**Chapter 59**
Texas (8)
Chapter 59 - Texas (8)
Relocating the American Texans is a good thing, but there are two problems.
Both are related to indigenous people. One is the indigenous people living in Texas.
"There are still a lot of indigenous people in Texas."
The Comanche tribe's territory stretches across the west, and there are many other tribes living there, including the Apache, Caddo, Karankawa, Tonkawa, and so on.
That's not all.
"The Cherokee tribe will soon be pushed into Texas by the United States."
Some of the Cherokee tribe, who originally lived in the southeastern United States, migrated to Texas during this period.
It was the result of President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act.
"It should be called the Indian Expulsion Act or the Indian Elimination Act, not the Indian Removal Act."
"Removal" does have the meaning of relocating, but using the word "removal" to describe a threat to kill them all if they don't leave is too euphemistic.
The Cherokee tribe is particularly known for its tragic history called the "Trail of Tears."
In 1835, during the harsh forced relocation imposed by the United States, an estimated 20% to 25% of their population, about 4,000 people, died on the road.
The problem is that this is happening within US territory, making it difficult to intervene.
"I need to find a way, though."
The second problem is the indigenous people in the missions. Texas also has missions, like California, and the number of indigenous people held there is not small.
Even San Antonio is a city founded by missionaries and has a mission attached to it.
To use the carrot-and-stick strategy on the Texas indigenous people and accept them as subjects of the Mexican Empire, I need to solve the problem of the indigenous people held in these missions.
Just as the Chumash tribe couldn't forget the resentment they held towards the missions, the indigenous people of Texas would also harbor a strong resentment towards them.
So, I gathered the priests who run missions throughout Texas.
"It's called a place for conversion, but the essence of a mission is actually an hacienda (large estate) owned by the clergy."
That's why this kind of deal is possible.
"I'll be blunt, Fathers. Release the indigenous people you're holding in the missions. In return, I'll provide you with the labor force of those sentenced to hard labor."
Ahem-
Ahem-
As I finished speaking, coughing sounds erupted from all over.
"Your Highness, no matter what, that kind of deal is unacceptable. Our missions exist not simply to use indigenous people as labor but to convert them."
It's a familiar line. The California missions all said the same thing. Let's see if they won't fall for it this time.
"I'll also give you free mechanical harvesters, the number matching the size of each mission. Even if hard labor ends and you have to pay rent, it's enough to make a profit."
Mechanical harvesters haven't been introduced to the missions yet. They didn't need to replace labor with mechanical harvesters because they didn't even pay rent to the indigenous people held in the missions.
"Ahem... No matter what..."
With free mechanical harvesters, costing over a hundred pesos each, and a generous number offered, the priests were hesitant, even though they were tempted, to accept immediately.
"I plan to let the released indigenous people live in their homelands, but I will make sure to build a church in each settlement. They can practice their faith there. And wouldn't it be better if you sent priests from each mission? Then, the mission's purpose of converting indigenous people would be carried out properly."
Even though they are essentially large estates, missions need a justification to be maintained. I've given them that justification.
I'm telling them to train priests like in a seminary and send them to each settlement.
This is less about actually doing that and more about me acknowledging my acceptance of the missions' rights.
"...Then, it's fine. You guys are okay with this, right?"
The priest of the Valero Mission in San Antonio, the representative of the priests running the Texas missions, spoke.
Everyone looked around and nodded.
"As expected, it's exactly the same development as in California."
The owners of the California missions all had the same reaction. There wasn't a single genuine missionary.
"Good. I'll send the convicts sentenced to hard labor and the mechanical harvesters to each mission soon."
It wasn't difficult to persuade the clergy who couldn't resist material desires.
While handling land surveys and mission issues, cavalry troops began to bring corrupt criminals from all over Texas.
A judge who had recently handed down a verdict from the bench stands in the courtroom as the defendant.
"The judge, who should be a protector of justice and uphold fairness as the highest value, has committed a serious crime by pursuing personal gain and accepting bribes, thereby severely undermining the foundation of our judicial system. Therefore, this court sentences the defendant to five years in prison and confiscation of assets equivalent to one hundred times the amount of the bribe received."
Bang-bang-bang-
The governor and other officials received similar punishments. Their prison sentences ranged from two to five years, and they had their assets confiscated, equivalent to one hundred times the amount of the bribe. It was essentially a sentence of complete asset confiscation.
I immediately started the next task.
"Rodolfo, I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Your Highness. This is a large-scale operation, but I've done it thousands of times before. I'll get it done perfectly."
I specifically brought Rodolfo Nunes, the head of the Immigration Office, from Veracruz. I needed his expertise because I had to relocate almost 20,000 American immigrants.
"As I mentioned before, place the people in each settlement in the most natural way for them to absorb our Mexican culture and language, but there's one more thing to consider."
"What is it?"
"Exclude the territory of each indigenous tribe marked on this map when placing them."
"Yes!"
With the help of indigenous people brought from the missions, I marked the territory of each tribe on the map.
"Diego, you can do the same as in California. I don't need to demonstrate, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Trust me. I'll do my best to accept the indigenous people of Texas as subjects of our Mexican Empire without any armed conflict."
The basic strategy is the same as in California: carrots and sticks. However, this time, I plan to persuade them by first releasing the people of each tribe who were captured and held in missions before a rebellion occurs.
"I hope there won't be any fighting."
Like in California, Diego, the most senior officer of the infantry regiment among those brought, left with the indigenous people released from the missions to persuade the indigenous tribes of Texas.
In the government offices, Rodolfo and even the new governor were working directly. Naturally, their subordinates were also working tirelessly.
I watched the scene for a while and then went down to the basement.
In a secluded room in the dim basement, I saw Lieutenant Ricardo and a man tied to a chair.
"Your Highness, you've come down here. It's not a very pleasant sight, but..."
"It's alright, Lieutenant Ricardo. By the way, how's the information extraction going?"
"Well... He started spilling everything before we even started the real torture."
"What? You haven't started the real torture? I've heard you say 'water knows the answer' dozens of times! You crazy bastard."
The American guy shouted in disbelief at Lieutenant Ricardo's answer.
"Ahem, Your Highness. This man's name is Brian Taylor."
"...I see."
It seems water did reveal the answer. I spoke to Brian.
"Hey, Brian, you spilled everything? Do you admit that the US government sent you?"
"Yes! It's common knowledge, isn't it? It's pointless anyway because the US will never admit it."
"...Can you admit it so easily? You have family in America, right?"
"No, my parents have been gone for a long time, and I don't have a wife or children."
Even though this is an era where espionage isn't widespread, the US intelligence agency's level is quite serious.
"I see. Is it true that the US sent you to support Stephen Austin?"
"Yes. I've already told him the location of the hidden weapons, so please spare me. No, please spare me."
"...You're a ridiculous guy."
Killing him would be the cleanest solution. But the information he has about the US intelligence agency could be useful.
"I'll decide after seeing the US reaction."
The location where he said the weapons were hidden wasn't a lie. 2,000 muskets and 10 cannons were found.
"They're US products, but they've erased all traces that could be traced."
Places where serial numbers should be written were all scratched with sharp objects, making them impossible to identify.
"Let's take the weapons and return to Mexico City."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I'm leaving Diego and the army behind.
I need them to settle the indigenous tribes, and since the Texas Rangers are gone, I need the army to deter the Comanche tribe and maintain order.
I, Lieutenant Ricardo, the American spy Brian, the traitor Michael Williams, and my bodyguards started heading towards the port of Galveston.
"I wish the California and Texas railroads were laid down soon."
With that thought in mind, I rode on horseback for a whole week to reach the port of Galveston.
***
February 1834.
As expected, I returned after resolving the Texas issue in just three months.
"California and Texas, the west and east of the northern territories are stabilized. Now, only one place remains: New Mexico."
The Comanche tribe's territory remains. But dealing with the Comanche tribe, with a population of 40,000 and at least 10,000 cavalry, isn't something that can be done overnight like before.
I need to prepare for a proper war. Before that, there are things I need to do. I visited my father's office to report.
"Father, things are progressing in Texas as I expected. I crushed it before it could really ignite."
My father, having received a detailed report on what happened in Texas, let out a sigh of relief.
"If it weren't for you, we would have faced a full-blown rebellion about a year from now. Well done, Heronimo."
"It's all thanks to your generous support, Father. And as expected, there was interference from the United States. I caught a spy sent by the US, and I also secured the guns and cannons they sent."
"Hmm, the Americans won't admit to any connection, will they?"
That's right. The US will never admit it.
Unless we're prepared to fight the real US, it's unreasonable to demand anything based on this alone.
"I can't fight. Not yet."
War with the United States is almost inevitable.
Their expansionist ambitions are growing, and in about ten years, when they finish settling near our border, they will create a conflict by any means necessary.
But fighting now would be insane.
Even though we're several times stronger than Mexico in the original history, we'll become even stronger over time. Our size will increase, and our weapons systems will advance significantly. Why would I fight now?
"Yes, they won't admit it, but I think we can negotiate something."
Making the US admit that they instigated the rebellion in Texas is almost impossible, but if the Mexican Empire publicly exposes this, it will put immense pressure on the US political establishment.
"We can definitely negotiate something using this point."
I won't demand anything big. In fact, I'll demand a deal that's not bad for the US, so there won't be any deterioration in relations between our two countries.
The next day, I summoned the US ambassador, Anthony Butler.
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