The torrential rain stopped, and the fierce wind, which had howled all night, gave vent to the pent-up emotions, and gradually turned calm. The sky overhead was still gray, and thick, gloomy dark clouds migrated and rolled near the riverbank, as if to give birth to strength for the next more violent storm.

On both sides of the riverbank, where the storm passed, it was a mess.

Collapsed, leaning wooden houses, brick houses, crying and screaming children who stay near their houses, and Paraguayan women who are barefoot and dressed in shabby cloth and constantly running back and forth in the floodwaters............

The power of nature was truly displayed in front of Xiao Lope's eyes, but compared with what he saw in front of him, the damage to the fleet and the subsequent reports from all parties made him more worried and worried.

Two transport ships sank and five were damaged, 39 soldiers fell overboard and disappeared in a night storm, the situation in the state of Sulto Grosso continued to deteriorate, an infantry battalion of the 2nd Division was attacked by Indian forces, the commander of the battalion major was seriously wounded and killed, the entire infantry battalion lost 127 men, and the remaining soldiers were forced to retreat under the leadership of a captain officer.

The situation on the front and in the rear is becoming more and more unfavorable for López's regime, and before López Jr. can digest the impact of the two bad news he heard yesterday, the chief of staff of the Paraguayan army, Lieutenant General Francisco Isidoro, walked quickly to him with a telegram.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, please forgive me for disturbing your rest at this time."

"Tell me, where the telegram came from?"

"We have just received a telegram from General Hopkins that a border guard of the 4th Division of the Army, on its way out on patrol, has captured three black men who are trying to flee to the area controlled by the Brazilian army, all of whom are carrying weapons, and the soldiers of the garrison have also searched from them a military map showing the deployment of the Royal Army in the southern part of the state of Goiás."

As he spoke, Lieutenant General Isidoro handed the telegram to López Jr.

"Is the information true?"

After reading the contents of the telegram, López Jr. asked calmly.

"General Hopkins is 100 percent sure that the former black Brazilian community in southern Goiás has private ties with the Brazilian army."

"I see, order General Hopkins not to alarm the black community, and treat it as if it hadn't happened for the time being."

"However, the blacks of Goiás have already made contact with the Brazilian border defenders, and General Hopkins is worried that the southern part of Goiás may be attacked by the Brazilian army, Your Majesty, you know, there are only 8,200 men of the fourth division under General Hopkins in the southern region of Goiás, and if the Brazilian army launches a surprise attack with the assistance of the southern black community, it will be difficult for Hopkins to complete the important task of defending the southern territory of Goiás with his existing forces."

"The current situation within the kingdom does not allow us to fight the Brazilians in the other direction. Bear with us for a while, and when the rebellion in Mato Grosso do Sul is resolved, those blacks who don't know how to be grateful will feel the punishment from the Paraguayan Army! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The old male lion still retains the majesty of the overlord of the grassland, and even the little López, whose prestige, strength is declining, and his physical condition is getting worse and worse, still has power that other generals in the Paraguayan kingdom he controls.

Lieutenant General Isidoro obediently accepted the orders of López Jr., silently stood behind him, and tried his best to play the role of a loyal general.

"Go back, I'm a little tired."

After sitting on the bow deck for more than twenty minutes, Little López stood up and looked up at the black heart that covered half of the sky, but suddenly felt a heavy sense of weakness: "Is it another storm?" ”

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! ”

As his consciousness blurred, the call around him became quieter and quieter, and when López Jr. woke up again, his surroundings had changed from water to land.

"Your Majesty, you are awake."

"Where am I?"

"This is Concepción, yesterday you suddenly fainted on the ship, and the fleet encountered another storm, for your physical safety, Dr. Doug recommended that you be transferred to land for treatment, and the fleet also temporarily docked in the harbor near Concepción to avoid the storm, and repaired."

Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Isidoro stood two meters away from the bed and explained respectfully.

"Dr. Doug, how am I doing?"

Knowing what happened yesterday when he was unconscious, Lopez Jr. turned his gaze to Dr. Doug, who was closest to him.

"Your Majesty, your condition has been aggravated by the cold and wet weather on the Paraguayan River and the bumpy and rudimentary conditions on the water, and for the sake of your health, I recommend that you suspend your plan to go north to command the war, rest and adjust in Concepción for five to seven days, and wait until your condition is initially under control, and then return to Asunción for full treatment."

"No, the soldiers on the front line need the leadership of their king, and I can't abandon my promise to the soldiers on the front line and return to Asunción halfway."

Little López struggled to move a little and said resolutely: "I know my physical condition, it's just that the weather is humid and cold, and there is a little problem, and after a few days of rest, it will be fine."

The convoy and its soldiers will be in the harbor for three days for the time being, and after three days, if my physical condition improves, I will accompany you to continue to the north, and if after three days, the recovery is slow, the convoy will be led by Vice Admiral Isidoro and the commander of the naval fleet, Rear Admiral Falcon, while I will remain in Concepción and temporarily set up a central command center to command the counterinsurgency war on the front. ”

"Your Majesty......"

Dr. Doug tried to persuade him, but was stopped by Lopez Jr.,

"According to my arrangement, General Isidoro and General Falcon will go back and arrange the repair of the transport fleet and soldiers,

Lieutenant Colonel Mandeeli and the cavalry battalion took over from the 1st Guards Regiment and were responsible for the defense of the port camp.

Colonel Alonso was in charge of contacting the commander of the Concepción garrison. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." …………

Several generals and officers who were named accepted the order, and then left the room of Lopez Jr. one after another.

On the evening of the fourth day after the convoy was transferred to the port of Concepción, the day before the convoy was scheduled to depart, little López, who had remained in the port camp to rest and recover, was once again in aggravation.

Chest pain, difficulty breathing, weakness in the limbs! The intense pain from the limbs to the chest made little López have a closest to real perception of his body: "This time, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on." ”

As the oil ran out, Lopez Jr. had to consider one of the most pressing questions, even if he had all the regrets in his heart: "What will happen to Mrs. Lynch and their children after she dies?" What will be the fate of the Kingdom of Paraguay? ”

"Guards! Guardsman! ”

Little López let out several hoarse cries in a row, stimulated by the pain.

"Your Majesty!"

The guards who were in charge of guarding outside the house entered the door and saw little López lying on the bed, struggling in pain, and immediately shouted to the other guards: "Go and inform Dr. Doug and Lieutenant Colonel Mandeeli!" ”

"Yes! Sir! ”

Little López's condition deteriorated extremely, and dozens of guards close to the core of the camp hurriedly passed on information in other directions.

"Your Majesty, hold on a little longer, Dr. Doug is already here."

Two or three minutes later, Lieutenant Colonel Mandeeli and Dr. Doug, the commander of the cavalry battalion who lived around Little López, quickly arrived at the scene.

Lieutenant Colonel Mandeeli changed to a soldier, carefully leaned little López's upper body against his body, and said anxiously: "Doctor Doug! Heal Your Majesty! ”

"It's late, it's too late."

In the midst of the cacophony, there was the weak gasp of little López.

"I can't make it this time. When I die, I hope you will embrace Carlos as you did me. ”

Holding on to his last breath, López Jr. confessed to Lieutenant Colonel Manlieli: "The operational plan to support Mato Grosso do Sul was immediately suspended, and the 3rd Division stationed in Puerto Casado was ordered to retreat in response to the 2nd Division, temporarily agreeing to the political demands of the Indians, promising to give the Indians the same rights as the Mestizos (Indo-European people)."

The commander of the 4th Division, General Hopkins, was ordered to shrink his forces and strengthen the vigilance on the Brazilian side.

Major General Ames Washburn, commander of the 2nd Brigade stationed in Concepción, was ordered to lead the troops of the 2nd Brigade to join the Guards and return to Asunción with him, and then take command from Carlos. ”

Intermittently explained a few important things, and little López's blue-brown eyes gradually lost their lustre: "Tell Carlos............ Let him...... Improvement and the ............ of the Han Kingdom Relationship............ Be sure not to ............ with the Han Kingdom ...... for the enemy"

The oil lamp with its dim light was knocked to the ground, and the glass cover was shattered.

Outside the open door, a breeze blew in, and the remnants of the light could not help but flick the breeze, and the last trace of temperature was breathed.

Like a broken oil lamp on the ground, little López, who had exhausted the last bit of energy, came to the end of his life, and finally closed his eyes with reluctance to the world.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! …………”

The shouts of the officers and soldiers echoed through the wide room, but there was no response from the Paraguayan leader.

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