**Chapter 82**
**The Oil Industry and Census (1)**
September 1837.
“If we conduct the survey, we will be able to count the population of the area. Wouldn't it be good to investigate the security situation and industrial conditions of the area as well?”
“Well, that would take more time. Is that alright with you?”
“I will send more personnel accordingly.”
“If that's the case, I don't think there's anything wrong with it.”
I was directly leading the census project. At the beginning, it was more like conveying requirements as a client, but I was becoming more involved, taking the lead in creating the overall plan.
You might wonder why I, the Crown Prince, have to do even these trivial things myself, but I’ve learned something from my experiences so far.
‘This is the fastest and most efficient way.’
The outcome of the work depends not only on the ability and diligence of the people who carry it out, but also on how specifically and in detail the supervisor orders the work.
If I order something vaguely without thinking deeply about what I want, I might go through terrible trial and error and end up having to redo it.
“Is the recruitment of surveyors going well?”
The official who was planning the census with me answered my question.
“We are still at half of the target number. I apologize, Your Highness.”
“It can’t be helped. There’s no easy solution to the manpower problem.”
We can't offer high wages either. It would be problematic if government-run projects were to cause wage increases in a situation where various private companies are already engaged in fierce employment competition.
“Still, half means we’ve gathered 2,000 people.”
“Yes, it seems we will be able to complete the recruitment within a month.”
The census is run by the government, but we can't send all government officials as surveyors. It's a project that requires a huge workforce.
I calculated how many people we would need to survey the entire Mexican Empire. Although the population is small, the territory is 50 times larger than South Korea. In modern times, we would know roughly where the villages are, so we could just visit those places, but there’s nothing like that now. We have to search the entire territory to get accurate numbers.
We will mobilize central and local government officials, but we can't have all of them stop their regular work and dedicate themselves to the census.
Therefore, hiring separate surveyors is essential. The problem is the scale. Even if we hire 500 people, it would be like asking 10 people to survey an area the size of South Korea.
It wouldn't be impossible if we gave them enough time, but it would be problematic if it took too long.
‘It wouldn't be the population as of 1837, but the population between 1837 and 1839.’
The deadline I had in mind was a maximum of one year. To finish the work within that time, we need 4,000 surveyors.
‘Once we do it once, it will be much easier next time, but this first census will be a truly massive undertaking.’
“Make sure to provide thorough training so that the surveyors don't make mistakes in their counting or do it carelessly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A month later, in November 1837, the recruitment was complete, and after training, the first census of the Mexican Empire began.
‘Now all that’s left is waiting. The population should be at least 10 million.’
My estimate was that it would likely be around 10 million, but we wouldn't know until we saw the results.
Population is just as important as economic power in order to win the inevitable war against France, our current enemy, and the United States, our future enemy.
The reason I decided to confront France was because it was a country on a different continent. If it had been on the same continent, I wouldn't have even dreamed of it.
‘If France had been a neighboring country, I would have been crushed in an instant. During this period, their population was between 30 and 40 million.’
The United States is a more manageable opponent, but in my previous life, during the US-Mexico War, Mexico had a population of 7.6 million, while the US had 21 million.
My goal is to reduce this huge gap to less than 5 million before the war.
***
As the census began, I boarded a train to Morelia.
It was to personally check on the Royal University, which was recruiting students for its opening ceremony next March.
It has been 2 years and 6 months since construction began, and as originally planned, only a part of the university has been completed, and they are preparing for the opening.
“Your Highness, according to the report from Mr. Eriksen, the president of the shipbuilding company, the construction of two monitor ships will be completed in four months.”
“It seems they have overcome the technical problems well.”
“Yes, and they have immediately started building another battleship at the dock where they completed the previous battleship.”
Diego reported on the shipbuilding situation to me on the train ride to Morelia.
“Well, it seems the shipyard is running non-stop because of the abundant budget.”
“Yes, they have gained experience this time, so it will be faster than before, according to the report.”
It was already amazing that it took less than two years to build one battleship, and now they can build it even faster. It was amazing productivity.
‘I should send a bonus to the shipbuilders and laborers soon.’
We talked about various issues like this and arrived in Morelia.
The university, which was overseen by Damian, the chief architect of Ortega Construction, was majestic from its main gate.
“As Your Highness instructed, we have incorporated grandeur while maintaining a delicate beauty.”
Damian, who came to greet me, said.
The main gate of the Mexican Imperial University was composed of two tall and majestic stone towers, with an intricately carved archway between them.
The towers and the archway had the characteristics of the Gothic Revival style, blending classical beauty with modern sophistication, reflecting my opinion. The surface of the towers was adorned with delicate carvings and patterns, and finely sculpted stone statues stood on either side of the gate.
“···The gate is like a work of art.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
“Let's go see the buildings inside.”
“Yes, as planned, the four buildings of the Engineering Department, the Dormitory, the Chapel, and the Library are complete, and the rest are now under construction.”
As he said, the campus was not yet beautifully landscaped, and there were four buildings I had designed among the vast university grounds where various buildings were under construction.
“Well, construction needs to continue, but please pay attention to the flow of students and safety for those who will be enrolling next year.”
“Yes, we have already made plans for changing the work flow.”
The Royal University is currently recruiting students, and although there are no restrictions on eligibility, all applicants are from families who have the right to vote. It was because of the high tuition fees.
‘I wish I could lower the tuition fees or offer generous scholarships, but that would also cause a lot of backlash.’
Even if the tuition fees were lower, those who weren’t from the upper class wouldn’t have the leisure to study for four years, so it wouldn’t be very effective. The reality for most people in this era is that they have to work to earn money as much as possible.
Following his guidance, I toured the central library, the Engineering Department, the Chapel, and the Dormitory. Seeing the actual buildings brought back the thrill I felt when designing them.
The architectural style was the same, but the buildings, designed to suit the purpose and characteristics of each building, were all works of art.
‘I envy the students who will attend this university in the future. I even want to attend this university myself.’
I visited the university with 90% hope and 10% worry, but it seems I no longer need to worry.
“Damian, you’ve worked hard. Keep doing this from now on.”
“Yes, I will do my best, Your Highness.”
I encouraged Damian and the architects and left Morelia.
***
November 1837.
Thump!
The roar of drilling equipment echoed across the vast plains of Texas.
Under the scorching sun, I stood beneath the massive metal structure, watching the majestic movement of the machine.
At the top of the drilling tower, a heavy drill bit hung from a cable. It was slowly lifted upwards and suddenly slammed down into the ground, following the rhythm of the steam engine.
Thump!
Every time the drill bit hit the ground, a thunderous sound reverberated around, and the vibration reached my toes.
‘It’s not a very efficient piece of equipment after all.’
The surrounding area was filled with the sounds of mechanical motion. The sounds of cable and pulley systems moving and the roar of the steam engine were constantly heard.
“Your Highness, it’s dangerous to get too close!”
Armando Peña, a manager at Mora Mining, who had spotted me, shouted. He was in charge of Mora Mining’s new project, oil exploration.
“Don’t worry, I won't get any closer.”
After the drill bit struck the ground several times, the equipment stopped briefly, and workers removed rock fragments from the drilling hole.
Armando gave instructions to continue the work and approached me.
“Your Highness, you have arrived.”
“It seems there’s still no news.”
“Yes···. I apologize.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Didn't I say it wouldn't be easy to find in the first place? Just keep exploring diligently.”
It was enough that he was diligently carrying out my order to find this unknown thing called oil.
‘I should have learned a little about oil deposits.’
If I had known beforehand, like with the California Gold Rush, I wouldn't have to go through this hardship. But there was no way I could have predicted that I would be possessed.
Since I had Texas, which is famous for having oil, I was trying to develop the oil industry a little faster. After all, the early oil industry didn't require much technology.
In fact, the American who first successfully drilled for oil in 1859 used drilling equipment similar to what I made now.
It’s a device that uses the power of steam from a metal tower to repeatedly lift and drop a heavy metal bit with a cable.
“Still, it's been a year, and I'm so sorry that there haven't been any results.”
He apologized to me, looking flustered as if he had committed a crime.
“It’s not your fault. It’s a long process.”
For me, who knew what oil was and how difficult it was to drill for it, it was a natural thing, but Armando, who didn’t know anything, seemed to think that he was failing to do his job properly, since the Crown Prince, who was known for never failing, had given him this task.
He’s just been digging into the ground all day, hoping for black water to come out, so I can understand why he feels hopeless.
‘But I can’t give up. The benefits of securing the oil industry are too great.’
Kerosene and gasoline will be profitable commodities, but that’s not the real deal. It’s the overall industrial development that oil, a highly efficient energy source, will bring.
Among them, the most important is the internal combustion engine. It will replace the steam engine and eventually become obsolete in most fields, the next generation of power technology.
The internal combustion engine was invented independently of oil, but it began to be used in earnest after the oil industry developed.
"Don't worry too much about time. If you keep looking diligently like you are now, you will find it eventually."
It’s true that there’s oil in many parts of Texas, but I’m not just digging randomly.
We are exploring by collecting samples from specific areas where oil is seeping out and comparing them.
“Yes, I will continue to look diligently without giving up.”
I encouraged Armando and the workers and gave them a bonus.
I have a feeling, without any basis, that it won’t take long. This land is full of oil in the soil.
I even had the illusion that I could smell oil somewhere.