Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 512 Farewell
January 1890, 1, Port of Miami, Florida Peninsula.

Huge ships are docked in the port, with thick smoke coming out of their tall chimneys, ready to set sail at any time.

On the other side of the port, teams of U.S. Army soldiers wearing khaki uniforms, wide-brimmed felt hats, and carrying rifles on their shoulders, marched in uncoordinated steps towards the transport ships and warships docked on the shore.

After the new Secretary of State John Watson Foster issued a diplomatic note against Britain and China, the American war machine accelerated its operation. Various fleets including warships, baggage, transport and some army units from ports along the Atlantic coast began to gather in the direction of Miami and wait for orders.

The U.S. Navy Secretary and some naval generals on standby also moved their offices to the Miami Naval Port in advance, awaiting instructions from the White House.

By 9 o'clock in the morning, the military port had already been under strict control of the military police and police, and civilian merchant ships had been notified in advance to move to nearby ports for berthing. Now, in the large port, there were only warships, transport ships, army soldiers on board, and senior naval generals who came to see off the expeditionary fleet.

Different from the high-profile public opinion, the farewell party held for the expeditionary fleet did not invite domestic or foreign reporters, nor did it hold a grand farewell ceremony. Only a small number of people from the relevant army, navy and other departments knew the specific farewell time.

The farewell party was exceptionally low-key and simple. On the one hand, the reason was that the US government was worried that high-profile military actions might irritate the sensitive nerves of the British government, causing Britain to misjudge the true intentions of the United States and regard the expeditionary fleet as a substantial act of war and infringement of British interests.

另一方则是美国政府有意控制战争规模，毕竟出征的大西洋舰队中，作为核心战力，排水量2000吨以上的军舰，只有1艘排水量11000吨级二级战列舰，1艘排水量8000吨级铁甲舰、2艘排水量5000吨级铁甲舰、1艘排水量4000吨级铁甲舰、1艘排水量3000吨级铁甲舰和4艘排水量2500吨级巡洋舰。

In contrast, the main battleships mobilized by the Han Dynasty with a displacement of more than 2000 tons were two 2-ton ironclad ships.
2 captured 5000-ton ironclad ships from the Republic of Brazil,
1 captured ironclad ship from the Republic of Brazil, with a displacement of 3000 tons.

2 3500-ton Vanguard-class armored cruisers,

1 2400-ton Yangwu-class dome-shaped armored cruiser.

The ratio of the number of enemy and our main battleships is 10:8, and the ratio of displacement tonnage is 4.6:3.94.

Neither the number of warships nor the displacement tonnage formed an absolute advantage over the Han State. If the gaps in the Han Navy's two-ocean warship mobilization, support, and familiarity with the hydrology of the southern waters of South America were taken into account, the slight advantage of the US expeditionary fleet would be further weakened.

Military is the continuation of politics. The expeditionary fleet set sail and intervened in the South American War. Rather than seeing it as a military clash between the two great American powers in North and South America, it is better to see it as a carefully planned political performance and propaganda.

Ten main battleships with a displacement of more than 10 tons and more than 2000 army troops can play a far greater role in political propaganda and deterrence than in military operations.

Before the fleet set sail, U.S. Navy Secretary Herbert solemnly emphasized the significance and purpose of the expeditionary fleet to the expeditionary fleet commander, Lieutenant General John Davis Long, fellow naval officers Rear Admiral William Sampson, Captain Winfield Schlee, and Army Force Commander Brigadier General William Schefter.

“In order to curb the expansion of Han’s power, the United States government has decided to increase its infiltration and control over South American countries and increase the intensity and strength of its military preparedness. After the war in South America ends, the United States government will decide on the expansion of the army and navy and the investment in funds, personnel, and materials for a comprehensive war against Han based on the war situation report submitted by the expeditionary fleet.

This expedition is just a rehearsal for a full-scale war against the Han Kingdom. Your main purpose is to explore the strength of the Han Kingdom’s naval fleet and actually observe the weapons and equipment and combat effectiveness of the Han Kingdom’s army, so as to provide the most realistic basis and reference for government decision-making.”

"Minister, what you mean is that the expeditionary fleet needs to control the naval battle within a certain scale and must not take the initiative to provoke a decisive battle with the main force of the Han Navy?"

asked Vice Admiral John Davis Long, commander of the expeditionary fleet.

"Yes, the domestic war preparations have not yet been officially launched. The expeditionary fleet and the accompanying army troops do not have the conditions to launch a decisive battle against the Han Kingdom. You are all excellent officers selected from the navy and army of the United States. As long as the industrial machinery of the United States is started, there is no shortage of warships and weapons and equipment to fight against the Han Kingdom. What is lacking is navy and army officers with actual combat experience. Therefore, you must attach more importance to this opportunity to participate in the war. Maintaining the stability of the situation in the Republic of Brazil is the first goal, and the scale of the war must not be easily expanded." "If the Han Kingdom insists on expanding the scale of the war, or the situation in the Republic of Brazil collapses completely, how should the expeditionary fleet respond?"

"If the situation develops in the worst direction, it will allow the expeditionary fleet to respond with camera."

After finishing his speech, U.S. Navy Secretary Herbert added: "However, the probability of this happening is not high. The Emperor of Han State has established a new industrial country in South America in just over 20 years. He is not a fool who only knows how to act recklessly. He must be aware of the consequences of insisting on occupying the entire Republic of Brazil. In that case, he will be besieged by the entire Western world.

Also, the British will not allow the Han Kingdom to completely destroy the Republic of Brazil. The British are more experienced than the United States in terms of the balance of power. "

After listening to Herbert's explanation, John Davis Long and others heard the subtext in his words. The middle and upper-level officers who can participate in the expeditionary fleet need not only rich battlefield experience, but more importantly, personal connections.

Among them, John Davis Long has the deepest network of contacts and is valued by the president and Secretary of the Navy Herbert. He has always been the strongest contender for the next Secretary of the Navy. If the expedition to South America goes smoothly, he will take over as the new Secretary of the Navy after Herbert retires.

Intervening in the South American war is a gilded journey with low risks and high returns. Herbert emphasized this time and again in order to prevent unnecessary accidents that would adversely affect everyone's careers.

"After the fleet sets sail, it will sail southwest, then make a brief stop in Colombia and Venezuela for replenishment, cooperate with local embassy personnel, swear to the Republic's status and power in the Americas, and safeguard the Republic's legitimate interests in the region."

"Has there been another incident with the Panama Canal?"

"Yes, some time ago, the French Interoceanic Canal Company declared bankruptcy, and the right to build the Panama Canal was temporarily shelved. This is good news for the United States to regain the right to build the canal."

Herbert continued, "Venezuela and Britain have a territorial dispute in the Guiana region. A brief visit by the expeditionary fleet to Venezuela can strengthen the United States' influence in the region and reduce the British sphere of influence in South America."

"Once the Panama Canal is successfully opened, the territories of the United States on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides can be connected by sea. The fleets on both oceans can be transferred, and the voyage can be shortened several times."

The opening of the Panama Canal is of self-evident significance to countries in North and South America, especially the United States.

As early as more than half a century ago, the United States had tried many times to get its hands on the Panama Canal, but unfortunately it had never succeeded. Now that the French company that led the construction of the canal has gone bankrupt and liquidated, the right to build the canal is once again vacant and the Americans will naturally not give up the opportunity to fight for it.

"The expeditionary fleet will only stay in Colombia and Venezuela for a few days. It will not affect the development of the situation in the Republic of Brazil. The local embassy staff will be responsible for communicating with the local government, the French, and the British. You don't need to be distracted. What you need to do is to use the time to repair and replenish the fleet. When the matter is settled, immediately head to the waters of the Republic of Brazil."

Herbert gave his final instructions: "Also, when sailing to the northern waters of Brazil, you need to cooperate with the garrisons in the northern border area of ​​the Republic of Brazil to repel the attacking Brazilian Empire troops and drive them back to the area north of the 1879 armistice demarcation line."

"Understood, Mr. Minister."

It required caution when dealing with the Han State, but when dealing with the Brazilian Empire, which had a population of only a few million, the army and navy generals of the expeditionary fleet did not worry about the expansion of the scale of the war.

(End of this chapter)