North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 212 The advantage is mine
"Our Pacific Fleet has at least a 60% chance of winning...!"

Secretary of War Carlos continued, "If we can defeat that Earl Governor's army at sea, we can easily thwart America's plan to attack from both the east and west!"

"Otherwise, it would be quite difficult to defend the Isthmus of Panama, which is only a few dozen kilometers wide!"

President López Obrador nodded calmly: "A 60% chance of winning is quite good against a behemoth like the United States...!"

"Minister Carlos, how is our current land-based war deployment progressing?"

War Minister Carlos replied, "Mr. President, we are making every effort to strengthen the coastal defenses of the ports of Panama and Colon."

"Even if our two-ocean fleet fails to intercept the two American armies, it will definitely not be so easy for the enemy to directly attack or even land in the ports of Panama and Colon."

"The rest of the Panama Isthmus is covered by extremely dense tropical rainforest, which is full of unknown dangers and is not suitable for large-scale military landings."

"If the enemy's two armies dare to land directly in Panama and Colon, they will be met with a head-on blow from our coastal fortresses!"

War Minister Carlos said confidently, "In addition to reinforcing the coastal fortresses, we have also urgently mobilized five divisions, plus two cavalry brigades and four artillery regiments, totaling more than 70,000 troops, who are gradually heading to the front lines in Panama."

Carlos didn't explicitly say that these troops represent almost all of the standing forces that the New Grenada Republic can currently mobilize.

"Adding to the thousands of troops we originally deployed in the Isthmus of Panama, we will soon have an advantage of 80,000 to 65,000 on any future battlefield."

"Moreover, we are on the defensive, having the advantage of being well-rested and ready to fight, giving us a very high chance of victory! The advantage is also in our hands!"

As he spoke, Carlos drew two battle lines on the map at the location of the Isthmus of Panama: "According to our war plan, the first line of defense on land will be based at Panama and the port of Colon, and we will drive the enemy back into the sea if they attempt to land."

"Given the specific circumstances of the two American armies, we believe that the Atlantic-Cologne side will be the main battlefield."

"Therefore, we deployed a full three divisions, a cavalry brigade, and two artillery regiments, totaling about 50,000 troops, on the first line of defense in the port of Colón."

"On the other side of the Pacific Ocean—the Panama Port side—will be a secondary battlefield."

"We have deployed a division plus an artillery regiment along our first line of defense in Panama, along with coastal artillery and the mainland defense forces in the Isthmus of Panama, totaling 18,000 troops. This is enough to drive that count governor's National Guard into the sea."

Then, Carlos used his baton to draw a second line of defense across the Isthmus of Panama.

"In the event that the American army breaks through the first line of defense, we will set up a second line of defense along the Atrato River in the narrow area between the Isthmus of Panama and the Republic of New Grenada."

"We have deployed an infantry division, a cavalry brigade and an artillery regiment as the second line of defense. This force of more than 10,000 men also serves as the reserve for the first line of defense, and can cross the Atlato River at any time to support the front."

……

After the Secretary of War finished explaining the war plan, President López Obrador felt slightly relieved, and then asked in a deep voice, "If... I mean, under the worst-case scenario, neither of these two lines of defense can withstand the American army's attack...!"

Secretary Carlos continued, “Mr. President, we are also continuing to mobilize a second batch of troops nationwide.”

"This second batch of troops will number at least 50,000!"

"This mobilization force of 50,000 people will mainly consist of local garrison troops and militia."

"Once the mobilization is complete, these 50,000 troops will be deployed to the third line of defense south of the Magdalena River, directly protecting the capital, Bogotá!"

President López Obrador nodded: "When will these 50,000 troops be able to complete mobilization?"

"It will take about two weeks for us to reorganize and train them before they can go to the battlefield!" War Secretary Carlos replied.

“Very good!” Lopez nodded again, affirming the work of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of the Navy, and the Ministry of the Army, before asking, “Have you found out which side’s army ambushed that Earl Governor?”

Carlos, who had returned to his seat, exchanged a silent glance with the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Army, and finally shook his head slightly together.

"I'm sorry, Mr. President, but so far we haven't found any leads...!"

Carlos replied in a deep voice, "The only thing we can be sure of is that the ambush on that count governor was definitely not carried out by any of our army units...!"

“We personally investigated all army troop movements and operation reports from that day and prior, and no army unit could have been present at that location at that time.”

President López pondered, "If it's not our army, could it be bandits near the Isthmus of Panama?"

Carlos was still shaking his head: "After that incident, we organized an army and carried out a thorough purge of all the bandit gangs in the surrounding area."

"Through our crackdown and investigation, we have found that no bandit gang has the strength or courage to openly ambush a foreign magnate like the Earl and Governor."

"It's not our army, and it's not a bandit gang, so who could it be...?" President López's face was already showing barely suppressed anger.

"This is an utterly undeserved disaster for our republic!"

"Bang...!" President López slammed his fist on the table in anger: "Because of this undeserved disaster, our country has been forced to get involved in a bizarre war!"

"Moreover, we are facing a powerful enemy like the United States!"

War Secretary Carlos hesitated, then said, "Mr. President, in the absence of evidence, we can only infer...!"

"What conclusion?" President López pressed.

"We deduce that the blatant ambush was, in fact, a conspiracy by the United States...!"

"A conspiracy?" President López raised a thick eyebrow.

“Yes!” Minister Carlos nodded. “That ambush was too coincidental and too bizarre!”

"Therefore, we conclude that the United States orchestrated this conspiracy in order to find a pretext to declare war on us!"

"A pretext for declaring war?"

President López Obrador is a liberal political leader who has little experience with the intrigue and power struggles between nations.

Secretary Carlos continued, "The reason the United States wants a pretext to declare war is because of our Isthmus of Panama!"

"For the Isthmus of Panama? Why...?"

President López asked in surprise, "Why would America do this? We have always been a staunch ally, and during our war for independence, America provided our forefathers with very selfless support."

"Moreover, the Isthmus of Panama can now be traversed almost without hindrance by both American citizens and American goods."

"Under these circumstances, why would the United States seek a pretext for war? Why does it want to seize the Isthmus of Panama?"

Secretary Carlos replied in a deep voice, "Simply because the Isthmus of Panama is far too important to the United States!"

"After the United States seized vast swathes of western territory from Mexico, including California, Arizona, and New Mexico, the distance between the eastern and western landmasses became so great."

"Moreover, land transportation was threatened by countless Native Americans and bandits, and was both remote and dangerous. It would take at least two or three months for people in the east to reach the west by land."

"In this way, sea transportation becomes the only option between the east and west!"

"And the Isthmus of Panama, which we control, has become a vital choke point blocking the maritime trade routes between the eastern and western United States!"

"Although we are friendly nations, and although we have done our best to relax the conditions for the movement of people and goods... a greedy country like the United States will absolutely not allow its vital interests to be in the hands of others!"

Minister Carlos continued his analysis: "Moreover, whether it's goods or people, anyone wanting to cross the Isthmus of Panama must pay exorbitant customs duties to our republic...!"

"Therefore, America cannot tolerate this situation continuing!"

After listening to Minister Carlos's analysis, President López nodded slowly, as if he had just understood: "Minister, your analysis is very insightful!"

"But we have no evidence!" President López sighed. "Without evidence, we cannot prove that this war was entirely a conspiracy by the United States!"

"Without any evidence, the United States has seized the moral high ground in this war, and has a legitimate reason to wage war...!"

War Minister Carlos nodded solemnly: "Regardless, our two countries are now at war. Only by determining a winner through war can we protect the Isthmus of Panama...!" President López pressed further: "Ministers, are you confident...?"

"Yes...!" Led by War Secretary Carlos, a group of high-ranking generals stood up almost simultaneously and answered in unison without hesitation: "Mr. President, rest assured, we will definitely win this war...!"

……

"Telegram, telegram... Urgent telegram from the front!!"

Just then, the Director of the Presidential Office personally rushed into the conference room, waving an urgent battle report and sweating profusely.

"Sanchez, what telegram is so urgent...?" President Lopez asked with considerable displeasure as his chief of staff rushed into the conference room in a panic.

"Mr. President... just... just received an urgent military intelligence telegram from the port of Panama...!"

"Is that so?" After taking the urgent telegram from Director Sanchez, President López glanced at it and immediately jumped up from his seat.

"Wh...what...?" President Lopez stared at the urgent telegram in utter shock, hardly believing his eyes.

Even the president's face turned deathly pale in an instant!

"Mr. President, what happened...?" War Secretary Carlos noticed the president's unusual expression and quickly asked.

"Our... our... Pacific Fleet... was... completely annihilated...!"

"Boom...!"

Everyone present could hardly believe their ears and jumped up from their seats!
"This...this is impossible!"

"This...this is absolutely impossible!"

"The United States Pacific Fleet was not even as good as our Pacific Fleet, and it was completely wiped out... How... How could this be!"

"Mr. President, could it be... that the intelligence is wrong?"

President López, pale-faced and trembling slightly, handed the telegram to War Minister Carlos with trembling hands.

"You...see for yourselves...!"

Minister Carlos took the telegram, glanced at it, and his face turned deathly pale.

"The Pacific Fleet has been completely annihilated!"

"Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Alonso has been killed in action...!"

"Of the seventeen main warships, thirteen were sunk and four were captured...!"

"More than three thousand were killed in battle... more than one thousand were wounded or captured...!"

War Minister Carlos felt his mind go completely blank!
The light telegram paper fluttered from his hand, and he was completely unaware of it!

At that moment, he was completely stunned, standing there for a long time, unable to come to his senses.

The other high-ranking officers picked up the telegrams and read them one by one; all of them turned pale.

The huge conference room fell into a deathly silence...!
……

Meanwhile, the fleet personally led by Vic had finished clearing the battlefield and was approaching the port of Panama step by step.

Behind the California Coast Guard fleet, Commodore Hunter's Pacific Squadron followed closely behind.

"General, the previous naval battle was simply unbelievable...!"

"The strength of the Pacific Fleet of the Republic of New Grenada is about the same as ours."

"But they couldn't even fire a single shot before being completely annihilated by the California Coast Guard fleet... This completely overturned our understanding of naval warfare!"

"General, if we were to encounter a fleet like this, how should we fight to escape being completely annihilated...?"

A group of staff officers crowded onto the command platform, discussing the naval battle that had taken place not long ago.

Brigadier General Hunter stared at the California Coast Guard fleet billowing thick black smoke ahead, his brows already furrowed tightly.

"Times have changed...!"

After a long sigh, Brigadier General Hunt said in a deep voice, "Our speed is inferior to theirs, our range is inferior to theirs, our rate of fire is inferior to theirs, our firepower is inferior to theirs... Under these circumstances, we simply cannot fight a naval battle!"

"No matter who it is, under these conditions, they cannot escape the fate of being completely annihilated!"

"We can't win by fighting, and we can't escape by running away... I really don't know how to fight this battle!"

As he spoke, Brigadier General Hunter's gaze swept across the faces of the staff officers one by one: "Gentlemen, I think we have witnessed the arrival of a completely new era of naval warfare!"

"Faced with this brand-new high-speed steam warship, equipped with brand-new breech-loading rifled guns, our once proud sailing warships are nothing but clay chickens and dungeon dogs, utterly vulnerable!"

"Gentlemen, let's completely abandon the old concepts of naval warfare, completely abandon the era of sailing warships, and welcome the arrival of a brand new era of steam warships...!"

……

Meanwhile, on the command platform of the flagship "Guangzhou", a relieved Commander Viktor was receiving congratulations from everyone.

"Commander Vic, congratulations on your first expedition leading the fleet and annihilating the Pacific Fleet of the Republic of New Grenada!"

An uncontrollable smile spread across Vic's face.

For him, this naval battle was also like a young woman getting married for the first time in history.

He was once just the captain of an ocean-going merchant ship on the verge of bankruptcy.

Who could have imagined that, in just over two years, he would not only become a local tycoon with a net worth of at least tens of millions, but also become the commander of the California Coast Guard.

Under his command was the strongest fleet in the entire Americas, bar none!

Even if he encountered the American home fleet, Vic was absolutely confident that he could easily defeat it.

Possessing enormous wealth, and holding a high position with great power and influence...!
Two or three years ago, Vic never dreamed that he would soar to great heights in his middle age!
And all of this, without a doubt, was brought to her by that prospective son-in-law.

Even if Vic was feeling smug at this moment, he clearly knew that it wasn't because of his rich experience or his strong command ability.

The ability to easily annihilate the enemy fleet was almost entirely due to the fact that the fleet he led was simply too advanced and too powerful!
Perhaps this fleet is not large in number or in tonnage.

But the new steam power was so powerful that it could propel warships to unprecedented speeds.

The various caliber breech-loading rifled cannons they were equipped with far exceeded the level of that era in terms of range, rate of fire, and power.

All of this was arranged by her future son-in-law!
Vic knew all too well that he was able to achieve this day only because he stood on the shoulders of giants!
Therefore, although he had a joyful smile on his face, he still calmly said, "Instead of congratulating me, why not congratulate our governor, why not congratulate our Huamei Company...!"

"Without our governor, we would not have such a powerful warship!"

"Without our Huamei Company, we would not have been able to build such a powerful warship!"

"With such powerful warships, no matter who is in command, as long as they are not an idiot, they can win this naval battle."

"So, gentlemen, let us guard against arrogance and impatience. We still have many more battles to fight, and many more enemy ships waiting for us to sink...!"

……

Soon after, the silhouette of Panama Port became visible on the distant horizon!
Meanwhile, the fortress batteries outside Panama Port, with their countless dark cannon muzzles, were also aimed at the approaching California fleet!
(End of this chapter)