Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 29: Chapter 28: A Headache-Inducing Reform Plan

The news of the Royal Military Academy’s major enrollment was eagerly reported by Carlo’s Spanish Sun and other newspapers, and became a major topic around Madrid.

Thanks to such publicity, more than a hundred people enrolled in the military academy in just a few days.

Although only over sixty were accepted after rigorous selection, it was quite a significant progress compared to previous military academies.

While aggressively recruiting new cadets, Carlo also ordered the Royal Military Academy to study the system process of training Prussian and French officers and to implement reforms in the military academy.

The outdated Spanish officer training system is not suitable for the current era. Learning these outdated line infantry tactics, are they going to line up the Spanish soldiers for execution?

The good news is, the Austro-Prussian War and Franco-Prussian War in recent years can be learning subjects for the Spanish military schools. The countries involved in this war, Prussia, Austria, and France, are among the most powerful land army nations in the world today.

Speaking of the Franco-Prussian War, the war that began a year earlier is obviously fought more fiercely than in history.

The Second French Empire historically held on for less than two months before Emperor Napoleon III officially surrendered to the Prussian Army.

This world’s France is not much better, although it held out for a longer time, the war situation was firmly controlled by the Prussian Army.

There was a large number of line infantry regiments in the French army, and this execution-like tactic has lost its effectiveness as rifle ranges gradually increased.

Moreover, this was not the only problem with the French army. There was a lack of adequate preparation before the war, and after the outbreak, Napoleon III was still hesitating between offense and defense.

In addition, the French army did not typically have corps and division-level organizations, and the hastily organized corps and divisions struggled to achieve proper coordination and combat effectiveness.

Facing the well-equipped and experienced Prussian Army that had just undergone the Austro-Prussian War, the French Army clearly fell behind from the start.

The only suspense now is when Prussia can end the war, and whether an internal revolution will erupt within France after Napoleon III’s surrender.

This is what Carlo and the Spanish Government are mainly concerned about because France’s situation can also affect Spain.

With Carlo’s suggestion and Prim’s acquiescence, the Spanish Government also drafted a plan for university construction.

It is expected to build at least five universities within the next five years, increasing the total number of universities to above ten.

Meanwhile, most of these universities will focus on establishing science and engineering programs, with mathematics, physics, and chemistry being the key projects of Spanish universities.

Liberal arts, art, and other less important programs will be consolidated into two or three universities since so many art talents are not necessary for Spain.

To encourage Spaniards’ willingness to apply to universities, Carlo plans to establish a scholarship system among university students.

Doing so not only allows more ordinary children to go to university but also lets them receive favors from the Royal Family. It not only helps cultivate talent for Spain but also enhances the prestige of the Royal Family, a win-win situation.

Amidst this busyness, 1869 soon came to an end,

and 1870 arrived on time.

If 1869 was just a trial of Prim’s reforms, 1870 is about to enter the real reform phase of Prim.

To make Spain stronger, Prim presented a “Comprehensive Reform Plan” at the end of 1869, leaving Carlo astonished.

In this reform plan, Prim mentioned the necessity to imitate Prussia in implementing compulsory primary education and declared the intention to promote comprehensive literacy education in Spain.

Because the goal covers over 16 million Spaniards, Prim set the implementation period for comprehensive literacy education within five years.

Education is just the first step.

The second goal of Prim’s reform is effectively increasing the income level of Spaniards, not to surpass countries like England and France, but at least surpass neighboring Portugal, reaching a level not much worse than Italy.

How to achieve such a goal?

Prim proposed three plans.

Firstly, promoting the implementation of Spanish labor laws to effectively ensure the salary treatment and payment issuance of Spanish workers and other employed personnel.

Secondly, by reducing agricultural taxes and increasing food production, effectively raising the income of the agricultural population. Prim also suggested the government establish a food price regulatory agency to ensure that purchasers can guarantee farmers’ income while controlling food prices in the Spanish market.

Thirdly, reducing various miscellaneous taxes left over from Queen Isabel’s reign, simplifying the tax items for the Spanish people. To alleviate government fiscal pressure, it is appropriate to raise taxes on enterprises and factories to maintain a balance in the Spanish Government’s revenue and expenditure.

Carlo felt a headache just looking at these two objectives.

Although these two goals are indeed aimed at reform and can effectively increase the income level of Spaniards,

the problem is that doing so would offend two deeply rooted forces in Spain: religious forces and the big bourgeoisie.

The majority of Spanish education is currently controlled by religious forces, that is, the Catholic Church of Spain.

The reason for over 70% illiteracy is that the schools founded by the Church not only have high teaching fees but also quite high thresholds; most ordinary people cannot afford to attend the Church schools.

The big bourgeoisie goes without saying. The capitalists’ greed will make them continuously exploit the Spanish people. If Prim wants to safeguard the income of Spanish workers, he must inevitably offend the big bourgeoisie behind factory owners and entrepreneurs.

If we also add those waiting to see the monarchy’s jokes, the Republican Faction, and the Carlos Faction hidden in the shadows, Carlo’s head is about to explode.

What a little Spain, to have so much trouble; no wonder Amadeo lasted only three years upon arriving in Spain before deciding to flee to Italy.

“Prime Minister Prim, is your reform plan a bit too aggressive?” In the Madrid Royal Palace, Carlo asked, holding Prim’s plan with some headache.

“But Spain can’t wait that long, Your Majesty,” Prim explained.

“This plan directly pushes the Church and capitalists to the opposite side of us. Are you confident in solving these two troubles?” Carlo asked Prime Minister Prim, very seriously.

If the troubles from the Church and capital can be resolved, this reform would naturally be beneficial to Spain.

However, if these two troubles cannot be resolved, the hidden Carlos Faction and anti-monarchy Republicans will seize the opportunity to stir up trouble, and the situation in Spain might be worse than expected.