**Chapter 56**
**Texas (5)**
I took my first step onto Galveston Harbor and deeply inhaled the Texas air.
"Is this my first time in Texas?"
Texas.
A vast land, wider than the French territory, suitable for agriculture and livestock, overflowing with various resources. And it's the land that will become the front line against the United States.
"It's just as important as California. Or perhaps even more so, considering oil."
As I prepared the army and waited, Diego brought me what I was waiting for.
"Your Majesty, this is a letter from Lieutenant Ricardo. It seems he's using the alias Alejandro."
Diego, my aide, handed me the envelope he was holding.
"Thank you, Diego."
I said that and unfolded the letter, beginning to read Ricardo's writing.
"···He sent it well-encrypted as I instructed."
Thanks to that, I had to spend some time deciphering it. The contents of the fully deciphered letter were as follows.
Lieutenant Ricardo had recruited local informants, focusing on the connections he already had.
"Those Cuban sailors I mentioned before, who settled in Texas, I guess."
Lieutenant Ricardo, through those informants, had successfully prevented Stephen Austin from rallying public opinion. One of the informants had infiltrated Stephen Austin's organization. This was already a great achievement, but the letter also stated that he had found an American intelligence agent and was tracking him.
"Hmm, Lieutenant Ricardo is doing a great job."
I said to Diego and the officers.
"We're going to march to San Antonio now."
Diego asked.
"Are you leaving right away, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, there's no reason to waste time."
I felt the value of creating an intelligence agency.
Unlike in California, where I knew nothing, I felt like Texas was in my hands.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to launch a surprise attack.
There will be supporters of Stephen Austin here in Galveston, and they've seen the army, so they've already left to deliver the information.
This time, it's not an army where everyone can ride horses, and we've brought artillery, so we can't reach that speed while transporting cannons.
The land is so vast, and the distance from Galveston in the southeastern part of Texas to San Antonio in the west is considerable.
"It's 360 km from Galveston to San Antonio, about a two-week journey."
Even if we ride horses, it will take a week. That leaves Stephen Austin with just one week.
"What can you do in one week?"
***
Stephen Austin was giving a speech in the central square of San Antonio that day as well.
The bitter winter cold couldn't stop Stephen Austin's ambition.
"Our unity will create the future of Texas! We can achieve anything if we're together!"
As soon as Stephen Austin finished his speech, cheers and applause erupted, but Stephen Austin felt something strange.
He finally realized what the American Brian had felt a long time ago.
Among the Texas Rangers members who were enthusiastic about Stephen Austin's speech, he saw citizens with skeptical looks.
Their indifference and distrust planted anxiety in Stephen Austin's heart.
"Wait, this... Something's wrong. Was public support always this low?"
Stephen Austin finished his speech, looked around the square, and fell into deep thought.
He became impatient.
"I need to secure more solid support."
He made up his mind and instructed the Texas Rangers.
"Get signatures from the citizens. Show their support for the 'Texas Democratic Committee.'"
He wanted them to get signatures supporting the committee.
Michael came up with a trick at Stephen's instruction.
"Sign your names here, and your family names too."
The entire Texas Rangers, including Stephen Austin and the leadership, signed the committee support list first.
Then they filled it with their family names.
They hadn't gotten a single signature from the citizens on the street yet, but a list of thousands of supporters was complete.
This simple trick began to have an amazing effect.
"They've already gotten so many signatures?"
"Yes, this is the true public opinion of our Texans. Join us."
"Alright."
The list of thousands of names gave the citizens a sense of reassurance.
It even confused those who had been resentful of Stephen Austin, making them wonder, "Is this the real public opinion?"
"Support has surpassed 3,000! Everyone participate!"
"Texas! Texas!"
The young Rangers were excited and chanted "Texas," and the central square of San Antonio began to heat up with enthusiasm.
Stephen Austin was smiling triumphantly, seeing things going according to his plan. The enthusiasm of the signature campaign also had side effects.
A competition to get signatures arose among some Rangers members, and Michael subtly encouraged it.
"Hey, you just need to sign here! What's so hard about that!"
"Texas Democratic Committee? I'm not interested in that."
"You little..."
Thwack-
The big guy slapped the man who refused to sign in the face.
The man, who couldn't believe that he would actually hit him over something like this, quickly signed and ran away.
"You should have done that sooner."
They also lied to those who couldn't read, saying it was something else, and they used threats or actual violence to get signatures.
Similar things happened in each village, not just San Antonio. They were following a successful formula that had already worked once.
The Texas Rangers in each village started by writing their own names and the names of their families. They showed the list and said.
"Over half of the citizens in San Antonio have joined the support signature campaign!"
"···Is that so?"
Everything seemed to be going according to Stephen Austin's plan. But then it happened.
While the signature campaign was in full swing, unexpected news reached the square.
"The Crown Prince of the Mexican Empire has arrived in Texas with his army!"
"They say he's coming from Galveston to San Antonio here!"
This news shook the square in an instant.
The citizens' faces were filled with anxiety and confusion, and even among the Texas Rangers members, anxiety spread.
"Damn it! We don't have much time left!"
Stephen Austin cursed when he heard the news.
That night, Stephen Austin sat in his office, deep in thought.
"How could they respond so quickly?"
It hadn't been two months since he decided to declare Texas independence after hearing from the United States.
It was just over a month.
The public first learned about the "Texan" speech. Even if they heard it and immediately informed the Mexican Empire government, this speed is impossible.
"It would take over two weeks just to get from Mexico City to Galveston."
It's an inexplicable speed.
Stephen Austin couldn't sleep.
The enthusiasm of the committee support signature campaign cooled down as if ice water had been poured on it. Instead, there were more citizens saying they wanted to withdraw their signatures.
"Once you've signed, you can't take it back! Go away!"
"What are you talking about! I'm saying I want to withdraw my support! Get out of my way!"
Some of the Texas Rangers, who could access the signature list, even subtly erased their own names.
Anxiety was spreading in San Antonio.
***
Carlos, who had infiltrated Stephen Austin's organization, approached Michael Williams, the organization's third in command.
"Things have gotten much easier."
Michael Williams, who had already been pale, became even paler after the news of the Crown Prince's approaching army spread.
Seeing Michael, who was usually calm, acting irritable and snapping, it was clear that his anxiety had reached its peak.
"He's already shaken up on his own, so he'll fall over if I just push him a little. Now's the time."
He visited Michael's office.
Knock-knock-
"It's Carlos. I came to talk to you, Michael."
"Ah, Carlos! Come in!"
Carlos entered.
"Carlos, you have something to say?"
Carlos had blended into the Rangers and the committee in a short time.
He was a dedicated Texan, devoting all his waking hours to the organization.
"Michael, we have five days left."
"Five days? What do you mean five days left?"
"The day His Highness the Crown Prince will arrive here in San Antonio with his army."
At some point, it became common practice in Stephen Austin's organization to call His Majesty the Emperor simply "Emperor" and His Highness the Crown Prince simply "Crown Prince."
Carlos had broken the unspoken rule.
"···'His Highness the Crown Prince.' So, you've finally decided to abandon our Texan beliefs?"
"Michael, you know best. There's no way to avoid destruction."
"···"
It's true.
The Crown Prince didn't just come, he brought thousands of soldiers.
Michael also thought that there was no way to save his life except to flee to America. But Stephen would get angry if Michael even mentioned it.
"Stupid kid."
He won't be granted asylum without Stephen.
If Michael were a regular member, he would have just gone to confess. He would be able to save his life. But he's a leader. He won't be able to escape charges of inciting rebellion.
"Inciting rebellion is a capital offense."
When Michael didn't say anything, Carlos threw out bait.
"What if there's a way to save your life?"
"Hmm?"
"The Texas Democratic Committee support signature list. We can trade that."
When some Rangers members started erasing their names from the list, they made it so that only the leaders could access the list.
He was suggesting that they steal it and give it to the Crown Prince's side.
"···Stealing it is one thing, but they'll know it's gone soon. Then they'll know it was me."
It's not over with just stealing it. San Antonio is still under Stephen's control. It's obvious that he'll be caught. That's what he meant.
"What if I can provide a safe secret location?"
"A secret location? ...You weren't on our side from the beginning. An ordinary person wouldn't prepare something like that. I knew it, you weren't even doing your real job, you were just doing committee work."
Michael said that with a sense of betrayal.
"Well, think whatever you want. So, are you going to do it or not?"
"You'll make sure my family can escape too, right?"
"Of course."
"···Then I have to. I'm not stupid enough to charge into a hopeless situation. Some people think that's a true man, but..."
"Alright. Let's do it now, there's no time to waste. We'll steal the signature list together and go to the secret location."
Carlos urged Michael.
They didn't even have time to pack their personal belongings from the office. He guided Carlos to where the signature list was kept.
"I'll carry this side."
"···Alright."
They each took half of the pile of dozens of sheets of paper. The first part of the list, where the Rangers members had signed eagerly, was naturally in Carlos' hands.
"This is the key, you see."
Those who signed under threat don't matter much. Those who signed in the front are the real supporters.
"I've got it, now take me and my family to the secret location."
Carlos kept his promise.
He guided Michael and his family to a place that even Michael, who knew San Antonio like the back of his hand, couldn't imagine existed.
"Wait... Wait! Isn't this different from the agreement?"
"I promised to take you to a safe secret location, and I kept my promise. Stay there for a while."
Intelligence agents were stationed at the secret location. They immediately arrested Michael.
"Hey, Carlos. You got the list. You did a great job."
"Of course! It's the 'rebellion supporter' list! I have more to do, so I'll leave the rest to you."
"Don't worry about this. We've got the list, so all we have to do is wait for 'the higher-ups' to arrive and crush Stephen Austin."
"Right. Be careful for just five days."
Carlos returned to the Rangers building as if nothing had happened.
The next day, it was revealed that the signature list was missing. Jonathan had checked the safe.
"Huh? Now that I think about it, Michael has been missing since yesterday afternoon, Boss!"
Carlos shouted.
The organization's third in command had stolen the list and run away.
Stephen Austin and the Rangers members were in a panic.
Only four days until the Crown Prince's army arrives.
With the list missing, Stephen Austin had only one choice left.
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