**Chapter 61**
**University and Slavery (2)**
"I figured he'd show up soon."
Pedro, the young leader of the republicans, came to see me.
"···So, you want me to help you establish a university? I distinctly remember our deal was about passing the bill."
Establishing a secular university is something I need to do, as I want to see the Mexican Empire prosper. But for the republicans, it's an issue they need to fight for with their lives.
In any country, in any era, university students are bound to be the most progressive group. That's why there were only religious universities in Mexico, where the power of the landowners and the Catholic Church was strong.
I helped pass the law on the implementation of the metric system in exchange for help passing the law on the establishment of a secular university.
The deal ended there, and the republicans were responsible for the specific implementation.
"I know. I'm not just asking for help. I want to make a deal like last time."
"A deal."
Pedro Gonzalez, member of Congress.
He has strong convictions about republicanism, but he's a political newcomer, only 30 years old. He became the leader of the republicans in his late 20s.
It wouldn't be easy for him to deal with the church's power, especially since many of the former leaders, including Rafael, the former chairman, have switched sides to the Landowner Party and the Imperial Party.
Even so, he's already trying to take the easy way out.
"I heard that the Catholic Church is putting pressure on you. But it's disappointing that you're asking for a deal without even fighting properly."
From a republican's perspective, even though it's nominally a constitutional monarchy, the Imperial family, with its powerful imperial authority that's no different from an absolute monarch, is an enemy.
It's true that the republicans' power has decreased compared to before, but they still have considerable power. Instead of using that power, they're trying to borrow my power, which could be considered an enemy.
"Disappointing... ?"
Pedro seemed taken aback by my words.
"Yes. Did you think the church would simply accept it once the bill is passed?"
The Catholic Church's power in Mexico is immense. Everyone, whether they're Imperial Party, Landowner Party, or Republican, is a Catholic believer.
Catholicism, which spread throughout Mexico over hundreds of years, is so widespread that it's rare to find a non-Catholic believer among whites, mestizos, and even indigenous elites who have some power in the provinces.
"Even in the original timeline, the republican government that seized power faced a large-scale rebellion when it tried to implement secularization reforms."
It happened twice, in fact. The Reform War (Guerra de Reforma) of 1857 and the Cristero War (La Guerra Cristera) of 1926.
There's a huge time difference of 70 years between the two events, but surprisingly, the cause of the rebellion is the same: they tried to weaken the Catholic Church's power.
"It also means that the Catholic Church's power didn't diminish even after losing the first war, for 70 years."
It's a really scary story when you think about it.
"Of course, I didn't think they would accept it willingly. But they've clearly crossed the line."
According to his explanation, the church was putting all-out pressure on the republicans, crossing the line between legal and illegal.
They were not only publicly opposing it through sermons, lectures, and publications, but also putting political pressure on members of each faction to delay the allocation of funds necessary for establishing a secular university.
They were harassing those who were promoting the establishment of a secular university, spreading unfounded allegations and rumors.
"It's probably difficult for the republicans, who are still a new force, to handle the Catholics who have been doing this for hundreds of years."
The Catholic Church's know-how of demonizing everything that opposes them is not something they built up overnight.
I thought that, but I still spoke in a stern voice.
"Pedro, is that all the courage you have? They're manipulating public opinion through sermons, lectures, and publications? Then, you guys go out and give public speeches too. Explain why a secular university is necessary, refute the church's claims, and attack their hypocrisy, which is a cry for justice and morality."
"···Isn't that the same as saying let's fight the Catholic Church head-on?"
Fear.
It's natural to be afraid if you know the power that the Catholic Church has in this Mexico. What the Catholic Church is doing is nothing more than a mild warning.
Once the confrontation begins, they'll use direct physical force, including assassination threats. Pedro knows this. But,
"Where's the courage you showed me at the party? Isn't overcoming fear the job of a reformer? If you're delusional, thinking you can achieve reform without any sacrifice, wake up."
I reprimanded him harshly.
If you're a reformer, you have to fight. If you can't, you don't deserve to be the leader of the republicans.
If Pedro doesn't meet my expectations and overcome his fear, I need to replace him with a more capable person, no matter what.
Even if it means creating a potential threat to our Imperial family.
"···I never imagined I'd be scolded like this by His Highness the Crown Prince when I came to ask for a deal. It's a wake-up call."
Pedro's face was flushed. He continued.
"It's even more frustrating because you're not wrong about anything. I guess I've been thinking too much since I suddenly became the leader of the republicans. Please forget about the deal."
"Now, his eyes are finally pleasing."
"May I ask what you plan to do?"
Pedro said with a determined expression.
"I plan to show the true power of our republicans."
"That's good."
It's true that the Catholic Church is powerful, but it's not true that the republicans are weak.
In this world, they've lost a lot of power, but the explosive power of the Mexican republicans in the original timeline was tremendous.
"There was a constant cycle of a dictator appearing and the republicans overthrowing him."
In the process, the hero who overthrew the previous dictator would become a dictator again, and the first dictator, the one who started it all, was Agustin I.
But in the end, the republicans won, and didn't the Mexican Republic government win the two major rebellions started by the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church and the republicans.
These two powerful forces must clash. No, as we saw in the original timeline, they are inherently destined to clash.
"But the republicans are relatively weak now, so I need to give them a hint."
"If things get too heated, the Imperial family will intervene, so keep it within reason."
It was a warning not to go as far as bloodshed, and a hint that they don't need to worry about that. Pedro understood it.
"···Thank you."
"Thank me? But you have something to help me with. It's something you'll want more."
"What? What is it?"
Pedro was looking at me with an expression that seemed to say, "Didn't we agree not to make a deal?"
"I want slavery to be abolished in our Empire."
"Abolition of slavery. ...Your Highness the Crown Prince, you always say such unpredictable things."
In the original timeline, slavery was abolished in Mexico in 1829.
Abolition of slavery could be seen as something that would provoke fierce opposition from conservatives, but at least in this Mexico, there wasn't much opposition.
"It's natural, since there were almost no slaves."
After the Valladolid Debate, it was forbidden to enslave Native Americans.
In practice, there was exploitation through debt, exploitation in missions, etc., but officially, there were no slaves, and there was no great burden to abolish slavery.
Instead, this measure caused serious backlash from the Texans, because they had introduced a lot of black slaves from the American South and built their farms.
"Your Majesty, the republicans naturally support the abolition of slavery, but are you okay with that?"
Pedro asked.
"I'm fine. I can handle that much. Could you guys propose it first in Congress?"
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."
The reason I delayed abolishing slavery was because of the Texas issue, but if that had been the only reason, I would have pushed it through faster. But in this world, there's one more obstacle.
That obstacle is Cuba.
It's a region that didn't exist in the original timeline of Mexico.
Most of the farms in Cuba were owned by Spaniards, so they became the property of the Mexican Empire government.
In other words, the Mexican Empire government is the owner of the huge farms in Cuba.
So, I made a deal with my father and the Minister of Finance.
In exchange for freeing the slaves and turning them into tenant farmers or wage laborers, I agreed to supply them with specialized seed drills and mechanical reapers for use in sugar and coffee plantations, as well as dams and irrigation facilities at a discounted price.
I showed them the profit and loss calculations when my conditions were met, intending to persuade them.
"I'll bring the manpower that's no longer needed after introducing the mechanical reaper to the mainland and make them work or settle."
With Texas settled, there's no one to oppose the abolition of slavery.
***
The next day.
The issue of the secular university, which Pedro had reminded me of again, was swirling in my mind.
"A university... I haven't dealt with it because it's not related to civil engineering, but it's a field with a lot of romance. Maybe I can build a lot of universities in this world."
There are so many important issues that I need to pay attention to in this Mexican Empire. Just considering the urgent ones, the construction of the harbor and shipyard in Veracruz is important, and the Comanche tribe issue is important. But the university is just as important as those.
"It's also quite urgent, considering that it takes so long to sow seeds and harvest."
I need to mediate the conflict between the church and the republicans at the right time, and then consider the budget allocation, securing land, design and construction, and recruiting professors and students. It will take a minimum of three years, and if you're generous, it will take up to five years just to open the school.
I plan to make it a four-year university, so it will take seven years from now to graduate, and if we say it takes five years to gain some experience and achieve results, that's 12 years from now.
"If you calculate it that way, I'm in big trouble if I delay any longer."
"Cecilia. I think we'll go to Veracruz later, so you don't need to pack your bags."
"Huh? Why?"
"I have something to do in Mexico City for a while."
"Oh..."
Cecilia, who was looking forward to living with me again in our small honeymoon house(?) in Veracruz, was slightly disappointed, but there's nothing I can do.
If I'm going to build a secular university, I'm going to design it from start to finish. It's going to be a huge, comprehensive university, unlike the small religious universities that exist now.
"It would be better if the school itself is beautiful."
I'll create all the necessary departments. To do that, I need professors and books for the curriculum.
"It's time to recruit talent again."
This time, it won't be about targeting those with specific skills, but a comprehensive scouting of famous scholars from all over the world.
"I need to import all the famous books from modern times and have them translated."
I started writing a letter to Reginald in England.