I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 128



Only Noblemtl

Mexican-American War (1)

The winter of 1845–46 was a hellish time for Ireland.

As autumn drew to a close, people who could not stand the hunger were putting anything they could eat or chew into their mouths.

Even seaweed, which we normally wouldn’t even think about eating no matter how poor we were, was eaten up and there was nothing left.

The children were starving and showing signs of malnutrition, such as bloated stomachs.

“Let’s unpack quickly.”

“yes!”

As Reginald Greenfield spoke, the staff moved quickly.

He was personally leading the relief efforts, following His Highness the Crown Prince’s order to mobilize all capabilities to address the unprecedented famine.

“Ah …

“Well, if someone saw me, they’d think I was old.”

When Reginald made a joke, his best friend and local Irish chief Liam Murphy scolded him.

“Both you and I are over fifty, so it’s time to retire.”

“Well, it took a long time.”

It started in 1828, so it’s already been 18 years.

“I’ve made enough money, and I’m starting to feel tired. The owner of our company said he’ll build us a nice house in Mexico when we retire, so I’m starting to think about retirement.”

Reginald, who lived as a detective in his youth, has a wife and children in his 40s.

‘Honestly, I thought I’d die while digging up a crime scene.’

Liam Murphy thought so. He was a friend back then, but he was a friend who took a different path from his, who worked diligently.

A Mexican prince who suddenly showed up and changed their lives completely. He ended up becoming deeply involved with the Mexican Empire and even provided cover identities to spies.

“Do you speak Spanish?”

“Of course. I learned it a long time ago, and I even hired tutors for my children.”

“Wow. You’re unusually well-prepared.”

“¿No eres así también?(Aren’t you like that too?)”

“Of course.”

After exchanging some quick Spanish jokes, they began helping the staff.

Among the employees, there were some who had been working at the immigration company from the beginning, but there were also new arrivals from Mexico.

“We have to do relief work, and we have to continue to encourage immigration. We are an immigration company after all.”

“Yes, but if we give them food first, wouldn’t the need to immigrate decrease?”

“That’s not true. The potato blight won’t end this year, and most people have already eaten up the seed potatoes because they couldn’t stand the hunger.”

Even during this time, there was a lot of immigration from Ireland to the Mexican Empire, because even before the Great Famine, Ireland was a poor and difficult place to live.

‘But that was a certain type of people.’

Even though the situation in Ireland was not good, emigration was never a mainstream option. It required the courage to leave home, relatives, and friends, as well as property. Even if it meant living on potatoes and buttermilk all year round, only a small percentage of the population would emigrate.

‘Now things have changed. The pain has passed the critical point.’

This disaster of a great famine caused even ordinary people to emigrate.

“···If things continue like this, we’ll reach 1 million people in 5 years. It might actually be possible.”

Liam Murphy, who has been touring the town, said the ridiculous figure of one million immigrants in five years was a target set by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the company’s owner.

“Yeah. At first I thought it was an absurd number, but it’s possible.”

“It’s amazing how you could have predicted this.”

“Arthur. Can a mortal understand the thoughts of a genius?”

In Ireland, several ships arrived at the port every day, carrying grain and taking immigrants.

***

It was on January 19 that the Mexican Empire received a formal declaration of war from the United States, six days after the United States decided to go to war.

The Mexican Imperial Congress resolved to go to war and read the declaration of war as if it had been prepared. In fact, everything was ready.

The ambassador to the United States returned to Mexico by ship with the declaration of war, and he also sent people to border towns with telegraph lines to announce the outbreak of war three days in advance.

The Foreign Minister officially read the declaration of war.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Mexican Empire has decided to declare war in response to the unjust declaration of war by the United States of America against our sovereign state. This declaration is a necessary step in defense of our territory and people, and of the principles of humanity and justice which have been so seriously violated by the Government of the United States.

First, let me be clear. The claim that Mexico systematically helped black slaves escape from the United States, spread by the U.S. government, is unfounded and is merely an attempt to justify aggressive policies and military action against our country. This claim is a deliberate distortion of the facts and is intended to justify the reckless and unjustifiable invasion of Mexican territory by the United States.

The illegal incursion into Mexican territory by Ensign Lucas and his reconnaissance platoon, with ten civilian slave hunters, and the shooting of the Mexican border guards despite warnings, is a clear violation of international law and the sovereignty of the Mexican Empire. This aggressive action clearly shows that the United States is prepared to go to any lengths in pursuing its expansionist and imperialist goals.

The responsibility for the present hostilities lies clearly with the United States. The actions of the United States government, which clearly violate national sovereignty and disregard human life, have forced us to exercise our right of self-defense. The Mexican Empire is engaged in this war to fulfill its solemn duty to protect its citizens and to uphold justice and principles.

Finally, we urge the American people to reflect on the moral implications of a war that supports slavery and territorial aggression. We hope that reason and humanity will prevail, that hostilities between our two countries will cease, and peace will be restored. But let it be remembered that Mexico is prepared to defend her sovereignty and the rights of her people by all means at her disposal.”

When the two countries formally exchanged declarations of war, it was Colombia that was taken aback.

I knew that the relationship between the two countries was not good, but I didn’t know that things would progress this quickly. All I heard was that they had been informed about half a year ago that war might break out.

It was Colombia that received the news on January 20, a week after the United States decided to go to war.

“Why, you’re declaring war on us without even telling us!”

President Mosquera of New Granada barely suppressed the urge to spit out his curse.

‘Pedro Herran, that crazy old man.’

He must have received bribes from the United States, seeing as he resigned without a hitch and purchased a huge farm.

“···So, it’s automatic participation?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That is what the treaty says.”

“ha···.”

President Mosquera lit a cigarette, feeling the pull in his back.

Phew-

“There is no option to not participate in the war, right?”

Even if it is an automatic entry into the war according to the treaty, Mexico has only declared war on the United States. Since New Granada is not responding, they are saying they will not provoke them first. It is dishonorable, but breaking the treaty is not completely out of the question. However, the aide shook his head.

“As a formal military ally, if we do not participate in the war, it will be considered a great dishonor. There will be diplomatic and economic retaliation.”

“Does it make sense to declare war on a formal military ally without saying anything?”

Nothing changed even if I got mad at my aide.

The sudden threat of war inflamed public sentiment and sparked heated debates in Congress, but the conclusion was that there was no way to avoid war.

I should have run away when I sensed something strange. If I did not join the war now that it had broken out, it would have meant the bankruptcy of New Granada.

It is not a bankruptcy of the economy, but a bankruptcy of trust. Betrayal of the alliance will make not only the United States but the entire international community question the reliability and responsibility of New Granada.

The American ambassador and former President Eran urged an honorable decision, and Congress ultimately decided to go to war.

January 25, 1846.

New Granada decided to go to war with the Mexican Empire and delivered a declaration of war.

The response to the declaration of war was, of course, another declaration of war, and New Granada was forced into the war. It was a disaster brought about by the greed and complacency of the previous leader.

Unlike Colombia, where the entire country was in chaos, Mexico’s ally, Prussia, was calm.

It was a distant continent, but their allies had already warned that war was coming when James Polk became President of the United States. They had even notified them a month in advance that war was certain to break out and that they should prepare.

Prussia, which had already prepared, quickly decided to go to war and declared war.

Prussia, as an honorable ally, conveyed its plan to send reinforcements to help in the war effort, but Mexico’s request was to ‘stand by.’

“Wait? You mean I don’t need to?”

“No, it doesn’t mean it’s not necessary, considering what I asked you to prepare.”

“Hmm… For now, I’ll do as you request.”

***

Bang! Tata bang!

Gunshots were heard from afar. They were new soldiers who were in the middle of training.

This is Ciudad Trinidad, the city that was once Dallas. It is the central city of East Texas, and many railroads connect to this city.

Although full-scale city construction had not yet begun and there were only temporary buildings aside from the train station, troops and supplies were being transported from all over the Mexican Empire.

Although it is quite close to the American border, I plan to direct the war from the Supreme Command established here as the Commander-in-Chief.

“What about the movements of the United States military?”

“We have now confirmed that troops have begun to mass in the eastern part of the United States.”

An agent from the Military Intelligence Service, who made an unusual appearance at a meeting of the Supreme Command, answered.

“I see. Lieutenant General Antonio.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Complete preparations for deployment by this weekend as planned.”

“It will definitely happen.”

It was the story of the 1st Corps he was in charge of. The 1st Corps was in charge of taking control of key areas and forming a front line through rapid advance as the vanguard.

Many people call me a genius, but I don’t have the genius of strategy or tactics like Napoleon. But I was confident of victory.

‘From 1822 to 1845. It took a whole 23 years to prepare.’

Some of those results were those who were present in this very tent.

Led by General Fernando, the father’s right-hand man and the Chief of Staff, the staff members actively discussed and reviewed strategies.

“If only we could control the Mississippi River…”

“Cooperation with the Navy too···.”

The Prussian staff system was introduced. I also attended a military academy, but I could not compare myself with those who served in the military for only four years.

What I could do was not devise some mysterious strategy or tactic, but create ‘favorable conditions’, and it worked.

‘There’s no need to waste your time.’

In the war of my previous life, the US mobilized 70,000 men and Mexico mobilized 80,000 men, but I mobilized only 300,000 men from the beginning. The reason the US mobilized only 70,000 men in my previous life is because Mexico was weak and did not mobilize more. The US itself does not know it, but its national power is already on par with that of the European powers. In fact, in the American Civil War that broke out in 1861, it demonstrated its tremendous power by mobilizing nearly a million men from the North and the South combined.

I have been preparing for war for 23 years, and I do not intend to be a foolish villain who wastes time on the enemy and loses. It is best to end the war quickly. I would like to mobilize more, but the empire’s economy will not be able to sustain it any longer. Soon, when the immigrants start arriving in large numbers, a second draft will be carried out.

January 24, 1846.

Although the Mexican Empire had been declared war for only five days, the recruits of the First Army Corps, who had been among the first to be deployed after the draft was issued two months earlier, had completed their basic training.

“Advance!”

“Advance!!”

A fully equipped corps of 80,000 men was dispatched under my command.

It was the beginning of the Mexican-American War.