Lisbon, a simple small coffee shop, Carmona, dressed in cross-dress, is sitting at a small table, drinking coffee slowly. Because it was still early, there were not many people in the coffee shop.
Not long after, a tall young man sat down in front of Carmona. After ordering a cup of coffee, I started chatting with Carmona.
"Your Excellency, I don't know what you are thinking about." the young man asked. He is Mendes, the military attaché of German Embassy in Portugal.
Previously, Mendes had been in contact with Carmona, as well as Army Minister Cabecadas and Army Chief of Staff da Costa. It was revealed to them that Germany intended to support them in launching a coup.
This makes Cabecadas and da Costa very interested. If they can overthrow the current government and become the leader of Portugal, that is undoubtedly their dream.
In another time and space, it was these soldiers who overthrew the Portugal government a few years later and established a dictatorship governed by military rule. Carmona came from behind and ruled Portugal as a dictatorship for more than 20 years.
"Your Excellency, your Excellency the Minister and Your Excellency the Chief of Staff are very interested in your proposal. However, if we launch a military coup and overthrow the current government, Portugal's society may fall into turmoil. In that case, it will cause great harm to the entire Portugal." Carmona said.
"If you act fast enough, you should be able to calm down Portugal's political situation soon. We can provide you with a batch of weapons, equipment and funds for this coup." Mendes said.
"Your Excellency, I wonder how much help Germany can provide us?" Carmona asked.
"Twenty million Imperial Marks! And enough equipment to arm two Infantry Division." Mendes said.
Portugal's total population is only over six million, and its army is not large. The combined army and navy are less than 100,000. Carmona and others can control 80% of Portugal's army. If they launch a military coup, no one can stop them.
Twenty million Mark and two Infantry Division's equipment made Carmona very satisfied. Germany's support for them is undoubtedly very great. If a military coup is launched, the possibility of success will be very high.
"So, what does Germany need?" Carmona asked.
"Azores! We hope that after your military coup is successful, you can sell Azores to the Empire. Of course, the price will satisfy you. In the previous negotiations between our country's Foreign Minister and Portugal governments, Azores has been sold The offer has been raised to 500 million Mark. If you have no objection, then Empire hopes to buy Azores at this price. I believe that if you have the funds, you can definitely settle Portugal." Mendes said.
"Your Excellency, I will report to the Minister and the Chief of Staff." After Carmona finished speaking, he drank the coffee in the cup in one gulp and left the coffee shop.
Mendes had a smile on his lips. He believed that the conditions they gave would definitely interest the soldiers of Portugal. In this case, once their military coup is successful, Germany will be able to easily obtain Azores.
If the Portugal government had agreed to sell Azores to Germany, Germany would not have had to make these small moves. But who made the Portugal government want to be a mere wallflower and try to have both sides? That is absolutely unacceptable to Germany.
After Carmona returned, he immediately reported the conditions proposed by Germany to Army Minister Cabecadas and Army Chief of Staff da Costa.
"Twenty million Mark funds and two Infantry Division equipment can make our military strength stronger. If we launch a coup, the government will have no way to do anything to us." Chief of Staff da Costa was obviously moved.
"Germany people really only want Azores and will not interfere in Portugal's internal affairs?" Cabecadas asked. What he is worried about is that after the coup is successful, Germany will take the opportunity to interfere in Portugal's internal affairs. In that case, they may become puppets. And this is something they cannot accept. Rather than that, it is better to maintain the status quo.
"Germany people have promised that they only want Azores. Moreover, they do not want Azores for nothing, but buy Azores from us for 500 million Mark." Carmona continued.
"Azores is in our hands, it is a time bomb. Germany and Americans will put pressure on us for this. It is better to sell to Germany people can exchange it for 500 million Mark. That is a huge sum of money for us. With this huge sum of money, we can do a lot of things!" Da Costa said.
Cabecadas thought for a while and nodded. Obviously, the conditions proposed by Germany also made him very excited.
"In this case, let's agree to the Germany people! The government of Sidonio Pais cannot make Portugal peaceful, but has seriously offended the Germany people. We must save Portugal!" Cabecadas said.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Minister." Da Costa and Carmona both replied excitedly.
Subsequently, the Portugal military and Germany began secret contact.
Germany provided them with 20 million Mark funds, which they used to bribe generals and senior officers in the Portugal army so that they could support the coup.
At the same time, Germany also transported two pieces of Infantry Division equipment from China to Portugal, allowing Cabecadas's trusted troops to secretly change their equipment and improve their combat effectiveness.
By the time all these were ready, it was already February 1919. As for the secret collusion between the Portugal military and Germany, the Portugal government has no knowledge at all.
Perhaps it was because Germany stopped revealing anything after being rejected, which paralyzed the Sidonio Pais government, thinking that Germany had given up its plan to occupy Azores. They never expected that Germany's counterattack would be faster and more ruthless than they expected!
On February 8, 1919, a mutiny occurred at the Portugal Army 1st Infantry Division barracks on the outskirts of Lisbon. Subsequently, the army entered Lisbon urban area and captured Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister's Office and other government agencies.
President Sidonio Pais and other senior officials of the Portugal government were all arrested.
Army Minister Cabecadas announced that Portugal has entered a state of emergency, and he will temporarily exercise presidential power.