**Chapter 65**
University and Slavery (6)
September 1834.
"Your Highness, the detailed plan and budget for the establishment of the secular university have just been approved."
Diego delivered information about something I've been paying close attention to lately.
"It's just the beginning."
The law regarding the establishment of the secular university was passed when we started building the Veracruz port and shipyard, so it took 18 months just to begin the design process.
"This also got resolved only after I intervened."
It seems I placed too much hope in the Republicans from the beginning. But there are gains.
The Republicans, who had been cowering after their once-powerful faction shrunk considerably, emerged and clashed with the Church.
"I mediated and settled this matter, but the Republicans and the Church will continue to clash. Don't you think so?"
I asked Diego.
"It seems likely, Your Highness. The Church, which dislikes social change, and the Republicans, who crave social change more than anyone."
"That's right."
Diego, who is naturally intelligent and not stuck in his ways because he isn't from the landowning class, is a joy to nurture.
"So, did everything pass as I planned?"
"Yes, Your Highness, it passed exactly as you drafted the plan."
I coaxed and persuaded Congressman Pedro, and in the end, I drafted the plan as I wanted.
The location of the university is Morelia.
The university's name was also chosen as "Imperial University of Mexico (universidad imperial de mexico)" in exchange for the royal family providing land and funds.
I was initially only going to provide land, but it seemed like the budget I had in mind wouldn't materialize, so I decided to provide funds as well.
"Did you put the construction project out for public bidding?"
"Yes, Your Highness, as you ordered, but it seems like Ortega Construction is the only one with proven capabilities to handle a project of this scale, so they'll likely win the bid."
For this project, I suggested introducing public bidding for government construction projects, even if it was just a formality. It's time to start handing over smaller projects to other construction companies.
The budget is a whopping 500,000 pesos, equivalent to 23 billion won in modern currency.
Usually, universities in this era start with one or two buildings and expand by securing more funding to add more buildings, but our Mexican Empire doesn't have a single proper comprehensive university, so we're making a bold investment.
Of the 500,000 pesos, 150,000 pesos are from the royal family's funds. My father is contributing 50,000 pesos, and I'm contributing 100,000 pesos.
"Well, the land is all my father's, so he shouldn't have any complaints."
***
Before the actual design began, I took the train to visit the Veracruz port and shipyard construction site.
I wanted to check if everything was going smoothly before starting other projects. This project is just as important as the university.
"Mateo, it's been a while. I've been busy since returning from Texas, so I'm just visiting now. How's the site?"
"Your Highness! Thank you for visiting. The site is progressing well."
The chief architect, whom I hadn't seen in a while, replied confidently.
"I like your confident answer! How far along are you?"
"Both the port and the shipyard are over half complete."
He explained, pointing to the documents on the huge table in his office, where the progress was checked.
"I can predict that it will take about 36 months to finish."
"Mateo, if we build a port and shipyard simultaneously like this project in another location, how much could we shorten the construction time?"
If we only consider the Veracruz port and shipyard, they are large-scale, but considering the overall size of the Mexican Empire, they are too small.
This is especially true if you consider that, aside from this Veracruz port, the only other place that could be called a proper port city is Havana in Cuba.
"We'll have to see once the construction is finished, but based on the current situation, if we keep the same number of workers, I think we could shorten it by at least six months."
That would be 30 months.
"We need one on the Pacific side and another on the Atlantic side. We need a total of three."
We desperately need to increase our naval power. That way, those French guys can't extort us so blatantly.
We're training and raising sailors with the fleet we seized from Spain, but that's not enough. Our size is simply too small.
"Hmm, I see. Let's go take a look at the site."
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll guide you."
Mateo and I walked towards the construction site.
In the wide open space where dust was flying, workers were busy with their respective tasks.
Large machines moved smoothly, making heavy sounds, and various construction materials were neatly organized.
"Overall, it's not bad, Mateo. But the location of the materials on the construction site and the workers' movements are a little different from what I had in mind."
The construction itself was progressing as designed by me and the architects. But I could see areas for improvement on the construction site.
"Ah, there were some minor changes to that part to adapt to the site conditions. But the work methods haven't changed."
I personally inspected that part and listened to Mateo's explanation. After hearing the explanation, I thought I could improve it.
"Wouldn't it be more efficient to put these construction materials over there and have the workers walk this way?"
I suggested.
"Yes, you're right. I'll adjust it immediately, Your Highness."
I spent the whole day looking for ways to improve the work efficiency even slightly, and finally, I visited the shipyard construction site.
As I decided, five small docks, four medium docks, and three large docks were being built.
Two medium docks and two large docks were being built as steam ship construction docks.
"It's going well. Did you make the steam engine crane I mentioned?"
One of the things that makes this shipyard ahead of other shipyards in this era is that we'll be adopting the steam engine crane early on.
The steam engine crane used core components compatible with those used in Locke Precision Machinery.
"Yes, Your Highness. We've built experimental cranes over there. Would you like to see them in person?"
"Yes."
Using steam engine cranes in the shipyard can significantly improve the efficiency of transporting and assembling large ship components.
These cranes are essential for lifting and moving heavy steel parts, boilers, machinery, and so on, making them indispensable, especially in steamship shipyards.
Using steam engine cranes greatly increased work efficiency and provided the ability to build larger and more complex ships.
Mateo took me to a place where a crane designed by Joseph Locke, the president of Locke Precision Machinery, was built.
This crane was quite advanced for 1830s technology, consisting of various metal structures, thick cables, and a massive steam engine in the center. Compared to modern cranes, it was like a toy, but its functionality was clear.
As the technician operated the crane, the machine moved slowly with a clunk, and steam was released with a whistling sound. The crane's arm took some time to lift the steel component, and the operation was carried out with great care.
"It's still at a basic level, but it's definitely more powerful than the wooden cranes that most shipyards in this era are using."
The steam engine crane will be introduced when the age of steamships arrives, but cranes in shipyards of this era are simple manual machines made of wheels and ropes.
"If I can bring that guy from the scout list, we can be ahead of the game in steamships."
***
After inspecting the construction site in Veracruz, I returned to Mexico City.
Like the Veracruz project, I can participate in the design and initial construction of projects, but I can't be the overall manager.
I don't have time to constantly focus on one project. So, for this project, I had to choose a suitable manager. I chose Damian Luna, one of the chief architects of Ortega Construction, as the overall manager.
"Your Highness, thank you for choosing me as the chief architect for this project. I will dedicate all my knowledge and passion to the design of this university."
Damian's attire was flamboyant. He reminded me of Ramon, the manager of my clothing company. He was someone I chose after asking Andres, the president, to recommend a chief architect with a keen sense of aesthetics.
"You can tell that people with a keen sense of aesthetics stand out."
Honestly, this kind of design work wasn't my forte, so I decided that his aesthetic sense and experience would be beneficial to this project.
"I'm glad to be working on this project with you."
In my office in Mexico City, I, Damian, and the architects of Ortega Construction began the design work for the Imperial University of Mexico.
In the original history, universities in Europe and the United States, famous for their beautiful campuses, often adopted Gothic, Neo-Gothic, and Gothic Revival styles because they inherently have a majestic beauty.
"Like Stanford University in the original history, we could build a beautiful university with Spanish colonial architecture, but it's the Imperial University, so it needs to be majestic."
Spanish colonial architecture is the best way to showcase the unique characteristics of our Mexican Empire, but we're not going to build just this one university, so I wanted to make the Imperial University majestic.
"Damian, I want the overall appearance of this university to reflect the beauty of a harmonious blend of Neo-Gothic and Romanticism. The key is a design that combines classical columns, arches, and domes with harmony with nature."
Damian nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll try to come up with a design that blends classical grandeur with the naturalness of Romanticism."
What I emphasized was the balance between aesthetic beauty and functionality.
"The buildings should be suitable for educational purposes and visually appealing at the same time. Classrooms should have large, bright windows to allow ample natural light, and they should have high ceilings and spacious areas to convey the solemnity of scholarship."
Damian said as he put his pen to the design drawing.
"The library is also important, Your Highness. The library, as the center of knowledge, should have a majestic exterior and be a quiet and focused space for learning and research."
"And the laboratories and research facilities should reflect the advancement of modern science and technology. We'll need basic laboratory equipment and a safe research environment. We also need to pay attention to the student dormitories. They should be simple but comfortable spaces for students to stay."
"I completely agree with Your Highness's opinions. I'll design all the buildings, including the administration building, student dormitories, auditorium, and music hall, so they are harmoniously integrated."
Campus landscaping is also an important part.
"Squares, parks, fountains, and sculptures are important elements that symbolize the aesthetic value of the campus. We need to create spaces where students can gather, talk, and relax."
I, Damian, and several architects discussed enthusiastically, placing and designing many buildings needed for the university on the vast land donated by the royal family. These buildings included classrooms, a library, research facilities, an administration building, dormitories, an auditorium, athletic facilities, and a chapel.
Images of countless universities with beautiful campuses that I used to look at when I was bored in my previous life came to mind.
These images began to synergize with Damian's aesthetic sense.
For the first time in my previous life and this life,
I had a gut feeling that I was designing an architectural masterpiece.
Thanks for the chapter
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