"Your Excellency, the local side has received information that the top level of the Republic of Brazil intends to cooperate militarily with the United States and to allow the United States to establish military bases in the territory of the Republic of Brazil. I wonder if your country has heard about this? ”

After talking about economic cooperation, Tang Jingsong changed his words and asked.

"Are your country's intelligence sources reliable?"

The British minister did not answer Tang Jingsong's question directly, but asked rhetorically.

"The information obtained by the local side comes from within the Brazilian Republic, and the source of the information is reliable and reliable."

"The Imperial side also received similar information a few days ago, but according to the information we have obtained, only some pro-American officials have contacted the Americans without authorization, and the top level of the Brazilian Republic has not clearly stated that it supports the plan to establish military cooperation with the United States."

The British Minister explained: "There may be some discrepancies between the information obtained by your country and the real situation, and there is no reason for the Republic of Brazil to enter into a military contract with the United States on its own at great political risk." In doing so, it is not good for their national security. ”

The British company tried its best to justify the actions of the Brazilian Republic, but in fact it also understood in their hearts that the Han side must have obtained accurate information, otherwise they would not have found out in front of him the secret contact between the Americans and the Brazilian Republic.

Excluding the separate Brazilian Empire and the territories of the two southern states occupied by the Han State, the Republic of Brazil is still the largest country in South America (including the territory of Mato Grosso do Sul, which is currently being recovered by the Republic of Brazil).

The actual territory under its control is the largest in South America, the country's total population and military strength are not bad, coupled with the support and security guarantees of the United Kingdom, objectively speaking, the international situation facing the Republic of Brazil is not bad.

However, no matter how good a country's resources, military strength, and international security guarantees are, they cannot withstand internal division and corruption. Contradictions and conflicts between different ethnic groups such as blacks, whites, Indians, mulattoes, and mestizos, as well as competition and disputes between different forces and factions such as royalists, republicans, conservatives, comprador capitalists, local separatist autonomous forces, and warlord armed forces,

The contradiction between these two main aspects involves a great deal of energy within the Brazilian Republic, making it almost impossible for them to unite and jointly meet the challenges of external forces.

Of course, the corruption and degeneration of a regime are all-encompassing, and even if the contradictions and differences between different ethnic groups are temporarily resolved, in the nature of those officials, comprador businessmen, and the emerging bourgeoisie, they will also think of other ways to use the power in their hands and the intricate interpersonal relationships to seek greater benefits for themselves.

The inherent deficiencies of culture, ethnicity, and ruling class have created the situation of division in Brazil, and it is likely to leave a bane for future demise.

From the perspective of the neutrality of an outsider, Hermes believes that the Brazilian Republic has almost become a mess, there is no strong leadership class, there is no motivation for reform and strength, and the internal army, officials, merchants and other strata have been infiltrated by the Han State and the Brazilian Empire, and if there is no encouragement and support from the British Empire, not to mention the external threat of the Han State and the Brazilian Empire, the contradictions and differences between the various ethnic groups within the country alone may also lead to the collapse and division of the republican regime.

A country with weak ruling foundations, internal contradictions, or even imminent collapse is not suitable as a stable exporter of British capital, but, for the sake of the interests of Britain's world hegemony strategy,

The Brazilian Republic cannot fall for the time being,

The Republic of Brazil is an important chess piece, bait, on the South American chessboard.

It has to be sacrificed meaningfully, it has to be able to get the same or greater value for the UK,

Otherwise, even if the top brass of the Brazilian Republic is incompetent and corrupt, the British side will try to maintain the apparent peace of the Brazilian Republic and give guarantees to the territorial integrity and national security of the Brazilian Republic.

However, the premise of all this is based on the fact that the Brazilian Republic has honestly obeyed the British security, and if the Brazilian Republic has other intentions and secretly introduces American military force to counteract the British control over them, then the British direction will also take the necessary countermeasures to punish and knock the Brazilian Republic, so that they will understand the extent of the terrible consequences they will face if they do not obey the British arrangement.

The British side not only wanted to win over the Han State against the United States, but also intended to limit the expansion of the Han State's power in order to achieve the purpose of mutual checks and balances, so Hermes's attitude towards the tentative purpose revealed behind Tang Jingsong's question was very clear and resolute: No matter how true the information obtained by the Han State was, Britain resolutely opposed the Han side's attempt to expand the scale of the war and launch an attack on the Republic of Brazil itself.

"Your Excellency, if our intelligence is true and reliable, and the top brass of the Republic of Brazil has indeed established military cooperation with the United States behind the back of the British Empire, and allowed the US Army and Navy to launch an attack on the Great Han State from the ports in the Republic of Brazil, what is your position on the Congress?"

Tang Jingsong did not intend to stop this topic, and continued to probe tentatively.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, that the British Empire will not allow such a thing to happen,

The Imperial side will solemnly inform the United States side that it is determined and stand of the British Empire to maintain peace in the Americas, and resolutely oppose any unilateral move by the United States that intends to undermine peace in South America! ”

Hermes righteously promised: "For the Brazilian Republic, the British Empire will also do its due duty, reminding the top brass of the Brazilian Republic to keep a certain distance from the United States and not to act irrationally." ”

"Thank you for your efforts to maintain peace in South America, but if things really deteriorate to the point of no return, we will take the necessary measures to eliminate the threat posed by the United States and the Republic of Brazil to the national security strategy."

"Your Excellency's fears are completely unnecessary, with the British Empire in the middle, things will definitely not develop to the point that your country expects."

The British Minister Hermes explained a few words, and then reiterated the British position: "The British Empire will personally intervene in the problems of the Americans and the Republic of Brazil to ensure that it will not affect the national security of your country.

On the other hand, however, until the events on the part of the United States and the Republic of Brazil are concluded, your country must also ensure that the war is confined to the territory of Paraguay and that it must not expand the scale of the war without authorization and spread the flames of war to the territory controlled by the Republic of Brazil itself. ”

"Of course, the local side respects the interests of the British Empire, and the Han side will not launch an attack on the mainland controlled area of the Republic of Brazil without authorization until the national strategic security is not threatened."

"Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and I suggest that for the sake of the friendship between the Empire and your country, and for the sake of peace in South America, we should find a suitable time to celebrate."

After preliminarily completing the task assigned by the British side, Hermes stood up, smiled on his face, and said politely.

"Next weekend is a good day, and when the time comes, I will go to the British Legation with my wife and visit Your Excellency in person." …………

It was late at night, and the British minister was sent out of the drawing room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tang Jingsong put on his coat and was on his way to the door of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, when Wu Zhongxian, the first-class foreign secretary who accompanied him, asked curiously: "Chief Tang, just before the British minister left, why didn't you further test the bottom line of the British?" ”

"There is no need, the strategic goals of the homeland have always been clear, and the British understand this, so it is useless to continue to test the bottom line of the British."

Tang Jingsong explained as he walked: "Young man, the diplomatic game is a university question, you will follow me to deal with affairs in the future, and you should pay more attention to observation and study." ”

"Yes, the students remember the teachings of the chief."

"Your generation has caught up with the good times, there were more than 120 students who participated in the program to study in the United States, and 70 or 80 people defected to the mainland, and some of the first batch of graduates Zhong Juncheng, Chen Peihu, Zhong Wenyao and others have grown up to become ministers in foreign countries, and can represent the local side and handle foreign affairs alone. Some have crossed the stage of internship and training and began to take up leadership positions in important departments at the bureau and department level.

Qian Wenkui, Lu Yongquan, Ouyang Geng and others in the second and third phases have also begun to work in various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local embassies in various countries, and they will soon have to enter the working state.

Since you have caught up with the good opportunity of the country's development and rise, you should seize the opportunity and work hard in the corresponding posts, and do not be complacent and waste your good years because of the advantages brought by the study abroad experience. ”

Tang Jingsong, as a senior and superior, carefully taught the young people around him, and on the other side, Hermes had just returned to the legation, and he instructed the guards who greeted him: "

Send a report to London, first, suggesting that London re-evaluate the comprehensive strength of the Han side (more than 2 million mobilizable military forces) and increase support for the Han State.

Second, in view of the unbridled expansion of American capital and the damage to imperial capital, it is advisable for London to make up its mind to give up the power to dominate the affairs of South America! And from now on, embark on a plan to phase out South America............"