I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 155



Only Noblemtl

I thought it was just a simple fight, but a bunch of big guys came rushing in, pulled out guns, and took the man away.

“···Shouldn’t we follow along?”

“What are you going to do there? Judging by the gun you took out, I guess…”

The man trailed off.

Even though it was a city, it was difficult to carelessly mention the weight of the name of Joaquin Posada Gutiérrez, the governor of Cartagena State and one of the biggest landowners. Especially after seeing that scene just now.

This was the state of New Granada in 1847, thirty years after liberal ideas had begun to spread throughout the world.

He was practically a nobleman.

An inexplicable emotion welled up in the hearts of those listening to that conversation, but there was nothing they could do.

At that moment, Antonio Marquez, who had dared to gossip about Joaquin Gutierrez, was being dragged away by the big guys.

“Get in!”

The big man pushed Marquez hard on the back.

The big men who had pushed him into a slightly larger cart, not a carriage, mounted their horses.

His cart was drawn by horses. Five of Gutierrez’s ten men were in front of him, and five were following behind him to keep watch.

“Ugh…ugh.”

My whole body ached.

Because Gutierrez’s men had been beating him up in a group out of anger. But everything was going according to plan.

Blood covered his eyes, as if he had been torn somewhere, but he wiped them and looked outside.

It was dark outside.

It was already evening at the bar, so it was completely dark and dark.

Gutierrez’s men brought out kerosene and kerosene lamps from the Mexican Empire and lit them.

After about 30 minutes, we were already halfway there. Joaquin Gutierrez owned several haciendas, including one right next to Cartagena, the second most prosperous city in New Granada after the capital, Bogotá.

‘I trust Santander and my comrades.’

I felt a little anxious and weak, but I had no choice but to believe it since I had clearly confirmed that Santander had gotten out of it.

“Phew···.”

“Look at how scared you are already. There’s more hell waiting for you when you get there…”

bang!

A gunshot rang out. After the first shot, several more shots rang out in quick succession.

Tata tata tang!

Hehehehe!

“It’s an attack! Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

The man who appeared to be the leader of the men, the one Marquez had punched in the jaw, gave the order.

Marquez calmly assessed the situation.

‘Only two people died? There were at least 20 shots fired.’

“Over there, over there!”

A man spotted an enemy on his right and shouted.

“There’s one on the left too!”

The enemy protruded from both sides.

“Commence firing!”

There was no order to aim for any direction. They were panicked and just ordered to shoot. But the enemy was faster.

Bang! Ta-ta-ta-tang!

As Marquez lay flat on the cart’s floor, a second round of shots was fired.

Gutierrez’s men were demoralized.

“What the hell! Run forward with that guy!”

But only three were moving. The rest had already been blown out or their horses had been shot.

“Throw away the lamp too!”

In the darkness, the light from the lamp could only serve to confirm their appearance.

The man, who had been thinking that he would throw it at those guys since he was going to throw it away, threw it with all his might, but he didn’t have enough strength. He couldn’t get his posture right because he was running. But it didn’t matter.

“I survived!”

The enemies who had been ambushing him were not able to pursue him. Despite the trap, he survived. And since he had already captured his target, he would be trusted even more.

“···Target?”

“What the heck! Where did you go!”

My hands and feet were tied, so when on earth did I get out?

“Damn it. I told you to secure it to the cart!”

He could hear the captain shouting from the side, but he felt wronged. Wouldn’t it have been enough to tie up the hands and feet of the guy who had been beaten so badly that he couldn’t move properly? Everyone agreed.

“no!”

It was when he was about to appeal his grievance.

“Ah, captain! In front! Floor! Floor!”

Another surviving member shouted urgently.

It was a sledgehammer. The men had scattered sledgehammers. The men immediately pulled hard on the reins, but it was too late. It was dark, and the lamp had been thrown away, so they discovered it too late.

Hehehehe!

The horses’ screams of pain echoed. The horses stumbled momentarily in shock from the sudden pain, but fortunately, they did not fall down immediately. Instead, they began to limp, and their speed gradually slowed down, until they finally stopped.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Watch your step.”

“···Captain, it seems it’s already too late.”

There were enemies here too. When the sharp-eyed subordinate noticed, a voice was heard.

“Put the gun down.”

“···”

They already had their guns pointed at them.

“···Put the gun down.”

Gutierrez’s men threw down their guns.

***

Last night, a very ominous rumor was going around in Cartagena. More than a hundred witnesses told their friends and family what they had seen, and it was not long before the rumor spread throughout the city.

“So, you’re saying that Marquez was taken away by those supposedly subordinates of ‘that landlord’? Because he was gossiping?”

“okay.”

It wasn’t exact, but it was close.

Although Marquez was not a famous person in the city, he was the eldest son of a family that had lived in the city for a long time, and naturally he was known by many people.

“It seems that the rumors that the landowners were trying to break away from New Granada and establish their own country were true.”

“Yeah. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to react so sensitively. It’s not like it’s the first time we’ve cursed at him.”

It was as he said. The citizens of Cartagena, a port city, were the first among the cities of New Granada to be exposed to foreign culture, and naturally, liberal ideas also spread there.

It was natural that many people were critical of the owners of the haciendas in New Granada, who were virtually no different from European aristocrats and lords.

“···You guys, be careful. What if someone hears you?”

“There are only three of us here, so what are you worried about? Javier, your problem is that you’re scared.”

A contagious feeling of anger and anxiety took over the city of Cartagena in just one day.

The mood changed the evening after Marquez was kidnapped.

“Huh? Our Marquez is back?”

Until a few hours ago, he had not known Marquez, but he was delighted to hear that he had returned safely.

“···But how come already?”

“Oh, what does that matter? They’re talking about this incident in the town square, so why don’t we go together?”

Evening of March 28, 1847.

A large crowd gathered in the square of Cartagena.

Antonio Marquez, who was supposed to have returned safely, was in a mess. His clothes were soaked in blood, he was bruised and wounded in many places. He was given only basic treatment and then went up to the stage.

Amid the shocking sight, people were in an uproar, and Marquez opened his mouth.

***

British diplomat, Ambassador Richard Pakenham, notified the Mexican Empire.

“After careful consideration, the British Empire has regrettably decided not to accept the offer of the Mexican Empire to negotiate for the Oregon Country. This decision has been taken in the spirit of continued friendship and mutual respect between our two countries, but the British Empire maintains that it cannot formally recognize the Mexican claims to the Oregon Country.”

The tone was polite, but the message was firm: You Mexican Empire has no claim to Oregon Country, so don’t even think about negotiating.

“That’s quite a strong stance for Ambassador Pakenham.”

I said this while reading the report I received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It doesn’t end there.”

Diego said.

“There’s more?”

Sure enough, the back of the report contained the full text of Ambassador Pakenham’s remarks.

———

Furthermore, the British Empire has decided, after much deliberation, not to renew the non-aggression treaty between itself and the Mexican Empire, which is due to expire next year, 1848. This decision has been taken in consideration of the present and future international situation and the national interests of both countries, as part of a process of seeking a new stage in the construction of future relations between the two countries. The British Empire attaches great importance to its relations with the Mexican Empire, and hopes that this measure will not hinder peaceful and constructive dialogue between the two countries.

———

“···I don’t know what kind of nonsense they are talking about, saying they won’t extend the non-aggression pact and yet have peaceful and constructive dialogue.”

No matter how diplomatic the rhetoric may be, they are just spouting off nonsense.

“It is essentially a declaration of hostility.”

Diego cleaned it up neatly.

“This is something that could have been announced just before the renewal next year… It must be a political issue. Public opinion among the citizens of the British Empire toward our Mexican Empire is quite negative.”

The non-aggression treaty could have been extended just one day before its expiration date by notifying that it would not be extended. But they made a fuss about it now, with a year left.

It may seem absurd considering the lack of practical benefit, but it may be a more rational course of action for politicians for whom popularity is important.

“Yes, I think so too.”

The British Empire’s hard-line stance gave me no fear.

“It’s funny. How can they fight us now that America is gone? They just bark loudly without any other plan.”

When I said that, Diego didn’t seem to be shaken at all and spoke in a light voice.

“Maybe it’s because we’re of the same blood, but we do the same things as Americans.”

“Hahaha, I see.”

However, it wasn’t like there was no solution at all. After a few days, new news was heard.

“The Austrian Empire… I didn’t expect them to form a military alliance.”

It is surprising that the British Empire, which claims to be the guardian of balance, is formally allied with a European country, the Austrian Empire, which can be considered a great power.

This was more of a prestige-building measure to send a warning to our Mexican Empire than a pragmatic approach. The British Empire of the original history would have taken a more pragmatic approach.

‘I was aware of the existence of the Austrian Empire, but I thought that even if they were to participate in the war, the British Empire would persuade them to take action right before or right after the war, but it was Margrave Metternich who took action first…’

With my meager knowledge of European history, I could only identify major events, but it was impossible to predict how Metternich would move during this period.

‘This is indeed the right move for the balance of power to be achieved by the empty system.’

“But the British are incapable of sending a large army to our Mexico and maintaining it. If war really breaks out, Oregon and all of the British North American colonies will fall to us.”

Diego said so. He wasn’t wrong, but something was definitely different.

“···It is difficult for our Mexican Empire to send and maintain a large army to another continent, especially if the enemy is the British Empire. What would happen if Austria blocked Prussia’s front and Britain attacked Prussia’s coast while we were fighting at sea?”

“···I guess I can’t stand it.”

“Yes. Prussia’s growth rate is amazing, but the reality is that it is still not easy to even compete one-on-one with the Austrian Empire.”

Occupy the British North American colonies while Prussia is under attack? The British North American colonies may be huge, but they are still colonies. They are not even comparable in value to the European powerhouse Prussia.

It might seem like Mexico would benefit if we abandoned Prussia and exchanged the two, but it is not a matter to be judged so simply.

The Mexican Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia are not mere allies, but blood partners in marriage. My son’s fiancée still lives in Prussia.

If the Mexican Empire were to abandon Prussia, the prestige of the Mexican Empire and the Imperial House would be utterly destroyed, and the Prussians would forever hate Mexico for not helping their country.

“For now… Let’s wait for another time. That’s what I originally intended to do.”

“Yes, it seems that they have no intention of starting a war right away unless we come out stronger, so we just have to follow our plan.”

Everything goes as originally planned.

Even though I said that, I didn’t feel very good.