Chapter 261: Chapter 238: Assassination_3

After the assassination incident, the Portuguese government reacted swiftly. After successfully arresting the assassin, the Portuguese government released the information that the assassin might be from Australasia, trying to confuse the Portuguese citizens and incite hatred towards Australasia again.

Ambassador Herbert Simon, who was attending talks in London at the time, also received news from his country. After receiving instructions, he suddenly halted the talks and expressed his suspicions to Chief David.

The incident happened at a very coincidental time – King Carlos I of Portugal was assassinated just when the negotiations between Portugal and Australasia fell into a stalemate.

From this perspective, Australasia seemed to be suspicious, and many Portuguese citizens were indeed deceived. They took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with Australasia and rejoined the ranks supporting the government in going to war.

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Carlos I’s mood improved a lot, and he focused on his son, Louise.

Facing the Portuguese people’s blame game, Chief David was baffled, but he still learned the news that King Carlos I of Portugal had been assassinated.

It must be said that the assassination of Carlos I was indeed advantageous for Australasia. A chaotic Portuguese government naturally would not be determined to continue the war.

However, Chief David would not carry the blame for others in vain.

Chief David disdainfully refuted Herbert Simon’s questioning and stated that small Portugal did not need Australasia to engage in petty tricks.

The talks ended on such a note that day. Upon returning to his room, Chief David ordered his subordinates to investigate the details of Carlos I’s assassination and began spreading news extensively. He publicly disclosed all the conditions of the Kingdom of Portugal in the negotiations, belittling the brutal war the Kingdom had started. Already at a disadvantage, but disregarding the lives of Portuguese citizens, and having no genuine desire to end the war peacefully.

Public opinion was something Australasia had to control. It brought a lot of benefits to Australasia, successfully making Portugal a target in the war.

Due to the favorable impression Australasia had given to European citizens before, most Europeans were willing to believe Australasia’s words and stood on their side.

However, what really allowed Australasia to continue to maintain a lead in public opinion was not the European newspapers they controlled, but a small Portuguese newspaper.

Although it was just a small newspaper, it was quickly reprinted by many domestic newspapers in Portugal after its circulation and attracted attention from many European media outlets.

This allowed the news in this small newspaper to spread throughout most of Europe within a few days, making the content known to most European people.

The content printed in the newspaper was actually quite simple, mainly some statements from a Portuguese political party.

However, this party was the largest opposition party in Portugal at the moment. It opposed not only the Portuguese government but also the monarchy and King Carlos I of Portugal.

If the Portugal Republic Party was only known in Portugal before, its reputation had now spread throughout Europe.

An extremist member of the Portugal Republic Party openly stated that the assassination attempt on Carlos I was planned by the party. The purpose was to eliminate the biggest disaster in Portugal at present, King Carlos I, who has instigated wars and ushered in defeats.

At the same time, this Portugal Republic Party member also listed many crimes of Carlos I, such as implementing high-pressure policies in politics, turning democratic and republican Portugal into a monarchy, and disregarding the interests of the majority of common people for the sake of maintaining their ruling status.

To highlight Carlos I’s arbitrariness and barbarity, this member of the Republican Party specifically mentioned Australasia’s reaction in the war. They emphasized that Australasia’s initial request was only an apology and compensation from fishermen. However, the arrogant Carlos I instigated a war that never should have happened, causing numerous deaths of Portuguese soldiers.

Up to now, the war has caused the loss of tens of thousands of Portuguese soldiers, but the Portuguese government still has no intention of negotiating or ceasing its secret plans to counterattack, leading to more pointless casualties for the Portuguese soldiers.

Carlos I’s arbitrary and barbaric actions, as well as the authoritarian and high-pressure policies he implemented in Portugal, were the real reasons for the Republican Party’s planned assassination.