**Chapter 27**
**The British Empire (3)**
"You mean you want to find spinning and weaving technicians too? I don't know if this is an immigration company or a scouting company."
Reginald grumbled when I kept asking him to find more technicians.
"That's a good idea, how about we also do scouting? After all, once we gather a lot of first-tier subcontractors, there won't be much work left, will there?"
"That's for later, right now, I'm incredibly busy."
"Really? So, did you find some people?"
"As I said, I started with Ireland and Germany. I found three more agents in each place to gather immigrants. Now, I was going to look for people in Italy and Eastern Europe."
I tried to find Henry Bessemer, go to him, and scout him, but I failed. My next target, James Neilson, was successfully scouted.
I spent a week on this.
He found six more people during that time. That's almost one person a day.
"He's useful, after all."
"Good job. You can take it slow with Italy and Eastern Europe, so find the people I mentioned first."
"···Ahem. I understand. You'll take care of this separately, right?"
"Yes."
***
The next important thing after steelmaking.
That's the locomotive.
I can make railroads and railway systems even now, as it's my field of expertise. The important thing is the locomotive that will run on the railroad.
"I could make it myself, but I don't want to spend time inventing again. I did it at the military academy because I had to be trapped there."
In the world's most advanced country, Britain, the first railroad opened four years ago. And this year, 1829, a locomotive called "Rocket" started running on the Liverpool-Manchester line.
"In fact, this is the first locomotive that can be considered practical. The previous ones were too slow and had terrible fuel efficiency."
The developer of Rocket was George Stephenson. I went to him personally to persuade him.
"···He firmly refused."
Diego said.
"He must have already become too successful."
George Stephenson, who had achieved great success in Britain and made a name for himself, had no intention whatsoever of going to Mexico.
"There was no room for compromise."
"It can't be helped. But we gained something."
"Did you gain something just now? You just got rejected and are on your way out."
"I gained something. You'll know when you see it."
The young man next to George Stephenson.
I saw his eyes and expression.
He wasn't good at managing his expressions.
George was being scouted by a foreign Crown Prince, but he had an empty look in his eyes, as if he had nothing.
"His name was Joseph Locke, wasn't it? That was an expression of deprivation."
He must be a business partner or apprentice, considering he was right next to George.
I haven't heard of the name.
That's because George Stephenson was the most famous, and I didn't study hard enough to remember everyone below him.
"It might feel a bit underhanded to fail to scout him and then steal his subordinate, but if he had treated him well from the start, this wouldn't have happened, would it?"
"···Why are you here?"
"I saw you earlier today. You were next to George Stephenson."
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll be blunt. I want to scout you."
"Me? Not George?"
"Yes. I heard you contributed greatly to building the locomotive, but all the credit went to George Stephenson. Isn't that right?"
"···Where did you hear that?"
"I have my sources. So, what do you say?"
Of course, I don't have any sources. I just figured it out based on the situation.
"It's a bit much to go to Mexico and make it with George. It feels like betrayal."
"Made together? Does George Stephenson treat you that well? It doesn't seem like it."
This is an era without international patents. Even patents that are valid only within a country are not well enforced in this era.
"The first international patent treaty will be concluded in 55 years, 1884."
"···Honestly, the treatment is a bit disappointing, but it's his company, so it can't be helped that he gets the profit. I'm just an employee."
"Then come to the Mexican Empire. I'll establish a company called "Locke Maquinaria Precisa" for you. Oh, it's "Locke Precision Machinery" in English. I plan to invest at least hundreds of thousands of pounds in this company, and I'll give you 5% of the shares. This company will produce most of the locomotives that will run through the vast Mexican Empire. What do you say?"
I'm going to separate the mining equipment, farm equipment, and mechanical reaper parts that Estrada Steel is producing and create a new company.
Three minutes of silence followed my words.
He must be going through a lot of internal conflict.
"Are you going to continue to be underpaid at Stephenson's company? Wouldn't you eventually start your own company even if you stayed in Britain? Take a bigger challenge."
"···Alright! I'll join you."
"You won't regret it."
Since I don't know Joseph Locke's skills exactly, this kind of bet can be considered a gamble. But locomotives are the latest invention, so very few people know about related technologies.
It's different from fields like weaving or spinning, which already have decades of history. If it weren't for him, I would have to start from scratch, and that would take at least a few years.
"I can't wait that long. Speed is of the essence for us."
***
Now that I've found someone to make locomotives, I have to prepare to go back.
"The British government must be wondering why this guy isn't coming back."
"Yes, he has been here for a while. The conversation with the Prime Minister ended on the first day we arrived in Britain."
"I should go back soon. It's fine to say I'm sightseeing for two weeks, but if it's over a month, things will get weird."
For the next five days, I met various technicians introduced by Reginald.
I also found weaving and spinning technicians for Mexico's own textile industry.
"Those who have the latest technology don't want to come to Mexico."
"That's right. Even though it's a well-known technology, the latest technology is strictly controlled."
Reginald, as if he wasn't lying about being a detective, found people who weren't at the cutting edge of their fields but had technology from a generation ago and had the motivation to go to Mexico.
"···I have to admit his ability. His attitude is a bit off, but..."
Reginald, surprisingly, recruited over ten agents and gathered 100 immigrant families before I even left.
"They'll arrive around the same time as us. Since Texas doesn't have a proper port, let's take them to Veracruz first."
To be precise, there would be a very small port built by Stephen Austin.
"There's no route from Europe to there."
There's no way to get there unless you go along the coastline.
It's unfortunate that we have to go from Veracruz to the northern territories, but it can't be helped since it's still early.
"It's better to send them directly to Texas later."
The ship I'll be taking is a ship I received from Spain, a sleek frigate. But 100 families can't all fit on this ship, so I found a barque.
Seeing the immigrant families huddled together on the barque, filled with anxiety, I wanted to comfort them. If I stepped up, I could ease their anxiety a little.
"Diego, I should say something to the immigrant families and then leave."
"Yes, Your Highness. Are you going to the barque?"
"Yes."
I boarded the barque, but nobody paid much attention.
They were too anxious about the future to spare any attention for others.
I went up to the high deck at the rear of the ship, called the aftercastle.
"Everyone, pay attention here!"
Only then did they look at me.
"My name is Agustín Heronimo Iturbide, Crown Prince of the Mexican Empire. I have something to say to you immigrants, so please gather here!"
They were very interested when they heard that this was the Crown Prince of the Mexican Empire, their destination.
Soon, everyone on the ship came out and gathered.
"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Agustín Heronimo Iturbide, Crown Prince of the Mexican Empire. Immigrants, I know you must be anxious when you think about leaving your homeland and embarking on a long journey. You've all heard from the person who introduced you to immigration about the benefits, but you're probably anxious about whether it's true. Isn't that right?"
The biggest anxiety and curiosity they have is whether the promised benefits will actually be fulfilled.
"Yes!"
Everyone was quiet, but a boy far away answered boldly.
His mother was startled and covered his mouth, but I signaled that it was okay.
"I'll make it clear here. Based on a family of five, you will receive at least 100 acres of land, basic farm equipment, five years of tax exemption, and the necessary food for your initial settlement."
I made it clear about the benefits. Many immigrants' faces brightened.
They looked a little relieved.
I continued.
"You won't arrive directly at the settlement, but you'll arrive at the port of Veracruz, where you'll board stagecoaches from a company called Rios Express and move sequentially. After you arrive, you'll all work together to build houses. The carpenters contracted by our Mexican Empire will arrive and explain the details, and they will lead the construction of the pioneer village. Once your houses are completed, you can farm on the land you've been given. If you have any questions up to this point, please ask."
When I explained the process after arriving in Mexico in detail, the immigrants' faces brightened even more.
No questions came up.
"Finally, I have one more thing to tell you. I understand your longing for your homeland, your anxiety about the future, and your fear of a new beginning. But please be assured that, as I have promised, I am ready to care for you and support you. Our Mexican Empire sincerely welcomes you immigrants, and we will do our best for your happiness and a stable future. I respect your courageous decision, and I wish you a prosperous new life in this land. Thank you."
As soon as I finished speaking, cheers erupted from the immigrants.
"Oh.. Wow!"
"Woohoo!!"
"Thank you!!"
After my speech, I went down from the ship's deck.
Diego, who had been watching from below, spoke to me.
"Your Highness, the immigrants' mood has completely changed."
"That's good. I should instruct the immigration company to provide detailed guidance on what happens after immigration."
"I'll do it, Your Highness."
I returned to the frigate and ordered them to prepare for departure.
James Neilson and Joseph Locke's families, along with the families of other technicians, were on the frigate.
Reginald came to greet me right before departure.
He will manage the immigration company and occasionally scout the talents I ask him to find.
It's an immigration company and a headhunting company.
I gained a lot in Britain, where I stayed for only three weeks.
The non-aggression treaty doesn't have much practical benefit, but it can at least signal that the two countries have a good relationship.
"It's more like we're on Britain's side, to put it nicely, rather than having an equal and good relationship."
The immigration company seems to be well established.
I can't completely trust Reginald, as he hasn't had much experience, but he has proven his ability to some extent.
Since I didn't invest a large sum of money, but rather decided to pay him in the form of incentives, I can look forward to the future.
"Oh, right, I forgot to meet Ambassador Jose, who introduced me to Reginald. I should send him a gift on the next ship."
I was quite satisfied with the success of scouting technical talent in steelmaking and locomotives.
Neither was my top target, but they are the best choices for now.
Iron and railroads, and the many obstacles that will come with them, awaited me.
"It won't be easy, but if I can overcome those obstacles, it will be the driving force behind catching up with America's monstrous growth."
The ship soon departed.
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