I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire - Chapter 85



Only Noblemtl

Oil Industry and Population Census (4)

In October 1838, the first census of the Mexican Empire was completed.

Despite mobilizing 4,000 investigators, guards, and hundreds of civil servants, it took a full year.

The population of Mexico in 1822, immediately following independence, was estimated at 6.5 million.

‘At this point in history, Mexico’s population would have been around 7.2 million.’

The population at the time of the Mexican-American War in 1846 was recorded as 7.6 million, so the population in 1838 can be estimated to be around that number.

I took the report out of the envelope, feeling nervous as if I was checking my college entrance exam report card.

The multi-page report detailed demographic statistics by region.

‘Let’s look at this later.’

I skipped over the details and turned to the last chapter of the report, which contained the final tally of the total population.

“···10.82 million people.”

after-

I let out a sigh of relief. The numbers I expected were exceeded.

“I guess Your Majesty’s minimum expectations have been exceeded. That is fortunate.”

“That’s right. The numbers are neither disappointing nor satisfactory.”

I showed Diego the figures. They were a whopping 66% increase from 1822.

“···Isn’t this a huge population growth rate?”

Diego looked at the numbers and was amazed and told me so.

“It’s amazing. But we still have a long way to go to catch up with our neighboring country, the United States.”

“That’s true, but… I guess you think war with the United States is not far off.”

Diego, who had already talked to me many times over the years, knew that I thought war with the United States was inevitable, and he agreed to some extent.

“Yes. It will happen within 10 years at the latest.”

The population of the United States at the time of the Mexican-American War was 21 million, which would make it 17 million by now. If we calculate it that way, it would be over 70% more than in 1822.

In this world, the population will be slightly smaller than that of the US, as many immigrants who left for the US have been intercepted, but there will not be much difference.

‘Anyway, you’re saying that the population growth rate of our Mexican Empire is lower than that of the original United States.’

This figure includes the hundreds of thousands of indigenous people who were subjugated by European, American and South American immigrants, and the 300,000 Cuban population brought over from Spain. And yet this?

The low population growth rate and low population growth rate mean that the population gap with the United States is widening. However, as much as I have changed since coming to this world, the situation in the United States must have changed as well.

I calmly calculated the impact. Calculating the entire butterfly effect is an impossible task unless you are a god, but it would be convenient to organize the rough impact in advance for the future.

‘What have I done that has had a significant negative impact on America?’

There are many things related to immigration. We brought back immigrants from Europe who would have gone to the US, and the US is accepting more immigrants than in its original history. We also brought back many technicians who would have gone to the US. We also kept Texas, which was annexed by the US before the US-Mexican War.

‘Also, sending half of the Comanche tribe to the US must have had quite an impact. Looking at it this way, it seems to have had quite a negative impact. Then, on the other hand, what has the US improved in compared to its original history?’

As our Mexican Empire became more stable and financially sound, we paid off all our debts to the United States, including the high interest rates. I don’t know exactly what butterfly effect this would have, but the amount would have been enormous, so it would have been a significant benefit to the United States.

‘This one thing will significantly offset many of the negative effects. So it’s reasonable to assume that it’s not much different from the original history of the United States.’

“I need to get more details than this report. Get ready to go to the administration.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The report was nicely organized into tables, just as I had requested, but the tables only showed population numbers and sex ratios for a huge number of regions.

‘I don’t expect them to put in all kinds of charts like Hyundai, but this is too much.’

It was my fault for only deciding on the research items and methods. I will also teach them how to write reports. With that pledge, I went to the administrative office in person.

The officials were startled when I suddenly appeared, but I ignored them and continued reading the materials.

“also.”

“Your Majesty, have you found what you were looking for?”

As I muttered, Diego, who was organizing the materials next to me for easy reading, asked.

“Yeah. Look at the age breakdown of the population in this area. It’s the same in all other areas.”

“Hmm… There are a lot of people under the age of 6.”

“Yes. So the population started to grow explosively not that long ago.”

If it was six years ago, it would have been 1832.

“It was around 1830 when the landlords began to take tenant farmers out of their farms in earnest to develop the northern territories, and the European immigration company started in 1829. If we assume that the population growth rate began to increase in earnest two or three years after that, then it’s roughly correct.”

The feeling of slight disappointment disappeared, and was replaced by a feeling of anticipation.

When I personally compiled the data, I found that not only the population but also the population growth rate itself was trending upward.

‘This would be a different story.’

It could soon overtake the population growth of the United States.

There were also positive signs: while immigration-driven population growth and high birth rates among the northern self-employed farming class were encouraging, workers in urban areas were also showing significantly higher birth rates.

Although it was a loan, it was a result of the overall decline in food prices given the housing situation.

This was also a result of my own efforts. Mexico is an agricultural country, but agriculture is focused entirely on cash crops, which has led to high food prices. To improve this, I instructed that one of the pioneer immigration benefits, seed grants, be given primarily to food crops.

‘This is a satisfactory report card.’

That night, I was able to let go of my worries a little and fall into a comfortable sleep.

***

November 1838.

It’s been a month since the census results came out.

Unlike the census, which had a huge impact only on me and a very small number of people, an event occurred that would have a great impact on the entire Mexican Empire and, in the future, on people in the United States and Europe.

“So this is kerosene?”

“Yes. Many people will use this kerosene in the future.”

“Its original purpose is the same as the whale oil, right?”

“yes.”

“Hmm… The smell is a bit different.”

Cecilia, who had been living a life where oil was taken for granted, didn’t seem particularly interested, but kerosene would have a greater impact on the common people than the upper class.

After greeting Cecilia and going to work in the office, I said to Diego.

“I will pass it on to Real Inversion, and for the time being, I will increase my investment in those who want to do publishing.”

“So you’re trying to grow the publishing industry?”

Diego said as he wrote the letter.

“Yes, the practice of lighting up at night will become more common. For most people, it will be their first opportunity to utilize ‘evening time.’”

“You’re trying to prepare for the changes in our lifestyles that will come with the invention of kerosene. That’s amazing.”

Diego was amazed.

“Wouldn’t it be better to use the newly acquired time in a healthy way?”

“Yes, that sounds like a really good idea.”

I couldn’t stop people from going to bars that were open until the evening and drinking, but I figured that if I stepped forward and pushed for the option of reading, it might make a small contribution to reducing illiteracy and improving education levels.

Diego had someone deliver my instructions straight to his doorstep, and over the next three months he invested heavily in the publishing industry. But then a problem arose.

“It seems like the rumor has spread.”

“Yes, we’ve invested in over 30 publishers in the past three months, so it’s not surprising that there are rumors going around that Real Inversion is a bit more tolerant of publishing.”

This week’s finalists brought to you by Real Inversión were a whopping 40, 35 of which were in the publishing industry.

“···I can’t make you swear to keep things confidential.”

“Real Inversion’s investment also serves as a kind of certification, so if the investment is kept secret, that advantage will disappear.”

The companies that received investments from my investment firm, Real Inversion, received benefits other than the investment capital, the most important of which was the public perception that they had been chosen by the Crown Prince.

“We need to raise the standards for judging the publishing industry.”

“Yes, that would be good. I think there are many who would do it. There are people in Mexico City who are starting to understand why His Majesty is investing in publishing.”

Three months after kerosene went on sale, it wasn’t yet a nationwide phenomenon, but in Mexico City alone, the practice of lighting fires at night was becoming more common.

‘In fact, it is an inevitable phenomenon, so it is something that can be predicted even without knowing history.’

For a very long time, people who could afford it have been using oil at all costs. It is a natural desire. It has just become popular.

“Then let’s do the investment thing and the only thing left to do is change the name of the ‘Mora Mine’?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Now, they extract oil and refine it, but the name mine is a bit awkward.”

Hernando Mora suggested a mission, but didn’t give me the name he wanted. He asked me to choose, but I couldn’t think of a good name.

“Hmm… Since we are dealing with various resources including gold mines, I guess we can call it Mora Recursos.”

“Yes, that sounds like an appropriate name. I’ll pass it on.”

Mora Resources could be my biggest company in the future, because the oil industry has that much potential, and I have no intention of being satisfied with Texas.

***

In December 1838, Britain declared war on Afghanistan.

‘The First Anglo-Afghan War. But was this the correct time in the original history?’

Afghanistan is called the ‘Graveyard of Empires’. Numerous superpowers invaded Afghanistan, but withdrew without achieving their goals, or even if they occupied it for a short time, it did not last long.

News of the war did not attract much attention in Mexico, appearing only on the corner pages of some newspapers, but things soon changed.

In March 1839, news hit Mexico that the British Parliament had decided to go to war with the Qing.

I didn’t know exactly about the Afghan War until that time, but I know about the Opium War.

‘I think the real war broke out in 1840… It’s gotten quite fast.’

History was changing in earnest.

“Tsk, starting a war just to sell opium.”

“Yes, it seems Britain has some strength left over. Didn’t they start wars with two countries in succession within three months?”

Diego answered my words as if he was worried.

Diego was not the only one concerned, but many in Mexico were concerned about what would happen to France if it went to war with the large Qing dynasty, not to mention a small country, when Britain was already waging another war.

“It’s a bit sooner than expected, but wasn’t it bound to happen someday?”

I answered calmly.

France did not move until now because she had a conscience. It was because Britain was holding out, so she could not act rashly. And now, Britain is at war with not one, but two countries. France will never have a better opportunity.

The British war was shaking Mexico.