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October 10, 1907, Santiago, Chile, inside the Presidential Palace. Chilean President Herman lescoela Suris is convening cabinet members to discuss whether to accede to China's request. His alliance with China enabled him to defeat his strong rival Pedro Montemonte in last year's election and become president of Chile. However, this also tied the fate of him and even the whole of Chile to China. And, with the support of China, Chile has been preparing for this war for several years, and almost all of its national strength has been invested in it. If it fails, Elasuris really can't imagine what will become of Chile!

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Chinese have solemnly proposed to us that their officer corps will take over the command of our country's army in the next war. They promised that after the end of the war, the command of the army would be returned to us! President Elassuris said!

"Your Excellency, we are allies with China, not vassal states of China! China has no right to ask us to surrender the command of the army! I am against letting the Chinese command our army! War Secretary Claire was the first to jump out against it. The Chinese clearly do not believe in the capabilities of the Chilean generals, which is undoubtedly an insult to them. Therefore, Claire expressed her strong opposition to this!

"Your Excellency, what is your opinion?" President Elasuris asked.

"Your Excellency, to be honest, I am also very angry about the demands of the Chinese side. However, I can understand why they would make such a request. Compared to China. Our tactics and the capabilities of our generals are far from sufficient. And our enemy is so strong that if the Chinese take over the command of our army, we will have a much better chance of winning! "Said the Minister of the Navy, Karl! This time he went to China to receive the warship, and stayed in China for two months, during which he felt the gap between the two sides deeply. Therefore, although he is somewhat dissatisfied with the Chinese demand, he is not particularly opposed!

"Carl. How can you do that? Are you still a Chilean military man? War Secretary Claire was furious, he was very dissatisfied with Carl's statement!

"Your Excellency Claire, I am only thinking that Chile will be able to win this war. If it fails, Chile is completely finished! Therefore. We have to make sure we win! Karl said sincerely.

"Humph! Is it possible to leave it to the Chinese to command, and it will definitely be able to win? Claire said dismissively.

"Claire, we have to admit that in terms of war, the gap between us and the Chinese is too great. If the Chinese command cannot win, then leave it to us to command, and there is no possibility of victory! Karl said.

Secretary of the Army, Clairton, was speechless. Although reluctant to admit it. But that's exactly what happened. It is true that the generals sent by the Chinese side are much stronger than the generals of the Chilean army and navy in terms of command quality. Claire can't deny that!

"Your Excellency, I agree that the Chinese side will take over the command of the army!" Foreign Minister Belk said suddenly.

"Why?" President Elasuris asked in surprise. Claire also stared at Belk in surprise.

"Your Excellency. If we hand over the command of the army to the Chinese, then the Chinese will be responsible for our victory in this war. Even if the war does not go well at that time, it will be the business of the Chinese. When the time comes. They will find a way to win for us! Foreign Minister Belk said with a smile.

After listening to his explanation, everyone's eyes couldn't help but light up. Since the Chinese want the command of the army. Then you have to bear the corresponding responsibility. If Chile does not win this war under the command of the Chinese, then China's image in the international community will be completely finished. In the future, I am afraid that no country will dare to continue to take refuge in China. For this reason, China must also ensure that Chile wins the war!

"I also agree that the Chinese should take over the command of the army!" Finance Minister Bartlet also said.

"The reason is very simple, the warships we bought from China, as well as the military expenses needed to expand the army and prepare war materials, all came from China's low-interest loans, and so far, there are already 300 million Chinese yuan. It is expected that after this war is fought, it will increase to 500 million Chinese dollars. We have to pay back the money. And with our current financial revenue, the root can't afford it. Therefore, we can only wage war against Argentina and Brazil, plundering from them. Otherwise, these loans alone would have brought our government to ruin! Therefore, in this war, we can only win, not lose! Finance Minister Bartlett said!

President Elasuris nodded, and after listening to everyone's opinions, he had already made a decision in his heart!

"Claire, do you have any more opinions?" President Elasuris asked.

"Your Excellency the President, if we hand over the command to the Chinese, what will the Chilean people think? What will the army think? Claire asked rhetorically!

Everyone frowned, and in this case, it would indeed appear that the government was incompetent, and it would make the prestige of their government in the hearts of the people plummet. If this is the case, even if the war is won in the end, but the next election is lost, what is the point?

"Your Excellency, this is a good solution. When we make an announcement to the outside world, we can claim that we have commanded it ourselves. But in reality, our dispatched commanders must listen to the advisers of the Chinese side! "Said the Minister of the Navy, Karl.

"Alright, let's do it! Army and navy commanders from the Chinese side have arrived in San Diego. The War Department and the Admiralty immediately set up a joint command with the Chinese side. We're running out of time and can't afford to put it off any longer! President Elasuris said. In preparation for this war, Chile's economy has been greatly affected, and if it drags on any longer, Chile is likely to be dragged down. The sooner the war starts, the sooner the war is won, the better it will be for Chile!

In the afternoon, Secretary of War Claire and Secretary of the Navy Carr met in San Diego with the officer corps sent by China. The total number of people sent by the Chinese side was less than 100, and half of them were sent by the army and navy. Among them, the army was led by Lieutenant General Yang Ming, chief of staff of the Sixth Group Army, and the navy was led by Rear Admiral Zhao Hongcai, chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Chilean side, the joint command was established within two days, and the commander of the Chilean army was Admiral Federo, the chief of staff, and the commander of the navy was Admiral Giorge, the commander of the navy. It's just that they are only nominal commanders, and all the actual orders are given by Lieutenant General Yang Ming and Major General Zhao Hongcai on the Chinese side!

On the evening of the second day after the establishment of the Joint Command, the Chinese side came up with a combat plan and held a pre-war operational meeting. Chilean President Ellasuris personally participated in the meeting.

"In this war, Chile is facing two powers, both Brazil and Argentina, which are stronger than Chile, especially in terms of land forces. Chile's only advantage is its navy. Therefore, the Navy will be the main force this time. After the start of the war, the army mainly deployed some strategic points in the Andes to prevent the Argentine Army and the Brazilian Army from attacking Chile. Wait for the Navy to defeat the Argentine Navy and the Brazilian Navy and force them both down! This is the best-case scenario. If, after the defeat of the navy, Argentina and the people do not surrender, then we will be in a bitter war. However, both the major cities of Argentina and Brazil are within the range of the navy's naval guns, and as long as the navy wins, the two countries will not hold on any longer! Lieutenant General Yang Ming said first. Whether the Chilean Army will fight Brazil and Argentina will depend on how Brazil and Argentina react after the victory of the Navy!

"General Yang, your plan is based entirely on the victory of the Navy. Although the Chilean navy is strong, the Argentine and Brazilian navies are not weak, and if they are united, we have little chance of winning! War Secretary Claire asked. He always had a pimple in his heart about handing over the command to the Chinese side!

"Of course! The following is General Zhao's introduction to the navy's combat plan! Lieutenant General Yang Ming said!

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have drawn up a battle plan for the Chilean Navy, and if this plan is implemented, Chile still has a 70% chance of winning!" Major General Zhao Hongcai said!

"Seventy percent? Wouldn't that be a win? Senior Chilean government officials and military generals who attended the meeting exclaimed.

"The specific plan is as follows: according to the information we have obtained, the warships ordered by Argentina and Brazil from France and the United States, respectively, have already left for China. Among them, the Brazilian warship will arrive in São Paulo in five days. And the warships of the Argentine Navy will not return to Buenos Aires until about fifteen to eighteen days! That's our chance. The main force of the Chilean Navy will go to the mouth of the La Platte River, intercept the Argentine Navy returning home, and sink the four advanced battleships they ordered from France! That way, we'll be able to secure victory! Brigadier General Zhao Hongcai said!

"Volleying the Argentine Navy?" Everyone was dumbfounded, this plan was too bold, if it was a Chilean admiral, it would be impossible for Gen to come up with such a risky battle plan!

"General Zhao, is this asking us to go to war without declaring it?" Claire asked with a frown!