Chapter 61: The Joys Of Kingship
Primó’s actions were swift.
Shortly after the military parade ended, the Spanish Government announced reforms to the government departments, cutting out some meaningless departments and merging those with similar management scopes.
After the government reforms, the number of cabinet departments in Spain was also streamlined. The Army and Naval Department were integrated into the Ministry of Defense, and Grand Duke Serrano was promoted to Minister of Defense.
This was very necessary. Spain’s Navy was not powerful to begin with, and there was no need to develop the Navy in the short term（in reality, there was no money to develop the Navy）, so there was no need for the Naval Department to exist separately.
It appeared that the Army and Naval Departments had merged into the Ministry of Defense, but in fact, it weakened the importance of the Naval Department. Because the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Defense was Army Marshal Serrano.
The Interior Department was dispersed into the Public Security Department and the Ministry of Welfare, plus Finance, Industry, Agriculture, Medical Treatment, and Education, along with Defense and Diplomacy, which together formed Spain’s new cabinet system.
The nine department ministers and Prime Minister Primó made up the entire cabinet of ten people. Streamlining the number of cabinet members would also speed up the cabinet’s administrative efficiency.
Looking at these nine cabinet departments, the most important ones currently were the three major departments: Defense, Finance, and Industry.
Finance and Industry concerned Spain’s overall development, while Defense concerned Spain’s territorial security. This also led to the three major departments being led by Spain’s most renowned figures.
Minister of Defense Serrano naturally needed no further mention. The Finance Minister was personally concurrently held by Prime Minister Primó, and although Minister of Industry Manuel Ruiz Sorílla’s name was somewhat unfamiliar, he was also a figure of considerable prestige in the political arena.
Ruiz was born in Burgos de Osma, graduated from the University of Madrid’s Law Department, and was deeply influenced by radicalism.
In terms of ideological schools, Ruiz supported revolutionizing Spain, which was also the reason he could become Minister of Industry.
Having participated in several revolutions, Ruiz had naturally accumulated a great deal of prestige and had successively served as Minister of Religion and Minister of Justice.
Although there was still a significant gap compared to Primó and Serrano, Ruiz was also considered the Number Three Figure in the Spanish political arena and was quite popular in the revolutionary faction.
The cabinet government’s reforms proceeded quite quickly. The departments that were cut mostly had no real power, so they naturally couldn’t stir up any waves.
After the cut departments were merged into larger ones, it would also increase the power of the existing cabinet department ministers, so the cabinet members naturally would not oppose.
On July 11, 1870, the first meeting of the reformed Spanish Cabinet Government officially began.
Primó looked serious as he announced the Spanish Government’s first Five-Year Development Plan and made specific requirements for the development of each department over the next five years.
The key mentions were the Education and Industry departments.
Education is the foundation of the nation; if Spain wanted to achieve revival, it must devote all its efforts to developing education.
The Industry Department was the foundation of national strength. If Spain wanted to become a great power again, it must possess industrial strength on a certain scale.
Emphasizing Education and Industry also meant that the other departments were destined to receive not too much budget.
In reality, it was indeed the case. Except for the Ministry of Defense’s military expenses, which would not see major cuts, all other departments’ budgets would be reduced by at least 10%.
This portion of the cut budget would be prioritized for the Education and Industry departments to deploy Spain’s education and industrial development.
At this point, the advantage of cabinet departments appointed by the Prime Minister became evident; the other cabinet ministers would not have too much opinion, after all, they were all promoted by Primó and could be replaced at any time.
After determining Spain’s development tone for the future, the remaining matters became quite boring.
Carlo suddenly realized that government affairs seemed to have little to do with him, and the reforms basically wouldn’t affect him.
As the King of Spain, besides eating good things, the only other thing Carlo could do in a day seemed to be playing with good things.
Hmm, thinking of this, Carlo looked at the two maids diligently serving him by his side. Yes, it was quite good.
Looking at Anna, who had a quite pure and cute appearance on the outside, a smile appeared on Carlo’s face, like a bad uncle coaxing a little girl: “Anna, do you want to eat Iberian ham?”
Anna, who had long been unable to hold back, immediately placed her hands on a certain spot upon hearing this, very skillfully removed Carlo’s clothes, and lowered her head.
Hmm, what a pleasurable noble life.
While letting Anna eat the Iberian ham, he turned his gaze to Alice, who had an even more upright and charming figure, and smilingly instructed: “Alice, I’m hungry.”
Alice immediately understood, took two flawless white round steamed buns and handed them over, letting Carlo play with them, and ultimately they were eaten by Carlo into his mouth.
It had to be said that the two maids selected for Carlo by Vittorio Emanuele II each had their own characteristics. Anna was quirky and clever, with a pure and cute appearance, but she often boldly seduced Carlo.
Alice was a bit more reserved compared to Anna, but her impressive figure invisibly increased her allure, no less than Anna’s.
The names Anna and Alice both meant beautiful, and currently, the level of naming was quite excellent.
The looks of these two maids, whether now or in posterity, were absolutely top beauties selected from ten thousand.
If not for Carlo’s astonishing self-control, he probably would have unfortunately lost his virginity before turning
However, since these two maids were originally Carlo’s tutors, when Carlo turned 18, he still enjoyed some unspeakable pleasures.
Carlo was also glad that he had transmigrated to the late 19th century, not some complain-worthy Middle Ages.
At least the European nobles now still understood the importance of bathing, and the two maids’ bodies were all fragrant, with no off-putting smells.
If he had transmigrated to the Middle Ages, even facing several stunning beauties, just the fact that they didn’t bathe would be enough to keep one at bay.
Carlo originally thought that this sickly body of his from childhood wouldn’t last long, but since he transmigrated, this body’s physique had been getting better and better.
Although he hadn’t undergone careful testing, Carlo was certain that this body was definitely better than before transmigration. The well-defined muscles were clearly visible; although not exaggerated large muscles, it also proved this body’s health.
More importantly, stamina. Even facing the two tempting maids Anna and Alice, Carlo could go several rounds without soreness in his waist or back pain.
This was also the part Carlo was most satisfied with since transmigrating; after all, which man didn’t want to show his prowess in battle?
Second update, seeking support!
