Catalonia has had a long history of independence, and its constitution has been in a state of flux.

But regardless of the degree of autonomy, the administrative system remains in its own right.

Here we have to mention the strange political system of Spain.

The normal state is the province-city-county, while Spain is the autonomous region-province-city.

The whole of Spain is divided into various autonomous communities, including the capital Madrid, the autonomous communities of Castilla-León, the Autonomous Communities of Castilla-Laman, and the Autonomous Communities of Galicia............ Various autonomous regions.

Each autonomous region can have its own laws, police, finances.

In addition to the lack of military power, it can be said to be a variant of the feudal feudal system in a sense.

It's a bit like the United States, but unlike the United States, which is on the rise, Spain is in a constant state of decline.

Then this kind of system is simply inherently prepared for independence and warlord scuffle.

Since Spain was now in a state of de facto secession, each region began to form its own armies.

With the degree of autonomy of Catalonia today, it can be considered an independent state that is nominally part of Spain.

Naturally, its leadership team is also quite mature.

On January 10, 1869, Alfonso met with some of them, and Adolf sat in as the Governor's successor.

"Your Highness Alfonso, this is Army General Garcia, and this is Finance Minister Enrique." Campos introduced.

Both nodded and bowed slightly in salute Alfonso.

Alfonso also smiled in response, but he noticed that although the two opposite sides were very polite, Enrique was a little unhappy.

He was not surprised by this, Campos was loyal to the Bourbon royal family, and it did not mean that his subordinates thought the same way.

Based on the experience of Bourbon's previous administration, they have every reason to be skeptical of Alfonso.

"Enrique, tell Your Highness about last year's finances." Campos saw that there was a tendency to fall silent among the several people, and hurriedly threw out the topic.

Enrique nodded, all the data was in his head, and he didn't prepare any documents, and opened his mouth to say:

"Last year, Catalonia's total revenue was 238 million pesetas (about 9.1 million pounds), of which 180 million was in taxes, 50 million in government-controlled factories, vineyards and olive fields, etc., and the rest came mostly from berthing fees and entrepot trade fees from various ports.

At present, the government has a debt of about 70 million pesetas and expenditures of ............

… We are gradually paying off our loans, but if we want to increase military spending, our debt ratio may increase even further. ”

Hearing Enrique's last words, Alfonso knew why the other party was resistant to him.

It turned out not to hate the Bourbons, but to fear that the struggle for the Spanish throne would drag Catalonia into the quagmire of war.

Although he knew the reason, he couldn't say anything, because the other party's fears were completely well-founded.

If there is really a war, how can you not borrow money, even if the supermarket will make money continuously, Isabella still has 3 million pounds there, but these alone obviously cannot support a full-scale civil war.

However, on the whole, Catalonia's economic situation is quite good, the per capita income is at the same level as Britain and France, and the GDP is not counted, but the debt ratio should not exceed 20%, and it is fully capable of participating in the competition for the Spanish throne.

"You just said that Catalonia is building a railway to France?" Alfonso remembered a key point.

"Yes, the rest of Spain is actually not very connected to us anymore.

We have to find a way to export wine, olive oil, almonds, etc., and we ourselves need French wheat and meat. ”

Enrique replied calmly that no one knew whether this was due to economic considerations or his selfishness as a Catalan.

According to what he has just described, the rest of Spain is not very enthusiastic about building railways.

Although Catalonia has a large plain and a beautiful Ebro River valley that is rare in Spain, it mainly grows some cash crops, and the food supply rate is not high, and there is an urgent need for French crops.

Alfonso sensed there was something wrong with it, but now was not the time to say it.

Army General Garcia spoke: "Your Highness, I'll take you to the barracks near Barcelona, the affairs of the army can't be said by talking alone."

Adolf, you also follow, it's time to go back to the army. ”

Campos nodded in agreement, and he could see that Enrique was not happy, and was ready to break Alfonso aside and talk to his finance minister in private.

…

As soon as the three of them got into the carriage, Garcia said with a smile on his face: "Your Highness, we welcome you very much in general, and you don't have to pay too much attention to Enrique's guy, in fact, he is not a bad person." ”

Alfonso bowed slightly, "I can see that he has no malicious intentions, but he is a little depressed." ”

"Uncle Enrique is a Catalans, probably because he thinks his compatriots are too small and doesn't want them to continue to bleed.

Strengthening ties with France should also be a knee-jerk act, and he is not an independent. ”

Adolf defended Enrique, and it was clear that the Minister of Finance was popular.

"Hmm." Alfonso was not at all worried that Catalonia would throw herself at France, and if France dared to expand into Spain, Britain would dare to join forces with Prussia to beat her up.

He is more concerned with another question: "Is it true that the food self-sufficiency rate is not high?" No, the Ebro Delta is a big plain. ”

Adolf smiled bitterly: "The population is not enough, the farmers have all entered the factory, we can only barely maintain the existing land from abandonment, and there is more land that can only be seen and cannot be developed." ”

The landlords, on the other hand, preferred to grow cash crops, vegetables and fruits, and previously their grain was brought from Castile and León.

Now it is decoupled, but it is also possible to buy cheap wheat from neighboring France with money, and it is not easy for the government to forcibly interfere. ”

"Is this the antagony of happiness?" Alfonso was a little speechless, there was neither industry nor plains elsewhere in Spain, and the poor were about to eat the soil.

Previously, Enrique said that other regions are reluctant to connect to the railway, which is also the prejudice of the rich, and other people are not stupid to not know the benefits of the railway.

It is too poor, and Spain is very mountainous, and there are large plains in Catalonia and Andalusia in the southwest.

He shook his head: "The food self-sufficiency rate must be raised, let's make it clear directly, I intend to unify Spain."

As you know, the Franco-Prussian situation may start tomorrow, and France will never win as easily as they claim, and the food supply will definitely be affected.

And no matter what means are used to unify Spain, there are a large number of famine people waiting to be rescued, and we will have to discuss the matter of food in the future. ”