Empire Rising: Spain

For the South Morocco Colony, Carlo’s plan was singular, which was to either assimilate or eliminate all the Moroccans in the South Morocco Colony.

These Moroccans were faced with two choices: either labor to death in Spain’s plantations and mines as Moroccans, or move to mainland Spain or other colonies as Spanish citizens.

Once they obtained Spanish nationality, they would gain the status of free citizens, allowing them to seek desirable jobs like ordinary Spaniards instead of being forced into hazardous work environments.

Currently, the Moroccan population in the South Morocco Colony is steadily declining, estimated at below 750,000.

This conveniently accelerated the assimilation process by Spain. These Moroccans clearly could not stir up any trouble and could only compliantly choose their future under the rules set by the Spanish Government.

Obviously, most Moroccans chose wisely. Although they might not be willing to join Spanish nationality, when faced with the choice of either joining Spanish nationality or remaining slaves for life, they sensibly chose the former.

If it weren’t for the previously stringent Spanish nationality verification process, with inspection periods extending several months to even a year, the number of Moroccans joining Spanish nationality annually might have reached tens of thousands.

After developing the Congo Territory, Spain gradually relaxed the nationality quotas. Currently, over 100,000 Moroccans are in the inspection phase, and if things proceed smoothly, Spain hopes to gain over 100,000 migrants within six months.

Most of these 100,000 Moroccan immigrants will be sent to the Guinea Colony and Congo Territory, with only a small number granted opportunities to go to mainland Spain.

The Guinea Colony and Congo Territory can each receive around 30,000 immigrants.

These immigrants would help Spain accelerate the development of colonies and territories without needing to send massive numbers of immigrants from the homeland.

This is the best news possible for Spain, whose population is already insufficient. The domestic population growth won’t be limited, and it may even experience rapid growth thanks to the continuous influx of immigrants.

Speaking of population, after Carlo returned to Spain from his visit, the Cabinet Government also reported last year’s Spanish population growth to Carlo.

As of January 1878, Spain’s total population had surpassed 19 million, reaching 19.12 million. At the current pace of population growth, Spain hopes to raise its population to over 20 million by 1880.

Besides the rapid rise in domestic birth rates, a major contributor to the fast population growth was the substantial immigration Spain gained last year.

Russian immigrants alone exceeded 25,000, not to mention around 15,000 immigrants from Italy and Portugal combined.

Immigrants from various European countries and regions collectively added over 50,000 to Spain’s population increase, a rather commendable figure.

It’s predicted that for a long period ahead, Spain can receive a considerable number of immigrants from Russia and Italy every year.

Adding Spain’s native high birth rate ensures that Spain’s population can grow significantly without reducing the proportion of the main ethnic group.

Only by raising the population above 30 million can Spain compete with the traditional five major European powers. To hope to surpass them, a population of over 50 million is needed.

Besides planning the colonial population more intricately, the Spanish Government officially initiated plans for Portugal.

Spain and Portugal’s history is defined by a constant love-hate relationship. The Kingdom of Portugal initially separated from Spain, leading to deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

Moreover, with only Portugal and Spain holding sovereignty over the Iberian Peninsula, their relations have always been strained, with Spain never abandoning its covetous eyes on Portugal.

The so-called plans for Portugal entail small strategies to cause more disorder within Portugal.

Compared to the gradually reviving Spain, the currently weakened Portugal shows evidently greater internal turmoil. Disordered affairs more readily trigger issues, and Spain can exploit various methods to exacerbate and intensify Portugal’s domestic problems.

Portugal has two large colonies in Africa, but those colonies bring little revenue to Portugal.

Historically, Portugal’s maintenance of too many colonies led to domestic financial strains, resulting in two successive bankruptcy declarations within ten years.

The economic collapse induced a severe social crisis, undermining the long-standing monarchical foundation of Portugal. Ultimately, King Carlos I of Portugal and Crown Prince Luis were assassinated, and the Portuguese throne was overthrown a few years later.

Carlo’s task is to hasten Portugal’s economic collapse, causing them to descend into chaos and making the populace lose faith in the Monarchy.

Though the 19th century was an era of the Industrial Revolution, it was also a time of great revolutions. As long as Portugal descends into chaos, a significant revolution is inevitable.

History has also shown that the first republic established after toppling a monarchy in most countries is often unreliable, just like historical Spain.