[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rise-of-the-empire-spain":3,"chapter-rise-of-the-empire-spain-rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rise of the Empire: Spain",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364952,4632,"Chapter 24: Suppressing the Rebellion in Cuba","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Once the two decrees for free literacy education and agricultural tax cuts were promulgated, the Spanish were surprised to find that the King above them did not seem so eyesore-inducing after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least during the reign of Queen Isabella, the government would never have taken the initiative to propose agricultural tax cuts, let alone establish any free literacy education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Yu Kaluo at this moment, the trouble had only just been resolved by one item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As early as the Spanish Revolution, the Cuba colony had taken the opportunity to launch a war of independence, occupying multiple cities and even convening a so-called constitutional convention and electing a president.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unacceptable to Spain, because Cuba was the most valuable of all Spanish colonies and one of the few that could bring in positive revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Cuba colony were lost, not only would the Spanish government's annual fiscal revenue drop by a large margin, but it would also be a blow to the prestige of Yu Kaluo, the new King, and the new cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current Spanish government is gradually getting on the right track, and it is time to deal with the restless Cuba colony and create more revenue for the Spanish government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the Cuba rebels are not numerous and lack advanced weapons and equipment. For the Spanish government, apart from the need to fight long-distance battles across the Atlantic, there are no major problems to overcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the first relatively large-scale war since Yu Kaluo became King was officially launched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of War Serrano led 5,500 soldiers in a grand march to Cuba to suppress the rebellion, striving to clear out the Cuban insurgents to the greatest extent possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This suppression war, which is actually not very large in scale, is also an opportunity for Yu Kaluo. Kaman Esposito and Andrew Luo Suo will both join this suppression war as low-level officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Kaluo's expectation for them is that they can establish certain merits in this suppression, which will also facilitate Yu Kaluo's subsequent promotion and appointment of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more capable Qiaodi was kept in Madrid by Yu Kaluo to command the 500-man palace guard. There was no help for it; Yu Kaluo's safety was a matter that needed more protection, and there had to be a trusted subordinate responsible for the safety of the Wang Gong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Kaluo still trusts Serrano's own military ability. And more importantly, Serrano served as the Viceroy of Cuba for three years from 1859 to 1862 and is relatively familiar with the situation in Cuba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting him go to Cuba to suppress the rebellion is the most appropriate choice, and it is also the choice most likely to resolve the Cuba problem in a short time and ensure that Cuba will not have a rebellion in the near future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for long-term matters, they are not within the scope of Yu Kaluo's consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for Yu Kaluo, these Spanish colonies scattered all over the world are actually a burden to Spain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cuba is a full Atlantic Ocean away from Spain, but only separated from the United States by the Florida Strait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The United States, having won the Civil War, already possesses the potential to become a world hegemon, and its comprehensive national strength is constantly improving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Spain, the fact that its most valuable colony is located right at the mouth of the Americans dictates that Spain cannot hold onto Cuba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than this, it would be better to voluntarily abandon Cuba at an appropriate time in exchange for other colonies that are not as valuable but can be firmly held in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Philippines is the same. In Yu Kaluo's future plans for Spain, both Cuba and the Philippines need to be abandoned; the basic foundation of Spanish colonies is in Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, precisely because Cuba is one of the few colonies that can bring positive returns to Spain, it is very difficult to get the public to agree to lose Cuba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least until Yu Kaluo has enough prestige to withstand such a loss, or until a good opportunity arrives, Spain will not carry out colonial replacement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On September 22, 1869, Yu Kaluo saw off Serrano, who was leading the expedition to Cuba, in Madrid, and personally promised all Spanish soldiers that he would hold a victory banquet for them when they returned triumphantly to Madrid, and would grant land and titles to those with major merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appeal of being granted titles for military merit is still very great for soldiers, and this is also one of the most effective opportunities for the lower classes to climb upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Serrano himself and Primo, they are both representative figures of being granted titles for military merit. Although Spanish soldiers do not have the ambition to become Dukes or Hou Jue, it is no problem to strive for some rewards of land and funds as much as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Kaluo, who had just returned to the Wang Gong after seeing off Serrano, soon received a report from a guard that Prime Minister Primo requested an audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Yu Kaluo fulfilled his promises and firmly supported reform, Primo's attitude toward Yu Kaluo has become very respectful, and he is willing to cultivate a praiseworthy relationship between monarch and subject with Yu Kaluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also good news for Yu Kaluo; just like now, Primo will also consult Yu Kaluo's opinions on many occasions and is willing to hand over some matters to Yu Kaluo for decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Primo is not like Garibaldi, who has no ambition for power and status, he is not a person who acts arbitrarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Kaluo is also happy to see this kind of cooperative relationship. Following Primo to gain some prestige from reform, then slowly cultivating his own confidants in the government and the military, and preparing to take over the country after Primo, is also Yu Kaluo's plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, this is the plan for industrial construction; please approve it.\" The moment he saw Yu Kaluo, Primo handed over an industrial plan that had already been prepared and said straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are we starting industrial construction now? Prime Minister Primo, if I remember correctly, it seems our government does not have that much money to build industry.\" Yu Kaluo was somewhat surprised by the speed of Primo's reforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reforms in education and agriculture have been going on for less than a month; why start industrial construction immediately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Spain, which is currently in urgent need of funds, launching so many projects at once is not a good thing. Yu Kaluo can understand Primo's eagerness for success, but if one purely pursues speed and lets the Spanish government face a bankruptcy crisis, that would be more than the loss is worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first batch of industrial construction is expected to require 55 million pesetas. I plan to issue about 25 million pesetas in industrial government bonds in batches, and the remaining 30 million pesetas can be obtained by borrowing from foreign capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as we can promote industrial construction, our economic situation in the next few years will improve, and the dire situation in Spain can also be comprehensively improved,\" Primo explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government of Queen Isabella only cared about its own enjoyment and ignored national development, which caused Spain's construction in all aspects to stagnate for a long time, and even showed signs of regression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only good news is that the previous government, which ignored development, did not borrow heavily from abroad, and the current Spanish government is still able to obtain a portion of project startup funds by borrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First update, asking for support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1287,"2026-06-25T09:27:12.995Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","af3cf03c537cf76a9d55d8a4a3d30403c4c89f82f91d7b3b56cb5b08b0619509","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-25","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-23",493,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frise-of-the-empire-spain-cover.jpg"]