I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 117



Only Noblemtl

Rebellion and Revolution (6)

A few days later, Republican Rep. Pedro proposed a new bill out of the blue.

It was the so-called ‘Act on the Establishment and Operation of Police Organizations’.

‘This was it.’

Congressman Robert looked at Congressman Pedro, who had arrived with an unexpected bill.

In contrast to a few days ago, Senator Pedro was preparing a speech in the plenary session of the National Assembly, while Senator Robert was looking at him from his seat among the imperialist deputies.

Congressman Pedro opened his mouth calmly.

“Dear colleagues of the Congress, I stand here today to emphasize the need for the establishment of a ‘police organization’ in our Mexico.

The term ‘police’ refers to a professional organization dedicated to maintaining public order and order. This system, which is already being successfully implemented in countries such as the UK and France, offers several advantages.

First, the existence of a police organization allows for a more specialized and efficient way of maintaining public order and responding to crime than the military. This specialization will greatly contribute to ensuring the safety of the people and reducing the crime rate.”

It was a story about specialization and increased efficiency. Senator Robert thought it was persuasive and watched the landlords’ reaction.

‘As expected. It seems the story has already ended.’

Congressman Pedro continued his talk about the merits of the police force.

“At present, the security of the Mexican Empire is mainly handled by the military. The capital area is handled by the central army, the major cities in the provinces by the local army, and other areas are handled by garrisons and militias dispatched by the central or local governments.

However, they are not experts in law or investigation. On the other hand, police organizations operate based on the law and strictly emphasize compliance with legal procedures in the process of law enforcement. This is essential to strengthen the rule of law and protect the legal rights and freedoms of all citizens.

Furthermore, by separating the military from its role in maintaining public order, the military will be able to focus more on national defense and responding to external threats. This will increase the effectiveness of national security and contribute to strengthening the military’s strategic capabilities.

In the past, there were times when a strong military force was needed to suppress the bandits and thieves that were rampant throughout the country. However, now public security has stabilized considerably, and the types of crime have also changed.

It is now time to establish a specialized agency to maintain professional and efficient security.

I ask for your deep consideration and support. Thank you.”

After Congressman Pedro finished his speech, Congressman Robert was secretly impressed.

‘You’ve prepared well.’

It was actually a good move as it gave the Mexican Empire several advantages while also keeping the imperialists in check.

In effect, isn’t this a proposal to transfer the authority and functions over public security, currently under the Army’s jurisdiction, to the Ministry of the Interior?

Since it involves taking away all of the Army’s manpower, budget, and authority to create a new organization, it can be seen that the Army’s power will be weakened to that extent.

‘There is no reason to oppose.’

The creation of new governmental structures was common in the Mexican Empire, as the country grew and so did its government.

The Immigration Office was also created relatively easily at the request of the Crown Prince, and recently, the functions of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior were separated to create the highest-level administrative department, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

If the Republicans were to unilaterally propose a bill, they could block it by tackling issues like manpower and budget, but right now it’s a give-and-take situation.

‘Besides, it seems like they’ve already reached an agreement with the landlords, so I guess we have no choice but to accept it.’

During that time, the imperialists had tried to induce conflict between the republicans and the landlords and mediate between them, but now even that had reached its limit.

The power of the imperial faction has become too strong. The members of the republican and landowner factions are not fools, and they realized that if they continue to fight each other, they may not be able to achieve anything.

Of course, the two political forces cannot completely agree on things, as there are some things they can fundamentally agree on, but if it is not such a sensitive issue, there is no reason not to cooperate in the opportunity to weaken the power of the imperial faction.

‘This is a problem I can’t decide on my own.’

“We need time to exchange opinions. Let’s vote tomorrow.”

He said that he would decide today without wasting several days.

“Okay. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

The meeting was over, and Senator Robert went to find his master, the Crown Prince.

“Let’s do that. I was already thinking that we need a police force. Instead, let’s make the head and senior officers of the newly established police organization from central military personnel. All the people who can be called investigative experts in Mexico are in the army, so there should be enough justification.”

“Yes, I will proceed accordingly, Your Majesty.”

The crown prince accepted the deal, and a deal was reached between the imperialists, republicans, and landowners.

The ‘National Police Agency’ under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the ‘Military Intelligence Agency’ under the Ministry of National Defense were launched. Two new government agencies were created.

The director and staff of the Military Intelligence Agency were filled with appointed people.

***

The battle ended in victory for the revolutionary forces.

It wasn’t simply that the revolutionary army had more men and more weapons.

The morale of the revolutionary army was sky-high, while that of the government army was at rock bottom, with hundreds of deserters deserting every night.

Some of those who deserted simply returned home, but many joined the revolutionary army. The soldiers also saw and heard things, and they sensed from the words, actions, and facial expressions of their officers that the tide was turning.

“Death penalty! Death penalty! Death penalty!”

The revolutionary forces, now a revolutionary government, entered Port-au-Prince and captured President Erard.

The revolutionary government’s judges sentenced the former president to death on all counts.

“You guys! Do you think you guys are any different?”

Those were the last words of President Erard, who had been president of Haiti for only three months.

Beginning with President Erard, who would have been Haiti’s greatest landowner had he successfully seized power, many large landowners barely managed to save their lives by surrendering all their assets or were executed after resisting to the end.

“Land for all!”

“Now we are finally liberated!”

An unprecedentedly radical ‘land reform’ policy was implemented.

“This is it, we have to farm ourselves since there are no tenant farmers.”

It was a saying among the landowners who participated in the revolution. Land was distributed to so many people, and the revolutionary army’s slogan of ‘true liberation’ seemed to be realized.

Those who had joined the revolutionary army celebrated the victory, and the people felt a nationwide atmosphere of hope for the first time in a long time.

“Hey! Today is a festival! Let’s open the warehouse!”

There were even regions where the festival was held for the first time in years.

But in contrast to that atmosphere, there was a place that was consumed by a gloomy atmosphere: the National Palace, the official presidential residence and center of government located in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

“···”

“···Teacher, let me calculate it again. Is that true?”

“···Actually, the calculation was completed a week ago. No matter how many times I recalculate, the result is the same.”

They were the main players who made the revolution successful and the leaders of the revolutionary government.

Those who should be the most joyful were in despair.

“Didn’t you say that it was like forgiving a huge amount of debt in Mexico? Did you calculate that as well?”

The leader of the revolutionary army, Albert Martin, asked the teacher in a desperate mood.

“Yes, they handed over 90 million francs of debt to Haiti and told us to pay back only 250 million pesos. Considering that the exchange rate between the franc and the peso is almost 5 to 1, it is a huge amount of money. It is an amount that can never be repaid anyway, and there is interest, so I guess they decided to do it as a favor.”

This amounts to a debt forgiveness of 200 million pesos out of a total debt of approximately 450 million pesos, but of course, Haiti did not have the money to repay even that.

“Even if we scrape together all the wealth of the big landowners, we can barely afford to pay the interest. If we can pay off even a little of the principal, then we can have hope for the future.”

In this place where more than ten people were sitting, only Albert’s lament was heard.

“···”

“···”

The national budget, which was organized based on a huge tax rate, had to pay 80% of its debt just to cover the interest.

I thought we had been ‘liberated’, but it wasn’t like that at all. It’s good that the government changed and the land was distributed, but if the tax rate continues to be so high that almost all of the farm produce is taken away, can we really say that anything has changed?

Such questions filled the minds of the people present.

“Isn’t there some way?”

“There are about three, but only one is realistic.”

“···Let’s listen to everything first. What’s the first one?”

“Winning a war against the Mexican Empire is absolutely impossible.”

“The second one?”

“Utilizing other countries that wished to check the Mexican Empire. This was more likely than the first, but it seems unlikely since the only country that could defeat Mexico at sea, Britain, has recently handed over all of its Caribbean colonies to Mexico.”

“···The last one?”

Everyone in the room held their breath and focused on what the teacher was saying.

“···We are giving up certain rights to Mexico and having our debts forgiven.”

Albert’s face turned red. But that wasn’t the only thing. Others in the room also glared at the teacher.

“That’s nonsense!”

“Give up your rights! How is that any different from selling out the country!”

Even though I didn’t curse at him because he was my revolutionary comrade, the atmosphere in the room became tense.

That was when.

“Wait a minute! Let me hear more of the story!”

The greatest rebel of the revolutionary army, Maurice Thomas, was one of the main characters in the victory. His words calmed the mood in the room.

“Teacher, please explain in more detail.”

“Gentlemen, how long will the Mexican Empire leave us alone? In any case, if we cannot pay the interest, the debt will begin to grow, and when the debt reaches a certain level, it will inevitably intervene in Haiti. Will it be possible to end it with a certain portion of the rights?”

“···”

The teacher’s words were persuasive enough, given the Mexican Empire’s expansionist moves in the Caribbean.

“Before that happens, let’s take action on our side. We can sell the rights, get the debt forgiven, and pay off the interest and principal, and then eventually get those rights back.”

After hearing that, Albert regained his composure and asked.

“What exactly do these rights mean?”

“First of all, there may be a mining development right. Other than that···”

The Haitian revolutionary government faced reality and began to struggle in a quagmire with no end in sight.

***

‘If this continues, Martin Van Buren, that Dutch bastard, will become president again.’

Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States who served as president until 1841, was once again seen as a likely candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

Although far behind Buren, James Polk, the Democratic Party’s second-best option for the presidency, was desperate.

“It’s a little early, but let’s start the support movement now.”

“Yes? The presidential election is at the end of next year, and you haven’t even been officially nominated yet.”

“What a frustrating sound! Doesn’t that place name look bad right now! So we have to do it now.”

James Polk chastised his stuffy secretary and wrote a rousing message that won the hearts of the people.

A slogan that the cowardly Buren would never dare dream of, a slogan that carries enormous risk, but that will scratch the itch of today’s Americans.

“Oregon is ours! Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!”

It was a slogan that threatened war with Britain unless the U.S. established the Oregon territory at 54 degrees 40 minutes north latitude.

America began to boil over that provocative slogan.