraguay River and the Paraná River, there are dozens of teams similar to those of scarred men active, with numbers ranging from a few to dozens. They are infiltration troops sent by the Han country to Paraguay, mainly responsible for collecting intelligence on the troop mobilization, distribution, transportation and other aspects of the Brazilian Republic's army. These infiltration team members are mainly Paraguayan mixed-race people and naturalized Paraguayans.

The First Paraguayan War ended in 1868, 21 years have passed. The first group of Paraguayan women of marriageable age who followed the Chinese workers in the uprising to settle in the Han Kingdom, their offspring with Chinese men, the oldest of whom was 20 years old. Paraguayan mixed-race children and their naturalized relatives on the maternal side accounted for a certain proportion in the Han Kingdom’s army. The Republic of Brazil invaded Paraguay, and sent the Paraguayan mixed-race children and naturalized Paraguayans to Paraguay with the help of their familiarity with the local area and cultural and blood closeness, which effectively reduced the gap with the locals and was more conducive to intelligence gathering.

Paraguay has officially entered the rainy season, with heavy rain for three consecutive days. It was not until October 10 that the rain subsided a little.

The heavy rain disrupted the combat plans of both the Han Kingdom and the Republic of Brazil. The land transportation channel from Asuncion to Humeta Fortress was interrupted, and the Han army's attack on Humeta Fortress was also suspended.

The power of the rainy season lies not only in blocking land transportation, but the resulting non-combat casualties are also a major threat to both sides.

Although the Han State had made preparations for the rainy season in advance and relied on the Paraguay River waterway to stockpile enough raincoats, rain capes, bamboo hats, rubber shoes and other rainproof supplies for 7 people, in just three days, more than 100 soldiers were caught in the rain, caught colds and fevers, and lost their combat effectiveness due to the risks of building material storage warehouses and camps.

About 6 kilometers away from the Hume Tower Fortress, the Han army set up a camp along the river bank. Steamships that had completed loading and unloading of supplies were sailing downstream in teams of more than ten.

The camp on the river bank had rows of tents and wooden houses stretching for seven or eight kilometers. Near the makeshift warehouse, there were still several damaged carriages lying in the mud, which had not yet been cleaned up.

“On the river bank leading to the camp, several officers in white naval uniforms walked down from the gunboat and came over, led by an army officer.

"My three sirs, General Chen and the other officers are in the tent in front. Please follow me."

"Yes, Lieutenant, please."

The leading officer nodded in thanks and then went into the tent.

"Okay, everyone is here. Major Xu, please brief everyone on the current situation of the enemy forces."

Chen Zongbai, commander of the 1st Division and commander-in-chief of the Asuncion front, looked at a staff officer and gave an order.

"Yes, General." The young officer stood up and walked towards a marching map hanging in the middle, and said, "According to the latest intercepted intelligence, the Brazilian side is shrinking its forces. In the area along the Asuncion line, the enemy evacuated a total of seven strongholds, including Pirives, Sapuca, Unión, etc., and concentrated the forces in Asuncion, Antequera, and Concepcion. In the direction of the Paraná River Basin, the enemy gave up Mauricio, El Dorado, Monte Carlo, Bellavista, and Olvera. The forces are concentrated in Puerto do Iguazú, Guaira, and Villarrica.

Since entering Paraguay, the enemy has carried out two mobilizations, the first adding 2 troops to the front line, and the second adding 3 troops.

The current enemy distribution is as follows:

Along the Asuncion line: Humeta Fortress 2 people, Carapegua 5000 people, Asuncion 4 people. Antequera Port 1.5 people, Concepcion 1 people. ;
Along the Paraná route; Villarrica 1.3 people, Guaira 8000 people, Puerto do Iguazú 1.6 people.

Another 1.5 people are rushing to the front line in Paraguay from Brazil and are expected to arrive within a month."

"Including the reinforcements, the total number of Brazilian troops in Paraguay is about 14.2, and the number along the Asuncion line is close to 10. Will Brazil continue to send reinforcements to Paraguay?"

Chen Dechao, commander of the 2nd Mixed Brigade, asked.

"It's unlikely. The Republic of Brazil has mobilized a total of 26 soldiers and 15 military support personnel, excluding the 14.2 deployed in Paraguay. About 4 troops are deployed in areas bordering the mainland, such as Paraná State, and about 3.8 troops are deployed in areas bordering the Brazilian Empire. The rest of the troops are stationed in various places within the Republic of Brazil. As for the support military personnel, about half are used on the Paraguayan front."

"There is another situation. Although the Republic of Brazil has recruited 26 soldiers, the number of them with basic tactical skills will not exceed 12. Moreover, weapons and equipment are also a big problem. In order to arm the 26 troops, Rio de Janeiro is trying every means to purchase weapons and equipment from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, either in cash or by mortgage. From this, it can be seen that the increase in the number of troops of the Republic of Brazil will not affect the development of the war in Paraguay too much."

"On the mainland, the second batch of mobilized troops is expected to be deployed in the war against the Republic of Brazil when the time is right. It mainly includes 4 people stationed in Xianghe City (Posadas), 2.5 people in Luoning County (Formosa), and 5 people in the border area with Paraná State of the Republic of Brazil. The second-line troops, mainly composed of garrison troops and militia reserves, are 7 people. The total mobilized forces in the direction of Paraguay and the Republic of Brazil are 27 people."

Chen Zongbai concluded: "It is not difficult to defeat the army of the Republic of Brazil. To achieve the strategic goal set by Your Majesty and eliminate the main force of the Republic of Brazil before external forces intervene, it also requires your concerted efforts and cooperation."

"The top priority right now is to destroy or severely damage the main enemy forces in Asuncion."

Wu Feng pondered and said, "According to the latest analysis of the enemy and our forces' deployment, there are five marching routes to achieve this goal.

First, eliminate the Villarrica defenders, occupy the local train station, launch an attack on Asuncion from the southeast, and threaten Asuncion's flank defense line.

Second, bypass the Humeita Fortress and attack Antequera and Concepción, southwest of Asuncion, by water, cutting off the water transport supply route of Asuncion, landing from the two places and attacking Asuncion in a roundabout way.

Third, the main force was stationed in the Paraná River basin, occupying the two core strongholds of Puerto do Iguazú and Guaira, and then marching back from the northwest to attack Asuncion from the front and back.

The fourth detour was to the west, through the primeval forest, around the southwest flank of the Humeita Fortress, forming a large encirclement of the Humeita Fortress and eliminating the threat posed by the Humeita Fortress to Paraguay's water transportation routes.

Fifth, attack from the front, successively remove the defense fulcrums such as Humeta Fortress and Carapegua, and steadily advance towards Asuncion. "

"If we turn back from the Paraná River to attack Asuncion, the battle line is too long. Moreover, after occupying Guaira do Iguaçu, the enemy can also transport supplies by land through Mato Grosso do Sul, making it difficult to completely cut off the enemy's connection with the Brazilian mainland.

If we don't take down the Humeta Fortress and attack Antequera and Concepcion, southwest of Asuncion, by water, we will always face the threat of the Humeta Fortress to the Paraguay River waterway transportation supply route. If we advance from the Paraguay River and the Paraguay River waterway at the same time, and then advance from the north to encircle them, the attack will be the easiest, but it will take the longest time. "

"The terrain along the line from Villarrica to Asuncion is narrow, and it is difficult to deploy troops. It is okay to conduct auxiliary attacks from this direction, but if we want to break through the Asuncion defense line, we still have to find a way from other directions."

"We are going to outflanking the Humeta Fortress in the west. Marching in the rainy season is a big problem. If we encounter continuous heavy rain during the march, the resulting non-combat casualties will probably be very serious."

"We had to cross the primeval forest and attack the Hume Tower Fortress in a roundabout way. The damage to ammunition, medicine and food caused by moisture was also a factor that needed to be considered."

"Compared to black powder, smokeless gunpowder is more resistant to moisture corrosion, but there are too many uncontrollable factors in the Paraguayan primeval forest during the rainy season. Let's forget it."

When marching and fighting in South America, weather and natural environment are also important factors, and sometimes even decisive factors.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wang Liangdeng, based on the intelligence and experience you have obtained about the Paraguay River, can the Yangwu-class dome-shaped armored cruiser reach the waters along the Asuncion River to support the army's attack on the Humeta Fortress?"

"According to the hydrological data of the Asuncion section of the Paraguay River over the years, the water level is highest in late October to early November, which is enough for light cruisers to pass through."

Wang Liangdeng is a new generation of naval officer who grew up locally. After being transferred to serve in the inland fleet, he has a certain analysis and understanding of the hydrological conditions in the Paraguay River basin.

"Paraguay has a complex terrain with hills, forests and crisscrossing rivers. It is not easy to transport heavy weapons. The attack on the Humeta Fortress requires the assistance of the navy's powerful ships."

The inland fleet confirmed the technical feasibility of sending light cruisers into the Paraguay River for operations. Chen Zongbai made a decisive statement: "I am going to apply to His Majesty to dispatch two Yangwu-class dome-shaped armored cruisers from the navy to the inland river basin after the rain continues for a period of time and the water level in the waters along the Asuncion section of the Paraguay River rises to a certain level to provide the necessary heavy firepower support for the attack on the Humeta Fortress." ...

The standard displacement of the Yangwu-class dome-shaped armored cruiser is 2400 tons.
Equipped with 155 4mm heavy guns (one twin turret on the port and starboard sides, hydraulic power, each gun weighs 4.75 tons, 35 times the caliber, 75 2mm howitzers,
37mm五管哈乞开斯机关炮 4门、57mm、47mm哈乞开斯速射炮各2门，14吋鱼雷发射管3具（两舷各一具、舰尾一具，备有21枚鱼雷）。

According to Western standards, it is a light cruiser equipped with four 4mm heavy guns. It has powerful firepower and can effectively destroy the fortress defense system mainly composed of brick and earth structures.

After the 19s, with the rapid development of industrial technology, breech-loading steel cannons were equipped in large quantities by the armies of various countries, and the army's offensive capabilities were greatly improved. Castle-like fortress defense systems like the Hume Tower Fortress were no longer able to play the role they did 70 years ago when facing the attack of heavy steel artillery.
(End of this chapter)