African Entrepreneurship Record

The upheaval in Europe temporarily does not affect the smooth development of the East African colonies, and Leopold's troubles will require quite a long time of squabbling between Germany and France, so no results will be seen this year.

However, Ernst knows that for Leopold, the Spanish throne is nothing but an illusion. Of course, that's for the best, as in the future, Amadeo I from the Italian Savoy family will prove that this throne is a hot potato.

Amadeo I almost replicated the fate of Charles I (of England) and France's Louis XVI, but Amadeo I was more flexible. As soon as he arrived in Madrid, he realized he was incapable of solving the problems Spain faced.

In 1873, this Amadeo I voluntarily abdicated and returned to Italy with ease, once again becoming the Duke of Aosta, Amadeo.

The Spanish throne seems appealing but is only superficially so. Behind it, not only are there various forces within Spain involved, but also the intervention of the great powers.

Yet history has proven that a republic cannot save Spain. Despite two world wars, after twists and turns, Spain ultimately returned to a monarchy.

So, the Heixinggen royal family was not entirely inactive. While others were focused on the situation in Spain, members of the Heixinggen royal family had already gone to Paris to establish connections with the future King of Spain, Alfonso XII.

Offering timely help is always more touching than adding shine to something that already glows, especially for Alfonso XII, now implicated by his mother, the former Queen of Spain (Shao Er).

Of course, the relationship between mother and son is very good. Alfonso XII only hates the rebels in Spain.

In fact, the reformist general Juan Prim had already attempted a failed military coup in 1866, but it was only in 1868 when Juan Prim returned that he succeeded.

October 16, 1868.

Paris.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I represent the Heixinggen royal family in expressing our sympathy for your plight. Our prince and Your Highness have said that rebels will ultimately meet with no good end." Tom represented the Heixinggen royal family in coming to Paris to express the family's stance to the mother and son.

The former Queen of Spain said, "Thank you for your country's support. Alfonso and I, representing the Bourbon family and the Spanish people, will not forget your country's friendship."

Although she is referred to as the former Queen, Shao Er has not given up her claims, which later provided the legal basis for Alfonso XII's restoration. Once loyal and patriotic Spaniards regroup, they can joyfully welcome the prince's return and his coronation.

"This is a token of the Heixinggen royal family's goodwill. We of Heixinggen, though a state only in name, can only offer this token. We hope the Queen and the Prince will not disdain it." Saying this, Tom presented a box.

Shao Er was well aware that the box probably contained something like money. She had the butler accept it, and then said, "Alfonso, you must remember who our true friends are these days and who has taken advantage of our misfortune. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother, our Bourbon family will not forget those who are true friends." The still somewhat immature Alfonso XII replied.

In fact, the mother and son are not too destitute. After all, the Bourbon family is still highly valuable, as one of the three major forces of the Royalist Party in France, its political status in Europe still carries weight.

However, having temporarily lost control of Spain, some of the people who once curried favor inevitably scattered, and even defected to the enemy camp.

The Heixinggen royal family, which in the past did not have particularly close ties with the Spanish royal family, came to express their condolences, which greatly moved the mother and son.

"The Spanish people are merely temporarily blinded; if it weren't for the Americans consistently weakening Spain's power overseas, Spain would not have fallen to its current state.

We all know that Spain's economic problems are actually due to losses in overseas interests, while those traitors are really just the chaos party unable to bully America, only able to find compensation at home." Tom remembered the Prince's instructions, giving the future Spanish royal family a piece of his mind.

"Well said. These years, Americans have been jumping around throughout the Americas, always eyeing Spanish overseas territories, which is indeed the fundamental reason for Spain's economic strife." Shao Er concurred with a look of agreement.

As a ruler, Shao Er lacks self-awareness, but when someone provides an excuse for her to avoid blame, she naturally projects all the causes and responsibilities onto the Americans.

The United States doesn't need to cry injustice, Cuba, the Philippines, Argentina, Mexico... these former Spanish colonies...

The full series lives on My Virtual Library Empire (M|V|L0EMPYR).

Just on October 10, 1868, under the leadership of a group of white elites, the Yara rebellion broke out in Cuba. At this time, Cuba was a region of mixed races, with Black people, White people, and even some Chinese, and the source of the insurgents' funding was self-evident.

Although this uprising did not succeed, it planted the seed for future Cuban independence. The mother and son, Shao Er and Alfonso XII, having lost the Spanish throne, were of course unaware of this news; having lost their main stronghold, who would still be concerned about an overseas island, even if it was Spain's most valuable colony?

Ernst naturally did not mind allowing the mother and son to expand their knowledge of international affairs.

Tom said, "Just a few days ago, there was an uprising in Cuba. The insurgents chose a good time; with rebellion breaking out on Spanish soil, they immediately planned for Cuban independence. It's hard not to think there's a connection between the two groups, especially given that the Spanish rebellion occurred less than ten days ago. Why else would Cuba choose this particular time to act up? The true masterminds behind this are indeed..."

"Hmph! Just a bunch of clowns! Indeed, their goal is to destroy Spain. I knew they harbored ill intentions, but I never expected them to collude with Spain's enemy (America)." Shao Er said through clenched teeth.

The young Alfonso was even more indignant, believing with certainty that the evidence was conclusive, and that the backers behind the rebels were definitely linked to the Americans.

Conspiracy theories are indeed the easiest to believe, and the mother and son require no actual evidence, only suspicion, and among all nations, America no doubt bears the most suspicion.

Apart from the conflict of interests between the two countries, America, as a republic, is also highly suspect.

If in the past life, America assumed the mantle of world overlord from Britain, then it did so standing on the corpse of Spain's vast territories.

While Spain itself had significant issues with its governance, America's addition of fuel to the fire and dirty tricks were even more loathsome.

Furthermore, since Napoleon III's restoration in France, America had become the stronghold of counter-revolutionary (republican) forces in the eyes of European monarchs.

Anti-government organizations from various countries could find refuge in America, as with the previous owner of the telephone patent purchased by the Heixinggen consortium, Antonio Meucci. He was such a person, with one of Italy's founding fathers, Garibaldi, having once stayed as a guest in Antonio Meucci's home for three years while exiled in America.

Speaking of recent times, Ernst's father-in-law, Maximiliano I, was one such victim; after all, who the supporters behind the Mexican rebels were was clear as day.

At that time, with the Republican Faction in Mexico pushed to the mountains by Napoleon III, America, having just ended the Civil War, began providing all kinds of support to the Mexican rebels, until Maximiliano I was overthrown.