Chapter 290: The Hero’s Twilight
Since entering 1882, many cabinet ministers have begun frequently reporting to Carlo on their work.
Carlo is now an existence that the Spanish Government cannot ignore. Obtaining Carlo’s support would also be beneficial for their re-election.
Carlo naturally understands the purpose of these cabinet ministers frequently reporting to him, and this is also a result deliberately promoted by Carlo.
The reason is very simple: to prevent the prime minister from dominating the cabinet government, thereby forming a situation of hollowing out royal power.
Although the prime minister of the cabinet can appoint nine cabinet minister positions, the King of Spain can also control five cabinet positions, including the deputy prime minister, archbishop, minister of justice, minister of royal affairs, and minister of colonial affairs, through direct appointments or upper house elections.
Adding the minister of defense elected by the military committee, the political power held by the King of Spain can fully contend with the prime minister. This is also a means to ensure that future Kings of Spain will not be hollowed out.
Starting from March, the atmosphere of the cabinet election in Spain has become intense. Although the so-called cabinet election is not produced by public voting, the Spanish people are still quite attentive to every cabinet election.
After all, bluntly speaking, the prime minister of the cabinet is elected by the lower house, and the members of parliament in the lower house are elected by the regional councils of the regions.
The members of parliament in the regional councils are elected by the people of the regions, and the public has direct decision-making power over the qualifications of regional members of parliament.
Any citizen who is over 18 years old, has resided in Spain for more than ten years, and possesses Spanish nationality can participate in the election of regional members of parliament and also has the qualification to be elected as a member of parliament.
This practice is much more democratic compared to the direct appointment system during Queen Isabella’s reign. The Spanish people actively participate in every regional member of parliament election and are quite attentive to every cabinet government power rotation.
According to surveys of public opinion by major newspapers, there are still many people supporting Prime Minister Canovas’s re-election.
Although Spain lost the Cuban Colony during his term, the West African Colony obtained in exchange is not without value.
More importantly, the Spanish Congo Territory is now a colony with an area of millions of square kilometers. The scale of the Congo Territory alone is enough to compensate for Spain’s regret of losing Cuba.
This is also thanks to the stability of the Spanish political arena. The Conservative Party has become Spain’s largest party, and as the party leader of the Conservative Party, Canovas’s chances of re-election are much greater than others becoming prime minister.
Carlo’s attitude is also very clear: supporting Prime Minister Canovas to continue re-election.
After becoming Prime Minister of Spain, Canovas did not forget Carlo’s support for him. In various important decisions of the Spanish Cabinet Government, Prime Minister Canovas fully considers Carlo’s opinions and attitudes, showing sufficient respect for royal power.
This is also the reason why Carlo is willing to let him re-elect.
In the case where there is not much suspense about the prime minister candidate, Carlo does not plan to pay too much attention to Spain’s cabinet election.
There is currently a more important matter worth Carlo’s attention: Spain’s former prime minister, the greatest meritorious official of the Spanish House of Savoy, Duke Primó is critically ill.
Since the assassination in 1875, Prime Minister Primó has gradually faded out of the political arena.
On one hand, it is because he willingly handed all power back to Carlo and believed that Carlo could lead Spain to greatness.
On the other hand, it is also because Prime Minister Primó’s physical condition after the assassination was very poor.
Although that assassination did not endanger Prime Minister Primó’s life, the medical technology of this era is not so reliable.
Since then, Prime Minister Primó’s health has become very poor, and the person seemed to have aged more than ten years.
As the greatest meritorious official of the Kingdom of Spain, after Prime Minister Primó announced the end of his political career, Carlo gifted a large amount of assets to Prime Minister Primó in the name of the royal family, including a castle and thousands of acres of land.
These assets are enough for Prime Minister Primó to live well after ending his political career; just the rent from leasing the land is enough for Prime Minister Primó’s living expenses.
In addition, Carlo dispatched a small-scale guard to Prime Minister Primó. This is not to monitor Prime Minister Primó; Carlo’s purpose is only to protect Prime Minister Primó’s safety.
Prime Minister Primó’s reforms are of course developing in a good direction for Spain, but for the previous entitled beneficiaries, it is like cutting their flesh piece by piece.
Even when Primó was still prime minister, he encountered an assassination. Now that he has withdrawn from the political arena without political power, who can guarantee that Primó will not encounter an assassination?
The guard dispatched by Carlo is precisely to protect Primó’s safety. Carlo is quite grateful to Prime Minister Primó. Without his support, Carlo could not have become the King of Spain and so smoothly mastered most of the political power.
If it were any other prime minister greedy for power, after Carlo demonstrated sufficient ability, they would probably be even more defensive of Carlo and would not give Carlo certain power and influence.
Speaking of which, it has been 13 years since Carlo became the King of Spain. Old guys like Prime Minister Primó who once promoted the Spanish revolution are now all in their advanced age.
Prime Minister Primó was born in 1814 and is 68 years old this year, which is absolutely considered a high age in this era. If it were not for the assassination causing his physical condition to deteriorate sharply, Prime Minister Primó might have lived to seventy or eighty without issue, which is vastly different from his historical outcome of being assassinated and dying at only 56 in At least he lived 12 years longer than in history.
Prime Minister Serrano, who is four years older than Prime Minister Primó, is even 72 years old this year. Carlo has also communicated with Prime Minister Serrano, who formally requested no longer to hold any positions and plans to retire honorably and enjoy his old age.
In fact, people in every era are similar. No matter how long they live, in old age they always face various pains and torments.
Grand Duke Serrano’s body is considered relatively good, but after turning 70, his health condition still gradually worsened.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Canovas is capable enough. As deputy prime minister, Grand Duke Serrano does not need to bear too many political affairs; he basically exists as a mascot to increase the influence of Count Canovas as prime minister.
Now that Prime Minister Canovas has mastered sufficient political influence, it is naturally time for Grand Duke Serrano to retire.
Carlo of course has no objection to Grand Duke Serrano’s proposal to retire.
Because Grand Duke Serrano has reached the pinnacle among Spanish nobles, the rewards Carlo gave to Grand Duke Serrano are basically money and the like, allowing him to spend his old age affluent, which also serves as a statement to all officials loyal to the royal family, letting officials understand that loyalty to the royal family not only ensures a good end but also obtains nobility titles and property, allowing one’s children and descendants to live in wealth and honor.
Compared to Prime Minister Primó, Grand Duke Serrano’s body is still much better. Prime Minister Primó is critically ill, while Grand Duke Serrano is currently relatively healthy.
Carlo has also communicated with Prime Minister Primó’s doctors about his health issues. The doctors are helpless regarding Prime Minister Primó’s physical condition; now it completely depends on how long Prime Minister Primó can hold on.
According to the doctors’ estimates, Prime Minister Primó can persist for at most half a year. This also made Carlo increase the number of visits to Prime Minister Primó. For Carlo, Prime Minister Primó is indeed a good teacher and helpful friend, and it was precisely his protection that allowed Carlo to survive the most vulnerable early years after becoming King of Spain.
The reason why Carlo’s brother, the historical King of Spain Amadeo I, quickly voluntarily gave up the Spanish throne was largely because Prime Minister Primó had already been assassinated before he even arrived in Spain.
Without supporters under the king, the throne is destined to not be secure.
What Carlo did not expect was that before Prime Minister Primó, another figure worth attention had quietly passed away.
When news of Garibaldi’s death came from Italy, Carlo was in the royal palace accompanying his young son Martin and daughter Sofia.
Martin is not yet three years old this year, which is the cutest time for a child. Carlo also enjoys the leisure, holding the already six-year-old Sofia in his left hand, the less-than-three-year-old Martin in his right hand, and checking the studies of the already seven-year-old Prince Juan Fernando.
Upon learning of Garibaldi’s death, Carlo immediately put down the two little ones, stared at the messenger guard, and asked in disbelief: “What did you say? Mr. Garibaldi is already dead?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. News from Italy: Mr. Garibaldi passed away this morning at his residence on Caprera Island. The Italian Government is currently preparing Mr. Garibaldi’s funeral.” The guard respectfully handed over a telegram document and explained to Carlo.
Carlo took the original telegram, read it carefully, sighed, and said: “This is really bad news. Have Giuseppe and Menotti been notified?”
“Not yet. After learning the telegram content, I immediately came to report to you.” The guard replied.
“Go notify Giuseppe first, then send a telegram to Lanfang to recall Menotti.” Carlo thought for a moment and instructed.
“As you command, Your Majesty.” The guard nodded and went to convey Carlo’s order.
After the guard left, Carlo sat in the royal palace gazing remotely toward Rome, not knowing what he was thinking.
“Father.” Prince Juan Fernando stepped forward, looking at Carlo with concern.
“Don’t worry, little Juan. A hero like Garibaldi will surely enter heaven; he no longer needs to be tormented by illness.” Carlo put away his complex emotions and looked at his eldest son with relief.
For Carlo, nothing makes him happier than his eldest son being quite accomplished.
Since accepting the strict elite noble education formulated by Carlo, Juan Fernando has had no complaints and meticulously completed all the studies assigned by Carlo.
The teachers specially hired for him from across Europe are also quite satisfied with little Juan’s efforts and have praised his diligence multiple times in front of Carlo.
So far, Prince little Juan’s performance is quite satisfactory to Carlo. After he completes his studies and undergoes certain political ability training, even if he cannot grow into an enlightened and heroic pioneering monarch, becoming a mediocre ruler who is more than sufficient at maintaining achievements is completely no problem.
Considering the future historical direction, for Spain, after Carlo, there really needs a ruler who maintains achievements to consolidate the territory laid down by Carlo.
If the plan in Carlo’s plan to annex Portugal and establish the Iberian Empire can really be realized, then future Spain will need decades to digest the entire Spain.
Once Portugal and Morocco are swallowed and digested, Spain’s potential will also be infinitely expanded, truly becoming an existence that can compete with superpowers.
Since he has learned of Garibaldi’s death, Carlo naturally will not remain indifferent. At least he must dispatch a trusted aide to attend Garibaldi’s funeral; after all, Garibaldi was very supportive of Carlo at that time.
His two sons both came from Italy to Spain to serve Carlo: one is currently the commander-in-chief of the guard of Spain, the other is the regimental commander of the Spanish military advisory group in Lanfang, and both deeply earn Carlo’s trust.
Carlo also considered personally attending Garibaldi’s funeral but ultimately gave up on the idea after thinking about it.
Carlo is after all the King of Spain, while Garibaldi is Italy’s national hero; the two have no connection.
Even though Carlo and Garibaldi had a good relationship, it has not reached the point where a king personally condescends to attend the funeral.
Those qualified to have Carlo personally attend the funeral are perhaps only the kings and emperors of various countries. Even the kings of those small countries are not qualified; only rulers of great power-level countries are qualified for Carlo to personally go.
If Carlo insists on going, it would only damage the prestige of the Spanish Royal Family. If a king does not value his own authority, who else would value it?
Of course, considering that Giuseppe and Menotti are serving him, Carlo also needs to dispatch someone with sufficient status who can represent him to attend Garibaldi’s funeral.
In fact, for Carlo, there is only one such person: Butler Loren of the Spanish Royal Palace.
As the palace steward, Loren represents Carlo and the Spanish Royal Family externally, so attending Garibaldi’s funeral is naturally no problem.
Soon, Commander-in-Chief of the Guard Giuseppe also learned of his father’s death. He immediately came to seek an audience with Carlo, wanting to request leave to return to Italy to attend his father’s funeral.
Carlo of course would not refuse; not only did he immediately agree to Giuseppe’s request, but he also had Giuseppe go to Italy on a warship together with Butler Loren.
To allow the two to reach Italy at the fastest speed to attend Garibaldi’s funeral, Carlo decided to mobilize a warship to go to Italy.
This not only demonstrates Carlo’s emphasis for Garibaldi but also takes the opportunity to increase Italian people’s favor towards Carlo.
It must be known that Garibaldi is the recognized Italian national hero, one of the three great meritorious officials of Italian unification.
Even in terms of popular support, Garibaldi far exceeds Italy’s father of the homeland Vittorio Emanuele II.
This is also the reason why Garibaldi was highly guarded by the Italian Royal Family. If Garibaldi were willing, he could at any time rely on popular support to launch a revolution and push himself onto the throne as Italy’s ruler.
When learning that Carlo planned to have Butler Loren attend his father’s funeral, Giuseppe was still very grateful to Carlo.
After all, Garibaldi made no contribution to Spain, and Carlo had no need to value him so much.
In Italy, after King of Italy Umberto I learned of Garibaldi’s death, he first showed an imperceptible smile, then a trace of regret appeared on his face.
Garibaldi’s death is considered good news for the Italian Royal Family: the person most threatening to the royal family is dead, and the Italian Royal Family’s status can become more stable.
But his death is also bad news for Umberto I. Umberto I is a nationalist; to promote improvements in Italy’s military aspect, he must have Garibaldi’s support.
In the previous colonial competition in Tunisia, it was precisely because of Garibaldi’s strong support that Italian public indignation was successfully incited.
Without the support of this national hero deeply trusted by the people, Italy’s future path in nationalism and militarism will become much more difficult.
Most people still want to maintain a peaceful and stable life; war brings only pain to ordinary people, and those who go to the battlefield are mostly ordinary people.
Although the Italian Royal Family was highly guarded against Garibaldi when he was alive, when Umberto I learned of Garibaldi’s death, he did not hesitate at all and immediately decided to hold a state funeral for Garibaldi, allowing all Italian people to come pay respects to Garibaldi.
The Italian Government did not conceal the news of national hero Garibaldi’s death at all.
This also led to many Italian people spontaneously going to Caprera Island, Garibaldi’s residence before his death, to commemorate this national hero in their own ways.
To maintain order, the Italian Government had to dispatch over a hundred police officers to Caprera Island and persuade the Italian people.
The Italian Government stated that Garibaldi’s funeral would be held in Rome, and then the people could go to Rome to pay respects to Garibaldi.
It was precisely the Italian Government’s repeated statements that alleviated the Italian people’s desire to go to Caprera Island to commemorate Garibaldi.
For Umberto I, the previous defenses against Garibaldi are no longer important. What is currently important is how to make good use of Garibaldi’s funeral to gain a wave of favorability for the royal family.
The more the Italian Royal Family values Garibaldi’s funeral, the more the people’s favor towards the Italian Royal Family can improve.
Precisely because of this, on the day Garibaldi’s death was announced, Umberto I publicly announced a donation of 500,000 lira for Garibaldi’s state funeral and, in accordance with Garibaldi’s final wish, to bury Garibaldi in the family cemetery on Caprera Island.
5000-word two-in-one chapter, seeking support!
Originally planned to post in the afternoon, but something came up in the afternoon, sorry!
