I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 178



Only Noblemtl

The founding faction fiercely opposed the merger faction’s public proposal.

“Let’s make big concessions and give the vote to women, mestizos, indigenous people, and even slaves! That’s ridiculous!”

“Right! What do those beasts know!”

“Ahem. That’s a bit···.”

“Oh, dear. I got too excited.”

“Anyway, we agree that the treatment of natives and slaves needs to be improved. However, it would be premature to give them the right to vote right now.”

As preparations were made for the vote that would decide the fate of the country, the gap between the pro-establishment and pro-annexation factions grew wider.

There were many decisions to be made regarding the vote, as the two sides had different opinions. But this one was the one that really showed the sharpest conflict.

José Ilario Lopez, who joined the annexationists, insisted that all citizens of New Granada, including women, indigenous people, and slaves, should be given the right to vote.

It was natural to oppose this because it was disadvantageous to the founding party, but they should have been careful about what they said. This was because reporters were stationed in the capital and wrote articles about what was said at the meeting.

The Nationalist backlash offended all classes except whites.

“Beasts. These crazy kids.”

“So does that mean we are half beasts too?”

This is exactly the reaction Lopez wanted.

“Look! The revolution advocated by the founding party is nothing more than an empty shell. They are just traitors who want to gain power by conforming to the existing order!”

The founding fathers were embarrassed.

“This is petty political maneuvering! Our country clearly recognizes the ownership of slaves, so how can they be citizens? If you insist on that, then you should formally form a parliament and change the law.”

“Do you recognize the right of indigenous people to vote?”

“···”

Legally, slaves were not considered people, but objects, so it was difficult to call them citizens. However, the indigenous population was different. Although many of them were called peons, who were practically slaves, they were not legally considered slaves.

The fact that the Mexican Empire had liberated over 4 million Peóns was already a well-known story in New Granada, as it had been actively promoted since the days of the revolutionary army in order to secure troops.

Indigenous population, making up 25% of the population.

Which side will they choose?

“Answer me. The natives are citizens of New Granada. They are not slaves by law, so there is no reason to exclude them from voting. Do you also think of them as ‘beasts’, Esteban?”

Lopez, a skilled politician, pushed Esteban to the edge.

Esteban hated the conservative politician who made gaffes, but it was also Esteban’s choice to draw him in.

***

New Granada was not a small country. The sun had set while they were preparing for the vote.

January 11, 1849.

The vote that will decide the fate of the country has begun.

“They even give those things the right to vote.”

The white men frowned and spoke openly. They would have beaten him if the Revolutionary Army soldiers had not been guarding the polling place.

“What kind of guy couldn’t crack down on them? He made them crawl all the way to the polls.”

It is true that the revolutionary army took control of the country, and after taking control of the capital, they absorbed the manpower of the New Granada government, but they still had great difficulty in setting up polling stations in every corner of the country. This was because the New Granada central government had never had the military or administrative power to control the whole country.

Polling stations were set up in cities and large towns in each region. While well-off whites and mestizos had no difficulty in participating, natives who were bound to their plantation owners had difficulty in getting to the polls.

The revolutionary army sent troops to each farm to order them to vote, but they could not stop the farm owners from using tricks. The revolutionary army did not know exactly how many natives were in each farm. Even when the revolutionary army soldiers came, half of them were often hidden.

The natives who arrived at the polling station could not help but look around in fear, because the white people who were usually their masters were gathered there, glaring at them and putting silent pressure on them.

“The top is the founding, the bottom is the annexation! Don’t forget. The top is the founding, the bottom is the annexation!”

The soldiers repeated their explanations for those who could not read.

The natives went into the polls hunched over, but that didn’t change their decision.

Swish-

I put a check mark below.

“Tsk tsk, it’s already over, look at those old farts messing around.”

Not all white people were privileged, and many were liberal thinkers. The city’s merchants also supported annexation for economic opportunities. Unlike the natives, who overwhelmingly voted for annexation, the white vote was split.

“what?”

“Hey, that little brat. Where are you working on the farm!”

“I work here in the city, you old fart.”

“Okay! Stop making a fuss! If you make a fuss, I’ll send you to the end of the line.”

“···”

Those who had been making a fuss were silenced by the sight of revolutionary soldiers shouting with guns drawn.

***

“Your Majesty, we have received word from Veracruz!”

The long-awaited moment.

As the time approached, even I, who had been through a lot, became nervous.

I was confident that I would win, but I had a feeling that there was a chance.

“Let me decipher it right now!”

I couldn’t hold back any longer and approached the telegraph officer. At my urging, the telegraph officer of the palace looked nervous and began to interpret each letter.

– Victory. 60% of the votes.

“at las!”

I shouted in joy for a moment, but I was not entirely happy. It was clear that the annexation of New Granada was a good thing for the empire. However, I felt a pang in my heart. No matter what my intentions were, I would not be able to escape the criticism of being a radical expansionist. In addition, there were many tasks to overcome, such as the unrest caused by rapid expansion, the reconciliation with the existing subjects, and the reorganization of local governments. I must never forget the shadow lurking behind my achievements.

“You’ve worked hard. Go out.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Director Ricardo sent out the whole body and congratulated them.

“To have brought such a great nation to fruition in this manner is a tremendous achievement, Your Majesty.”

Diego was also happy and congratulated.

“You both worked hard. I started off half-heartedly, but it’s thanks to you guys that things turned out so well.”

It was true. When we first deployed the agents, we had not even hoped for results like this.

Requests for annexation from other countries have not been unheard of throughout history. In the original history, Texas requested annexation from the United States, and Hawaii also requested annexation from the United States due to invasion by foreign powers. If we don’t go too far, let’s look at Mexico, and haven’t many regions in Central America requested annexation?

‘But this is the first time that such a large country has requested a merger through a national referendum.’

The total area of ​​New Granada is approximately 1.3 million square kilometers, which is 13 times the size of South Korea.

It is a size that is burdensome for our Mexican Empire to swallow up carelessly, but it is not an unmanageable amount.

“Now I will request negotiations.”

“Yes. There may be some subversive movements from the pro-establishment faction, but since the results of the vote have already been announced, there is nothing we can do.”

Those were Diego’s words.

“Even if a second civil war breaks out, it is obvious that the side that receives support from our Mexican Empire will ultimately win, so it is expected that they will have no choice but to comply.”

Director Ricardo also agreed.

As he said, there was nothing the founding faction could do. No matter how much emotion moves people, they were already a vested interest group that had been defeated once. They would not think of fighting again unless they were truly crazy.

“Do your best to ensure that the requests are sent as planned. We need to proceed immediately to the next reform.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

***

After nearly a month of votes, the pro-merger faction won.

The landlord and the church were at a loss.

The voting results were worse than expected, so I couldn’t even protest.

While they were feeling discouraged, the merger faction moved quickly.

Lopez advised Marquez.

“We don’t need to be humble just because it’s called annexation. We’re not asking for annexation after losing a war, but for a union between countries. Of course, we need to claim our rights as well.”

“That’s right. There has to be a certain degree of autonomy. No matter how centralized the state is, the current Mexican Empire is too capital-centric.”

“Hmm? That’s right. Santander, I didn’t know you’d say that.”

Márquez was surprised that his advisor, López, and even his friend and second-in-command, Santander, were demanding various rights from the Mexican Empire, since he had always sided with the Mexican Empire.

“You have to ask for what you want.”

Santander was firm. Lopez nodded in satisfaction at that sight.

Lopez and Santander, as if they had it all figured out in their heads, quickly began to write up a list of demands to be delivered to the Mexican Empire.

“It is time for this old peon system to disappear.”

It was Santander’s horse.

“I agree. And as you said, we need to expand the autonomy of each state. Right now, there is no state legislature, and the governor appointed by the emperor monopolizes power.”

“That’s right. And we should demand a bicameral system. The current unicameral legislature of the Mexican Empire is not without its merits, but it lacks regional representation and has serious problems with the unilateral decision-making of the majority party.”

“Wait a minute, Santander. Isn’t that too much? It could be taken as too much interference.”

Marquez, who had been listening to the conversation between Lopez and Santander, suddenly applied the brakes.

“No, we have the right to demand this much too. Don’t we?”

Santander asked Lopez. Lopez thought for a moment and then answered.

“That’s right. If they say this is too much, we can negotiate, so don’t worry.”

The Mexican side sent a message through diplomats welcoming the decision of the people of New Granada and promising active cooperation. It was natural. It was an opportunity to expand a huge territory without shedding a drop of blood.

“Hmm, then that’s fine. Let’s continue.”

***

February 1, 1849.

“I’m sorry, but from here on out you’ll have to transfer to a smaller boat.”

“It’s okay. It’s not a port, so there’s nothing we can do. Don’t worry and go quickly. You have to stop by Australia next door, so you’ll have a long way to go.”

A group of men landed in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island.

It was a deserted coastline, not an official port like the nearby Port Waikato or Kawhia Harbour.

They were explorers sent by the Mexican Empire, who got off a large ship, transferred to a small boat, and landed on land.

“Is there a possibility that they might attack out of the blue?”

It was a man with a gun. He looked like a commander rather than an explorer, and he asked the scholar next to him.

“It is very unlikely. The Maori have had contact with Europeans for almost half a century. They have fought with them on several occasions, so they may be wary of white people, but they will not attack them out of the blue.”

“okay.”

They were sent from the Mexican Empire to learn the language and culture of the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, and to interact with them.

The Maori, who still outnumbered the white people of New Zealand, a young colony, signed a treaty with Britain in 1840.

Treaty of Waitangi

A treaty signed between British Governor William Hobson and about 500 Maori chiefs, stipulating that the Maori would cede sovereignty over New Zealand to the British queen in exchange for Britain recognizing the Maori’s rights to their land and resources.

The problem was that there were differences in translation between the English and Maori versions of the treaty, which later became the cause of conflicts over land ownership, starting with the Flagstaff War in 1845 and leading to several armed conflicts.

“Hmm, then I guess it would be better if I also stepped forward when we were talking. I’m not white, so I’d be less guarded.”

He was a mestizo.

“Ahem. That doesn’t seem like a bad idea.”

“I couldn’t speak on the ship, but isn’t it much easier on our side? The number of Aborigines and white people on the Australian side is almost the same.”

Delgado, the leader, asked a question to lighten the mood.

“Haha, well, it’s just an estimate, but you could say that. Not only the population, but also the size of the land is large, so the native tribes are spread out over a wide area, so even if they support them, it won’t be easy for them to stand up to the British.”

“That’s true. But since our Pacific Fleet will provide covert support, we will ultimately have no choice but to win.”

The scholar Peralta nodded at Delgado’s words and said.

“The order has been given to clear the Pacific of Britain, and we must do it.”