**Chapter 23**
**Spain's Return (4)**
"There are already those who have entered Tampico?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Most of them were captured, but some managed to escape and dash to Tampico, so we lost them. I apologize."
The cavalry commander reported on the results of the pursuit of the fleeing enemy soldiers.
"It's alright. Was Tampico defended?"
"Yes, Your Highness. When I got close to Tampico, I saw some troops left behind firing shots. There didn't seem to be many."
Considering the size of the main force, only a minimal force would have been left in Tampico.
"I understand. You must be tired from chasing the fleeing soldiers after the battle ended, so take a rest."
There are over 300 nobles.
If they were simply 300 noble bloodlines, their bargaining power might not be great, but they are all descendants of families that owned large farms in Mexico, families that held their heads high even in Spanish noble society. Moreover, the children of high-ranking noble families were all captured because they served as infantry officers, not cavalry, and couldn't escape.
Knowing that they are prisoners will turn Spanish noble society upside down.
Two days later.
I finished cleaning up the battlefield and collected the prisoners and spoils of war.
"Let's go, Major Jorge."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The artillery unit of the defense force now possessed 90 cannons.
We marched slowly towards Tampico. There's no need to rush, as a mere few hundred enemies couldn't do much in that time.
Bang-
I was a little worried that they might have completely withdrawn, but it seems they're still there.
The scout immediately turned around and came back when he heard gunshots from the port of Tampico.
"Let's bring in more troops."
"Yes, Your Highness. Advance!"
"Advance!"
An army of 10,000 surrounded Tampico. Only then did the white flag go up. It was impossible for Tampico to defend itself in the first place.
"It's barely a wall, more like scattered walls."
We recaptured the port of Tampico.
***
"Ugh, those annoying bastards."
The traitors who escaped first are already on board the Spanish fleet, it seems.
Even though they were cowards who ran away in the middle of the battle, they seem to have boarded the fleet thanks to their noble bloodlines.
The Spanish fleet didn't attack our army that had entered Tampico, but they didn't surrender the ships either.
Their fleet was stationed far off in the waters off Tampico.
I sent a swift rider to Agustín I to inform him of the outcome of the battle and receive permission for the right to negotiate a peace treaty. The Emperor has full authority over foreign affairs and defense, so only his permission is needed, not the parliament's.
Agustín I was pleased with the news of victory and, without hesitation, granted me the authority to negotiate with Spain, saying, "It's your victory, so do as you please."
The Spanish fleet, perhaps because of the hostages, couldn't withdraw and had been facing off in the waters off Tampico for a while. I sent a liaison ship to the Spanish fleet.
When our intention to talk was conveyed, a liaison ship from the other side approached, and a man who called himself the admiral disembarked.
"···Greetings would be pointless, wouldn't they? I am Admiral Juan Morales, commander of the expeditionary fleet. I didn't expect it to be settled so quickly."
"Then, I'll skip the pleasantries as well. I am Agustín Heronimo Iturbide, Crown Prince of the Mexican Empire and commander of the defense force. Are you the highest-ranking officer left in the Spanish army?"
"Yes."
"Then, first, we need to inform you that our Mexican Empire officially regrets the Spanish invasion."
"···Spain has never recognized Mexico's independence, so the term 'invasion' is inaccurate. Anyway, I came to negotiate about the prisoners. If you generously release our prisoners, our king will also generously recognize Mexico's independence. What do you say?"
"That's ridiculous."
"That's a proposal not worth considering. The Mexican Empire has already declared independence, and we don't need Spain's recognition. You started a war of aggression unilaterally without declaring war, and you won't be released until you apologize and pay compensation."
Admiral Morales, who didn't seem to have much hope, continued the conversation without much reaction.
"What kind of apology and compensation are you talking about?"
I handed him the document I had prepared.
—
1. King Fernando VII of Spain will acknowledge responsibility for starting the war of aggression and apologize to the Mexican Empire.
2. Spain will pay the Mexican Empire ten million pesos in war reparations.
3. Spain will cede the entire island of Cuba to the Mexican Empire.
4. Spain will transfer the fleet used for the invasion to the Mexican Empire.
5. Spain will relocate 50 first-class shipbuilding technicians to the Mexican Empire.
—
Admiral Morales, who had taken the document I handed him and was reading it, became increasingly red in the face as he read each item.
"Madness! Do you think we'll accept this kind of condition? You want Cuba? We'd rather not end the war. You're acting cocky after winning one battle, you'll regret it. You don't even have a proper fleet, and you have such greed!"
I spoke to Admiral Morales, who was about to shout and storm off.
"Then, the prisoners will be sent to the mines. We'll send them to the hardest and most dangerous mines in the Mexican Empire. You never know what will happen to them while they're working in the mines, but it's not my concern."
Admiral Morales turned around and sat down.
"···You're using the prisoners as hostages to blackmail us? You, the Crown Prince of a country? Stop your dishonorable actions."
"Dishonorable? Isn't it more dishonorable to invade unilaterally and try to get away without a proper apology and compensation? If Spain acts like that, it's only natural for us to make the prisoners work to compensate for our losses, isn't it?"
"Do you really intend to continue this war? I don't know how you'll handle the consequences. It seems you've figured out the identities of the prisoners. Do you think you'll be safe if you touch them and lose the war?"
Admiral Morales, who wanted to somehow end it amicably, was threatening me with a red face.
"What a pathetic threat."
"If you can come back to invade again, come on. Did you think I wouldn't know that you're scraping together the last of your strength in Spain to come on this expedition? One day, our Mexican Empire will also build a fleet, and when that happens, we'll conquer not only Cuba but also Puerto Rico. Or, we can buy ships from Britain with the reparations we'll receive from Spain. Then, your prisoners will work in the mines for the rest of their lives and die, and as a bonus, you'll lose Cuba and Puerto Rico. So, if you want to try it, go ahead."
Threat for threat.
My blunt threat, in which I had abandoned diplomatic language, turned Admiral Morales' face pale.
If he acts like he doesn't care, I'll really make him care.
"···The king will never allow it. This treaty is tantamount to political execution."
"If you fail in a bet where you've invested everything, you have to pay the price. Go back and tell Fernando VII our proposal. If we don't get a response within 12 weeks, we'll assume you've refused and assign the prisoners to the mines."
"···"
Admiral Morales left without even saying goodbye.
***
We won, but in the international community of this era, the outcome of a war isn't determined solely by the factors of victory and defeat between the parties involved.
Especially Britain and France, they intervene everywhere, constantly exerting their influence.
They encourage what benefits them and hinder what harms them. They don't care about the wishes of the parties involved.
"In simpler terms, even if you win the war, you need to grease the palms of Britain or France if you want to get proper reparations."
After confirming that Admiral Morales had left, I entrusted the defense force to Major Jorge and quickly returned to Mexico City.
Agustín I was making a fuss about holding a grand banquet, but I persuaded him that the war wasn't over yet.
The target we need to grease the palms of is Britain.
At this time, France has a close relationship with Spain. It was France that helped King Fernando VII of Spain regain his power.
France will not tolerate those bumpkins from Mexico, a backwater country, extorting money from Spain, which is under its influence.
I invited the British ambassador to the palace.
"Ambassador Ward. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Henry George Ward, a figure who also served as the British ambassador to Mexico in the original history.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Crown Prince. I've heard about Spain's attack. I hear you've won a great victory thanks to your strategy. Congratulations."
He brought up the topic of conversation naturally, holding a teacup.
"Haha, it's nothing special. I invited you here because I wanted to discuss this matter with you."
"Good. Tell me."
"As you know, Spain is a close country to France. But if we cooperate this time, wouldn't Britain also be able to put a leash on Spain?"
"Hmm... I'd like to hear more about your proposal."
Like a landlord who forces tenant farmers into debt and turns them into serfs, Britain uses all sorts of methods to make various countries indebted to them.
Once they're in debt, they attach all sorts of pretexts, inflate the debt, and make them pay a huge price. That's Britain's strategy, and it's the reality that our Mexican Empire is facing.
"If you forgive 15 million pesos out of our Mexican Empire's debt of 25 million pesos, we will transfer to Britain the right to collect the 10 million pesos we will receive from Spain. What do you think?"
Forgiving 15 million pesos in debt and receiving 10 million pesos in claims? It sounds like a ridiculous proposal at first glance, but it's not about the amount. The original amount Britain lent to Mexico wouldn't even have been 10 million pesos.
The important thing is the right to collect from Spain.
This proposal is like asking for a partial forgiveness of my debt, because it will create a new debt slave for the landlord.
"We have no power as a country, so we have to do this."
Britain would know that Spain doesn't have the money to pay back the debt right now. If so, Spain will also be struggling with huge compound interest.
"Will Spain approve the reparations treaty? We can handle French interference, but forcing them to sign the treaty is a completely different matter."
Ambassador Ward said with a dubious expression.
He also knows that the Mexican Empire doesn't have a proper fleet. It was a question of how we would force Spain to accept the reparations treaty.
"They have no choice but to approve it. We're holding hundreds of hostages from Spanish noble families. And they're quite high-ranking noble families."
"Hundreds... Then Fernando VII has no choice."
Spain is in a situation similar to our Mexican Empire in a way.
The situation is that the liberals, who have lost their momentum but are hiding in the provinces, waiting for an opportunity, are facing off against the conservatives (nobles) who support the king in the center.
If Fernando VII refuses the reparations treaty in this situation, many conservatives will turn their backs on him.
Ambassador Ward quickly grasped the situation.
"Still, 15 million pesos seems a bit much. How about 11.5 million pesos?"
Ambassador Ward, who had been calculating in his head, boldly haggled down 3.5 million pesos.
"Ugh... 11.5 million, not even 12.5 million. This is really getting on my nerves. Wasn't it the rule to negotiate down to half?"
I was disgusted by Britain's greed, but I had to be grateful for even this.
"Alright. But you'll handle the French side for sure."
"Yes, don't worry about that. However, this will only be activated if Spain approves the reparations treaty."
I saw Ambassador Ward off after our conversation.
All the conditions are in place.
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