Restart Spain Chapter 2

Here is Madrid, the capital of Spain, the westernmost country in Europe, and the largest city in the country, known as the "gate of Europe"

As a country along the Mediterranean Sea, even in the coldest winter, the daytime temperature remains between 9°C and 16°C, which does not make people feel cold.

The Royal Palace of Madrid on the left bank of the Manzales River is the third largest palace in Europe after Versailles and Schönbrunn in Vienna.

At this time, this splendid building welcomed her new owner.

"Canovas, in the future, I need more trouble for your assistance." Alfonso said.

Canovas said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my best."

Canovas, full name: Antonio Canovas del Castillo, was a veteran of the reign of Alfonso XII's mother, Isabel II, who served as Minister of the Interior in 1864 and overseas territories from 1865 to 1866 Minister, Isabel was overthrown by the military in 1868 and became popular overseas and established the Spanish Republic.

The old minister retired from the government and became the leader of the party supporting the Bourbon family.

"I have been abroad for many years, and it is always worrying to see the situation in Spain. In order to solve these situations, I have a lot of ideas. I hope you can give me your opinions when we solve the urgent Carlos rebellion." Alfonso said. .

"Yes, Your Majesty, the old minister must do his best to relieve the worries of His Majesty and the country." Canovas was expressionless, but there was still a hint of worry in his tone.

After all, most of the whimsical kings in history have no wise kings, right?

"Let's do the enthronement declaration first. This is a major event now, and it must not be neglected."

"Yes, Your Majesty, the old minister has retired." Canovas bowed his head and prepared to leave.

"Don't go yet, call Arsenio for me. I want to hear your thoughts on resolving the Carlist rebellion." Alfonso said suddenly.

After a while, Arsenio, the main character of the army, has arrived.

"Can you two have a solution to the Carlos rebellion in the north?" Alfonso asked.

"Your Majesty, I think that although the current rebels are powerful, they are not regular soldiers after all, and their combat effectiveness is limited."

Arsenio is indeed qualified to say this, in the just-concluded February 1874, when he defeated the rebels in Bilbao and lifted the siege.

"The main rebel forces in the north should give a strong blow, north of the Ebro, the entire northern area up to the French border and, Alcoy, Seville, Cadiz, Valencia, are now under rebel control Now, the rebellion must be disbanded as soon as possible and the country can be reunited before it can develop stably." Canovas pondered, the rebels are indeed the biggest cancer preventing the country's development now.

"Your Majesty, we can mobilize the main force of the army and launch a general attack on the main force of the rebels in the north. After the main force in the north is eliminated, the cities in the south will not be enough." Arsenio said.

Alfonso nodded in approval and asked, "Now, I need you to introduce me to the military situation of the country's army."

"Except for the colonial army, there are now 110,000 active soldiers in the kingdom, all of whom can participate in the battle against the rebels, just waiting for His Majesty's order."

Alfonso sighed secretly in his heart. At the same time in Europe, the Russian army had standing 800,000 people, France 500,000, Germany 450,000, AustriHungary 300,000, and even the British Army, famous for its navy, had a standing staff of 250,000. up and down.

Compared with Spain's 110,000 people, the Italians' 150,000 people are more than enough. If Italy adds two Sicilies, the total number is 240,000, which is basically the same as the British Army and twice the number of Spain.

This situation is caused by Spain's backward economy, which has resulted in the slowest population growth rate in Europe.

Spain now has a population of about 16.5 million, ranking 8th in Europe, followed by Russia with 71 million, Germany with 41.7 million, France with 38.46 million, the United Kingdom with 33.17 million, Italy with 28.63 million, and Poland (Russian) with 18.63 million.

In 1800, 75 years ago, the population of Spain had reached 11 million, and the population of the United Kingdom, which was similar to Spain, was 10.5 million. In the past 75 years, the population of the United Kingdom has nearly tripled, while the population of Spain has only increased by 5.5 million.

On the one hand, ongoing civil wars and instability have resulted in stagnant economic development and inevitable slow population growth.

On the other hand, it is also because after the end of the South American War, it has become an immigration target for many people who want to avoid the war and have a dream of making a fortune.

"Arsenio, order the army to start a large-scale offensive, and at the same time order Fernand to lead 30,000 people to restore the city occupied by the rebels in the south." . Antonio's grandfather.)

"Canovas, issued an edict, that all surrendered Carlos can be pardoned, and the northern provinces participating in the rebellion can retain their original privileges if they surrender, whether Castilian, Catalan, Canadian The Lycians, Basques, and now all Spaniards, do not allow the army to burn, kill and loot." Alfonso gave Canovas an order without hesitation.

The second Carlos War in history, although aggressive, was ultimately anticlimactic. It was subsided in 1876, a year after Alfonso XII ascended the throne.

And the current Alfonso is just taking the solutions from history and using it, both political and military, but he does not intend to go to the northern front to supervise the battle in person as in history. As a monarch, you don't have to do everything. Come by yourself, knowing how to employ talents is the greatest ability of a monarch.

"The coronation ceremony of this king is scheduled for January 15th, and Canovas has worked hard to prepare the declaration of succession." Alfonso didn't forget this, after all, it represented that he became the real monarch of Spain in name.

"Yes, Your Majesty"

Arsenio and Canovas responded in unison and slowly exited the Great Chamber.

On the way back, the two of them couldn't help chatting about King Alfonso XII.

"Looking at our king, he is very determined to revive Spain." Arsenio said.

Canovas agreed and said, "It's not just determination, but also ability. It seems that we have to help Your Majesty well, so that he can show off his skills in Spain."

After speaking, the two of them looked at each other without saying a word, their eyes were firm, then parted ways and returned to the mansion.

In such a chaotic era, wealth has no meaning to them, and their status has reached the point of being under one person. Who doesn't want to leave a strong legacy in the history books of their motherland.

January 5, 1875, the day after the conversation with the two ministers.

When newspapers all over the country published this order, which was personally issued by Alfonso XII, who had been in power since the first day, the whole country finally began to discuss.

"All the Carlists, I have ordered the government's regular army to carry out a full-scale attack, all the rebels will eventually be restored, and as the new monarch of Spain, I am willing to give a chance to those who can reform, whether you are Cass Tilia, Catalan, Garcian or Basque, we are all brothers from Spain.

Therefore, I, Alfonso XIII, hereby promise: All my compatriots who are willing to lay down their weapons and are unwilling to continue killing each other, I can forgive your faults and let go of the past. And those who do not repent at all, when they end their rebellions, I will punish them with treason.

Since entering the new century, this land has encountered countless wars, big and small. We should maintain our hard-won peace on the basis of national unity. "

Chapter end