When it comes to Mexico, the first thing that comes to mind is probably gangsterism and crime. After all, Mexico in later generations was so chaotic that Trump directly began to build a wall to prevent Mexican criminals from entering the country.

But historically, Mexico has been a very important place. This is the land of silver......

At one time, the Mexican eagle was the most important currency in the world trade market. In addition to gold coins, silver coins are the strongest in the Mexican Eagle. This silver dollar was once the most important currency for trade between Europe and the Ming Empire. Even the Dutch, the sworn enemies of the Spaniards, had to exchange Mexican eagles to settle accounts with Ming smuggling merchants. Because, their own silver coins were too low in silver to be recognized by Ming smugglers.

Mexico is extremely rich in silver reserves, accounting for about one-third of the world's production for a long time, and together with Peru, accounting for more than half of the world's silver production.

Marin wanted to occupy and exploit Peru's silver mines, after all, the Potosi silver mines were also very famous. However, the Inca Empire, which went to Peru, was very troublesome. Because, the Peruvian plateau is relatively far away, and it is not very convenient to send troops.

Mexico, on the other hand, is relatively close to the Cuban colony of Marin, on the other hand. It is very convenient and quick to send troops from Cuba to Mexico.

The Inca Empire in Peru was not too far from the saltpeter mines of the desert north of Chile. However, it was too cumbersome to get there from the mainland, and it was inconvenient to transport supplies. So, why don't you develop Mexico, which is right next to Cuba?

How much silver is there in Mexico? Although it is said that in later generations, Mexico's silver reserves were reduced to the sixth position in the world, which was not as much as Huaxia silver and far less than Peru. However, that was hundreds of years after silver was mined in Mexico.

You know, from the 16th to the 19th century, Mexico minted 3 billion eagles alone. In 1910 alone, there were nearly 400 million Mexican eagles in circulation in China. According to the calculation that each eagle contains 24.4 grams of silver, 3 billion eagles contain as much as 73,200 tons of silver. And that's just counting the silver that was minted into eagles, not counting the silver that was made into other currencies or silverware......

Even so, Mexico's silver reserves were as high as 37,000 tons. Moreover, the earlier it is mined, the shallower it turns out that Mexican silver deposits are shallower and easier to find.

Because, in the past, silver was an expensive currency. If silver can be discovered, people will definitely not let it go, and they have been desperately mining it for a long time. For example, Iwami Ginzan, one of the world's top silver mines, was discovered during the Warring States period, and its owners continued to mine it until it dried up.

Therefore, the silver mines discovered in later generations are basically difficult to explore. Even, buried thousands of meters deep underground. Otherwise, it would have been exploited a long time ago.

Of course, that's all for later, and far water can't save near fire. Marin's most urgent need now is the need for a large amount of silver to alleviate the shortage of precious metals. At the same time, it is also necessary to solve the problem of trade with the Ming Dynasty.

According to historical records, after Cortés entered the Aztec Empire in 1519, he held the Aztec emperor hostage and extorted millions of pesos worth of gold and silver. It can be seen that in this era, Mexico produced a large amount of silver.

It is said that Cortés soon established a mint in the city after occupying Tenochtitlan (later Mexico City). It can be seen that near the city of Tenochtitlan, there is a large silver mine. If Marin sends troops to occupy this area, they can also develop this silver mine in a big way right away.

However, it seems that Cortez did not win by strength......

If Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire was based on his audacity and lack of heart, and he used cavalry to scare away the soldiers of the Inca Empire, then Cortés occupied Mexico much more high-end than Pizarro.

It is recorded that after landing in Mexico, the Cortés sought the daughter of a local chieftain as a lover and translator. Then, using the daughter of an Aztec chieftain named Marina, who had converted to Catholicism and took the name Marina, Cortés contacted the Aztec enemies and worked together to take action against the Aztec Empire.

Because, relying on its great strength, the Aztec Empire often hunted people from other tribes and used them as human sacrifices, which was very cruel. Those who feared being captured and sacrificed by the Aztecs brought together Cortés to fight against the Aztec Empire, using Marina as a translator. If Cortez's men alone were to defeat the Aztec Empire. After all, the Aztec Empire can beat the surrounding tribes to the point of being Dad, and its strength should not be underestimated.

There is also the fact that the Aztecs actually believed in an unreliable legend called "White God", and regarded Cortés and other robbers as "messengers of the gods", and then were yin.

It's also a shame that Cortez is white, so if you change to old black to conquer it? Maybe you'll be beaten out......

……

Thinking of this, Marin suddenly did not rush to immediately use force against Mexico, but planned to do business with the Aztec Empire first. At the same time, the Aztecs were encouraged to develop silver mines on a large scale. To this end, Marin even planned to send experts to instruct the Aztecs on how to develop silver mines and smelt silver by modern means.

To this end, Marin has developed a three-step strategy –

As a first step, Marin planned to send people to contact the Aztecs and try to penetrate the interior of the Aztec Empire. To this end, Marin planned to find a white-looking subordinate, first learn the language of the Aztecs, and then blend into the interior of the Aztec Empire, and instruct the Aztecs to use modern means to develop silver mines and expand silver production...... With the legend of the "White God" as the foundation, Marin can completely let the person who sent him call himself a "divine messenger", and fool the Aztecs before he can talk about it......

The second step is to exchange some simple commodities for Aztec silver after the Aztecs have developed silver mines on a large scale. Marin thought that he was not as cruel as the rulers of the Aztec Empire, and if he allowed himself to develop Mexican silver mines, he might be even higher by the Aztec Empire itself. Because, Marin will treat the miners as human beings. The Aztec Empire itself, on the other hand, did not treat the minering slaves as human beings. But, even so, the Aztecs themselves were brutal. Exactly, let them exploit their own people. Then, the silver produced was then deceived by Marlin with cheap goods......

The last step is to send a large number of spies to infiltrate the Aztec Empire and obtain detailed information after the first two steps are implemented. Wait until you basically have the same mastery, and then send troops to annex the Aztec Empire in one fell swoop. Then, it monopolized the silver produced by Mexico's silver mines......