I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 82



Only Noblemtl

Oil Industry and the Population Census (1)

September 1837.

“If we investigate, we will be able to count the population of the area, but wouldn’t it be good to also investigate the security situation and industrial situation of the area?”

“Well, that would take more time, is that okay?”

“We will dispatch that many more personnel.”

“If that’s the case, then I don’t think it would be impossible.”

I was directly leading the census project. At first, I was more of a client, just providing requirements, but I gradually became more involved and took the lead in writing the overall plan.

You may wonder if it is really necessary for me, the crown prince, to personally handle such trivial matters, but I have learned something through my experiences thus far.

‘This is the fastest and most efficient way.’

The outcome of a task is important not only in terms of the ability or sincerity of the person executing the task, but also in terms of how specifically and in detail the supervisor ordered the task.

If I order something vaguely without thinking deeply about what I want, I may end up going through terrible trial and error and having to do it again.

“Is the recruitment of investigators going well?”

My question was answered by a government official who was also planning the census.

“We are still halfway to our goal. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“There’s nothing we can do. There’s no way to solve the manpower problem.”

However, it is not possible to offer high wages. In a situation where various private companies are fiercely competing for employment, it would be difficult if a government-run project causes wage increases.

“But if it’s half, then that means we’ve gathered 2,000 people.”

“Yes, we expect to be able to complete recruitment within the next month.”

The census is conducted by the government, but it is impossible to dispatch all government officials as census workers, as it requires a very large number of personnel.

I calculated how many people would be needed to survey the entire Mexican Empire. The population is small, but the land area is 50 times that of South Korea. If it were modern times, we would have a rough idea of ​​where the villages are, so we could just visit them, but that is not the case at this time. We would have to search the entire land to get an accurate figure.

We will also mobilize central and local government officials, but it is impossible to have all of them stop their original work and deploy them to the census.

That is why it is essential to hire separate investigators. The problem is the scale. Even if 500 people are hired, only 10 people will be asked to investigate an area the size of South Korea.

It’s not impossible if you give it enough time, but it’s also difficult if it takes too long.

‘It’s not the population as of 1837, it’s the population between 1837 and 1839.’

The deadline I was thinking of was at most one year. To complete the work within that time, we would need 4,000 investigators.

‘Once we get it done, the next ones will be much simpler, but this first census is going to be a huge undertaking.’

“Make sure that investigators are thoroughly trained to avoid doing the counting incorrectly or roughly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A month later, in November 1837, with recruitment and training complete, the first census of the Mexican Empire finally began.

‘Now all that’s left to do is wait. The population should be ten million.’

My guess was that it would be around 10 million, but I didn’t know until I saw the results.

In order to win the inevitable war with France, the immediate enemy, and the United States, the future enemy, population is as important as economic power.

The reason I decided to go against France was because it was a country on a different continent. If we were on the same continent, I would not have even dreamed of it.

‘If France had been our neighbor, we would have been crushed in an instant. At that time, the population was between 30 and 40 million.’

The United States is a more reasonable opponent, but in a previous life, during the Mexican-American War, Mexico had a population of 7.6 million and the United States had a population of 21 million.

My goal is to reduce this huge gap to less than 5 million before the war.

***

When the census began, I boarded a train to Morelia.

The purpose was to personally see the appearance of Imperial University, which is recruiting students ahead of its opening ceremony in March next year.

Now, two years and six months after the groundbreaking, only part of the university has been built as originally planned, and preparations are underway to open.

“Your Majesty, according to the report of Mr. Eriksen, the president of the shipbuilding company, the construction of two monitor ships will be completed in four months.”

“It looks like you overcame the technical issues.”

“Yes, and I heard that they have started building ships of the line again in the dock where they previously completed ships of the line.”

Diego reported to me on the progress of the warship construction on the train to Morelia.

“Well, the budget is ample, so the shipyards seem to be running without rest.”

“Yes, it says that this time, since I have more experience, it will be faster than before.”

It was surprising that it took less than two years to build a single battleship, but it was amazing that they could build it even faster. It was amazing productivity.

‘I guess I should send some encouragement money to the Joseon technicians and laborers soon.’

After talking about various issues like that, we arrived in Morelia.

The university, designed by Ortega Construction’s chief architect, Damian, was magnificent from its main gate.

“As Your Majesty has instructed, we have achieved a grand yet delicate style.”

Damian, who came out to greet me, said.

The main entrance to the Imperial University of Mexico consisted of two tall, majestic stone towers, separated by an elaborately carved arch.

The stone tower and arches have neo-Gothic features, creating a harmonious blend of classical elegance and modern sophistication that reflects my opinion. Each side of the tower is engraved with delicate carvings and patterns, and on both sides of the main gate stand intricately carved stone statues.

“···The main gate looks like a work of art.”

“I feel reassured when you say it like that.”

“Let’s take a look at the buildings inside too.”

“Yes, as planned, four buildings have been completed: the College of Engineering, dormitories, chapel, and library, and construction on the rest is just beginning.”

As he said, the campus was not yet beautifully decorated, and on the wide university grounds where various buildings were under construction, I saw four buildings that I had personally designed.

“Well, construction must continue, but please also pay attention to the movement and safety of the students who will be entering next year.”

“Yes, I have already made plans to change the work route.”

The Imperial University was in the midst of recruiting students, and although there were no restrictions on the qualifications for application, all applicants had to be from families with voting rights. This was due to the high cost of tuition.

‘I would like to lower tuition or give out generous scholarships, but I think there would be strong opposition to that as well.’

Even if the tuition is lower, it won’t be very effective unless you’re from the upper class, because you won’t be able to afford to spend four years studying. The reality for most people these days is that they have to work one more day to earn money.

Following his guidance, I toured the central library, the engineering school, the chapel, and the dormitories. Seeing the actual thing made me feel the thrill I felt while designing it again.

Although the architectural style itself was all the same, each building was designed to suit its purpose and characteristics, making it look like a work of art.

‘I envy the students who will attend this university in the future. I want to attend this university too.’

I visited the university with 90% expectations and 10% concerns, but it seems like I don’t have to worry anymore.

“Damian, you’ve worked hard. Please continue to do this.”

“Yes, I will do my best, Your Majesty.”

I encouraged Damian and the architects and left Morelia.

***

November 1837.

Thud!

Across the vast plains of Texas, the roar of drilling rigs echoed.

As the sun beat down hotly, I stood beneath the massive metal structure and watched the majestic machinery in action.

At the top of the drilling tower, a heavy drill bit hung from a cable. It was slowly raised to the rhythm of a steam engine, then suddenly slammed back down to the ground.

Thud!

Every time the drill bit hit the ground, a thunderous sound echoed through the surroundings, and the vibrations were felt to the tips of my toes.

‘As expected, it’s not a very efficient piece of equipment.’

The surroundings were filled with the sounds of mechanical movement: the moving of cables and pulley systems, and the constant roar of steam engines.

“Your Majesty, it is dangerous to come too close!”

Armando Peña, the manager of the Mora mine who discovered me, shouted. He was in charge of the Mora mine’s new project, oil exploration.

“Don’t worry, I won’t get any closer.”

After the drill bit struck the ground several times, the machine paused for a moment while workers cleared rock debris from the drill hole.

Armando approached me and instructed me to continue working.

“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”

“It looks like there hasn’t been any news yet.”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. Didn’t I say from the beginning that it wouldn’t be easy to find? Just keep exploring.”

It was enough for him to silently follow my orders to find something he knew nothing about called oil.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have researched the oil reserves.’

If we had known in advance, like the California Gold Rush, we wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble. But how could we have predicted that we would end up in a coma?

Since Texas was famous for its oil, they were trying to grow the oil industry a little bit faster, because the early oil industry didn’t require a lot of technology.

In fact, the first American to successfully drill for oil in 1859 in a previous life used drilling equipment similar to the one I’ve just built.

A device that uses the power of steam to lift heavy metal bits up a cable from a metal tower and then drop them back down repeatedly.

“Still, it’s already been a year and I’m sorry that there has been no result.”

He apologized to me, fidgeting as if he had committed a crime.

“I told you, it’s not your fault. It’s a process that takes a long time.”

As someone who knew what oil was and how difficult it was to drill for oil, it was only natural for me, but Armando, who knew nothing about it, seemed to think that the Crown Prince, who was known to have never failed, was not doing a good job at what he had been asked to do.

If you just sit there all day and hope for black water to come out, you’ll feel lost.

‘But we can’t give up. The profits to be made by monopolizing the oil industry are too great.’

Kerosene and gasoline may be quite profitable products, but that is not the case. The overall development of the industry brought about by oil, a highly efficient energy source, is important.

The most important of these is the internal combustion engine, the next generation power technology that will replace the steam engine and eventually eliminate it in most fields.

The internal combustion engine was an invention that had nothing to do with petroleum when it was first invented, but it was not until the petroleum industry developed that it began to be used in earnest.

“Don’t worry too much about time. If you keep looking like you are now, it will come out someday.”

It’s true that there is oil in many parts of Texas, but we’re not just digging the ground blindly believing that.

We were conducting an exploration by collecting samples and comparing them to specific areas where oil was seeping out.

“Yes, I will try hard without giving up.”

I encouraged Armando and the workers and gave them a reward.

I have no basis for this, but I have a feeling that it won’t take long. Isn’t the soil of this land already full of oil?

I even had the illusion that I could smell oil coming from somewhere.