Why are things always so bad in Spain?
Carlo faced a very difficult choice, one that was highly likely to affect the future destiny of both Carlo and the Kingdom of Spain.
Once Prim's deep reforms were fully successful and the potentially opposing Church and capitalists were dealt with, Spain's overall national strength would flourish, making it possible to return to the ranks of the great powers.
But if this reform provoked opposition from the Church and capitalists, and allowed the Republicans and Carlists to seize the opportunity to launch a major rebellion, Carlo's situation would not be much better than that of Queen Isabella II a year and a half ago.
Although Carlo had the ultimate retreat of returning to Italy, the Church and capitalists he had offended might not necessarily be willing to let Carlo return to Spain.
Moreover, returning to Italy in such a sorry state would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to Carlo, who had only just managed to secure the Spanish throne.
To gamble or not to gamble? How to gamble? This was the most vexing problem Carlo faced at the moment.
"We may face the Church, the capitalists, the Carlists and Republicans. But Your Majesty, if our reforms are successfully implemented and gain the support of the people, we will have the backing of 16 million Spaniards, which is the confidence I have in pushing for reform.
I plan to start promoting army reforms this year and equip the army with more artillery. Our enemies surely won't expect us to push for reforms so resolutely, even at the cost of fighting them.
As long as the people choose to stand with us, victory will be within our grasp." Prim laid out his entire plan and tried to win Carlo's support.
Regardless of Carlo's identity before becoming king, the moment he was crowned King of Spain, he gained a certain prestige and status in Spain.
Spain had a large number of peasants, most of whom supported the monarchy. If Carlo could support his comprehensive reforms, the success rate of the reforms would undoubtedly be much higher.
Of course, Prim also knew how difficult this reform was and how powerful the enemies he would face were.
He was prepared to fight alone, and even for just that sliver of hope that Spain could be revitalized, he would absolutely not give up.
"How is Minister Serrano doing in Cuba?" Carlo did not immediately agree to Prim's plan, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"Minister Serrano arrived in Cuba two and a half months ago and immediately began clearing out the rebel forces in Cuba. If all goes well, perhaps in a few more months we will hear news of Cuba's recapture," Prim said with a smile.
Serrano truly deserved to be one of the most influential figures in the Spanish army at the moment; his military talent was certainly commendable.
More importantly, Serrano himself had served as Governor of Cuba a few years prior and was relatively familiar with the situation there.
Historically, Spain had been unable to suppress the rebellion in Cuba during these years, and it wasn't until the time of Alfonso XII that they regained control of Cuba at great cost.
But by then, the Cuban independence forces had already gained momentum, which is why it took Spain a full ten years to suppress the Cuban rebellion and cost seven hundred million pesetas.
This was a staggering 27 million pounds, enough to build ten capital ships in the era of dreadnoughts, let alone in the time before dreadnoughts.
Prim's reforms haven't cost this much money so far; if all the money spent on suppressing the Cuban rebellion were used for Spain's reforms, Spain's overall national strength could rise by at least one small step.
"Very good, Prime Minister Prim." Hearing that Cuba could be pacified within a few months, Carlo was in a good mood.
After a moment of careful thought, Carlo said to Prim, "Prime Minister Prim, I support your reforms. But I also hope you are prepared for any potential rebellions. We must eliminate any enemies who might stand against Spain's reforms."
"Your Majesty, rest assured that the Spanish army stands ever ready to serve the Crown and defend Spain. We shall face any enemy without fear, and we are prepared to fight with honor and unwavering loyalty for Your Majesty and our beloved nation.
Before proceeding with comprehensive reforms, I shall authorize a portion of the funds to equip our army with the necessary weapons, gear, and artillery. If the Carlists and Republicans seek to hinder Spain's progress, then they shall be sent to meet their Maker—let God be the one to reason with them."Hearing Carlo's support for his reforms, Prim immediately stood up and guaranteed Carlo with great determination and solemnity.
"Excellent work, Prime Minister Prim. Spain is fortunate to have loyal and capable statesmen like you and General Serrano. Once the enemies of progress are swept aside, I shall personally bestow honors upon you and commemorate your achievements." With Prim's firm assurance, Carlo nodded in approval, his expression reflecting a vision of triumph and promise for the future.
In this high-stakes gamble, Carlo still chose to stand with Prim, for no other reason than that the big capitalists and Republicans who opposed Prim were also unlikely to side with Carlo.
To put it plainly, Carlo and Prim were in a state where they would either flourish together or suffer together.
If Prim were to fail in implementing reforms and lose his power and influence, it would bode poorly for Carlo as well. After all, Carlo's rise was closely tied to Prim's support—his initial standing owed much to the Prime Minister's backing.
Spain's path to revitalization demanded the removal of those obstructing progress. How could the nation hope to rise if it remained shackled by internal resistance?
If Carlo had simply wished to live as a nobleman indulging in luxury, he could have done so in Italy. But his ambitions reached far beyond personal comfort. If he truly intended to transform Spain from a second-tier European state into a leading power—perhaps even a great one—then he could not afford to be swayed or intimidated by domestic opposition. Resolve, not hesitation, would define his legacy.
And what of the Carlists? Queen Isabella II had already defeated them twice. Carlo saw no reason to believe that, with the full backing of Serrano and Prim, he could possibly lose to a faction of rebels that had already suffered multiple humiliating defeats.
As the saying goes, "the bigger the waves, the more valuable the catch." Though pursuing sweeping reforms in Spain carried undeniable risks, the rewards of success would be nothing short of extraordinary. For Carlo, this was not merely a gamble—it was a calculated step toward greatness.
The support of the people and the increase in Spain's overall national strength were only part of it. Carlo could also seize the opportunity to resolve the long-standing issues of the Church and the Carlists that had plagued Spain for years and make the Spanish people dislike republicanism.
In this way, Spain's domestic problems would be largely resolved, and local independence advocates who had not yet gained momentum would also disappear due to Spain's increasing national strength.
Thinking of this, Carlo's mood became exceptionally relaxed. Whether it was the Carlists or the Church, they were merely insignificant clowns who had lost their momentum.
If he didn't even have the courage to defeat these forces, then Carlo's ambitions might as well be abandoned sooner.
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