**Chapter 49**
The Port and Shipyard (5)
Summer of 1833.
Two months had already passed since the design of the port city was completed and construction began. Finally, what I had been waiting for arrived.
It was the "meter prototype" and the "kilogram prototype."
It had arrived, purchased from France as I had instructed.
"Why is it so late?"
I knew it wouldn't arrive until the port design was complete, but I thought it would arrive before the full-scale construction began.
"I was going to redesign everything based on the metric system and start construction."
It was later than expected, and I couldn't keep thousands of people waiting, so construction began.
"There is only one original made of platinum, so it took some time to make a copy. I apologize, Your Highness."
"Hmm. So that's how it was. It's alright."
"It's understandable that it took so long."
I thought there would be at least one copy, but apparently not. In fact, even if I had purchased a steel rod and cylinder, there wouldn't have been any major problems in using them, but I wanted the ones made of platinum.
Platinum is chemically very stable and doesn't deform or corrode over time. That's why France used platinum to create its measurement standards.
"It also has a great symbolic significance."
Today, these physical standards are no longer used. Since 2019, the kilogram is defined based on the Planck constant, and the meter is defined based on the speed of light. But that makes it even more historically valuable.
The implementation of the metric system is a significant achievement. Wouldn't it be great to show it with a physical embodiment?
"It will go to the museum later."
It would look much cooler to have platinum brought directly from France than to display a piece of iron.
"Anyway, you've worked hard. I'll make sure you get extra compensation, Captain."
"No, Your Highness. It was an honor to play a vital role in introducing the metric system to our Mexican Empire."
It is a vital role.
When I suggested to my father that we adopt the metric system, I argued that we should send a warship. I was concerned about the same situation as in the original history of the United States.
In the original history, 33 years later, in 1866, the US Congress passed a bill legalizing the use of the metric system.
As a result, the US government decided to receive accurate standards from France for the precise implementation of the metric system. However, the ship carrying these standard prototypes sank in the Caribbean Sea.
"There's a rumor that a British privateer sank it."
This is the incident that prevented the cursed yard-pound system from being eradicated until modern times. The United States did receive it again later, but that was 23 years later, in 1889.
"It's just a hypothesis, but if they had properly received the metric system prototype in 1866, the first attempt, the metric system might have been adopted in the United States."
To prevent the same tragedy as the United States, I sent a frigate, and thankfully it arrived safely.
The captain declined, saying he had only carried out his duty, but I intend to suggest a promotion and a reward to my father.
"I don't know about a promotion, but he'll probably give him a hefty reward. Now, what do we do with this?"
There was one each of the platinum meter and kilogram prototypes, and three each of the steel ones.
"Send the platinum ones to Mexico City, and send the steel ones to Mexico City, Las Truchas, and keep one here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I also enclosed a letter instructing Locke Precision Machinery to replicate the steel meter and kilogram prototypes as accurately as possible.
After sending the captain away, I gathered the architects.
"I should implement this right away."
If I don't push this new system, its adoption will be endlessly delayed.
"Even if there's some noise, I'll push through."
"Can you see this?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It's a steel rod and cylinder. What is it used for?"
"This is the standard unit of the metric system, the meter and kilogram, which our Mexican Empire has newly adopted."
"Oh... It's fascinating to see a physical embodiment like this. Honestly, the yard-pound system was a bit haphazard."
The yard-pound system does not have a defined standard prototype. Even England and the United States made standardization efforts in the late 19th century, but they were not completely successful, and regional differences still exist.
Naturally, the units used in Mexico today also vary regionally.
Ironically, the yard-pound system was redefined based on the meter and kilogram after the metric system was established.
This was a measure to ensure international consistency.
"Right now, there's almost no global standardization effort, so it's an era where everyone does their own thing."
"From now on, all length, weight, volume, and mass units in the Mexican Empire will be defined based on this metric system. Naturally, it will be applied to construction sites as well."
"Hmm, Your Highness. Having a clear standard is good, but there will be a lot of confusion for a while. After all, construction workers have trouble calculating even the yard-pound system."
One of the chief architects brought up a good point.
Those working in Veracruz now are people who have spent their entire lives farming in the Yucatan Peninsula.
In reality, they don't even know the yard-pound system properly. I was in the process of educating them while working.
"This metric system is very easy to calculate. It might even speed up the education process. I'll show you how to calculate it, so watch carefully."
I explained the calculation method of the metric system to them.
"Wow! This is really convenient. As Your Highness said, it could actually speed things up."
"Seeing 1mile = 1760yard, 1yard = 3feet, 1feet = 12inch, those crazy units, and then seeing 1km = 1,000m, 1m = 100cm, 1cm = 10mm, your eyes will open up."
As someone who originally used the metric system, I've been feeling a severe sense of dissonance every time I use yard-pound units for the past 10 years.
"You guys seem to have realized the usefulness of this metric system right away. Now, let's implement it right away."
"Yes!"
The architects, realizing its usefulness, moved enthusiastically. They began converting various blueprints to the metric system and teaching the workers about it.
"At least I can start designing the shipyard from the beginning using the metric system."
Blueprints designed in the yard-pound system don't quite match when converted to the metric system, so they don't look good.
"You guys know the usefulness of this metric system. So, use it when building ships."
I also explained the metric system to the shipbuilding engineers brought from Spain and those being trained by the navy.
"Yes, Your Highness. We're just waiting for a proper shipyard to be built, whether it's using the metric system or the yard-pound system. We want to build ships quickly."
He replied with an earnest voice.
It's been five years since these people were forcibly immigrated to Mexico from Spain. They've been treated well, but they haven't been able to work properly, so it's understandable that they're getting anxious.
"Alright. We need to design it properly first, so just wait a little longer. I'll design the shipyard itself, but since you'll be using it, I'll let you participate."
"Yes, Your Highness."
They're not construction experts. They're just users who have experience using shipyards. However, the knowledge they possess is helpful.
I came up with ways to improve the port based on what was already built, but the shipyard in Veracruz now wasn't even worth referencing, so I had to rely on the Spanish shipyard information provided by the shipbuilding engineers.
"All I know is modern stuff."
I need to create something between the early 19th-century shipyard they know and the 21st-century shipyard I know.
I don't know much about the history of shipbuilding, but I know that after wooden sailing ships came steam ships.
"Steam engines are becoming commonplace, so it's about time. That means designing a shipyard for traditional wooden ships would be a huge waste."
I need to calculate the time it takes to design and complete, plus the time for the first ship to be built. What if the paradigm shift starts during that time? There's no option but to follow. I'll have to swallow my pride and do it.
"Even if there are trial and errors, I need to design about half of the docks to be able to build steamships."
Of course, I can't completely exclude wooden ships. They will become obsolete in the future, but they will be used steadily for at least the next few decades.
Considering the demand from the private sector that the navy has requested to consider, I can't avoid building wooden ships. Not everyone can afford expensive steamships.
"Thankfully, the budget is generous."
After wasting the navy's budget for the past four years, they seem to have learned their lesson. They've placed an order for my company to handle everything.
It's an ambiguous order to build a large shipyard capable of building various types of ships.
They're leaving the specifications and design entirely to me, but they'll give me the budget to match. My father probably instructed the navy to do this.
"Isn't the crown prince taking advantage of me too much?"
There are many things to consider when designing a shipyard, but the most important is the number of docks, which is directly related to the shipyard's productivity.
The docks themselves are not all the same, and they can be classified into small, medium, and large sizes. Determining the number of these docks is the biggest challenge.
"Shouldn't the party placing the order decide this...? If I could easily get information from other countries, it would be great, but the only information I have is from Spain."
Even the Spanish shipbuilding engineers' words were ambiguous.
They had a wide range of shipyards, from small ones with 1-2 docks to large ones with 8-12 docks.
Spain is no longer our enemy, the Mexican Empire. Our potential enemies are the great powers like the United States, France, and England.
They have multiple large shipyards and dozens of small shipyards.
Ultimately, our goal should be to catch up with them and surpass them.
"The government doesn't lack money, and there's no shortage of demand. So, I'll go for it."
Currently, the Mexican Empire has a very high demand for ships from all sectors: private, government, and military.
After much deliberation, I decided.
"Five small docks, four medium docks, and three large docks."
Even by the standards of a powerful nation, this is a size that would be considered large.
"Your Highness, that's more than twice the size of the previous plan. Wouldn't it be better to build it smaller first and then expand later?"
It's a reasonable opinion. However, if this ship supply issue even slightly undermines the explosive economic growth of the Mexican Empire, that would be a bigger risk.
Here, we need to maintain this growth rate, even if we take risks.
"No, the demand for ships is sufficient, so we'll go with this. I'll take full responsibility."
"Don't forget, our main enemy is the United States."
The United States is still a young nation, but its growth rate is the highest in the world. We need to keep up with them.
****
After spending busy days building the port and shipyard for months, I suddenly remembered that I had established an immigration office in Veracruz.
It's a government department that I personally suggested and appointed the head of, the Immigration Office.
"His name was... Rodolfo, wasn't it? He suggested administrative immigration. It wouldn't hurt to visit."
I visited the Immigration Office.
"So, administrative and urban immigration now comes to Veracruz, and pioneer immigration is sent to the port of Texas?"
He said that pioneer immigrants are going directly to Texas from Europe.
"Yes, Your Highness. At the time, Your Highness instructed us to do so, so we took that action."
I did say that at the time.
It's better to settle them directly in Texas, which has a lot of vacant land, and it's a little closer when sending them to California.
"Good job. Is there anything lacking?"
"Yes, thanks to your generous support of administrative staff, we have been able to carry out our duties smoothly. Thank you, Your Highness."
"That's good. By the way, Texas, what port exactly are you referring to?"
"We're sending them to Galveston."
"I see."
Currently, 30% of pioneer immigrants are settling in Texas and 70% in California.
Texas is larger than California, but there were also immigrants coming from the United States, so it was to balance things out.
"Texas..."
In the original history, it rebelled and gained independence, ultimately requesting voluntary annexation by the United States.
In this world, to prevent that situation, I drastically reduced the benefits I gave to immigrants, encouraged Mexican settlement, and sent many governors and officials.
"Hmm... I should still check it out."
Just because I've made plans doesn't mean it's over.
Wasn't there also the California Native American issue?
I knew there were Native Americans in California, and I knew they could attack. So, I sent guards to each settlement and set up branches of Rios Express in each village with guards stationed there.
"But I ultimately misjudged the scale of the Native Americans. I was thinking in terms of the future and didn't verify the information in reality."
I've made plans for Texas, but how do I know if another variable has occurred?
During the Chumash incident, I only found out after several small incidents had already occurred. I responded immediately after finding out, but it was already after a major incident had happened.
To prevent this, I need to take preemptive action.
"I need an intelligence organization."
I need an organization that systematically collects and organizes information and reports it to me.
"The problem is that the Mexican Empire doesn't have such an institution. I'll have to create it myself."
To do that, I need to find talent, and that's a bit tricky.
Administrative personnel or engineering talent can be found by looking for those who have received the education. But what about an intelligence organization?
"Hmm, thinking about it, there were people who did something similar during the Spanish War."
There were people who infiltrated the port of Cuba and collected information about the Spanish army.
They were officers of the Mexican Imperial Navy.
At the time, the Mexican Empire didn't even have a single warship, so they were practically unemployed, so I entrusted them with that mission.
"One of them went missing... It's a shame, but I'll have to start with the remaining one."
He will be the starting point for the intelligence agency that will become the eyes and ears of our Mexican Empire.
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