Chapter 507: Chapter 80, The Diligent Gardener Doesn’t Always Get Flowers
 

After the storm, Mexico City was engulfed in a maelstrom of blood and carnage. The entering Republican Government Army, without even pausing for rest, set about arresting people nonstop.

That night, Mexico City wept, as countless remnants of the Maximilian Government were ensnared in nets. It no longer mattered whether they were real or fake; after all, revolution requires bloodshed. How else could they establish authority without executions?

President Juarez watched everything unfold calmly, not because he didn’t want to intervene, but because he simply couldn’t.

The Republican Government was already a product of compromises and alliances among various parties; its leadership was not something he, as President, could command at will.

In the eyes of many, the chaos within the city walls might even seem less significant than the trouble that Maximilian I represented.

The Rebel Army fought without pay, banking their livelihood on spoils of war. Now that the battle was over, how could the soldiers be demobilized without allowing them to reap some financial reward?

The party members of Maximilian were a joke in themselves. Had they been effective, the Rebel Army wouldn’t have been able to take Mexico City effortlessly, with no bloodshed.

That night, the citizens of Mexico City went through the wringer: the long-awaited Republican Army had finally arrived, but instead of rebirth, it brought with it a torrent of bloodshed and violence.

The great purge lasted for over a week, with one-third of the city’s populace being implicated. When the chaos escalated to involve even the families of Republican soldiers, President Juarez sternly stepped in to halt it all.

The fledgling Republican Government had, in the shortest time, squandered the support of its people. The atrocities intensified the internal conflicts within the government, sowing seeds of potential civil wars to come.

President Juarez had no time to dwell on these issues. Two daunting challenges lay before him:

Firstly, what to do with Maximilian I, who was taking refuge in the Austrian Embassy?

Secondly, how to appease the numerous leading factions within the victorious Republican Government?

The latter was more troublesome. While fighting a common enemy, unity was possible, but when it came to dividing the spoils, no one showed any signs of yielding.

Most high-level positions within the Republican Government were occupied by forces loyal to President Juarez. Before the civil war ended, when the future was uncertain, everyone focused on the military, paying little heed to these vacant bureaucratic roles.

But that wouldn’t do anymore. Everyone was stretching forth their hands, demanding official positions, seeking greater initiative within the new government, unwilling to concede due to conflicting interests.

President Juarez found himself in a difficult situation. Emotionally, he was unwilling to relinquish these positions. If they were handed over to other factions, his control over the government could be severely weakened.

However, monopolization was out of the question. One must consider whether those with arms would agree, as a misstep could trigger yet another internal conflict.

Compromise was no simpler, for within the Mexican Republic Government, power was fractured; it was impossible to distribute rights and gain unanimous approval from all parties.

These were issues that could not be resolved overnight. In the original timeline, President Juarez couldn’t manage them either, which eventually led to a civil war in Mexico.

For now, the immediate problem was Maximilian I. As long as he remained in Mexico City, his presence posed a significant threat.

As long as Maximilian I did not abdicate, he would remain the Legal Emperor of Mexico, and the Republican Government could not establish its legitimacy.

President Juarez had already discussed the issue with the foreign envoys. Unless something unexpected happened, they still recognized the Maximilian Government as the legal authority of Mexico.

Domestically, issues could be resolved with force, but when it came to international affairs, President Juarez did not know how to proceed.

The pressing matter was to swiftly remove Maximilian I from the throne, secure recognition from other nations for the legitimacy of their government, and then seek international loans to weather the financial crisis.

That’s right, the nascent Mexican Republic Government was already facing a financial crisis—thanks to the colossal pit left by Maximilian I.

The customs tariffs of Mexico were still in the hands of the great powers, and after the fall of Maximilian I, these revenues were withheld.

The debts accrued previously still had to be honored by the Mexican Republic Government. President Juarez was prepared to default on these obligations but not just yet; he dared not act rashly until the situation was stable.

All these seemed trivial when compared to the challenge of demobilizing the Rebel Army’s staggeringly high force of over two hundred thousand soldiers.

This was not something that could be terminated with a mere command. These men had bled for the revolution. With victory achieved, it was inconceivable for them to leave empty-handed.

The troops that had made a fortune in Mexico City were in a better position, as they had some money in their pockets. However, the Rebel Army spread out across the nation hadn’t received their due share of rewards yet.

A multitude were clamoring for money, yet President Juarez himself was penniless. With tax revenues failing to come in, the government’s fiscal income was virtually zero.

The plunder from the Maximilian Government had been expected, but tragically, Maximilian’s administration had survived on loans. There was money, but it resided in the banks of the powers.

Without the legitimacy of the Republican Government acknowledged, these banks naturally refused to cash out. Of course, even with legitimacy, the chances of retrieving the funds were slim.

Without cooperation from the previous government, they had no idea how much money was there. If the banks didn’t extort their money, would they even still qualify as bankers?

Seeing the disheartened Foreign Minister, President Juarez asked with concern, “Is the Austrian Embassy still refusing to hand over the person?”

The Foreign Minister replied with a shamefaced look, “Yes, Your Excellency. The Austrians’ attitude is exceedingly arrogant. They’ve also warned our people to withdraw immediately, or they will resort to drastic measures.”

President Juarez was not surprised; such behavior was common practice among the great powers of the time. Brazen and unreasonable, if they had a valid point, they would not bother to argue but simply roll up their sleeves and take action!

“Order the prohibition of any trade with them, cut off their food and water supplies, and let’s see how long they can last!”

President Juarez said firmly, as those were the strongest measures he could take at that moment. There were harsher measures available but the consequences would be too severe.

…

The notion of cutting off water was a joke; most of Mexico City relied on wells, and there were over five thousand in the 21st century alone. The Austrian Embassy had its own well, unless the Mexicans dared to come in and sabotage it.

The food issue was also manageable; the embassy had reserves, sufficient to last a month or two without trouble.

Even though these tactics were not very effective, Minister Compton had already hastily lodged a protest. Water and food were not an issue, but they still needed a supply of fruits, vegetables, and meat.

After all, Maximilian I was the Emperor of Mexico, and he deserved the treatment befitting his status. Surely, they couldn’t expect him to subsist on bread alone every day?

Of course, food was a minor issue. Maximilian I was an idealist, willing to share his plight with his subordinates, so this was not a significant problem.

Minister Compton’s eagerness was mainly due to his inability to find an excuse for interference, particularly since the Vienna Government cared about appearances and had to be mindful of how they came across.

If the Mexican Republic Government were to open the route and let them take Maximilian I away, then the whole intervention would end without incident.

Being an envoy in a small country is not easy; there’s hardly a chance to achieve greatness. Before Maximilian’s ascension, Austria only had a consulate in Mexico, not the prestigious position of an envoy.

The upgrade of diplomatic relations was not because Franz took Mexico’s diplomacy seriously; it was mainly to provide political help to Maximilian I.

Compton rose to his position riding this wave. Missing this opportunity and failing to produce exceptional achievements would mean his tenure as the Mexican Envoy would be the peak of his political career.

His diligent running around was to create issues. Lately, Compton had clashes with several military and political personnel of the Republican Government Army.

Regrettably, these people were too docile; no matter how he provoked them with his words, they responded with smiles, leaving him powerless.

What he most desired was for a childish young man to burst forth from within the Republican Government, ideally so naïve that a few taunts from him would lead to a declaration of war with Austria, to which he could readily agree, making for a perfect scenario.

Such a stroke of luck was impossible. With the fierce internal struggles within the Mexican Republic Government, no juvenile could hold a high position; all those sitting in power were cunning foxes.

There were certainly many impulsive young men in the lower ranks of the Republican Government, but unfortunately, they lacked the status to speak for the government. Besides, it was unwise to provoke these individuals, as they might retaliate covertly.

If war were to break out as a result, causing him to be caught up in it as well, Compton would not welcome it, as he was not yet ready to lay down his life for his country.

Returning yet again without achievement, Minister Compton asked, “Your Majesty, there haven’t been any disputes, have there?”

Feeding the Emperor nothing but bread, potatoes, and corn while denying him vegetables, fruits, and meats was akin to torture, and Compton still had concerns that Maximilian might not endure it.

The secretary replied, “Better than expected. His Majesty even requested the same rations as his soldiers, refusing any special treatment.”

Minister Compton nodded. The embassy staff had been enduring hardships recently. As an envoy who was out and about daily and often attending banquets, he managed to fare better with his meals.

No matter how chaotic Mexico City was, the foreign embassies and expatriate districts continued to live in revelry, untouched by the Republican Government Army.

Though the Austrian Embassy was surrounded, in reality, you couldn’t see a single rifle at a glance. President Juarez, fearing an accidental discharge, had deliberately ordered the soldiers executing the siege to be unarmed.

After all, the city was filled with their own people, so there was no concern that Maximilian I would escape. The main purpose of the siege was to apply pressure, not to launch an attack.

Otherwise, Minister Compton would have taken the opportunity to fire a shot and instigate a conflict. Once a firefight broke out, the responsibility would fall squarely on the Mexican Republic Government.

Now that they were unarmed, even if Compton wanted to stir trouble, he had no way to start. Initiating a conflict was vastly different from reacting passively.

The embassies of various countries were not far, and being witnessed by others could tarnish Austria’s reputation. Compared to national prestige, personal ambitions must be set aside.

“In that case, there’s no need to be so anxious. Any guards who want to go home may take turns to visit, and if they encounter any trouble, the embassy will do its best to help them,” Compton assured.

Indeed, Compton spoke with confidence, knowing that Governor Hummel’s forces were about to set out. If there was no valid excuse, they would just take Maximilian I away with them.

The Vienna Government was not particularly interested in Mexico; they would take advantage of any pretext to gain something, but if no pretext arose, they would let it be, as this was not a strategic priority.

Strength was the best assurance. Merely cutting off water and food, without a valid explanation from the Mexican Government, would surely backfire on them.

Of course, this was a minor problem that could be resolved with an apology and a sum of compensation.

If the Mexican Government was cooperative and did not obstruct Austria from retrieving Maximilian I, these issues could be overlooked, essentially offsetting the unauthorized entry of the Austrian Army.

Among the great powers, Austria was known to be reasonable in handling foreign affairs. It rarely pressed issues when unjustified. Of course, if they had the upper hand, the situation would change.