I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 119



Only Noblemtl

Oregon Border Dispute (2)

“’Fifty-Four Forty or Fight’? Those Americans are crazy.”

At 54 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, that’s half of British Columbia from my previous life.

As has happened in the history of the original, I thought that America in this world would not do such a crazy thing because it was so affected by the changes I brought about, but it happened.

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing for us.”

Those were Diego’s words.

“Yes. Rather, it could be called an opportunity. An opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with Britain.”

I don’t know what the chances are, but since the opportunity has come, shouldn’t we give it a try?

Now that the American people’s desire for expansion has risen to the surface and even politicians are stirring it up, I see little chance of it cooling off without incident.

‘They are currently targeting Britain, which has a legitimate cause, but would they really go to war with Britain while leaving our more vulnerable Mexico behind?’

That can’t be true.

Didn’t the Yuan Dynasty take a hard line in history and gain diplomatic benefits, but didn’t they go to war with Mexico? Mexico has become much stronger than in the Yuan Dynasty, but the comparison is to the United Kingdom.

If you ask anyone in the world, including Mexicans, they will tell you that Britain is stronger, so if America’s desire for expansion is not satisfied, they will make up excuses to target Mexico.

‘But the desire for expansion is not so easily appeased. That cursed desire can only be appeased by eating a very filling meal that is difficult to digest, or by suffering a terrible defeat in battle.’

In the end, it means that war with the United States is inevitable.

“I guess you are thinking of using this opportunity to promote a military alliance.”

“That’s right. If we hand over Oregon to the United States, it would mean opening up a path to the Pacific Ocean, so England wouldn’t be happy about it either.”

I summoned the British ambassador to Mexico.

***

“···Rejection?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There was much discussion in the home country, but it is said that they ultimately decided to reject it.”

British Ambassador, Charles Bankhead, said:

“Can you tell me why you decided to decline?”

What I proposed was that in the event of war between the United States and Mexico, instead of Mexico joining the war as an ally of Great Britain, the northern two-thirds of the Oregon Territory would go to Great Britain and the southern third to Mexico.

“The British Empire prefers to resolve such disputes diplomatically rather than through war. After comparing the military and diplomatic options under the conditions Your Majesty has proposed, I have decided that the diplomatic option is more in the interests of the British Empire.”

‘You prefer to resolve disputes diplomatically… How shameless of you to say such things when you were waging two wars simultaneously not long ago.’

However, it is also true that Britain preferred to resolve issues through diplomacy rather than military action with countries that were at odds with Britain, such as Europe and the United States.

“‘Military option under the conditions I have proposed.’ Then, are there any other conditions you would like?”

The ambassador did not say that he compared military and diplomatic options. There must be a reason why he added the modifier ‘under the Joseon I proposed.’

“As I said before, Britain is trying to resolve this issue diplomatically. But if war must be fought, our judgment is that Britain should take the Oregon Territory.”

“···If war breaks out with the United States, we, Mexico, will be the one fighting and shedding blood, but are you saying that all the benefits will go to Britain?”

“Since there was a previous secret agreement, shouldn’t Mexico take all the territories in South America? In that case, I think it would be right for Britain to take the Oregon territory.”

Ambassador Bankhead referred to a secret agreement that recognized Mexico’s supremacy over South America. But how could taking Oregon, which was considered unclaimed territory, be the same as taking territory where an independent nation exists?

“Are you going to allow it, that in order to gain the same amount of land in South America as Oregon, you would have to swallow up all of Colombia?”

The Oregon Territory we are talking about here is not simply the area that was formed by combining the former states of Oregon and Washington.

It refers to a huge area that includes half of British Columbia, Canada, most of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming. It is a territory larger than the entirety of present-day New Granada.

“We in Britain intend to respect the agreement and not interfere in the affairs of the Mexican Empire in South America.”

Britain is saying that it will tolerate it, but swallowing up an entire country is not something that can be done just by Britain’s acquiescence.

Mexico’s reputation in the international community would immediately plummet, and South American countries would become extremely wary of Mexico. On the other hand, Britain had its own justification for the Oregon Territory, so no one would say anything.

Even the specific mention of “South America” ​​meant that Mexico would not be permitted to take any other US territory, not just the Oregon Territory.

“Okay. I understand what England is thinking, so let’s just forget about this.”

I gave up negotiating because I realized a grave fact.

‘England regards our Mexican Empire with equal, if not greater, vigilance than the United States.’

It was a fact that they did not want to admit. But Britain’s attitude could not have been otherwise.

The terms I proposed were that Mexico would take a greater risk but have a smaller return, but England thought that even that small return was too big for them to give us.

It’s unfair.

How much did Mexico bow down to Britain during that time? We paid off all our debts, which were set at ridiculous amounts, like a fool, and even after winning the war against Spain and France, we asked Britain to mediate and gave them a generous reward. We allowed them to freely examine the new weapon developed in Mexico, the ironclad ship, and we made a non-aggression pact and even made a secret agreement not to invade each other’s territory.

Even though Mexico has shown such a firm stance of not being hostile to Britain, it would be reasonable to regard it as a friendly power, but Britain is wary of Mexico.

I guess I lacked the understanding of the British Empire’s sentiments as it fought a ‘war for hegemony’ while shouting about ‘European balance’.

***

Blocks near the old city center of Chihuahua City are beginning to be completed.

A university opens once it has completed construction of the necessary buildings and then builds buildings sequentially, but it would be impossible to complete a city and open it to the public all at once, right?

“Let’s start by revealing the completed blocks.”

At my direction, blocks surrounded by construction warning signs like a modern construction site were opened.

“Wow~”

“Ohh···.”

Citizens who came and saw it in person were amazed.

Well-organized blocks of land according to urban design, wide roads and sidewalks, and parks placed throughout various buildings including new government buildings with great care in design.

Even Diego, who was walking around the construction site with me, was amazed at how the streets were neatly opened up after the building materials were cleared away.

“It feels like I’m in a city of the future.”

“Hahaha, that’s great praise.”

I was a little surprised by Diego’s sentiment, but I smiled leisurely and walked along the well-organized street.

Construction is still underway in large areas on the outskirts, but a good number of blocks have been completed.

As I walked down that street that reminded me of the modern times, my slightly heated head seemed to calm down.

“I guess I took it too lightly.”

“Huh?···Oh, are you talking about England?”

Even though the story was suddenly brought up, Diego quickly understood.

“Yes. I understand, from the British perspective. In a way, it’s an obvious result.”

“What about Britain’s position? Weren’t the conditions we proposed good for Britain too?”

I explained as I walked slowly down the street.

“Britain has as much intelligence on the United States as we do. You know very well that, although America’s desire for expansion is growing stronger, it is more likely to compromise on a reasonable line than to actually declare war on Britain.”

Our northern border with Mexico is neatly defined at 42 degrees north latitude, and what the United States is demanding is 54 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, so the midpoint is 48 degrees 20 minutes.

Considering that the Yuan Dynasty compromised at 49 degrees north latitude, it is almost in the middle.

“Hmm… That’s definitely more convincing.”

“If you think you can compromise with the United States about 50/50 on the Oregon territory, why bother going to war with Mexico and dividing it up? Of course, that would have the meaning of blocking the United States’ advance into the Pacific, but if you think about it the other way around, since we’ve already advanced into the Pacific and are increasing our influence, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Britain to have the United States come out to the Pacific.”

“···So you are saying that just as we initially tried to use Mexico to check the US, we are now trying to use the US to check Mexico.”

“Yes. Just as Britain is trying to create a ‘balance in Europe,’ it is also trying to create a balance in North America.”

“So you’re saying that you want to dominate the world according to Britain’s intentions?”

“Yes. From the British perspective, which wants to maintain balance, it would be burdensome to create a firm alliance, so they would not be able to accept the proposal.”

Britain decided that it would be better to give the United States more than half of Oregon than to give us even one-third. That was my conclusion.

The plan to join hands with Britain was abandoned. Instead, the situation became one where we had to worry about British intervention.

It is unfortunate, but we already have an ally in the Mexican Empire, so it would be better to focus on that. It has the disadvantage of being difficult to expect help in the fight in America, but it is a country that can be of great help in negotiations with Britain.

In order to increase negotiating power against Britain, the most important thing is to strengthen European alliances. Isn’t that what Britain values ​​most? Balance in Europe.

It is difficult to use in its current state, but it would be different if Germany were to be unified.

“We need to work more closely with Prussia. I heard their navy is weak, so we should ask them if they’d be interested in buying old warships if they sell them cheap.”

Anyway, all the new warships are steamships. After the war with France, all the wooden ship docks were converted to steamships.

Wooden ships and steamships have very different speeds and different operating doctrines, so they are not very efficient when operated together.

“Sell off the old warships we received from Spain and France cheaply. Leave the French 120-gun ships of the line alone.”

The super-ships that were once the pride of the French Navy are so symbolic that they might as well be kept, even if they end up in a museum.

***

A letter arrived from the Mexican Empire, with which they had formed an alliance promising national unity but with which they had not had much exchange.

“You’re giving me this much for this size of fleet?”

It was a radical proposal.

No matter how much Prussia values ​​its army, it would be foolish not to accept this deal.

Although it is said to be old, compared to three years ago, isn’t it a fleet that could have become a maritime power in one fell swoop?

“Your Majesty, that’s not all. I heard that Mexico is selling steel at this price. This is a discount of more than 20% from the current international price.”

“···Then how can you sell it at this price? You’re not really selling it at a loss, are you?”

“I’m also good at that···.”

Wilhelm IV had some doubts, but saw no reason not to buy it.

He immediately gave his approval for the purchase.