[{"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-94":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},2365022,4632,"Chapter 94: Talks (Please Subscribe!)","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>\"A plan for the future development of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry?\" Echegaray did not rush to answer Carlos's question, but instead carefully pondered and organized his thoughts in his mind before replying: \"Your Majesty's purpose in founding the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry should be based on Spain's thirst for talent in physics and chemistry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physics and chemistry majors in Spanish universities do not receive much attention, which has led to a current shortage of excellent graduates in these fields in Spain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have three considerations for the future development plan of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, to hire as many excellent professors and experts in physics and chemistry from across Europe as possible, using their professional knowledge to cultivate more outstanding graduates for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the state of education in Spain dictates that our school's future student source will be limited. I believe the scale of the academy cannot be large, at least not until the level of education in Spain improves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suggest limiting the annual enrollment quota of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry to around 400 students. Although 400 is not a large number, if we focus on cultivating these 400 people, perhaps the standard of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry's graduates will be higher compared to ordinary universities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after the state of education in Spain improves, it will not be too late to increase the annual enrollment number in stages, allowing Spain to possess more talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third point is to provide certain subsidies and attention to the students of the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, not just in Spain, in many countries and universities, there are situations where students cannot afford tuition and are forced to drop out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once such a situation occurs, we are very likely to miss out on a potential physicist or chemist. It would be better to directly provide certain subsidies to the students within the academy and waive their tuition fees, thereby ensuring that talented students can receive better cultivation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Echegaray's opinions, Carlos was even more satisfied with his appointment as the president of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Universities today are not like universities in the future, which have frighteningly large footprints and countless graduates every year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Universities now tend to be small-scale; the average annual enrollment for Spanish universities is around 200-500 students, and there are very few universities in the entire world with an annual enrollment exceeding one thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is Carlos so urgent and expectant about cultivating university students? Because a university degree in this era is almost a top-tier qualification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone a university degree, even a primary school education is considered a cultured person in Spain, and a middle school education is a group that some factories and companies prioritize hiring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for university graduates, they generally do not worry about finding work. Including Echegaray himself, current university students can choose to stay at the university as professors after graduation to continue research related to their major, or find a higher-paying job; becoming a member of the middle class is quite easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the reason why there are so few university students, for countries with relatively high levels of education, high tuition fees are the main reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a country like Spain with a relatively low level of education, besides high tuition fees, another reason is that the public is mostly illiterate or only has a primary school education. Can one really expect these illiterate people or those with only a primary school education to apply for university?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 400-student limit for the initial enrollment of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry mentioned by Echegaray is actually not much different from the 500 students Carlos was considering, and Carlos was quite satisfied with this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Echegaray had boasted about enrolling thousands of students, Carlos would have instead been suspicious and skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Limiting the enrollment of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry to under 500 is the best choice; for a university still under construction, too many students would instead be an extra burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Carlos wants are talents in physics and chemistry who have graduated from university with rich knowledge reserves and a certain level of practical ability, not just university students with a degree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possessing rich knowledge reserves and practical ability is the most important thing; as for the university degree, it is merely an accessory to studying at university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very good.\" Carlos nodded with satisfaction and said to Echegaray with a smile: \"From now on, you are the president of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry. I hope that under your leadership, this academy can become the highest institution of learning for physics and chemistry in Spain and a holy land for physics and chemistry talent in all of Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the construction of the academy, if there are any issues related to funding, you can apply for more funds from Steward Luo Lun. I look forward to the results of the academy's construction and look forward to the heights the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry can reach under your leadership.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is my honor, Your Majesty.\" Echegaray stood up and said with a look of honor and excitement: \"I will never let down your trust. The Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry will become a cradle for Spanish scientists, providing you with a steady stream of scientific talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pleasant meeting ended just like that. After enjoying a breakfast that was not luxurious but very hearty in Carlos's private dining room, Echegaray bid farewell to Carlos and went back to prepare for the construction work of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it is a newly built university, and the difficulty of serving as the president of the Royal Academy of Physics and Chemistry is higher than that of other university presidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there are also many benefits. If the task is completed well and he gains Carlos's trust, there will be more rewards for Echegaray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Echegaray left, Prime Minister Primo came to request an audience with Carlos to report on the construction of the South Morocco colony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the treaty was signed, the Spanish army began the takeover of all land south of the Agadir to Tata line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the British government as a witness, the Moroccan government was quite sensible. Although it pained them greatly, they obediently withdrew from these areas and handed control over to the Spanish army and government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment, the Spanish army has successfully taken over this area, and it is time to discuss the establishment of the South Morocco colony and the candidate for the colonial Viceroy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prime Minister Primo still remembered that Carlos previously had the intention of letting Primo himself recommend a candidate for the colonial Viceroy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to report on work this time also had the intention of probing Carlos to see what his ultimate goal was, so as to decide his own next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carlos was also quite expectant about the establishment of the South Morocco colony. The history of the Spanish Empire on which the sun never sets has faded away; currently, apart from the two relatively large colonies of Cuba and the Philippines, the remaining colonies are all small-scale territories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The establishment of the South Morocco colony means that Carlos not only did not cause the Spanish government to lose colonies but instead gained an extra colony very close to home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Agadir is the only place in this colony with a certain scale and the other lands are basically uninhabited, at least it is a colony, is it not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the establishment of the South Morocco colony also means that during Carlos's reign, the focus of Spanish colonial expansion has officially arrived in Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, once the situation is stable and there is a suitable opportunity, Carlos will consider selling Cuba and the Philippines to other countries in exchange for other benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, according to the current trend of the situation in Spain, there is still nearly 30 years until the Spanish-American War, and Spain has every opportunity to develop into a great power-level country before the war arrives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Spain possesses the strength of a great power, the United States in 1898 will not have the guts to go to war with Spain in an all-out manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it is just a Cuba, is it necessary to keep dragging it out with the United States?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a question worth considering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cuba can indeed bring positive returns to the Spanish government, but the problem is that the Cubans are not content. Although the population of Cuba is not large, the desire for independence is not much different from that of the Catalonia and Basque regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, it is separated from Spain by the Atlantic Ocean, while it is only a few dozen kilometers away from the United States mainland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than having conflicts with the Americans over Cuba, it is better to sell off Cuba early in exchange for some colonies that can also generate benefits, while at the same time sowing discord between other countries and the United States.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it is sold to the United States or other countries, theoretically, it is not much of a loss. After all, it is very difficult to localize the land of Cuba; Spain might be able to hold onto it for a day, but it might not be able to hold onto it for a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carlos remembers that in history, before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, the United States once proposed to the Spanish government to purchase the Cuba colony for 100 million dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could the arrogant Spanish government agree to the request of the United States? In the eyes of Europeans, the United States is just an upstart; the status of a great power is entirely dependent on economy and industry, and they are terrible in terms of military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Spanish did not expect that after the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, not only was the Cuba colony worth 100 million gone, but even another larger colony, the Philippines, was also gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glory of Spain completely became a thing of the past. After this war, Spain completely fell into a second-rate European country and no longer had the qualifications to be a great power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Spain of this world does not fear the threat of the United States, it is not very cost-effective to keep dragging it out with the United States.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the costs of dragging it out with the United States were invested in the scramble for African colonies, it might not be impossible to take some colonies that are more cost-effective than the Congo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morocco cannot be provoked in the short term, but the Guinea region and the Congo region can still be planned for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carlos has even thought of the strategy for Spain's future development. Through the massive resources of the colonies, build up Spain's industry and economy, and the produced industrial products can be shipped to Central and South America for sale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although most of Spain's colonies in the Americas have been lost, a large number of countries in Central and South America, including Mexico, still have many people of Spanish mixed descent, and they also speak Spanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A considerable portion of these people maintain a closeness to Spain. If economic actions are taken, it should be possible to win over a portion of these countries to form a customs union to dump Spanish industrial goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3,000 words, second update, please support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth day of 10,000 words a day, 6,000\u002F10,000 updated, please support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is one more update of 4,000 words expected before 2:30.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1970,"2026-06-25T09:27:12.995Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","88bd742acff9d8fa33d8f3ea2730b9805624b9d2f01aeb79cb37581ce29550dc","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-95","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-93",493,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frise-of-the-empire-spain-cover.jpg"]