Ricardo did not dare to disobey Robert, and sullenly found a job as a stone masonry at a nearby construction site.

While working, Robert found that there were more than one or two people who wanted to go to Guinea, and everyone was basically discussing it.

After all, this is a very rare opportunity to rise, and the main thing is that the requirements are not high, as long as you are between 16 and 45 years old, and there is no obvious disease, there are no requirements for gender or origin.

Finding an opportunity to talk, Ricardo ran to Robert's side for the fourth time and whispered:

"This time, 2,000 people will be recruited, and there will be no more if it is late.

With your prestige, Kasapa and David will surely follow.

Let's open up the manor together, and you will be the lord of the manor.

Please, Robert, I don't want to be here for the rest of my life. ”

"Ugh." Robert did not rush people as before, but sighed heavily:

"The death rate in Africa is even higher than in Italy, so did we escape from Naples just to go to a more dangerous place?

And we still have a chance to go home in Madrid, we can't come back after going to Africa for the rest of our lives, you know! ”

Robert hesitated as he said this, and like many who saw the announcement, he was torn between ideals and reality.

… Class Jump... Saving lives...

"It's different!" Ricardo said categorically: "We will not get anything but disability for the king to fight, but we will have a chance to get everything in Africa!"

Spain is already far from Naples and doesn't care a little further! ”

……

On the other hand, Alfonso had already received a report from Campos, and the public's enthusiasm for adventure was much stronger than he had imagined.

In just two days, the number of applicants reached 700, and according to this trend, it can be filled within a week.

"Good job." Alfonso said heartily.

Colonization was arguably the most dangerous work in those years, with the average mortality rate of about 55 per cent in the rest of Africa, with the exception of North Africa and South Africa.

The mortality rate is higher than that of the Franco-Prussian battlefield.

Being able to recruit so many people in a short period of time makes Campos' ability to work worthy of recognition.

"Huh." Campos smiled: "It is Your Majesty's wise rule that has caused the people to be grateful to Dade and willing to sacrifice their lives for the country!" ”

Alfonso shook his head, others he didn't know, most of the people who were willing to go to Africa must be not very good, it was difficult to say what feelings he had for him as a king.

Seeing that the king was so concerned about colonial affairs, Campos even praised him rarely, thought about it and pursued after the victory: "Your Majesty, I have a proposal that we can exile all the prisoners to Guinea, so that there is no cost and no shortage of sources!" ”

Most of the current Spanish prisoners are from the Civil War and the Cuban Counterinsurgency War, some of them weaving cloth and others building roads.

If Alfonso hadn't been so serious, Campos would not have been willing to give up this free labor.

Thinking that he could get the king's approval, Alfonso rejected him without thinking.

"No, future prisoners can be treated like this, but the previous prisoners were basically sentenced to prison terms, and the felons have been killed.

We have a promise that if we work hard, we can reduce their sentences, and how can we send them directly to Africa.

The Government should pay particular attention to the pledge and not mention it again. ”

After rejecting Campos' proposal for lack of virtue, Alfonso explained the purpose of calling him this time.

"We need to set up a 'colonial department' to manage overseas affairs in a co-ordinated manner, so that you will not be able to manage one of the prime ministers. ”

Alfonso, after much deliberation, felt that it was necessary for the Colonial Department to do so.

Although no one dared to mention it in front of him, he also knew that most people had quite a problem with his investment in black Africa.

This time, it was just to recruit 2,000 people to test the waters, or to replenish the original colony, so the resistance could be ignored.

But in the future, it will cost tens of millions of pounds to open up new colonies, and it is better to cultivate a group of forces willing to develop overseas as soon as possible, rather than confronting government officials at that time.

At present, there are similar institutions in Britain and France, but not in Spain.

The reason for this was that Spain was accustomed to the viceroyalty and the small number of colonies in Africa, which made Spain lose the motivation to establish a colonial department.

Africa's treatment is very different from that of the Americas, which are relatively developed and have a powerful United States on their side, and repressive rule will only lead to protracted wars of independence, so Alfonso can tolerate their autonomy and statehood.

Africa, on the other hand, has a population base that needs to be localized, and the most important thing is not to develop but to feed itself through colonies, and the degree of autonomy must be controlled.

"The Colonial Department... Managing overseas affairs, what about Cuba and the Philippines? Also under the control of the Colonial Ministry? ”

"No, except for Cuba, the Philippines and North Africa, the first two have their own governments, and there are not many things to worry about at home, and North Africa is not a colony." Alfonso said lightly.

Campos nodded, and as soon as he said this, he understood that it was nothing more than managing the territory of Africa as a province by province, and the colonial ministry was their central government.

Alfonso continued: "At present, the only colonies in Africa are Equatorial Guinea and a few small islands, and the officials on them are to be integrated into the colonial department.

It would be nice to recruit some people from among the nobility, like the Count Alonso of House Gusmão, who I remember just graduated from Compluton.

The department's headquarters is located in, well... There are two, one at 11 Princess Street and one for them in Seville. ”

This first batch of principal officials of the Colonial Department, Alfonso planned to appoint all the children of the great nobles, and find some civilian officials to help them.

There is no way, adventurers can be born from commoners, but it is the great nobles who can send colonists on a large scale.

For this reason, Alfonso even intends to turn a blind eye to any future corruption, as long as they can throw people at the colonies.

The king's decision was quickly spread through Campos, and if it wasn't sure before, everyone knew that the king was going to play for real, not on a whim.

Alfonso gave the Colonial Ministry a very high level, and it was at the same level as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance.

Send people in now, and it won't be long before you can logically become a ministerial-level official!

Ten years ago, the great nobles did not attach much importance to official positions.

But after Alfonso ascended the throne, he relied on the army to dominate the four sides, and it took time for the nobles to rebuild their influence.

During this period, even the most prominent family had to rely on the king to live, and the importance of official positions was infinitely raised.

Even if you don't mention this aspect, the children of the nobility can take this step to reach the sky, saving 30 years of struggle, who can not pay attention to it?

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