January 1, 1909, at one o'clock in the afternoon, inside the Venezuelan Presidential Palace.
“The Kingdom of Brazil has declared war on us, and it’s Castro’s damn fault.
It's all this stinky shit's fault. He was the one who provoked the Kingdom of Brazil and declared the Kingdom of Assi illegal when it was first established.
Well now, Venezuela caused the war, and I will take the blame for him. "
Originally, the current president of Venezuela, Juan Vicente Gomez Chacón, was happily celebrating New Year's Day, but he soon received a blow.
After receiving Brazil's declaration of war on Venezuela, Juan felt as if he was hit by a bolt from the blue. He was furious and extremely angry.
But he does not resent Brazil, but vents his anger on his predecessor, José Cipriano Castro Ruiz.
In Juan's view, everything was Castro's fault. He regretted very much that he was indecisive and too merciful. He only launched the coup in December. The coup should have been carried out earlier.
"What do you think we should do?"
Juan Vicente Gomez, looking at the confidants who helped him come to power in a coup, are now also various high-ranking officials and ministers in Venezuela.
"President, we can't defeat Brazil, so hurry up and sue for peace!"
General Francis, the first to react, suggested to his military leader, Brazilian President Juan.
"Yes, sue for peace quickly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and contact the Brazilian ambassador immediately."
Juan is the military leader of Venezuela and the president who came to power through a military coup. Naturally, he knows everything about the military situation.
Venezuela's military power was limited to suppressing the country. Facing Brazil, the strongest country in South America, Juan knew that there was no chance of winning.
The Venezuelan army and navy have a lot of outdated weapons, and even use a large number of weapons from the Napoleonic period. With this level of military weakness, if they really want to fight Brazil, it is simply an egg hitting a stone.
The best way now is to take advantage of the 24-hour war declaration period to quickly seek peace.
If a war breaks out, Venezuela will not be able to survive for a month, or even less. Juan came to power through a coup, and his popular base is very weak, with only a bunch of Caudillos supporting him.
Caudeiros, what is this?
Damn it if you can rely on it!
Juan still doesn't know and understand these guys. Facing Brazil, the largest country in South America, they are just helpless and will not support his war at all.
These people know that the war will be lost. If they support Juan and Brazil is liquidated, the Caudillos will not be able to bear it.
Juan is very self-aware and cautious. Historically, he has been the dictator of Venezuela for 27 years.
"President, peace is impossible and Brazil will not accept it.
Ambassador of Brazil, the declaration of war that came this morning contains the content of regaining their so-called lost territory. This territorial claim is almost equivalent to half of our country's territory. "
Foreign Minister Billon is still somewhat politically alert, and he understands that Brazil is well prepared this time.
The Kingdom of Brazil not only wants to retaliate against Venezuela for its previous interference in politics, but also wants Venezuela to spit out half of its land. This battle must be fought.
How can we get half of Venezuela’s land without fighting? And it is impossible for the current military government to surrender half of the country without resistance. This is something that will shake its foundation.
Juan had no choice but to yell at Bilong angrily.
"Then what do you think we should do!?"
After listening to Bilong's words, Juan also realized that Brazil would not be kind this time. He came here for the land, but he had no choice but to be helpless and furious.
"You usually don't brag to me one by one that you are very powerful and that you are my most capable assistant. What about now?"
Juan was frightened by the war launched by the Brazilian general. He was so angry that he had no choice but to scream at his men.
“You stupid asses.
Now is the time to use you, but you can come up with a solution! "
Facing the boss Juan Vicente Gomez Chacon, everyone could only bear it silently when he asked angry questions.
Brazil is too powerful. They are people who only know how to cause trouble. Their enemies are all in Venezuela. How can they face such a big foreign enemy like Brazil? They can't come up with a solution for a while.
"President, we have only one way now, which is to ask Britain, France, the United States and Germany to intervene."
Bilong is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Although he was panicked just now, he quickly thought of a simple but very useful method.
In today's world, small countries are threatened by powerful enemies and can only seek protection from other powerful forces. Of course, this protection comes at a price.
But now is not the time to consider the cost, because if Brazil comes over, they will be directly affected and may even be in danger of their lives.
The price for Venezuela is just to cede some interests to Britain, France and the United States. Brazil wants their lives this time.
"Bilong, you still have a way. It is indeed right to choose you as the foreign minister."
Juan, who had angrily criticized Bilong just now, now praised Foreign Minister Bilong in a blink of an eye.
The Foreign Secretary's current method is the most effective and most likely to save him. There is no other method except this.
"Hurry up and contact the four major powers, Britain, France and the United States, and ask them to intervene and prevent Brazil from starting a war.
As long as there is no war, any interests you want are easy to talk about and can be discussed. "
"President, the UK has a dispute with us in the Essequibo region of Guyana. This..."
"I understand that Britain's territorial claims are recognized."
What time has it been!
Is it time to consider territorial disputes? He was almost dead, but he still told Juan about the country's territory and immediately recognized it to the British, in exchange for any help.
"Bilon, tell the British that we give up the disputed territory of Guyana, and ask them to help. Whatever benefits are needed can be negotiated."
"Yes, President"
Faced with the president's authorization, Bilong certainly had no objection to betraying national interests and quickly left to contact the four major powers.
Bilon is a high-ranking official of the dictatorial military government. He is a grasshopper in the same boat as the current government. Saving Juan is also saving himself. His life and future are much more important than Venezuela.
…
Number 10 Downing Street.
“Venezuela also knows that the world’s hegemon is Britain!
Are you usually very horizontal? Now Brazil wants to beat them, scared like quail, begging us to intervene and betraying national interests. This was not the case before.
When asking for the Essequibo region, they put national interests above heaven! "
Liberal Party leader Herbert Henry Asquith, who became British Prime Minister in 1908, scoffed at Venezuela's request for help.
"First of all, Your Excellency, do we want to help Venezuela?" the Foreign Secretary asked.
“Help Venezuela?
What are the benefits of helping this country? Brazil is huge in South America, what is Venezuela? A little lamb.
The Kingdom of Brazil is now very ambitious and has announced that it wants to be the leader of South America. What a good thing it is and it must be supported.
I remember the Monroe Doctrine in the United States. America is the America of Americans. It is so arrogant that we in the UK can turn a blind eye.
Brazil's rise is a good thing and we should support it. "
Help Venezuela, Herbert Henry Asquith was a fool to do that.
According to him, it would be better for Brazil to swallow up the small country of Venezuela, so that the Brazilian territory will face the United States across the Caribbean Sea and become a direct rival.
"Warn the United States not to let them interfere in this matter.
In the UK, by tolerating the expansion of American influence in Central America, we are already tolerant of them. We should not push ourselves too far and extend our hands to South America.
By the way, inform Germany and France not to help Venezuela.
In fact, I think they know what to do and will not help Venezuela.
When Brazil becomes stronger, it is a good thing for us in Europe. There is only one powerful country in the Americas, the United States, which is definitely not a good thing for Europe. "
