I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 61



Only Noblemtl

Universities and Slavery (2)

‘I thought it would come soon.’

The young leader of the Republican Party, Senator Pedro, came to see me.

“···So, you want me to help you establish a university? I clearly remember that our deal was to get the bill passed.”

The establishment of a secular university is something I, too, deem essential for the revival of our Mexican Empire. But for the Republicans, it is an agenda that must be realized at the risk of their lives.

In any country, in any era, college students are bound to be the most progressive group. That is why in Mexico, where landowners dislike social change and the Catholic Church have great power, there are only religious universities.

I helped pass a law establishing secular universities in return for helping pass a law introducing the metric system.

The deal ends there, and the specific implementation is up to the Republicans.

“I know. I’m not just asking for help. I want to do business like last time.”

‘It’s a deal.’

Congressman Pedro Gonzalez.

Although he has strong beliefs in republicanism, he is still a political newcomer at only 30 years old. He rose to the position of leader of the republican party in his late 20s.

It would not be easy for such a person to deal with the church forces in a situation where many of its senior figures, including former leader Chairman Raphael, have moved to the landowner and imperial factions.

Even so, you’re already trying to take the easy way out.

“I have heard that the Catholic Church is keeping you in check. But it is disappointing that you are asking me for a deal without even putting up a proper fight.”

From a republican standpoint, isn’t the royal family, which is nominally a constitutional monarchy but has the same powerful imperial power as an absolute monarch, an enemy no different from the others?

It is true that the power of the Republican Party has decreased compared to before, but even though it still has considerable power, it has not used that power, but has tried to borrow the power of me, who can be called the enemy.

“Are you disappointed?”

Congressman Pedro seemed taken aback by my words.

“Yes. Did you think that the church forces would accept it obediently once the bill was passed?”

In this Mexico, the power of the Catholic Church is strong. Everyone, regardless of whether they are imperialists, landowners, or republicans, is Catholic.

Catholicism had spread throughout Mexico over hundreds of years, and it was rare for non-Catholics to be found among whites, mestizos, and even indigenous people with vested interests who held some power in the provinces.

‘Even in the history of the Yuan dynasty, the republican government that took power pursued secular reforms only to face large-scale rebellions.’

This happened twice: the War of Reform (Guerra de Reforma) in 1857 and the War of the Cristero (La Guerra Cristera) in 1926.

There is a huge gap of 70 years between the two incidents, but surprisingly, the cause of the rebellion was the same: an attempt to weaken the vested interests of the Catholic Church.

‘It also means that the Catholic Church did not lose its power for 70 years even after losing the first war.’

If you think about it, it’s a really scary story.

“Of course I didn’t think they would just accept it so readily. But clearly they went too far.”

According to his account, church power was putting all-out pressure on the Republicans, crossing the line between legality and illegality.

Not only was there public opposition through sermons, lectures, and publications, but political pressure was also exerted on members of the National Assembly to delay the allocation of the budget needed to establish a secular university.

It was a situation where they were harassing those who were promoting the establishment of secular universities by raising groundless suspicions and spreading rumors.

‘It would be difficult for the Republican Party, which is still a young force, to deal with the Catholic Church, which has been doing this for hundreds of years.’

The Catholic know-how to condemn everything that goes against the church as immoral was not something that was built up in a day or two.

Even as I thought that, I opened my mouth in a stern voice.

“Senator Pedro, is that all you have to do? They manipulate public opinion through their sermons, lectures, and publications? Then you too should go out and give public speeches. Why are secular universities necessary? Refute the claims of the church and attack their contradictions in crying out for justice and morality.”

“···Isn’t that the same as saying that we should start a full-scale fight against the Catholic Church?”

awe.

Knowing the power the Catholic Church has in Mexico, it is natural to be afraid. What the Catholic Church does is little more than a mild warning.

If a full-scale confrontation begins, direct physical force, including threats of assassination, will be used. I am sure Senator Pedro knows this. However,

“Where is the spirit you showed me at the party? Isn’t it the job of a reformer to overcome fear? If you are under the delusion that you can achieve reform without sacrificing anything, come to your senses.”

I reprimanded him in a harsh tone.

If you are a reformer, you must fight. If you are not, you are not fit to be the head of the Republican Party.

If Congressman Pedro fails to meet my expectations and overcomes my fears, I must do whatever it takes to replace him with someone more capable.

Even if it creates a potential risk to our royal family.

“···I never imagined that I would come to ask for a deal and hear such bitter words from His Highness the Crown Prince. I feel like I’ve come to my senses.”

Congressman Pedro’s face turned red. He continued.

“What’s more frustrating is that they’re all true. I guess I’ve been thinking too much since suddenly becoming the leader of the Republican Party. Let’s pretend the deal never happened.”

‘I finally like the look in your eyes.’

“Can I ask what you plan to do?”

Congressman Pedro said with a determined look.

“I intend to properly demonstrate the power of our republican party.”

‘That’s fortunate.’

It is true that Catholicism is strong, but that does not mean that Republicanism is weak.

Although their power in this world has been greatly diminished, the explosive power of the Mexican Republicans in the original history was great.

‘The situation of a dictator emerging and being overthrown by a republican party has been repeated endlessly.’

In the process, a vicious cycle continued in which the hero who overthrew the previous dictator became a dictator again, and the first dictator, who was the starting point of this cycle, was none other than Agustin I.

But in the end, the Republicans won, and didn’t the two large-scale Catholic rebellions ultimately result in the victory of the Mexican Republic government?

The Catholic Church and the Republicans.

These two powerful forces must collide. No, as history has shown, they are essentially destined to collide.

‘But since the Republicans are relatively weak, I guess I should give them some hints.’

“If things get too intense, the royal family will intervene, so keep things in moderation.”

It was a warning not to go as far as bloodshed, and a hint that there was no need to worry about that. Senator Pedro understood that too.

“···thank you.”

“Thank you, but there’s something I need your help with. It’s something you’ll want more of.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Congressman Pedro was looking at me with an expression that said, “Didn’t we decide not to make a deal?”

‘I might as well do it while I’m here.’

“I want slavery to disappear from our empire.”

“Abolition of slavery?···His Highness the Crown Prince only says things that are difficult to predict.”

In Mexican history, slavery was abolished in 1829.

The abolition of slavery might be thought to provoke a fierce backlash from conservatives, but at least in Mexico there was little opposition.

‘That’s natural, since there are few slaves.’

After the Valladolid Controversy, enslavement of native people was prohibited.

In reality, there was exploitation through debt and missionary work, but they were not officially slaves, and there was no great burden on abolishing slavery.

Rather, this measure provoked serious opposition from Texans, who, like those in the American South, had imported large numbers of black slaves to establish their plantations.

“Your Majesty, the Republicans naturally support the abolition of slavery, but is that okay with you?”

Congressman Pedro asked:

“That’s fine. I can easily afford that. Could you please propose it first in the National Assembly?”

“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”

The abolition of slavery was delayed due to the Texas issue, but if it had been the only reason, it would have been pushed through more quickly. But in this world, one more obstacle has been created.

The stumbling block is Cuba.

It is a region that did not exist in Mexico during its original history.

Since most of the plantations in Cuba were owned by Spanish people, they became property of the Mexican Empire.

That is, the owner of the huge plantation called Cuba is the Mexican Empire government.

So I made a deal with my father and the finance minister.

Instead of freeing slaves and turning them into tenant farmers or wage laborers, they were to be supplied at discounted prices with specialized seed drills and mechanical harvesters for use on sugar and coffee plantations, as well as dams and irrigation facilities.

I calculated the profit and loss directly and showed them when my conditions were met, in the hope of persuading them.

‘With the introduction of mechanical harvesters, we can bring the manpower that is no longer needed back to the mainland to work or develop the country.’

Now that Texas has been cleared, there is no one left to oppose the abolition of slavery.

***

The next day.

The issue of secular universities, which Rep. Pedro had once again reminded me of, lingered in my mind.

‘University… I haven’t been able to deal with it because it’s not related to civil engineering, but it’s a field that has a lot of romanticism. Maybe in this world, we could build a lot of universities.’

There are so many important issues in the Mexican Empire that I need to be concerned about right now. Just to name a few, the construction of the port and shipyard in Veracruz is important, as is the Comanche problem. But the university is just as important.

‘It’s a bit urgent, especially since it takes such a long time from sowing the seeds to harvesting them.’

If we consider the ongoing conflict between the church and the Republican Party and mediate it at an appropriate time, as well as the budget preparation, securing of land, design and construction, and recruitment of professors and students, it will take at least three years and up to five years at the most just to open the school.

Since we plan to make it a four-year university, it will take seven years from now to graduate, and five years to gain some experience and achieve results, so it will take 12 years from now.

‘If I calculate it this way, it seems like we’re in big trouble if we delay any longer.’

“Cecilia. I think we’ll be going to Veracruz later, so we don’t need to pack.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I have something to do in Mexico City for the time being.”

“ah···.”

Cecilia, who had been looking forward to living together in the small honeymoon house(?) in Veracruz again soon, was a little disappointed, but there was nothing she could do about it.

If I were to create a secular university, I would design it from start to finish. It would be a huge comprehensive university that would be incomparable to the small religious universities that exist today.

‘It would be better if the school itself was beautiful.’

We will create all the necessary departments. To do that, we need professors and books that will be included in the curriculum.

‘It’s time to start recruiting talent again.’

This time, rather than targeting those with specific skills, it will be an all-out scouting of famous scholars from each country.

‘I guess I’ll have to import all the famous books up to the present day and translate them.’

I started writing a letter to Reginald in England.