Alfonso and Campos talked until late into the night.

The Governor had planned to make a public speech tomorrow announcing that he would no longer recognize the Free Government of Prim, but Alfonso dissuaded him.

Speeches are necessary, but it is not appropriate to provoke liberal governments.

Now is not the time to tear the face, the army is not ready for war.

The number of government troops is 140,000, and the number of Carlos factions is also more than 80,000, which is not the 36,000 people in Catalonia.

In case the other party makes up his mind, he will be hit by a wave.

And Alfonso had an idea that the liberal government was mixed with liberal monarchists and republicans, and it was the monarchists who currently held the majority.

If Alfonso shows signs that he can lead Spain forward, there is hope for the peaceful integration of government forces.

But if hostilities start now, the possibility of turning hostilities into hostilities in the future is very small.

……

Since the adoption of the Constitutional Monarchy Act in 1837, Spain has become a multi-party dual monarchy.

Under this form of government, private individuals are allowed to form political parties.

So, the next day, a bombshell news came out that a political party called the "Progressive Party" passed the audit at a rapid pace.

The Governor of Catalonia, Campos, was the leader of the party, and important figures such as Finance Minister Enrique, Minister of Agriculture Fidel, and Minister of Trade and Industry Julio joined in succession.

The Progressive Party has a different platform at different times and is as flexible as the American political parties.

At this stage, the party program is being drafted, but the slogan has already been shouted: "To build a united, united, prosperous and strong Spain, free from revenge, famine and war." ”

One stone stirs up a thousand waves.

News of Alfonso's meeting with Campos and visiting the military camp in Catalonia has spread.

Paired with inexplicably formed political parties and unabashed propaganda slogans.

Everyone knew that the situation in Spain was about to become further chaotic.

On January 11, 1869, Governor Campos' speech in the central square of Barcelona added fuel to the flames.

“…… In view of the increasingly turbulent situation at home and abroad, in order to better protect the lives and property of the people in the Catalan Autonomous Region, the administrative process has been simplified and the resilience of the Autonomous Region has been strengthened.

From now on, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and other departments will be decoupled from the Spanish central government, and Catalonia will decide on its own customs duties, income tax, production standards ........."

In the square, even the most ignorant civilians could smell the smell of gunpowder in the air when they heard these words.

Large cities such as Barcelona and Madrid are connected by telegraph.

Within an hour, several important powers in Spain were aware of the news.

Prince Carlos immediately denounced the move as treason.

However, until the next day, the central government did not make any response, but only sent a letter to the regional government, requesting the withdrawal of the staff in the central government.

It is a tacit acquiescence to the de facto independence of Catalonia.

The two sides also tacitly stopped the exchange of money between each other.

Originally, the Autonomous Region was only prepared to pay a few thousand pounds to the central government as taxes for the whole of 1868, but now these thousands of pounds are gone.

And the central government's appropriation of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Pyrenees, which had existed until last month, has now been stopped.

It's not much in the first place – it's a matter of attitude.

……

On the evening of the 12th, several members of the Progressive Party gathered together, laughing and laughing.

They have been in a nervous mood for the past two days, carrying out the decoupling work of their own department.

Not only is the task heavy, but there is always a constant fear that the free government and the Carlos faction will come to an agreement and send troops to destroy them.

Fortunately, nothing like this happened.

Now that their hard work has paid off, they don't have to look at Prim's face anymore.

What the Catalans have been unable to achieve for generations has become a reality in their hands – even if it is only for a short period of time.

Army General Garcia was also invited to the banquet, and he and Alfonso were the only non-party members present due to the policy of separation between the military and the government.

"Your Highness, I wish you to become the king of all Spain soon!" Garcia finished speaking, picked up the wine glass and drank it down.

In the past, when he reorganized his infantry division, the central government did not do anything to him, but it often stuck a card on armaments and military spending, and pinched him.

Now that the decoupling is decoupled and the military spending will be entirely responsible for the autonomous region government in the future, he can finally feel more comfortable.

Enrique said sourly beside him: "You are comfortable, but there may be a deficit in the government's finances this year." ”

Ten years ago, finance ministers would have been the most supportive of independence, but the situation has changed as the tax payments paid by the autonomous regions have gradually shrunk to even less than the subsidies given by the central government.

Garcia could only laugh, even if he was a general, he didn't want to mess with money.

Alfonso saw it, clinked glasses with Enrique, and said with a smile: "Don't embarrass General Garcia, how can I let Catalonia contribute money and effort, and I just enjoy it?"

In this way, I currently have £300,000 in cash, which can be paid to the Territory's account, and in addition to that, I will continue to allocate £200,000 this year, all of which will be free of charge.

Her Majesty also has some money from there, and I can't help with it, but I can promise that the Bourbons will provide at least an interest-free loan of more than £1.5 million if the Catalan government needs it. ”

As soon as he said this, Enrique could no longer say a word, and drank a large glass of wine on the spot, and said with a light in his eyes:

"Enough is enough, Your Highness, the plans you put forward can be implemented, and there is no need to issue public debts to expand the army...... Your Highness, you are the best king and the most generous nobleman in all of Europe! Decoupling, decoupling is good! ”

Seeing Enrique instantly become a die-hard supporter, Alfonso smiled, there are few things in this era that the pound can't handle......

Ignoring Enrique, who was in joy, he got up and walked a few seats to the Minister of Agriculture, who was talking to Campos about things.

Alfonso took the initiative to clink glasses with him: "Minister Fidel, I finally have a chance to talk to you." ”

The Minister of Agriculture had not had much contact with Campos before, because the land was basically in the hands of the aristocratic landlords, and he, the Minister of Agriculture, had limited rights and could manage quite limited, and belonged to people who were not taken seriously.

But Alfonso specifically mentioned him, and he was flattered and witty enough to join the progressive party as one of the first members.

Fidel didn't dare to sit by himself, His Highness stood, and quickly stood up a little nervously: "Your Highness, I respect you for this cup." ”

After the two toasted each other face-toasting.

Fidel remembered what he had heard recently, and said, "Your Highness, is it about the production of grain?" ”

After receiving Alfonso's affirmative reply, he said: "I think you may have summoned me recently, so I put together an explanatory paper, just outside the ballroom.

If you allow it, I'll bring it in, or I'll talk about it when it's over. ”