I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 172



Only Noblemtl

The rebellion was over, but the Mexican Empire was in a state of war.

The 1st and 2nd corps of the Central Army swept across the country, arresting priests and landowners involved in the rebellion.

“I didn’t participate in the rebellion! Is it okay to arrest people without evidence?”

Millie was shocked as she saw the army swarming in front of the mansion. She had heard that things were a bit scary these days, but this was really a sight where they were slaughtering people.

“Sergio Millei. You are under arrest for ‘assisting in rebellion’, having been invited to participate in a rebellion and not reporting it to the government despite knowing that it was going to happen.”

“Aiding and abetting rebellion? If that were the case, almost every landowner in the country would be arrested. Are you crazy?”

“···The current operation was ordered directly by His Majesty the Emperor, so how dare you call Him crazy? I guess I should also add the crime of first-degree imperial blasphemy.”

As was the case with all the Central Army, this young commander was also classified as an Imperialist. He shouted loudly with his eyes wide open.

“Caught in the act! Enter the mansion and arrest the criminal!”

“That’s not it! I was just telling you guys, you crazy kids!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The soldiers didn’t even try to open the door, but instead broke it down with a sledgehammer.

“Stop it! Stay open! Stay open!”

The landowners who were taken to the local court had their hopes set on the law, but the verdict was harsher than they had imagined, as the judges were also influenced by the emperor’s anger.

There was no need to worry, because the emperor, who had sensed the rebellion from the beginning, enacted the crime of ‘assisting a rebellion’, or more precisely, the crime of ‘non-reporting treason (Encubrimiento de traición)’, which had never existed before.

There was no way to avoid this law, as it was enacted as a warning immediately after the secularization law was passed.

“I hereby deliver the verdict on the defendant Sergio Millei.

Those who were dissatisfied with the secularization policy planned a rebellion, and those who were encouraged to join in were guilty of protecting the rebels by keeping silent about the facts, which is undoubtedly a clear crime of failing to report treason.

Not only did they neglect their duty of loyalty to the country as required by law, but they also neglected the risk of treason, causing a serious threat to the maintenance of order, and this act deserves strong condemnation and punishment. The excuse that they simply remained a bystander has already lost its sincerity.

However, considering that the defendant did not participate in the rebellion and did not deny the crime and went to trial, leaving room for some leniency, the sentence is determined as follows:

“The defendant shall be sentenced to 7 years in prison. In addition, 30% of the defendant’s assets shall be confiscated and turned over to the national treasury.”

Land-land-land-

“Seven years in prison and 30% of the assets? That’s too harsh!”

Millais protested that the treatment was harsh, but the judge refused to listen, and court soldiers quickly dragged him out.

Since there were many people to judge, anyone who was wasting time was immediately dragged out.

“Now, wait a minute! I have the right to defend myself, too! Don’t I? Mr. Lawyer!”

“You have the right to appeal, not to protest. … And I’m sorry, but I don’t think an appeal is possible in this case.”

“It’s difficult to appeal?”

“The evidence is clear and the punishment is clear, so even the appeal request will be dismissed. And this is fortunate. If he had even a small role in the region, the punishment would have been doubled.”

After the administrative division of the entire empire was reorganized into four levels: province (Estado), province (Provincia), district (Distrito), and city (Ciudades) or town (Pueblo), the major titles at the district (Distrito) level went to imperial figures, but the smaller ones went to influential people who had lived in the area for a long time, most of whom were landowners.

Milley’s Hacienda was slightly smaller than the Hacienda next door and therefore did not receive the honor.

“Double? If it’s double, does that mean 60% of the property will be confiscated?”

“Not only the property damage, but also the prison sentence is doubled, 14 years.”

“Heh heh heh···.”

‘If that’s the case, I guess I’d rather join the rebellion. Compared to that, I’m a nobleman.’

Even in the midst of a gloomy situation, Millie felt somewhat at ease.

Although only a small number of those directly involved in the rebellion were invited to join, nearly half of the landowners in central Mexico were invited to join.

Only a very small number of them secretly denounced the plot to rebel, while the rest tolerated it and were eventually captured.

“No, they are guilty of aiding and abetting the rebellion. We are···.”

The situation for the clergy was even more dire.

Even clergy who had not committed rebellion or aided rebellion were subject to the confiscation of all their property under the secularization laws.

“Hey, you won’t go to jail, right? And to begin with, it was church property, not ours.”

The older priest appeased the younger clergy of the church.

“It is all God’s will that I did not listen to the offer to join the rebellion. So do not be dissatisfied and continue to follow God’s will and spread it.”

Because it was a small church with little property, no suggestions of rebellion came to this point, but the faithful believed that even that was God’s will.

When the respected priest said that, the deacon also changed his mind.

“That’s right. This is just a trial for the greater revival of the Catholic Church. As the citizens become more awakened, the resentment against the corrupt Catholic Church will only deepen. This incident has uprooted the corruption of the Mexican Church, and this is also God’s will.”

When the subtitle made a strange remark, the priest said with a joyful expression.

“amen.”

A while later.

Clergy who had not participated in the rebellion or aid to rebellion experienced extraordinary promotions.

The Vatican, which had been showing opposition to secularization, changed its stance like a ghost when the rebellion actually broke out.

The new papal bull, which arrived shortly after the end of the rebellion, contained a completely different message from the previous one.

———

Dear Mexican clergy and faithful in Christ,

Recently we have witnessed the unfortunate rebellion that has taken place in the Mexican Empire, which is not only against the will of God, but also a crime that seriously threatens the peace and well-being of the nation.

We cannot but express our deep regret and disappointment at the behavior of some clergy who participated in or assisted this rebellion. They have abandoned their calling as clergy and have neglected their duties to God and the nation. Accordingly, we will severely reprimand them according to church law, dismiss them from their clerical duties, and report the related facts to the national judicial authorities so that they may be judged according to secular law.

On the other hand, we express our heartfelt gratitude and praise for the efforts of the clergy who have remained steadfast in their loyalty to the nation and have taken the lead in maintaining peace even in times of turmoil. You have set an example as true disciples of Christ. We hope that there will be more clergy like you, and we pray that God’s grace will be abundant for you.

Dear Mexican clergy, it is true that the recently enacted secularization law has limited some of the traditional powers and privileges of the Church. However, we must recognize that this is an inevitable measure to meet the demands of the times for national integration and secularization. We must humbly accept this change and do our best to ensure that God’s will is realized in the harmonious coexistence of Church and State.

Let us all unite in prayer, overcome the confusion, and move forward toward new hope. God will never abandon those who trust in Him.

Pope Pius IX

———

The Emperor chuckled when he saw this edict, but it had great significance for the clergy of the empire.

When even the Pope told people not to resist the secularization law and to accept it, it became difficult to even raise any more objections.

Now I really had no choice but to change my mind.

***

New Granada, Cartagena Province.

When Gutiérrez and the Cartagena landowners’ association, who had been fighting the revolutionaries on the front lines, suddenly left, the revolutionaries took control of the entire Cartagena province.

The revolutionary army was divided into moderates who thought we should stop here and decide our own fate, and radicals who thought we should expand to other regions and liberate them.

“Why should we shed blood for other regions? We should just vote among ourselves to decide our fate and end it!”

The moderates were made up of native Cartagena residents and outsiders who had decided to settle in Cartagena, while the radicals were made up of people who had joined the revolution from other provinces of New Granada and native Cartagena residents who had faith in the revolution.

“If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t have accepted us! You said yes when we joined to help, but now that we’re trying to liberate our region, you say you can’t? Have you ever seen such selfish people!”

The number of people was also half and half. At first, it was almost entirely made up of natives of Cartagena, but as the influx of outsiders increased, it became half and half. The argument showed no signs of dying down easily.

“It looks like they’re splitting up.”

“You’ve only taken over a week and you’re already dividing? Those fools are just hopeless.”

“Hahaha, isn’t that good for us?”

It was a good thing for the landlords. As long as the revolutionaries stayed within the state borders and fought among themselves, the landlords could go back to their original plan and go on to raise an army.

“It’s a bit disappointing that Cartagena is gone, but with that unlucky guy Gutierrez gone, let’s do our best among ourselves.”

These were the words of the landowner who became the next presidential candidate after Gutierrez. Of course, others thought he was just as unlucky as Gutierrez, but they could not say it out loud.

The revolutionary army’s birth pangs continued for several months.

Those in the moderate group tried to end it by simply voting on their own, but opinions were divided even within the moderate group.

“No, honestly. Does it make sense to just hand over Cartagena, which we liberated, to a foreign power called the Mexican Empire?”

Greed also arose within the revolutionary army. Those who claimed that since we shed blood, we should have rights. The rights they spoke of were power.

“Then what, are you saying that we should become independent as a single state of Cartagena? In the first place, we decided that if we tried to establish a government on our own, it would only result in a weak and unstable country, so we decided to follow Panama’s example and request that we join the Mexican Empire!”

While many of the revolutionary leaders wanted to establish an autonomous state, most of the non-commissioned officers argued for joining the Mexican Empire like Panama, as originally intended.

The reunification of the revolutionary army, which had been unable to unite, was due to external forces.

“You want to join Mexico? That’s not possible!”

The Catholic Church in New Granada, which, like the landowners, had been watching the revolutionaries, was shocked to hear of the Mexican Empire’s secularization laws.

“Hey, is there such a crazy law?”

“Wait a minute, if the revolutionaries decide to join Mexico, doesn’t that apply to us too?”

The Catholic Church of New Granada, unlike the weak government, had a peculiarly centralized system of government. They decided to prevent any terrible situation that might arise.

“Brothers! We can no longer stand by and watch these ruthless traitors! If the government and the landlords cannot do anything, we will fight!”

The Church of New Granada also possessed great power, derived from vast lands and numerous peóns. This was true not only of Mexico but of all Latin America, to a lesser extent.

“The church is moving? Then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this opportunity to lend a hand. In any case, if we were to create an independent nation or overthrow New Granada, we would need to deal with the church.”

“Good idea. They haven’t entered our living room yet, but the fact that such subversive people are gathered here is a problem in itself. Let’s use this opportunity to sweep them away.”

The church and the landowners, who could be called long-time allies, have joined forces.

Even the government of New Granada was calling the revolutionary army rebels, so now the revolutionary army was fighting all of New Granada.

Faced with an unprecedented crisis, the revolutionary army had no choice but to reunite.

“So this is what happens in the end···.”

“If you think about it, it was naive to think that we could decide for ourselves.”

The moderates are gone. They have no choice but to fight, because they will be attacked from outside even if they do not step forward.

“But we still have a chance. The Mexican Empire sells us supplies cheaply.”

“But isn’t it because of the Mexican Empire that things turned out this way?”

It was true that this rebellion was caused by the Mexican Empire’s secularization laws, but it was also true that the revolution would not have been attempted without the Mexican Empire’s cheap weapons.

The revolutionary army began preparing for battle while covering up unresolved issues.