I Became The Crown Prince Of The Mexican Empire Novel - Chapter 172
**Chapter 172**
**< Colombia (1) >**
Although the rebellion had ended, the Mexican Empire was in a state of war.
The 1st and 2nd Corps of the Central Army were sweeping across the country, arresting clergy and landowners involved in the rebellion.
“I didn’t participate in the rebellion! Can you just arrest people without evidence?”
Miley was stunned at the sight of the army swarming in front of his mansion. He had heard rumors lately, but this was truly a case of arresting innocent people.
“Sergio Miley. You are being arrested on charges of ‘aiding the rebellion’ for knowing about the upcoming rebellion after being invited to participate, but failing to report it to the government.”
“Aiding the rebellion? If that’s the case, almost every landowner in the country would be caught. Are you really crazy?”
“…The Emperor himself ordered this operation. Do you dare say the Emperor is crazy? We should add a charge of first-degree royal insult.”
This young commander, like most of the Central Army, was an officer classified as a supporter of the Emperor. He shouted loudly, his eyes wide.
“He’s a criminal! Enter the mansion and arrest him!”
“No, no! I was talking about you, you crazy bastards!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The soldiers didn’t even try to open the door, they smashed it with a sledgehammer.
“Stop! It’s open! It’s open!”
The landowner, who was escorted to the local court, placed his hopes in the law, but the verdict was harsher than he imagined. The judges were also influenced by the Emperor’s anger.
The Emperor, who had sensed the rebellion from the beginning, had enacted a previously nonexistent crime, “aiding the rebellion,” or more precisely, “concealing treason (Encubrimiento de traición),” so there was no need to think twice.
This law was enacted as a warning immediately after the secularization law was passed, so there was no way to avoid it.
“The verdict on the defendant, Sergio Miley, is as follows.
Those who were dissatisfied with the secularization policy plotted a rebellion, and even though you were invited to join, you remained silent and protected the traitors. This is undoubtedly a clear case of concealing treason.
You not only abandoned your duty of loyalty to the state, as required by law, but also neglected the danger of treason, posing a serious threat to maintaining order. Your excuse that you simply stood by is no longer credible.
However, considering that the defendant did not participate in the rebellion, denied the crime, and cooperated with the trial, leaving some room for leniency, the sentence is as follows.
The defendant is sentenced to 7 years in prison. Furthermore, 30% of the defendant’s property will be confiscated and transferred to the national treasury.”
Thump-thump-thump-
“7 years in prison and 30% of my property? That’s too harsh!”
Miley protested, arguing that it was too harsh, but the judge ignored him, and the court’s soldiers immediately dragged him away.
They dragged away anyone who wasted time, as they had many people to judge.
“Wait, wait! I have the right to defend myself! Don’t I? Lawyer!”
“It’s not a defense, it’s the right to appeal. …And I’m sorry, but it seems difficult to appeal in this case.”
“Appeal is difficult?”
“The evidence is clear, and the punishment regulations are clear, so even the appeal request will be rejected. And this is actually lucky. If you had a small position in the area, the punishment would have been doubled.”
After the administrative divisions of the entire Empire were reorganized into four levels: state (Estado), province (Provincia), district (Distrito), and city (Ciudades) or town (Pueblo), the main positions at the district (Distrito) level were given to supporters of the Emperor, but the smaller ones were given to influential people who had lived in the area for a long time, most of whom were landowners.
Miley’s hacienda was slightly smaller than the hacienda next door, so he didn’t receive a position.
“Double? Double means 60% of my property will be confiscated?”
“It’s not just property, it’s double the prison sentence, 14 years.”
“Ha ha ha…”
“If that’s the case, I might as well have joined the rebellion. Compared to that, I’m in a good position.”
Miley felt a sense of relief amidst the bleak situation.
Although only a few people directly participated in the rebellion, almost half of the landowners in central Mexico had received invitations to join.
Only a very small number of them secretly reported the rebellion plans, and the rest were caught after tacitly condoning it.
“No, they at least had the crime of aiding the rebellion. We…”
The situation for the clergy was even worse.
Even clergy who had not committed rebellion or aided it had to have all their property confiscated under the secularization law.
“Hey, at least you’re not going to prison. And it was church property anyway, not our property.”
An old priest comforted the young clergy of the church.
“It’s all God’s will that you weren’t invited to join the rebellion. Don’t be dissatisfied, just continue to follow and spread God’s will.”
It was a small church with little property, so the rebellion invitation didn’t even reach them, but the faithful believed that even that was God’s will.
When the respected priest said that, the deacon also changed his mind.
“That’s right. This is just a trial for the greater revival of the Catholic Church. As citizens become more aware, their resentment towards the corrupt Catholic Church will only grow. This incident has uprooted the corruption of the Mexican Church from the roots. This is also God’s will.”
When the deacon said something admirable, the priest said with a happy expression.
“Amen.”
Some time later.
Clergy who had not participated in the rebellion or aiding it experienced a drastic promotion.
The Vatican, which had been opposed to the secularization law, suddenly changed its stance when the rebellion actually broke out.
The Pope’s new decree, which arrived shortly after the end of the rebellion, contained completely opposite content from before.
———
To the clergy and faithful of Mexico, beloved in Christ,
Recently, we have witnessed the unfortunate rebellion that occurred in the Mexican Empire. This is not only an act against God’s will but also a crime that seriously threatens the peace and well-being of the nation.
We cannot express our deep regret and disappointment at the conduct of some clergy who participated in or aided this rebellion. They have abandoned their calling as clergy and neglected their duty to God and the nation. Therefore, we will severely reprimand them according to church law, dismiss them from their priesthood, and report the relevant facts to the national judicial authorities for judgment according to secular law.
On the other hand, we express our sincere gratitude and praise for the clergy who remained steadfast in their loyalty to the nation and took the lead in maintaining peace during this time of turmoil. You have set an example as true disciples of Christ. We hope that there will be more clergy like you, and we pray that God’s grace will be upon you.
Beloved clergy of Mexico, it is true that the secularization law recently enacted has limited some of the traditional authority and privileges of the Church. However, we must recognize that this is an inevitable measure to meet the demands of the times for national integration and secularization. We must humbly accept these changes and strive to ensure that God’s will is fulfilled in the harmonious coexistence of the Church and the state.
Let us all become one in prayer, overcoming turmoil and moving forward towards new hope. God will never abandon those who trust in Him.
Pope Pius IX (Pius IX)
———
The Emperor chuckled at the decree, but it held great significance for the clergy of the Empire.
Now that even the Pope was telling them to accept the secularization law without resistance, it was difficult to raise any objections.
They had no choice but to change their minds.
***
Cartagena Province, New Granada.
When Gutiérrez and the Cartagena landowner alliance, who had been fighting the revolutionary army on the front lines, suddenly left, the revolutionary army took control of the entire Cartagena Province.
The revolutionary army was divided between the moderates, who believed they should stop here and decide their fate, and the radicals, who believed they should advance to other regions and liberate them.
“Why should we shed blood for other regions? We should just vote among ourselves and decide our fate and end this.”
The moderates were mainly composed of Cartagena natives and outsiders who had decided to settle in Cartagena, while the radicals were mainly composed of those who had joined the revolutionary army from other provinces of New Granada and Cartagena natives who believed in the revolution.
“If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have accepted us! You accepted us when we said we would help, but now you say you can’t liberate our region? Have you ever seen such selfish people!”
The number of people was evenly split. Initially, almost all of the population of Cartagena Province were natives, but the influx of outsiders had increased, reaching a 50/50 split. The debate showed no signs of easing.
“They seem to be splitting.”
“They’re already splitting after taking control of just one province. As expected, stupid people are helpless.”
“Ha ha ha, isn’t this good for us?”
It was a good thing for the landowners. If the revolutionary army didn’t cross the provincial border and fought among themselves, the landowners could proceed with their original plan, declare independence, and build up an army.
“It’s a shame that Cartagena is out, but now that that unlucky Gutiérrez is gone, let’s do our best.”
It was the landowner who had become the next president-designate after Gutiérrez. Of course, the others thought he was just as unlucky as Gutiérrez, but they couldn’t say it out loud.
The revolutionary army’s internal struggle continued for months.
Those belonging to the moderates wanted to just vote among themselves and end it, but even within the moderates, opinions were divided.
“Honestly, does it make sense to just hand over Cartagena, which we liberated, to a foreign power like the Mexican Empire?”
Greed had arisen within the revolutionary army. Those who claimed that they should have rights because they had shed blood appeared. The rights they were talking about were power.
“So, are you saying we should declare independence with just Cartagena Province? If we establish a government among ourselves, it will only be a weak and unstable country. We already agreed to request joining the Mexican Empire, following the example of Panama!”
If there were many people advocating for establishing an autonomous state among the revolutionary army’s leadership, the general members, not the leaders, mostly advocated for joining the Mexican Empire like Panama, as they had originally planned.
The revolutionary army, which had been unable to unite, came together again due to external forces.
“Join Mexico? That’s unacceptable!”
The Catholic Church of New Granada, which, like the landowners, had been watching the revolutionary army, was horrified to hear about the Mexican Empire’s secularization law.
“Is there such a crazy law?”
“Wait, if the revolutionary army decides to join Mexico, will it apply to us?”
The Catholic Church of New Granada, unlike the weak government, had a unique centralized system. They decided to prevent any terrible situation that might arise.
“Brothers! We cannot stand by any longer and watch these wicked rebels! If the government and landowners can’t do anything, let us fight!”
The Church in New Granada also possessed immense power, derived from vast lands and countless peons. This was similar throughout Latin America, although the degree varied, not just in Mexico.
“The Church is moving? Then, it wouldn’t be bad to lend a hand this time. Whether we create an independent country or overthrow New Granada, we will need to deal with the Church anyway.”
“Good idea. They haven’t entered our home yet, but the very fact that those with such subversive ideologies are gathered is a problem. Let’s wipe them out this time.”
The Church and the landowners, who could be considered long-time allies, joined forces.
Even the New Granada government was calling the revolutionary army rebels, so now the revolutionary army was essentially fighting against all of New Granada.
Faced with an unprecedented crisis, the revolutionary army had no choice but to unite again.
“So, this is how it ends…”
“Thinking back, it was naive to think we could decide.”
The moderates disappeared. They had no choice but to fight, as they were being attacked from the outside, even if they didn’t take the initiative.
“But we still have a chance. Mexico is selling us supplies cheaply.”
“But isn’t this all because of the Mexican Empire?”
It was true that this mess was caused by the Mexican Empire’s secularization law, but it was also true that they wouldn’t have even attempted a revolution if it weren’t for Mexico’s cheap weapons.
The revolutionary army began to prepare for battle, ignoring the unresolved issues.
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